Insolia® Intellectual Property

Protecting Innovation Through Comprehensive Patent Coverage

Insolia Technologies are biomechanically based footwear innovations that optimize foot position, alignment, and flexibility. Each technology is grounded in gait science and foot anatomy, resulting in patented designs that enhance comfort and reduce injury risk.

We obtain one or more utility patents on every Insolia product and technology we bring to market.

United States: 10 issued utility patents and 1 design patent

International: 23 counterparts in Europe, China, India, and Vietnam

Pending: 10 utility applications

We count European patents validated in more than one country per jurisdiction. We list individual patent numbers on our Patents Issued page.

Licensees enter into an Intellectual Property License and Supply & Distribution Agreement covering their use of Insolia technologies, and we maintain a global network of local patent counsel to support licensees in infringement matters.

Core Technologies

We adapt our patented technologies for a wide range of products. Global manufacturers implement Insolia Flex and Insolia Cradle across all footwear categories, from athletic shoes to high heels and sandals.

Over 60 million pairs of footwear with Insolia Technologies have been sold.

Exclusive licensing of Insolia Technologies provides manufacturers with protected differentiation in competitive markets.

Patents Issued

Insolia IMS - Cleated Athletic Footwear

The Insolia Integrated Motion System is an outsole and insole architecture that reduces the mechanical work of changing direction and, with it, the loading associated with non-contact ACL injury.

Conventional cleats place a stud beneath the head of the First Metatarsal, restricting the joint the foot rotates around. IMS relocates the stud array around that joint and clears the region beneath it, so rotation and flexion occur where the foot's own mechanics put them.

The Insolia IMS Cleat - Four Fundamental Boot Innovations

  • Insolia Radial Stud Array™ (RSA) — a single center of rotation aligned with the Great Toe Joint, measured at 23% lower rotational torque, with linear traction unchanged.

  • Insolia Free Motion Zone™ (FMZ) — studs positioned around, not under, the Great Toe Joint

  • Insolia Zone of Flexibility™ (ZOF) — a bounded hinge in the outsole, compliant through the joint's functional range and resistant beyond it

  • Insolia Pressure Relief Dome™ (PRD) — an air gap decoupling peak contact pressure from the underside of the joint

Combined with Insolia Flex and Insolia Cradle in the insole, these form a six-element system. The architecture is independent of upper construction, last geometry, and midsole material.

Patent position: US 12,622,489 and US 12,635,769, both titled Cleated footwear, issued May 2026, with international counterparts issued or pending. Protection runs to 2045.

Development status: Functional prototypes built and tested. Rotational torque and traction measured at MIT. A limited production run is in design for instrumented cleat testing. Seeking a development partner for production-ready footwear.

For complete technical details and the underlying measurements, see our Insolia IMS homepage.

Insolia Flex, Flex Plus, and Flex Max Technolgies

Our patented Flex technologies enhance natural foot motion by allowing the Great Toe Joint to move freely, triggering the body's natural arch support mechanism.

Core Innovation:

The asymmetric depression under the Great Toe Joint allows it to drop and rotate naturally during walking. This preserves the foot's ability to store and release energy through dynamic arch flexing - unlike fixed arch supports that restrict natural motion.

Insolia Flex Technologies
• Enhanced Flexibility
• Dynamic Arch Support

Proven Benefits - Walking/Athletic Shoes:

  • 40% increase in forefoot comfort scores

  • 10% improvement in walking efficiency (reduced VO2/kg)

  • Natural, dynamic arch support through the Windlass mechanism (B)

  • Reduced compensation stress on legs and lower back

Technology Variations:

Insolia Flex - Base technology for enhanced forefoot flexibility

Insolia Flex Plus - Adds metatarsal support and enhanced pressure distribution

Insolia Flex Max - Trim-to-fit insole (one-size-fits-many solution)

Additional Benefits in High Heels (Flex Plus):

  • Enhanced stability while standing and walking

  • Better pressure distribution across the forefoot

  • Reduced burning sensation in the ball of the foot

Insolia Flex Max Technology

Insolia Flex Max delivers our patented biomechanical benefits in an affordable one-size-fits-many format for the mass market.

Design Innovation:

  • Polyurethane molded construction for durability and minimal thickness

  • Hexagonal perforation pattern reduces weight and cost while providing ventilation

  • Incorporates both Insolia Flex Plus and Insolia Cradle technologies

  • Trim-to-fit design covers US Men's sizes 8-13 (five trim lines)

Technical Features:

  • Variable-depth hex perforations optimize flexibility and support zones

  • Adapted Great Toe Joint depression accommodates six full-size ranges

  • Ultra-thin heel cup design incorporates modified Insolia Cradle geometry

  • Maintains biomechanical benefits across the entire size range

Market Position:

Unlike basic cushioning insoles, Flex Max provides measurable biomechanical improvements at a competitive price point for mass retail distribution.

Insolia Cradle Technology

Insolia Cradle corrects a fundamental oversight in footwear design: while heel cups are symmetrical, the human heel bone (calcaneus) is not. Our patented technology provides the first anatomically-matched heel cup design.

Core Innovation:

Asymmetric heel cup contours that match the natural shape of the calcaneus, with extended medial support to reduce plantar fascia strain.

Insolia Cradle technology shown in a sandal application

Benefits in Walking/Athletic Footwear:

  • Improved balance and stability platform

  • Reduced plantar fascia strain through medial arch support

  • Enhanced standing and movement comfort

  • Better proprioceptive feedback

Benefits in High Heels:

  • Enhanced balance during standing and walking

  • Improved weight distribution

  • Increased overall comfort

Insolia® Foundation Products

Insolia Foundation represents our core technology platform for OEM manufacturers and brands seeking to incorporate proven biomechanical innovations into their own footwear designs.

Insolia Foundation Insole for Men’s Dress Shoe

Product Applications:

Insoles: Complete drop-in solutions for dress shoes, casual footwear, and athletic shoes

Outsoles: Licensed technology integration for athleisure and performance footwear

Hybrid Solutions: Combined insole/midsole implementations for maximum benefit

Technology Integration Options:

Insolia Flex Only: Enhanced forefoot flexibility and walking efficiency

Insolia Cradle Only: Anatomically correct heel support and stability

Combined Technologies: Maximum biomechanical benefit through both systems

Insolia Foundation Outsole for Athleisure Shoe

Commercial Models:

  • Direct purchase of manufactured insoles with embedded technology

  • Patent licensing for in-house outsole/midsole production

  • Co-development partnerships for custom applications

Target Markets:

  • Dress shoes, Casual footwear, Athleisure,
    Work boots, Athletic shoes.

Insolia Plantar Fasciitis Relief Technology

This recently patented innovation specifically addresses plantar fasciitis, one of the most common causes of heel pain affecting millions worldwide.

Insolia Plantar Fasciitis Insole showing three integrated technologies: optimized Cradle heel cup, 45-degree Cuboid Pad, and Flex depression under Great Toe Joint

Development Background: Consumer feedback from our "Goldie Lou" sandal users indicated significant plantar fasciitis pain relief, inspiring targeted optimization of our technologies for this specific condition.

Three-Technology Integration:

  • Optimized Insolia Cradle: Enhanced medial extension specifically calibrated to reduce plantar fascia tension

  • Novel Cuboid Pad: Patented support with groove aligned to the peroneus longus tendon axis, providing lateral column stability

  • Insolia Flex: Enables natural Great Toe Joint motion to reduce compensatory stress

Clinical Benefits:

  • Reduced tension on the plantar fascia during weight-bearing

  • Improved load distribution across the foot

  • Enhanced midfoot stability through cuboid support

  • Decreased morning pain, as typical of plantar fasciitis

Target Market: Therapeutic insoles, comfort footwear, recovery sandals.

Insolia Components for OEM Use

Insolia offers proven biomechanical components for direct integration into manufacturers' footwear designs, available through licensing or direct supply agreements.

Implementation Support:

  • Technical integration assistance

  • Manufacturing process consultation

  • Co-development for custom applications

  • Full IP protection under licensing agreements

Insolia Flex Plus Component

  • Advanced forefoot flexibility with integrated metatarsal support

  • Ideal for comfort, athletic, and therapeutic footwear

Insolia Heels I-4 Component

  • Complete high-heel comfort system

  • Combines Insolia Cradle and Flex Plus technologies

  • Proven 25% weight redistribution from forefoot to heel

  • Four sizes cover US women's 4-12

Summary

Technical Foundation: Twenty-five years of biomechanical research have produced a portfolio of technologies that address specific footwear problems. Each solution is based on gait analysis data and validated through independent laboratory testing.

Manufacturing Integration: All Insolia technologies work with standard footwear production methods. Implementation requires no special equipment or significant process changes. This approach has facilitated adoption in over 60 million pairs globally.

Intellectual Property Portfolio: 33 issued utility patents and 10 pending applications across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Patent coverage extends through 2045, providing long-term protection for licensing partners.

Application Range: Technologies proven effective across all footwear categories: athletic, casual, dress, and therapeutic.

Technical Support: HBN Shoe provides implementation guidance, manufacturing consultation, and ongoing technical assistance to ensure the successful integration of licensed technologies.

For licensing inquiries, please contact us.