Insole For Shoes

Abstract

An insole is proposed for a shoe. The insole has a lower side configured to face a shoe outsole, and an upper side opposite the back side for contacting the sole of a shoe wearer's foot. A projection projects upwardly from the upper side. The insole is configured to position the projection at a location of the user's foot directly under a medial side of the cuboid bone. A kit for assembling an insole for a shoe is also provided. A method for treating a disorder of the foot is further provided.

1 . An insole for a shoe, comprising:
 a lower side configured to face a shoe outsole;   an upper side opposite the back side for contacting the sole of a shoe wearer's foot; and   a projection projecting upwardly from the upper side;   wherein the insole is configured to position the projection at a location of the user's foot directly under a medial side of the cuboid bone where the cuboid bone borders a navicular bone on one side and a calcaneus bone on another side wherein a targeted pressure is applied to said location of the user's foot whereby there is achieved an unlocking of the cuboid bone during the user's stride.   
     
     
         2 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein the projection has a base which has a size relative to the size of the insole which is up to about 25%, 20% or 15%, or which is in the range of about 4% to about 8% thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The insole of  claim 2 , wherein the projection has a base which has a size relative to the size of the insole which is up 15% thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The insole of  claim 2 , wherein the projection has a base which has a size relative to the size of the insole which is in the range of about 4% to about 8% thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein the projection has a height in a range from about 3 mm to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein the projection is permanently connected to the insole or comprises an integral component part of the shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein the projection is releasably connected to the insole. 
     
     
         8 . The insole of  claim 1  wherein the insole is defined by a toe end facing the wearer's toe, a heel end facing the wearer's heel and a central axis extending from the toe end to the heel end, wherein the projection has a front end generally facing the wearer's toes, a rear end opposed to the front end and a front/rear axis extending from the front end to the rear end, wherein the upper surface of said projection comprises an elongate ridge defined by a length along the front/rear horizontal axis of the ridge which is greater than a width transverse to said front/rear axis with a length:width ratio which is greater than 1:1 or in a range of about 1.2:1 to about 3:1. 
     
     
         9 . The insole of  claim 8  wherein said ridge has a length/width ratio of about 4:1. 
     
     
         10 . The insole of  claim 8  wherein said insole is configured whereby the front/rear axis of the ridge is angled on a horizontal plane relative to the central axis within a range which is one of: 5° to 75°, 5° to 50°, 5° to 35° or 25° to 35°, wherein said horizontal plane is parallel to a flat ground surface when said shoe is placed thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The insole of  claim 10  wherein the front/rear axis of said ridge is disposed at a horizontal angle of about 25° to 35° relative to the central axis of the insole. 
     
     
         12 . The insole of  claim 10  wherein the front/rear axis of said ridge is disposed at a horizontal angle relative to the central axis of the insole which substantially matches the angle by which medial edge of the cuboid bone of the human foot angles laterally from a central axis of the human foot, wherein the central axis is defined by an axis extending from the middle of the calcaneous bone to the tip of the index (second) toe. 
     
     
         13 . A kit for assembling an insole for a shoe comprising:
 a base comprising a lower side configured to face a shoe outsole and an upper side opposite the back side for contacting the sole of a shoe wearer's foot; and   a plurality of projection members configured to selectively assemble to the base to project upwardly from the upper side;   wherein the assembled insole comprises a single one of said projection members and is configured to position the projection member at a location of the user's foot directly under a medial side of the cuboid bone where the cuboid bone borders a navicular bone on one side and a calcaneus bone on another side whereby a targeted pressure is applied to said location of the user's foot whereby there is achieved an unlocking of the cuboid bone during the user's stride.   
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the projection member has a base which has a size relative to the size of the insole which is up to about 25%, 20% or 15%, or which is in the range of about 4% to about 8% thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the projection has a base which has a size relative to the size of the insole which is up 15% thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the projection has a base which has a size relative to the size of the insole which is in the range of about 4% to about 8% thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the projection member has a height in a range from about 3 mm to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein the assembled insole is defined by a toe end facing the wearer's toe, a heel end facing the wearer's heel and a central axis extending from the toe end to the heel end, wherein when assembled the projection has a front end generally facing the wearer's toes, a rear end opposed to the front end and a front/rear axis extending from the front end to the rear end, wherein the upper surface of said projection comprises an elongate ridge defined by a length along the front/rear horizontal axis of the ridge which is greater than a width transverse to said front/rear axis with a length:width ratio which is greater than 1:1 or in a range of about 1.2:1 to about 3:1. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein said ridge has a length/width ratio of about 4:1. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein said insole when assembled is configured whereby the front/rear axis of the ridge is angled on a horizontal plane relative to the central axis within a range which is one of: 5° to 75°, 5° to 50°, 5° to 35° or 25° to 35°, wherein said horizontal plane is parallel to a flat ground surface when said shoe is placed thereon. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the front/rear axis of said ridge is disposed at a horizontal angle of about 25° to 35° relative to the central axis of the insole. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the front/rear axis of said ridge is disposed at a horizontal angle relative to the central axis of the insole which substantially matches the angle by which medial edge of the cuboid bone of the human foot angles laterally from a central axis of the human foot, wherein the central axis is defined by an axis extending from the middle of the calcaneous bone to the tip of the index (second) toe. 
     
     
         23 . A method for treating a disorder of the foot comprising the steps of fitting an insole within a shoe whereby the insole comprises the insole of  claim 1 , said method comprising weight bearing on said insole during walking or running. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the insole comprises the insole of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the insole comprises the insole of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said disorder is cuboid syndrome, hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammertoe, or foot pain. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said disorder is cuboid syndrome.