CA1097913A - Detorquing heel control device for footwear - Google Patents
Detorquing heel control device for footwearInfo
- Publication number
- CA1097913A CA1097913A CA319,442A CA319442A CA1097913A CA 1097913 A CA1097913 A CA 1097913A CA 319442 A CA319442 A CA 319442A CA 1097913 A CA1097913 A CA 1097913A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- heel
- ribs
- lateral
- insole
- width
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/141—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form having an anatomical or curved form
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/16—Overshoes
- A43B3/18—Devices for holding overshoes in position
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/142—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/144—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/22—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/22—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like
- A43B7/226—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like characterised by the material
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A shock absorbing, relatively rigid but resilient device for insertion in footwear as an insole or for being built integrally in-to the sole of footwear, extends across the shoe width and lengthwise from the outer rear border of the heel to the metatarsal heads of the foot of the wearer, has a smooth top surface with a heel concavity and a varus heel ridge extending transversely from the lateral to the medial side and inclined upward to a high level at the medial side and then continuing medially to the rear end of the heel cup and with a bottom having a solid lateral edge mitigating shock at the initial heel contact and from which radiate circumferentially in a clockwise (right foot) or counterclock wise (left foot) direction around the heel for an arc of about 30° and then along the medial edge, a plurality of longitudinally spaced ribs increasing in width along their length toward the medial side providing rotors which develop an external rotational force on the heel and tibiofibular leg unit of the wearer to detorque the internal rotation of the leg unit and pronation of the sub-talar joints and cause supination of the foot.
A shock absorbing, relatively rigid but resilient device for insertion in footwear as an insole or for being built integrally in-to the sole of footwear, extends across the shoe width and lengthwise from the outer rear border of the heel to the metatarsal heads of the foot of the wearer, has a smooth top surface with a heel concavity and a varus heel ridge extending transversely from the lateral to the medial side and inclined upward to a high level at the medial side and then continuing medially to the rear end of the heel cup and with a bottom having a solid lateral edge mitigating shock at the initial heel contact and from which radiate circumferentially in a clockwise (right foot) or counterclock wise (left foot) direction around the heel for an arc of about 30° and then along the medial edge, a plurality of longitudinally spaced ribs increasing in width along their length toward the medial side providing rotors which develop an external rotational force on the heel and tibiofibular leg unit of the wearer to detorque the internal rotation of the leg unit and pronation of the sub-talar joints and cause supination of the foot.
Description
~ 7 :~`
This invention relates to the biomechanical art of controlling torque on the heel and tibiofibular leg unit of people during walking, jogging, or running and specifically deals with a device insertable as an insole in footwear or built integrally into footwear which will mitigate impact a-t heel contact to the flat foot stage up to about the first 25%
of the gait cycle and will create an e~ternal rotational force on the heel and tibiofibular leg unit which causes supina-tion.
In normal straight ahead walking and running, the average person contacts the heel first in the stance phase of gait. At the time of ground contact, the heel hi-ts on the outside or lateral side, gradually shifts to the inner portion of the heel and then to the outer side of the foot over the metetarsals and then finally through the great toe for the final phase of propulsion. The period of time from the initial heel contact to the stage when the foot is flat is about the first 20 to 25% of the gait. At the time of heel contact when the body weight is borne on the heel, the leg is internally rotating, the ankle joint is plantarflexing, and the sub-talar joints are pronating to accommodate any uneven surface and to cushion the shock of the body weight as it passes from the centre of gravity throughthe ankle, the sub-talar joints and the foot.
During walking the estimated body weight at -the heel strike is about 1 1/2 to 2 times the normal body weigh-t and during running it is 2 to 4 times the normal body weight.
It is the purpose of this invention to provide a device which will so modify the biomechanics of walking, ~ogging and running to mitigate impact at heel contact to the foot flat state and to develop an external rotational force on the heel . .
and tibiofibular unit of the leg to cause supination. The device of this invention decreases the end range of pronation of the sub-talar joints preventing overuse syndrome charac-terized by Achilles Tendonitis/ posterior tibial tendonitis, shin splints, runner's knee, and various other maladies affecting the foot, ankle and leg.
According to this invention a shoe insert device or slab is molded from a relatively rigid non-slipping type of plastics material such as polyurethane, nylon, thermoplastic rubber, and other suitable elastomers preferably having a Shore hardness of from 30 to 80 with a Shore hardness range of 35 to 70 being desirable. Such plastics materials will not collapse under the weight of the wearer but will provide a desired degree of shock absorbing resiliency. The slabs are shaped to fit footwear as an insole extending from the rear of the heel to the metatarsal heads of the foot anc. tapering from an arch ridge forwardly to a thin convex forward end.
A heel cavity is provided rearwardly from the arch ridge and the ridge is inclined upwardly from the la-teral to the medial side with the high level continuing along the medial edge to the rear end of the heel cup. This provides a 2.5-3.5 varus heel with about a 30 medial incline from the lateral to the medial sides of the insole.
The top surface of the device is smooth and the ~oot or sock of a wearer will slide freely thereover without shifting the device in the shoe.
The bottom of tne device has a Elat solid portion extending along the lateral sicle from which radiate in a clockwise (right foot) direction a plurality of ribs separated by grooves or troughs and increasing in width to wide ends at - the medial edge of the device. The taper of the ribs i5 such that -the grooves therebetween are of uniform width along their lengths.
l'he solid lateral portion of the bottom has a relative-ly thick rib portion extending from the rear lateral side of the heel to a wider solid portion extending in a medial dixection from the lateral edge to a circular arc edge whlch has its widest portion or maximum width at about the front end oE the heel cup and then curves back toward the lateral edge to a diverging straight edge sloping forwardly and medially to a solid portion across the entire width at the front end of the device. The ribs radiate like spokes from the arc edge in a clockwise direction and thus extend rear-wardly behind the widest portion of the arcuate edge of the solid portion which would appear in top plan to extend clock~
wise from the 6:00 o'clock to the 9:00 o'clock position and then radiate forwardly from the 9:00 o'clock to abou-t the 11:00 o'clock position. The arrangement of these ribs is to provide rotors which will deflect under load creating an external rotation force tending to raise the arch of the foot and cause supination. These rotors when loaded by the foot deflect into the grooves therebetween producing a clockwise (right foot) movement to supinate the foot during -the first 25% of each step of the gait cycle and decreasing the end rate of pronation which will maintain the tibiofibular unit in more of a straight ahead position to increase the forward propulsion effect of the gait. A falling domino reac-tion develops as the ribs are deflected successively upon applica-tion of the foo-t loacl to cause the outward rotation which will detorque the heel, raise the arch, and minimize inward pronation of the tibiofi-bular leg unit.
It is proposed that the devices of this invention be furnished in sizes for fitting several shoe sizesO Thus, for example, the devices of this invention for insertion in men's shoes could be furnished with an average "D" width in sizes accommodating shoe sizes 6 and 7; 8 and 9; 10 and 11; and 12 and 13 while the devices for ladies' shoes could be furnished with an average "B" width in sizes acco~nodating shoe sizes 5 and 6; 7 and 8; and 9 and 10.
Thus the invention provides a footwear device for decreasing inward rotation of the leg during the gait o:E the wearer which comprises a shoe sole having a solid lateral load bearing side with deforma~le ribs radiating spoke-wise therefrom in a cloc]~wise direction around the heel end to the medial side and with the ribs flat-tening as the foot load is applied thereto to progressively rotate for turning the sole laterally during the gait of the wearer.
The invention is also characterized in a detorquing heel control device for footwear which comprises a relatively rigid but resilient sole having a sole member shaped to extend from the rear of the heel to the metatarsal head rest area of footwear and with a smooth top surface inclined from a thin front edge to a transverse varus heel ridge followed by a heel cup and inclines upwardly from the lateral to the medial side and extending at the high level around the medial side of the heel cupO The sole member has a solid lateral bottom surface at the initial heel impact zone and extends forwardly therefrom with ribs radiating medially i.n an arc frorn the solid lateral bottom separated by grooves and widening along their lengths to terminal ends at the medial side. These ribs are positioned to successively flatten and shift forwardly as they are loaded to ro-tate the member laterally thereby decreasing pronation of the foot during the normal gait of a wearer of the footwear.
The control device can be a detorquing insole for footwear composed of a molded plastic relatively hara elastomer slab shaped to fit the inner sole of a shoe across the width thereo~ and extending from the rear of the shoe heel into spaced relation from the toe of the shoe. This slab increases in thickness from a thin front edge to an elevated rear end and has a top smooth surface with a heel cup at the rear end and a varus incline across the width thereof diverging from the lateral to the medial sides. The slab has a solid bottom across the entire width thereof forwardly of the heel cup and a narrow solid bottom along the lateral side positioned to support initial heel contact during the gait of the wearer.
Deformable spaced ribs radiate from the narrow solid bottom around the heel to the medial side of the slab and are separat-ed by yrooves of uniform width thereby increasing in width from their lateral to their medial ends. The direction of the ribs cooperates with the increasing widths of the ribs as they radiate from the solid lateral side of the slab to develop a lateral rotation of the slab as load is pro~ressiveLy applied from the heel to the forward end of the slab.
The detorquing device may be generally described as an insole of relatively rigid but resilient molded plastics material with a smooth top foot receiving surface, a solid bottom surface decreasing in width from the front to the rear end thereof along the lateral side of the insole and with ribs radiating cloc]~wise from the decreased width bottom por-tion to the medial side of the insole. These ribs are e~fect-ive to shift the insole laterally as foot load is applied there-to during the normal gait of a user.
Other and further charac-terizations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the followiny detailed description of the drawinys which, by way of a preferred example only, illustrate one embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevational diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the device of this invention.
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic phantom plan view illustrating the operation of the device of this invention.
Figure 3 are top plan views of right and left foot devices of this invention mounted in footwear shown in dotted lines.
Figure 4 is a bottom plan view taken generally along the line IV-IV of Figure 1 showing a device of this invention for a right foot.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device of this invention taken along the line V-V of Figure 3 and shown on a larger scale.
Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5 and illustrating deflection of the ribs under load.
Figure 7 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a transverse cxoss sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 5.
Figure 9 is an enlarged diagrammatic fragmentarv side elevational view of the device illustrating the rotation forces obtained by loading of the ribs.
Figures 10 to 21 are diagrammatic views demonstrating the operation of the device of Figures 1 to 9 during successive phases of the gait of a user in which:
Figure lO is a diagrammatic ~hantom top plan view of the device showing its initial condition upon application of the heel impact load at the start of the gait.
Figure ll is a longitudinal view along the line XI-XI
of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a transverse view along the line XII XII
of Figure 10.
Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing the condition of the device at a flat heel position prior to the flat foot stage of the gait.
Figure 14 is a longitudinal view along the line ~IV-XIV of Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a transverse view along the line XV-XV
of Figure 13.
Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure lO but showing the condition of the device at the flat foot position of the gait.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal view along the line XVII-XVII of Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a transverse view along the line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 16.
Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure lO but showing the condition of the device during the final phase of propulsion during the end of the gait.
Figure 20 is a longitudinal view along the line XX-XX
of Figure 19, and Figure 21 is a transverse view along the line XXI-XXI
of Figure 19.
The device 10 of this invention is illustrated through-out the drawings as a slab-like insole for the right shoe of a user but as shown in Figure 3, the invention includes an insole lOa for the lef-t shoe which is -the mirror image of the device lO. ~or convenience, the right shoe insole will be described specifically hereinafter but it should be understood of course that pairs of the devices will be furnished to the user which are mirror images of each other and will be marked for insertion in right and left shoes. It will also be under-stood that the devices can be built integrally into the shoe soles of footwear by the shoe manufacturer.
As shown in Figure 1, the device 10 is mounted in a shoe S on the inner sole I of the shoe and extends from the rear end of the heel of the shoe to a thin tapered front edye spaced rearwardly from the toe T of the shoe~ The tibiofibular leg unit L of a wearer has the foot F inserted in the shoe S with the heel E of the foot resting on the rear end of the device 10 and the metatarsal heads M.H. of the foot resting on the front thin tapered edge of the device 10. The line A represents the forwardly inclined axis of the leg unit L during the forward gait as in walking or running following initial heel impact while the line B represents the flat inclined axis of the sub-talar foot bones as would normally occur if the foot were resting on the normal flat inner sole I of the shoe S. IIowever the device lO of this invention lifts or inclines this axis B to the curved position C raising -the arch of the foot as the gait progresses to a full flat foot condition. During this forward gait movement the leg unit L
tends to rotate inwardly but, as illustrated in Figure 2, the device 10 of this invention shifts the shoe ~ outwardly as load is applied to the device changing the longitudinal foot axis from B to C which is laterally outward from the plane of axis B.
~.8--Thus the device 10 of this invention receives the heel impact on its outside or latexal side and at the time of ground contact the load is gradually shifted to the inner portion of the heel and then to the outer side of the foot over the metatarsal heads and finally throuyh the great toe for the final phase of propulsion as in walkiny or running.
The first 20 to 25% of the gait involves foot movement from initial heel contact of full flat position and at the time of initial heel contact the leg unit L norrnally rotates inwardly, the ankle joint dorsiflexes and the sub-talar joints pronate to accommodate the uneven surface and to cushion the shoc~c of the body weight as it passes from the center of gravity through the ankle, the sub-talar joints and the foot.
The devices 10 of this invention are positioned in a pair of right and left shoes S as shown at 10 and lOa in Figure 3 to extend from a rounded or convex feather front edge 11 rearwardly from the toes T of the shoes to rounded rear ends 12 fitting the rear end of the heel portion H.P. of the ; shoes. r~he lateral or outer sides 13 of the device 10 snugly follow the outer side edges of the shoe insole I while the inner of medial edges 14 of the device snugly follow the inner or medial sides of the shoe inner sole I.
As shown in Figures 3 and 5 the device 10 has a smooth top surface 15 increasing in thickness from the thin front edge 11 to a transverse heel arch 16 and as shown in Figure 8 this portion of the top surface can be slightly convex across its wid-th to provide a comfortable crown receiving the metatarsal portion of the foot. A heel clepression or con-cavity 17 is formed ir. the top surface behind the ridge 16 for comfortably nestling the heel H of the foot F.
The ri~ge 16 is inclined upwardly fro~ a low point 16a at the lateral or outer edge of the device to a high point 16b at the inner or medial e~ge of the device in~nediately forwardly of the heel concavity 17 and the high ridge 16b extends at 16c medialward around the concavity 17 to the rear of the concavity.
It is desired that, from front to rear, the devices increase in thickness from the thin toe end 11 to the ridye 16 and that this increase be such as to provide ~ 2.5-3,5 varus heel from lateral to medial with the high point being medial and e~tending medialward to the end of the heel cup.
The bottora 1~ of th~ device is flat and is solid along the lateral side from the front 11 to the heel 12 but the medial side of the bottom from the heel for about two-thirds of the length of the device is provided with spaced parallel slots 19 which define therebetween ribs 20 extending Elush with the bottom and radiating in a clockwise direction around the back of the heel -to an extremity indicated a-t the line X
in Figure 4 which is about two-thirds the length of the device so that one-third of the device forwardly of the line X i5 not grooved. These ribs 20 increase ln width as they e~tend outwardly from the solid bottom portion 18 so that their outer ends 20a are wider than their inner ends 20b with the grooves 19 being of uniform width throughout their leng-th.
As shown in Figure 4 the ribs radiate clockwise from a circular baseline 21 struck from a center behind the ridge 16 and laterally spaced from the lateral edye of the device so that the ribs will radiate like spokes around -the medial heel portion and will then radiate from a fla-t diagonal line 22 connected by a shoulder 23 to the forwArd end of the arc 21. The ribs 20 radiating from the arc 21 vary in length to ~7~3 ~ . .
ollow the medial contour of the insole. Forward ribs 24 radiate from the diagonal line 22 to the medial edge of the insole while a front rib 25 has a blind outer end at the line X representing the forward ends of the ribs.
The rib arranyement-is such that initial heel impact will occur on the solid bottom surface lg at the lateral side of the end of the heel and then as the foo-t flattcns the weight will be borne by the rad'iating ribs on the medial side at the heel end. ~s the foot progresses to a flat position during the gait, the weight will be borne progressively from the rearward to the forward ribs. This progressivc loaciing of the ribs tends to flatten and widen them into the grooves 19.
Fiyure 6 attempts to illustrate the rotating movement ;~ of the ~evice 10 in the direction of the arrow as the ribs come 15 under load to be deflected and rotated forwardly to effect -the lateral rotation of the insole. Thus as shown in Fi~ure 6 the dotted line positions 20' show the inltial unloaded direction of each rib 20. ~s load is ap~lied to these ribs 20 they will flatten and widen into the groovcs 19 more at - 20 the outer peripheries than at their inner ends causing each successive rib to rotate clockwise to a loaded anc'~ flattened advanced pOSitiO]l 20" shown in solid lines. ~rhis successive ,loadinc3 of the ribs from tlle initial heel loading forwardly to a flat foot condition causes them to act as rotors swinginy the device in a clockwise pOSitiOIl for the right foot as shown by the arrow in Figure 6 and thus moving the axis from ~ -to C as shown in Figure 2 of the drawlngs. The shifting is proyressive sincc eacll successively loaded rib will have a forward rotatiny afEect on'tlle next adjacent rib 30 without, how~ver, actually closin~ thc grooves 19 between the ri~s. Since the ribs decrease in widtll inwardly to the arcua-te baseline 21 with the solid bottom 18, the amount of flattenin~
~ . .
,~, ~ , .
-11~
;, or deflection will progressively diminish inwardly along the length of the ribs. When the foot load is released from the rib areas of the device, the resilient nature of the plastics material constituting the device will cause the rihs to immediately regain their initial free state condition.
As also illustrated in Figure 9 when weight W is applie~
to the top surface 15 of -the device 10 depressing -the height thereof to the level 15', the ribs 29 will decrease in height from their unloaded position 20' and will increase in width to their less high and widened condition 20" causing the pro-gressive clockwise rotation to turn the device in the clock-wise direction as illustrated in ~igure 6.
It should thus be understood that the spoke~like ribs radiating from a center beyond the lateral side of the device 10 as illustrated at ~ in Figure 4 will progressively flatten and shift in a clockwise direction to rotate the device and the shoe of the wearer for detorquing the normal inward deflection of the tibiofibular leg unit in walking, running or jogging.
It will of course he understood that the clockwise rotation of the right foot with a right insole device of this invention will be replaced by a counterclockwise rotation of the left foot with a left device of this invention because the devices are provided in pairs for right and left shoes and are mirror images of each other.
The provision of the diagonal terminous line 22 pro-jecting forwardly from the shoulder 23 at the end of the arc 22 on the bottom 18 of the insole provides shor-tened forward ribs 24 and 25 and produces a wider flat bottom por-tion 18.
Longer ribs are not needed at this area since by -the time the weight of the foot is on these forward ribs, pronation is just about finished and extension of the ribs could provide an excessive detorquing.
Figures 10 through 21 attempt to illustrate the successive conditions of the device 10 as the gaik of a user progresses from initial heel contact to final toe propulsion.
It should be understood tha~ the plan views of these ~igures are illustrated in phantom looking downward from the top but showing the condikion o~ the bottom o~ the devices.
Thus as shown in Figures 10 to 12 the device 10 is in its condition of initial heel impact at the start of the gait. ~t this stage the initial load is at zone 21 at the lateral rear end with the device tilted laterally and trans-versely upwardly from the impact zone 21. Since the device is somewhat resilient the initial impact load will be cushioned decreasing the free stage top level 15 of the heel cup to the depressed level 15' as decribed above. At this initial stage of the gait the ribs 20 have not yet been loaded and radiate as diagrammatically illustrated at 22 in their free state condition.
During the next phase of the gait, as illustrated in Figures 13 to 15 the heel load advances to a forward zone illustrated at 23 including the ribs to the rear of this zone since the heel area is now in contact with the ground across its full width and for about the full length of the heel cup 17. The rear ribs are thus flattened and rotate clockwise from their initial free state condition at 22 to an advanced position illustrated at 24. This rotation of the ribs swings the device 10 from the dotted line position 25 to the lateral displaced position 26 and this swinging is unimpeded because the front portion of the device is not yet loaded nor has the front underlying portion of the shoe yet engaged the ground.
It will thus be understood that as the gait advances from the initial heel impact zone 21 to the full heel impact zone 23, the ribs are effective to swiny the device clockwise or laterally outward.
This swinging motion is accompanied by a liEting of the arch due to the inclines varus angle of the heel ridye 16.
During the next phase of the gait as illustrated in Figures 16 to 18 the device is under a full flat ~oot load and the bottom 18 flattens into full engagement with the inner sole I of the shoe. In this condition all of the ribs 20 are loaded with the forwardly inclines ribs being advanced to position 27 which are further displaced from their free state positions 22 than the displacement oE the rearwardly directed ribs. These forward ribs then add to the lateral displace~ent providing an increased increment of displacement between 25 and 26. In the flat foot condition the arch is raised due to the varus inclination of the device extending forwardly of the ridge 16 and the cushicniny effect extends forwardly of the rib area and the loaded zone e~tends as illustrated at 28 along the full length of the device.
In the toe propulsion or final stage of the gait as illustrated in Figures 19 through 21 the load is transferred to the toe area at 29 and the ribs are unloaded returning to their initial position 22.
From the above descriptions it will therefore be understood that this invention now provide a slab-like insole or inner sole shoe device which will cushion heel impact and de~rotate the tibio~ibular leg unit externally to create a more mechanically efficient gait which supinates the foot slightly during at least the first 20 to 25% of the gait cycle. The slab fits flat on the inner sole oE the shoe and detorques the inward pronation of the tibiofibular leg unit, provides -Eor more efficient propulsion and minimizes overuse syndromes caused by pronation in the normal walking, ~0~ o;'91~3 runnlng or ~ogglng galt.
It will also be understood that while the device is prelerably in the form of an inner sole slab it could be constructed as an outer shoe sole with the ribs engaging the ground instead of the inside of a shoe.
This invention relates to the biomechanical art of controlling torque on the heel and tibiofibular leg unit of people during walking, jogging, or running and specifically deals with a device insertable as an insole in footwear or built integrally into footwear which will mitigate impact a-t heel contact to the flat foot stage up to about the first 25%
of the gait cycle and will create an e~ternal rotational force on the heel and tibiofibular leg unit which causes supina-tion.
In normal straight ahead walking and running, the average person contacts the heel first in the stance phase of gait. At the time of ground contact, the heel hi-ts on the outside or lateral side, gradually shifts to the inner portion of the heel and then to the outer side of the foot over the metetarsals and then finally through the great toe for the final phase of propulsion. The period of time from the initial heel contact to the stage when the foot is flat is about the first 20 to 25% of the gait. At the time of heel contact when the body weight is borne on the heel, the leg is internally rotating, the ankle joint is plantarflexing, and the sub-talar joints are pronating to accommodate any uneven surface and to cushion the shock of the body weight as it passes from the centre of gravity throughthe ankle, the sub-talar joints and the foot.
During walking the estimated body weight at -the heel strike is about 1 1/2 to 2 times the normal body weigh-t and during running it is 2 to 4 times the normal body weight.
It is the purpose of this invention to provide a device which will so modify the biomechanics of walking, ~ogging and running to mitigate impact at heel contact to the foot flat state and to develop an external rotational force on the heel . .
and tibiofibular unit of the leg to cause supination. The device of this invention decreases the end range of pronation of the sub-talar joints preventing overuse syndrome charac-terized by Achilles Tendonitis/ posterior tibial tendonitis, shin splints, runner's knee, and various other maladies affecting the foot, ankle and leg.
According to this invention a shoe insert device or slab is molded from a relatively rigid non-slipping type of plastics material such as polyurethane, nylon, thermoplastic rubber, and other suitable elastomers preferably having a Shore hardness of from 30 to 80 with a Shore hardness range of 35 to 70 being desirable. Such plastics materials will not collapse under the weight of the wearer but will provide a desired degree of shock absorbing resiliency. The slabs are shaped to fit footwear as an insole extending from the rear of the heel to the metatarsal heads of the foot anc. tapering from an arch ridge forwardly to a thin convex forward end.
A heel cavity is provided rearwardly from the arch ridge and the ridge is inclined upwardly from the la-teral to the medial side with the high level continuing along the medial edge to the rear end of the heel cup. This provides a 2.5-3.5 varus heel with about a 30 medial incline from the lateral to the medial sides of the insole.
The top surface of the device is smooth and the ~oot or sock of a wearer will slide freely thereover without shifting the device in the shoe.
The bottom of tne device has a Elat solid portion extending along the lateral sicle from which radiate in a clockwise (right foot) direction a plurality of ribs separated by grooves or troughs and increasing in width to wide ends at - the medial edge of the device. The taper of the ribs i5 such that -the grooves therebetween are of uniform width along their lengths.
l'he solid lateral portion of the bottom has a relative-ly thick rib portion extending from the rear lateral side of the heel to a wider solid portion extending in a medial dixection from the lateral edge to a circular arc edge whlch has its widest portion or maximum width at about the front end oE the heel cup and then curves back toward the lateral edge to a diverging straight edge sloping forwardly and medially to a solid portion across the entire width at the front end of the device. The ribs radiate like spokes from the arc edge in a clockwise direction and thus extend rear-wardly behind the widest portion of the arcuate edge of the solid portion which would appear in top plan to extend clock~
wise from the 6:00 o'clock to the 9:00 o'clock position and then radiate forwardly from the 9:00 o'clock to abou-t the 11:00 o'clock position. The arrangement of these ribs is to provide rotors which will deflect under load creating an external rotation force tending to raise the arch of the foot and cause supination. These rotors when loaded by the foot deflect into the grooves therebetween producing a clockwise (right foot) movement to supinate the foot during -the first 25% of each step of the gait cycle and decreasing the end rate of pronation which will maintain the tibiofibular unit in more of a straight ahead position to increase the forward propulsion effect of the gait. A falling domino reac-tion develops as the ribs are deflected successively upon applica-tion of the foo-t loacl to cause the outward rotation which will detorque the heel, raise the arch, and minimize inward pronation of the tibiofi-bular leg unit.
It is proposed that the devices of this invention be furnished in sizes for fitting several shoe sizesO Thus, for example, the devices of this invention for insertion in men's shoes could be furnished with an average "D" width in sizes accommodating shoe sizes 6 and 7; 8 and 9; 10 and 11; and 12 and 13 while the devices for ladies' shoes could be furnished with an average "B" width in sizes acco~nodating shoe sizes 5 and 6; 7 and 8; and 9 and 10.
Thus the invention provides a footwear device for decreasing inward rotation of the leg during the gait o:E the wearer which comprises a shoe sole having a solid lateral load bearing side with deforma~le ribs radiating spoke-wise therefrom in a cloc]~wise direction around the heel end to the medial side and with the ribs flat-tening as the foot load is applied thereto to progressively rotate for turning the sole laterally during the gait of the wearer.
The invention is also characterized in a detorquing heel control device for footwear which comprises a relatively rigid but resilient sole having a sole member shaped to extend from the rear of the heel to the metatarsal head rest area of footwear and with a smooth top surface inclined from a thin front edge to a transverse varus heel ridge followed by a heel cup and inclines upwardly from the lateral to the medial side and extending at the high level around the medial side of the heel cupO The sole member has a solid lateral bottom surface at the initial heel impact zone and extends forwardly therefrom with ribs radiating medially i.n an arc frorn the solid lateral bottom separated by grooves and widening along their lengths to terminal ends at the medial side. These ribs are positioned to successively flatten and shift forwardly as they are loaded to ro-tate the member laterally thereby decreasing pronation of the foot during the normal gait of a wearer of the footwear.
The control device can be a detorquing insole for footwear composed of a molded plastic relatively hara elastomer slab shaped to fit the inner sole of a shoe across the width thereo~ and extending from the rear of the shoe heel into spaced relation from the toe of the shoe. This slab increases in thickness from a thin front edge to an elevated rear end and has a top smooth surface with a heel cup at the rear end and a varus incline across the width thereof diverging from the lateral to the medial sides. The slab has a solid bottom across the entire width thereof forwardly of the heel cup and a narrow solid bottom along the lateral side positioned to support initial heel contact during the gait of the wearer.
Deformable spaced ribs radiate from the narrow solid bottom around the heel to the medial side of the slab and are separat-ed by yrooves of uniform width thereby increasing in width from their lateral to their medial ends. The direction of the ribs cooperates with the increasing widths of the ribs as they radiate from the solid lateral side of the slab to develop a lateral rotation of the slab as load is pro~ressiveLy applied from the heel to the forward end of the slab.
The detorquing device may be generally described as an insole of relatively rigid but resilient molded plastics material with a smooth top foot receiving surface, a solid bottom surface decreasing in width from the front to the rear end thereof along the lateral side of the insole and with ribs radiating cloc]~wise from the decreased width bottom por-tion to the medial side of the insole. These ribs are e~fect-ive to shift the insole laterally as foot load is applied there-to during the normal gait of a user.
Other and further charac-terizations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the followiny detailed description of the drawinys which, by way of a preferred example only, illustrate one embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevational diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the device of this invention.
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic phantom plan view illustrating the operation of the device of this invention.
Figure 3 are top plan views of right and left foot devices of this invention mounted in footwear shown in dotted lines.
Figure 4 is a bottom plan view taken generally along the line IV-IV of Figure 1 showing a device of this invention for a right foot.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device of this invention taken along the line V-V of Figure 3 and shown on a larger scale.
Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5 and illustrating deflection of the ribs under load.
Figure 7 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a transverse cxoss sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 5.
Figure 9 is an enlarged diagrammatic fragmentarv side elevational view of the device illustrating the rotation forces obtained by loading of the ribs.
Figures 10 to 21 are diagrammatic views demonstrating the operation of the device of Figures 1 to 9 during successive phases of the gait of a user in which:
Figure lO is a diagrammatic ~hantom top plan view of the device showing its initial condition upon application of the heel impact load at the start of the gait.
Figure ll is a longitudinal view along the line XI-XI
of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a transverse view along the line XII XII
of Figure 10.
Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing the condition of the device at a flat heel position prior to the flat foot stage of the gait.
Figure 14 is a longitudinal view along the line ~IV-XIV of Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a transverse view along the line XV-XV
of Figure 13.
Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure lO but showing the condition of the device at the flat foot position of the gait.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal view along the line XVII-XVII of Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a transverse view along the line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 16.
Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure lO but showing the condition of the device during the final phase of propulsion during the end of the gait.
Figure 20 is a longitudinal view along the line XX-XX
of Figure 19, and Figure 21 is a transverse view along the line XXI-XXI
of Figure 19.
The device 10 of this invention is illustrated through-out the drawings as a slab-like insole for the right shoe of a user but as shown in Figure 3, the invention includes an insole lOa for the lef-t shoe which is -the mirror image of the device lO. ~or convenience, the right shoe insole will be described specifically hereinafter but it should be understood of course that pairs of the devices will be furnished to the user which are mirror images of each other and will be marked for insertion in right and left shoes. It will also be under-stood that the devices can be built integrally into the shoe soles of footwear by the shoe manufacturer.
As shown in Figure 1, the device 10 is mounted in a shoe S on the inner sole I of the shoe and extends from the rear end of the heel of the shoe to a thin tapered front edye spaced rearwardly from the toe T of the shoe~ The tibiofibular leg unit L of a wearer has the foot F inserted in the shoe S with the heel E of the foot resting on the rear end of the device 10 and the metatarsal heads M.H. of the foot resting on the front thin tapered edge of the device 10. The line A represents the forwardly inclined axis of the leg unit L during the forward gait as in walking or running following initial heel impact while the line B represents the flat inclined axis of the sub-talar foot bones as would normally occur if the foot were resting on the normal flat inner sole I of the shoe S. IIowever the device lO of this invention lifts or inclines this axis B to the curved position C raising -the arch of the foot as the gait progresses to a full flat foot condition. During this forward gait movement the leg unit L
tends to rotate inwardly but, as illustrated in Figure 2, the device 10 of this invention shifts the shoe ~ outwardly as load is applied to the device changing the longitudinal foot axis from B to C which is laterally outward from the plane of axis B.
~.8--Thus the device 10 of this invention receives the heel impact on its outside or latexal side and at the time of ground contact the load is gradually shifted to the inner portion of the heel and then to the outer side of the foot over the metatarsal heads and finally throuyh the great toe for the final phase of propulsion as in walkiny or running.
The first 20 to 25% of the gait involves foot movement from initial heel contact of full flat position and at the time of initial heel contact the leg unit L norrnally rotates inwardly, the ankle joint dorsiflexes and the sub-talar joints pronate to accommodate the uneven surface and to cushion the shoc~c of the body weight as it passes from the center of gravity through the ankle, the sub-talar joints and the foot.
The devices 10 of this invention are positioned in a pair of right and left shoes S as shown at 10 and lOa in Figure 3 to extend from a rounded or convex feather front edge 11 rearwardly from the toes T of the shoes to rounded rear ends 12 fitting the rear end of the heel portion H.P. of the ; shoes. r~he lateral or outer sides 13 of the device 10 snugly follow the outer side edges of the shoe insole I while the inner of medial edges 14 of the device snugly follow the inner or medial sides of the shoe inner sole I.
As shown in Figures 3 and 5 the device 10 has a smooth top surface 15 increasing in thickness from the thin front edge 11 to a transverse heel arch 16 and as shown in Figure 8 this portion of the top surface can be slightly convex across its wid-th to provide a comfortable crown receiving the metatarsal portion of the foot. A heel clepression or con-cavity 17 is formed ir. the top surface behind the ridge 16 for comfortably nestling the heel H of the foot F.
The ri~ge 16 is inclined upwardly fro~ a low point 16a at the lateral or outer edge of the device to a high point 16b at the inner or medial e~ge of the device in~nediately forwardly of the heel concavity 17 and the high ridge 16b extends at 16c medialward around the concavity 17 to the rear of the concavity.
It is desired that, from front to rear, the devices increase in thickness from the thin toe end 11 to the ridye 16 and that this increase be such as to provide ~ 2.5-3,5 varus heel from lateral to medial with the high point being medial and e~tending medialward to the end of the heel cup.
The bottora 1~ of th~ device is flat and is solid along the lateral side from the front 11 to the heel 12 but the medial side of the bottom from the heel for about two-thirds of the length of the device is provided with spaced parallel slots 19 which define therebetween ribs 20 extending Elush with the bottom and radiating in a clockwise direction around the back of the heel -to an extremity indicated a-t the line X
in Figure 4 which is about two-thirds the length of the device so that one-third of the device forwardly of the line X i5 not grooved. These ribs 20 increase ln width as they e~tend outwardly from the solid bottom portion 18 so that their outer ends 20a are wider than their inner ends 20b with the grooves 19 being of uniform width throughout their leng-th.
As shown in Figure 4 the ribs radiate clockwise from a circular baseline 21 struck from a center behind the ridge 16 and laterally spaced from the lateral edye of the device so that the ribs will radiate like spokes around -the medial heel portion and will then radiate from a fla-t diagonal line 22 connected by a shoulder 23 to the forwArd end of the arc 21. The ribs 20 radiating from the arc 21 vary in length to ~7~3 ~ . .
ollow the medial contour of the insole. Forward ribs 24 radiate from the diagonal line 22 to the medial edge of the insole while a front rib 25 has a blind outer end at the line X representing the forward ends of the ribs.
The rib arranyement-is such that initial heel impact will occur on the solid bottom surface lg at the lateral side of the end of the heel and then as the foo-t flattcns the weight will be borne by the rad'iating ribs on the medial side at the heel end. ~s the foot progresses to a flat position during the gait, the weight will be borne progressively from the rearward to the forward ribs. This progressivc loaciing of the ribs tends to flatten and widen them into the grooves 19.
Fiyure 6 attempts to illustrate the rotating movement ;~ of the ~evice 10 in the direction of the arrow as the ribs come 15 under load to be deflected and rotated forwardly to effect -the lateral rotation of the insole. Thus as shown in Fi~ure 6 the dotted line positions 20' show the inltial unloaded direction of each rib 20. ~s load is ap~lied to these ribs 20 they will flatten and widen into the groovcs 19 more at - 20 the outer peripheries than at their inner ends causing each successive rib to rotate clockwise to a loaded anc'~ flattened advanced pOSitiO]l 20" shown in solid lines. ~rhis successive ,loadinc3 of the ribs from tlle initial heel loading forwardly to a flat foot condition causes them to act as rotors swinginy the device in a clockwise pOSitiOIl for the right foot as shown by the arrow in Figure 6 and thus moving the axis from ~ -to C as shown in Figure 2 of the drawlngs. The shifting is proyressive sincc eacll successively loaded rib will have a forward rotatiny afEect on'tlle next adjacent rib 30 without, how~ver, actually closin~ thc grooves 19 between the ri~s. Since the ribs decrease in widtll inwardly to the arcua-te baseline 21 with the solid bottom 18, the amount of flattenin~
~ . .
,~, ~ , .
-11~
;, or deflection will progressively diminish inwardly along the length of the ribs. When the foot load is released from the rib areas of the device, the resilient nature of the plastics material constituting the device will cause the rihs to immediately regain their initial free state condition.
As also illustrated in Figure 9 when weight W is applie~
to the top surface 15 of -the device 10 depressing -the height thereof to the level 15', the ribs 29 will decrease in height from their unloaded position 20' and will increase in width to their less high and widened condition 20" causing the pro-gressive clockwise rotation to turn the device in the clock-wise direction as illustrated in ~igure 6.
It should thus be understood that the spoke~like ribs radiating from a center beyond the lateral side of the device 10 as illustrated at ~ in Figure 4 will progressively flatten and shift in a clockwise direction to rotate the device and the shoe of the wearer for detorquing the normal inward deflection of the tibiofibular leg unit in walking, running or jogging.
It will of course he understood that the clockwise rotation of the right foot with a right insole device of this invention will be replaced by a counterclockwise rotation of the left foot with a left device of this invention because the devices are provided in pairs for right and left shoes and are mirror images of each other.
The provision of the diagonal terminous line 22 pro-jecting forwardly from the shoulder 23 at the end of the arc 22 on the bottom 18 of the insole provides shor-tened forward ribs 24 and 25 and produces a wider flat bottom por-tion 18.
Longer ribs are not needed at this area since by -the time the weight of the foot is on these forward ribs, pronation is just about finished and extension of the ribs could provide an excessive detorquing.
Figures 10 through 21 attempt to illustrate the successive conditions of the device 10 as the gaik of a user progresses from initial heel contact to final toe propulsion.
It should be understood tha~ the plan views of these ~igures are illustrated in phantom looking downward from the top but showing the condikion o~ the bottom o~ the devices.
Thus as shown in Figures 10 to 12 the device 10 is in its condition of initial heel impact at the start of the gait. ~t this stage the initial load is at zone 21 at the lateral rear end with the device tilted laterally and trans-versely upwardly from the impact zone 21. Since the device is somewhat resilient the initial impact load will be cushioned decreasing the free stage top level 15 of the heel cup to the depressed level 15' as decribed above. At this initial stage of the gait the ribs 20 have not yet been loaded and radiate as diagrammatically illustrated at 22 in their free state condition.
During the next phase of the gait, as illustrated in Figures 13 to 15 the heel load advances to a forward zone illustrated at 23 including the ribs to the rear of this zone since the heel area is now in contact with the ground across its full width and for about the full length of the heel cup 17. The rear ribs are thus flattened and rotate clockwise from their initial free state condition at 22 to an advanced position illustrated at 24. This rotation of the ribs swings the device 10 from the dotted line position 25 to the lateral displaced position 26 and this swinging is unimpeded because the front portion of the device is not yet loaded nor has the front underlying portion of the shoe yet engaged the ground.
It will thus be understood that as the gait advances from the initial heel impact zone 21 to the full heel impact zone 23, the ribs are effective to swiny the device clockwise or laterally outward.
This swinging motion is accompanied by a liEting of the arch due to the inclines varus angle of the heel ridye 16.
During the next phase of the gait as illustrated in Figures 16 to 18 the device is under a full flat ~oot load and the bottom 18 flattens into full engagement with the inner sole I of the shoe. In this condition all of the ribs 20 are loaded with the forwardly inclines ribs being advanced to position 27 which are further displaced from their free state positions 22 than the displacement oE the rearwardly directed ribs. These forward ribs then add to the lateral displace~ent providing an increased increment of displacement between 25 and 26. In the flat foot condition the arch is raised due to the varus inclination of the device extending forwardly of the ridge 16 and the cushicniny effect extends forwardly of the rib area and the loaded zone e~tends as illustrated at 28 along the full length of the device.
In the toe propulsion or final stage of the gait as illustrated in Figures 19 through 21 the load is transferred to the toe area at 29 and the ribs are unloaded returning to their initial position 22.
From the above descriptions it will therefore be understood that this invention now provide a slab-like insole or inner sole shoe device which will cushion heel impact and de~rotate the tibio~ibular leg unit externally to create a more mechanically efficient gait which supinates the foot slightly during at least the first 20 to 25% of the gait cycle. The slab fits flat on the inner sole oE the shoe and detorques the inward pronation of the tibiofibular leg unit, provides -Eor more efficient propulsion and minimizes overuse syndromes caused by pronation in the normal walking, ~0~ o;'91~3 runnlng or ~ogglng galt.
It will also be understood that while the device is prelerably in the form of an inner sole slab it could be constructed as an outer shoe sole with the ribs engaging the ground instead of the inside of a shoe.
Claims (19)
1. A detorquing heel control device for footwear which comprises a relatively rigid but resilient sole for footwear having a sole member shaped to extend from the rear of the heel to the metatarsal headrest area of footwear and having a smooth top surface inclined from a thin front edge to a transverse varus heel ridge followed by a heel cup and inclined upwardly from the lateral to the medial side and extending at the high level around the medial side of the heel cup, said member having a solid lateral bottom surface at the initial heel impact zone and extending forwardly therefrom with ribs radiating medially in an arc from the solid lateral bottom separated by grooves and widening along their lengths to terminal ends at the medial side thereof, and said ribs being positioned to successively flatten and shift forwardly as they are loaded to rotate the member laterally for decreas-ing pronation of the foot during the normal gait of a wearer of the footwear.
2. A footwear device for decreasing inward rotation of the leg during the gait of a wearer of the footwear which comprises a shoe sole having a solid lateral load bearing side with deformable ribs radiating spoke-wise therefrom in a clockwise direction around the heel end to the medial side, and said ribs flattening as foot load is applied thereto to progressively rotate for turning the sole laterally during the gait of the wearer.
3. A detorquing insole for footwear which comprises a molded plastic relatively hard elastomer slab shaped to fit the inner sole of a shoe across the width thereof and extending from the rear of the shoe heel into spaced relation from the toe of the shoe, said slab increasin in thickness from a thin front edge to an elevated rear end and having a top smooth surface with a heel cup at the rear end and a varus incline across the width thereof diverging from the lateral to the medial sides thereof, said slab having a solid bottom across the entire width thereof forwardly of the heel cup and a narrow solid bottom along the lateral side thereof positioned to support initial heel contact during the gait of a wearer, and deformable spaced ribs radiating from the narrow solid bottom portion around the heel to the medial side of the slab, said ribs being separated by grooves of uniform width and increasing in width from their lateral to their medial ends, and the direction of said ribs cooperating with the increasing widths of the ribs as they radiate from the solid lateral side of the slab being such as to develop a lateral rotation of the slab as load is progressively applied from the heel to the forward end of the slab.
4. A detorquing device for decreasing inward leg rotation during the normal gait of a wearer of the device which comprises an insole of relatively rigid but resilient molded plastics material having a smooth top foot receiving surface, a solid bottom surface decreasing in width from the front to the rear end along the lateral side of the insole and ribs radiating clockwise from the decreased width bottom portion to the medial side of the insole effective to shift the insole laterally as foot load is applied thereto during the normal gait of a user.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the sole is a molded plastic slab sized for fitting in footwear and having a Shore hardness of from about 30 to about 80.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the sole is sized to fit across the entire width of the inside of a shoe on the inner sole thereof and is inclined from the thin front edge of the heel end thereof.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the grooves separating the ribs are of uniform width along their length.
8. The device of claim 2 wherein the solid lateral load bearing side extend from the lateral edge to an arc from which the ribs radiate.
9. The device of claim 2 wherein the solid load bearing side extends across the full width of the front end, narrows in width to the heel end and has the ribs radiating therefrom.
10. The device of claim 2 wherein the shoe sole is a plastics material slab fitting the inner sole or a shoe.
11. The device of claim 2 including a pair of mirror image shoe soles respectively fitting right and left shoes.
12. The device of claim 2 where the sole is an elastomer with a Shore hardness of between 35 to 70.
13. The insole of claim 3 wherein tile slab tapers to a thin feather edge at the front end thereof.
14. The insole of claim 13 wherein the thin feather edge is convex.
15. The insole of claim 2 wherein the narrow solid bottom portion has an arcuate rear end and a flat diagonally sloping forward end.
16. The insole of claim 3 wherein the ribs radiate as spokes around an arcuate edge of the narrow solid bottom along the lateral side of the slab.
17. The detorquing device of claim 4 wherein the decreased width solid bottom portion along the lateral side of the insole has an arcuate edge from which the ribs radiate.
18. The detorquing device of claim 4 wherein the insole increases in thickness from the front to the rear end and has a heel cup depression in the rear end.
19. The device of claim 4 wherein the decreased width solid bottom surface along the lateral side has a circular medial edge.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/958,208 US4268980A (en) | 1978-11-06 | 1978-11-06 | Detorquing heel control device for footwear |
| US958,208 | 1978-11-06 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1097913A true CA1097913A (en) | 1981-03-24 |
Family
ID=25500723
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA319,442A Expired CA1097913A (en) | 1978-11-06 | 1979-01-10 | Detorquing heel control device for footwear |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4268980A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU527728B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1097913A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH647936A5 (en) |
| DE (2) | DE2941453A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2440165A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2032760A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1208889B (en) |
| SE (1) | SE438588B (en) |
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| US6665956B2 (en) | 2001-02-21 | 2003-12-23 | Gordon Graham Hay | Foot guided shoe sole and footbed |
| EP1367916A4 (en) * | 2001-02-21 | 2007-03-07 | Bivab Llc | Shoe sole with footbed |
| JP3947658B2 (en) | 2001-06-28 | 2007-07-25 | 美津濃株式会社 | Midsole structure for sports shoes |
| JP4906153B2 (en) | 2001-06-28 | 2012-03-28 | 美津濃株式会社 | Midsole structure for sports shoes |
| US20030150134A1 (en) * | 2002-02-11 | 2003-08-14 | Hardt John C | Anti-roll arch support insole |
| AU2003203502B2 (en) | 2002-04-10 | 2005-05-19 | Wolverine World Wide, Inc. | Footwear Sole |
| US8291618B2 (en) * | 2004-11-22 | 2012-10-23 | Frampton E. Ellis | Devices with internal flexibility sipes, including siped chambers for footwear |
| US8256147B2 (en) | 2004-11-22 | 2012-09-04 | Frampton E. Eliis | Devices with internal flexibility sipes, including siped chambers for footwear |
| WO2006058013A2 (en) | 2004-11-22 | 2006-06-01 | Ellis, Frampton, E. | Devices with internal flexibility sipes, including siped chambers for footwear |
| US20060236564A1 (en) * | 2005-04-22 | 2006-10-26 | Cryos Technologies Inc. | Orthotic with dynamically self-adjusting stabiliser for footwear |
| US8406454B2 (en) * | 2005-06-27 | 2013-03-26 | Comodo Technologies Ltd. | Method and system for customized shoe fitting based on common shoe last using foot outline comparison and interchangeable insole adaptors |
| DE502006006189D1 (en) * | 2006-10-19 | 2010-04-01 | Axel Klapdor | Insole for shoes |
| US8125796B2 (en) | 2007-11-21 | 2012-02-28 | Frampton E. Ellis | Devices with faraday cages and internal flexibility sipes |
| GB2458451A (en) * | 2008-03-13 | 2009-09-23 | Ion Associates Ltd | Controlling Pronation or Supination in Footwear via a Control Element |
| US8109012B2 (en) * | 2008-10-09 | 2012-02-07 | Nike, Inc. | Article of footwear with drainage features |
| US8104197B2 (en) | 2009-04-27 | 2012-01-31 | Nike, Inc. | Article of footwear with vertical grooves |
| US8166674B2 (en) * | 2009-08-03 | 2012-05-01 | Hbn Shoe, Llc | Footwear sole |
| US9210965B2 (en) | 2011-01-10 | 2015-12-15 | Nike, Inc. | Article of footwear with ribbed footbed |
| EP3094203B1 (en) * | 2014-01-17 | 2019-04-10 | Correct Motion Inc. | Insole for sport footwear |
| JP5901080B2 (en) * | 2014-07-23 | 2016-04-06 | マイクロインテレクス株式会社 | Buffer plate and shoes incorporating this buffer plate |
| US10390587B2 (en) | 2016-03-01 | 2019-08-27 | Hbn Shoe, Llc | Device for high-heeled shoes and method of constructing a high-heeled shoe |
| US10477915B2 (en) | 2016-03-01 | 2019-11-19 | Hbn Shoe, Llc | Device for high-heeled shoes and method of constructing a high-heeled shoe |
| US10702008B2 (en) | 2018-02-26 | 2020-07-07 | Hbn Shoe, Llc | Device and method of constructing shoes |
| US20200245727A1 (en) * | 2019-01-31 | 2020-08-06 | Nelwood Corp. | Natural-cushioning, sock liner apparatus and method |
| US11540588B1 (en) | 2021-11-24 | 2023-01-03 | Hbn Shoe, Llc | Footwear insole |
| US11805850B1 (en) | 2023-07-19 | 2023-11-07 | Hbn Shoe, Llc | Cuboid pad |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE382819C (en) * | 1923-10-06 | Joseph May | Wedge-shaped heel cushion made of rubber or the like. | |
| FR535542A (en) * | 1922-04-15 | |||
| GB327015A (en) * | 1929-04-06 | 1930-03-27 | Isabell Maccallum | Improvements in or connected with heel-pads for use in the inside of boots, shoes and the like |
| NL49785C (en) * | 1937-08-05 | |||
| US3470879A (en) * | 1966-01-07 | 1969-10-07 | Meiller Research Inc | Orthopedic shoe construction |
| FR1511344A (en) * | 1966-02-14 | 1968-01-26 | Superga Spa | Footwear insole with arch support |
| US3532098A (en) * | 1966-08-19 | 1970-10-06 | Meiller Research Inc | Orthopedic shoe construction |
| US4120102A (en) * | 1977-04-21 | 1978-10-17 | Kenigson Robert H | Heel pad with radial ribs |
| US4168585A (en) * | 1978-04-10 | 1979-09-25 | Gleichner Eleanor R | Heel cushion |
-
1978
- 1978-11-06 US US05/958,208 patent/US4268980A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1979
- 1979-01-10 CA CA319,442A patent/CA1097913A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-07-17 GB GB7924808A patent/GB2032760A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1979-08-06 AU AU49620/79A patent/AU527728B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1979-08-14 SE SE7906794A patent/SE438588B/en unknown
- 1979-08-27 CH CH7766/79A patent/CH647936A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1979-08-29 FR FR7921714A patent/FR2440165A1/en active Granted
- 1979-09-18 IT IT7912741A patent/IT1208889B/en active
- 1979-10-12 DE DE19792941453 patent/DE2941453A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1979-10-12 DE DE7929041U patent/DE7929041U1/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2032760B (en) | |
| DE2941453A1 (en) | 1980-05-22 |
| DE7929041U1 (en) | 1983-06-23 |
| SE7906794L (en) | 1980-05-07 |
| GB2032760A (en) | 1980-05-14 |
| CH647936A5 (en) | 1985-02-28 |
| IT1208889B (en) | 1989-07-10 |
| SE438588B (en) | 1985-04-29 |
| FR2440165B1 (en) | 1985-01-11 |
| US4268980A (en) | 1981-05-26 |
| AU4962079A (en) | 1980-05-15 |
| FR2440165A1 (en) | 1980-05-30 |
| AU527728B2 (en) | 1983-03-17 |
| IT7912741A0 (en) | 1979-09-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |