Shoe insert

Abstract

A shoe insert including a bladder positioned within a main body. The bladder includes a fluid tight membrane defining an interior chamber containing a liquid. The bladder further includes a heel portion in fluid communication with lateral and medial passages, which are in turn in fluid communication with a metatarsal portion. A central island of solid material is bounded by the heel portion, the lateral and medial passages, and the metatarsal portion, such that the bladder is configured to move liquid contained within the interior chamber in a cycle that conforms to a natural gait cycle.

1 . A shoe insert configured to cushion a foot through a normal gait cycle comprising: 
 a main body formed of a solid material configured to support and cushion a foot, said main body being defined by an outer perimeter that bounds a heel area, a lateral area, a medial area, and a toe area; and    a bladder positioned within said main body, said bladder including a fluid tight membrane defining an interior chamber containing a fluid, said interior chamber being defined by a heel portion in fluid communication with lateral and medial passages, which are in turn in fluid communication with a metatarsal portion, wherein a central island of solid material is bounded by said heel portion, said lateral and medial passages, and said metatarsal portion, wherein said bladder is configured to move said fluid contained within said interior chamber in a cycle that conforms to the natural gait cycle.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid moves from said heel portion to said lateral passage during the natural gait cycle, wherein said fluid passes from said lateral passage onto said metatarsal portion during the natural gait cycle, and wherein said fluid is returned to said heel portion by way of said medial passage during the natural gait cycle.  
     
     
         3 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid moves within said interior chamber in an exact manner in which a human foot distributes weight across a plantar surface of the foot during the natural gait cycle.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid is a mixture of liquid silicone and air.  
     
     
         5 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein said main body includes a base secured to an upper cushion.  
     
     
         6 . The shoe insert of  claim 5 , wherein said base is formed of solid silicone having a hardness on the order of 50-75 durometer.  
     
     
         7 . The shoe insert of  claim 5 , wherein said upper cushion is formed of solid silicone having a hardness on the order of 10-25 durometer.  
     
     
         8 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said heel portion, said lateral and medial passages, and said metatarsal portion are recessed away from said outer perimeter toward said central island.  
     
     
         9 . A shoe insert configured to cushion a foot through a normal gait cycle comprising: 
 a main body formed of a solid material configured to support and cushion a foot, said main body being defined by an outer perimeter that bounds a heel area, a lateral area, a medial area, and a toe area; and    a fluid-tight bladder containing a fluid supported by said main body, wherein said fluid is a mixture of liquid silicone and air, said bladder comprising a heel portion in fluid communication with lateral and medial passages, said lateral and medial portions also being in fluid communication with a metatarsal portion, wherein a central island of solid material is bounded by said heel portion, said lateral and medial passages, and said metatarsal portion, wherein said bladder is configured to move said fluid in a cycle that conforms to the exact manner in which a human foot distributes weight across a plantar surface of the foot during the natural gait cycle.    
     
     
         10 . The shoe insert of  claim 9 , wherein said fluid moves from said heel portion to said lateral passage during the natural gait cycle, wherein said fluid passes from said lateral passage onto said metatarsal portion during the natural gait cycle, and wherein said fluid is returned to said heel portion by way of said medial passage during the natural gait cycle.  
     
     
         11 . The shoe insert of  claim 9 , wherein said main body includes a base secured to an upper cushion.  
     
     
         12 . The shoe insert of  claim 11 , wherein said base is formed of solid silicone having a hardness on the order of 50-75 durometer.  
     
     
         13 . The shoe insert of  claim 11 , wherein said upper cushion is formed of solid silicone having a hardness on the order of 10-25 durometer.  
     
     
         14 . The shoe insert of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said heel portion, said lateral and medial passages, and said metatarsal portion are recessed toward said central island.  
     
     
         15 . A shoe insert configured to cushion a foot through a normal gait cycle comprising: 
 a main body formed of a solid material configured to support and cushion a foot, said main body being defined by an outer perimeter that bounds a heel area, a lateral area, a medial area, and a toe area; and    a fluid-tight bladder containing a fluid supported by said main body, said bladder comprising a heel portion in fluid communication with lateral and medial passages, said lateral and medial portions also being in fluid communication with a metatarsal portion, wherein a central island of solid material is bounded by said heel portion, said lateral and medial passages, and said metatarsal portion, at least one of said heel portion, said lateral and medial passages, and said metatarsal portion being recessed away from said outer perimeter and toward said central island,    wherein said bladder is configured to move said fluid in a cycle that conforms to the exact manner in which a human foot distributes weight across a plantar surface of the foot during the natural gait cycle, wherein said fluid moves from said heel portion to said lateral passage during the natural gait cycle, wherein said fluid passes from said lateral passage onto said metatarsal portion during the natural gait cycle, and wherein said fluid is returned to said heel portion by way of said medial passage during the natural gait cycle.    
     
     
         16 . The shoe insert of  claim 15 , wherein said main body includes a base secured to an upper cushion.  
     
     
         17 . The shoe insert of  claim 16 , wherein said base is formed of solid silicone having a hardness on the order of 50-75 durometer.  
     
     
         18 . The shoe insert of  claim 17 , wherein said upper cushion is formed of solid silicone having a hardness on the order of 10-25 durometer.  
     
     
         19 . The shoe insert of  claim 15 , wherein the shoe insert is devoid of any valves.