Footwear comfort componentry

Abstract

The present invention relates to footwear componentry for alleviating the discomfort caused by wearing high-heeled footwear.

1 . A footbed comprising a protuberance in the subcalcaneous region of said footbed, wherein further, the anterior portion of said protuberance is larger, relative to the posterior portion of said protuberance.  
     
     
         2 . A footbed according to  claim 1 , wherein further, said footbed is prepared from polyurethane materials.  
     
     
         3 . A footbed according to  claim 2 , wherein the top surface of said footbed is bonded to a polyurethane film, said film, capable of receiving colorants, fabrics or hides, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A footbed according to  claim 2 , wherein said footbed comprises a top surface of soft polyurethane foam, further provided that said protuberance in the subcalcaneous region of said footbed is a visco-elastic polyurethane elastomer.  
     
     
         5 . An insole comprising: 
 a. a posterior rigid foam ¾ component having a depression in the subcalcaneous region; further provided that the longitudinal and medial arches of said insole follow the contours of the last; and    b. a flexible metatarsal region.    
     
     
         6 . An insole according to  claim 5 , wherein further said posterior rigid foam ¾ component comprises a stepped taper along the forward edge of said posterior rigid foam ¾ component.  
     
     
         7 . An insole according to  claim 5 , wherein said posterior rigid foam ¾ component comprises a contour along its forward edge, further provided that the forward medial point of said forward edge extends behind the first metatarsal and the forward lateral point of said forward edge extends behind the fifth metatarsal.  
     
     
         8 . An insole according to  claim 5 , wherein further, said insole is prepared from polyurethane materials.  
     
     
         9 . An insole according to  claim 5 , further provided that said contours reflect a lower profile along the lateral side of said insole and a higher profile along the medial side of said insole.  
     
     
         10 . An insole according to  claim 5 , further provided that said posterior rigid foam ¾ component has one or more negative recesses along the top surface of said posterior rigid foam ¾ component and one or more positive protuberances along the bottom surface of said posterior rigid foam ¾ component.  
     
     
         11 . An insole according to  claim 5 , wherein further, said flexible metatarsal region comprises a tapered leading edge.  
     
     
         12 . A bi-layer footwear component comprising: 
 a. a first layer, wherein said first layer is comprised of a footbed comprising a protuberance in the subcalcaneous region of said footbed, wherein further, the anterior portion of said protuberance is larger relative to the posterior portion of said protuberance; and    b. a second layer, wherein said second layer is comprised of an insole comprising: 
 1) a posterior rigid foam ¾ component having a depression in the subcalcaneous region; further provided that the longitudinal and medial arches of said insole follow the contours of the last; and  
   2) a flexible metatarsal region.    
     
     
         13 . A bi-layer footwear component according to  claim 12 , wherein said footbed comprises a top layer of soft polyurethane foam, further provided that said protuberance in the subcalcaneous region of said footbed is a visco-elastic polyurethane elastomer.  
     
     
         14 . A bi-layer footwear component according to  claim 12 , wherein said contours reflect a lower profile along the lateral side of said insole and a higher profile along the medial side of said insole.  
     
     
         15 . A bi-layer footwear component according to  claim 12 , wherein said posterior rigid foam ¾ component has one or more negative recesses along the top surface of said posterior rigid foam ¾ component and one or more positive protuberances along the bottom surface of said posterior rigid foam ¾ component.  
     
     
         16 . Shankless high-heel footwear comprising: 
 a. a footbed, said footbed comprising a protuberance in the subcalcaneous region of said footbed, wherein further, the anterior portion of said protuberance is larger relative to the posterior portion of said protuberance; and    b. a posterior rigid foam ¾ component having a depression in the subcalcaneous region; further provided that the longitudinal and medial arches of said insole follow the contours of the last; and    c. a flexible metatarsal region    
     
     
         17 . A bi-layer footwear component comprising: 
 a. a first layer comprising a footbed having a protuberance in a subcalcaneous region of the footbed; and    b. a second layer including an insole comprising a posterior rigid heel portion having a depression in a subcalcaneous region of the rigid heel portion adapted to receive the protuberance of the footbed, a rigid arch region sized and shaped for extending under and supporting an arch of a wearer's foot free of any other supporting structure at the arch, and a flexible metatarsal region, the rigid heel portion and rigid arch portion being formed of the same material.    
     
     
         18 . A bi-layer footwear component according to  claim 17  wherein the rigid arch region has a generally channel-shaped cross section.  
     
     
         19 . A b-layer footwear component according to  claim 17 , wherein the material forming the rigid heel region and the rigid arch region is a polymeric material.  
     
     
         20 . A bi-layer footwear component according to  claim 19  wherein the material forming the rigid heel region and the rigid arch region is polyurethane.  
     
     
         21 . A bi-layer footwear component according to  claim 19  wherein the material forming the rigid heel region and the rigid arch region is a foamed polymeric material.  
     
     
         22 . A bi-layer footwear component according to  claim 17  wherein the rigid heel region and the rigid arch region are formed as one piece.  
     
     
         23 . A shankless high heel footwear comprising: 
 a. an outsole;    b. a heel;    c. an insole comprising a posterior rigid heel portion having a depression in a subcalcaneous region of the rigid heel portion and a rigid arch region sized and shaped for extending under and supporting an arch of a wearer's foot free of any other supporting structure at the arch, and a flexible metatarsal region, the rigid heel portion and rigid arch portion being formed of the same material;    d. a footbed having a protuberance in a subcalcaneous region of the footbed adapted to be received in the depression of the posterior rigid heel portion of the insole; and    e. an upper.    
     
     
         24 . A shankless high heel footwear according to  claim 23  wherein the rigid arch region has a general channel-shaped cross section.  
     
     
         25 . A shankless high heel footwear according to  claim 23  wherein the material forming the rigid heel region and the rigid arch region is a polymeric material.  
     
     
         26 . A shankless high heel footwear according to  claim 25  wherein the material forming the rigid heel region and the rigid arch region is polyurethane.  
     
     
         27 . A shankless high heel footwear according to  claim 25  wherein the material forming the rigid heel region and the rigid arch region is a foamed polymeric material.  
     
     
         28 . A shankless high heel footwear according to  claim 23  wherein the rigid heel region and rigid arch region are formed as one piece.