US20140173945A1

US20140173945A1 - Footbed and method for making the same

Info

Publication number: US20140173945A1
Application number: US13/726,455
Authority: US
Inventors: Kou-Bin LIN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-24
Filing date: 2012-12-24
Publication date: 2014-06-26

Abstract

A footbed has a rigid shell and a soft body. The rigid shell has a shell body and a supporting portion. The shell body has a rear portion, a middle portion, and a front portion that are connected sequentially. The supporting portion protrudes from the rim of the rear portion. Each portion has an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face. The soft body has a top face and a bottom face opposite to the top face, and the bottom face is laminated with each inner face of each portion. Hardness of the rigid shell is higher than hardness of the soft body, and the rigid shell and the soft body are integrally formed by heating a fabric of vertical fibers. A method for making the footbed is also provided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a footbed, and particularly to a footbed providing good ventilation and anti-distortion. The present invention also relates to a method for making the footbed.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
Most of the conventional footbeds are made of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). The manufacturing cost of footbeds can be reduced remarkably due to the low-cost EVA. However, the EVA footbeds have many drawbacks such as lack of ventilation and being impermeable to water. Accordingly, while wearing shoes with the EVA footbeds, the wearer's feet are enclosed in shoes, which causes discomfort of the wearer and generates foot odor due to the lack of ventilation of the EVA footbeds. Besides, when the wearer's feet sweat, sweat remains on the surface of the footbeds easily due to the EVA footbeds being impermeable to water, which makes the wearer's feet suffer from moisture and thus makes the footbed prone to growth of bacteria. As a result, the chance is increased for the wearer to get skin infection such as athlete's foot. Furthermore, the EVA footbeds are not anti-distortion due to the low recovery rate and the softness of EVA. Accordingly, after EVA footbeds are worn for a period of time, the EVA footbeds deforms, which results in negative effects on the wearer such as poor posture.
In addition, in order to increase the rigidity of the EVA footbeds so as to prevent undesirable deformation, injection molded heel cups made of polyurethane (PU) are laminated on the bottom surface of the rear heel area of the EVA footbeds. However, the PU heel cups still have drawbacks such as yellowing and decomposition after a long period of time. Besides, PU heel cups easily generate toxicity during the decomposing process, which is severely harmful to the wearer's health. Also, the EVA footbeds with PU heel cups still lack ventilation and are impermeable to water. Furthermore, the EVA footbeds with PU heel cups are not integrally formed, that is, EVA footbeds with PU heel cups are manufactured through multiple processes. Accordingly, the manufacturing cost of the EVA footbeds with PU heel cups is increased and the industrial applicability of the EVA footbeds with PU heel cups is reduced.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a footbed and a method for making the footbed to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Given that the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art such as lack of ventilation, being impermeable to water and not anti-distortion, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a footbed, which comprises:
a rigid shell comprising:

- a shell body comprising a rear portion, a middle portion, and a front portion, wherein the rear portion, the middle portion and the front portion are connected sequentially, and the rear portion, the middle portion and the front portion respectively have an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face;
- a supporting portion protruding from a rim of the rear portion, and the supporting portion has an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face;

a soft body comprising a top face and a bottom face opposite to the top face, wherein the bottom face is laminated with each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion and the supporting portion;
wherein hardness of the rigid shell is higher than hardness of the soft body, and the rigid shell and the soft body are integrally formed by heating a fabric of vertical fibers.
More preferably, the definition of “the bottom face is laminated with each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion and the supporting portion” is that the bottom face is connected seamlessly to each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion and the supporting portion. Thus, the bottom face is inseparable from each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion and the supporting portion.
According to the present invention, the thickness of the soft body is, but not limited to, between 1 mm and 5 mm.
According to the present invention, the thickness of the rigid shell is, but not limited to, between 10 mm and 20 mm.
According to the present invention, the fabric of vertical fibers is made of different polyester staple fibers with various functions, through methods such as, but not limited to the following: carding the polyester staple fibers to ensure the blending of the fibers is uniform and separating the fibers into a loose mass; folding the carded fibers in a vertical direction to form a cotton web, wherein the definition of the vertical direction is that majority of fibers are oriented perpendicular to the surface having the largest area of the cotton web; and heat curing the cotton web to obtain the fabric of vertical fibers.
According to the present invention, the different polyester staple fibers with various functions include, but not limited to, low melting point polyester staple fiber, elastic polyester staple fiber or polyester staple fiber containing rubber.
According to the present invention, the polyester staple fiber includes, but not limited to, polyethylene terephthalate (PET),(poly(ethylene terephthalateco-1,4-cylclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate), polybutylene terephthalate(PBT),(polyethylene terephthalate/sodium 5-sulfoisophthalate copolymer fiber), or any other suitable polyester staple fiber.
According to the present invention, the melting point of the low melting point polyester staple fiber ranges from 115 to 180° C.
According to the present invention, the elastic polyester staple fiber is capable of increasing the rigidity of the fabric of vertical fibers.
According to the present invention, the polyester staple fiber containing rubber is capable of increasing the recovery rate of the fabric of vertical fibers.
According to the present invention, the definition of the recovery rate is the extent to which the fabric of vertical fibers recovers after compression.
According to the present invention, the recovery rate of the footbed is higher than 70%. Preferably, the recovery rate of the footbed ranges from 70% to 90%.
According to the present invention, the fabric of vertical fibers is a fiber web having vertically aligned structure, wherein the definition of the vertically aligned structure is that majority of fibers are oriented perpendicular to the surface having the largest area of the fiber web.
According to the present invention, the definition of “heating a fabric of vertical fibers” is that a fabric of vertical fibers is heated by a heat source, and the temperature of the heat source is slightly higher than the melting point of the material of the fabric of vertical fibers, wherein the material includes, but not limited to, polyester staple fiber. Preferably, the temperature of the heat source ranges from 160° C. to 200° C.
According to the present invention, the definition of “integrally formed” is that during the course of heating the fabric of vertical fibers, the rigid shell and the soft body are simultaneously formed. Accordingly, after heating the fabric of vertical fibers, the rigid shell and the soft body are integrally formed.
Preferably, the rigid shell has a protective portion protruding from a rim of the middle portion of the shell body and connecting to the supporting portion, the protective portion has an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face, wherein the shell body, the protective portion and the supporting portion form a space, and the bottom face of the soft body is laminated with each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion, the supporting portion and the protective portion.
Preferably, the rigid shell has a protective portion protruding from each rim of the middle portion and the front portion of the shell body and connecting to the supporting portion, the protective portion has an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face, wherein the shell body, the protective portion and the supporting portion form a space, and the bottom face of the soft body is laminated with each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion, the supporting portion and the protective portion.
Preferably, the middle portion of the shell body is an upward arch toward the soft body for fitting the foot arch formed in the middle of a foot sole of a human.
Preferably, the footbed has a fabric layer attached to the top face of the soft body.
Preferably, the footbed has a foot pad disposed between the soft body and the fabric layer and at a location corresponding to the rear portion of the shell body.
Preferably, the footbed has a foot pad disposed between the soft body and the fabric layer and at a location corresponding to the front portion of the shell body.
Another main objective of the present invention is to provide a method for making the footbed, which comprises steps of:
providing a fabric of vertical fibers;
providing a mold, wherein the mold has a shape corresponding to the shape of the footbed, and the mold has a heating surface;
placing the fabric of vertical fibers into the mold to abut against the heating surface;
heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature ranging from 160 to 200° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers, and then the footbed is obtained; and
wherein the rigid shell is formed between the soft body and the heating surface.
According to the present invention, in the step of providing a fabric of vertical fibers, the thickness of the fabric of vertical fibers ranges from 10 to 25 mm.
According to the present invention, in the step of heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature ranging from 160 to 200° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers, the time of heating the fabric of vertical fibers is, but not limited to, between 30 and 60 seconds.
Preferably, the step of heating the heating surface to heat the fabric of vertical fibers includes heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature ranging from 160 to 200° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers and applying a pressure to the mold simultaneously, and then a footbed is obtained.
According to the present invention, the time of heating the fabric of vertical fibers and applying a pressure to the mold simultaneously is, but not limited to, between 30 and 60 seconds.
According to the present invention, the higher the temperature of the heating surface of the mold and the longer the time of heating the fabric of vertical fibers and applying a pressure to the mold, the thicker the rigid shell. For example, but not limited to the following description: a fabric of vertical fibers with a thickness of 13 mm is provided; the heating surface of the mold is heated to 170° C. and the time of heating the fabric of vertical fibers and applying a pressure to the mold simultaneously is 40 seconds, and a footbed is obtained, wherein the thickness of the rigid shell of the obtained footbed is 1 mm while the thickness of the soft body of the obtained footbed is 12 mm. A relative example such as a fabric of vertical fibers with a thickness of 13 mm is provided; the heating surface of the mold is heated to 180° C. and the time of heating the fabric of vertical fibers and applying a pressure to the mold simultaneously is 60 seconds, and a footbed is obtained, wherein the thickness of the rigid shell of the obtained footbed is 2mm while the thickness of the soft body of the obtained footbed is 11 mm
Preferably, after the step of providing a fabric of vertical fibers, the method comprises a step of providing a fabric layer and then laminating the fabric layer with the fabric of vertical fibers. Hence, the obtained footbed has a fabric layer attached to the top face of the soft body.
Preferably, the step of providing a fabric layer and then laminating the fabric layer with the fabric of vertical fibers includes providing a foot pad and then laminating the foot pad with the fabric of vertical fibers to obtain a fabric of vertical fibers with the foot pad; providing a fabric layer and then laminating the fabric layer with the fabric of vertical fibers with the footpad. Hence, the obtained footbed has a foot pad disposed between the soft body and the fabric layer and at a location corresponding to the rear portion of the shell body.
According to the aforementioned structure, the advantages of the footbed of the present invention are as follows:
1. Because the rigid shell and the soft body of the footbed of the present invention are integrally formed by heating a fabric of vertical fibers and also because the rigid shell is rigid, the rigid shell is anti-distortion, such that the footbed of the present invention does not distort easily, which extends the lifespan of the footbed. Besides, due to the supporting portion, the footbed can protect the heel of the wearer and avoid a heel strike while walking. Thus, the footbed provides higher heel stability. Furthermore, the soft body and the rigid shell provide good ventilation and are permeable to water. Accordingly, the wearer's feet are kept fresh and cool while wearing a pair of shoes with the footbeds inside and thus feet odor is prevented. Even if the feet sweat, the surfaces of the footbeds do not become wet, which prevents the growth of bacteria and prevent any infection. In addition, the rigid shell and the soft body of the footbed are made of a heated fabric of vertical fibers, wherein the fabric of vertical fibers is a fiber web having a vertically aligned structure. Hence, the footbed has good elasticity, high recovery rate and provides high heat insulation, which improves the comfort of wearing the footbed and keeps the feet warm during the winter. Also, after the footbed is worn for a period of time, the footbed will not collapse and will not become compressed and deformed. Hence, the lifespan of the footbed is extended.
2. Because the material of the fabric of vertical fibers is polyester staple fiber, the footbed will be free from yellowing and will not decompose to generate toxicity after the footbed is worn for a period of time. Hence, the footbed of the present invention is a safe product.
3. Because the rigid shell has a protective portion, the footbed can support the forefoot and the mid-foot well.
4. Because the middle portion of the shell body is an upward arch toward the soft body, the footbed supports the foot arch well and thus provides excellent stability for the feet. Hence, wearing shoes with the footbeds is extremely comfortable.
According to the aforementioned steps, the advantage of the method for making the footbed of the present invention is as follows:
The rigid shell and the soft body of the footbed of the present invention are integrally formed through the step of heating the fabric of vertical fibers.
Accordingly, other additional steps such as adhering a heel cup to the rear portion of the footbed is not needed. Thus, the method for making the footbed of the present invention is extremely simple to reach the purpose of manufacturing a footbed having a rigid shell and a soft body integrally formed. Accordingly, the industrial applicability of the method for making the footbed of the present invention is enhanced remarkably.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section of the first embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross section of a third embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a fifth embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a sixth embodiment of the method for making the footbed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a seventh embodiment of the method for making the footbed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a eighth embodiment of the method for making the footbed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For a better understanding about the technical features of the present invention and its effect, and for implements in accordance with the disclosures of the specification, preferred embodiment, details and figures are further shown as follows:

First Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the first embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention has a rigid shell 10 and a soft body 20 connected to the rigid shell 10.
The rigid shell 10 has a shell body 11, a supporting portion 12 connected to the shell body 11, and a protective portion 13 connected to the shell body 11 and the supporting portion 12. The shell body 11 comprises a rear portion 111, a middle portion 112, and a front portion 113, wherein the rear portion 111, the middle portion 112 and the front portion 113 are connected sequentially. The rear portion 111, the middle portion 112 and the front portion 113 respectively have an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face. The supporting portion 12 protrudes from the rim of the rear portion 111 of the shell body 11, and the supporting portion 12 has an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face. The protective portion 13 protrudes from each rim of the middle portion 112 and the front portion 113 of the shell body 11 and is connected to the supporting portion 12. The protective portion 13 has an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face. The shell body 11, the protective portion 13 and the supporting portion 12 form a space for fitting a foot of a human. The soft body 20 has a top face 21 and a bottom face 22 opposite to the top face 21. The bottom face 22 is laminated with each inner face of the rear portion 111, the middle portion 112, the front portion 113, the supporting portion 12 and the protective portion 13. The top face 21 of the soft body 20 is used to contact the foot sole of a human
The rigid shell 10 and the soft body 20 of the present embodiment are integrally formed by heating a fabric of vertical fibers. The fabric of vertical fibers is made of different polyester staple fibers of various functions. The different polyester staple fibers with various functions include low melting point polyester staple fiber, elastic polyester staple fiber, and polyester staple fiber containing rubber, wherein the melting point of the low melting point polyester staple fiber is 115° C. Based on the overall weight of the fabric of vertical fibers, the amount of the low melting point polyester staple fiber is 20 parts by weight, the amount of the elastic polyester staple fiber is 40 parts by weight and the amount of the polyester staple fiber containing rubber is 40 parts by weight. Besides, the hardness of the rigid shell 10 is higher than the hardness of the soft body 20. The Shore hardness of the rigid shell 10 is 60 degrees and the Shore hardness of the soft body 20 ranges from 30 to 35 degrees. Furthermore, the thickness of the rigid shell 10 is 2 mm and the thickness of the soft body 20 is 10 mm.

Second Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 4, the second embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention is approximately the same as the first embodiment of the footbed. The major difference is that the middle portion 112 of the shell body 11 of the second embodiment is an upward arch toward the soft body 20 for fitting the foot arch formed in the middle of a foot sole of a human. Due to the soft body 20 laminated with each inner face of the rear portion 111, the middle portion 112, the front portion 113, the supporting portion 12 and the protective portion 13, the region of the soft body 20 corresponding to the middle portion 112 of the shell body 11 is also an upward arch toward the top face 21.

Third Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 5, the third embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention is approximately the same as the second embodiment of the footbed. The major difference is that the footbed of the third embodiment has a fabric layer 30 attached to the top face 21 of the soft body 20. The fabric layer 30 is used to contact the foot sole of a human

Fourth Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 6, the fourth embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention is approximately the same as the third embodiment of the footbed. The major difference is that the footbed of the fourth embodiment has two foot pads 40 a,40 b disposed between the soft body 20 and the fabric layer 30. One of the foot pads 40 a is at a location corresponding to the rear portion 111 of the shell body 11. The other foot pad 40 b is at a location corresponding to the front portion 113 of the shell body 11.

Fifth Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 7, the fifth embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention is approximately the same as the first embodiment of the footbed. The major difference is that the protective portion 13 protrudes from the rim of the middle portion 112 of the shell body 11 and connects to the supporting portion 12.
The present invention also relates to a method for making the footbed aforementioned.

Sixth Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 8, the sixth embodiment provides a method for making the first embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention, which comprises steps of:
providing a fabric of vertical fibers, and then trimming the fabric of vertical fibers to a thickness of 12 mm and a preset size;
providing a mold, wherein the mold had a shape corresponding to the shape of the footbed, and the mold had a heating surface;
placing the fabric of vertical fibers into the mold to abut against the heating surface;
heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature of 180° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers and applying a pressure to the mold simultaneously, wherein the time of heating the fabric of vertical fibers and applying a pressure to the mold simultaneously is 40 seconds, and obtaining a footbed.
The surface of the fabric of vertical fibers abutting against the heating surface of the mold is formed into the rigid shell having higher hardness due to a higher surface temperature, while the surface of the fabric of vertical fibers opposite to the heating surface of the mold is formed into the soft body having lower hardness due to a lower surface temperature. Accordingly, the rigid shell and the soft body are integrally formed during the step of heating the fabric of vertical fibers.

Seventh Embodiment

The seventh embodiment provides a method for making a third embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention. The present embodiment was approximately the same as the method of the sixth embodiment. With reference to FIG. 9, the major difference is that after the step of providing a fabric of vertical fibers, the method comprises a step of providing a fabric layer and then laminating the fabric layer with the fabric of vertical fibers by a binder to obtain a fabric of vertical fibers with the fabric layer. The binder used in the seventh embodiment is resin adhesive.

Eighth Embodiment

The eighth embodiment provides a method for making the fourth embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention. The eighth embodiment is approximately the same as the seventh embodiment of the method. With reference to FIG. 10, the major difference is that the step of providing a fabric layer and then laminating the fabric layer with the fabric of vertical fibers includes providing two foot pads and then laminating the foot pads with the fabric of vertical fibers by a binder to obtain a fabric of vertical fibers with foot pads; providing a fabric layer and then laminating the fabric layer with the fabric of vertical fibers with foot pads by a binder to obtain a fabric of vertical fibers with both foot pads and the fabric layer. The binder used in the eighth embodiment resin adhesive.

TEST EXAMPLE

A fourth embodiment of the footbed and a commercially available EVA footbed are provided to compare the ventilation and permeability to water of each.
The test example comprised step of blowing toward one of the surfaces of a footbed and placing one hand next to the other surface of the footbed at the same time. Efficiency of ventilation was determined by the flow feel by hand. If the hand felt the flow, the footbed was determined as having excellent ventilation. If the hand did not feel the flow, the footbed was determined as having poor ventilation. The obtained results are shown in Table 1.
Test of permeability to water comprised step of pouring water on one of the surfaces of a footbed. Quality of permeability to water was determined by the water flowing out from the other surface of the footbed. If there was water flowing out from the other surface of the footbed, the footbed was determined as having excellent permeability to water. If there was no water flowing out from the other surface of the footbed, the footbed was determined as having poor permeability to water. The obtained results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

The results of ventilation and permeability to water of each sample

Sample	Ventilation	Permeability to water

Commercially available	Poor	Poor
EVA footbed
A fourth embodiment of	Excellent	Excellent
the footbed

As shown in Table 1, the ventilation and permeability to water of a fourth embodiment of the footbed in accordance with the present invention are obviously better than the ventilation and permeability to water of the commercially available EVA footbed. Furthermore, ten minutes after pouring water on one of the surfaces of a fourth embodiment of the footbed, the surface was totally dry. However, ten minutes after pouring water on one of the surfaces of the commercially available EVA footbed, the surface was still wet and even had some water remaining on it. Accordingly, integrally formed rigid shell and the soft body of a fourth embodiment of the footbed have excellent ventilation and excellent permeability to water.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A footbed comprising:

a rigid shell comprising:

a shell body comprising a rear portion, a middle portion, and a front portion, wherein the rear portion, the middle portion and the front portion are connected sequentially, and the rear portion, the middle portion and the front portion respectively have an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face;

a supporting portion protruding from a rim of the rear portion, and the supporting portion has an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face;

a soft body comprising a top face and a bottom face opposite to the top face, wherein the bottom face is laminated with each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion and the supporting portion; and

wherein hardness of the rigid shell is higher than hardness of the soft body, and the rigid shell and the soft body are integrally formed by heating a fabric of vertical fibers.

2. The footbed according to claim 1, wherein the rigid shell has a protective portion protruding from a rim of the middle portion of the shell body and connecting to the supporting portion, the protective portion has an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face, wherein the shell body, the protective portion and the supporting portion form a space, and the bottom face of the soft body is laminated with each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion, the supporting portion and the protective portion.

3. The footbed according to claim 1, wherein the rigid shell has a protective portion protruding from each rim of the middle portion and the front portion of the shell body and connecting to the supporting portion, the protective portion has an inner face and an outer face opposite to the inner face, wherein the shell body, the protective portion and the supporting portion form a space, and the bottom face of the soft body is laminated with each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion, the supporting portion and the protective portion.

4. The footbed according to claim 1, wherein the middle portion of the shell body is an upward arch toward the soft body for fitting the foot arch formed in the middle of a foot sole of a human

5. The footbed according to claim 2, wherein the middle portion of the shell body is an upward arch toward the soft body for fitting the foot arch formed in the middle of a foot sole of a human

6. The footbed according to claim 3, wherein the middle portion of the shell body is an upward arch toward the soft body for fitting the foot arch formed in the middle of a foot sole of a human

7. The footbed according to claim 4, which has a fabric layer attached to the top face of the soft body.

8. The footbed according to claim 5, which has a fabric layer attached to the top face of the soft body.

9. The footbed according to claim 6, which has a fabric layer attached to the top face of the soft body.

10. The footbed according to claim 7, which has a foot pad disposed between the soft body and the fabric layer and at a location corresponding to the rear portion of the shell body.

11. The footbed according to claim 8, which has a foot pad disposed between the soft body and the fabric layer and at a location corresponding to the rear portion of the shell body.

12. The footbed according to claim 9, which has a foot pad disposed between the soft body and the fabric layer and at a location corresponding to the rear portion of the shell body.

13. The footbed according to claim 7, which has a foot pad disposed between the soft body and the fabric layer and at a location corresponding to the front portion of the shell body.

14. The footbed according to claim 8, which has a foot pad disposed between the soft body and the fabric layer and at a location corresponding to the front portion of the shell body.

15. The footbed according to claim 9, which has a foot pad disposed between the soft body and the fabric layer and at a location corresponding to the front portion of the shell body.

16. A method for making a footbed comprising:

a rigid shell comprising:

wherein hardness of the rigid shell is higher than hardness of the soft body; and the method comprises steps of:

providing a fabric of vertical fibers;

providing a mold, wherein the mold has a shape corresponding to a shape of the footbed, and the mold has a heating surface;

placing the fabric of vertical fibers into the mold to abut against the heating surface;

heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature ranging from 160 to 200° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers, and then obtaining the footbed; and

wherein the rigid shell is formed between the soft body and the heating surface.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature ranging from 160 to 200° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers includes heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature ranging from 160 to 200° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers and applying a pressure to the mold simultaneously, and then obtaining the footbed.

18. A method for making a footbed comprising:

a rigid shell comprising:

a soft body comprising a top face and a bottom face opposite to the top face, wherein the bottom face is laminated with each inner face of the rear portion, the middle portion, the front portion and the supporting portion;

a fabric layer attached to the top face of the soft body; and

wherein hardness of the rigid shell is higher than hardness of the soft body and the middle portion of the shell body is an upward arch toward the soft body for fitting the foot arch formed in the middle of a foot sole of a human;

and the method comprises steps of :

providing a fabric of vertical fibers;

providing a fabric layer and then laminating the fabric layer with the fabric of vertical fibers to obtain a fabric of vertical fibers with the fabric layer;

placing the fabric of vertical fibers with the fabric layer into the mold to abut against the heating surface;

heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature ranging from 160 to 200° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers with the fabric layer, and then obtaining the footbed; and

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature ranging from 160 to 200° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers with the fabric layer includes heating the heating surface of the mold to a temperature ranging from 160 to 200° C. to heat the fabric of vertical fibers with the fabric layer and applying a pressure to the mold simultaneously, and then obtaining the footbed.