GB2161057A

GB2161057A - Auxiliary insole element

Info

Publication number: GB2161057A
Application number: GB08428661A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marti Manuela Hernandez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-07-02
Filing date: 1984-11-13
Publication date: 1986-01-08
Also published as: GB8428661D0; IT1209596B; IT8423562A0; ES280339Y; ES280339U; GB2161057B

Abstract

An auxiliary footwear insole element, comprising a shaped piece (15) of leather or like material adapted to fit the forward region of a shoe interior from foot arch to toe, and having a large plurality of through perforations for transmitting moisture down into the shoe base, the upper surface of the leather piece being rolled smooth or coated so as to be non-absorbent and the undersurface being left rough and absorbent. The element may be directly applied to the shoe base or to a conventional fixed or detachable insole 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Auxiliary insole element for a shoe Field of the invention This invention relates to an auxiliary insole element for aplication to the primary insole forming the base of a shoe or alternatively directly to said base or to an extractable insole.

Object of the invention The invention is generally suited to any type of shoe, having for its main purpose to dehumidify and/or to maintain dry the contact area between the foot-sock and the base or primary insole of the shoe. More specifically, the invention is concerned with the area that corresponds to the foot sole forward region which extends from the foot arch or foot vault to the toe, since it is this area which constitutes the main foot support surface both at rest and during walking, causing, particularly when walking and in most persons, an overheating of this region of foot due to constant friction as a result of which there occurs a greater or lesser degree of exudation or perspiration which tends to create dampness or wetness at the mentioned shoe area.This in turn creates such problems as skin injuries, discomfort when walking, lack of stability, and also odour when the perspiration temporarily accumulates on the shoe base or primary sole which is not able to absorb it.

The invention In accordance with the invention, in order to assist in solving the above described problems, the invention provides an auxiliary insole element for a shoe, comprising a thin piece of leather or similar material shaped to fit the base of a shoe at the forward portion thereof generally extending from the foot arch to the toe, said piece being perforated with small through holes distributed over the whole area of said piece, and said piece having on one face (which is exposed uppermost when the piece is fitted in the shoe) a surface finish which seals said face against ingress of moisture except at the perforations and having on its other face a rough and moisture absorbent surface finish.

The insole element in accordance with the invention facilitates rapid moisture transmission through it downwards, thus keeping the support surface of the foot forward portion dry or nearly dry, thereby achieving improved walking comfort and an improvement in foot health and hygiene.

In practice the piece is made of very thin leather, say of 0.5 mm thickness approximately, perforated with a large plurality of through holes distributed in longitudinal and transverse rows with a separation from each hole to the next one of 5 millimetres approximately, for example, these holes being obtained by means of a multiple punching or trepanning method and having a diameter of 1 millimetre aproximately. The stated dimensions are, however, not to be taken as limitative.

This piece, which has the same general shape as the shoe base or primary insole to which it is attached, has its uper side rolled and calendered or possibly even coated to avoid pores, while the lower side,which is directly applied on the afore-mentioned shoe base or primary insole, is rough to facilitate its adhesion. The length of the piece is only about half of that of the primary insole, since the piece is required only in the region of foot where perspiration is more commonly produced, i.e. the foot sole, omitting the foot arch and heel.

Logically, as it preferably has the same profile as the primary insole to which it is attached either through adhesive bonding or by sewing, it correspondingly has dimensions apropriate to the shoe size and the number of holes is, therefore, proportional to its surface area since the hole spacing will generally be kept the same.

In use, perspiration passes through the perforations of the auxiliary leather piece to the lower side thereof against the primary insole, which is usually also made of leather, thus obtaining, in addition to improved hygiene and comfort achieved by continuous draining of moisture, the advantage that the forward foot support portion remains dry, because the moisture produced there is continuously transmitted downwards to the shoe body, which is able to evacuate it to outside through a transpiration effect.

As far as the primary insole which constitutes the shoe support plane is concerned, such insoles are standard in the art and generally consist of a leather piece which has the form of a shoe plant, having a clearance sufficient to allow its introduction into the shoe without difficulty, and having two strengthening portions, one at the cap and the other from the middle of its length to the heel. An intermediate portion separates the two strengthening portions.

Description of drawings In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view of a typical primary insole for a shoe, seen from below, i.e. the side which is applied to the shoe base; Figures 2A and B show the auxiliary insole element subject of this invention, Fig. 2A being a side view and Fig. 2B a plan view; Figure 3 shows the assembly of a primary insole and the auxiliary insole element; and Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates a shoe fitted with the insole assembly of Fig. 3.

Description of embodiment In Fig. 1, the typical primary insole 10 has an intermediate portion 14 between a thickened toe cap portion 1 2 and a thickened heel portion 1 3. The thickening is on the underside.

Fig. 2 shows the auxiliary insole element 1 5 of this invention, shaped to match the forward portion of the primary insole and having a large plurality of through perforations equidistantly spaced in rows. The element 1 5 is rolled or calendered to provide it with a non-porous upper surface finish (except for the perforations), whilst its undersurface is left rough and porous.

In Fig. 3, the auxiliary insole element 1 5 has been applied to the primary insole, either by sewing or by adhesion of its rough undersurface to the top surface of the primary insole 10.

Finally, Fig. 4 shows the insole assembly 10, 1 5 of Fig. 3 fitted witha shoe 16, either as a permanent or a removable insole. The auxiliary insole element 1 5 of this invention is exposed upwards at the forward portion of the interior of the shoe.

It will be appreciated that various modifications of the illustrated embodiment are possible within the scope of the invention, the scope of which is limited only by the ap

Claims

pended claims. CLAIMS

1. An auxiliary insole element for a shoe, comprising a thin piece of leather or similar material shaped to fit the base of a shoe at the forward portion thereof generally extending from the foot arch to the toe, said piece being perforated with small through holes distributed over the whole area of said piece, and said piece having on one face (which is exposed uppermost when the piece is fitted in the shoe) a surface finish which seals said face against ingress of moisture except at the perforations and having on its other face a rough and moisture absorbent surface finish.

2. An insole element according to claim 1, wherein the perforations are distributed uniformly over the piece, equidistantly along longitudinal and transverse rows.

3. An insole element according to claim 1 or claim 2, attached on the upper side of a primary shoe insole at the forward portion thereof.

4. An insole element according to claim 3, wherein the primary shoe insole is either a fixed base lining to the interior of a shoe or a removable insole.

5. An auxiliary insole element as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. A shoe fitted with an insole element in accordance with any of claims 1 to 5.