Adjustable and interchangebale insole and arch support system

Abstract

An insole and arch support system which may be secured to the interior of a shoe and includes a set of arch support members. Each arch support member of the system is provided with a different density to provide varying levels of hardness and stability to the arch of the foot of the individual user, and may be secured to the insole at adjustable locations. An appropriate arch support member and insole member are secured together and inserted into the shoe, with the arch support member positioned at the desired location relative to the arch of the foot. The shoe is then worn in the normal manner.

1 . An insole and arch support system for insertion into a shoe, said system comprising:
 an insole member having an upper surface and a lower surface for defining a cushioned body, said insole member having toe and heel areas and a contoured arch support receiving area between said sole and heel areas, wherein said contoured arch support receiving area comprises a first portion of a securing mechanism; and   a plurality of interchangeable arch support members, wherein one arch support member of said plurality of interchangeable arch support members is employed with said system, each arch support member comprising a first surface and a second surface for defining a contoured body, said first surface of said arch support member comprising a second portion of a securing mechanism for corresponding to said first portion of a securing mechanism of said contoured arch support receiving area, and wherein said first portion of a securing mechanism and said second portion of a securing mechanism correspond to and engage with each other for engaging said arch support member with said contoured arch support receiving area.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said arch support member is selected from a set of arch support members, each arch support member of said set comprising a different density and hardness from each other arch support member of said set. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each arch support member comprises a different density for providing a specific hardness level, said hardness level being in the range between 5 A and 90 A on the Shore A durometer scale. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said securing mechanism affects the engagement between said arch support member and said contoured arch support receiving area. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said securing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a tongue-and-groove interlocking arrangement, a hook and loop arrangement, a sliding grooved lock-in arrangement, a plurality of projecting members corresponding to a plurality of receiving holes and an adhesive agent. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the grooves of said tongue-and-groove interlocking arrangement are selected from the group consisting of square-shaped grooves and triangular-shaped grooves. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said insole comprises a plurality of breathing holes. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each arch support member of said group of arch support members comprises a different density of the same material for providing a variable level of hardness and a variable level of support for each of said arch support members. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each arch support member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of elastomers, thermoplastics and thermosets. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein each arch support member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, a rigid or semi-rigid thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) soft plastic, nylon, rubber, foam, cork, thermoplastic urethane and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and combinations of said materials. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said elastomer material is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, butyl rubber, a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene, halogenated butyl rubbers, chloro butyl rubber, bromo butyl rubber, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, copolymer of polystyrene and polybutadiene, nitrile rubber, copolymer of polybutadiene and acrylonitrile, hydrogenated nitrile rubbers, chloroprene rubber, polychloroprene, neoprene, EPM (ethylene propylene rubber, a copolymer of ethylene and propylene), EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene rubber, a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene-component), epichlorohydrin rubber, polyacrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, fluoroelastomers, perfluoroelastomers, polyether block amides, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic olefins, and polysulfide rubber, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two arch support members are stackable on top of one another. 
     
     
         13 . An insole and arch support system for insertion into a shoe, said system comprising:
 an insole member having an upper surface and a lower surface for defining a cushioned body, said insole member having toe and heel areas and a contoured arch support receiving area between said sole and heel areas, wherein said contoured arch support receiving area comprises a first portion of a securing mechanism; and   a plurality of interchangeable arch support members, wherein one arch support member of said plurality of interchangeable arch support members is employed with said system, each arch support member comprising an upper surface and a lower surface for defining a contoured body and wherein each arch support member comprises an area that is less than the area of said contoured arch support receiving area, said upper surface of said arch support member comprising a second portion of a securing mechanism for engaging with said first portion of a securing mechanism of said contoured arch support receiving area, and wherein said first portion of a securing mechanism and said second portion of a securing mechanism engage with each other for securing said arch support member with said contoured arch support receiving area at variable locations on the underside of said insole between said toe area and said heel area, and wherein said arch support member is movable relative to the securement with said arch support receiving area.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said arch support member is movable relative to the securement with said arch support receiving area in a manner selected from the group consisting of a sliding arrangement and a lift and shift arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein at least two arch support members are stackable on top of one another. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of interchangeable arch support members comprise a thickness at the arch area in the range of between about ⅛ inch to about ½ inch and progressively tapering towards each end to a thickness in the range of about 1/16 inch to about ¼ inch. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said wherein said plurality of interchangeable arch support members comprise arch support members having varying levels of thicknesses. 
     
     
         18 . An insole and arch support system for insertion into a shoe, said system comprising:
 an insole member having an upper surface and a lower surface for defining a cushioned body, said insole member having toe and heel areas and a contoured arch support receiving area between said sole and heel areas, wherein said contoured arch support receiving area comprises a plurality of grooves; and   a plurality of interchangeable arch support members, wherein one arch support member of said plurality of interchangeable arch support members is employed with said system, each arch support member comprising a first surface and a second surface for defining a contoured body, said first surface of said arch support member comprising a plurality of grooves for corresponding to said plurality of grooves of said contoured arch support receiving area, and wherein said plurality of grooves of said arch support member and said plurality of grooves of said contoured arch support receiving area correspond to and engage with each other for engaging said arch support member with said contoured arch support receiving area.