Insole Support System For Footwear

Abstract

A shoe ( 10 ), particularly a high-heeled shoe, containing a convex midfoot support structure ( 40 ) formed of a conformable or compressible cushioning material is sized and shaped to have a height (h 1 ) sufficient to contact and to support at least a portion of the midfoot area ( 116 ) of the wearer's foot ( 110 ). The midfoot support ( 40 ) is constructed of an elastomeric material with a maximum thickness of between 10 mm and 22 mm, and includes a support platform ( 42 ) and side walls ( 44 and 46 ). Preferably, a forefoot support ( 58 ) is also provided on the upper surface of the insole ( 20 ) in the forefoot portion ( 28 ) of the insole ( 20 ).

1 . A shoe, comprising:
 a toe portion for receiving the toe portions of a wearer's foot, a forefoot portion for receiving a metatarsal area of the wearer's foot, a mid-foot portion located in the area of a midfoot area of the wearer's foot, and a heel portion located in the area of an heel area of the wearer's foot;   a midfoot support structure formed of a conformable or compressible cushioning material; and   the midfoot support structure being located in the shoe mid-foot portion and having a convex shape and contour and a height sufficient to contact and to support a midfoot area of the wearer's foot in order to provide a rounded pivot operable to transfer load from a ball area of the wearer's foot to the midfoot and heel areas of the wearer's foot.   
   
   
       2 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the shoe is a high-heeled shoe and the mid-foot portion is angled relative to a walking surface. 
   
   
       3 . The shoe of  claim 1  further comprising one or more of an upper, an outsole, or an insole having an maximum width area having a width which is the maximum shoe width, and the midfoot support structure having a support platform along a central axis of the midfoot support structure, the support platform having a width which is less than the width of the maximum width area, and a maximum height along the central axis that is greater than a maximum midfoot height of the wearer. 
   
   
       4 . The shoe of  claim 1  where the midfoot support structure has a maximum thickness of between 10 mm and 22 mm. 
   
   
       5 . The shoe of  claim 1  where the midfoot support structure has an inside side edge and an outside side edge, and the inside side edge has a greater thickness than the outside side edge. 
   
   
       6 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein:
 (a) the midfoot support structure inside side edge has a thickness of at least 12 mm and the midfoot support structure outside side edge has a thickness of at least 4 mm; or   (b) the midfoot support structure inside side edge has a thickness of at least 16 mm and the midfoot support structure outside side edge has a thickness of at least 6 mm; or   (c) the midfoot support structure inside side edge has a thickness of at least 20 mm and the midfoot support structure outside side edge has a thickness of at least 8 mm.   
   
   
       7 . The shoe of  claim 3  wherein the support platform has sidewalls extending from the support platform to the insole and the support platform, and sidewalls of the midfoot support structure are located within and at least in part spaced apart from inner walls of an upper. 
   
   
       8 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the midfoot support structure has a portion positioned to apply lateral pressure to a part of inner walls of a shoe upper sufficient to move an upper edge of the inner walls of the upper to a closer proximity to the wearer's foot. 
   
   
       9 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the conformable or compressible cushioning material is an open cell viscoelastic material, close cell viscoelastic material, or a noncellular viscoelastic material. 
   
   
       10 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the conformable or compressible cushioning material has a CFD of 0.6 psi to 30 psi at 25% compression. 
   
   
       11 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the midfoot support structure comprises at least two layers of materials including an upper layer of a conformable or compressible cushioning material and a lower layer of a energy return material. 
   
   
       12 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the lower layer has a CFD of 6 psi or more at 25% compression. 
   
   
       13 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a forefoot support located in the forefoot portion and having a thickness of at least 4 mm. 
   
   
       14 . The shoe of  claim 2  wherein the midfoot support structure has a maximum thickness of 18 mm to 22 mm for a 95 mm to 105 mm high heel; a maximum thickness of 16 mm to 20 mm for a 80 to 95 mm high heel; a maximum thickness of 14 mm to 18 mm for a 65 to 80 mm heel; a maximum thickness of 12 mm to 16 mm for a 50 mm to 75 mm high heel; or a maximum thickness of 10 mm to 14 mm for a 40 mm to 65 mm high heel. 
   
   
       15 . A high heeled shoe, comprising:
 one or more of an upper, an outsole, and an insole having an maximum width area having a width which is the maximum shoe width;   a toe portion for receiving the toe portions of a wearer's foot, a forefoot portion for receiving a metatarsal area of the wearer's foot, a mid-foot portion located in the area of a midfoot area of the wearer's foot which is angled relative to a walking surface, and a heel portion located in the area of an heel area of the wearer's foot;   a midfoot support structure formed of a conformable or compressible cushioning material; the midfoot support structure being located in the shoe mid-foot portion and having a convex shape and contour and a height sufficient to contact and to support a midfoot area of the wearer's foot in order to provide a rounded pivot operable to transfer load from a ball area of the wearer's foot to the midfoot and heel areas of the wearer's foot; the midfoot support structure having a support platform along a central axis of the midfoot support structure, the support platform having a width which is less than the width of the maximum width area; the midfoot support structure having an inside side edge and an outside side edge, and the inside side edge having a greater thickness than the outside side edge; and the midfoot support structure having a maximum thickness of between 10 mm and 22 mm.   
   
   
       16 . The shoe of  claim 15  wherein the midfoot support structure has a maximum thickness of 18 mm to 22 mm for a 95 mm to 105 mm high heel; a maximum thickness of 16 mm to 20 mm for a 80 to 95 mm high heel; a maximum thickness of 14 mm to 18 mm for a 65 to 80 mm heel; a maximum thickness of 12 mm to 16 mm for a 50 mm to 75 mm high heel; or a maximum thickness of 10 mm to 14 mm for a 40 mm to 65 mm high heel. 
   
   
       17 . The shoe of  claim 16 , wherein:
 (a) the midfoot support structure inside side edge has a thickness of at least 12 mm and the midfoot support structure outside side edge has a thickness of at least 4 mm; or   (b) the midfoot support structure inside side edge has a thickness of at least 16 mm and the midfoot support structure outside side edge has a thickness of at least 6 mm; or   (c) the midfoot support structure inside side edge has a thickness of at least 20 mm and the midfoot support structure outside side edge has a thickness of at least 8 mm.   
   
   
       18 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the conformable or compressible cushioning material is an open cell viscoelastic material, close cell viscoelastic material, or a noncellular viscoelastic material. 
   
   
       19 . The shoe of  claim 18  wherein the conformable or compressible cushioning material has a CFD of 0.6 psi to 30 psi at 25% compression. 
   
   
       20 . The shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the midfoot support structure comprises at least two layers of materials including an upper layer of a conformable or compressible cushioning material and a lower layer of a energy return material. 
   
   
       21 . The shoe of  claim 20 , wherein the lower layer has a CFD of 6 psi or more at 25% compression. 
   
   
       22 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the midfoot support structure has a portion positioned to apply lateral pressure to a part of inner walls of a shoe upper sufficient to move an upper edge of the inner walls of the upper to a closer proximity to the wearer's foot. 
   
   
       23 . The shoe of  claim 16 , further comprising a forefoot support located in the forefoot portion and having a thickness of at least 4 mm. 
   
   
       24 . An insert for a high heeled shoe having a mid-foot portion ( 30 ) angled relative to a walking surface, comprising:
 a midfoot support structure ( 40 ) formed of a conformable or compressible cushioning material, adapted to be located in a shoe mid-foot portion ( 30 ) and having a convex shape and contour and a height (h i ) sufficient to contact and to support a midfoot area of the wearer's foot in order to provide a rounded pivot operable to transfer load from a ball area of the wearer's foot to the midfoot and heel areas of the wearer's foot, said midfoot support structure ( 40 ) having an inside side edge ( 50 ) and an outside side edge ( 52 ), and the inside side edge has a greater thickness than the outside side edge, said midfoot support structure ( 40 ) has a maximum thickness of between 10 mm and 22 mm; and; (a) the midfoot support structure inside side edge ( 50 ) has a thickness of at least 12 mm and the midfoot support structure outside side edge ( 52 ) has a thickness of at least 4 mm; or (b) the midfoot support structure inside side edge ( 50 ) has a thickness of at least 16 mm and the midfoot support structure outside side edge ( 52 ) has a thickness of at least 6 mm; or (c) the midfoot support structure inside side edge ( 50 ) has a thickness of at least 20 mm and the midfoot support structure outside side edge ( 52 ) has a thickness of at least 8 mm.