U.S. patent application number 12/882326 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-17 for flexible insole for closed shoes.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAFAG-REFLEXA AG. Invention is credited to Samantha EVERZ-VAZ.
Application Number | 20110061263 12/882326 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43533764 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110061263 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
EVERZ-VAZ; Samantha |
March 17, 2011 |
FLEXIBLE INSOLE FOR CLOSED SHOES
Abstract
An insole or insertable sole (1), which encompasses at least one
base insole layer (2), as well as an upper sole (13) attached
thereabove is proposed. Preferably, provision is made between the
upper sole (13) and the base insole layer (2) for a massage layer
(10). According to the invention, the base insole layer (2) has a
first functional zone (20), which in particular serves the purpose
of shock absorption and a second functional zone (30), which serves
the purpose of ventilation. Different measures are proposed for
promoting the air circulation from the second functional zone to
the foot through the different layers.
Inventors: |
EVERZ-VAZ; Samantha;
(Zurich, CH) |
Assignee: |
MAFAG-REFLEXA AG
Kloten
DE
|
Family ID: |
43533764 |
Appl. No.: |
12/882326 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/149 20130101;
A43B 17/08 20130101; A43B 7/146 20130101; A43B 17/02 20130101; A43B
17/102 20130101; A43B 17/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/44 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/38 20060101
A43B013/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 16, 2009 |
CH |
01429/09 |
Claims
1. A flexible insole or insertable sole (1) comprising a one-piece
base insole layer (2) and an upper sole (13) made of breathable
material, which is directly or indirectly laminated thereabove,
wherein the one-piece base insole layer (2) has an inner surface
(4) facing the foot and an outer surface (3) facing away from the
foot and the base insole layer (2) protrudes on one side (5, 6),
wherein the base insole layer (2), made of shock-absorbing
synthetic material on the outer surface (3), is divided into two
functionally different zones (20, 30) comprising protrusions having
the same height all-around, wherein large-surface frustoconical
protrusions (5) form a first shock-absorbing zone (20) in the heel
area and the remaining area is designed as second ventilation zone
(30), wherein the protrusions (6) here encompass a similar basic
design, but the upper cover surface of the frustoconical
protrusions (5) in the shock-absorbing zone are between 4 to 10
times greater than the cover surfaces of the protrusions (6) in the
ventilation zone (30), wherein perforations (7) are arranged
between the protrusions in the ventilation zone (30).
2. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 1, wherein
the protrusions (5, 6) are attached to the outer surface (3) of the
base insole layer (2) and a massage layer (10), which is made of
foamed material and which is provided with individual elevations
(11) in the area of foot reflex massage zones is attached to the
inner surface (4) and the upper sole (13) is attached
thereabove.
3. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 2, wherein
the massage layer (10) on the inner surface (4) of the base insole
layer (2) is only adhered along a strip (14) of the outer
contour.
4. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 1, wherein
all of the protrusions (5, 6) encompass rectangular surface areas,
the longitudinal edges of which run at right angles to the
longitudinal direction of the base insole layer (2) in both zones
and the protrusions (5, 6) are arranged in rows at right angles to
the longitudinal direction.
5. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 4, wherein
the protrusions (5) in the heel area are arranged such that the
longitudinal edges and the transverse edges of the surface areas of
adjacent protrusions coincide.
6. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 4, wherein
the protrusions (6) in the ventilation zone (30) are arranged such
that the surface areas of the protrusions (6) of two adjacent rows
are spaced apart by at least approximately the width of these
protrusions.
7. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 4, wherein
the protrusions (6) in the ventilation area (30) are in each case
arranged in two adjacent rows so as to be offset by half the
length.
8. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 4, wherein
the protrusions (6) in the ventilation zone (30) decrease
continuously in height from the boundary to the shock-absorbing
zone towards the toes.
9. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 2, wherein
the massage layer (10) is made of latex.
10. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 9, wherein
the massage layer (10) is made of open-pored latex.
11. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 1, wherein
the upper sole (13) is made of leather.
12. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 1, wherein
the upper sole (13) is made of textile material.
13. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 1, wherein
the base insole layer (2) is punched or cut from a plate
material.
14. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 1, wherein
a massage layer (10) made of synthetic material, which is provided
with low protrusions (18) in the foot reflex zone area and the
protrusion-free zones are covered with an upper sole (13), which is
sewn (19) to the base insole layer (2), is attached to the inner
surface (4) of the base insole layer (2).
15. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 14,
wherein the massage layer (10) is sewn (19) to the base insole
layer (2).
16. The insole or insertable sole (1) according to claim 2, wherein
the massage layer (10) is sewn (19) to the base insole layer (2).
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
to Swiss Patent Application No. CH-01429/09 filed Sep. 16, 2009,
the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The instant invention relates to a flexible insole or
insertable sole, respectively, for closed shoes comprising a
one-piece base insole layer and an upper sole made of breathable
material, which is directly or indirectly laminated thereabove,
wherein the one-piece base insole layer has an inner surface facing
the foot and an outer surface facing away from the foot and the
base insole layer has protrusions on one side.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In recent years, more and more shoes have been offered on
the market, which are described as being breathable. In particular,
these shoes are also described as vented shoes. Traditionally, the
ventilation typically takes place to a very small degree by means
of the upper leather and to a larger degree by means of the
absorption of the sweat by the socks, via which the sweat can also
be transported to the outside and can evaporate there. The removal
of the air, which is enriched with sweat, takes place by means of
the outsole only in the minority of cases, with said outsole being
provided in this case with corresponding ventilation openings and
wherein a semi-permeable membrane is attached to the outsole.
[0004] However, such shoes, which are described as vented shoes,
are frequently provided with insoles or insertable soles,
respectively, which are provided with a certain perforation, which
is to suggest the appearance of the ventilation. In reality, an
insole or insertable sole, respectively, is designed in multiple
layers and the individual layers are holohedrally adhered or
laminated to one another, respectively. In the case of such a
holohedral adhesion, a good portion of the perforations clogs and
accordingly the ventilation is extremely poor.
[0005] The actual outsoles of the shoes are to be robust and
abrasion-resistant, which is at the same time virtually synonymous
with the sole being relatively hard. However, for the walking
comfort, the soles of the shoes should absorb at least a portion of
the shocks occurring in response to each step. Correspondingly,
diverse outsoles are also known, which have an intermediate layer
made of shock-absorbing material at least in the heel area. It is
not known to us to solve this problem via the insole or insertable
sole, respectively. According to our knowledge, virtually all
flexible insoles or insertable soles, respectively, are provided
with a base insole layer, which serves a sole function. However,
the requirements of a sole for different functions are actually
concentrate on two main areas, namely in the heel area on the one
hand, where the perspiration is relatively low and in a front area,
in which the shock-absorbing function is low, but the perspiration
is instead considerable.
[0006] For example, an insole for a shoe comprising a base insole
layer, which encompasses protrusions extending upwards from the
outer surface towards the inner surface, all of which protrusions
are hollow and encompass ventilation openings on the apex of the
protrusions, is known from WO 02/11570, for example. Depending on
the exemplary embodiment, the protrusions are designed so as to
either have the same height across the entire surface or are
designed so as to have different heights, wherein the different
heights of the protrusions lead to a footbed-like structure of the
insole. The function of the sole is the same across the entire
surface. Even though it is explained in the document that the
protrusions also have a shock-absorbing effect, because the
protrusions are elastic, the effect created thereby is extremely
counter-productive, because air, which is enriched with sweat and
which is close to the saturation limit is located in the cavities
of the hollow protrusions, a condensation of the sweat takes place
in response to each step and this wetness is also sucked upwards
through the pores again in response to virtually each step. This
interaction was identified. Accordingly, DE202004008508U proposes
to design such a base insole layer comprising protrusions such that
the protrusions are alternately attached to the inner surface and
to the outer surface. It is also proposed herein to vary the height
of the protrusions across the sole.
[0007] The applicant, who specialized in particular on the
development and sale of insoles or insertable soles, respectively,
comprising foot reflex zone massage elevations, has in particular
also determined that the application of such a massage layer above
the base insole layer again complicates the problem, because this
further counteracts the ventilation and, secondly, because the
design of hollow protrusions, the height of which is chosen such
that they have a sufficient shock-absorbing effect, as a whole
becomes too thick for an insertable sole.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,441 clearly discloses this mentioned
problem. Protrusions in the form of nibs comprising rounded ends
and rounded cross section are attached herein to the inner surface
of the side facing the foot, with said nibs encompassing different
heights and thicknesses and thus forming a footbed. An alternative
also provides for all of these protrusions, which are also again
arranged on the inner surface again, to be designed with the same
heights. As in the case of the invention, this latter version can
then also bear on an outsole comprising an orthopedic footbed
design.
[0009] While the first alternative has the described problems, the
second version has the disadvantage that the foot virtually covers
the ventilation and this ventilation is ineffective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is consequently the complex object of the instant
invention to design a flexible insole or insertable sole,
respectively, of the afore-mentioned type such that the
afore-mentioned problems are overcome or at least reduced
considerably.
[0011] This object is solved by means of a flexible insole or
insertable sole, respectively, according to the preamble of patent
claim 1, wherein the base insole layer made of shock-absorbing
synthetic material is divided into two functionally different
zones, wherein large-surface frustoconical protrusions form a
shock-absorbing zone in the heel area and the remaining area is
designed as ventilation zone, wherein the protrusions here
encompass a similar basic design, but the upper cover surface of
the frustoconical protrusions in the shock-absorbing zone are
between 4 to 10 times greater than the cover surfaces of the
protrusions in the ventilation zone, wherein the protrusions in the
ventilation zone are spaced apart and ventilation holes are
arranged herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Further advantageous embodiments of the object of the
invention as claimed in the dependent patent claims are defined in
the subsequent description with reference to the attached
drawings.
[0013] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the object of the
invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be described
below:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a view onto an insertable sole or insole with
view onto the upper sole;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows such an insertable sole or insole with view
onto the outer surface of the base insole;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows such an insertable insole or insole according
to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a side view; while
[0017] FIG. 4 explains the adhesion between the base insole layer
and the massage layer.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows an alternative of the sole according to the
invention in the case of which the base insole layer is designed so
as to be consistent, while the massage layer is designed
differently and the connection between the different layers takes
place by means of sewing.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows the sole according to FIG. 5 with view onto the
massage layer.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] On principle, the insole or insertable sole as a whole is
identified with 1. It always has a base insole layer 2. This base
insole layer 2 has an outer surface 3 and an inner surface 4. The
side facing away from the foot is identified as outer surface 3,
while the side facing the foot is identified as inner surface.
Preferably, the outer surface 3, thus the side facing away from the
foot, is provided with protrusions, while the side facing the foot,
thus the inner surface 4, is designed as planar surface. All of the
protrusions have a surface area in the form of elongate rectangles.
All of the longitudinal edges of these surface areas run parallel
to one another and at right angles to the longitudinal foot
direction. It can clearly be seen that the protrusions nonetheless
form different structures and thus form two different functional
zones. A first functional zone 20 serves the purpose of shock
absorption and is identified with 20, while a second functional
zone serves the purpose of ventilation and is identified with 30.
The first functional zone 20 is located in the heel area, while the
second functional zone 30 covers the rest of the sole. The
protrusions in the first functional zone for the shock absorption
are identified with 5, those in the second functional zone for the
ventilation are identified with 6. In the basic design, the
protrusions are the same in that they always form the shape of
rectangular truncated cones.
[0021] The protrusions 5 of the first functional zone 20 are
considerably larger than the protrusions 6 in the second functional
zone. As already mentioned, the protrusions in the first functional
zone 20 serve the purpose of shock absorption. The surface area of
the frustoconical protrusions in the functional zone 20 has a side
ratio of approximately 2 to 3. The cover surface of these
protrusions in the first functional zone has a side ratio of
approximately 1 to 2. The protrusions 5 in the functional zone,
which is to be described herein, for the shock absorption are
arranged such that the surface areas of adjacent protrusions touch
on the longitudinal edge as well as on the wide edge. Consequently,
they are arranged close together. In a preferred exemplary
embodiment, the lengths of the surface areas of the protrusions are
15 millimeters and those of the wide edge are 10 millimeters.
Contrary thereto, the lengths of the surface areas in this example
are approximately 10 millimeters and the wide edges are 5
millimeters. In response to the shock absorption, the protrusions
change their shape, wherein they simultaneously at least
approximately maintain the volume. In more specific terms, this
means that the protrusions change slightly in height, wherein the
inclined side surfaces of the truncated cones simultaneously bulge
outwardly in a rounded manner. The vibrations created in response
to a step are thereby absorbed in the material to a large extent.
All of the protrusions are filled fully and are not permeable to
air. The entire heel area, thus the area of the first functional
zone 20, is also free from perforations. This also makes sense,
because according to experience, the perspiration in the heel area
is low.
[0022] As already mentioned, the protrusions 6 in the second
functional area 30 are designed so as to be much smaller. Contrary
to the protrusions in the functional zone 20 for the shock
absorption, these protrusions only have to absorb small impact
forces and cause a small vibration absorption. These protrusions
are thus arranged relatively far from one another so as to provide
a relatively large air volume, so as to prevent a saturation of
this air with sweat steam as for as possible. This is attained in
that the protrusions, which run in rows like the afore-described
protrusions 5, are arranged herein, however, so as to be distances
on the outer surface 3. In other words, the longitudinal edges and
the wide edges of adjacent protrusions do not touch. The
protrusions herein have a cover surface, the longitudinal edges of
which also have a longitudinal ratio of 2 to 1 to the width. In
more specific terms, the cover surfaces have a length of
approximately 4 millimeters and a width of 2 millimeters. In the
surface area of the truncated cones, the lengths of the
longitudinal edges are 5 millimeters and the length of the width is
3 millimeters. Upon consequently comparing the cover surfaces of
the protrusions in the first zone to the cover surfaces of the
protrusions in the second zone, they have an area ratio of
approximately 1 to 6. In more specific terms, this ratio is
preferably approximately in the magnitude of 1 to 4 to 1 to 10.
[0023] The longitudinal edges of adjacent protrusions 6 in the
second functional area are spaced apart from one another by
approximately the width of the cover surface of these protrusions.
In more specific terms, this distance will preferably be between 1
to 4 millimeters. A planar area of the outer surface 3 of the base
insole layer 2 is thus located between the rows of protrusions. The
sense of the spacing and of the arrangement of the protrusions in
rows does not only lie in attaining the largest possible air volume
underneath the outer surface 3 of the base insole layer 2, but also
to facilitate the unrolling motion of the foot through this.
[0024] The protrusions in the second functional zone 2 are
furthermore also arranged such that the protrusions of one row are
offset to one another relative to the protrusions of the adjacent
row by approximately half the protrusion length including the space
between two adjacent protrusions of the same row. This offset has
the effect that the sole has a sufficient stiffness at right angles
to the longitudinal direction, because a tilting moment at right
angles to the longitudinal direction is not desired.
[0025] Accordingly, perforations 7 are also attached in this second
functional zone 30, which serves the purpose of ventilation. These
perforations 7 are distributed evenly. They are in each case
located between two adjacent rows, namely such that they are
arranged between two adjacent protrusions in the one row and
approximately in the center relative to the longitudinal edge of
that protrusion in the row located in front of it.
[0026] A massage layer 10 is attached above the base insole layer 2
according to the invention. This massage layer 10 is illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4. Advantageously, the massage layer 10 consists of a
latex comprising fine, open pores. Such a layer is breathable. The
massage layer 10 has elevations 11, which are arranged across the
entire insole or insertable sole, as is illustrated in FIG. 1,
according to the teaching of reflex zone massage. The distribution
of the elevations according to FIG. 1 forms the distribution, which
is effective for a general well-being. So that the air can reach
from the area above the insole or insertable sole into the area of
the second functional zone 30, it is necessary to not holohedrally
adhere the massage layer to the base insole layer 2. FIG. 4 shows a
preferred manner of adhesion. Here, the massage layer 10 is
provided with adhesive only along the edge on one side in the edge
area 14. This area is identified with 14. In the heel area,
however, the adhesive area 15 can be holohedral, because this
surface corresponds to the first functional zone 20, in which
air-permeable perforations are not necessary. Due to the fact that
the inner surface 4 of the base insole layer 2 is planar, an
adhesion only along the edge is a reliable adhesion, which is
holohedral and not only punctiform, as is the case in the case of
known base insole layers according to the state of the art.
Finally, an upper sole 13 is also attached above the breathable
massage layer 10. The upper sole 13 can be provided with a power
point coating on the adhesive side, so that the sole is evenly
connected to the massage layer 10. However, it is also possible
here to adhere the upper solve 13 to the massage layer only along
the edge. A further, likewise preferred solution can be that all
layers are sewn to one another at least along the edge. Tests in
which a seam was additionally attached through all three layers,
also around the elevation 11, led to particularly preferred
results.
[0027] Instead of with elevations according to the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the massage layer 10 can be realized
with slightly elevated massage protrusions, which only cause a
slight stimulation of the sole of the foot. According to
examinations, such protrusions cause a stimulation of the digestive
tract and are to thus cause a weight loss. Such a solution is
illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the case of these solutions, the
upper sole 13 has recesses 16, which run around the protruding
areas 17, so as to leave open the massage protrusions 18
accordingly. It can also be seen clearly here that the upper sole
13, the massage layer 10 and the base insole layer 2 are connected
to one another by means of seams 19. On the one hand, these seams
19 run along the entire sole contour and, on the other hand along
the contour of the differently protruding areas 17 on the edges of
the recess 16.
[0028] Finally, reference is also made to the different preferred
materials. As already mentioned, the upper sole is preferably made
of leather or textile material. These materials are not only
breathable but also absorb moisture. Through this, the wetness is
absorbed by the skin and evaporates while being conveyed through
the breathable layers into the functional zone for the ventilation.
Accordingly, the upper sole 13 can also additionally be provided
with perforations. These perforations are not mandatory in the case
of the material selection preferred herein and are only attached in
the front foot area, as it is shown in FIG. 1.
[0029] Preferably, the massage layer is made of latex. Other
elastomers, for example synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber or
block copolymers as well as thermoplastics are a possibility,
wherein antibacterial additives are preferably added to these
materials. In the event that the massage layer 10 is realized in
the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6, is thus provided with
protrusions, the latex versions, which are not particularly
abrasion-resistant, are hardly a possibility.
[0030] In particular, elastomers in the form of thermoplastics and
block copolymers are a possibility for the base insole layer 2. The
materials specified herein are only examples, wherein the person of
skill in the art in the field of the production of soles can vary
the material selection according to his own experiences.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0031] 1 insole or insertable sole [0032] 2 base insole layer
[0033] 3 outer surface side facing away from the foot [0034] 4
inner surface side facing towards the foot [0035] 20 functional
zone for shock absorption [0036] 30 functional zone for ventilation
[0037] 5 protrusions in first functional zone [0038] 6 protrusions
in second functional zone [0039] 7 perforations [0040] 10 massage
layer [0041] 11 elevations [0042] 12 perforations [0043] 13 upper
sole [0044] 14 adhesive area massage sole layer on base insole
layer edge [0045] 15 heel adhesive area [0046] 16 recesses [0047]
17 protruding area [0048] 18 massage protrusions [0049] 19 seam
* * * * *