GB2153655A

GB2153655A - Insole with integral toe puff and/or heel counter

Info

Publication number: GB2153655A
Application number: GB08432195A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giancarlo Tanzi
Original assignee: ASOLO SPORT Sas
Current assignee: ASOLO SPORT Sas
Priority date: 1984-02-02
Filing date: 1984-12-20
Publication date: 1985-08-29
Also published as: JPH0661285B2; CA1239788A; DE3564755D1; EP0152783B1; EP0152783A2; ATE36937T1; JPS60171002A; GB2153655B; EP0152783A3; IT8430626V0; GB8432195D0

Abstract

An insole 1 is formed in one piece with a toe puff 2 and preferably also with a raised edge heel counter 3 by injection moulding of plastics material. This is economical, simplifies assembly of the eventual boot or shoe, and gives rise to a stronger and longer-lasting boot or shoe. <IMAGE>

Description

1 GB 2 153 655 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Insole with integral toe puff and/or heel counter The present invention concerns an insole designed 70 to incorporate a toe puff and preferably also a heel counter.

Insoles designed in various styles and materials are well known as being formed as a special flat element which during assembly of a boot or shoe is attached to a counter which provides reinforce ment to the heel and to a toe puff at the front to stiffen the point of the shoe. This is particularly so in the case of sports footwear, such as snow shoes and mountaineering boots.

Usually different materials are used for different parts of this insole assembly because the stiffness of various parts of the boot or shoe must be differ ent. Also the materials used for the toe puff and the heel counter are specially treated so that they are sufficiently pliable for attachment to the flat in sole element by stitching and/or by adhesive. This has the disadvantage that the treated, pliable toe puff and heel counter tend to wear out or disinte grate before the remainder of the boot or shoe.

Another undesirable feature of many known in soles is that stitching often projects from the insole surface and this can be uncomfortable for the per son wearing the shoe.

An object of this invention is to provide an eco- 95 nomical insole which will simplify assembly and production of the eventual boot or shoe and im prove its strength and durability.

With this object in view, the present invention provides an insole or part thereof formed in one piece with a toe puff and/or a raised edge heel counter by injection moulding of plastics material.

Preferably, the insole is also formed with varying degrees of thickness and stiffness as well as chan- nels in its upper surface for stitching and a channel in its lower surface for housing either an entire supporting strip or a part thereof.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred em bodiment of an insole according to the invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section according to line 11-11 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an upside down view of the insole shown in Figure 1 and the supporting strips which can be attached thereto; Figure 4 is a section according to line IV-IV in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a partial section of an assembled 120 shoe incorporating the insole shown in Figures 1 to 4.

With reference to the drawings, a preferred em bodiment of the insole of the invention comprises a flat elementl which is formed so as to resemble the underside of a foot, at the front of which a boxed in toe puff 2 is integrally formed and at the back of which a heel counter 3 is integrally formed. The heel counter 3 is formed as a raised edge at the central back part of the heel.

These three parts, namely the insole element 1, the toe puff 2 and the heel counter 3 are formed in one piece by injecting plastics material into an appropriate mould.

On the upper surface of the insole element 1 there are two grooves or channels 4 adjacent the side edges. These reduce the insole thickness and are designed to contain some assembly stitching when the rest of the shoe, namely the upper and sole are attached to the insole. In this way the stitching stays beneath the level of the upper surface of the insole and therefore no discomfort is caused to the wearer of the shoe.

The toe puff 2 has a plurality of flexing cuts 5 along its free edge enabling it to adapt itself as the shoe bends during walking.

Between the toe puff 2 and the heel counter 3 a side connecting edge 6 is provided which can either be lower or higher as shown by the dotted line 7.

The insole element 1 has a flexible and deformable central region 8 which is not as thick as the side or edge regions.

By appropriate selection of the thickness over the entire insole, varying cleformability can be obtained thus making some parts more flexible and other parts stronger and stiffer.

The lower surface of the insole element 1 has a longitudinal channel 9 for receiving a stiff metal supporting strip or leaf spring 10 of the same size as the channel 9 which is attached by rivets passing through the respective holes 11 on the strip 10 and 12 on the insole. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 3, the channel 9 may receive a portion 13 which is partially cut out of a larger supporting strip 14. This sort of strip 14 is additionally held in place by rivets passing through holes 15 in the strip 14 and corresponding holes 16 in the insole 1.

The strip 14 in this case extends rearwardly and at its end is formed as a hook 19 which will project from the assembled shoe.

In use the insole is assembled with an upper 17 and a sole 18 and these are attached together by stitching etc. to form a shoe, as illustrated in Fig- ure 5.

The insole has the desired stiffnessand local deformability suitable for the use to which the shoe is to be put. It maintains its shape and does not alter the product in any way. Its shape is very impor- tant because with the toe puff and heel counter integrally formed it simplifies manufacture of the shoes. Moreover, the orthopaeclic and functional characteristics of the product are improved.

The stitching which is necessary for attachment of the sole, upper and insole is contained in the channels 14 which prevent the thread from being ruined or from causing discomfort to the foot.

The combination of such insoles with metal supporting stripes of different sizes and forms allows for shoes with specific characteristics for special uses. Indeed, the insole of the invention is particularly suitable for use in making sports footwear such as snow shoes and mountaineering boots.

It will of course be understood that the foregoing is illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the 2 GB 2 153 655 A 2 invention and variations are possible within the scope of the claim. In particular it should be noted that a significant degree of advantage in enhancing the strength and durability of the eventual boot or shoe as well as simplifying production can be obtained by forming only the toe puff or only the heel counter in one piece with at least part of the flat insole element with the other component attached at a later time.

Claims

1. An insole or part thereof formed in one piece with a toe puff and/or a raised edge heel counter by injection moulding of plastics material.

2. An insole or part thereof as claimed in claim 1 formed with a thicker outer region and a thinner central region so that the outer region is stiffer and the central region is more flexible and deformible.

3. An insole or part thereof as claimed in claim 1 or 2 formed with grooves or channels in its upper surface adjacent the edges thereof to accommodate stitching for attaching the insole to an upper and a sole.

4. An insole or part thereof as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 formed with a recess or channel in its lower surface which receives a metal strip or leaf spring of equal size or a portion of a larger supporting strip.

5. An insole as claimed in claim 4 wherein the recess or channel in the lower surface receives a portion of a larger supporting strip which projects beyond the rear of the insole and is formed at its end as a hook which will project from the finally assembled shoe for attachment of accessories.

Printed in the UK for HMSO, D8818935, 7.85, 7102. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

5. An insole or part thereof as claimed in claim 4 wherein the recess or channel in the lower surface receives a portion of a larger supporting strip which projects beyond the rear of the insole and is formed at its end as a hook which will project from the finally assembled shoe for attachment of accessories.

6. An insole formed in one piece with a toe puff and a heel counter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1 to 5 above have been deleted or tex- tually amended. (b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:- 1. An insole formed in one piece with a boxed- in toe puff and a raised edge heel counter by injection moulding of plastics material.

2. An insole as claimed in claim 1 formed with a thicker outer region and a thinner central region so that the outer region is stiffer and the central re- glon is more flexible and deformible.

3. An insole as claimed in claim 1 or 2 formed with grooves or channels in its upper surface adjacent the edges thereof to accommodate stitching for attaching the insole to an upper and a sole.

4. An insole as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 formed with a recess or channel in its lower surface which receives a metal strip or leaf spring of equal size or a portion of a larger supporting strip.