U.S. patent application number 11/697680 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for inner sole.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kyomi Takano. Invention is credited to Nobuyoshi Morita, Junichi Takano.
Application Number | 20080028638 11/697680 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36148301 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080028638 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morita; Nobuyoshi ; et
al. |
February 7, 2008 |
INNER SOLE
Abstract
An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe can have a body
made of flexible material and formed therein with a liquid
containing space for sealingly and flowably containing liquid
therein. The inner sole can include dam portions for dividing the
liquid containing space into a toe region, a heel region and a
middle region therebetween, and orifices for communicating the
liquid between mutually adjacent regions at a predetermined flowing
rate.
Inventors: |
Morita; Nobuyoshi;
(Shizuoka-ken, JP) ; Takano; Junichi;
(Kanagawa-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Assignee: |
Takano; Kyomi
Kanagawa
JP
2220024
Hamamatsu Foundation for Science and Technology
Promotion
Shizuoka
JP
4328561
|
Family ID: |
36148301 |
Appl. No.: |
11/697680 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/44 ;
36/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/142 20130101;
A43B 7/144 20130101; A43B 17/026 20130101; A43B 7/145 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/044 ;
036/043 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/38 20060101
A43B013/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 8, 2004 |
JP |
2004-295860 |
Oct 6, 2005 |
JP |
PCT/JP2005/018533 |
Claims
1. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe having a body
made of flexible material and formed therein with a liquid
containing space for sealingly and flowably containing liquid
therein, wherein the inner sole comprises dam portions dividing the
liquid containing space into a toe region, a heel region and a
middle region therebetween, and orifices for communicating the
liquid between mutually adjacent regions at a predetermined flowing
rate.
2. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 1
wherein each of the dam portions is formed with a convex
configuration toward the toe region from the heel region.
3. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 1
further comprising a second dam portion for additionally dividing
the toe region into a forward toe region and a rearward toe region,
and an orifice formed in the second dam portion.
4. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 2
further comprising a second dam portion for additionally dividing
the toe region into a forward toe region and a rearward toe region,
and an orifice formed in the second dam portion.
5. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 1
further comprising a spread portion laterally extended from the
middle region to a position corresponding to a shank portion of the
shoe on which the inner sole is laid, a third dam portion
partitioning the spread portion from the middle region, and
orifices arranged at either ends of the third dam portion.
6. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 2
further comprising a spread portion laterally extended from the
middle region to a position corresponding to a shank portion of the
shoe on which the inner sole is laid, a third dam portion
partitioning the spread portion from the middle region, and
orifices arranged at either ends of the third dam portion.
7. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 3
further comprising a spread portion laterally extended from the
middle region to a position corresponding to a shank portion of the
shoe on which the inner sole is laid, a third dam portion
partitioning the spread portion from the middle region, and
orifices arranged at either ends of the third dam portion.
8. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 4
further comprising a spread portion laterally extended from the
middle region to a position corresponding to a shank portion of the
shoe on which the inner sole is laid, a third dam portion
partitioning the spread portion from the middle region, and
orifices arranged at either ends of the third dam portion.
9. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 1
wherein the liquid is water (W).
10. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 2
wherein the liquid is water (W).
11. An inner sole to be laid on an insole of a shoe of claim 3
wherein the liquid is water (W).
12. An inner sole for a shoe, comprising a body made of flexible
material, the body including a liquid containing space and a liquid
disposed in the liquid containing space, the inner sole further
comprising a toe dam portion and a heel dam portion dividing the
liquid containing space into at least a toe region, a heel region
and a middle region therebetween, the toe dam portion and the heel
dam portion being configured to allow the liquid in the liquid
containing space to flow through the toe and heel dam portions at
predetermined flow rates.
13. The inner sole according to claim 12, wherein the heel dam
portion is configured to allow the liquid to flow through the heel
dam portion at a first flow rate in a direction from the heel
region toward to the middle region and at a second flow rate in a
direction from the middle region toward the heel region, the second
flow rate being larger than the first flow rate.
14. The inner sole according to claim 13, wherein the heel dam
portion is convex in a direction toward the middle region.
15. The inner sole according to claim 12, wherein the toe dam
portion is configured to allow the liquid to flow through the toe
dam portion at a first flow rate in a direction from the middle
region toward to the toe region and at a second flow rate in a
direction from the toe region toward the middle region, the second
flow rate being larger than the first flow rate.
16. The inner sole according to claim 15, wherein the toe dam
portion is convex in a direction toward the toe region.
17. The inner sole according to claim 12, wherein both the toe and
heel dam portions are configured to allow the liquid in the liquid
containing space to flow through the toe and heel dam portions
faster in a first direction than in a second direction opposite the
first direction.
18. An inner sole for a shoe, comprising a body made of flexible
material, the body including a liquid containing space and a liquid
disposed in the liquid containing space, the inner sole further
comprising a toe dam portion and a heel dam portion dividing the
liquid containing space into at least a toe region, a heel region
and a middle region therebetween, the toe dam portion and the heel
dam including means for controlling flow rate of the liquid through
the toe and heel dam portions.
19. The inner sole according to claim 18, wherein the means for
controlling includes means for causing a flow rate in a direction
extending from the toe region toward the heel region to be
different from a flow rate in a direction from the heel region
toward the toe region.
20. The inner sole according to claim 18, wherein the means for
causing includes means for making a flow rate in a direction
extending from the toe region toward the heel region to be higher
than a flow rate in a direction from the heel region toward the toe
region.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of PCT Application No.
PCT/JP2005/018533, filed Oct. 6, 2005, which claims priority to
Japanese Application No. 2004-295860, filed Oct. 8, 2004, the
entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
[0002] 1. Field of the Inventions
[0003] The present inventions relate to an inner sole of a
shoe.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] There are known designs of inner soles for shows which are
to be laid on an insole of the shoe in order to absorb shock
applied to the sole of a foot of a walker or wearer of the inner
sole (see e.g. Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.
197504/2000). The inner sole of JP Publication No. 197504/2000 is
made of a flexible material and has a space in which liquid is
flowably contained in a sealed manner so as to have a massaging
effect in addition to the shock absorbing effect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS
[0006] However since the inner sole of JP Publication No.
197504/2000 has only one liquid containing space continuous over
its whole region, it is difficult to cause an ideal movement of
liquid during walking and thus it is impossible to provide
sufficient effects of shock absorption and massage to the sole of a
foot of a walker. An aspect of at least one of the inventions
disclosed herein includes the realization that by controlling the
flow rate of a liquid between multiple chambers of an insole, the
shock absorbing effect and massaging effect to the sole of a foot
of a walker can be improved.
[0007] Thus, in accordance with an embodiment, an inner sole to be
laid on an insole of a shoe can have a body made of flexible
material and formed therein with a liquid containing space for
sealingly and flowably containing liquid therein. The inner sole
can comprise dam portions dividing the liquid containing space into
a toe region, a heel region and a middle region therebetween.
Additionally, the inner sole can comprise orifices for
communicating the liquid between mutually adjacent regions at a
predetermined flowing rate.
[0008] In accordance with another embodiment, an inner sole for a
shoe can comprise a body made of flexible material. The body can
include a liquid containing space and a liquid disposed in the
liquid containing space. The inner sole can further comprise a toe
dam portion and a heel dam portion dividing the liquid containing
space into at least a toe region, a heel region and a middle region
therebetween. The toe dam portion and the heel dam portion can be
configured to allow the liquid in the liquid containing space to
flow through the toe and heel dam portions at predetermined flow
rates.
[0009] In accordance with yet another embodiment, an inner sole for
a shoe can comprise a body made of flexible material. The body can
include a liquid containing space and a liquid disposed in the
liquid containing space. The inner sole can further comprise a toe
dam portion and a heel dam portion dividing the liquid containing
space into at least a toe region, a heel region and a middle region
therebetween. The toe dam portion and the heel dam can include
means for controlling flow rate of the liquid through the toe and
heel dam portions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Additional advantages and features of the present inventions
will become apparent from the subsequent description and the
appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the inner sole according to an
embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II of
FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a method of experiment
that can be used to understand effects obtained by an inner sole,
such as the inner sole of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an inner sole that can be used
as a comparative example to the inner sole of FIGS. 1 and 2,
described below as "Comparative Example 1", using the method of
FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a pressure distribution obtained
in the method of FIG. 3, using an inner sole in accordance with the
embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a graph showing a pressure distribution obtained
in the method of FIG. 3, using the Comparative Example 1 inner
sole; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a graph showing a pressure distribution obtained
in the method of FIG. 3, using another comparative example,
described below as "Comparative Example 2".
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Embodiments of the present inventions are be described with
reference to accompanying drawings.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of an inner sole to
be laid on an insole can comprise a body of the inner sole
including an upper inner sole member 1a and a lower inner sole
member 1b which can be adhered and sealed in a liquid tight manner
for containing therein liquid such as water W, or any other liquid.
The inner sole can also include dam portions 2 and 3, a second dam
portion 4, and a third dam portion 5.
[0020] Each of the upper and lower inner sole members 1a and 1b can
have an overall shape or configuration substantially same as that
of an insole of a shoe on which they are laid. The sole members can
be made of two flexible members (e.g. elastic synthetic resin
etc.). The upper and lower inner sole members 1a and 1b can be, for
example, heat sealed to each other at their edges so that a liquid
containing space for containing liquid such as water W is formed
between them. Material for forming the upper and lower inner sole
members 1a and 1b can be any one selected from various plastics or
synthetic resins so long as it has a durability and flexibility
suitable for the inner sole.
[0021] The dam portions 2 and 3 can be formed by heat welding the
upper and lower inner sole members 1a and 1b. However, any other
technique can also be sued.
[0022] The arrangement of the various dam portions can be
configured to divide the liquid containing space into a toe region
A, a heel region C and a middle region B therebetween. However,
other regions can also be used.
[0023] For example, the dam portions 2 and 3 can be arranged so
that they form the toe region A corresponding to a toe region of a
shoe on which insole the inner sole is laid, the heel region B
corresponding to a heel region of the shoe, and the middle region B
between the toe and heel regions of the shoe. Optionally, these
regions A, B, C, can also be further subdivided, as described below
in greater detail.
[0024] Opposite ends of the upper and lower inner sole members 1a
and 1b can be arranged so that they are separated a predetermined
distance from the heat sealed edges of the upper and lower inner
sole members 1a and 1b. As such, these separated portions can form
orifices, such as orifices R1 and R2 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] The dimension of each orifices R1 and R2 can be set so that
the liquid contained in the inner sole can flow at a predetermined
flow rate between two adjacent regions divided by the dam portions
2 and 3. Accordingly, when a load is applied to the heel region C,
liquid contained in the heal region C can flow into the middle
region B and then into the toe region A through the orifices R2 and
R1 respectively. Similarly, when a load is applied to the toe
region A, liquid contained in the toe region A can flow into the
middle region B and then into the heel region C through the
orifices R1 and R2 respectively.
[0026] Provision of the toe region A, middle region B and heel
region C as well as the orifices R1 and R2 allows the liquid (e.g.
water) to flow from the heel region C into the middle region B or
from the toe region A into the middle region B responding to a
timing of walk during walking of a walker or wearer of the inner
sole and thus makes it possible to improve the massaging effect to
the sole of a foot of a walker.
[0027] Each of the dam portions 2 and 3 can optionally be formed as
having an arc configuration, being convex toward the toe region A
from the heel region C. Such a configuration can be used to make
the flow rate when the heel of a shoe equipped with the inner sole
contacts a ground (i.e. when the liquid flows from the heel region
C to the toe region A through the middle region B) slower than that
when the toe of a shoe equipped with the inner sole contacts a
ground (i.e. when the liquid flows from the toe region A to the
heel region C through the middle region B). However, other
configurations can also be used to achieve this effect.
[0028] When the load is applied from the toe of the walker to the
toe region A, the flow rate of liquid or water to the middle region
B through the orifices R1 and that of liquid to the heel region C
through the orifices R2 can be accelerated and the liquid in the
toe region A can be rapidly expelled therefrom by the convex
configuration of the dam portions 2 and 3 (i.e. the convex
configuration toward the toe region A). Thus rearward kicking of
the shoe against a ground (e.g., when the toe portion of an
associated shoes strikes the ground during the latter portion of a
running stride, and as the heel is lifted from the ground) as well
as excellent wearing fitness can be obtained and the liquid can be
rapidly returned to its initial condition by next contact of the
heel against a ground. Although it is illustrated in FIG. 1 that
the configuration of each dam portions 2 and 3 is arc of convex
toward the toe region A, any configuration other than arc can be
used if it is convex toward the toe region A.
[0029] A second dam portion 4 can be added in the toe region A by
any technique, including heat welding the upper and lower inner
sole members 1a and 1b to divide the toe region A into fore and aft
two portions i.e. a first toe region Aa and a second toe region Ab.
The second dam portion 4 can extend over full width of the toe
region A to limit liquid flow between the first and second toe
regions Aa and Ab. Additionally, an orifice R3 can be provided for
allowing partial liquid flow therebetween.
[0030] The provision of the orifice R3 enables to further finely
control the liquid flow in the toe region A especially in rearward
kicking of the shoe against a ground. For example, when a load is
applied to the first toe region Aa from the sole of a foot of a
walker during his walking, since the liquid within the first toe
region Aa flows not only into the middle region B but into the
second toe region Ab, the elasticity caused by the liquid can be
better controlled.
[0031] In addition, the middle portion B can be formed with a
spread portion Ba at a position corresponding to a shank portion of
a shoe on which the inner sole is laid. Since the inner sole shown
in FIG. 1 is for a right hand foot, the spread portion Ba is shown
arranged at a left hand side of the inner sole. However, it is of
course that the spread portion Ba is arranged at a right hand side
of a inner sole for a left foot configuration. Similarly to the
other regions, the spread portion Ba can also form a part of the
liquid containing space.
[0032] A third dam portion 5 can be arranged between the spread
portion Ba and the middle region B by any technique, including heat
welding the upper and lower inner sole members 1a and 1b similarly
to the dam portions 2 and 3 and the second dam portion 4 and
orifices R4 are formed between the spread portion Ba and the middle
region B to control the liquid flow. The spread portion Ba can also
effectively apply massaging effect to the sole of a foot of a
walker. The spread portion Ba has a generally vertically bulged
configuration along a configuration of the arch of a foot of a
walker.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the third dam portion 5 can be formed as
having an arc configuration, convex toward the middle region B from
the spread portion Ba. This shape can make the flow rate from the
spread portion Ba to the middle region B slower than that from the
middle region B to the spread portion Ba. This makes it possible to
improve the massaging effect to the arch of a foot of a walker.
However, other configurations can also be used to provide this
effect.
[0034] Then an experiment for proving the effects of the
embodiments of the inner sole is described below.
[0035] In an experiment, with reference to FIG. 3, a sheet member
"a" of hard synthetic resin is laid on a floor. Then an inner sole
"b" submitted for the experiment (omitted in case of experiment as
to bare foot), a thin leather member "c" and a sensor sheet "d" are
laid on successively. A sample "Embodiment" is an inner sole shown
in FIG. 1, a sample "Comparative Example 1" is an inner sole shown
in FIG. 4, and a sample "Comparative Example 2" is a condition in
which no inner sole is used and only the sensor sheet "d" is laid
on the thin leather member "c".
[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, the "Comparative Example 1" is formed so
that it comprises a space S for containing water W therein and a
plurality of linear projections Sa which do not partition the space
S (accordingly, the space S is kept in a communicated condition).
The experiment was carried out as to the samples identified as
"Embodiment", "Comparative Example 1" and "Comparative Example 2"
by measuring the pressure distribution with laying feet on the
sensor sheet "d". Results of the experiment are shown in FIGS. 5, 6
and 7 as to the samples "Embodiment", "Comparative Example 1" and
"Comparative Example 2" respectively.
[0037] As illustrated in FIGS. 5.about.7, the sample "Embodiment"
can distribute the pressure applied to the sole of a foot more
evenly than those of the samples "Comparative Example 1" and
"Comparative Example 2". This more even pressure distribution is
found even in the arch of a foot. Accordingly this proves that the
embodiments of the inner sole described above can have excellent
shock absorbing effect as well as massaging effect as compared with
the "Comparative Example 1" and "comparative Example 2".
[0038] The present inventions have been described with reference to
certain embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alternations will
occur to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and
understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended
that the present inventions be construed as including all such
alternations and modifications. For example, the positioning and
configuration of the dam portions and the orifices can be modified
and alternated. However, other modifications are also possible.
[0039] In addition, it is possible to contain within the inner sole
any liquid other than water (e.g. oil having a predetermined
viscosity may be used). Using water reduces the manufacturing cost
of the inner sole. Furthermore, it is possible to somewhat extend a
marginal portion beyond the toe region A so that it can be cut off
e.g. by scissors to be corresponded to a size of a shoes on which
the inner sole is laid.
[0040] Furthermore, the second toe region Ab may be flattened by
heat welding its whole region and the third dam portion 5 may be
omitted.
[0041] The present inventions can also be applied to other inner
soles having different configurations or additional functions as
far as it has dam portions for dividing the inner sole into the toe
region, middle region and heel region as well as orifices for
controlling the flow rate passing therethrough.
* * * * *