US20210392993A1

US20210392993A1 - Foot-Stimulating Insole

Info

Publication number: US20210392993A1
Application number: US17/350,841
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Haimerl
Original assignee: Hero GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Hero GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-06-19
Filing date: 2021-06-17
Publication date: 2021-12-23
Also published as: DE102020116284A1; CA3122630A1; EP3925477A1

Abstract

An insole comprising a foot stimulating device having an upper surface for contact with a foot and a lower surface, at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the insole having a first region in which a plurality of elevations are formed adapted to apply stimulating pressure to the lower surface of a wearer's foot, the first region being located between the heel and the toes and surrounded by a second region in which no elevations are formed.

Description

CROSS-REFENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2020 116 284.7, filed Jun. 19, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The patent application relates to a foot-stimulating insole for a shoe. The insole usually refers to the part of the bottom of the shoe that is inside the shoe and is in direct contact with the sole of the foot. However, an insole can also be a loose insole placed inside the shoe to increase the comfort of the shoe or to compensate for deficiencies in the shoe.

SUMMARY

Conventional insoles are made of a layer of shock-absorbing material, such as cardboard, plastic fabric or leather, and do not have any functional components apart from their shaping and, if necessary, shock-absorbing properties intended to adapt to the foot. On the other hand, it is known that the foot fatigues, in particular in the case of activities carried out over a longer period of time in a standing position, which leads to an impairment of the well-being and also to an earlier exhaustion of the body as a whole.
It is the object of the present disclosure is to provide an insole which has a functional area for preventing foot fatigue and which contributes to increasing the wearing comfort of a shoe in which the insole is arranged.
The object is solved by an insole comprising a foot-stimulating device having an upper surface for contact with a foot and a lower surface, at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the sole comprising a first region in which a plurality of elevations are formed adapted to exert a stimulating pressure on the lower surface of the foot of a wearer, the first region being located between the heel and the toes of a foot placed on the sole and being surrounded by a second region in which no elevations are formed. The second region may be planar and may comprise or include part or all of the remainder of the sole. However, the second area may also include a structure or other functional areas.
By specifically locating the elevations in an area of the sole, particularly in the area of the sole corresponding to the metatarsal bones, which at least partially coincides with the plantar fascia of the foot extending between the heel and toes, functions of the foot and lower leg that are impaired or stalled in a conventional shoe can be activated throughout the wear time of a shoe provided with the insole. Because the area of the insole that has the elevations is surrounded by a second area in which no elevations are formed, the elevations protrude from the surface of the insole toward the plantar fascia and can produce a stimulating effect on it. As a result, the wearer of the shoe with the insole experiences less fatigue due to stimulation of the plantar fascia than with a conventional insole.
According to one embodiment, the second region, in which no elevations are arranged, extends annularly around the first region. According to a further embodiment, the second area at least partially comprises the edge of the inner sole. According to yet another embodiment, the second region comprises the entire edge of the inner sole. According to yet another embodiment, the second region comprises at least a portion of the left or right edge of the insole or at least a portion of the left and right edges of the sole. According to another embodiment, the second region comprises at least part of the upper or lower edge of the insole or at least part of the upper and lower edges of the insole.
According to another embodiment, the first region is disposed opposite the plantar fascia of a foot disposed on the insole so that the elevations can apply stimulating pressure to the plantar fascia of the foot.
According to another embodiment, the elevations are arranged in a plurality of rows arranged side by side and have flat, pointed or round protrusions or nubs.
According to another embodiment, the elevations are arranged in several rows arranged side by side, in particular in a grid-like manner. The elevations may have an angular oval or round shape and a flat or rounded top surface. The width of the elevations in the first area may increase in the longitudinal direction of the bottom. The grid-like arrangement of several elevations has the advantage over a continuous and uninterrupted elevated area that the adjacent elevations shift against each other, especially towards and away from each other, in particular due to the natural rolling movement of the foot during walking, which leads to a bending of the inner sole in the area of the metatarsal bone, so that a massaging effect on the plantar fascia is achieved.
According to yet another embodiment, the elevations are arranged in a grid along parallel or diverging channels. An arrangement along diverging channels corresponds to the natural widening of the foot and its plantar fascia from the heel towards the toes.
According to a further embodiment, the elevations have a height in a range between 1 mm and 5 mm relative to the surface of the second region and a width in a range between 5 mm and 3 cm.
According to yet another embodiment, the elevations in the first region have different heights. In particular, the height of the elevations in the first region may decrease or increase from the center of the first region to the left or right edge of the first region. The decrease may be linear or exponential, for example. Alternatively, in the first region, the height may decrease or increase linearly or exponentially from one side of the region to the other, such as from the right edge of the first region to the left edge. Further, the first region may contain areas with elevations of the same height or different heights, with the height of the elevations decreasing or increasing gradually, in particular linearly or also exponentially, between the areas. The areas arranged in the first region, each with the same height, can, for example, lie between grid lines of a grid-like arrangement of the elevations and optionally be bounded thereby. According to a further embodiment, it is conceivable that the first region has in the center a region with elevations with a first height, while the elevations surrounding this region have decreasing heights from the center to one or more edges of the first region. A centro-symmetrical, in particular circular-symmetrical, angular rhombic or oval arrangement of elevations with decreasing height towards the edge is also conceivable. Elevations with different heights in the first area can provide punctual stimulation of the plantar fascia.
According to yet another embodiment, both the upper side and the lower side of the sole each have a first region with elevations, wherein the elevations of the first regions of the upper side and of the lower side can be arranged opposite one another or can also be offset from one another.
According to a further embodiment, the sole has a wing-like extension on one or both sides in the region of the toes, which increases the width of the sole.
According to still another embodiment, the enlargements are made in one piece with the inner sole. The inner sole can be made, for example, of an extruded material, such as polyurethane or PVA, but also of one or more other materials, such as leather, sponge rubber.
According to the present disclosure, there is further provided a shoe with an inner sole having the previously described features.
According to one embodiment, the inner sole has on the upper side or lower side a recess crossing the inner sole, in which a band-shaped device can be arranged.
According to the present disclosure, there is further provided a sock or stocking having a foot-sole-side portion comprising an upper side for contact with a foot and a lower side, wherein at least one of the upper side and the lower side of the foot-sole-side portion has a first region in which are formed a plurality of elevations adapted to exert a stimulating pressure on the underside of the foot of a wearer, the first region being located between the heel and the toes of the foot and being surrounded by a second region in which no elevations are formed.
The stocking may be made of a textile material, cotton, wool, synthetic material, or a combination thereof.
The stocking may have one or more features described above in connection with the inner sole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, characteristics and advantages of the present application will be apparent from the following description of the disclosure with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the attached drawing. The drawing shows in

FIG. 1 a top view of an insole according to one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 the insole in cross-section; and

FIG. 3 an inner sole according to another embodiment of the present application in plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the figures. In FIG. 1, an inner sole 1 designed as an insole according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in a top view from above. The inner sole 1 has elevations 2 on its upper side arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows. The elevations 2 are lattice-shaped and arranged along channels 3, which diverge in the direction from the heel region to the toe region of the inner sole 1. The elevations 2 are provided in a first central area 3 of the sole 1, located between the heel area and the toe area of the insole 1. This first area corresponds, at least in part, to the location of the plantar fascia of a foot placed on the insole 1, which extends on the underside of the foot from the heel to the toes. The first region 3 is completely surrounded by a second region 4 of the inner sole 1, in which no elevations 2 are arranged. In the embodiment shown, the second region 4 is substantially flat. Thus, the elevations 2 protrude from the surface of the insole 1 and can stimulate the plantar fascia of a foot placed on the insole. Because the elevations 2 are separated from each other by channels 5, the tops of the elevations 2 can move toward each other when the insole 1 is flexed, such as during natural rolling of the foot when walking, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, and create a stimulation or friction motion at the plantar fascia that can reduce foot fatigue.
As shown in FIG. 2, elevations 5 are also arranged on the underside of the inner sole 1, which correspond in terms of their position to the elevations 2 on the upper side of the inner sole 1. Since the elevations 6 arranged on the underside of the inner sole 1 project from the surface of the underside of the inner sole 1 and are opposite the elevations 2 arranged on the upper side of the inner sole, an enhancement of the stimulation effect on the plantar fascia can be achieved by interaction of the elevations 2 on the upper side and the elevations 6 on the underside. In the embodiment shown, the elevations 1 on the surface of the sole have a height of 1 mm above the surface of the inner sole and the elevations arranged on the underside of the inner sole have a height of 2 mm relative to the surface of the underside of the sole 1. The channels 5 between the elevations have a width of about 1 mm. However, these dimensions are only exemplary and may vary in other embodiments without leaving the scope of the present disclosure. It is also conceivable to provide the elevations 2, 6 only on the upper side or only on the lower side of the inner sole 1.
FIG. 3 shows, as a further embodiment of the present disclosure, an inner sole 1 in plan view, which has wing-shaped extensions 7, 8 in the region of the toe joints on both sides. The thickness of the extensions 7, 8 decreases in the course from the edge of the inner sole 1 to the ends of the extensions 7, 8. The inner sole 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 may otherwise have the same features as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Numerous modifications can be made to the present disclosure described and the embodiments shown without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

REFERENCE NUMBER

1 Insole
2 Elevation on the top
3 Central area
4 Surrounding Area
5 Channel
6 Elevation on the underside
7 Lateral extension
8 Lateral extension

Claims

1. An insole comprising:

a foot-stimulating device having an upper surface for contact with a foot and a lower surface,

wherein at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the insole comprises a first region in which a plurality of elevations are formed, which are adapted to exert a stimulating pressure on the underside of the foot of a wearer, and

wherein the first region is arranged between the heel and the toes and is surrounded by a second region in which no elevations are formed.

2. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the second region extends annularly around the first region and at least partially comprises the edge of the insole.

3. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the first area is arranged opposite the plantar fascia of the foot so that the elevations can exert a stimulating pressure on the plantar fascia of the foot.

4. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the elevations are arranged in a plurality of rows arranged next to one another and have flat, pointed or round projections or knobs.

5. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the elevations are arranged in a grid-like manner in a plurality of rows arranged side by side and have an angular shape and a flat upper surface, wherein the width of the elevations increases in the longitudinal direction of the insole.

6. The insole according to any claim 1, wherein the elevations are arranged in a grid shape along parallel or diverging channels.

7. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the elevations have a height in a range between 1 mm and 5 mm and a width in a range between 5 mm and 3 cm.

8. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the elevations have different heights in the first area.

9. The insole according to claim 1, wherein both the upper side and the lower side of the insole each have a first region with elevations, wherein the elevations of the first regions of the upper side and the lower side are arranged opposite one another.

10. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the insole has on one or both sides at the level of the toes a wing-like extension which increases the width of the insole.

11. An article of footwear, comprising:

a shoe;

a foot-stimulating device coupled to shoe and having an upper surface for contact with a foot and a lower surface, wherein at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the insole comprises a first region in which a plurality of elevations are formed, which are adapted to exert a stimulating pressure on the underside of the foot of a wearer, wherein the first region is arranged between the heel and the toes and is surrounded by a second region in which no elevations are formed.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the insole has, on the upper or lower side, a recess traversing the insole, in which recess a band-shaped device can be arranged.

13. A stocking comprising:

a plantar portion having an upper surface for contact with a foot and a lower surface, at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the plantar portion having a first region in which a plurality of elevations are formed adapted to exert stimulating pressure on the lower surface of a wearer's foot, the first region being located between the heel and the toes of the foot and being surrounded by a second region in which no elevations are formed.