Modified Footwear Article Configured to Retain a Removable Insole

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole having a bottom surface configured to contact ground when the article is worn by a wearer, a top surface opposite the bottom surface, and an inwardly directed rim extending about at least a portion of a periphery of the sole. The rim defines a channel sized to receive a peripheral edge of an insole for retaining the insole over the top surface of the sole. The article also includes an upper attached to the sole defining an opening sized to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper being configured to secure the sole to the wearers' foot.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole comprising a bottom surface configured to contact ground when the article is worn by a wearer, a top surface opposite the bottom surface, and an inwardly directed rim extending about at least a portion of a periphery of the sole, wherein the rim defines a channel sized to receive a peripheral edge of an insole for retaining the insole over the top surface of the sole, and   an upper attached to the sole defining an opening sized to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper being configured to secure the sole to the wearer's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the footwear article comprises athletic shoes, casual shoes, water shoes, surgical shoes, dress shoes, high-heel shoes, cleats, ski boots, skates, sneakers, boots, sandals, flip-flops, slides, walking casts, slippers, clogs, socks, stockings, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sole is formed from a substantially rigid material that does not substantially deform when weight of the wearer is applied to the sole. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sole comprises an open cell or closed cell foam. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the sole is textured to provide a non-slip surface. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner formed from a slip resistant and water resistant material, such as synthetic or natural rubber, attached to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the sole. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the rim extends radially inwardly by a distance of about 0.25 inch to about 0.75 inch over the top surface of the sole. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the rim contacts the insole, thereby securing the insole between the lower surface of the rim and the top surface of the sole. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the rim comprises one or more protrusions extending downwardly from a lower surface of the rim configured to contact the insole pressing the insole against the top surface of the sole to secure the insole in place within the channel defined by the rim. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the rim comprises a resilient material and is biased in a downward direction to press against the insole. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the rim extends about an entirety of the peripheral edge of the sole. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises at least one strap for securing the sole to the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a plastic shell forming a walking boot. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a waterproof enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover layer comprising fabric secured to the rim and extending over the insole for separating a top surface of the insole from the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the insole comprises an insole for offloading injuries on an area of a plantar surface of a patient's foot, the insole comprising:
 a body having a shape corresponding to the plantar surface of the patient's foot comprising a top surface and a bottom surface; and   at least one supportive, deformable, deflatable bubble chamber extending from the top surface of the body, the at least one bubble chamber being configured to be deflated to relieve pressure on the plantar surface of the wearer's foot.   
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one supportive, deformable, deflatable bubble chamber comprises at least one notch extending inwardly from an outer surface of the at least one bubble chamber configured for a user to insert a needle through the notch and into an interior of the at least one bubble chamber to deflate the at least one bubble chamber. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly comprising the article of footwear of  claim 1  and the insole configured to be retained by the channel defined by the rim of the sole, wherein the insole comprises a customizable insole for offloading injuries on an area of a plantar surface of a patient's foot comprising:
 a body having a shape corresponding to the plantar surface of the patient's foot comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge sized to be received within the channel of the sole; and 
 at least one supportive, deformable, deflatable bubble chamber extending from the top surface of the body, the at least one bubble chamber being configured to be deflated to relieve pressure on the plantar surface of the wearer's foot. 
 
     
     
         20 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one supportive, deformable, deflatable bubble chamber comprises at least one notch extending inwardly from an outer surface of the at least one bubble chamber configured for a user to insert a needle through the notch and into an interior of the at least one bubble chamber to deflate the at least one bubble chamber. 
     
     
         24 . A method of relieving pressure on a portion of a plantar surface of a foot of a wearer, the method comprising:
 providing a customizable insole for offloading injuries on an area of the plantar surface of the foot, the insole comprising: (i) a body having a shape corresponding to the plantar surface of the patient's foot comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a substantially flat peripheral edge; and (ii) at least one supportive, deformable, deflatable bubble chamber extending from the top surface of the body, the at least one bubble chamber being configured to be deflated to relieve pressure on the plantar surface of the patient's foot;   deflating the at least one bubble chamber of the insole, wherein the at least one bubble chamber is located at a position on the insole corresponding to the portion of the patient's plantar surface requiring pressure relief;   placing the insole with the deflated at least one bubble chamber in the article of footwear of  claim 1 , such that the peripheral edge of the insole is at least partially received within the channel defined by the rim of the sole; and   positioning the wearer's foot in the article of footwear such that the portion of the plantar surface in need of pressure relief is over the deflated at least one bubble chamber.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled)