Shoe Insole

Abstract

An insole comprising a cushioning member and a bladder housing a flowable material. The bladder has a proximal forefoot portion, a hindfoot portion, and a lateral midfoot portion. The bladder does not substantially extend over the medial midfoot portion of said cushioning member. The bladder may house hollow microspheres.

1 . An insole for insertion into footwear, said insole comprising:
 a cushioning member having a forefoot portion, a hindfoot portion, and a midfoot portion which connects the forefoot portion and the hindfoot portion together, wherein said midfoot portion includes a medial midfoot portion and lateral midfoot portion;   a bladder connected to said cushioning member, said bladder housing a flowable material, said bladder having a proximal forefoot portion, a hindfoot portion, and a lateral midfoot portion which connects the proximal forefoot portion of said bladder and the hindfoot portion of said bladder together and wherein said bladder does not substantially extend over said medial midfoot portion of said cushioning member.   
     
     
         2 . The insole of  claim 1  further comprising a secondary forefoot cushioning member located adjacent said forefoot portion of said cushioning member. 
     
     
         3 . The insole of  claim 2  wherein said cushioning member and said secondary forefoot cushioning member are comprised of the same material. 
     
     
         4 . The insole of  claim 1  wherein said cushioning member comprises a foam member. 
     
     
         5 . The insole of  claim 1  wherein said forefoot portion of said cushioning member is thicker than said hindfoot portion of said cushioning member and said midfoot portion of said cushioning member. 
     
     
         6 . The insole of  claim 1  wherein said flowable material comprises microparticles in a carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The insole of  claim 6  wherein said microparticles comprise hollow microspheres. 
     
     
         8 . The insole of  claim 7  wherein said hollow microspheres are comprised of a vinylidene chloride, polypropylene, or acrylonitrile polymer or copolymer. 
     
     
         9 . The insole of  claim 7  wherein said hollow microspheres are comprised of glass, ceramic, or plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The insole of  claim 7  wherein said hollow microspheres have a crush strength of up to about 2000 psi. 
     
     
         11 . The insole of  claim 7  wherein said hollow microspheres have a particle size of about 500 microns or less. 
     
     
         12 . The insole of  claim 7  wherein said hollow microspheres have a particle size of about 100 to 350 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The insole of  claim 1  wherein said flowable material has a density of about 0.3 to 1.0 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         14 . The insole of  claim 1  wherein said flowable material has a viscosity of about 3000 to 70,000 cp. 
     
     
         15 . The insole of  claim 1  wherein said cushioning member has a recess for receiving said bladder. 
     
     
         16 . The insole of  claim 15  wherein said cushioning member has a first major face and a second major face, and wherein said recess is located in said second major face, and wherein said bladder is received within said recess such that the bladder extends beyond the second major face of the cushioning member. 
     
     
         17 . An insole for insertion into footwear, said insole comprising:
 a cushioning member having a forefoot portion, a hindfoot portion, and a midfoot portion which connects the forefoot portion and the hindfoot portion together, wherein said midfoot portion includes a medial midfoot portion and lateral midfoot portion;   a bladder connected to said cushioning material, said bladder housing a flowable material comprising hollow microspheres.   
     
     
         18 . The insole of  claim 17  wherein said microspheres are in a carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The insole of  claim 17  wherein said hollow microspheres are comprised of a vinylidene chloride, polypropylene, or acrylonitrile polymer or copolymer. 
     
     
         20 . The insole of  claim 17  wherein said hollow microspheres are comprised of glass, ceramic, or plastic. 
     
     
         21 . The insole of  claim 17  wherein said hollow microspheres have a crush strength of up to about 2000 psi. 
     
     
         22 . The insole of  claim 17  wherein said hollow microspheres have a particle size of about 500 microns or less. 
     
     
         23 . The insole of  claim 17  wherein said hollow microspheres have a particle size of about 100 to 350 microns. 
     
     
         24 . The insole of  claim 17  wherein said hollow microspheres have a density of about 0.3 to 1.0 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         25 . The insole of  claim 17  wherein said flowable material has a viscosity of about 3000 to 70,000 cp.