Shoe insert

Abstract

A shoe insert device is comprised of a tab and an insert member comprising a lateral, medial, anterior, and posterior region to which the tab is connected. The insert member is inserted into the toe box of a shoe to preserve the shape and structural integrity of a shoe while not in use. The device is comprised of silicone or other malleable material such as TPE. The device occupies the toe box of a shoe, does not occupy the entire length of a shoe, and does not require a back of a shoe. The device can thus be used for a variety of women's and men's shoes such as high heels, flats, loafers, backless shoes, and pointed-, rounded- or open-toe shoes. Embodiments in which lateral and medial regions of the insert member are configured and dimensioned substantially the same may be used interchangeably for either the left or right shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe insert device comprising:
 an insert member comprised of an anterior region and a posterior region;   and   a tab that is connected to the posterior region   wherein the insert member is inserted into a toe box of a shoe to preserve the shape of a shoe while the shoe is not in use.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe insert device of  claim 1  wherein the insert member further comprises a lateral region and a medial region. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe insert device of  claim 2  wherein the lateral region is a mirror image of the medial region and wherein the shoe insert device can be used on either a left shoe or a right shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe insert device of  claim 1  wherein the shoe insert device is comprised of silicone. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe insert device of  claim 1  wherein the tab is comprised of a top surface and a bottom surface. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe insert device of  claim 5  further comprising a support member that is attached to the posterior region of the insert member and to the bottom surface of the tab. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe insert device of  claim 5  wherein the tab includes ridges on the bottom surface. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe insert comprising:
 an insert member comprised of
 an anterior region that includes an anterior edge, and 
 a posterior region that includes a posterior edge; and 
   a tab that is attached to the posterior region,   wherein the insert member is inserted into a toe box of a shoe to preserve the shape of a shoe while the shoe is not in use.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe insert of  claim 8  wherein the anterior edge is rounded. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe insert of  claim 8  wherein the anterior edge is pointed. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe insert of  claim 8  wherein the insert member further comprises a lateral region and a medial region. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe insert of  claim 11  wherein the lateral region is a mirror image of the medial region and wherein the shoe insert can be used on either a left shoe or a right shoe. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe insert of  claim 8  wherein the shoe insert is comprised of silicone. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe insert of  claim 8  wherein the tab is comprised of a left edge, a right edge, a front edge, a back edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe insert of  claim 14  wherein the bottom surface includes projections. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe insert of  claim 14  further comprising a support member that is connected to the bottom surface of the tab and to the posterior region of the insert member. 
     
     
         17 . A shoe insert comprising:
 an insert member comprised of
 a lateral region, 
 a medial region, 
 an anterior region that includes an anterior edge, and 
 a posterior region that includes a posterior edge; and 
   a tab comprised of
 a top surface and 
 a bottom surface, 
   wherein the tab is connected to the posterior region of the insert member and wherein the insert member is inserted into a toe box of a shoe.   
     
     
         18 . The shoe insert of  claim 17  wherein the anterior edge is rounded. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe insert of  claim 17  wherein the anterior edge is pointed. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe insert of  claim 17  wherein the shoe insert is comprised of silicone.