Adjustable footbed system for footwear

Abstract

This invention relates to an adjustable shoe footbed system which allows for varying the width of a shoe. The footbed system consists of an upper member and a set of detachable lower members of various thicknesses. The effective width of a shoe can be varied by the proper choice of lower member.

1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper affixed to said outsole, said upper and said outsole defining a shoe cavity for receiving a user's foot, said shoe cavity having a width, said width being greater in area of said shoe cavity proximate to said outsole, and said width being lesser in an area of said shoe cavity remote from said outsole;   an insole located between said outsole and said upper, said insole having an upper surface and a lower surface, and said insole further having a heel area, a middle area, and a forefoot area;   a wedge member detachably affixed to said lower surface of said insole, said wedge member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said wedge member further having a rear area, a middle area, and a front area, and said wedge member having a thickness selected to position said forefoot area and said middle area of said insole at a selected height location within said shoe cavity.   
   
   
       2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the length of said wedge member as measured from said front area of said wedge member to said rear area of said wedge member is between ⅓ to ⅞ the length of said insole as measured from said forefoot area to said heel area of said insole. 
   
   
       3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2  wherein said front area of said wedge member is aligned with said forefoot area of said insole. 
   
   
       4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3  wherein said insole has a peripheral edge, and said insole peripheral edge forms an insole peripheral edge shape, and said wedge member has a peripheral edge and said wedge member peripheral edge forms a wedge member peripheral edge shape, and said insole peripheral edge shape is the same shape as said wedge member peripheral edge shape along the length of said wedge member. 
   
   
       5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4  wherein said wedge member has a greater thickness in said front area of said wedge member and a lesser thickness in said rear area of said wedge member. 
   
   
       6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5  wherein the thickness of said front area of said wedge member is equal to the thickness of said middle area of said wedge member, and the thickness of said rear area of said wedge member is lesser than the thickness of said middle area and said front area of said wedge member. 
   
   
       7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6  wherein said wedge member has a thickness ranging from 0.6 mm to 30.0 mm. 
   
   
       8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein said wedge member is detachably affixed to said insole by a hook and loop fastener system, said hook and loop system comprising a hook component, and a loop component, wherein one of said hook component and said loop component is affixed to said lower surface of said insole, and wherein one of said hook component and said loop component is affixed to said upper surface of said wedge member. 
   
   
       9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein said wedge member comprises one or more protrusions proximate to one or more of said hook component and said loop component. 
   
   
       10 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein said one or more of said hook component and said loop component affixed to said upper surface of said wedge member is embedded in said upper surface of said wedge member. 
   
   
       11 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein said one or more of said hook component and said loop component affixed to said lower surface of said insole is embedded in said lower surface of said insole. 
   
   
       12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein said upper surface of said wedge member further comprises one or more protrusions, and said lower surface of said insole further comprises one or more cavities for receiving said one or more stabilization protrusions. 
   
   
       13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein said insole further comprises one or more ventilation channels, said wedge member further comprises one or more ventilation channels, and wherein said one or more insole ventilation channels is in fluid communication with said one or more wedge member ventilation channels. 
   
   
       14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13  wherein said one or more insole ventilation channels are vertical holes, and wherein said one or more wedge member ventilation channels are vertical holes. 
   
   
       15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein said insole is formed of a relatively softer foam composition, and said wedge member is formed of a relatively harder foam composition. 
   
   
       16 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein said wedge member is detached from said insole, and removed from the shoe. 
   
   
       17 . The article of footwear of  claim 4  wherein a segment of said insole peripheral edge is notched, and an adjoining segment of said wedge member peripheral edge is notched. 
   
   
       18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein said upper has a means of receiving said insole peripheral edge notches and for receiving said wedge member peripheral edge notches. 
   
   
       19 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper affixed to said outsole, said upper and said outsole defining a shoe cavity for receiving a user's foot, said shoe cavity having a width, said width being greater in area of said shoe cavity proximate to said outsole, and said width being lesser in an area of said shoe cavity remote from said outsole;   an insole located between said outsole and said upper, said insole having an upper surface and a lower surface, and said insole further having a heel area, a middle area, and a forefoot area, said insole further having peripheral edge, and said insole peripheral edge having a peripheral edge shape;   a wedge member detachably affixed to said lower surface of said insole, said wedge member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said wedge member further having a rear area, a middle area, and a front area, said wedge member further having a length measured from said front area of said wedge member to said rear area of said wedge member, wherein said wedge member length is between ⅓ to ⅞ the length of said insole as measured from said forefoot area to said heel area;   said wedge member further having a peripheral edge, and said wedge member peripheral edge having a peripheral edge shape equivalent to said insole peripheral edge shape along said length of said wedge member length;   wherein said wedge member has a thickness selected to position said forefoot area and said middle area of said insole at a selected height location within said shoe cavity;   wherein said upper surface of said wedge member is detachably affixed to said middle area of said lower surface of said insole; and   wherein the thickness of said wedge member at said front area of said wedge member is equal to the thickness of said middle area of said wedge member, and the thickness of said rear area of said wedge member is lesser than said thickness of said middle area and front area of said wedge member, and thickness of said wedge member decreases from said greater thickness to said lesser thickness.   
   
   
       20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19  wherein said wedge member is detachably affixed to said insole by a hook and loop fastener system. 
   
   
       21 . A method for providing an adjustable footbed system for footwear, comprising the steps of:
 providing an insole, said insole having an upper surface and a lower surface, and said insole further having a heel area, a middle area, and a forefoot area;   providing one or more wedge member for detachably affixing to said lower surface of said insole, said wedge member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said wedge member further having a rear area, a middle area, and a front area, and said wedge members having a range of different thicknesses selected to increase the height of said insole; and   providing a combination package for said insole and said wedge members.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the method for providing and adjustable footbed system further includes said insole and said varying thickness wedge members for a left foot, and said insole and said varying thickness wedge members for a right foot. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  further including the steps of:
 manufacturing said wedge members components, and said insole wherein said wedge member components and said insole are designed to fit a wide range of different shoe models, and different shoe brands; and   offering said combination packages for sale.