Footwear

Abstract

An insole, inner sole or insert sole member therefor for a shoe. An improved insole, inner-sole or sole insert for a shoe which overcomes or ameliorates some of the problems found in modern footwear, particularly those with a stiff sole or a high heel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe insole, the insole being operably fitted to the whole area of an inside sole portion of a shoe, from a rearmost, heel portion to support a heel of a user of the shoe to a distal portion under the toes of a wearer of the shoe; the insole comprising three layers, wherein:
 a first insole layer comprises a heel section which extends from a rearmost portion, the heel section being sized and shaped to accommodate, in use, forces arising in use from a heel of a user of the shoe;   a second insole layer extends from the heel section to an area associated, in use, with a ball of the foot, where a distal edge of the second insole layer follows, generally, an angle subtended by the user's phalanges; and   a third insole layer overlies the first and second insole layers, providing the only support for the phalanges,   wherein, toward the distal edge of the second insole layer, the insole is chamfered and wherein the first, second, and third insole layers are manufactured from foam in ranges of, respectively, 40-50° Asker hardness; 20-30° Asker hardness; and 60-90° Asker hardness; and wherein:   the first insole layer defines a lift, such that, in use, load is spread about the heel and the heel is raised to provide an improved spinal alignment.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein the thicknesses of the layers are between, from first to third, respectively, 3 and 7 mm; 3 and 9 mm; and 1 and 8 mm. 
     
     
         3 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein the layered materials are of plastic foam and the layers have densities, from first to third, respectively, of 0.13-0.17; 0.09-0.13; and 0.13-0.17 g/cm3. 
     
     
         4 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein, toward the edge of the distal edge of the first insole layer, the first insole layer is chamfered. 
     
     
         5 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoe has a longitudinal axis from heel to toe and wherein an edge of the heel chamfer is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoe has a longitudinal axis from heel to toe and wherein an edge of the heel chamfer is substantially at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoe has a longitudinal axis from heel to toe and wherein an edge of the second insole layer chamfer is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoe has a longitudinal axis from heel to toe and wherein the edge of the second insole layer chamfer is substantially at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein thicknesses of the layers are, from first to third, respectively, 5 mm; 5 mm; and 2 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein the layered materials are of plastic foam and the layers have densities, from first to third, respectively, of 0.15; 0.11; and 0.15 g/cm3. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein the layered materials are of plastic foam and the layers have hardnesses, from first to third, respectively, of 45; 25; and 70-80° Asker. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe insole according to  claim 11 , wherein the layered materials are of polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe insole according to  claim 11 , wherein the layered materials are of polyurethane and rubber foam. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1 , wherein, the third insole layer is of a thickness of between and 1 and 8 mm and comprises a laminated foam having a first upper layer with an additional layer of a harder foam which faces the second insole layer, the upper layer of foam being of a thickness in the range of 1-4 mm, having a density in the range of 0.13-0.17.g/cm3, and a hardness in the range of 60-90° Asker foam, and the additional layer of foam being of a thickness in the range of 1-4 mm, having a density in the range of 0.10-0.14 g/cm3, and a hardness in the range of 15-35° Asker foam. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe having an insole in accordance with  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A shoe having an insole in accordance with  claim 11 .