ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an anatomically shaped insole with massaging effect suitable for being inserted in an article of footwear in order to increase comfort.

Bottoms for articles of footwear are known, which are molded from thermoplastic materials and are suitable for increasing the user’s comfort, in particular during walking.

Two types of bottoms are known: anatomically shaped bottoms and ventilated bottoms that use external-internal air flows to cool and massage the user’s foot. Anatomically shaped bottoms are provided with an insole that can adjust perfectly to the anatomical profile of the foot, thus supporting the foot in a correct, comfortable way. Similar insoles often have an elastically deformable soft structure that perfectly meets the user’s needs during walking, generating a selective compression and a successive new expansion according to the part of the foot that goes in contact with the ground, i.e. the metatarsus area or the heel area, respectively.

Ventilated bottoms have an outsole provided with a plurality of valves that are capable of favoring the ejection of the air contained inside the upper at every step of the user, thus ensuring a cooling air exchange for an increased foot comfort.

Moreover, it must be noted that the bottoms of the two aforementioned types are conceived and realized with the aforementioned advantageous properties. Therefore, they are not versatile and cannot be maintained in use every time damage, or loss of efficacy, is experienced in the anatomically shaped massaging surfaces suitable for supporting the foot of the user.

US2012/0278999 discloses an article of footwear:

- an upper that is closed on the bottom by a lower wall of the upper - an outsole obtained by means of interlocking elements, which is suitable for going in contact with the ground,

- a midsole obtained by means of interlocking elements and disposed between the outsole and the lower wall of the upper.

Such a structure is embedded in an article of footwear and is not an insole suitable for being removably disposed on a bottom of an article of footwear.

The outsole is not fixed to the upper in such a way to generate an airtight chamber wherein the insole is disposed. In fact, the outsole is formed of interlocking elements that are separated by empty spaces for the ejection of air. Therefore, such an article of footwear is not capable of creating an airtight chamber wherein an air cushion is formed between the outsole and the lower wall of the upper.

US2007/0022629 discloses an article of footwear comprising:

- a bottom with three housings,

- three inserts disposed in the three housings of the bottom,

- an outsole comprising two separate pieces that are fixed to the bottom in order to retain the inserts.

Such a structure is a bottom for an article of footwear and is not an insole suitable for being removably disposed on a bottom of an article of footwear.

The housings of the bottom are not in communication and the insert disposed in the center of the bottom is not made of a material suitable for absorbing the air. Therefore, such an article of footwear is not capable of creating a single chamber that extends under the entire foot and or a cushion of air between the bottom and the outsole that flows into a single chamber during walking.

The purpose of the present invention is to disclose an anatomically shaped insole that is capable of massaging the foot during walking.

Another purpose is to disclose such an anatomically shaped insole that is versatile and suitable for being removably inserted in any article of footwear with bottom provided with a housing for receiving the insole. These purposes are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics of the independent claim 1 .

Advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent claims.

The insole according to the invention is defined by the independent claim

1.

A type of bottoms that is especially suitable for receiving the insole according to the invention is the so-called “box” bottom, which is molded from plastic materials, and is provided with a perimeter edge that protrudes in upper position from the outsole. In view of the above, the insole can be alternately used by the user in different articles of footwear, while always ensuring the same comfort level.

The insole of the invention has a box structure that is molded from plastic materials with intrinsic elasticity properties. Such a box structure is formed of a horizontal wall that is shaped like a foot; a perimeter edge, which is suitable for defining a chamber that can be accessed from the bottom, protrudes from said horizontal wall in lower position. Said chamber is suitable for housing some inserts that are capable of providing anatomical and massaging properties to the insole.

Once the inserts are positioned, the chamber of the insole is closed from the bottom with a sheet that has the same profile as the upper wall of the insole. In view of the above, an airtight chamber is formed between the sheet and the box structure. The sheet is engaged and fixed against the borders of the perimeter edge of the box structure, in such a way to seal the chamber of the insole and prevent the inserts from losing their correct operating position inside the chamber.

Such an insole is suitable for being inserted into a housing obtained on a bottom, with the sheet facing down, in contact with the upper surface of the bottom. Because of the provision of such an insole, every time the user takes a step, the foot will exert a pressure on the upper wall of the box structure of the insole. In this way, the insole is energetically compressed and the profile of the upper wall of the insole is adjusted to the shape of the foot, favoring the circulation of air inside the chamber of the insole. Such a circulation of air in the chamber of the insole generates a massaging effect for the foot, thus increasing the comfort of the user during walking, and providing a better support for the foot.

The sheet is disposed against the upper surface of the bottom. Such an interference between the upper surface of the bottom and the sheet that covers the insole on the bottom will prevent the sheet from being detached from the insole because of the pressure discharged every time the user takes a step, when the air contained in the chamber of the insole is compressed.

For the sake of clarity, the description of the invention continues with reference to the appended drawings, which have a merely illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of a bottom for an article of footwear that is provided with the insole according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the sectional plane ll-ll of

Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is longitudinal sectional view along the plane Ill-Ill of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3, except for it is an exploded view of the bottom and of the parts of the insole according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of the third insert of the insole according to the invention;

With reference to the Figures, the insole of the invention is disclosed, which is generally indicated with reference letter P.

The term “insole” (P) indicates a midsole suitable for being removably disposed in a bottom (F) of an article of footwear in such a way that the foot of the user rests on the insole. The term “bottom” (F) indicates a part of the article of footwear that comprises an outsole suitable for going in contact with the ground.

The bottom (F) has a perimeter edge (SP) that defines a recessed housing wherein the insole (P) is disposed.

The insole (P) comprises a box structure (4) that is molded from plastic materials, namely synthetic or natural, elastically deformable, airtight materials The box structure (4) comprises an upper wall (40), shaped like a foot, and a perimeter edge (41 ) that projects in lower position from the upper wall (40), in such a way to define a chamber (42).

Three inserts (1 , 2, 3) are housed in the chamber (42).

The first insert (1 ) has a length equal to 35-45% of the length of the box structure (4) and is suitable for being disposed correspondingly to the heel area of the foot.

The second insert (2) has a length equal to 35-45% of the length of the box structure (4) and is suitable for being disposed correspondingly to the plantar arch of the foot.

The third insert (3) has a length equal to 10-30% of the length of the box structure (4) and is suitable for being disposed correspondingly to the metatarsus area of the foot.

The width of the inserts (1 , 2, 3) is equal to the width of the chamber (42) in correspondence of the inserts.

The first insert (1 ) is made of an airtight semi-rigid material, preferably of microporous type.

The second insert (2) is made of a soft, elastically compressible, open cell material, suitable for absorbing and ejecting the air, preferably an open-cell material such as foam rubber.

The third insert (3) is made of an airtight rigid or semi-rigid material, preferably a plastic material, such as polyurethane, EVA and the like.

The back portion (10) of the first insert (1 ) is shaped as a rectangular plate with constant thickness and the front portion (11 ) of the first insert (1 ) is tapered with decreasing thickness going towards the front.

The second insert (2) is shaped like a rectangular plate with constant thickness.

The third insert (3) is shaped like a rectangular plate with constant thickness.

Once the inserts (1 , 2, 3) are disposed in the chamber (42) of the box structure, the chamber (42) is airtightly closed by a sheet (5) that is engaged and fixed against the perimeter edge (41 ) of the box structure. The sheet (5) is made of an airtight plastic material with a thickness of approximately 1 -2 mm.

In view of the above, the chamber (42) is an airtight chamber that contains air at atmospheric pressure, which is suitable for generating a sort of air cushion. The majority of the air in the chamber (42) is contained in the open cell structure of the second insert (2).

The second insert (2) and the third insert (3) have planar upper surfaces (2a, 3a) suitable for being engaged against the upper wall (40) of the box structure. Instead, given that the first insert (1 ) has a tapered front portion (11 ), an empty space (G) is formed between an upper surface (1 a) of the first insert (1 ) in correspondence of its front portion (11 ) and the upper wall (40) of the box structure. Such an empty space (G) above the front portion (11 ) of the first insert (1 ) contains air.

The upper surface (3a) of the third insert (3) is fixed to the upper wall (40) of the box structure by means of an adhesive layer (6).

Given that the upper wall (40) of the box structure is made of elastically deformable thermoplastic materials, various areas of the chamber (42) are cyclically and selectively subject to compression steps and expansion steps during walking, respectively when a portion of the bottom (F) goes in contact with the ground and when a portion of the bottom (F) is lifted from the ground.

Said compression steps and expansion steps in the various areas of the chamber (42) will determine a sort of pumping effect of the air contained in the chamber (42), wherein the air tends to being cyclically transferred from the area of the chamber (42) that is being compressed to the area of the chamber (8) that is being expanded.

Such a pumping effect is made possible by the open-cell compressible structure of the second insert (2) that is suitable for absorbing the air. All the air contained in the second insert (2) is forcedly conveyed under pressure in the direction of the empty space (G) above the first insert (1 ). In view of the above, a pneumatic thrust is generated from the bottom upwards, above the first insert (1 ), creating a massaging effect and a support for the heel of the user that guarantee a higher comfort during walking. As soon as the foot of the user is lifted from the ground and the compression in correspondence of the second insert (2) ends, the air spontaneously tends to be uniformly redistributed inside the chamber (42).

The insole (P) is suitable for adjusting to the morphology and the physiology of the foot, just like a real anatomical bottom. Such an attitude derives from the fact that the upper wall (40) of the box structure is flexible and can perfectly adjust to the movements and to the profile of the foot, and from the structure and the properties of the inserts (1 , 2, 3) disposed in the chamber (42). Because of its compact structure, the first insert (1 ) provides comfort and stability to the heel area during walking.

Because of its soft compressible structure, the second insert (2) provides a very comfortable support to the plantar arch area, and because of its spongy structure, which is suitable for absorbing the air, it generates a pumping effect of the air contained in the chamber (42) under pressure.

Because of its deformable compact structure, the third insert (3) provides a firm support to the toe area.

The three inserts (1 , 2, 3) are adhered to the sheet (5) in order to favor a higher stability to the structure of the insole (P). With reference to Fig. 5, the third insert (3) can comprise a base (30) and protuberances (31) that project in upper position from the base. The protuberances (31 ) are adhered to the upper wall (40) of the box structure. The protuberances (31) are flexible and yield under the weight of the user’s foot, providing a massaging effect. The fact that the third insert (3) is fixed to the sheet (5) and to the upper wall (40) of the box structure is important because, if the third insert (3) was not fixed to the sheet (5), the air pumped in the chamber (42) by the third insert would tend to lift the upper wall (40) of the box structure in the front part, in correspondence of the third insert (3), unpleasantly lifting user’s toes. Instead, the fact that the third insert (3) is adhered to the upper wall (40) of the box structure prevents the upper wall (40) of the box structure from being lifted in the front part. Moreover, if the third insert (3) is provided with the protuberances (60), the fact that the protuberances (60) are adhered to the upper wall (40) of the box structure provides an air flow between the base (61 ) of the third insert and the front part of the upper wall (40) of the box structure, around the protuberances (60), which generates a massaging effect under the user’s toes.