Arch support insole
View Patent ↗An insole for insertion into footwear, comprising a mid-foot portion and a heel portion; the mid-foot portion and heel portion being formed by a cushioning layer of a resilient material having a first hardness and which provides a cushioning function; and a cushioning insert comprised within a recess in said cushioning layer and extending down from said cushioning layer; said cushioning insert comprising a resilient material having a second hardness that is less than the hardness of the hardness of the cushioning layer.
1. A three quarter length insole for insertion into footwear, comprising:
a) a mid-foot portion and a heel portion, said mid-foot portion and heel portion being formed by a cushioning layer of a resilient material having a first hardness and which provides a cushioning function,
b) an upper surface comprising a substantially planar center portion and a plurality of side portions curving upwards from said center portion to form walls at the edge of the upper surface, wherein at least one wall contacting the arch of a foot and another wall contacting the outside of a foot, wherein said wall which comes in contact with the arch of a foot extends higher from said center portion than said wall contacting the outside of a foot, and
c) a cushioning insert comprised within a recess in said cushioning layer and extending down from said cushioning layer; said cushioning insert comprising a resilient material having a second hardness that is less than the hardness of said cushioning layer, said cushioning insert extending from the heel portion to the mid-foot portion and substantially positioned below the arch of the foot and extending to a portion of the cushioning layer below the wall which comes in contact with the arch of a foot.
2. An insole according to claim 1 , wherein the resilient material forming the cushioning layer is a viscoelastic gel material.
3. An insole according to claim 1 , wherein the resilient material forming the cushioning insert is a viscoelastic gel material.
4. An insole according to claim 1 , which comprises an adhesive at a lower surface of the insole for maintaining said insole in position.
5. An insole according to claim 4 , wherein said adhesive is a release adhesive that permits removal of the insole from the footwear and repositioning the insole in the footwear.
6. An insole according to claim 1 , which comprises a high friction lower surface of the insole for maintaining said insole in position.
7. An insole according to claim 1 , which comprises a tackifier added to said gel material for maintaining said insole in position.
8. An insole according to claim 1 , wherein said cushioning insert comprises a plurality of spaced apart spring walls formed from said resilient material, said spring walls extending from a lower surface of said cushioning layer.
9. An insole according to claim 8 , wherein said spring walls each have a height which is greatest at a center of said pillow and which tapers in height toward edges of said pillow.
10. An insole according to claim 9 , wherein each of said spring walls is formed in a generally sinusoidal wave shape.
11. An insole according to claim 1 , wherein said cushioning layer tapers in thickness toward a periphery of said insole.
12. An insole according to claim 1 , further comprising a top cover secured to an upper surface of said cushioning layer.