Shoe insole element

Abstract

A shoe insole element includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a plurality of upper projections and a plurality of voids located alongside the upper projections. The lower portion includes a plurality of lower projections which extend into the voids to resist flexing of the upper projections toward one another under the action of a wearer's foot. The lower portion can be made selectively separable from the upper portion by the wearer to release the resistance to such flexing, or the lower portion can be permanently bonded to the upper portion. The stiffness of the upper and lower projections can be mutually different. The insole element can be configured for use in different regions of a shoe, such as the heel and/or arch regions, or it can constitute the entire insole.

1 . A shoe insole element comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a plurality of upper projections and a plurality of upper voids located alongside the upper projections, the lower portion including a plurality of lower projections which extend into the upper voids to resist flexing of the upper projections toward one another under the action of a wearer's foot. 
     
     
         2 . The insole element according to  claim 1  wherein the lower portion is selectively separable from the upper portion to release the resistance to flexing of the upper projections. 
     
     
         3 . The insole element according to  claim 2  wherein the upper projections include projections stiffer than lower projections. 
     
     
         4 . The insole element according to  claim 2  wherein the upper projections include projections less stiff than lower projections. 
     
     
         5 . The insole element according to  claim 2  wherein the upper and lower projections are of equal stiffness. 
     
     
         6 . The insole element according to  claim 1  wherein the lower portion is permanently bonded to the upper portion. 
     
     
         7 . The insole element according to  claim 6  wherein the upper projections include projections stiffer than lower projections. 
     
     
         8 . The insole element according to  claim 6  wherein the upper projections include projections less stiff than lower projections. 
     
     
         9 . The insole element according to  claim 1  wherein the upper portion comprises a viscoelastic polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The insole element according to  claim 1  wherein the upper portion comprises a silicone gel. 
     
     
         11 . The insole element according to  claim 1  configured for use at least in a shoe's heel region, wherein the upper portion includes a base and a rear wall upstanding from a rear end of the base, at least some of the upper projections disposed on a bottom side of the base. 
     
     
         12 . The insole element according to  claim 11  wherein some of the upper projections are disposed on the rear wall. 
     
     
         13 . The insole element according to  claim 12  wherein the upper projections disposed on the bottom surface of the base comprise generally concentric circular ribs spaced apart by generally concentric circular voids. 
     
     
         14 . The insole element according to  claim 13  wherein the upper projections disposed on the rear surface of the back wall is arranged in an arc. 
     
     
         15 . The insole element according to  claim 1  configured for use at least in a shoe's arch region, each of the upper and lower portions including a front end and a rear end spaced apart in a front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the element, the rear end being narrower than the front end, the upper portion being of gradually increasing thickness in a direction laterally of the longitudinal direction, the upper and lower projections extending laterally of the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         16 . The insole element according to  claim 15  wherein the plurality of upper projections is surrounded by a flat border of a bottom surface of the upper portion. 
     
     
         17 . The insole element according to  claim 15  wherein the upper projections are parallel to the upper voids. 
     
     
         18 . A shoe insole defining at least a heel region and an arch region, each of the heel region and the arch region comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a plurality of upper projections and a plurality of voids located alongside the upper projections, the lower portion including a plurality of lower projections which extend into the voids to resist flexing of the upper projections toward one another under the action of a wearer's foot. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe insole according to  claim 18  wherein the lower portion is selectively separable from the upper portion to release the resistance to flexing of the upper projections. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe insole according to  claim 18  wherein the upper projections include projections stiffer than lower projections. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe insole according to  claim 18  wherein the upper projections include projections less stiff than lower projections.