WO2007101891A1

WO2007101891A1 - Improved footwear sole

Info

Publication number: WO2007101891A1
Application number: PCT/ES2006/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: María Sandra ALEMANY MUT; José David GARRIDO JAEN; Juan Carlos GONZÁLEZ GARCÍA; José Olaso Melis; Carlos Chirivella Moreno; José María GUTIERREZ SIGLER; José Javier SÁNCHEZ LACUESTA; Jaime Miguel Prat Pastor
Original assignee: Calzados Mayjo, Sl
Priority date: 2006-03-09
Filing date: 2006-03-09
Publication date: 2007-09-13
Also published as: DE212006000091U1; GB2450278A; GB0818345D0

Abstract

Improved footwear sole comprising a sole (1), suitable for fastening to footwear, provided with at least three hollow portions (2) arranged at the top in the zone of the sole (1) where maximum pressure is produced when walking (heel, metatarsophalangeal articulations and toes), said hollow portions (2) being filled with a resilient material, insertions (3), capable of storing the energy applied during the first phase of the walking cycle, releasing some of said energy in the intermediate phase; and an anatomical insole (4) placed on top of the sole and made from a soft, viscoelastic material, said insole being formed by a rear cup (5) that receives the plantar fat in the zone of the heel to absorb impacts and a longitudinal vault (6) that acts in the manner of a support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, distributing the pressure over a greater area.

Description

SOLE FOR PERFECTED FOOTWEAR

DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention patent application is to register an improved shoe sole that incorporates notable innovations and advantages over the current sole configurations used for the same purpose.

More specifically, the sole of the invention reduces fatigue and foot pain through the use of a soft material that adapts to the shape of the foot and favors the distribution of pressures on the sole of the foot, avoiding specific areas of hyperpressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, a wide variety of soles for footwear oriented to optimize the user's energy expenditure are well known, however, the configurations of this type of soles present a serious inconvenience in their design, since these modify the normal walking pattern worsening others functional aspects of footwear.

American Patent US534363 consists of a device that reduces the fatigue of the user by absorbing the energy in the passage being returned by means of a strap mounted on a platform that is coupled to the sole of the shoe. When the user starts the step by loading his weight on the strap, it stores the contact energy with the ground, which will be returned during the end of the step.

However, the described device has a certain instability in the user's progress.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent JP9051803 is identified with the object of the American Patent described above, differing in the fact that the energy absorption and return device is in solidarity with the shoe. A variation of the above devices is described in PCT Patent WO03022087 Ia which consists of a system to absorb impacts and return energy composed of a set of springs located in the heel area.

As for the pain reduction properties of the feet as a symptom of fatigue produced when walking for a long time, the registration history is based solely on the introduction of anatomical support elements, as is the case of US Patent US4045886, or on designs anatomical provided with circular protuberances that provide a massage effect, example American Patent US4047310. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The sole for perfected footwear object of the present registry, solves the aforementioned drawbacks, also providing other additional advantages that will be evident from the description that follows.

The sole for footwear of the invention reduces fatigue and foot pain by using a soft material that adapts to the shape of the foot and destroys the specific pressures concentrated in an area of the foot avoiding the appearance of hardness, calluses, and / or discomfort or pain in the sole of the foot.

In addition, thanks to the presentation of an anatomical design, the distribution of pressures in the sole of the foot is avoided avoiding areas of hyperpressure, and it favors the absorption of impacts on the heel.

For this, and more specifically, the sole of the invention comprises a floor suitable for being coupled to a shoe, characterized by the fact that the floor is provided with at least three hollow portions arranged superiorly in the area of the floor where pressures occur maxims when walking (heel, metatarsophalangeal joints and fingers), said hollow portions being filled with an elastic material, inserts, capable of storing the energy applied during the first phase of the cycle of the march, returning part of said energy in the intermediate phase; and an anatomical insole located superior to the floor of a viscoelastic soft material, said template being formed by a rear bowl that collects the plantar fat in the heel area for the absorption of impacts and a longitudinal vault that acts as a support for the arch longitudinal foot distributing the pressures in the greater area.

Preferably, the inserts will be linked to the template or the floor. In an alternative embodiment, the inserts can be linked to a base of the same material located between the support floor and the template. The specific configuration of the template has a double function, on the one hand it homogenizes the compaction of the material of the template redistributing the pressures more efficiently, and on the other, it serves as support for the muscular structure of the longitudinal arch of the foot that absorbs the Longitudinal deformations of the foot produced when walking, thus reducing muscle fatigue in this area of the foot. According to another aspect of the invention, the selection of the constituent materials of the sole of the invention is key to its operation. The inserts will be made with an elastic material capable of returning almost all the energy applied to it. On the other hand, the material of the insole, viscoelastic material, has the ability to absorb the impacts produced in the heel support phase and in turn presents the ability to adapt to the shape of the sole of the foot, resulting in a redistribution of pressures of the sole of the foot produced when walking in the greater area, reducing the hyperpressure points and, consequently, the formation of calluses and hardnesses.

The mechanical characteristics of the elastic material constituting the inserts are preferably of a deformation range of between 1 and 1.5 mm, and a range of percentage of energy absorption between 0% and 20%. While the Mechanical characteristics of the viscoelastic soft material constituting the anatomical insole are preferably of a dynamic stiffness range of between 1x10 ⁴ and 1x10 ⁵ N / m., and a range of absorbed energy ratio of between 0.8 and 1 Jul / Jul.

Advantageously, the sole for footwear of the invention optimizes the energy balance during the march by distributing the pressure on the sole of the foot, reducing

Ia muscular fatigue and the pain of feet produced when walking. The energy of the initial impact of the heel against the floor is stored being returned in the phase of taking off the footwear, thus reducing muscle fatigue.

Another advantage, no less remarkable, is the fact that the sole for footwear described can be used in all types of footwear, casual-type daily footwear, occupational footwear or sports shoes.

To complete the description that is going to be carried out below and in order to help a better understanding of its characteristics, the present descriptive report is accompanied by a set of drawings in whose figures, in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, the most significant details of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DESIGNS.

Figure 1 corresponds to a sectioned elevation view of the sole of the invention;

Figure 2 corresponds to a plan view of the sole represented in the previous figure;

Figure 3 corresponds to a perspective view of the template constituting the sole of the invention;

Figure 4 corresponds to a graph that represents the behavior of the sole material against the pressures that occur during walking when walking; Figure 5 corresponds to a graph that represents the behavior of the viscoelastic material of the template against the impact forces that occur on the heel in initial contact; Y

Figure 6 corresponds to a graph that represents the behavior of the elastic material of the inserts against the forces that occur in the forefoot in the impulse phase.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT. In view of the aforementioned figures and in accordance with the numbering adopted, a preferred but not limiting embodiment of the invention can be observed therein, which consists of an improved shoe sole.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the sole of the invention comprises a floor (1) suitable for being coupled to a shoe, characterized by the fact that the floor (1) is provided with at least three hollow portions (2) disposed superiorly in the area of the floor (1) where maximum walking pressures occur (heel, metatarsal-phalangeal joints and fingers), said hollow portions (2) being filled with an elastic material, inserts (3) , capable of storing the energy applied during the first phase of the gait cycle, returning part of said energy in the intermediate phase; and an anatomical insole (4) located superior to the floor of a viscoelastic soft material, said template being formed by a rear bowl (5) that collects the plantar fat in the heel area for the absorption of impacts and a longitudinal vault (6) which acts as a support for the longitudinal arch of the foot distributing the pressures in the greater area.

Preferably, the inserts (3) will be linked to the anatomical template (4) or to the floor (1). In an alternative embodiment, the inserts (3) can be linked to a base of the same material located between the floor (1) support and the template, (not shown)

The specific configuration of the anatomical template (4) has a double function, on the one hand it homogenizes the compaction of the material of the template redistributing the pressures more efficiently, and on the other, it serves as support for the muscular structure of the longitudinal arch of the foot that absorbs the longitudinal deformations of the foot produced when walking, thus reducing muscle fatigue in this area of the foot. It should be taken into account that the selection of the constituent materials of the sole of the invention is key to its operation. The inserts (3) will be made with an elastic material capable of returning almost all the energy applied to it. On the other hand, the material of the insole, viscoelastic material, has the ability to absorb the impacts produced in the heel support phase and in turn presents the ability to adapt to the shape of the sole of the foot, resulting in a redistribution of pressures of the sole of the foot produced when walking in the greater area, reducing the hyperpressure points and, consequently, the formation of calluses and hardnesses. (see figure A).

The sole for footwear described can be used in all types of footwear, casual-type daily footwear, occupational footwear or sports shoes, (not shown).

Figure 5 shows the behavior of the viscoelastic material constituting the anatomical insole that comprises the sole of the invention when the impact of the onset of the march in the foot, specifically in the heel, occurs. The impact energy absorbed by the material is quantified by the area that is enclosed in the force-deformation curve of the material. Figure 6 shows the behavior of the elastic material constituting the inserts included in the sole of the invention against the forces produced in the forefoot in the impulse phase when walking. As can be seen in this graph, the area enclosed in the loop-shaped curve is very small, so that the energy absorbed by the material is almost zero and practically all the energy applied during the passage is returned, favoring the forward thrust. In this way the muscular fatigue associated with the impulse phase is reduced since the human being needs to contribute less energy to walk.

Finally, and based on the tests described, the mechanical characteristics of the elastic material constituting the inserts (3) are of a deformation range of between 1 and 1.5 mm., And a percentage range of energy absorption of between 0% and 20%. While the mechanical characteristics of! Soft viscoelastic material constituting the anatomical insole (4) are of a dynamic stiffness range of between 1x10 ⁴ and 1x10 ⁵ N / m., and a range of absorbed energy ratio of between 0.8 and 1 Jul / Jul. The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, as well as the materials used in the manufacture of the sole for footwear of the invention may be conveniently replaced by others that are technically equivalent and do not depart from the essentiality of the invention or of the scope defined by the claims included below.

Claims

1. Sole for improved footwear, comprising a floor (1) suitable to be coupled to a shoe, characterized by the fact that the floor (1) is provided with at least three hollow portions (2) arranged superiorly in the area of the floor (1) where maximum pressures are produced when walking (heel, metatarsophalangeal joints and fingers), said hollow portions (2) being filled with an elastic material, inserts (3), capable of storing the energy applied during the first phase of the cycle of the march, returning part of said energy in the intermediate phase; and an anatomical insole (4) located superior to the floor of a viscoelastic soft material, said template being formed by a rear bowl (5) that collects the plantar fat in the heel area for the absorption of impacts and a longitudinal vault (6) which acts as a support for the longitudinal arch of the foot distributing the pressures in the greater area.

2. Sole for improved footwear, according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the inserts (3) are linked to the anatomical insole (4).

3. Sole for improved footwear, according to the first claim and in an alternative embodiment, characterized by the fact that the inserts (3) are linked to a base of the same material located between the floor (1) and the template (4) .

4. Improved shoe sole, according to claim one, characterized in that the elastic material constituting the inserts (3), has a deformation range of between 1 and 1.5 mm.

5. Improved shoe sole, according to claim one, characterized in that the elastic material constituting the inserts (3) has an energy absorption percentage range of between 0% and 20%.

6. Improved shoe sole, according to claim one, characterized in that the viscoelastic soft material constituting the anatomical insole (4) has a dynamic stiffness range between 1x10 ⁴ and 1x10 ⁵

N / m

7. Improved shoe sole, according to claim one, characterized in that the viscoelastic soft material constituting the anatomical insole (4) has a range of absorbed energy ratio of between 0.8 and 1 Jul / Jul.