Foot-bed for a shoe

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a shoe assembly having at least an outsole and an upper, and a foot-bed removeably provided with the shoe assembly, the foot-bed includes a plurality of layers or regions with the densities of the material forming the plurality of layers or regions differing from each other, and a layer of the foot-bed being formed by spaced-apart regions extending upwardly from one or more of the other layers.

1 . A shoe, comprising:
 an upper adapted to receive a foot;   an outsole secured to the upper, the outsole including a ground engaging surface; and   a foot-bed configured to be removably inserted into the upper,   wherein the foot-bed includes a plurality of layers, a first layer being made from a material having a first density, a second layer being made from a material having a second density that is different than the first density.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot-bed includes a third layer formed on a portion of the second layer, the third layer having a third density that is different from the first and second density, the third density being less dense than each of the first and second densities. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein a third layer is provided on top of the second layer and extends above a top surface of the second layer, the third layer including a plurality of spaced apart regions each formed on top of the second layer. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe according to  claim 3 , wherein the third layer includes a first region provided along a medial edge of the foot-bed substantially corresponding to an arch area of a foot, the first region being spaced apart from a second region located along a lateral edge of the foot-bed. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the third layer includes a third region provided along the medial edge of the foot-bed in an area of the foot-bed corresponding to the hallux, the third region being space apart from each of the first and second regions. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein the first, second, and third regions are separated by the second layer of the foot-bed. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the first layer of the foot-bed is a bottom layer, a portion of the first layer extends upwardly from part of a peripheral region of the bottom layer in the heel area of the foot-bed. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the portion of the first layer extending upwardly extends asymmetrically in the heel area as viewed in a heel direction such that a greater portion extends along the lateral edge compared to a back edge of the heel area. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the bottom layer is formed from at least one of thermoplastic polyurethane and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe according to  claim 3 , wherein the second layer is formed of a foam material that is less dense than the material forming the bottom layer. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first, second and third regions are formed of a material different from the material of the second layer. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe according to  claim 11 , wherein the material of the at least one of the first, second and third regions is less dense than either of the materials forming the first and second layers. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein at least two of the first, second and third regions extend above a top surface of the second layer a different distance. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe according to  claim 13 , wherein the first region extends a higher distance above the top surface than the second and third regions. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the first region extends a first distance above a top surface of the second layer, and the portion of the first layer extending upwardly extends a distance above the top surface substantially the same as the first distance. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the first region includes a substantially planar top surface with beveled edges that are sloped and extend to a top surface of the second layer. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein the first, second and third regions are different from each other in at least one of material, location, dimensions, and thickness. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom layer is thicker along a medial side than on a lateral side of the foot-bed. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe according to  claim 18 , wherein an angle formed by the bottom layer from a lateral side of the shoe to a medial side of the shoe is approximately fifteen degrees.