GB2066049A

GB2066049A - Insoles for shoes

Info

Publication number: GB2066049A
Application number: GB7943166A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MANJUSHRI INST; RODAMOR C
Current assignee: MANJUSHRI INST; RODAMOR C
Priority date: 1979-12-14
Filing date: 1979-12-14
Publication date: 1981-07-08

Abstract

An insole (10) e.g. for converting a shoe or sandal (20) to therapeutic use comprises a layer of rubber or synthetic rubber or plastics material (12) shaped to correspond to the outline of a foot and having formed on and upstanding from one surface thereof a plurality of protrusions (14) and on the opposite side a layer of adhesive (16) protected by a peelable membrane (18), the adhesive (16) being suitable for securing the insole (10) into a shoe or sandal (20) after the membrane (18) has been peeled from the adhesive layer (16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sandals and shoes and insoles therefor This invention concerns shoes and sandals and in particular an insole for fitting therein to convert an ordinary shoe or sandal to therapeutic use.

Special purpose exercise and therapeutic shoes and sandals are known. One well-known type consists of a smooth contoured wooden or synthetic material base (or sole) for which beneficial effects are claimed simply by wearing the contoured sole instead of the conventional flat-soled shoe or sandal.

Other special purpose shoes and sandals have been designed to stimulate the soles of the feet during walking.

Various claims have been made that the use of such special contoured and stimulating soles promote general health and well-being and recent discoveries have indicated that by stimulating feet in a particular way so therapeutic changes can be obtained in diseased organs elsewhere in the body.

Particularly is this the case with regard to the heart.

The special purpose shoes and sandals already known tend to be expensive and are often only obtainable on prescription and the like. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative to such special purpose shoes to facilitate the greater use of this therapy.

According to the present invention an insole for a shoe or sandal comprises a layer of rubber or synthetic rubber or plastics material shaped to correspond to the outline of a foot and having formed on and upstanding from one surface thereof a plurality of protrusions and on the opposite side a layer of adhesive protected by a peelable membrane, the adhesive being suitable for securing the insole into a shoe or sandal after the membrane has been peeled from the adhesive layer.

The insole is preferably moulded from rubber or synthetic plastics or synthetic rubber material and the thickness of the layer (excluding the protrusions) is typically in the range 1-25 millimetres.

The protrusions typically extend above the one face of the layer of rubber or synthetic plastics or synthetic rubber material to a height in the range 1-13 millimetres. Where the unit is moulded the protrusions and the base layer are of the same flexible material.

Where the protrusions are formed separately from the layer and are for example supported by a very thin base which can be bonded to the layer of moulded rubber or synthetic plastics or rubber material, the protrusions and the base layer can be formed from different materials to allow a different degree of flexibility for the protrusions from the flexibility of the material forming the base layer.

The peelable membrane is for example waxed paper or a treated fabric or thin metal or plastics foil.

The characteristics of the material are such that whilst it will adhere to the adhesive the bond is a very loose one such that the material can be peeled away from the adhesive leaving the latter firmly bonded to the underside of the base layer ready for application to the inside of the shoe or sandal.

The invention also lies in the provision of a sandal or shoe when fitted with an insole having the above novel characteristics.

The advantage of the invention is that the insole can be purchased ready for fitting to existing shoes and sandals thereby cutting out the need for prescription of special footwear and the high cost of such footwear.

Whilst advantages will be obtained by fitting the insole into an existing pair of shoes or sandals it is to be understood that the full benefits of the invention may only be obtained in some situations by fitting an insole constructed in accordance with the invention to the contoured upper surface of a prescribed exercise sandal thus ensuring that the numerous protrusions contact all the micro-acupuncture or reflex points on the soles of the feet specific to the particular organ for which therapy is required.

Whilst the range of different sizes of insole may be manufactured and sold, it is to be understood that a single over-size insole can be supplied in the interests of economy together with instructions regarding the cutting of the over-size insole to size to allow it to be fitted into any existing pair of shoes or sandals.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates an insole embodying the present invention together with an enlarged detail showing the three layers making up the insole prior to its application to a shoe or sandal, Figure 2 shows how the backing layer can be peeled away from the adhesive underside of the insole, Figure 3 shows how the insole can be applied to an existing sandal afterthe backing material has been removed, Figure 4 illustrates a pair of exercise sandals to which self-adhesive inner soles embodying the invention have been applied.

Referring to Figure 1, an adhesive-backed insole for shoes and sandals is illustrated at 10. An enlarged detail is shown in Figure 1 a and indicates the construction of the insole 10. The latter comprises a moulded rubber or synthetic plastics or synthetic rubber material which can be thought of as a layer generally designated 12 having upstanding therefrom integral pointed or rounded protrusions 14. The degree of pointing or rounding may be selected by experiment.

The underside of the base or layer 12 is generally flat and has applied thereto a layer of adhesive 16. A good bond exists between the adhesive 16 and the material forming the base layer 12.

The backing sheet or membrane 18 which loosely bonds to the adhesive 16 is applied to the exposed surface of the adhesive layer. The loose bond allows the layer 18 to be peeled away from the adhesive layer.

This action is demonstrated in Figure 2 in which the adhesive layer 16 is clearly visible where the backing layer 18 has been peeled away therefrom.

Prior to fitting the insole to a shoe or sandal, the latter is either carefully selected for shape and size or is cut to the specific size and shape. This is preferably done before the backing layer 18 is removed so that the insole does not stick to the bench on which the work is done orto the fingers or the cutting tool etc.

After the backing layer 18 has been fully removed from the adhesive layer, the insole is applied to the toe end of a sandal or shoe and is firmly pressed into place so as to cover the whole of the sole on the inside of the shoe or sandal. This step is demonstrated in Figure 3 where the insole 10 is shown being applied to the sole of an exercise sandal 20.

It is to be understood that although the preferred method of application involves the pressing of the toe part of the insole onto the toe section of the exercise sandal first and the subsequent alignment and pressing down of the remainder of the insole up to and including the heel portion, the reverse procedure could be adopted if desired, the important feature being that the insole must be rolled down on to the sole ofthe sandal or shoe from one end to the other so that no air bubbles are trapped therebetween.

After the insole has been applied to the sandal or shoe, it must be firmly pressed down so as to form a strong bond between the adhesive layer 16 and the upper surface 22 of the exercise sandal 20.

Where the insoles are to be applied to shoes or sandals during the course of construction of the latter, a preferred method involves the application of the insole to the sole of the shoe or sandal before the uppers and straps etc are attached to the sole.

Figure 4 shows a completed pair of exercise san dals to which straps 24 and 26 have been applied by rivets to the soles of the exercise sandals after the insoles have been applied thereto.

Claims

1. An insole for a shoe or sandal comprising a base layer of rubber or synthetic rubber or plastics material shaped to correspond to the outline of a foot and having formed on and upstanding from one face thereof a plurality of protrusions and on the opposite face a layer of adhesive protected by a peelable membrane, the adhesive being suitable for securing the insole into a shoe or sandal after the membrane has been peeled from the adhesive layer.

2. An insole according to claim 1, wherein at least the layer is moulded from rubber or synthetic plastics or synthetic rubber material.

3. An insole according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thickness of the layer (excluding the protrusions) is in the range 1-25 millimetres.

4. An insole according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the protrusions extend above the said one face of the base layer to a height in the range of 1-13 millimetres.

5. An insole according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base layer and the protrusions are formed integrally ofthe same flexible material.

6. An insole according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protrusions are formed separately from the and are supported by a very thin base which is bonded to the base layer.

7. An insole according to claim 6, wherein the protrusions and the base layer are formed from different materials to allow a different degree of flexibility for the protrusions from the flexibility of the material forming the base layer.

8. An insole according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the peelable membrane comprises waxed paper, treated fabric, or thin metal or plastics foil.

9. An insole according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the peelable membrane is of material which forms a very loose bond with the adhesive layer such that the membrane can be readiiy peeled away from the adhesive layer, leaving the latter firmly bonded to the underside of the base layer ready for application to the inside of the shoe or sandal.

10. An insole for a shoe or sandal substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A sandal or shoe when fitted with an insole in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.