U.S. patent application number 12/094602 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-29 for plantar wearable with open shoes.
Invention is credited to Maria Antonietta Fusco.
Application Number | 20090025255 12/094602 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37085757 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090025255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fusco; Maria Antonietta |
January 29, 2009 |
PLANTAR WEARABLE WITH OPEN SHOES
Abstract
An insole (1) for use with open shoes like sandals, clogs and
the like, comprising: a support (2) apt to envelop the sole and the
back of the foot and having an elastic net-like structure apt to
adhere to the latter so as to keep the insole (1) itself in
position; and a plurality of bulges (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) filled with
discrete elastic particles (9), which are integral to the support
(2) and arranged at the portion (20) thereof contacting the sole of
the foot when the insole (1) is worn on.
Inventors: |
Fusco; Maria Antonietta;
(Avellino, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steinfl & Bruno
301 N Lake Ave Ste 810
Pasadena
CA
91101
US
|
Family ID: |
37085757 |
Appl. No.: |
12/094602 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
November 22, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB05/53869 |
371 Date: |
May 21, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/44 ;
36/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/146 20130101;
A43B 17/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/44 ;
36/43 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/38 20060101
A43B013/38 |
Claims
1. An insole for use with open shoes like sandals, clogs and the
like, comprising: a support apt to envelope the foot and having an
elastic structure apt to adhere to the latter so as to keep the
insole itself in position; and at least one elastic bulge, fixed
with said support and arranged at a portion thereof contacting the
sole of the foot when the insole is worn.
2. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said support is
transparent.
3. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said support has a
web-like structure.
4. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said support has one or
more portions apt to fit in between toes.
5. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said support has one or
more portions having a ring-shaped development each apt to envelop
a respective toe.
6. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said support has a
portion apt to adhere to the back of the foot.
7. The insole according to claim 1, wherein said at least one
elastic bulge is a plurality of elastic bulges fixed with said
support and arranged at a portion thereof contacting the sole of
the foot when the insole is worn.
8. The insole according to claim 7, wherein said elastic bulges are
arranged at reflexological zones of the sole of the foot.
9. The insole according to claim 7, wherein said elastic bulges
have a bottom layer and a top layer apt to contact the sole of the
foot, between which a filler material is interposed or may be
interposed.
10. The insole according to claim 9, wherein said bottom layer is
made of rubber.
11. The insole according to claim 9, wherein said top layer is made
of alcantara.
12. The insole according to claim 9, wherein said filler material
is formed by discrete elastic particles.
13. The insole according to claim 12, wherein said particles have
substantially irregular shape.
Description
[0001] The present invention refers to an insole wearable also with
open shoes like sandals, clogs and the like.
[0002] Several kinds of insoles insertable into shoes are known,
aiming for example at improving or correcting a subject's walking
or posture, or at stimulating selected zones of the sole of the
foot for reflexological purposes.
[0003] However, known insoles cannot be worn on with open shoes,
like, e.g., sandals, clogs and the like, and this above all since
they would not be adequately held in the correct position with
respect to the sole of the foot. Moreover, with open shoes the
insole would be visible from the outside and therefore markedly
unaesthetic. Furthermore, in hot weather, when open shoes are
typically worn on, the insole would prove cumbersome and unhygienic
as inducing increased foot perspiration. Also, such a perspiration
could further foster a shifting of the insole with respect to its
correct position.
[0004] Hence, the technical problem set and solved by the present
invention is to provide an insole overcoming the drawbacks
mentioned with reference to the known art.
[0005] Such a problem is solved by an insole according to claim
1.
[0006] Preferred features of the present invention are present in
the dependent claims thereof.
[0007] The present invention provides several relevant advantages.
The main advantage lies in that the insole of the invention can
effectively be worn even with open shoes, with no risk of it
sliding off or anyhow shifting with respect to the sole of the
foot. Moreover, the insole of the invention is not visible from the
outside, or anyhow is much less visible than traditional insoles,
and does not cause increased foot perspiration.
[0008] Other advantages, features and the operation modes of the
present invention will be made apparent in the following detailed
description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of a
non-limiting example. Reference will be made to the figures of the
annexed drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the
insole according to the present invention, when worn on by a user
with (right leg) and without (left leg) an open shoe;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the insole of FIG. 1, always
worn on by a user;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a partially sectional top view of the insole of
FIG. 1; and
[0012] FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of the insole, taken
along line A-A of FIG. 3.
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an insole 1 according to an
embodiment of the invention comprises a support 2 apt to envelop
the foot and having an elastic structure apt to adhere to the
latter to keep the insole 1 itself in position.
[0014] Preferably, the support 2 is transparent, so as to be
basically invisible when the insole 1 is worn. Always according to
a preferred embodiment, the support 2 has a web-like structure made
with an elastic cord. It will be understood that in the figures the
weft of the web-like structure has been depicted purely by way of
example: therefore, such a weft could be much looser or much
thicker than the one shown.
[0015] As it is evident in FIG. 3, the insole 1, in order to
envelop the foot, has a first sole portion 20 apt just to contact
the sole of the foot, and a second arcuate portion 22, apt to
contact the back of the foot.
[0016] Furthermore, in the present embodiment the support 2 has
four portions, each one denoted by 21, apt to fit in between toes
to improve the wearing stability of the insole 1 and therefore
arranged between the sole portion 20 and the arcuate portion
22.
[0017] When the insole is worn, the portions 21 can extend
according to a mainly sagittal development, as in the embodiment
depicted in the figures, or have a front ring-shaped development,
wherein each ring envelops a respective toe.
[0018] The insole 1 further comprises seven elastic bulges, denoted
by 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, respectively, arranged at the sole
portion 20 of the support 2 and fixed with it. Preferably, the
bulges 3-9 are arranged at reflexological zones of the sole of the
foot, as it is shown in the figures.
[0019] As it is known to those skilled in the art, insole
reflexology consists in the stimulation of determined spots of the
sole of the foot, basically corresponding to the muscle insertions
of the so-called intrinsic muscles maintaining the foot arches,
with which it is possible to influence the general physiology of
human body for therapeutic purposes. In particular, a therapeutic
correction of the ascending postural anomalies is possible.
[0020] In general, the bulges 3-9 are apt to perform a
proprioceptive, exteroceptive, pressoceptive and/or reflex
triggering stimulation for correcting musculoskeletal, myofascial
and/or vascular disorders; for this purpose, they are arranged in
correspondence of exteroreceptors, proprioceptors, pressoceptors
and/or any other reflexological point of the sole of the foot. Said
proprioceptors, exteroceptors, pressoceptors and reflexological
points, of superficial, articular and deep type, are basically
located at the muscle insertions of the sole of the foot.
[0021] In particular, as schematically indicated in the figures, a
first bulge may be arranged at the adductor hallucis, a second
bulge at the flexor hallucis brevis, a third bulge at the flexor
digiti minimi brevis pedis, a fourth bulge at the abductor digiti
minimi brevis pedis, a fifth bulge at the supinator wedge, a sixth
bulge at the pronator wedge and a seventh bulge at the abductor
hallucis.
[0022] Of course, variant embodiments could provide bulges arranged
in locations corresponding to any other exteroceptive,
pressoceptive and reflex triggering stimulation of the sole of the
foot, in association or not in association with the seven
proprioceptive points indicated above.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 3A, in the present implementation each
bulge, e.g. that denoted by 3, comprises a first bottom layer 30
and a second top layer 31, of equal shape and dimensions,
overlapped and coupled so as to make a cell.
[0024] The first layer 30, thin and with a thickness of about 1 mm,
is made of an atoxic and substantially nonallergenic rubber
material, having appropriate long-life peculiarities. As rubber
material it is preferred a material of natural origin, and in
particular a Para rubber or an Indian rubber (caoutchouc). Of
course, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that any other
nonallergenic material exhibiting equivalent mechanical properties
may be employed. In particular, there could be employed synthetic
rubbers, e.g. silicone rubbers.
[0025] The second layer 31, it also thin, is made of a material
soft to the touch and suitable for contacting the sole of the foot,
in particular of a type like suede or velvet to the touch. A fabric
of natural origin is preferred, and in particular alcantara. In
addition, variant embodiments may provide the use of a fabric or of
a laminated sheet of material apt to assure foot transpiration and
a sufficient comfortableness of contact. The first layer 30 and the
second layer 31 are fixed therebetween, e.g. glued, at the
periphery of the bulge.
[0026] The perimeter of the cells may be reinforced by respective
linear seams, which can also connect the former to the support
2.
[0027] In the present embodiment, each bulge 3-9 further provides a
filling with discrete elastic particles 10, preferably made of
basically non-allergenic rubber material. For an improved
stimulation effect, preferably said particles 10 are of
substantially irregular shape and have facets and corners.
[0028] The particles 10, which may be manufactured by suitably
dicing the same sheet of Para rubber or of Indian rubber utilized
to make the first layer 30, have each transversal dimensions of
about 1 mm.
[0029] A person skilled in the art will understand that,
alternatively to or in association with said discrete particles 10,
the cells may be filled with any other type of elastic material,
e.g. a gel-type material, being simple to manipulate and insert
into the cells. Each cell may have a closeable opening, to allow
its filling by a cannula or analogous instrument.
[0030] Preferably, the thickness of each resulting bulge 3-9 is of
about 3 mm.
[0031] Hence, it will be understood that the bulges 3-9 have a
generally elastic structure apt to perform said stimulation of the
sole of the foot.
[0032] In particular, the shape, the thickness and the elasticity
of each bulge may be selected so as to attain a correct
reflexotherapeutic stimulation of the proprioceptors,
exteroceptors, pressoceptors and reflexological points in general
of the sole of the foot. In particular, such parameters of the
bulges 3-9 are selected on the basis of therapeutic indications
referring to the patient who should wear on the insole 1.
[0033] The insole 1 according to the present invention may be
manufactured in different sizes. The cells may remain empty until,
on the basis of medical prescriptions, being filled with an
adequate quantity of elastic particles 9.
[0034] The insole thus manufactured is capable of providing to the
patient an optimal reflexotherapeutic stimulation. Such a
stimulation can be kept unaltered for a long time, lasting even
longer than one year.
[0035] Moreover, the insole is not particularly prone to wear and
is always comfortable to wear on. In addition, it is washable and
of easy use and maintenance.
[0036] The non-allergenicity and the non-toxicity of the insole are
assured by its constituent materials.
[0037] By now, it will have been understood that the insole of the
invention is susceptible of being employed with open shoes such as
sandals, clogs and the like, as shown for the right foot depicted
in FIG. 1.
[0038] Of course, the insole is susceptible of several embodiments
alternative to that described hereto. E.g., it may even have a
single bulge. Moreover, the bulges may be directly made as a
continuous extension of the support, which optionally may be
locally thickened to receive the filler material, instead of having
the double-layer structure described above.
[0039] The present invention has hereto been described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that
there could be other embodiments referable to the same inventive
concept, all however falling within the protective scope of the
claims set forth hereinafter.
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