Slipper insole, slipper, and method for manufacturing a slipper

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,805,858
App. No.: 12/012,721
Granted: Oct 5, 2010
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An insole is described that can be placed with an insole receiving area of a slipper. The insole can be prepared by compression molding a structure comprising a foam layer having a first foam side and a second foam side. The insole includes a heel region, an arch region, and a toe region. The heel region includes a heel cushioning portion and a heel perimeter portion. The heel perimeter portion includes a retaining wall that extends above the top surface of the heel cushioning portion. The arch region includes an arch cushioning portion and an arch perimeter portion. The arch perimeter portion includes an arch support that extends above the top surface of the arch cushioning portion. The toe region includes a toe cushioning portion and a toe perimeter portion. A slipper and a method for manufacturing a slipper are described.

Claims (41)

1. A slipper comprising:

(a) an outsole;

(b) an upper;

(i) a heel region having a heel cushioning portion and a heel perimeter portion, wherein the heel perimeter portion comprises a retaining wall that extends above the top surface of the heel cushioning portion;

(ii) wherein the heel cushioning portion includes a contour design comprising a higher density foam area and a plurality of lower density foam areas, the plurality of lower density foam areas being separated from each other by portions of the higher density foam area; and

(iii) the insole comprising a product of compression molding a structure comprising a foam layer and a fabric layer.

2. A slipper according to claim 1 , wherein:

(a) the contour design includes a centrally-located lower density foam area.

3. A slipper according to claim 2 , wherein:

(a) the contour design comprises a starburst pattern.

4. A slipper according to claim 1 , wherein:

(a) the plurality of lower density foam areas are positioned along the retaining wall.

5. A slipper according to claim 1 , wherein:

(a) the lower density foam areas have heights that are greater than a height of the higher density foam area.

6. A slipper according to claim 1 , wherein:

(a) the fabric layer is held to the foam layer with an adhesive.

7. A slipper according to claim 1 , wherein:

(a) the insole includes an arch region having an arch cushioning portion.

8. A slipper according to claim 7 , wherein:

(a) the insole includes a toe region having a toe cushioning portion.

9. A slipper according to claim 1 , wherein:

(a) the insole is removable from the slipper.

10. A slipper according to claim 1 , wherein:

(a) the heel region includes a plurality of perforations in the heel cushioning portion.

11. An insole comprising:

(a) a heel region having a heel cushioning portion and a heel perimeter portion, wherein the heel perimeter portion comprises a retaining wall that extends above a top surface of the heel cushioning portion; and

(b) wherein the heel cushioning portion includes a contour design comprising a higher density foam area and a plurality of lower density foam areas, the plurality of lower density foam areas being separated from each other by portions of the higher density foam area; and

(c) the insole comprising a result of compression molding a structure comprising a fabric layer having a first fabric side and a second fabric side and a foam layer having a first foam side and a second foam side, wherein the second fabric side is attached to the first foam side.

12. An insole according to claim 11 , wherein:

(a) the contour design includes a higher density foam area surrounding a centrally-located lower density foam area.

13. An insole according to claim 12 , wherein:

(a) the contour design comprises a starburst pattern.

14. An insole according to claim 11 , wherein:

(a) the one or more lower density foam areas are positioned adjacent to the retaining wall.

15. An insole according to claim 11 , wherein:

(a) the higher density foam area has a height that is less than heights of the plurality of lower density foam areas.

16. An insole according to claim 11 , wherein:

(a) the fabric layer is held to the foam layer with an adhesive.

17. An insole according to claim 11 , wherein:

(a) the heel region includes a plurality of perforations in the heel cushioning portion.