DE102022121805A1 - Shoe insert - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe insert (10), comprising a base body (12) with a forefoot section (18), a heel section (20) and a metatarsal section (22), which connects the forefoot section (18) and the heel section (20) to one another, and at least one pad (14), the base body (12) and the pad (14) being produced in one piece and using the same material as a monolithic insert body (16) using the 3D printing process.

Description

The invention relates to a shoe insert, having a base body with a forefoot section, a heel section and a metatarsal section, which connects the forefoot section and the heel section with one another.

A shoe insert of the type mentioned at the beginning is used to support the foot, to correct it and/or to treat complaints. As a rule, a shoe insole is either built up in layers from the floor or made from a blank. The shoe insert can be made of carbon, cork, stainless steel, thermoplastic or a foam, with an upper side can be covered with leather or a textile material. Depending on the treatment goal, so-called shell insoles, orthopedic shoe insoles with or without an edge or special orthopedic insoles are manufactured.

When producing shoe insoles from several layers, it is possible to create locally different stiffnesses and thus biomechanically adapt the shoe insole individually by using different materials with different Shore hardnesses. However, this is time consuming. In addition, the different materials are often glued together using adhesives that are harmful to health.

When making a shoe insole from a blank, a prefabricated blank made of polyurethane foam is processed using CAD milling and adapted to the shape of the foot. However, CAD-milled shoe insoles produce a significant amount of waste that cannot be recycled and therefore harms the environment. In addition, the CAD-milled insole requires a certain amount of space in the shoe and is therefore not compatible with different shoes.

Furthermore is over DE 10 2021 121 757 A1 an insole is known which consists of thermoplastic polyurethane and which is manufactured using the powder sintering process, laser sintering process or 3D printing.

The present invention is based on the object of creating a shoe insert which has an improved medically suitable design and at the same time is inexpensive to produce.

To solve the problem, a shoe insert with the features of claim 1 is proposed.

Advantageous embodiments of the shoe insert are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, a shoe insert, in particular an orthopedic shoe insert, is proposed. The shoe insert has a base body with a forefoot section, a heel section and a metatarsal section, which connects the forefoot section and the heel section with one another, and at least one pad. The base body and the pad are manufactured in one piece and with the same material as a monolithic insole body using the 3D printing process.

The shoe insert according to the invention has a high orthopedic biomechanical benefit due to the pad integrated into the insert body. In addition, the 3D printing process enables an improved medical-friendly design of the shoe insole with different local stiffness, as the shoe insole can be individually adapted to the foot problem. In addition, the 3D printing process enables the shoe insole to be manufactured cost-effectively. In addition, the shoe insole is highly compatible with all shoe shapes. In addition, the 3D printing process can be used to set different local stiffnesses for individual adaptation to the foot problem and to achieve a slim design in the outer contour area. For example, the outer contour area can have a thickness of approximately 1 mm. In addition, harmful adhesives can be dispensed with and the shoe insole can be recycled and washed with commercially available cleaning products or in the washing machine.

The production of the shoe insole using 3D printing allows it to be designed in CAD. This means that the monolithic insole body can be designed digitally based on medical and biomechanical data for the individual foot problem and produced using 3D printing. The stiffness of conventional pads can be replicated and does not have to be added later. Location-dependent settings for bending and torsional stiffness, or even targeted flexibility, can be incorporated into the monolithic insole body from the outset. In addition, the CAD-designed shoe insole for 3D printing allows the required local mechanical properties to be produced with a maximum thickness of 1 mm in the outer contour area through free, continuous grading. This creates a slim insole design that has high compatibility for all shoe shapes. The required stiffness is created through appropriate geometry in the 3D printing process and not through the material thickness.

The 3D printing process can be a stereolithography process (SL), a laser sintering process (LS), a laser beam melting process (LBM), in particular a selective laser melting process (SLM), an electron beam melting process (EBN), a fused layer modeling/manufacturing process (FLM/ FFF), a fused deposition modeling process (FDM), a multijet modeling process (MJM), a polyjet modeling process (PJM), a binder jetting process, a layer laminated manufacturing process (LLM), a digital light processing process (DLP), a thermal transfer sintering process (TTS) and/or a digital light synthesis process (DLS).

In an advantageous embodiment, the pad is perforated. The stiffness of the pad can be adjusted via the perforation. The perforation can be formed from circular, square, rectangular, triangular and/or letter-shaped openings. The pad can have an oval outer contour.

In an advantageous embodiment, the perforation is formed from first Y-shaped openings. The Y-shaped openings allow the rigidity of the pad to be adjusted precisely. As a result, the shoe insert has a high orthopedic effectiveness due to the low deformation of the pad. In addition, Y-shaped openings can be easily produced using 3D printing.

In an advantageous embodiment, the heel section has a perforated area. The perforated area in the heel section provides cushioning when heel strikes. The perforation can be formed from circular, square, rectangular, triangular and/or letter-shaped openings. The perforated area can have an oval outer contour.

In an advantageous embodiment, the perforated area is formed from second Y-shaped openings. The Y-shaped openings can be used to reduce cushioning and thus the heel load when stepping, the so-called loading response.

In an advantageous embodiment, the second Y-shaped openings are larger than the first Y-shaped openings. Consequently, the pad has greater rigidity than the perforated area in the heel section. In addition, the perforated area has a high level of cushioning for heel strike.

In an advantageous embodiment, a stiffening zone is arranged between the pad and the perforated area. The stiffening zone prevents the shoe insole from deforming more strongly when walking and/or running and contributes to stabilizing the longitudinal and transverse arches. Advantageously, the stiffness of the stiffening zone is scalable. A medial and/or lateral elevation of the stiffening zone is also advantageous and can be scaled.

In an advantageous embodiment, a recess is made between the forefoot section and the metatarsal section on the medial edge and/or on the lateral edge. The recess enables the shoe insert to bend and thereby enable a rolling and/or push-off movement when walking and/or running. A recess is advantageously made on both the medial edge and the lateral edge. The recess can be designed as an approximately semicircular recess.

In an advantageous embodiment, a concave curvature is formed on the medial edge of the metatarsal section. The concave arch supports a metatarsal and thereby prevents deformation (collapse of the medial longitudinal arch) of the foot during walking and/or running. The stiffness of the curvature is advantageously scalable. A lower external elevation starting from the rear foot to the forefoot stabilizes the outer longitudinal arch. The stiffness can also be scaled here.

In an advantageous embodiment, a thickness of the base body varies in the longitudinal direction. The stiffness of the shoe insole can be adjusted via the thickness.

In an advantageous embodiment, a peripheral edge section of the base body has a thickness between 0.1 mm and 10 mm, in particular between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, more particularly between 1.2 mm and 2.5 mm. This creates a slim insole design with high compatibility for all shoe shapes.

In an advantageous embodiment, the forefoot section has a thickness between 0.1 mm and 2 mm, in particular between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm. The low thickness in the forefoot area allows the shoe insole to bend and roll in a way that is beneficial for walking and/or running.

In an advantageous embodiment, the metatarsal section has a thickness between 0.1 mm and 10 mm, in particular between 0.5 mm and 3.5 mm. As a result, the midfoot section has sufficient stability for stabilizing a midfoot.

In an advantageous embodiment, the pad has a height of between 5 mm and 14 mm. As a result, the pad offers a high orthopedic biomechanical benefit for the wearer.

In an advantageous embodiment, the insole body is made of polyamide 12. A shoe insole made of polyamide 12 is durable, recyclable and can be washed with commercially available cleaning agents or in the washing machine. In addition, polyamide 12 can be heated and then shaped. This allows the shoe insole to be optimally adapted to the contours of the foot.

In an advantageous embodiment, the shoe insert is provided with a cover, such as a textile material, on an upper side facing a foot of a wearer.

• 1 eine Draufsicht auf eine Schuheinlage gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;
• 2 eine Unteransicht der Schuheinlage von 1;
• 3 eine linke Seitenansicht der Schuheinlage von 1;
• 4 eine rechte Seitenansicht der Schuheinlage von 1; und
• 5 eine Draufsicht auf eine Schuheinlage gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform.

A shoe insert as well as further features and advantages are explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment, which is shown schematically in the figures. This shows:

• 1 a top view of a shoe insert according to a first embodiment;
• 2 a bottom view of the shoe insole from 1 ;
• 3 a left side view of the shoe insole from 1 ;
• 4 a right side view of the shoe insole from 1 ; and
• 5 a top view of a shoe insert according to a second embodiment.

In the 1 to 4 a shoe insert 10 for the treatment of orthopedic foot diseases is shown according to a first embodiment.

The shoe insole 10 has a base body 12 and a pad 14, which are manufactured in one piece and with the same material as a monolithic insole body 16 made of polyamide 12 using the 3D printing process.

The 3D printing process enables the construction of the shoe insole in CAD. This allows the monolithic insole body 16 to be designed digitally based on medical and biomechanical data for the individual foot problem and produced using the 3D printing process. The stiffness of conventional pads can be replicated and does not have to be added later. Location-dependent settings of bending and torsional rigidity, or even targeted flexibility, can be incorporated into the monolithic insert body 16 from the outset. The required stiffness is created through appropriate geometry in the 3D printing process and not through the material thickness.

The base body 12 has a forefoot section 18, a heel section 20, a midfoot section 22, which connects the forefoot section 18 and the heel section 20 to one another, and a circumferential edge section 24, which surrounds the forefoot section 18, the heel section 20 and the midfoot section 22.

A thickness (D) of the base body 12 varies in the longitudinal direction L. The forefoot section 18 has a thickness (D _V ) between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, the midfoot section 22 has a thickness (D _M ) between 0.5 mm and 3.5 mm and the peripheral edge section 24 has a thickness (D _R ) between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, in particular between 1.2 mm and 2.5 mm. As a result, the shoe insert 10 has locally different hardnesses or stiffnesses.

The pad 14 has an oval outer contour and a height H between 5 mm and 14 mm. The height H of the pad 14 can thus be adjusted via CAD, resulting in a high biomechanical benefit for the wearer.

Like in the 1 and 2 As can be seen, the pad 14 is perforated, the perforation being formed from first Y-shaped openings 26. The rigidity of the pad 14 can be adjusted via the perforation. This achieves high orthopedic effectiveness due to low deformation.

The heel section 20 has a perforated area 28 with an oval outer contour that cushions the heel strike. The perforated area 28 is formed from second Y-shaped openings 30.

Like in the 1 and 2 As can be seen, the first Y-shaped openings 26 are smaller than the second Y-shaped openings 30. As a result, the pad 14 has a greater rigidity than the perforated area 28 of the heel section 20.

A stiffening zone 32 is arranged between the pad 14 and the perforated area 28, which ensures that the shoe insert 10 does not deform more when walking and/or running. The curvature also contributes to stabilizing the longitudinal and transverse arches. The stiffness of the stiffening zone is scalable. A medial and/or lateral elevation of the stiffening zone is also advantageous and can be scaled.

Like especially in the 1 and 2 can be seen is between the forefoot section 18 and A recess 38 in the form of a semicircular recess 40 is introduced into the metatarsal section 22 both on the medial edge 34 of the edge section 24 and on the lateral edge 36 of the edge section 24. The recesses 38 or semicircular recesses 40 enable the shoe insert 10 to bend between the forefoot section 18 and the metatarsal section 22 while walking and/or running, so that a rolling and push-off movement is achieved when walking and/or running.

In addition, a concave curvature 42 is formed on the medial edge 34 of the metatarsal section 22, as 3 you can see. The concave curvature 42 supports a metatarsal and thereby prevents deformation of a foot during walking and/or running. In addition, the concave curvature 42 relieves the load on the outer metatarsal. The stiffness of this curvature is scalable. A lower external elevation starting from the rear foot to the forefoot stabilizes the outer longitudinal arch. Here too, the stiffness is scalable.

In 5 a second embodiment of the shoe insert can be seen, which differs from the first embodiment in that a cover 46 made of a textile material is applied to an upper side 44 of the shoe insert 10 facing a foot of a wearer. The cover can be glued to the top 44.

The shoe insert 10 is characterized by the pad 14 integrated into the insert body 16, which achieves a high orthopedic biomechanical benefit for the wearer. In addition, the shoe insole 10 is characterized by being manufactured using a 3D printing process, so that the shoe insole 10 can be constructed in CAD. This allows the shoe insert 10 to be individually adapted to the foot problem and to all shoe shapes. In addition, the shoe insert 10 can be produced cost-effectively using the 3D printing process. In addition, the 3D printing process can be used to set different local stiffnesses for individual adaptation to the foot problem and to achieve a slim design in the outer contour area. Finally, harmful adhesives can be dispensed with and the shoe insole 10 can be recycled and washed with commercially available cleaning agents or in the washing machine.

Reference symbol list

10

Shoe insert

12

Basic body

14

Pelotte

16

monolithic inlay body

18

Forefoot section

20

Heel section

22

Metatarsal section

24

circumferential edge section

26

first Y-shaped breakthroughs

28

perforated area

30

second Y-shaped openings

32

stiffening zone

34

medial edge

36

lateral edge

38

recess

40

semicircular recess

42

concave curvature

44

Top

46

Relation

D

Thickness of the base body

L

Longitudinal direction

DV

Thickness of the forefoot section

DM

Thickness of the metatarsal section

DR

Thickness of the surrounding edge section

H

Height of the pad

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102021121757 A1 [0005]

Claims (15)

Shoe insert (10), comprising a base body (12) with a forefoot section (18), a heel section (20) and a metatarsal section (22), which connects the forefoot section (18) and the heel section (20) to one another, and at least one pad ( 14), the base body (12) and the pad (14) being manufactured in one piece and using the same material as a monolithic insert body (16) using the 3D printing process. Shoe insert after Claim 1 , characterized in that the pad (14) is perforated. Shoe insert after Claim 2 , characterized in that the perforation is formed from first Y-shaped openings (26). Shoe insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heel section (20) has a perforated area (28). Shoe insert after Claim 4 , characterized in that the perforated area (28) is formed from second Y-shaped openings (30). Shoe insert after Claim 5 , characterized in that the second Y-shaped openings (30) are larger than the first Y-shaped openings (26). Shoe insert according to one of the Claims 4 until 6 , characterized in that a stiffening zone (32) is arranged between the pad (14) and the perforated area (28). Shoe insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a recess (38) is made between the forefoot section (18) and the metatarsal section (22) on the medial edge (34) and/or on the lateral edge (36). Shoe insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a concave curvature (42) is formed on the medial edge (34) of the metatarsal section (22). Shoe insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a thickness (D) of the base body (12) varies in the longitudinal direction (L). Shoe insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a circumferential edge section (24) of the base body (12) has a thickness (D _R ) between 0.1 mm and 10 mm. Shoe insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the forefoot section (18) has a thickness (Dv) between 0.1 mm and 2 mm. Shoe insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metatarsal section (22) has a thickness (D _M ) between 0.1 mm and 10 mm. Shoe insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pad (14) has a height (H) between 5 mm and 14 mm. Shoe insert according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert body (16) is made of polyamide 12.

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