FOOTWEAR INSOLE COVER

INVENTOR Sarah K. Marion

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

THIS DISCLOSURE IS PROTECTED UNDER UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAWS. © 2007 SARAH K. MARION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. A PORTION OF THE DISCLOSURE OF THIS PATENT DOCUMENT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH IS SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION. THE COPYRIGHT OWNER HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE FACSIMILE REPRODUCTION BY ANYONE OF THE PATENT DOCUMENT OR THE PATENT DISCLOSURE, AS IT APPEARS IN THE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE PATENT FILE OR RECORDS, BUT OTHERWISE RESERVES ALL COPYRIGHT RIGHTS WHATSOEVER.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 11/685,703 filed March 13, 2007.

[0002] This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/782,645 filed March 15, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This application concerns footwear insoles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] There is a need for ergonomic insoles that do not clash with shoe or clothing designs. Likewise, due to the high cost of custom orthotics there is a need for a product that extends the life of the orthotic by providing protection for the orthotic or insole and additional comfort to the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A cover having an aperture for inserting an orthotic insole. The cover utilizes a fastening device to secure the inserted insole within the cover. The covered insole is adaptably fitted into the foot-contacting surface of multiple footwear designs. The

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fastening device may include stretchable fabric, custom tailoring or a tensioning lace to secure the insole within the orthotic cover after insertion of the insole through the aperture and reducing the size of the aperture. The orthotic cover provides a surface to receive ornamental designs of the choosing of the user to be complimentary to the appearance of the shoe and clothing apparel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Particular and alternative embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

[0007] FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of an orthotic cover 10 having an arch-side aperture 18 to insertably receive an insole 28;

[0008] FIGURE 2 illustrates a perspective view of the orthotic cover 10 with the insole 28 inserted through the arch-side aperture 18 and contained within the cover 10;

[0009] FIGURE 3 illustrates a perspective view of an orthotic cover 40 having a bottom-side aperture 48 to insertably receive the insole 28;

[0010] FIGURE 4 illustrates a bottom view of the cover 40 that has securely enveloped the insole 28 and illustrates a portion of the second side 14;

[0011] FIGURE 5 illustrates a top view of the cover 40 that has securely enveloped the insole 28; and

[0012] FIGURE 6 illustrates the covers 10 or 40 having the enveloped insole 28 fitted to a shoe 60.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Insoles having a removably attached cover and a variety of anchoring and tensioning devices are adapted to multiple footwear designs to provide ergonomic support to the footwear user and to provide a surface to receive ornamental designs. The surface is viewable by the user and/or others and may be made of fabric or any other man-made or natural materials. The material may contain any combination of patterns, colors, or

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ornamental designs and is designed to protect the orthotic or insole, provide comfort to the wearer, coordinate with wearer's clothing or article of footwear, and enhance the appearance of the orthotic or insole. The cover may be comprised of a variety of anchoring and tensioning systems to attach the cover to the orthotic or insole within an article of footwear. The cover may contain one or more openings to accommodate a variety of shapes and sizes of orthotics and insoles.

[0014] Other embodiments include a set of two insole or orthotic covers placed inside an article of footwear. The covers may be made of fabric or any other man made or natural materials. The material may contain any combination of patterns, colors, or ornamental designs and is designed to protect the orthotic or insole 28, provide comfort to the wearer, coordinate with wearer's clothing or article of footwear, and enhance the appearance of the orthotic or insole. The cover may be comprised of a variety of anchoring and tensioning systems to attach the cover to the orthotic or insole within an article of footwear. The cover may contain one or more apertures to accommodate a variety of shapes and sizes of orthotics and insoles.

[0015] FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of an orthotic cover 10 having an arch-side aperture 18 to insertably receive an insole 28. The orthotic cover 10 includes a first sheet 12 affixed to a second sheet 14, the first sheet 12 extending over the upper surface and periphery of the insole 28 and the second sheet 14 which extends underneath the insole 28 after insertion into and through the aperture 18. The material of the first and second sheets 12 and 14 may be cut into the appropriate sizes to match the insole 28. The aperture may include a peripheral stitch 22, or be a lace drawn fastener (not shown), such as a tensioning lace. Alternatively, the stitch 22 may be sewn-bonded, sewn, or surged around the periphery of the arch-side aperture 18.

[0016] FIGURE 2 illustrates a perspective view the orthotic cover 10 with the insole 28 inserted through the arch-side aperture 18 and contained within the cover 10. The

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first sheet 12 is illustrated on the top of the insole 28 and the second sheet 14 is illustrated beneath the insole 28.

[0017] FIGURE 3 illustrates a perspective view of an orthotic cover 40 having a bottom-side aperture 48 to insertably receive the insole 28. A peripheral edge 50 of the bottom-side aperture 48 spans from the toe of the insole 28 to the heel of the insole 28. The cover 40 extends a sufficient distance across the topside of the insole 28 in order to secure the cover 40. Differing articles of footwear may require varying amounts of material on the underside to sufficiently secure the cover 40. The cover 40 is secured with an elastic band (not shown) stitched into position on the underside of the insole 28 on the edge 50. The elastic band is fabricated out of elastic material such that the insole cover 40 can fit onto various sized insoles 28. The elastic band also engages the cover 40 close to and along the underside of the insole 28. The elastic periphery 50 is capable of elastically constricting about a user's insole 28 to secure the insole 28 within the cover 40. The cover 40 has sufficient expandability to be drawn over and envelop a sufficient portion of the underside of the insole 28, including the toe, ball, arch, and heel sections of the insole 28.

[0018] FIGURE 4 illustrates a bottom view of the cover 40 that has securely enveloped the insole 28 and illustrates a portion of the second side 14. The elastic band (not shown) that engages along the peripheral edge 50 sufficiently secures the cover 40 to the insole 28.

[0019] FIGURE 5 illustrates a top view of the cover 40 that has securely enveloped the insole 28. The first surface 12 receives the foot and provides a surface to which the cover may receive or contain ornamental designs.

[0020] FIGURE 6 illustrates the covers 10 or 40 having the enveloped insole 28 fitted to a shoe 60.

[0021] An alternate embodiment of the covers 10 and/or 40 includes a body of material comprised of a flexible fabric such as Lycra or Spandex. The material having an

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edge, the edge spanning across the topside of the orthotic and extending to the underside of the insole. The covers 10 or 40 envelop the entire upper portion of the insole 28, extends to the underside of the insole 28, and further includes the elastic band (not shown) stitched into the inside of the covers 10 and/or 40. The band, when used, may be fabricated from elastic material such that the orthotic insole covers 10 and 40 can receivably envelop various sized insoles 28. The elastic band also engages the covers 10 and 40 close to and along the underside of the insole 28. The elastic periphery 50 is capable of elastically constricting about a user's insole 28 or orthotic insole. The covers 10 and/or 40 have sufficient expandability to be drawn over and to cover a sufficient portion of the underside of the insole 28, including the toe, ball, arch, and heel sections.

[0022] In other embodiments, any number of fastening or stabilizing-like devices may be used including but not limited to drawstrings, snaps, elastic bands, static, hook and loop fasteners (Velcro), magnets, buckles, adhesives, zippers, rivets, fusing, elastic type fabric (Lycra or Spandex), hooks, loops, a drawstring or an elastic binding, elastic type thread, and/or buttons.

[0023] An alternate embodiment includes a combination of a fabric upper and a skirt underside. The upper surface 12 may be comprised of any combination of natural or synthetic materials. The skirt is comprised of a flexible fabric such as, but not limited to, Lycra, Spandex or elastic. The skirt having sufficient expandability such that it covers a sufficient portion of the underside of the insole 28, including the toe, ball, arch, and heel sections. The skirt stabilizes, anchors, and tensions the upper. The skirt contains a circular opening or aperture 18 to permit insertion of an insole or orthotic. The upper surface 12 may be stitch-bonded, sewn, or surged to the skirt along an adjacent outer edge.

[0024] An alternate embodiment includes an insole or orthotic cover that comprises a first sheet that extends over the surface and periphery of the insole and a second sheet of which extends underneath the insole or orthotic. The second sheet is elastic, and thereby

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provides a tensioning force on the first sheet to keep the insole or orthotic cover taut over the insole or orthotic. The second sheet may be additionally secured under the insole or may extend wholly underneath the insole with appropriate openings providing for the insertion of the insole or orthotic.

[0025] An alternate embodiment includes a cover for an insole or an orthotic that comprises a top sheet and a skirt attached about the periphery of the top sheet. The skirt has at least one toe pocket, at least two side portions extending toward the rear from the toe pocket, and at least one heel pocket extending from the side portions to the heel. The skirt contains an adjustable draw cord or elastic band housed within a hem that is stitch-bonded, sewn, or surged within the skirt; the draw cord or elastic is used around the periphery to assist in keeping the cover in place.

[0026] An alternate embodiment includes a cover for an insole or an orthotic that includes a top sheet and a skirt attached about the periphery of the top sheet. The skirt has at least one toe pocket and at least one heel pocket. The top sheet is comprised of any number of natural or synthetic materials.

[0027] An alternate embodiment includes a removable cover comprised of a heat shrinkable synthetic or natural material that forms to the insole or the orthotic upon the application of heat.

[0028] An alternate embodiment includes a body of material comprised of an upper portion and an assembly of adjustable tensioning devices such as a cloth tensioning strap for spanning the distance between the cover opposing edge segments. When the cover is installed on an insole or orthotic, the strap, or tensioning device may, in one embodiment, be adapted to release and engage the drawstring's opposing segments through the first and second openings to draw the opposing edge segments toward each other.

[0029] An alternate embodiment includes a body of material comprised of an upper portion 12 secured by a plurality of transverse belts. The belts are secured to the upper by a

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variety of means. The upper may be comprised of any number of natural or synthetic materials.

[0030] An alternate embodiment includes a body of material comprised of a waterproof material.

[0031] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment.

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