Insole with improved cushioning for sides of feet and heels

Abstract

A heel cup ( 44 ) permits the user to custom fit each foot to various shaped footwear, using adjustable bottom wall and side wall cushions ( 76, 246 ), thereby providing optimum comfort and safety whether simply walking or during vigorous sports activity. The heel cup includes bottom, side and heel portions ( 72, 74 ), an attachment mechanism secured at least to one of the portions, and an insole ( 54, 78 ) secured to a hook and loop attachment mechanism for supporting the foot. A complete adjustable insole is together used with an adjustable sidewall cushioning because it is difficult to reach into the interiors of footwear to make adjustments, such as installing moving or removing a cushion to obtain necessary comfort. Attachments for the insole may comprise tabs ( 158, 172, 188 ) to which the insole can be secured. A heel grip bracket ( 420 ) with a cushion ( 422 ) may be mounted on the heel portion of the bracket and one or more cushions ( 438 ) may be coupled to cushion ( 422 ) on its sides.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heel cup for placement in a shoe comprising bottom, side and heel portions, an attachment mechanism secured at least to one of said portions, and at least one foot support device secured to said attachment mechanism for supporting a foot.  
     
     
         2 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said foot support device comprises a cushion.  
     
     
         3 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said side portion comprises opposing side sections and said foot support device comprises a cushioning system secured to at least one side of said side portion for inhibiting side-to-side movement of the foot.  
     
     
         4 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said foot support device comprises an insole extending as an integral extension from said bottom portion.  
     
     
         5 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said foot support device comprises an insole secured to said bottom portion.  
     
     
         6 . A heel cup according to  claim 5  in which said bottom portion comprises a ledge extending from said side and heel portions.  
     
     
         7 . A heel cup according to  claim 6  in which said ledge is fully closed for attachment to and support of said insole about its entire periphery.  
     
     
         8 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said side portion comprises opposing side sections which extend to the arch portion of the shoe.  
     
     
         9 . A heel cup according to  claim 8  in which said opposing side sections extend upwardly to at least the foot's ankles.  
     
     
         10 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said side portion comprises opposing side sections which extend to the toe portion of the shoe.  
     
     
         11 . A heel cup according to  claim 10  in which said opposing side sections extend upwardly to at least the foot's ankles.  
     
     
         12 . A heel cup according to  claim 11  in which said opposing side sections slope downwardly to the arch portion of the shoe.  
     
     
         13 . A heel cup according to  claim 11  in which said opposing side sections slope downwardly to the arch portion of the shoe and extend therefrom to the toe portion of the shoe.  
     
     
         14 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said bottom portion comprises tabs angularly bent from said side and heel portions.  
     
     
         15 . A heel cup according to  claim 14  in which said tabs are formed from a cut in half laminated strip having a plurality of closed opening therein wherein the cut was extended through the closed openings.  
     
     
         16 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said foot support device comprises an insole extending from said bottom portion and a cushioning pad system secured to said insole for attending to podiatric problems associated with the foot.  
     
     
         17 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said foot support device comprises an insole extending from said bottom portion and a cushioning pad system secured to said insole for attending to podiatric problems associated with the foot, and further comprising perforations in said insole.  
     
     
         18 . A heel cup according to  claim 1  in which said foot support device comprises a heel grip bracket.  
     
     
         19 . A heel cup according to  claim 18  in which said heel grip bracket includes a base portion and wall portions, and a spring bias coupling between said base and wall portions to effect spring tension to maintain inwardly pressure against a user's foot.  
     
     
         20 . A heel cup according to  claim 18  in which said foot support device further comprises a cushion insert conformably mounted within said heel grip bracket.  
     
     
         21 . A heel cup according to  claim 20  in which said heel cup bracket includes terminal portions positioned adjacent a user's ankles, further comprising at least one cushion mounted on said cushion insert within said heel grip bracket terminal portions.  
     
     
         22 . A heel cup according to  claim 18  in which said foot support device further comprises a pressure relief cushion mounted in an opening in said heel grip bracket.  
     
     
         22 . A method for supporting a foot in a heel cup comprising the step of placing at least one foot support device in the heel cup.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22  in which the heel cup includes opposing side sections and further comprising the steps of utilizing a cushioning system secured to at least one side of the side portion for inhibiting side-to-side movement of the foot.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22  further comprising the step of forming tabs on a bottom portion angularly bent from side and heel portions of the heel portion.  
     
     
         25 . A heel cup according to  claim 24  further comprising the steps of forming the tabs from a laminated strip having a plurality of closed opening therein and cutting the strip in half through the closed openings.