US4674206A — Midsole construction/shoe insert

Claim 1

Independent Claim 99 words

A footwear insert for inserting into an article of footwear and conforming to and supporting a foot, comprising: (a) a pliable casing forming an inner volume; and (b) a resilient material contained within said casing and displacing a portion of said inner volume, wherein a void is formed within said casing and is displaced to a position closest to the foot and wherein said resilient material underlies said void and said void and said resilient material conform to and support the foot when said insert is positioned within the article of footwear when pressure is applied by the foot.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 99 words

A footwear insert for inserting into an article of footwear and conforming to and supporting a foot, comprising: (a) a pliable casing forming an inner volume; and (b) a resilient material contained within said casing and displacing a portion of said inner volume, wherein a void is formed within said casing and is displaced to a position closest to the foot and wherein said resilient material underlies said void and said void and said resilient material conform to and support the foot when said insert is positioned within the article of footwear when pressure is applied by the foot.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein the foot has a heel, an arch, and metatarsal heads, and said insert underlies the arch and extends from the heel to just short of the metatarsal heads.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein said resilient material comprises an elastomer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The footwear insert according to claim 3, wherein said elastomer comprises a polyurethane.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 14 words

The footwear insert according to claim 4, wherein said polyurethane is a two-part polyurethane.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein said casing comprises a polyethylene material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein said void is substantially filled with a gas.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein said footwear insert further comprises an adhesive layer operatively connected to the outside of said pliable casing, wherein said footwear insert is configured for removably attaching to the article of footwear.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

The footwear insert according to claim 1, wherein the foot has a heel, and wherein said footwear insert further comprises a wedge suitable for supporting the heel of the foot.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 120 words

A footwear insert for inserting into an article of footwear and conforming to and supporting a foot, comprising: (a) a pliable casing defining first and second bags and containing a predetermined amount of gas; (b) a pin operatively connected to said casing separating said first and second bags, and selectively preventing fluid communication therebetween; (c) a first reagent contained within said first bag; and (d) a second reagent contained within said second bag, wherein when said pin is removed from operative contact with said casing said first and second bags are placed in fluid communication and said first and second reagents mix to form a resilient material conforming to and supporting the foot when pressure is applied by the foot.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 120 words

A footwear insert for inserting into an article of footwear and conforming to and supporting a foot, comprising: (a) a pliable casing defining first and second bags and containing a predetermined amount of gas; (b) a pin operatively connected to said casing separating said first and second bags, and selectively preventing fluid communication therebetween; (c) a first reagent contained within said first bag; and (d) a second reagent contained within said second bag, wherein when said pin is removed from operative contact with said casing said first and second bags are placed in fluid communication and said first and second reagents mix to form a resilient material conforming to and supporting the foot when pressure is applied by the foot.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein said resilient material comprises an elastomer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

The footwear insert according to claim 11, wherein said elastomer comprises a polyurethane.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The footwear insert according to claim 12, wherein said polyurethane is a two-part polyurethane.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The footwear insert according to claim 10, wherein said casing comprises a polyethylene material.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

The footwear insert according to claim 10, wherein a void is formed between said resilient material and said casing.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The footwear insert according to claim 15, wherein said void is substantially filled with a gas.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The footwear insert according to claim 16, wherein said void is positioned closest to the foot, and wherein said resilient material underlies said void.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 134 words

A method for supporting a foot, comprising: (a) selecting an article of footwear containing and underlying the foot; (b) selecting a pliable casing and adding a predetermined amount of gas; (c) separating said pliable casing into first and second bags so that said first and second bags are not in fluid communication with each other; (d) placing a first reagent within said first bag; (e) placing a second reagent within said second bag; (f) placing said first and second bags in fluid communication to thereby allow said reagents to mix to form a composition; (g) positioning said composition contained within said casing within said article of footwear; and (h) positioning the foot within said article of footwear while allowing said composition to cure to form a resilient composition conforming to and supporting the foot.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 134 words

A method for supporting a foot, comprising: (a) selecting an article of footwear containing and underlying the foot; (b) selecting a pliable casing and adding a predetermined amount of gas; (c) separating said pliable casing into first and second bags so that said first and second bags are not in fluid communication with each other; (d) placing a first reagent within said first bag; (e) placing a second reagent within said second bag; (f) placing said first and second bags in fluid communication to thereby allow said reagents to mix to form a composition; (g) positioning said composition contained within said casing within said article of footwear; and (h) positioning the foot within said article of footwear while allowing said composition to cure to form a resilient composition conforming to and supporting the foot.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method according to claim 18, wherein the foot has an arch, wherein a void is formed between said resilient composition and said casing, said void overlying said resilient composition when said casing is positioned within an article of footwear, and wherein said void is proximate the arch of the foot when the foot is positioned within said article of footwear.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-06-22	1990-12-22	1991-06-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-06-22	1994-12-22	1995-06-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-06-22	1998-12-22	1999-06-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Midsole construction/shoe insert

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