AU2005338575A1

AU2005338575A1 - Plantar wearable with open shoes

Info

Publication number: AU2005338575A1
Application number: AU2005338575A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Maria Antonietta Fusco
Original assignee: NEUROREFLEX Ltd
Current assignee: NEUROREFLEX Ltd
Priority date: 2005-11-22
Filing date: 2005-11-22
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Also published as: CA2630627A1; WO2007060499A1; US20090025255A1; EP1956933A1

Description

WO 2007/060499 PCT/IB2005/053869 -1 PLANTAR WEARABLE WITH OPEN SHOES DESCRIPTION The present invention refers to an insole wearable also with open shoes like sandals, 5 clogs and the like. 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. However, known insoles cannot be worn on with open shoes, like, e.g., sandals, clogs 10 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 15 perspiration could further foster a shifting of the insole with respect to its correct position. 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. Such a problem is solved by an insole according to claim 1. 20 Preferred features of the present invention are present in the dependent claims thereof. 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. 25 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. Other advantages, features and the operation modes of the present invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, 30 given by way of a non-limiting example. Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein: * Figure 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; 35 * Figure 2 shows a front view of the insole of Figure 1, always worn on by a user; * Figure 3 shows a partially sectional top view of the insole of Figure 1; and * Figure 3A shows a cross-sectional view of the insole, taken along line A-A of WO 2007/060499 PCT/IB2005/053869 -2 Figure 3. Referring to Figures 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. 5 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. 10 As it is evident in Figure 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. 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 15 1 and therefore arranged between the sole portion 20 and the arcuate portion 22. 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. The insole 1 further comprises seven elastic bulges, denoted by 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, 20 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. 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 25 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. In general, the bulges 3-9 are apt to perform a proprioceptive, exteroceptive, 30 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 35 basically located at the muscle insertions of the sole of the foot. 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 WO 2007/060499 PCT/IB2005/053869 -3 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. Of course, variant embodiments could provide bulges arranged in locations 5 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. As shown in Figure 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 10 dimensions, overlapped and coupled so as to make a cell. 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 15 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. 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 20 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. 25 The perimeter of the cells may be reinforced by respective linear seams, which can also connect the former to the support 2. 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 30 irregular shape and have facets and corners. 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. A person skilled in the art will understand that, alternatively to or in association with 35 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 WO 2007/060499 PCT/IB2005/053869 -4 instrument. Preferably, the thickness of each resulting bulge 3-9 is of about 3 mm. 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. 5 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. 10 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. 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 15 time, lasting even longer than one year. 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. The non-allergenicity and the non-toxicity of the insole are assured by its constituent materials. 20 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 Figure 1. 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 25 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. The present invention has hereto been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that there could be other embodiments 30 referable to the same inventive concept, all however falling within the protective scope of the claims set forth hereinafter.

Claims

1. An insole (1) for use with open shoes like sandals, clogs and the like, comprising: - a support (2) apt to envelope the foot and having an elastic structure apt to adhere to the latter so as to keep the insole (1) itself in position; and 5 - at least one elastic bulge (3-9), fixed with said support (2) and arranged at a portion (20) thereof contacting the sole of the foot when the insole (1) is worn.

2. The insole (1) according to claim 1, wherein said support (2) is transparent.

3. The insole (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said support (2) has a web-like structure. 10

4. The insole (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support (2) has one or more portions (21) apt to fit in between toes.

5. The insole (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support (2) has one or more portions (21) having a ring-shaped development each apt to envelop a respective toe. 15

6. The insole (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support (2) has a portion (22) apt to adhere to the back of the foot.

7. The insole (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of bulges (3-9) fixed with said support (2) and arranged at a portion (20) thereof contacting the sole of the foot when the insole (1) is worn. 20

8. The insole (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bulges (3-9) are arranged at reflexological zones of the sole of the foot.

9. The insole (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bulges (3-9) have a bottom layer (30) and a top layer (31) apt to contact the sole of the foot, between which a filler material (9) is interposed or may be interposed. 25

10. The insole (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said bottom layer (30) is made of rubber.

11. The insole (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said top layer (31) is made of alcantara.

12. The insole (1) according to any one of the claims 9 to 11, wherein said filler 30 material is formed by discrete elastic particles (10).

13. The insole (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said particles (10) have substantially irregular shape.