US2505508A

US2505508A - Insole for shoes

Info

Publication number: US2505508A
Application number: US2491A
Authority: US
Inventors: Shapiro Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-01-15
Filing date: 1948-01-15
Publication date: 1950-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1967-04-25

Description

25,P 1950y Y M. sHAPlRo l 2,505,508

INSOLE FOR sHoEs Filed Jan. 15, 194e' INVENTOR atented Apr... 25, 1950 iJITED STATES OFFICE 1 Claim.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved insole adapted to be built into a shoe as an integral part thereof, or the insole may be used as a separate article to be placed within a shoe upon the regular insole thereof.

The insole according to this invention is characterized by the provision of means for holding the metatarsal and tarsal bones in their natural positions and allows the metatarso-phalangeal joints to drop gently and naturally under weight bearing into a resilient cushion insole portion whereby shocks and irritation are avoided or alleviated, and whereby the natural functions of the bones and ligaments of the foot are given free play and the muscles of the foot will be strengthened. Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter.

Accordingly the invention is embodied in an insole constructed and designed as hereinafter set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a phantom diagrammatic view showing the insole in longitudinal section in position with relation to the foot and the shoe, the latter and the foot being shown in simple outline with the bones of the foot.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the insole.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l through the foreward part of the insole.

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line d-t of Fig. 1 through the shank portion of the insole.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through the heel portion of the insole on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 the shoe is indicated by the outline l. The foot is represented by the outline l. The bones of the foot are shown in outline in substantially correct anatomical relation. The insole aocording to this invention consists of a relativeli7 hard portion 3 and a relatively softer portion 9, the two portions forming a one piece insole. The rear portion 3 is formed with a heel seat I [l from which extends upwardly a heel surrounding cupping wall IIl The object of this formation is to provide a rm heel gripping portion or heel cup to keep the adipose (fat) pad underneath the heel bone I2 confined and restricted to its natural position whereby to prevent the adipose tissues from spreading or being pushed aside outwardly to the sides of the heel. The heel cupping wall is designed to retain the natural contour of the heel at the back and the sides of the heel bone I2 as indicated by the dotted line I3 which illustrates the upper side edge of the heel cup formation and which slopes gently forward and merges with the shank I4 of the insole. When the adipose tissues are pushed aside or spread, the heel bone will press directly down upon the underlying skin and caire sensitivity and pain, When the heel in its entirety is rmly held by the heel cup as herein provided in the natural position of the heel, the foot is prevented from sliding forward in the shoe and the adipose heel pad is confined to its natural position.

The insole is curved upward and around the heel and the sides of the foot to a point just behind the heads of the rst and fth metatarsal bones, I5 and I 6 respectively, so that there are no sharp edges to irritate the soft tissues of the plantar (bottom) surface of the foot. The curvature of the sides of the insole conforms to the form of the foot and merges with the shank portion I4 as shown at II in Fig. 4 on the medial side of the foot. The portion of the insole which lies underneath the longitudinal arch of the foot is shaped to conform to the natural contour of the foot arch which is composed of the tarsal and metatarsal bones. Thus there is no space between the arch of the foot and the shank of the insole such as may be found in ordinary shoes. Inasmuch as the rear portion of the foot from the metatarsal heads tothe heel bone requires a firm support, the rear portion of the insole including the shank portion, that is the portions 8 and I4 respectively, are made of a relatively hard or rm material, for example cork or other moldable substance may be used. Such substances or material are sold under different trade names and are characterized by being resilient or yielding to only a very limited degree.

The forefoot portion Q of the insole lies under the metatarso-phalangeal joints and the phalanges (toe bones). It extends forwardly of the terse-metatarsal portions of the insole. The greater part of foot disturbances and foot troubles occur in the metatarso-phalangeal area (the for ward portion of the foot) because the only freely movable joints of the foot are the metatarsophalangeal joints and the interphalangeal joints. For these reasons, these joints according to this invention, rest upon an uninterrupted resilient yielding support, namely the forward insole portion 9 instead of upon a relatively hard surface having distinctly defined sharp perimetral edges such as are found in ordinary shoes. An uninterrupted yielding insole support under this portion of the foot permits a natural movement of the bones of the foot and prevents corns, calluses V'and other growths under these joints, particularly under the first and fth metatarso-phalangeal joints and the interphalangeal joints of the rst digit (toe) and the external lateral side of the fth digit (toe) which otherwise usually extend over or ride over the perimetral edges of the ordinary insole.

The shank portion I4 connects the heel portion with the toe portion of the insole. The portion I4 is integral with the heel seat portion lil and the joint between the two

insole portions

8 and 9 is curved forwardly as shown by thev lines 20, 2|l to conform to the plantar aspects of the shafts of the metatarsal bones. The joining surface 2g is rearwardly inclined and by reason of itscurvature, strain and fatigue of the tissues connecting the bones of the metatarsal area, are prevented. The joint between the portions 8 and 9 'may be made in any suitable manner by any suitable joining means such as adhesive. The forward portion 9 is made of a resiliently yielding`rna- Ater/iai, for example, nitrogen gas-lled cellular rubber Vmay i be used.`

j" Yhe(dimensions' of' the insole, vparticularlyE'of ftheportion 9, arek such' that' jthe insole extends j' beyondjthe outlines"oithe foot sojtl'iaty under vweight bearing allV themetatarsoephalangeal fjoints" settle 'down inA the same planeupvon` the lgresilient support 9" and" l'the irst and `the fth L"metatarso-phalangeal 'joints arei Yaiorded vspace n forn natural movements and are' not'V pushed linto it' njpper plane. The relation between the insole ndthe'upper `of thef'shoe `is shown inv lig.I 3 whereytheupperY is indicated at 25fand the insole Judges-w25 'entend clear tothe upper' `and therefore Vrbzyondftheperimetral outline `of the foot. l

A, rlineinsoleaccording to thisinvention is vcharginte'rized` by the 'vproperty'of holding (and support- Ag'1 ;lf1e A metatarsal shafts in their 'normal posin'srwithout employing upwardfpres'siire andfal- (w'ythe metatars'mphalangeal' joints 'y to' drop gently into'a' yielding resiliehtcushion 9v oifcellu.-

arf'rubbefor 'like' snbst'ance'thereby alleviating hooks and: irritation tothe bones involved.` Durng the natural function of thebonesQf the'foot nder lweighty bearing, thephalang'es, resting'on fsupport and therebystrengthen the'muscl'es'of *'thefoot l Asf illustrated in Fig. 1 the' insole laccording' to thisivention isnot intended asv asole" element 4 to be placed within a finished shoe in the manner in which separate loose insoles or foot supports are customarily placed within a shoe. The reason for not using the herein disclosed insole as a separate loose insole is that thereby the vertical available space for the foot within the shoe is diminished and hence the full comfort of the insole element as an integral part of the shoe is not realized as planned.

. I'Claim? An inner sole for a shoe consisting of a heel and arch supporting section of mildly yielding material having its forward portion terminating in a forwardly and downwardly inclined curved edge,

a forward ball and toe section of soft yielding ma- "trial terminating in a rear portion having a rear- Wardly"and-*upwardly inclined edge complementary to and matching the said edge of the heel andarch supporting section, adhesive applied to the said two edges to join the said two sections to for'mfaninner'sole for afsh'oe, said `heeland arch supporting' section *being curved longitudinally and transversely and extending"under` andfin co'm'plete'contact' with the plantar aspects ofthe 'l heel bone andy inid-ftars'all bones of' vthe foot,N said ball and'toe sectionV extending under the'metaabutment with'the` sides ofthe shoe upper, said joined edges being curved laterally in conformity 'with'the plantar aspects of the rnetatarsaly pha- `"langeal joints of theoot.V

l 'leof "this patent:

heresilientfsurface.will grip into'the resilient .1.'

UNITED STATES PATENTS WNumber Name Date 833,120 Buell f Oct. 9', 19,05 1,926,683 Miller Q Sept. 12, 119,33 2,018,710 Elkin l loct, 29, 1935 2,130,968 SeWall Sept. 20, 1.938

FOREIGN PATENTS Number A Country t yDate 534,445 ,Germany Sept'. l0, 1931 589,485 'Germany Nov; 23,1933