AU2016101573A4 - Improvements to footbeds and footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

A footbed is integrally formed with a plantar metatarsal area cushion (PMAC) and a forefoot varus wedge in order to prevent or ameliorate Plantar Fat Pad Atrophy which is a common form of foot pain. 4-., Fu 4o-4 no rn4 (N LI C-EIC

Description

1 2016101573 07 Sep 2016

IMPROVEMENTS TO FOOTBEDS AND FOOTWEAR

TECHNICAL FIELD

[1] The present invention is directed to a footbed and to an article of footwear incorporating the footbed.

BACKGROUND

[2] Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.

[3] Today’s modern world requires humans to walk and stand on surfaces that humans did not evolve to tolerate. Cement, tiles and hardwood floors can be the cause of pain foot.

[4] Plantar Fat Pad Atrophy (PFPA) is a common cause of forefoot pain, with people describing symptoms of pain and tenderness in the forefoot area while walking, standing and with palpation. Despite PFPA being a common complaint within the podiatric population, treatment is often difficult and may result in pain and limitation.

[5] Causes of PFPA: [6] Age is the most common cause, as fatty tissue is reduced in the foot, like it is around the rest of the body.

[7] Collapsed forefoot arch of the feet or prominent metatarsal head causes increased pressure on the ball of the foot, which can over time wear out the fat pad protecting the area.

[8] Lack of Cushioning: walking barefoot or in very thinned soled shoes may initiate or exacerbate the condition due to lack of cushioning. Particularly now that the surfaces humans walk on in modern day is 2 2016101573 07 Sep 2016 cement, wood, tiles or other hard materials that their feet were not designed to walk on.

[9] Extremely high arches increase the weight that goes through the balls of the feet.

[10] Excessive or prolonged pronation (rolling in) as increased pressure is put on the balls of the feet.

[11] Injury to the ball of the foot, multiple surgery incisions or fractures can lead to thinning and displacement of the fat pad.

[12] Genetics are considered to be a cause behind excessive loss of fat pads on feet.

[13] Rheumatoid arthritis, which causes clawing of the toes and more prominent bones in the balls of the feet.

[14] There is often thinning and loss of fat pad on feet in people with diabetes especially if they have neuropathy (no feeling), which increases the risk of developing foot ulcers.

[15] One approach to ameliorating the pain caused by the above reasons of PFPA is to make use of a Plantar Metatarsal Area Cushion (PMAC). A forefoot varus wedge may also be inserted into the user’s shoe to assist. These inserts help to address forefoot pain due to lack of cushioning because of prolonged time spent standing or walking on hard unnatural surfaces.

[16] The use of a plantar metatarsal area cushion (PMAC) 8, is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Typically a PMAC is a pad that is applied to the 2nd to 4th metatarsals. The PMAC is designed to apply pressure to the 2nd to 4th metatarsal heads so that the 2nd to 4th metatarsophalangeal joints are extended and the 2nd to 4th toes realigned into a more functional position. This feature particularly addresses the problem of the forefoot arch of the feet or prominent metatarsal head causing increased pressure on the ball of the foot, which can over time wear out the fat pad protecting the area. A PMAC provides cushioning under the metatarsal heads. 3 2016101573 07 Sep 2016 [17] PMACs are typically applied by the sufferer.

[18] It has been known for sufferers to insert PMACs into their shoes only for the sufferer’s condition to worsen. This may be due to the PMAC being improperly located inside the shoe or as a result of a variety of other factors such as the shoe being insufficiently sized to accommodate the insertions. It will therefore be realized that simply inserting a PMAC into a shoe does not necessarily address the problem of PFPA.

[19] It is an object of the present invention to provide a footbed that assists in ameliorating the symptoms and/or the causes of PFPA and which is more convenient and less prone to incorrect placement than the previously described apparatus of the prior art.

[20] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a footbed to alleviate pain for people who may still have their plantar fat pad intact but require more cushioning under their feet for comfort because of prolonged standing and walking on hard flat surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[21] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a footbed integrally formed with a plantar metatarsal area cushion (PMAC) portion and a forefoot varus wedge portion.

[22] Preferably the footbed is integrally formed with the PMAC forming a single area proud of a remaining upper surface of the footbed.

[23] It is preferred that the PMAC does not extend across the footbed in order that the 1st and 5th metatarsal heads of a wearer are able to plantar flex in use. Accordingly the PMAC is shaped to lift the 2nd to 4th metatarsals to thereby provide transverse arch support. 4 2016101573 07 Sep 2016 [24] Preferably the footbed is made of a synthetic cushioning material such as polyurethane.

[25] Preferably an underside of the footbed has an integrally formed medial thickening indicated that comprises a forefoot varus wedge which assists in counteracting a tendency of a user of the footbed to over-pronate. The medial thickening also acts to cushion the area of the foot that receives high pressure when standing and walking.

[26] According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an item of footwear, such as a woman’s shoe that incorporates the previously described footbed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[27] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: [28] Figure 1 depicts a prior art PMAC.

[29] Figure 2 depicts the positioning of the prior art PMAC in use.

[30] Figure 3 is a view of the underside of a footbed according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[31 ] Figure 4 is a front view of the footbed of Figure 3 in use.

[32] Figure 5 is a front view of a footbed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention incorporating a PMAC region and a medial wedge.

[33] Figure 6 is a side view of a woman’s shoe incorporating the footbed of Figure 5. 5 2016101573 07 Sep 2016 [34] Figures 7 and 8 are pressure graphs representing areas of equal pressure exerted by the bare feet of a standing person.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[35] Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 there are shown underside and front views of a footbed 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The footbed 10 is preferably made of a resilient cushioning material such as polyurethane. Footbed 10 is integrally formed with a PMAC portion 14.

[36] The PMAC portion 14 forms a single region that is proud of the remaining upper surface of the footbed 10.

[37] It is preferred that, as can be seen in Figure 4, the PMAC portion 14 does not extend across the footbed 10 in order that the 1st and 5th metatarsal heads of a wearer are able to plantar flex in use.

[38] Accordingly the PMAC 14 is shaped to lift the 2nd to 4th metatarsals to thereby provide transverse arch support and cushioning. The PMAC portion 14 of the footbed 10 acts to cushion and support the transverse arch and metatarsal heads of the wearer.

[39] Referring now to Figure 5, there is depicted a footbed 13 comprising a further and preferred embodiment of the present invention. As graphically illustrated in Figures 17 and 8, during walking the two main high pressure areas of the foot are the heel and the region beneath the first and second metatarsal heads. The underside of footbed 13 is formed with a medial thickening region indicated as “D”, underneath the first metatarsal head. Region D comprises a forefoot varus wedge. As graphically illustrated in Figure 12, during walking the two main high pressure areas of the foot are the heel and the region beneath the first and second metatarsal heads. Region D adds extra cushioning beneath the first and second metatarsal heads without taking up space inside the shoe. 6 2016101573 07 Sep 2016 [40] The forefoot varus wedge also assists in reducing a tendency to over pronation. Over-pronation is a common problem which has been found to cause dysfunctions of the shin, knee and back and so the inclusion of the wedge in the form of Region D is advantageous since it assists in reducing a tendency to over-pronate.

[41] The use of a forefoot varus wedge is to tilt the forefoot in a varus position which this particularly addresses the previously mentioned problem of excessive pronation. The varus wedge also results in a bias in cushioning under the forefoot area it is most needed which addresses particularly point 3 lack of cushioning.

[42] Referring now to Figure 6, there is depicted an item of footwear, namely a woman’s shoe 11 that incorporates the footbed 13 that has been discussed in relation to Figure 5. The footbed 13 is formed with PMAC region 14 that extends upwardly from the surrounding topside of the footbed 10. The region helps to lift the 2nd to 4th metatarsal shafts and so supports the transverse forefoot arch and also cushions the metatarsal heads which is the area where the foot bears the weight. As previously discussed, the underside of footbed 13 is formed with a medial thickening region indicated as “D”, underneath the first metatarsal head which comprises a forefoot varus wedge in order to prevent excessive over pronation.

[43] Shoes according to embodiments of the present invention take ‘bulk’ out of the footbed whilst still providing support and cushioning. Compression in shoes is often a cause of foot pain. This means the shoes constrict the girth of the foot. By having cushioning where it is needed, and minimizing it where it is not needed the footbed may be constructed with a reasonably slim profile, so that it minimizes compression. If a footbed is made very thick to provide cushioning it can actually cause pain by making the fit of the shoe too tight, or having to have chunky big shoes to accommodate the thick footbed. The inventor has been been able to 2016101573 07 Sep 2016 7 provide a footbed that keep the shoes slimline, so that they do not look chunky, by taking thickness out of footbed where it is not needed.

[44] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term “comprises” and its variations, such as “comprising” and “comprised of” is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

[45] Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

[46] Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A footbed integrally formed with a plantar metatarsal area cushion (PMAC) and a forefoot varus wedge.
2. 2. A footbed according to claim 1, wherein the PMAC forms a single area proud of a remaining upper surface of the footbed.
3. 3. A footbed according to claim 1or claim 2, wherein the forefoot varus wedge provides additional cushioning to the medial side of the Plantar metatarsal area.
4. 4. A footbed according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PMAC does not extend across the footbed in order that the 1st and 5th metatarsal heads of a wearer are able to plantar flex in use.
5. 5. A footbed according to claim 4, wherein the PMAC is shaped to lift the 2nd to 4th metatarsals to thereby provide transverse arch support.
6. 6. A footbed according to any one of claims 1 to 5, made of a synthetic cushioning material.
7. 7. A footbed according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein an underside of the footbed has an integrally formed medial thickening which assists in counteracting a tendency of a user of the footbed to over-pronate.
8. 8. An article of footwear incorporating a footbed according to any one of claims 1 to 7. * * *