Natural-cushioning, sock liner apparatus and method
US12295461B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 2020 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA43B17/14
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A sock liner (fitting above an insole of an article of footwear) includes a base layer between a thinner top layer, typically fabric contacting a sock in a shoe, and an intermediate layer below for shaping. The intermediate layer is a tailored series of projections, each extending from the medial side toward the lateral side. Together, these contain locally the individual regions of the “fat pad,” extending along the underside of a foot, providing the natural cushioning of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments thereabove. The liner may provide flex, stiffness, lift, cushioning, or the like in areas of the heel, arch, metatarsals, and forefoot. The layup typically includes multiple layers of expanded polymer material (plastic or elastomeric foam). These may be cut, overlaid, embossed, debossed, or a combination, in or out of a mold, to locally alter density, thickness, softness, or stiffness.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.