A removable insole for insertion into footwear, includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and an arch portion connecting together the forefoot and heel portions. At least one of the forefoot portion, heel portion and arch portion is formed by a lower layer of a resilient material which provides a cushioning function, and an upper layer positioned and secured on top of the lower layer and formed of a material having a Shore “000” hardness of less than about 45, and a tear strength greater than about 6.3 lb/in.
1. A removable insole for insertion into footwear, comprising:
a) at least one of:
i) a forefoot portion,
ii) a heel portion, and
iii) an arch portion; and
b) at least one of said forefoot portion, heel portion and arch portion being formed by:
i) a lower layer of a resilient material which provides a cushioning function, and
ii) an upper layer positioned and secured on top of said lower layer and formed of a material having:
A) a Shore “000” hardness of less than about 45, and
B) a tear strength greater than about 6.3 lb/in.
2. A removable insole according to claim 1 , wherein said insole is a full length insole formed from said forefoot portion, heel portion and arch portion connecting together said forefoot portion and said heel portion.
3. A removable insole according to claim 2 , wherein said upper layer extends along an entire length of said insole in said forefoot portion, heel portion and arch portion.
4. A removable insole according to claim 2 , wherein said upper layer extends substantially only along said forefoot portion.
5. A removable insole according to claim 1 , wherein said lower layer and upper layer have the same dimensions and shapes, and the upper layer is superposed on said lower layer.
6. A removable insole according to claim 1 , wherein said lower layer has a greater thickness than said upper layer at the heel portion.
7. A removable insole according to claim 1 , wherein said upper layer has a greater thickness than said lower layer at the forefoot portion.
8. A removable insole according to claim 1 , further comprising a top cover secured to an upper surface of said upper layer.
9. A removable insole according to claim 1 , wherein said heel portion is cupped so as to be formed by a relatively flat central portion and a sloped side wall.
10. A removable insole according to claim 9 , wherein said sloped side wall extends around a periphery of said heel portion and forwardly to at least said arch portion of the insole.
11. A removable insole according to claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower layers are both formed from polyurethane materials.
12. A removable insole according to claim 1 , wherein said upper layer has a Shore A000” hardness of about 30.
13. A removable insole according to claim 1 , wherein said insole includes at least said arch portion, and further comprising a rigidifying material secured between said upper and lower layers for increasing rigidity of said lower layer during manufacturing of the insole in order to retain a lower surface of said arch portion in an arched configuration.
14. A removable insole according to claim 13 , wherein said rigidifying material includes a non-woven fabric.
15. A removable insole according to claim 1 , wherein said insole includes at least an arch portion, said arch portion including a lower surface and an upper surface, and said lower surface being raised up to conform to an arch of a person's foot.
16. Footwear comprising:
a) an outer sole;
b) an inner sole connected to said outer sole, said inner sole including:
i) a forefoot portion extending at least to metatarsals of a foot,
ii) a heel portion, and
iii) a mid-foot portion connecting together said forefoot portion and said heel portion, said mid-foot portion including a medial arch portion;
c) at least one of said forefoot portion, heel portion and mid-foot portion being formed by:
i) a lower layer of a resilient material which provides a cushioning function, and
ii) an upper layer positioned and secured on top of said lower layer and formed of a material having:
A) a Shore “000” hardness of less than about 45, and
B) a tear strength greater than about 6.3 lb/in; and
d) an upper connected to at least one of said outer sole and said inner sole.
17. Footwear according to claim 16 , wherein said lower layer and upper layer have the same dimensions and shapes, and the upper layer is superposed on said lower layer.
18. Footwear according to claim 16 , wherein said lower layer has a greater thickness than said upper layer at the heel portion.
19. Footwear according to claim 16 , wherein said upper layer has a greater thickness than said lower layer at the forefoot portion.
20. Footwear according to claim 16 , further comprising a top cover secured to an upper surface of said upper layer.
21. Footwear according to claim 16 , wherein said heel portion is cupped so as to be formed by a relatively flat central portion and a sloped side wall.
22. Footwear according to claim 21 , wherein said sloped side wall extends around a periphery of said heel portion and forwardly to at least said arch portion of the insole.
23. Footwear according to claim 16 , wherein said upper and lower layers are both formed from polyurethane materials.
24. Footwear according to claim 16 , wherein said upper layer has a Shore A000” hardness of about 30.