GB2214777A

GB2214777A - Insole for shoes

Info

Publication number: GB2214777A
Application number: GB8803379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Ward; Paul Pritty
Original assignee: Ballys Shoe Factories Ltd
Current assignee: Ballys Shoe Factories Ltd
Priority date: 1988-02-13
Filing date: 1988-02-13
Publication date: 1989-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2008-02-13
Also published as: GB2214777B; GB8803379D0

Abstract

A highly flexible insole assembly for use in the construction of a shoe has a through-board (or insole) 10 which has an aperture 14 in the region between the instep and toe regions 14 and 15 thereof. A resilient insert 17 e.g. pre-moulded in natural or synthetic rubber is located in the aperture, the thickness of the insert being greater than that of the through-board. A backing sheet 16 underlies the aperture, the insert being bonded to the sheet 16. The insole assembly is completed by a seat board 11 beneath the heel and instep regions thereof, a metallic reinforcing shank being disposed between the through-board and the seat board. <IMAGE>

Description

INSOLE FOR SHOES This invention relates to an insole for use in the construction of a shoe, as well as to an insole assembly for a shoe, and to a shoe whenever incorporating such an insole or insole assembly.

A known form of lasted construction for a shoe utilises a so-called insole, which serves as a base board to support both the shoe uppers as well as the heel and sole assembly. In order to give the shoe the required shape and form, it is important that the insole is substantially rigid both transversely of the shoe and longitudinally thereof, and yet the insole must be flexible to allow the shoe to be flexible and so comfortable to wear. On the other hand, and especially for the case of a shoe having a raised heel, at least the portion of the insole extending from the heel region thereof through to the instep region should be relatively inflexible. In order to impart sufficient stiffness to this region of the insole, it is known to incorporate within an insole assembly a rigid plate or other member of metal, known as a shank.

In order to improve the flexibility of a shoe construction of the kind described above, there have been proposals for insoles which do not extend fully to the toe region of the shoe. Though this allows the toe region of the shoe to flex more readily, there is the disadvantage that the shoe lacks lateral stability and so is likely to lose its shape and appearance relatively rapidly, after a short period of use. Another proposal has been to make the insole of a softer material in an attempt to improve the flexibility thereof, but again tle lateral rigidit n In L: plane of the insole i-r therm diminished and the stability of the shoe as a whole will be impaired.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide an insole or an insole assembly for use in constructing a shoe, which insole may impart to a shoe considerable flexibility in order to give the shoe enhanced comfort, especially when worn for long periods.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides an insole for use in constructing a shoe, which insole has an aperture formed therethrough in a region thereof between the toe and instep regions, and there being a relatively soft and flexible material insert located within the aperture.

It will be appreciated that the insole of this invention is provided with a region of greatly reduced stiffness as compared to the remainder of the insole, by virtue of the aperture therein, located at that part of the insole which is subjected to the greatest flexing when a shoe incorporating that insole is worn. Thus, that region of the insole should be disposed in the vicinity of the toe joints of the foot of a wearer of a shoe incorporating the insole. Because the insole is continuous from the heel to toe regions, notwithstanding the aperture formed therethrough, the insole still is able to display substantial rigidity transversely of the insole, and so still may impart to the shoe adequate stability.

The relatively soft and flexible material insert located within the aperture should be sufficiently flexible in itself so as not to increase significantly the flexibility of the region of the insole having the aperture formed therethrough. For example, the soft and flexible material may be a natural or synthetic rubber, cut or moulded to have the same shape and size as the aperture in the insole. Preferably, the insert has a thickness greater than that of the insole, whereby the insert will compress during wearing of a shoe incorporating the insole to an extent sufficient to ensure that the wearer is unaware of the aperture in the insole.

In order to facilitate manufacture of the insole, a backing sheet may be provided on the underside thereof so as to extend over and beyond the entire area of the aperture, whereby the insert may be secured in position in the aperture, by being bonded to the backing sheet.

Alternatively, the insert could be pre-moulded with a groove around its peripheral wall to allow the insert to be snapped in place. A further alternative is for the insert to be directly moulded into place.

According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided an insole assembly for a shoe which assembly comprises an insole of this invention as described above in combination with a seat board bonded to the insole so as to overlie the heel and instep regions of the insol@@ Preferably, a metallic reinforcing plate is provided between the seat board and insole, so as to maintain substantially rigid the heel and instep regions of the insole assembly.

The insole assembly as just described may be used in the manufacture of a shoe using a conventional lasted manufacturing process, where the insole assembly forms a base for the shoe, to support both the shoe uppers and the sole and heel portions of the shoe.

This invention further extends to a shoe whenever incorporating therewithin an insole, or an insole assembly, according to the invention as described above.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of an insole assembly of the present invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the embodiment of insole assembly constructed and arranged in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the insole assembly of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view, from below, of the insole assembly.

The embodiment of insole assembly of this invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a through-board (or insole) 10, a seat board 11 and a metallic shank 12, these components being assembled together in a known manner with the through board 10 overlying the seat board 11 and with the shank 12 disposed between the through-board 10 and seat board 11.

The shank 12 is shaped from a spring steel material so as to be substantially rigid but with a curved form, so as to impart to the instep region 13 of the insole assembly the required profile, having regard to the desired finished shape for the shoe. Typically, the shank 12 is pinned to the seat board 11, whereafter the through-board 10 and seat board 11 are adhered together in an overlying manner.

The assembly of the through-board 10, seat board 11 and metallic shank 12 as described above is essentially conventional and may be made from the usual materials employed for this purpose, in the shoe making art.

Prior to assembly of the through-board 10 with the seat board 11, the through-board 10 is provided with an aperture 14, in the region of the through-board between the instep and toe regions 13 and 15 thereof; the aperture thus is generally in the toe-joint region of the through-board, having regard to the finished shoe construction. Following the assembly of the throughboard 10 to the seat board 11, a thermo-coated backing sheet 16 is bonded to the underside of the through-board 10 and also to the seat board 11, so that the aperture 14 in the through-board is wholly covered by the backing sheet 16. A pre-moulded rubber material insert 17, of a thickness approwimately equal to twine that of the through-board itself, is then bonded to the backing sheet 16, such that the insert 17 wholly fills the aperture 14.

Following the production of the insole assembly of this invention as described above, the insole assembly is employed in the manufacture of a shoe, using a lasted construction in a well-known manner. However, when the shoe has been completed, it will have a much greater flexibility in the region thereof between the toe and instep regions, on account of the aperture in that region of the insole assembly. Despite that aperture, because of the continuity of the through-board 10 froia the heel to toe regions, the shoe will still display sufficient stability, despite the much enhanced flexibility in the region of the aperture 14. Moreover, in view of the insert 17 of a greater thickness than the through-board 10, a wearer of the shoe will be unaware of the presence of the aperture, and the soft and resilient nature of that insert in itself also contributes to the users comfort.

Claims

1. An insole for use in constructing a shoe, which insole has an aperture formed therethrough in a region thereof between the toe and instep regions, the insole having a relatively soft aii iexibie ilateriai insert located within the aperture.

2. An insole according to claim 1, wherein the the soft and flexible insert material is of a natural or synthetic rubber, cut or moulded to have the same shape and size as the aperture in the insole.

3. An insole according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the insert has a thickness greater than that of the insole.

4. An insole according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the insole is provided with a backing sheet on the underside thereof, which backing sheet extends over and beyond the entire area of the aperture.

5. An insole according to claim 4, wherein the insert is bonded to the backing sheet to secure the insert in position in the aperture.

6. An insole according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the insert is pre-moulded with a groove around its peripheral wall, whereby the edges of the insole defining the aperture are located in the grooves to hold the insert in the aperture.

7. An insole according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the insert is directly moulded into place in the aperture in the insole.

8. An insole according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. An insole assembly for a shoe which assembly comprises an insole according to any of claims 1 to 8 in combination with a seat board bonded to the insole so as to overlie the heel and instep regions of the insole.

10. A shoe whenever incorporating an insole assembly according to the preceding claims.

10. An insole assembly according to claim 9, wherein a metallic reinforcing plate is provided between the seat board and insole, so as to maintain substantially rigid the heel and instep regions of the insole assembly.

11. A shoe whenever incorporating an insole according to any of claims 1 to 8.

12. A shoe whenever incorporating an insole assembly according to claim 9 or claim 10.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An insole assembly for use in constructing a shoe, which insole assembly comprises in combination a fulllength insole extending from a toe region to a heel region of a finished shoe and having an aperture formed therethrough in a region located between the toe and instep regions thereof, a seat board bonded to the insole so as to overlie the heel and instep regions of the insole, and a relatively soft and flexible material insert located within the aperture in the insole.

2. An insole assembly according to claim 1, wherein a metallic reinforcing plate is provided between the seat board and insole, so as to maintain substantially rigid heel and instep regions of the insole assembly.

3. An insole assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the insert has a thickness greater than that of the insole.

4. An insole assembly according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the insert has a thickness equal to twice that of the insole.

5. An insole assembly according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insole is provided with a backing sheet on the underside thereof, which backing sheet extends over and beyond the entire area of the aperture.

6. An insole assembly according to claim 5, wherein the insert is bonded to the backing sheet to secure the insert in position in the aperture.

7. An insole assembly according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insert is pre-moulded with a groove around its peripheral wall, whereby the edges of the insole defining the aperture are located in the grooves to hold the insert in the aperture.

8. An insole assembly accordinq to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insert is directly moulded into place in the aperture in the insole.

9. An insole assembly according to claim t substantially as hereinbefore described with refere to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.