Footwear with fixedly secured insole for structural support
US6581305B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 5, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA43B13/12
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a footwear construction having an insert of unitary structure and made of a single flexible material for providing increased structural support and strength of the footwear while maintaining flexibility of the footwear. Unlike the prior art insert, the present invention makes use of only a single material is used to manufacture the insert. A preferred material should be pliant or flexible and yet can provide the strength and structural support to the footwear in which the insert is used. Instead of using materials of different softness for the various sections in the insert to facilitate bending of the footwear, openings are added to various locations in the insert to facilitate planar bending movement. Such openings are commonly located in the forefoot section. To increase structural support and strength to the footwear, the insert is fixedly secured to the footwear. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the insole construction has a flange, which is stitched to the other layers in the footwear, for example using a welt.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.