GB2511498A

GB2511498A - Shoe insert for footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2511498A
Application number: GB1303780.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lavina Bonar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-04
Filing date: 2013-03-04
Publication date: 2014-09-10
Also published as: WO2014135830A1; WO2014135830A4; GB201303780D0

Abstract

An insert for footwear that can be fitted into the inner frontal toe area of an item of footwear, reducing the internal area of the footwear and allowing a wearer to wear footwear of a size greater than their own shoe size. The insert may be formed of a material that is compressible by the users toes 3 when in use, such as closed cell cross linked polyethylene foam. The insert may have a curved shape corresponding to the toes of a wearer.

Description

Field ot invention:

The present invention enables people to wear larger sized footwear and in doing so, ensures that the footwear conforms to the wearer's foot by bridging the gap in the toe area of the footwear.

Background of invention:

Over 50% of the population have one foot slightly smaller than the other. Meaning that one shoe fits snugly and the other is loose. And a certain percentage of people have differences of up to two whole sizes between their left and right foot and since all shoes are sold as a pair, these people would have to buy a left in one size and a right in another.

Most shoe manufacturers create their own shoe size templates. This means that there can be a slight difference in a shoe size from one manufacturer to another. Variations in shoe sizes also occur from country to country. Example: the USA and Europe etc. Nowadays, most footwear manufacturers only manufacture footwear in whole sizes but many people are not a whole size. They are between sizes and are therefore forced to buy footwear that is either slightly too big or too small.

In pregnancy, during weght gain and on other occasions, feet can become larger through swelling etc. and thus stretch ones footwear. After such an event, the footwear is then too loose for the wearer.

Many people are opting to buy second-hand footwear as it is a cheaper alternative to owning a pair of designer shoes, for example. Because of the differences in size and shape of the feet of the orignal wearer, the second-hand footwear can sometimes be too big and unwearabe for the new user.

People often swap or borrow clothes wtb relatves or friends but can only swap or borrow footwear if the relative or friend is of the same size. Sometimes, even if they seem to be the same size, there can still be a slight difference and this difference can cause stretching of the shoes for the owner or loose fitting shoes for the borrower.

In shops, display shoes are tried on by many people and who have all different shaped and sized feet.

This oan result in display shoes being stretched beyond their natural size or the left and right shoe becoming different in size.

What might fit you perfectly on one foot could be falling off the other because it was tried on by someone with larger feet and thus became stretched.

The present invention seeks to address these considerabe problems that have been poorly addressed in the past.

Many people use insoles or thick socks as a way of allowing them to wear larger sized footwear.

People, who are between shoe sizes, squash their feet into smaller sized footwear which can result in various different problems inouding bunions.

Shoe inserts have long since been provided to give comfort to the wearer. US patent 7827707 describes a "quadrant pillow ike form" which can be readily cut or otherwise sized to compliment the toe region of the desred shoe. Although it does state that it can be used for use in children's shoes, where it allows a child to grow into their shoes, it is primarily used for comfort.

It does not state anywhere that its purpose is to bridge a size gap for adult footwear whose feet are fully grown.

It is also specifcally comprised of memory foam material which does not have inherent, sufficient stiffness and resilience to maintain a permanent or semi-permanent size gap. It aso softens when warm, suffers discoloration, emits an odour, has questionable longevity and because of its open foam structure absorbs moisture which when used in footwear is not preferable as it can harbour microbial growth.

Shoe inserts have also been provided for dancing slippers or tee shoes. US patent 4026046 and US patent 5129165 describes types of nserts used to faclitate toe dancing. Also, US 2810214 to Wolf, describes a toe shield which is described for use in ballet shoe to help evenly distribute the wearers weight across the toe area of said footwear.

US patent 200100199526 refers to an insert for shoes which adjust the ft of the shoe so as to avod the nsert slipping.

It is a full size sole insert which has a foot bed and also include sots and rais.

Summary of invention:

The present invention relates to an insert for footwear which is nserted into the inner frontal toe area of the footwear. More particularly a footwear insert that is designed to allow a person, particularly a woman but not restricted to just women to be able to wear a footwear size that is of a size larger than their own foot size; Whether that is 1/4 size, 1/2 size, 3/4 size, 1 size and upwards etc. It creates an exact fit between the users foot and the footwear and allows the user to wear footwear that would otherwise be loose. It alters the size of the footwear by reducing it so that the footwear conforms to the size of the user's foot. Regardless of differences in size between the user's left and right foot, the user can wear the same sized footwear by simply inserting the insert into the larger footwear.

It will be made of flexible and somewhat mouldable materia but which still retains a certan stiffness e.g. "Plastazote' and curved in shaped so as to follow the natural curve of the users toes, from the hallux big toe" down to the little toe, with the distance between the hallux and the top of the inner frontal toe area of the footwear dictatng the size of the insert required.

The insert can easily fit inside the inner frontal toe area of the footwear, placed in front of the user's toes, with at least some of the toes coming into contact with the toe engaging face and slghty compressing the nsert body.

It can be simply inserted into the footwear where it will be sandwiched in the toe area and in doing so bridges the desired footwear size gap. This allows the end user to comfortably and securely wear the footwear.

The inserts can be removable and can be made pre-formed in different sizes, 1/4 size, 1/2 size, 3/4 size, 1 size and upwards etc. and/cr can come in whole sizes where the desired fraction of the size can be detached.

The invention may take a form different from those specifically described above. Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Brief description of drawings:

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described, solely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one wtb skill in the art upon examination of the folowing figures and detailed description. It is ntended that all such addtional systems, methods, teatures and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the nvention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. The shown drawings are not necessarily to scae, and maybe exaggerated to better illustrate the important features of the invention wherein: FIG. 1 is a plan view of a footwear insert constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred nsert body.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a shoe, illustrating the placement of the insert body inside the inner frontal toe area of the footwear.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing the insert during use thereof, while the footwear is

Description of the preferred embodiments:

The following disclosure present exemplary embodiments of the invention for providing a size adjusting footwear insert that is inserted in the nner frontal toe area of the footwear and secures the users foot within the footwear. The invention maybe used by users to comfortably and securely wear footwear of a size greater than that of their own foot size. The invention may also be advantageously applied in the tield of orthotics, for example to provide a means of wearing the same sized footwear on each foot regardless of the sze difference between the users eft and right foot.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the footwear insert 5 (see FIGS. 1-4) selected for illustration comprises an initial, generally curved body 6. In more detail, the invention has a substantially curved plan configuration, presenting a continuous downward curve from that of the user's hallux "big toe" ito tber fifth or "little toe" 4. It comprises of a shape which is flexible and pliable so as to closely conform to the nner frontal toe area of the footwear, whch is typically left "unoccupied" by the user's toes 3.

However, other suitable body shapes and configurations are entirely within the ambit of the present nvention (e.g., the insert body is flexible and pliable enough to closely conform to that of the inner frontal toe area of any shaped or sized footwear) In footwear which is of a size greater than that of the user's foot, the distance between the user's hallux 1 and that of the inner frontal toe area of the footwear 7 dictates the size of the insert required. When in use, the users toes come into abufting contact with the toe engaging face of the body 2 and together with the sustained forces imposed on the nsert cause the latter to cosely conform to that of the user's toes and the inner frontal toe area of the footwear 3. The insert is therefore sandwiched in the inner frontal toe area of the footwear by the user's toes to provide an exact fit between that of the user's foot size and the size of the footwear.

A principle aim of the inventon to reduce the internal area of the footwear 3; whereby allowing the wearer to comfortably and securely wear footwear of a size greater than that of their own foot size or that of footwear which would otherwise be loose.

The body preferaby comprises (and more preferably consists cf) closed cell, cross-linked poyethylene foam material e.g. Plastazote". In fact, the inert qualites of Plastazote" have led to its widespread use n heatbcare applications.

Claims

Claims: 1. An insert for footwear comprising: A footwear size altering nsert that can be inserted into the inner fronta toe area of the footwear and when n use, reduces the internal area of the said footwear; whereby allowng the wearer to comfortably and securely wear footwear of a size greater than their own foot size.
2. An insert for footwear accordng to claim 1, which is inserted into the inner frontal toe area of footwear and sandwiched therein to provde an exact tit between the user's foot size and the size of the footwear.
3. An insert for footwear accordng to claim 1, which when used in footwear by wearers, enables them to wear footwear that is of a size greater than that of their own foot size.
4. An insert for footwear accordng to claim 1, which enhances the comfort and fit of the footwear regardless of its size to end wearer.
5. An insert for footwear accordng to claim 1, which adjusts the size of the footwear so as to allow each foot to comfortably and securely fit inside the footwear regardless of any differences in size between the eft and the right foot or that ot the left and right of the footwear itself.
6. An insert for footwear accordng to claim 1, which is inserted in front of the users toes and is formed of a material which is somewhat compressible by users toes when in use.
7. An insert for footwear that acts as an extension of the users foot and n doing so enables the user to wear a footwear size greater than would normally be comfortably and securely possible.
8. An insert for footwear accordng to claim 1, wherein the insert reduces the footwear size by at least one quarter of a size.
9. An insert for footwear accordng to claim 1, which enables footwear to conform to the size of that of the user's foot.
10. An insert for footwear according to al preceding claims, whch is curved in shape so as to follow the natural curve of the user's toes from the hallux down to their fifth toe wth the distance between the top of the inner frontal toe area and the hallux, dictating the size of the insert required.