US 12,389,982 B2
Cushions and shoe insoles comprising elastomeric material and methods of forming same
Tony M. Pearce, Alpine, UT (US); Terry V. Pearce, Alpine, UT (US); Russell B. Whatcott, Eagle Mountain, UT (US); Shawn David Moon, Cedar Hills, UT (US); and Dhyey Acharya, Alpine, UT (US)
Assigned to Purple Innovation, LLC, Lehi, UT (US)
Filed by Purple Innovation, LLC, Alpine, UT (US)
Filed on Sep. 11, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/700,786.
Prior Publication US 2019/0075884 A1, Mar. 14, 2019
Int. Cl. A43B 17/00 (2006.01); A43B 7/06 (2006.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/38 (2006.01); A43B 17/02 (2006.01); A43B 17/14 (2006.01); B29D 35/00 (2010.01); B29D 35/12 (2010.01); B29D 35/14 (2010.01)
CPC A43B 13/122 (2013.01) [A43B 7/06 (2013.01); A43B 13/12 (2013.01); A43B 13/125 (2013.01); A43B 13/386 (2013.01); A43B 17/006 (2013.01); A43B 17/02 (2013.01); A43B 17/026 (2013.01); A43B 17/14 (2013.01); B29D 35/0009 (2013.01); B29D 35/122 (2013.01); B29D 35/142 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An insole for a shoe, comprising:
a substantially non-gel component; and
a gel component comprising:
a plasticizer extended A-B-A triblock copolymer having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite from the first major surface, the plasticizer extended A-B-A triblock copolymer defining a plurality of voids extending completely through the gel component, from the first major surface to the second major surface,
a distance across each void of the plurality of voids measured in a plane parallel to at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface,
a distance between adjacent voids of the plurality of voids, the plasticizer extended A-B-A triblock copolymer, and a thickness of the gel component designed to cause the plasticizer extended A-B-A triblock copolymer of the gel component to bulge into a void of the plurality of voids in a vicinity of a force of a load on an area of the gel component in a direction perpendicular to the first major surface and to limit buckling of the plasticizer extended A-B-A triblock copolymer of the gel component under the force of the load,
wherein each void of the plurality of voids has a uniform cross-sectional area in each plane parallel to each of the first major surface and the second major surface when the gel component is in an undeformed state,
wherein the gel component is disposed within a pocket of the substantially non-gel component, and
wherein at least a portion of the pocket is made of the plasticizer extended A-B-A triblock copolymer and is at least partially in contact with the gel component disposed within the pocket.