U.S. patent application number 09/984409 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-31 for walking shoes for the aged.
Invention is credited to Matsuura, Yoshikazu, Suehiro, Mamoru.
Application Number | 20020157279 09/984409 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18871088 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020157279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsuura, Yoshikazu ; et
al. |
October 31, 2002 |
Walking shoes for the aged
Abstract
The object of this invention is to facilitate the aged to shift
in particular the body weight of the forelimb when he or she walks
by sloping the toe region and the heel region of the sole of the
shoes. In order to achieve said object, the walking shoe for the
aged includes a transitive region (Z) defined by a line extending
from the fore-end inner side (X) to the fore-end outer side
(X.sub.2) and protruding in the oblique line (XX.sub.1) inward
direction at an angle of 15.degree., a heel region (2) of the sole
extending from the terminal end (Y) of the sole to the transitive
line (XX.sub.2) inclining at an appropriate angle (.alpha.) to the
floor surface, and a toe region (3) of the sole of the shoe body
(1) rising at an appropriate angle (.beta.) from an oblique line
(4) linking the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint and the first
metatarsophalangeal joint towards the tiptoe.
Inventors: |
Matsuura, Yoshikazu;
(Otake-shi, JP) ; Suehiro, Mamoru; (Otake-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMSTRONG,WESTERMAN & HATTORI, LLP
1725 K STREET, NW.
SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
18871088 |
Appl. No.: |
09/984409 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/25R ;
36/103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/148 20130101;
A43B 13/143 20130101; A43B 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/25.00R ;
36/103 |
International
Class: |
A43B 013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 27, 2001 |
JP |
002606/2001 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A walking shoe for the aged comprising a transitive region (Z)
is defined by a line linking the fore-end inner side (X) and a
fore-end outer side (X.sub.2) and protruding in the oblique line
(XX.sub.1) inward direction at an angle of 15.degree., a heel
region (2) of the sole extending from the end (Y) of the sole to
the transitive line (XX.sub.2) inclines at an appropriate angle
(.alpha.) to the floor surface, and a toe region (3) of the sole of
the shoes body (1) rises at an appropriate angle (.beta.) from an
oblique line (4) linking the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint and
the first metatarsophalangeal joint towards the tiptoe.
2. A walking shoe for the aged described in claim 1, wherein the
heel region of the sole of the shoe inclines at an angle of
15.degree. from the inside of the fore-end (X) of the heel region
to the outside contributing to the stability of the heel region and
the walkableness of the whole shoe.
3. A walking shoe for the aged described in claim 1, wherein the
oblique line (4) linking the first metatarsophalangeal joint and
the first metatarsophalangeal joint is a line protruding in the
oblique line outward direction at an angle of about 13.degree..
4. A walking shoe for the aged according to any one of claims 1 to
3, wherein the appropriate angle (.alpha.) of the heel region (2)
of the sole extending from the terminal end (Y) of the sole to the
transitive line (XX.sub.2) is within a range of
7.degree.-15.degree..
5. A walking shoe for the aged according to any one of claims 1 to
3, wherein the appropriate angle (.beta.) of an area extending from
the oblique line (4) to the tiptoe is in a range of
7.degree.-15.degree..
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to walking shoes, more specifically
for the aged.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Traditionally "walking" is the most basic exercise for us
humans. By walking, humans absorb a large amount of oxygen,
activate the pulsing function of the heart, and improve the blood
circulation, which are considered to be useful for dissipating
stress.
[0005] A great expectation is placed in particular on walking as
one of the means to prevent or cure geriatric diseases, chronic
diseases, etc. of the aged. And walking is considered far less
burdensome on the feet, the waist and the heart than jogging and
other sports, safe and very useful for maintaining and promoting
the health of the middle-aged and the aged.
[0006] The applicants of this invention, who had already obtained a
utility model No. 3040369 in Japan, further developed walking shoes
for the aged which are easier to use for the aged as a result of
their researches. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4 (the arrows mark
the shift of the body weight from the heel to the big toe), we
humans walk by repeating the movement of landing on the ground with
the heel, shifting the body weight to the outside of the foot, in
other words to the little toe side, shifting the same from the root
of the small toe to the inside, kicking the ground with the first
metatarsophalangeal joint portion, and finally the top of the big
toe leaving the ground.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore the object of this invention to facilitate
the "walking" motion necessary to maintain and promote health by
sloping the front part of the shoe sole, to make the whole shoes
more walkable so that the aged may be able to shift easily the body
weight on the forelimb, and thus to provide walking shoes which are
walkable and do not cause fatigue to the aged.
[0008] Humans normally walk with their tiptoes directed somewhat
outwards. This angle is called "walking angle" or "feet angle" and
its regular angle value is 15.degree.. As for the walking
characteristics of humans, when they suspend downward their legs at
the relaxed position of the leg tendon, the angle of the sole of a
foot to the floor is in most cases 15.degree. toward inside
regardless of the age, whether he or she is an aged person or a
young. However, the angle of setting foot, in other words, the
angle of the sole of a foot with the floor when the heel touches
the ground is said to be 25.degree. for the young but 20.degree. in
the case of the aged.
[0009] This difference in angle is considered to be attributable to
the difference in length of a walking step due to the age, and
scientists reportedly found that the length of a step of the aged
is shorter than that of the young.
[0010] Therefore, this invention inclines the heel portion of the
sole of the walking shoes for the aged in such a way that the whole
shoes may be walkable. These walking shoes for being in harmony
with the aged having a toe portion rising upward by 20.degree. and
the walking angle or foot angle of 15.degree., the one third
portion of the sole near the heel, includes, an arch region
(XYX.sub.2), namely heel region (2), and a transitive region (Z)
constituting a oblique line (XX.sub.1) inward direction at an angle
of 15.degree., the heel region from the rear end (Y) of the sole to
the transitive line (X X.sub.2) is inclined at an appropriate angle
to the floor surface, and the toe region defined by the oblique
line (4) linking the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint and the first
metatarsophalangeal joint and extending to the toe region inclines
at an appropriate angle to the floor surface.
[0011] Further, according to this invention, the heel region of the
sole of the shoes inclines at an angle of 15' from the inside of
the fore-end (X) of the heel region to the outside contributing to
the stability of the heel region and the walkableness of the whole
shoes. In general, the inner side of the heel region (2) of the
sole inclines towards the outer side rising 4 mm higher than the
inner side and the 15.degree. inclination of the sole from the rear
end (Y) to the transitive line (X X.sub.2) against the floor
surface resulting rise of the toe portion of the sole beginning
with the transitive line (X X.sub.2) at an angle of 15.degree.
which is close to the 20.degree. angle at which the aged steps out
foot facilitate walking. The whole contour is designed to match the
walking pattern and therefore it facilitates the aged to walk.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of this
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sole of the walking shoe.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a skeletal view of the foot.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the foot describing the shift of
body weight during walking.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] A preferred embodiment of this invention will be described
below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. It consists of walking
shoes for the aged in the shoe body (1) of which the transitive
region (Z) of the sole is defined by a line extending from the
fore-end inner side (X) to the fore-end outer side (X.sub.2)
protruding in the oblique line (XX.sub.1) inward direction at an
angle of 15.degree., and the heel region (2) of the sole extending
from the rear end (Y) of the sole to the transitive line (XX.sub.2)
inclines at an appropriate angle (.alpha.) to the floor surface,
and the toe region (3) of the sole of the shoes body (1) inclines
at an appropriate angle (.beta.) to the floor surface over an area
extending from the oblique line (4) linking the fifth
metatarsophalangeal joint and the first metatarsophalangeal joint
to the tiptoe.
[0017] Incidentally, an appropriate angle (.alpha.) of the heel
region (2) of the sole extending from the terminal end (Y) of the
sole to the transitive line (XX.sub.2) is preferably within a range
of 7.degree.-15.degree.. And the oblique line (4) linking the first
metatarsophalangeal joint and the first metatarsophalangeal joint
is a line protruding in the oblique line outward direction at an
angle of about 13.degree., and an appropriate angle (.beta.) of an
area extending from the oblique line (4) to the tiptoe is
preferably in a range of 7.degree.-15.degree..
* * * * *