Molded footbed with integrally formed massaging domes

Abstract

A footbed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a top surface; a bottom surface; a plurality of domes formed in the footbed, the plurality of domes protruding at the top surface; each of the plurality of domes having an outer diameter at the top surface and a cavity formed under the dome, the cavity extending to the bottom surface; a first set of the plurality of domes each having a first outer diameter at the top surface; a second set of the plurality of domes each having a second outer diameter at the top surface; wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter, and wherein the footbed is a single piece of injection molded foam material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footbed comprising:
 a top surface;   a bottom surface;   a plurality of domes formed in the footbed, the plurality of domes protruding at the top surface;   each of the plurality of domes having an outer diameter at the top surface and a cavity formed under the dome, the cavity extending to the bottom surface;   a first set of the plurality of domes each having a first outer diameter at the top surface;   a second set of the plurality of domes each having a second outer diameter at the top surface;   wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter, and   wherein the footbed is a single piece of injection molded foam material.   
     
     
         2 . The footbed of  claim 1 , the first set of the plurality of domes each having a first inner diameter at the bottom surface, wherein the first inner diameter is smaller than the first outer diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The footbed of  claim 2 , the second set of the plurality of domes each having a second inner diameter at the bottom surface, and wherein the first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The footbed of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface comprises a heel region, a midfoot region, and a forefoot region, the heel region configured to engage a user's heel and the forefoot region configured to engage a user's forefoot during use of the footbed; wherein the heel region comprises more of the first set of the plurality of domes than the second set of the plurality of domes. 
     
     
         5 . The footbed of  claim 4 , wherein the heel region does not include any of the second set of the plurality of domes, and wherein the forefoot region does not include any of the first set of the plurality of domes. 
     
     
         6 . The footbed of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third set of the plurality of domes each having a third outer diameter at the top surface, wherein the second outer diameter is larger than the third outer diameter.   
     
     
         7 . The footbed of  claim 6 , wherein the top surface comprises a heel region, a midfoot region, and a forefoot region, the heel region configured to engage a user's heel and the forefoot region configured to engage a user's forefoot during use of the footbed, the midfoot region situated between the heel region and the forefoot region; wherein the heel region comprises more of the first set of the plurality of domes than the second and third sets of the plurality of domes; wherein the forefoot region comprises more of the second set of the plurality of domes than the first and third sets of the plurality of domes; and wherein the midfoot region comprises more of the third set of the plurality of domes than the first and second sets of the plurality of domes. 
     
     
         8 . The footbed of  claim 7 , wherein, along a length from a heel end toward a toe end of the footbed, the heel region comprises a first third of the length, the midfoot region comprises a second third of the length, and the forefoot region comprises a third third of the length. 
     
     
         9 . The footbed of  claim 7 , wherein the first set of the plurality of domes is situated only at the heel region or between the heel region and the midfoot region; wherein the second set of the plurality of domes is situated only at the forefoot region or between the forefoot region and the midfoot region and between the midfoot region and the heel region; and wherein the third set of the plurality of domes is situated only at the midfoot region or between the midfoot region and the heel region or between the midfoot region and the forefoot region. 
     
     
         10 . The footbed of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer diameter is at least five millimeters, and wherein the first outer diameter is fifteen to seventy-five percent larger than the second outer diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The footbed of  claim 10 , wherein the first inner diameter is at least four millimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The footbed of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of each of the plurality of domes between the top surface and the cavity is between 1 and 2.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The footbed of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of each of the plurality of domes is flush with the top surface. 
     
     
         14 . A footwear system comprising:
 a footbed comprising:
 a footbed top surface; 
 a footbed bottom surface; 
 a plurality of domes formed in the footbed, the plurality of domes protruding at the footbed top surface; 
 each of the plurality of domes having an outer diameter at the top surface and a cavity formed under the dome, the cavity extending to the footbed bottom surface; 
 a first set of the plurality of domes each having a first outer diameter at the footbed top surface; 
 a second set of the plurality of domes each having a second outer diameter at the footbed top surface; 
 wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter, and 
 wherein the footbed is a single piece of injection molded foam material; and 
   an outsole comprising:
 an outsole top surface; and 
 an outsole bottom surface, 
 wherein the outsole top surface is adhered to the footbed bottom surface such that the cavity of each of the plurality of domes entraps air in the cavity during use. 
   
     
     
         15 . The footwear system of  claim 14 , wherein the cavity of each of the plurality of domes permanently entraps air, such that the entrapped air provides greater resistance to deformation of each of the plurality of domes than each of the plurality of domes would exhibit without such air entrapment. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear system of  claim 14 , wherein each cavity of the plurality of domes is not in fluid communication with other cavities of the plurality of domes. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear system of  claim 14 , wherein the top surface comprises a heel region, a midfoot region, and a forefoot region, the heel region configured to engage a user's heel and the forefoot region configured to engage a user's forefoot during use of the footbed; wherein the forefoot region does not include any of the first set of the plurality of domes. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a third set of the plurality of domes each having a third outer diameter at the top surface, wherein the second outer diameter is larger than the third outer diameter.   
     
     
         19 . The footwear system of  claim 18 , wherein the top surface comprises a heel region, a midfoot region, and a forefoot region, the heel region configured to engage a user's heel and the forefoot region configured to engage a user's forefoot during use of the footbed, the midfoot region situated between the heel region and the forefoot region; wherein the heel region comprises more of the first set of the plurality of domes than the second and third sets of the plurality of domes; wherein the forefoot region comprises more of the second set of the plurality of domes than the first and third sets of the plurality of domes; and wherein the midfoot region comprises more of the third set of the plurality of domes than the first and second sets of the plurality of domes. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear system of  claim 19 , wherein the first set of the plurality of domes is situated only at the heel region or between the heel region and the midfoot region; wherein the second set of the plurality of domes is situated only at the forefoot region or between the forefoot region and the midfoot region or between the midfoot region and the heel region; and wherein the third set of the plurality of domes is situated only at the midfoot region or between the midfoot region and the heel region or between the midfoot region and the forefoot region.