Shock-absorbing insole for use in a shoe

Abstract

A shock-absorbing insole includes an insole body having a heel portion with first upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other. The first upper surface has an inner peripheral edge region that defines a through hole which extends from the first upper surface to communicate with the first lower surface. A cushioning pad includes a heel-cushioning portion with second upper and lower surfaces and of a dimension substantially equal to that of the through hole, a plurality of spaced apart shock-absorbing posts extending downwardly from the second lower surface, and a peripheral anchoring portion that surrounds the heel-cushioning portion and that is superimposed upon the inner peripheral edge region when the heel-cushioning portion is brought to mate with the through hole such that the shock-absorbing posts extend through the through hole, and have lower ends flush with the first lower surface of the heel portion.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A shock-absorbing insole adapted to be disposed in a shoe, comprising: 
 an insole body having a heel portion with first upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other in a transverse direction, said first upper surface having an inner peripheral edge region that defines a through hole which extends from said first upper surface in said transverse direction to communicate with said first lower surface; and    a cushioning pad including a heel-cushioning portion with second upper and lower surfaces opposite to each other in said transverse direction and of a dimension substantially equal to that of said through hole, a plurality of spaced apart shock-absorbing posts extending downwardly from said second lower surface, and a peripheral anchoring portion surrounding said heel-cushioning portion and superimposing upon said inner peripheral edge region when said heel-cushioning portion is brought to mate with said through hole such that said shock-absorbing posts extend through said through hole, and have lower ends flush with said first lower surface of said heel portion, said shock-absorbing posts being capable of deforming when a foot treads on said second upper surface of said heel-cushioning portion so as to absorb shocks resulting from the treading action.    
     
     
         2 . The shock-absorbing insole as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second upper surface of said heel-cushioning portion includes a central section, and an annular intermediate section which surrounds said central section and which is interposed between said central section and said anchoring portion.  
     
     
         3 . The shock-absorbing insole as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said central section is disposed at an elevation higher than said intermediate section such that said second upper surface of said heel-cushioning portion inclines gradually and downwardly from said central section toward said intermediate section.  
     
     
         4 . The shock-absorbing insole as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said inner peripheral edge region has an inner peripheral wall surface extending from said first upper surface to said first lower surface so as to confine said through hole, said shock-absorbing posts cooperatively defining an outer peripheral engaging surface which frictionally engages said inner peripheral wall surface to permit snug-fitting of said shock-absorbing posts in said through hole.  
     
     
         5 . The shock-absorbing insole as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said shock-absorbing posts is hollow, and has a hexagonal cross-section.  
     
     
         6 . The shock-absorbing insole as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said shock-absorbing posts is solid, and has a hexagonal cross-section.  
     
     
         7 . The shock-absorbing insole as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said insole body is made from a foam material having a first stiffness.  
     
     
         8 . The shock-absorbing insole as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning pad is made from an elastomeric material having a second stiffness different from said first stiffness.