IP Library Granted Patent US 10,383,400
Granted Patent B2
US 10,383,400 · App. 15/137,914 · Granted Aug 20, 2019

Visco-elastic insert

Inventor: Thomas Bauerfeind (Krefeld, DE)
Assignee: Bauerfeind AG
A43B17/003A43B7/144A43B7/148A43B7/16A43B13/186A43B13/188A43B17/023A43B17/16A43B21/32A61F5/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,383,400
App. No.
15/137,914
Granted
Aug 20, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to visco-elastic inserts, in particular to shoe inserts, and in particular to heel supports having a main body with regions of dissimilar hardness.

Claims (21)

1. A heel support comprising:

a main body including a foot bed surface pointing toward a sole of a foot, a floor surface, a first region made from a first visco-elastic material with a first hardness, a second region defining a first portion of the floor surface and being made from a second visco-elastic material with a second hardness, a third region defining a second portion of the floor surface and being made from a third visco-elastic material with a third hardness, and a layer provided between the foot bed surface and the second and third regions; and,

a shell arranged on an outer edge of said main body and being made from the first visco-elastic material;

said layer being made from the first visco-elastic material;

said second region being surrounded by said first region and said third region being surrounded by said second region;

said second visco-elastic material of said second region being softer than said first visco-elastic material of said first region;

said third visco-elastic material of said third region being softer than said second visco-elastic material of second region;

said first region having a first abutting edge, said second region having second inner and outer abutting edges, and said third region having a third abutting edge;

said first abutting edge, said second inner and outer abutting edges, and said third abutting edge having protrusions and abutting clearances;

said first abutting edge of said first region and said second outer abutting edge of said second region being intermeshed with each other through the protrusions and abutting clearances of said first abutting edge and said second outer abutting edge in a mutually matching serpentine manner;

said second inner abutting edge of said second region and said third abutting edge of said third region being intermeshed with each other through the protrusions and abutting clearances of said second inner abutting edge and said third abutting edge in a mutually matching serpentine manner; and,

said second region having a kidney like or a tear like planar shape,

wherein a thickness of the main body tapers off toward a front area of the main body thereby forming a front edge of the main body, and

wherein the shell does not extend to the front edge of the main body.

2. The heel support of claim 1 , wherein:

said first visco-elastic material has a hardness of 45 to 60 Shore,

said second visco-elastic material has a hardness of 25 to 50 Shore, and

said third visco-elastic material has a hardness of 20 to 30 Shore.

3. The heel support of claim 1 , wherein the first visco-elastic material with the first hardness, the second first visco-elastic material with the second hardness, and the third first visco-elastic material with the third hardness are silicone based rubber materials.

4. The heel support of claim 1 , wherein the second region that is made from the second visco-elastic material with the second hardness and the third region that is made from the third visco-elastic material with the third hardness are integrally cast in the first visco-elastic material with the first hardness.

5. The heel support of claim 1 , wherein the second region has an oak-leaf like shape.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2016
From: BAUERFEIND, THOMAS
To: BAUERFEIND AG
Reel/Frame 040008/0248 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2013 018 265 · Oct 25, 2013 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2014072689 · Oct 22, 2014
Related Publication 20160235159A1 · Aug 18, 2016
Cited By (3)
US 1,085,676 US 12,648,615 US 12,685,368