WO2005077218A1

WO2005077218A1 - Shoe with removable insole

Info

Publication number: WO2005077218A1
Application number: PCT/IT2005/000064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto Del Biondi
Original assignee: Compar S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-02-18
Filing date: 2005-02-11
Publication date: 2005-08-25
Also published as: WO2005077218A8; ITPD20040045A1

Abstract

A shoe (1) with removable insole comprises an insole (4) fastened removably to a sole (2) or to an intermediate sole (11), and an impact-absorbing element (6) including a stem (8) inserted removably into the sole (2) and/or into the intermediate sole (11) through the insole (4) to fasten the insole to the sole and/or to the intermediate sole.

Description

Shoe with removable insole DESCRIPTION Technical field

The present invention relates to a shoe with a removable insole, having the characteristics disclosed in the precharacterizing clause of the main claim. Background art

In the general field of footwear, there is a known way of making the insole removably coupled to the sole of a shoe by fastening means and counter- means provided on the insole and on the shoe respectively. Examples of such solutions are described in International Patent Applications 87/05192 and 91/11930 and in US Patent 6,442,870, in which the fastening means and counter-means typically comprise a plurality of appendages extending from the insole towards the sole, or from the sole towards the insole, which can engage in corresponding seats formed in the sole or in the insole.

The known solutions are described for application to sports footwear or to sandals or slippers, in which both the insole and the sole can be made relatively thick if required, without any particular negative effects on the overall appearance of the footwear. However, these solutions are less suitable for application to fashion shoes in which the design and aesthetic style play a fundamental part in the user's appreciation. In these shoes, particularly in the case of high-heeled shoes, the soles and insoles are generally very thin, in some cases even to the point where discomfort is caused to the wearer. Furthermore, in high-heeled shoes the requirement for firm coupling between the insoles and the soles is accentuated by the particular configuration of the shoes which tend to cause the displacement of the insole relative to the sole.

Description of the invention The problem tackled by the present invention is that of providing a shoe with a removable insole which is structurally and functionally designed to overcome the limitations described above with reference to the cited prior art.

In the context of this problem, a principal object of the invention is to provide a shoe in which the comfort of wearing and walking is enhanced.

A further object is to provide a technical solution which is particularly suitable for application to fashion shoes with high heels.

This problem is resolved and these objects are achieved by the present invention with a shoe with removable insole made in accordance with the following claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description of a preferred example of embodiment thereof, illustrated, for the purposes of guidance and without restrictive intent, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a shoe made according to the present invention; - Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view from below of the shoe of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is an exploded view of a detail of the shoe of Figure 1. Preferred embodiment of the invention

In the figures, the number 1 indicates the whole of a shoe made according to the present invention.

In the preferred example of embodiment described here, the shoe 1 is a lady's fashion shoe, with a high heel, but it is to be understood that the inventive principle on which the present invention is based can be applied similarly to other types of shoe.

The shoe 1 comprises a sole 2, an upper 3 fixed by known methods along a perimetric edge of the sole 2, and an insole 4 positioned inside the shoe 1 in the way described more fully below.

The sole 2 comprises a relatively high heel 5, and is preferably made in one piece by moulding plastics material, based on elastomeric or thermoplastic polymers for example.

The insole 4 is preferably of the type known in the art as a "footbed". It is shaped anatomically to hold and support the user's foot more satisfactorily, and for this purpose it is made by injection moulding from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyurethane-based material.

According to a first characteristic of the present invention, the insole 4 is coupled removably to the sole 2 by means of an impact-absorbing element 6, made from a soft material such as latex and/or gel. The impact-absorbing element 6 comprises a head 7 bearing on the insole 4 and intended to support the user's heel, and a stem 8 extending from the head 7 away from the user's foot.

The stem 8 is received in a through hole 9 formed in the insole 4 and in a recess 10 formed in the sole 2 at the top of the heel 5. In a variant embodiment of the invention, not shown in the figures, the impact-absorbing element 6 can be fixed to the insole 4 or made in one piece with it. However, this variant is considered to be included in the general concept of an insole 4 with the stem of the absorbing element 6 passing through it.

Between the insole 4 and the sole 2 there is also conveniently interposed an intermediate sole 11, better known in the art as a "welt", of which a first portion 11a, corresponding to the heel and foot arch area, is made from plastics material with good mechanical characteristics, for example a material based on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), while the remaining portion lib, corresponding to the forefoot area, is made from a more economical pressed paper material.

However, if the height of the heel 5 is particularly great, for example more than 10 centimetres, the intermediate sole is preferably made entirely from ABS, since the portion lib will be required to support higher loads.

The intermediate sole 11 is also provided with a through hole 12 for the passage of the stem 8 of the absorbing element 6, and fastening means and counter-means are also provided to couple the intermediate sole 11 removably to the insole 4. These fastening means and counter-means comprise a plurality of appendages 13 extending from the insole 4 towards the intermediate sole 11 and a corresponding plurality of holes 14 formed in the intermediate sole 11 to receive and engage with the appendages 13. Preferably, the appendages 13 and the corresponding holes 14 are formed in a foot arch area of the sole 2, in which the inclination of the insole with respect to the walking plane is more pronounced. To promote the fitting and support of the insole 4 on the intermediate sole 11, the appendages 13 are conveniently tooth-shaped.

A layer of leather 15, or other similar material, can also be conveniently provided to cover the insole 4 on the side of the user's foot, this layer being fixed by gluing or sewing to the insole 4 or possibly being formed in one piece with the insole 4 by an overmoulding process. The layer 15 has the primary function of further enhancing the comfort of the shoe 1. The layer 15 is at least partially superimposed on the head 7 of the absorbing element 6, surrounding a peripheral annular area of this head.

To assemble the shoe 1, the intermediate sole 11 is inserted in direct contact with the sole 2, and the insole 4 is then inserted so that the appendages 13 are received and engage in the holes 14 of the intermediate sole 11. Lastly, the absorbing element 6 is inserted, so that its stem 8 is received in the holes 9 and 12 of the insole and intermediate sole respectively, and in the recess 10 of the sole 2.

Thus a secure, effective and removable coupling is achieved between the insole 4, the intermediate sole 11 and the sole 2. In a variant embodiment of the present invention, not shown in the attached figures, the absorbing element 6 is designed to be received only in the hole 12 (which is a blind or through hole) in the intermediate sole 11, without affecting the sole 2, which therefore does not have a recess 10 at the heel 5. The present invention thus resolves the aforementioned problem with reference to the cited known art, while simultaneously providing numerous other advantages, including a greater comfort for the wearer, which is partially due to the particular configuration of the insole, and greater walking comfort, partially due to the presence of the impact-absorbing element.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Shoe with removable insole, comprising a sole (2) and an insole (4) removably fastened to the said sole (2), characterized in that it comprises an impact-absorbing element (6) including a stem (8) which can be inserted removably into the said sole (2) through the said insole (4) to fasten the said insole (4) to the said sole (2).

2. Shoe according to Claim 1, in which the said stem (8) of the absorbing element (6) is inserted at the heel (5) of the said sole.

3. Shoe according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the said insole (4) is anatomically shaped.

4. Shoe according to Claim 3, in which the said insole (4) is made from EVA-based or polyurethane-based polymer material.

5. Shoe according to any one or more of the preceding claims, in which an intermediate sole (11) is provided between the said sole (2) and the said insole (4), fastening means and counter-means being provided between the said intermediate sole (11) and the said insole to fasten the said insole and the said intermediate sole together.

6. Shoe according to Claim 5, in which the said fastening means comprise a plurality of appendages (13) extending from the said insole towards the said intermediate sole and the said fastening counter-means comprise a corresponding plurality of through holes (14) for receiving the said appendages.

7. Shoe according to Claim 5 or 6, in which the said intermediate sole is made at least partially from ABS.

8. Shoe according to any one or more of the preceding claims, in which the said sole is of the high-heeled type.

9. Shoe according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the said heel has a height of more than ten centimetres and the said intermediate sole is made entirely from ABS.

10. Shoe with removable insole, comprising a sole (2), an intermediate sole (11) and an insole (4) removably fastened to the said intermediate sole, characterized in that it comprises an impact- absorbing element (6) including a stem (8) which can be inserted removably into the said intermediate sole (11) through the said insole (4) to fasten the said insole to the said intermediate sole.

11. Shoe according to Claim 10, in which the said insole is made according to Claim 3 or 4.

12. Shoe according to Claim 10 or 11, in which fastening means and counter-means according to Claim 6 are provided between the said insole and the said intermediate sole.

13. Shoe according to any one or more of Claims 10 to 12, in which the said intermediate sole is made at least partially from ABS.

14. Shoe according to any one or more of Claims 10 to 13, in which the said sole is of the type with a high heel (5).

15. Shoe according to Claim 14, in which the said heel has a height of more than ten centimetres and the said intermediate sole is made entirely from ABS.