Insole

Abstract

A removable full length insole for insertion into open style footwear, includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion and a mid-foot portion connecting together the forefoot portion and the heel portion; a uniform thickness cushioning layer of a resilient material extending through the forefoot portion, heel portion and mid-foot portion; a substantially dome shaped pillow extending down from the cushioning layer at the forefoot portion and heel portion; and an arrangement for maintaining the insole in position in the footwear during a gait.

1 . An insole for insertion into footwear, comprising: 
 a) at least one of: 
 i) a forefoot portion, and  
 ii) a heel portion;  
   b) at least one of said forefoot portion and heel portion being formed by: 
 i) a cushioning layer of a resilient material which provides a cushioning function, and  
 ii) a substantially dome shaped pillow extending down from said cushioning layer; and  
   c) an arrangement for maintaining said insole in position in said footwear during a gait.    
     
     
         2 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said insole is a full or ¾ length insole formed from said forefoot portion, said heel portion and a mid-foot portion connecting together said forefoot portion and said heel portion.  
     
     
         3 . An insole according to  claim 2 , wherein said cushioning layer extends through said forefoot portion, heel portion and mid-foot portion, and each of said forefoot portion and heel portion includes a said substantially dome shaped pillow extending down from said cushioning layer thereat.  
     
     
         4 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning layer and said pillow are formed from the same material as a unitary, one-piece structure.  
     
     
         5 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning layer and pillow are formed from a foam material.  
     
     
         6 . An insole according to  claim 5 , wherein said arrangement for maintaining said insole in position includes an adhesive at a lower surface of the insole.  
     
     
         7 . An insole according to  claim 6 , wherein said adhesive is a release adhesive that permits removal of the insole from the footwear and repositioning the insole in the footwear.  
     
     
         8 . An insole according to  claim 5 , wherein said arrangement for  10  maintaining said insole in position includes a high friction lower surface of the insole.  
     
     
         9 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning layer and pillow are formed from a viscoelastic gel material.  
     
     
         10 . An insole according to  claim 9 , wherein said arrangement for maintaining said insole in position includes a tackifier added to said gel material.  
     
     
         11 . An insole according to  claim 9 , wherein said gel material is formed by a plurality of spaced apart spring walls formed from said viscoelastic gel, said spring walls extending from a lower surface of said cushioning layer.  
     
     
         12 . An insole according to  claim 11 , wherein said spring walls each have a height which is greatest at a center of said pillow and which tapers in height toward edges of said pillow.  
     
     
         13 . An insole according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said spring walls is formed in a generally sinusoidal wave shape.  
     
     
         14 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning layer has a substantially uniform thickness of about 2 mm and said pillow has a height less than about 3 mm.  
     
     
         15 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning layer tapers in thickness toward a periphery of said insole.  
     
     
         16 . An insole according to  claim 1 , further comprising a top cover secured to an upper surface of said cushioning layer.