Ventilating insole for footwear

Abstract

A footwear insole including a ventilation mechanism for helping to reduce moisture, increase comfort, and/or reduce odor inside the footwear.

1 . An insole for footwear, the insole comprising:
 a top layer, the top layer being porous;   a bottom layer, the bottom layer extending from a front-most portion of the insole to a rear-most portion of the insole;   a channel disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer; and   a compressible element disposed in the channel, the compressible element being housed entirely between the top layer and the bottom layer, the compressible element comprising a reversibly deformable shell defining at least one interior cavity, the compressible element configured to release air from the at least one interior cavity into the channel upon compression of the compressible element.   
     
     
         2 . The insole as in  claim 1 , wherein the compressible element is disposed in a heel portion of the insole. 
     
     
         3 . The insole as in  claim 1 , wherein the compressible element comprises at least two interior cavities. 
     
     
         4 . The insole as in  claim 1 , wherein the top layer of the insole comprises a mesh material. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The insole as in  claim 1 , wherein the compressible element is configured to absorb shock from taking a step. 
     
     
         7 . The insole as in  claim 1 , wherein the compressible element comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         8 . The insole as in  claim 2 , wherein the compressible element comprises an open end and a closed end disposed opposite the open end. 
     
     
         9 . The insole as in  claim 8 , wherein the open end faces towards a front portion of the insole. 
     
     
         10 . An insole for footwear, the insole comprising:
 a top layer, the top layer being porous;   a bottom layer, the bottom layer comprising an uppermost surface extending from a front-most portion of the insole to a rear-most portion of the insole;   a channel disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer; and   a compressible element disposed in the channel entirely above the uppermost surface of the bottom layer and below the top layer, the compressible element comprising a reversibly deformable shell defining at least one interior cavity, the compressible element configured to release air from the at least one interior cavity into the channel upon compression of the compressible element.   
     
     
         11 . The insole as in  claim 10 , wherein the compressible element is disposed in a heel portion of the insole. 
     
     
         12 . The insole as in  claim 10 , wherein the top layer of the insole comprises a mesh material. 
     
     
         13 . The insole as in  claim 10 , wherein the compressible element is configured to absorb shock from taking a step. 
     
     
         14 . The insole as in  claim 10 , wherein the compressible element comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         15 . The insole as in  claim 11 , wherein the compressible element comprises an open end and a closed end disposed opposite the open end. 
     
     
         16 . The insole as in  claim 15 , wherein the open end faces towards a front portion of the insole.