Adjustable insole

Abstract

 A foot-strap system (1) is described, comprising at least one insole (3) and at least one heel support (5), such insole (3) being equipped with first connection means (7) and such heel support (5) being equipped with second connection means (9), such heel support (5) being connected to such insole (3) through the cooperation of such second connection means (9) with such first connection means (7).

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to an assemblable foot-strap system for shoes.

[0002] Insoles are known in the art, to be inserted inside a shoe overlapping the sole of this latter one, composed of at least one insole made as a layer of plastic material, usually of polyether or polyurethane foams, and shaped in an abutment of the foot sole and in a rear part related to the foot heel, such insole typically having a rounded shape free from projections. Through following steps of known production processes, in the rear part of such layer an anatomic thickening part is then applied, which is specifically shaped and commonly called "heel support" ("tallonetta" in Italian). In order to guarantee the necessary sturdiness to the foot-strap, such heel support must then be necessarily covered with at least one layer of leather.

[0003] Due to the variety of fits, sizes and shapes of shoes and feet, in the footwear industry sector, it is necessary to take care of providing a high number of combinations between different insoles and different heel supports: however, since the foot-strap is relatively must costly than the heel supports, it is clear that such situation negatively affect the global economy of currently used insoles.

[0004] US-A-5733647 discloses a foot-strap system according to the preamble of Claim 1.

[0005] Therefore, object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing an assemblable foot-strap system comprising at least one insole only to which it is possible to associate, depending on needs, a specific heel support taken from a plurality of different heel supports having mutually different characteristics by interposing connecting means between such insole and such heel support.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is providing an assemblable foot-strap system that allows, through a single insole that can be associated with a plurality of heel supports, the cheapest, simplest and most versatile production of a wide variety of insoles.

[0007] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will result from the following description, are obtained with a foot-strap for shoes as claimed in claim 1.

[0008] Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the attached claims.

[0010] The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

• Figure 1a shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a component of the foot-strap system for shoes according to the present invention;
• Figure 1b shows a plan view of the component of the foot-strap system for shoe of Figure 1a;
• Figure 1c shows a side sectional view of the component of the foot-strap system for shoes of Figure 1a;
• Figures 2a, 2b and 2c show perspective views of some preferred embodiments of another component of the foot-strap system for shoe according to the present invention;
• Figure 3a shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a foot-strap of the system according to the present invention;
• Figure 3b shows a perspective view of another possible embodiment of a foot-strap of the system according to the present invention; and
• Figures 4a, 4b and 4c show side sectional views of some preferred embodiments of insoles of the system according to the present invention.

[0011] With reference to the Figures, it is possible to note that the foot-strap system 1 for shows according to the present invention comprises at least one insole 3 and at least one heel support 5 belonging to a plurality of mutually different heel supports 5, such insole 3 being equipped with first connection means 7 and such heel support 5 being equipped with second connection means 9, such heel support 5 being connected to such insole 3 through the cooperation of such second connection means 9 with such first connection means 7.

[0012] In particular, as for example shown in Figures 1a, 1b and 1c, the insole 3 is composed of a front portion for supporting the foot sole 11 and a rear portion 13 related to the foot heel, such front portion for supporting the foot sole 11 and such rear portion 13 being joined by an intermediate portion for supporting the center of the foot sole 15: in particular, the rear portion 13 of the insole 3 is equipped with the first connection means 7. Preferably, the first connection means 7 comprise at least one protrusion and the second connection means 9 comprise at least one recess whose shape and size are complementary with such protrusion: it is wholly evident that protrusion and recess that preferably make the connection means 7, 9 between the insole 3 and the heel support 5 can have any complementary shape (squared, rounded, etc.) and size adequate for performing the response function. Possibly, it is possible to provide that, in order to reinforce the connection between insole 3 and heel support 5 between the first and the second connection means 7, 9 at least one layer of adhesive or gluing material is interposed.

[0013] With reference in particular to Figure 1c, it is possible to note that a preferred embodiment of the insole 3 of the system according to the present invention has a thickness A of its own front portion substantially equal to 2 mm, a thickness B of its own rear portion substantially equal to 0.5 mm, a thickness C of its own intermediate portion substantially equal to 2.7 mm, a thickness D of the front portion of the protrusion substantially equal to 2.6 mm and a thickness E of the rear portion of the protrusion substantially equal to 4.7 mm.

[0014] Obviously, the insole 3 can be made in different shapes, heights, fixtures and sizes. It is as well clear that the insole 3 according to the present invention can be made through any material suitable for the purpose, such as for example polyurethane, polyethylene, EVA, PVC, rubber, lattice, cork agglomerates, polyester or other similar plastic materials.

[0015] Moreover, the surface of the insole 3 aimed to get in contact with feet, and in particular the support of the foot sole 11, the intermediate portion for supporting the center of the foot sole 15 and the rear portion 13, can be equipped with any particular anatomic shaping that is substantially known in the art, made for example through suitable bearings, bumps or ribs that are suitably arranged, without therefore departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0016] Preferably, as for example shown in Figures 2a, 2b and 2c, each heel support 5 of the plurality of heel supports 5 is made as at least one shim with progressively increasing height from its own front portion 17 to its own rear portion 19.

[0017] Also in this case, the heel support 5 can be made in any shape height, arrangement, size and material suitable for its purpose.

[0018] As previously stated, the object of the foot-strap 1 of the system according to the present invention is being able to be assembled depending on different needs, being able to connect the same insole 3 to a heel support 5 taken from a plurality of heel supports 5 having mutually different characteristics: in this way, with a limited number of relatively costly insoles 3 and a higher number of substantially cheaper heel supports, it is anyway possible to make the variety of insoles 1 that traditionally would have quite higher production costs. In particular, merely as an example, it is possible to note that the foot-strap system 1 according to the present invention can be composed of an insole 1 as previously described and a plurality of heel supports 5, as shown in Figures FIGG. 2a, 2b and 2c, in which each heel support is different from the other ones regarding a different thickness S₁, S₂, S₃ of its own rear part 19. In such a way, through the system according to the present invention, as it is possible to note in Figures 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b and 4c, it is possible to make, with the single insole 3, different foot-straps 1 having different heights, depending on the specific heel support 5 that is connected to the insole 3 itself. In particular, Figures 4a, 4b and 4c, merely as an example, different possible foot-straps 1 are shown that can be made with the previously described system according to the present invention: for example, it is possible to make in a simple, cheap and quick way, depending on required needs, a foot-strap 1 (Figure 4a) having a rear thickness S₁ of the heel support 5 that is substantially equal to 5 mm, a foot-strap 1 (Figure 4b) having a rear thickness S₂ of the heel support 5 that is substantially equal to 8 mm or a foot-strap 1 (Figure 4c) having a rear thickness S₃ of the heel support 5 that is substantially equal to 11 mm by simply connecting the insole 3 to its respective heel support 5 through the connection means 7, 9.

[0019] Obviously, like in the previously described example, though the heel supports 5 are mutually different regarding only the height of their respective rear portion 19, it is possible to provide for making any plurality of heel supports 5 that are mutually different regarding any other characteristic (such as, for example, anatomic shaping, resistance to pressure, shape, etc.) useful for customizing the foot-strap 1, without therefore departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0020] From what has been described above, it is interesting to note that, advantageously, the system according to the present invention allows not only customizing every single pair of foot-straps 1, but also to differentiate every single foot-strap, for example the left one from the right one: it is therefore possible, always as an example, to be able to balance height offsets between the two legs of a user by simply connecting the insole 3 of the right foot and of the left foot to respective heel supports 5 having adequate heights.

[0021] Moreover, the system according to the present invention allows assembling the foot-strap 1 of a type that is substantially able to be "self-made", allowing the end user a wider and cheaper change of making foot-straps 1 that are specific for his needs.

Claims

1. Foot-strap system (1) comprising at least one insole (3) and at least one heel support (5), said insole (3) being equipped with first connection means (7) and said heel support (5) being equipped with second connection means (9), said heel support (5) being connected to said insole (3) through a cooperation of said second connection means (9) with said first connection means (7), characterized in that:

- said heel support (5) belongs to a plurality of mutually different heel supports (5); and

- said first connection means (7) comprise at least one protrusion and said second connection means (9) comprise at least one recess whose shape and sizes are complementary with said protrusion.

2. Foot-strap system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each heel support (5) of said plurality of heel supports (5) is made as at least one shim with progressively increasing height from its own front portion (17) to its own rear portion (19).

3. Foot-strap system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of heel supports (5) comprise at least one heel support (5) with its own rear portion (19) having a thickness (S₁) substantially equal to 5 mm, at least one heel support (5) with its own rear portion (19) having a thickness (S₂) substantially equal to 8 mm and at least one heel support (5) with its own rear portion (19) having a thickness (S₃) substantially equal to 11 mm.

4. Foot-strap system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said insole (3) is composed of a supporting portion for the foot sole (11) and a rear portion (13) related to a foot heel, said supporting portion of the foot sole (11) and said rear portion (13) being joined by an intermediate portion for supporting the center of the foot sole (15), said rear portion (13) of said insole (3) being equipped with said first connection means (7).

5. Foot-strap system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said insole (3) has a thickness (A) of its own front portion substantially equal to 2 mm, a thickness (B) of its own rear portion substantially equal to 0.5 mm, a thickness (C) of its own intermediate portion substantially equal to 2.7 mm, a thickness (D) of a front portion of said protrusion substantially equal to 2.6 mm and a thickness (E) of a rear portion of said protrusion substantially equal to 4.7 mm.

6. Foot-strap system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one layer of adhesive or gluing material is interposed between said first (7) and said second (9) connection means.

Drawing