Work insoles

Abstract

A full length insole for use with footwear, is formed by a first layer including a forefoot portion extending at least to metatarsals of a foot, a heel portion, a mid portion connecting together the forefoot portion and the heel portion, the mid portion including a medial arch portion, an upper surface extending along the forefoot, mid and heel portions on which a person stands, and a lower surface extending along the forefoot, mid and heel portions, the lower surface including a shallow recess, the first layer being made of a material of a first hardness; a force line insert secured in the recess and having a shape that follows a greatest area of force of the foot on the upper surface during a normal stride, the force line insert being made of a material of a second hardness which is less than the first hardness; a forefoot pillow formed as a raised area at the upper surface at the forefoot portion to provide additional cushioning thereat and shaped to conform to a pressure area of the foot so as to include a front edge that extends forwardly to a greater extent at a medial side of the insole; and a heel pillow formed as a raised area at the upper surface at the heel portion to provide additional cushioning thereat and shaped to enhance progression of a gait to guide the foot toward the medial arch portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A full length insole for use with footwear, comprising: 
 a first layer including: 
 a forefoot portion extending at least to metatarsals of a foot;  
 a heel portion;  
 a mid portion connecting together said forefoot portion and said heel portion;  
 an upper surface extending along said forefoot, mid and heel portions and on which a person stands; and  
 a lower surface extending along said forefoot, mid and heel portions, said lower surface including a shallow recess;  
 said first layer being made of a material of a first hardness; and  
   a force line insert secured in said recess and having a shape that follows a greatest area of force of the foot on said upper surface during a normal stride, said force line insert being made of a material of a second hardness which is less than said first hardness.    
     
     
         2 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said recess and said force line insert each have a height of approximately 2 mm.  
     
     
         3 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said force line insert and said recess have substantially the same shape and dimensions.  
     
     
         4 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said first layer is made from a urethane foam having a Shore “00” durometer hardness in the range of approximately 45-75, and said force line insert is made from a urethane foam having a Shore “00” durometer hardness in the range of approximately 35-65.  
     
     
         5 . An insole according to  claim 4 , wherein said first layer has a Shore “00” durometer hardness in the range of approximately 55-65, and said force line insert has a Shore “00” durometer hardness in the range of approximately 45-55.  
     
     
         6 . An insole according to  claim 5 , wherein said Shore “00” durometer hardness of said first layer is approximately 60, and said Shore “00” durometer hardness of said force line insert is approximately 50.  
     
     
         7 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said force line insert includes: 
 a heel insert portion having a first width for accommodating a heel of the foot during a heel strike and to provide cushioning thereof;    a mid insert portion connected at one end with said heel insert portion and which has a second width less than said first width; and    a forefoot insert portion connected with an opposite end of said mid insert portion and which has a shape that extends forwardly to a greater extent at a medial side of the insole in correspondence with a positioning of the metatarsals of the foot.    
     
     
         8 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein a forward edge of said forefoot insert portion has an angled arcuate shape.  
     
     
         9 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said heel portion of said insole is cupped to maintain said heel in said heel portion.  
     
     
         10 . An insole according to  claim 1 , wherein said mid portion includes a medial arch portion positioned adjacent to said mid insole portion.  
     
     
         11 . An insole according to  claim 10 , wherein said medial arch portion has a height greater than a remainder of said mid portion, and includes spaced apart, transverse oriented grooves defining transverse flex members therebetween which effectively function as springs.  
     
     
         12 . A full length insole for use with footwear, comprising: 
 a forefoot portion extending at least to metatarsals of a foot;    a heel portion;    a mid portion connecting together said forefoot portion and said heel portion, said mid portion including a medial arch portion;    an upper surface extending along said forefoot, mid and heel portions on which a person stands;    a lower surface extending along said forefoot, mid and heel portions;    a forefoot pillow formed as a raised area at the upper surface at said forefoot portion to provide additional cushioning thereat and shaped to conform to a pressure area of the foot so as to include a front edge that extends forwardly to a greater extent at a medial side of said insole; and    a heel pillow formed as a raised area at the upper surface at said heel portion to provide additional cushioning thereat and shaped to enhance progression of a gait to guide the foot toward said medial arch portion.    
     
     
         13 . An insole according to  claim 12 , wherein said forefoot and heel pillows provide an extra thickness of the same material as a remainder of said insole at said forefoot and heel portions, and are formed integrally as a single molded piece therewith.  
     
     
         14 . An insole according to  claim 13 , wherein said extra thickness is less than approximately 3 mm.  
     
     
         15 . An insole according to  claim 12 , wherein said heel pillow has a shape of a wing that is oriented rearwardly.  
     
     
         16 . An insole according to  claim 15 , wherein said wing has a greater width at a rear portion thereof and tapers in width in a forward direction, while also pointing toward said medial arch portion.  
     
     
         17 . A full length insole for use with footwear, comprising: 
 a first layer including: 
 a forefoot portion extending at least to metatarsals of a foot;  
 a heel portion;  
 a mid portion connecting together said forefoot portion and said heel portion, said mid portion including a medial arch portion;  
 an upper surface extending along said forefoot, mid and heel portions on which a person stands; and  
 a lower surface extending along said forefoot, mid and heel portions, said lower surface including a shallow recess;  
 said first layer being made of a material of a first hardness;  
   a force line insert secured in said recess and having a shape that follows a greatest area of force of the foot on said upper surface during a normal stride, said force line insert being made of a material of a second hardness which is less than said first hardness;    a forefoot pillow formed as a raised area at the upper surface at said forefoot portion to provide additional cushioning thereat and shaped to conform to a pressure area of the foot so as to include a front edge that extends forwardly to a greater extent at a medial side of said insole; and    a heel pillow formed as a raised area at the upper surface at said heel portion to provide additional cushioning thereat and shaped to enhance progression of a gait to guide the foot toward said medial arch portion.    
     
     
         18 . An insole according to  claim 17 , wherein said force line insert and said recess have substantially the same shape and dimensions.  
     
     
         19 . An insole according to  claim 17 , wherein said first layer is made from a urethane foam having a Shore “00” durometer hardness in the range of approximately 45-75, and said force line insert is made from a urethane foam having a Shore “00” durometer hardness in the range of approximately 35-65.  
     
     
         20 . An insole according to  claim 19 , wherein said first layer has a Shore “00” durometer hardness in the range of approximately 55-65, and said force line insert has a Shore “00” durometer hardness in the range of approximately 45-55.  
     
     
         21 . An insole according to  claim 20 , wherein said Shore “00” durometer hardness of said first layer is approximately 60, and said Shore “00” durometer hardness of said force line insert is approximately 50.  
     
     
         22 . An insole according to  claim 17 , wherein said force line insert includes: 
 a heel insert portion having a first width for accommodating a heel of the foot during a heel strike and to provide cushioning thereof;    a mid insert portion connected at one end with said heel insert portion, positioned adjacent said medial arch portion, and having a second width less than said first width; and    a forefoot insert portion connected with an opposite end of said mid insert portion and which has a shape that extends forwardly to a greater extent at a medial side of the insole in correspondence with a positioning of the metatarsals of the foot.    
     
     
         23 . An insole according to  claim 17 , wherein a forward edge of said forefoot insert portion has an angled arcuate shape.  
     
     
         24 . An insole according to  claim 17 , wherein said medial arch portion has a height greater than a remainder of said mid portion, and includes spaced apart, transverse oriented grooves define transverse flex members therebetween which effectively function as springs.  
     
     
         25 . An insole according to  claim 17 , wherein said forefoot and heel pillows provide an extra thickness of the same material as a remainder of said insole at said forefoot and heel portions, and are formed integrally as a single molded piece therewith.  
     
     
         26 . An insole according to  claim 17 , wherein said heel pillow has a shape of a wing that is oriented rearwardly.  
     
     
         27 . An insole according to  claim 26 , wherein said wing has a greater width at a rear portion thereof and tapers in width in a forward direction, while also pointing toward said medial arch portion.