Shoe insole with flexible inserts

Abstract

Footwear includes an insole provided with inserts of resilient material at the heel-strike and ball areas of the insole. The resilient material may be formed integrally with the insole. The resilient material of the inserts is made up of a smooth upper surface 15 and a lower surface comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, downwardly-extending hemispheres. The hemispheres are spaced, in uncompressed condition, but will touch upon compression. The hemispheres have a vertical aperture that can be widened to the point where the hemisphere is completely hollow. The apertures in the hemispheres allow them to collapse into the void, dispel air, flex and spread, thus making these areas much softer to the feel. The durometer value of these heel-strike and ball areas will vary, depending on how hollow the hemispheres are. The material does not lose memory as with many cushioning foams.

1 . An insole for use in footwear construction to provide added softness in the heel-strike and ball areas, comprising:
 a flexible insole, the insole having heel-strike and ball areas;   the insole further including resilient material at the heel-strike and ball areas;   the resilient material made up of a smooth, upper surface portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, downwardly-extending, apertured hemispheres.   
     
     
         2 . An insole for use in footwear construction to provide added softness in the heel-strike and ball areas, comprising:
 a flexible insole, the insole having cavities at the heel-strike and ball areas;   the insole further including inserts of resilient material for placement within the heel-strike and ball area cavities;   the resilient material made up of a smooth, upper surface portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, downwardly-extending, apertured hemispheres.   
     
     
         3 . An insole for use in footwear construction to provide added softness, comprising:
 a flexible insole, the insole including resilient material;   the resilient material made up of a smooth, upper surface portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of spaced-apart, downwardly-extending, apertured hemispheres.   
     
     
         4 . The insole of  claim 3  having a heel-strike area and wherein the resilient material is disposed at the heel-strike area of the insole. 
     
     
         5 . The insole of  claim 3  having a ball area and wherein the resilient material is disposed at the ball area of the insole. 
     
     
         6 . The insole of  claim 3  wherein the resilient material is disposed at the heel-strike and ball areas of the insole.