Rigid Shoe Insert with Raised Heel

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a shoe insert having a raised heel creating a rigid inner sole extending from the heel to the end of the arch of the foot such that any athletic shoe can be modified for use as a weight lifting shoe by inserting the shoe insert. The insert is capable of being secured into any footwear, thus eliminating the cost of specific shoes for weight lifting activities.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A rigid shoe insert comprising:
 a raised heel;   a rigid insole extending from the heel, through the arch to the beginning of the forefoot and not extending under the forefoot to a front end, the rigid insole being narrower at the arch than at the front end;   a raised edge around the heel, creating a heel cup and securing the position of the heel of the wearer in the insert wherein the insert is within an article of footwear, said raised edge being wider than a base of the raised heel; and   wherein the shoe insert is secure in the article of footwear, and the shoe insert is made of a rigid material.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is made in one piece. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein the percent rise from the front end to the raised is approximately 10 percent. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein at least one support strut extends from the raised heel to the insole on the under side of the shoe insert. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the raised edge is approximately half of the height of the raised heel. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe insert of  claim 1 , wherein a lip extends around the circumference of the heel between the raised edge and lower portion of the raised heel. 
     
     
         7 . A rigid shoe insert comprising:
 a raised heel having a raised edge extending from one side of an insole to the opposite side of said insole, said raised edge being approximately half as high, as measured from the insole to the top of the edge, as the raised heel, as measured from a base of the heel to the insole;   the insole extending from the heel, through the arch to the beginning of the forefoot and not extending under the forefoot to a front end, the rigid insole being approximately 33 percent narrower at the arch than at the front end, such that the narrow area is easily placed within an athletic shoe;   the raised edge around the heel, securing the heel of the wearer in the center of the insert wherein the insert is within the athletic shoe, said raised edge being wider than the raised heel;   a lip extending around the circumference of the heel between the raised edge and lower portion of the raised heel; and   wherein the raised heel and raised edge fit securely within the athletic shoe, the shoe insert being one piece and is made of a rigid material.   
     
     
         8 . The shoe insert of  claim 7 , wherein the percent rise from the front end to the raised is approximately 10 percent. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe insert of  claim 7 , wherein at least one support strut extends from the raised heel to the insole on the under side of the shoe insert. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe insert of  claim 7 , wherein the height of the raised heel from the base to the insole is approximately ½ inch. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe insert of  claim 7 , wherein the height of the raised edge from the insole to the top of the raised edge is approximately ¼ inch. 
     
     
         12 . A rigid athletic shoe insert comprising:
 a raised heel having a raised edge extending from one side of an insole to the opposite side of said insole, said raised edge being approximately half as high, as measured from the insole to the top of the edge, as the raised heel, as measured from a base of the heel to the insole, and where the raised edge is of larger width than the raised heel;   the insole extending from the heel, through the arch to the beginning of the forefoot and not extending under the forefoot to a front end, the rigid insole being approximately 33 percent narrower at the arch than at the front end, such that the narrow area is easily placed within an athletic shoe, and the wider front end secures the insert within the athletic shoe;   at least one support strut extending from the raised heel to the insole under the arch of the shoe insert;   a lip extending around the circumference of the heel between the raised edge and lower portion of the raised heel;   the raised edge around the heel, securing the heel of the wearer in the center of the insert wherein the insert is within the athletic shoe, said raised edge being approximately 33 wider than the base of the raised heel; and   wherein the raised heel and raised edge fit securely within the athletic shoe, the shoe insert being one piece and is made of a rigid material.   
     
     
         13 . The shoe insert of  claim 12 , wherein the height of the raised heel from the base to the insole is approximately ½ inch. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe insert of  claim 12 , wherein the height of the raised edge from the insole to the top of the raised edge is approximately ¼ inch.