Customizable footwear insoles

Abstract

Insole apparatus for use in footwear is provided, comprising a planar insole base positionable on top of a base interior surface of the footwear, and at least one attachment accessory removably attachable to the insole base by way of a plurality of attachment elements distributed on at least one of an upper surface of the insole base and a lower surface of the attachment accessory. The plurality of attachment elements define attachment points, which are arranged with a predefined consistent spacing to enable interchangeability of the attachment accessory with other attachment accessories having similarly arranged attachment points. The interchangeability and removability of attachment accessories allows for customization of the insole apparatus for a user's needs and size and shape of foot.

1 . Insole apparatus for use in footwear, comprising:
 a planar insole base positionable on top of a base interior surface of the footwear;   an attachment accessory removably attachable to the insole base; and   a plurality of attachment elements distributed on at least one of an upper surface of the insole base and a lower surface of the attachment accessory, wherein the attachment accessory is removably attachable to the insole base by way of at least one of the plurality of attachment elements.   
     
     
         2 . The insole apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of attachment elements define attachment points on the planar insole base, and the attachment points are arranged with a predefined consistent spacing to enable interchangeability of the attachment accessory with other attachment accessories having similarly arranged attachment points. 
     
     
         3 . The insole apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of attachment elements are arranged in a plurality of groups, each group of attachment elements adapted for coupling to an attachment accessory of a corresponding type. 
     
     
         4 . The insole apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the type of attachment accessory comprises one or more of: arch support, heel support, heel raiser, cooling accessory, heating accessory, massage accessory, and therapeutic magnet. 
     
     
         5 . The insole apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of traction elements distributed on a lower surface of the insole base, the lower surface of the insole base facing the interior surface of the footwear when the insole base is in use. 
     
     
         6 . The insole apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the plurality of traction elements is a traction stick that extends from the lower surface of the insole base and embeds itself in the footwear base. 
     
     
         7 . The insole apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the traction stick comprises a knob at a distal end of the stick for retention in a corresponding cavity defined in the footwear base. 
     
     
         8 . The insole apparatus of  claim 5  wherein at least one of the plurality of traction elements is one of a tread, grip and adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The insole apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the insole base is fabricated in an elastically deformable material. 
     
     
         10 . The insole apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of attachment elements comprise one or more of: a snap fastener, hook and loop fastener, magnetic fastener, and adhesive fastener that attaches to the attachment accessory at a corresponding attachment point on the attachment accessory. 
     
     
         11 . The insole apparatus of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the attachment points provides a receptacle on one of the attachment accessory and the insole base for receiving a corresponding plug extending from the other one of the attachment accessory and the insole base. 
     
     
         12 . The insole apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the attachment accessory comprises a temperature sensor and/or a motion sensor. 
     
     
         13 . A method for manufacturing an insole apparatus for use in footwear, comprising:
 forming a planar insole base to be received atop a base interior surface of the footwear;   providing an attachment accessory removably attachable to the insole base; and   providing a plurality of attachment elements on at least one of an upper surface of the insole base and a lower surface of the attachment accessory, wherein the attachment accessory is removably attachable to the insole base by way of at least one of the plurality of attachment elements.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of attachment elements define attachment points, the method comprising arranging the attachment points with a predefined consistent spacing to enable interchangeability of the attachment accessory with other attachment accessories having similarly arranged attachment points. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  comprising arranging the plurality of attachment elements into a plurality of groups, each group of attachment elements adapted for coupling to an attachment accessory of a corresponding type. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  comprising arranging the attachment points so that the spacing between the attachment points is consistent within localized areas of the insole base. 
     
     
         17 . The insole apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of massage points defined in the insole base. 
     
     
         18 . The insole apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the spacing of the attachment elements is consistent within localized areas of the insole base. 
     
     
         19 . The insole apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the spacing of the attachment elements is consistent across the insole base. 
     
     
         20 . The insole apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of attachment elements comprises a first group of attachment elements arranged in a higher density at a forefoot region of the insole base, and a second group of attachment elements arranged in a lower density at a heel region of the insole base.