EP0972463A1

EP0972463A1 - Insole for shoes

Info

Publication number: EP0972463A1
Application number: EP99113630A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonio Chesi
Original assignee: Bonis SpA
Current assignee: Bonis SpA
Priority date: 1998-07-16
Filing date: 1999-07-12
Publication date: 2000-01-19
Also published as: IT1303333B1; ITTV980102A1

Abstract

An insole for shoes comprising a first body (5) and a second body (6) which have, respectively, one or more first (8) and second (12) chambers which are divided by a partition (7) provided with one-way valves (11,15) for adjusting the migration of a fluid. This configuration allows to obtain an optimum foot cushioning and stabilization effect and a sole massaging effect.

Description

The present invention relates to an insole for shoes.
In the field of shoes, the problem of providing products which have high comfort characteristics for the user is currently known; accordingly, shoes have been provided at whose sole devices have been applied so as to cushion, for example, the impact of the heel; for this purpose deformable inserts are conventionally used which are arranged at the sole below the heel, the use of said inserts allowing, by way of their deformation, to contain any microtraumas affecting the heel while walking or running.
This conventional solution, however, suffers drawbacks: in fact, it requires the provision of a sole having a particular shape and the application of inserts, and this causes higher manufacturing costs.
In order to improve the comfort of the shoe it is also known to provide, again at the sole, interconnected chambers at which air is made to flow; during walking, the air passes from the inside of the shoe to the outside thereof through a suitably provided opening which is optionally provided with one-way valves and is located for example at the region of the heel of the sole.
This solution, too, suffers drawbacks, since it still requires particular treatments at the sole which increase the overall manufacturing costs of the shoe.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited prior art, by providing an insole which allows to obtain, in a shoe constituted by a conventional upper associated with a sole, an optimum cushioning and stabilization effect for the foot while walking.
Within the scope of this aim, an important object of the present invention is to provide an insole which allows to increase the comfort for the user's foot while walking, so as to limit tiring thereof.
Another important object of the present invention is to provide an insole which is structurally simple and can be applied to any conventional shoe.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an insole which is structurally simple as well as quick and easy to apply to a shoe.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an insole for shoes, characterized in that it is constituted by a first and a second bodies having, respectively, one or more first and second chambers which are divided by a partition provided with one-way valves for adjusting the migration of a fluid.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a top view of the first body that constitutes the insole;
Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of the partition;
Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of the second body;
Figure 4 is a lateral perspective view of the first body, in which the fluid flow has been shown schematically;
Figure 5 is a perspective view, as in Figure 4, of the partition, illustrating the flow at the one-way valves;
Figure 6 is a perspective view, as in Figure 4, showing the fluid flow in the second body;
Figure 7 is a sectional view, taken along a plane which lies longitudinally to the sole of a shoe, of the arrangement of the insole;
Figure 8 is a plan view of a detail of the insole;
Figure 9 is a sectional view, taken along the plane IX-IX of Figure 8.
With reference to the above Figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an insole, which can be used by arranging it at a conventional sole 2 of a shoe.
The sole 2 can be constituted, for example, by a box-like body having, at the region where the insole 1 rests, a plurality of vertical ridges 3.
A mid-sole 4, for example, can be interposed between the ends of said ridges 3 and the insole 1.
Said insole is constituted by a first body 5 and by a second body 6, between which a partition 7 is interposed.
One or more first chambers 8, mutually connected or not, are provided at the first body 5.
In the particular illustrated embodiment, at the first body 5 three separate first chambers are provided, designated by the reference numerals 9a, 9b, 9c, which are not connected one another and respectively affect: the heel central region; the heel perimetric region and then the pre-arch region, with a transverse arrangement, and then the perimetric tip region; and the central metatarsal region.
A first hole 10 is provided at each one of said first chambers and is arranged at adapted first one-way valves 11 provided at the partition 7.
Said partition can be advantageously made of flexible and/or thermally insulating material.
The first one-way valves 11 can allow, for example, the flow of an adapted fluid, such as for example water or any mixtures of suitable products, from a region below the partition 7 at the first chambers.
Said first one-way valves 11 thus allow said fluid to flow within the first chambers 8.
One or more second chambers 12 are provided at the second body 6 and are again constituted, in the particular embodiment, by three second chambers designated by the reference numerals 13a, 13b and 13c.
Second holes 14 are also provided at the second chambers and are arranged at points which are different from those provided with the first holes 10 and are connected to second one-way valves 15.
The second one-way valves 15 are formed so that each one affects an overlying first chamber, this allowing the fluid to flow between a first chamber and a second chamber following a preset direction; in the particular illustrated embodiment, the fluid therefore passes from the second chamber to the first chamber and from said first chamber to the second chamber due to the particular orientation of the first and second one-way valves.
A closed circuit is thus formed which allows, during walking and by appropriately adjusting the amount of fluid, a continuous flow of said fluid from the first chambers to the second chambers, simultaneously obtaining a massaging action at the whole sole region as well as a cushioning action during walking and a stabilization of the foot.
The insole is therefore used as follows: after manufacturing it, and after filling for example the first and second chambers for approximately 70% of their volume with the chosen fluid, the insole can be arranged at a conventional sole of a known shoe.
During walking, the user places first the heel region and then the pre-arch and tip regions of the foot on the ground: this produces a mechanical pressing action of the foot at the first and second chambers and, due to the presence of the first and second one-way valves, forces the fluid to flow between a first chamber and the underlying second chamber.
Thanks to the particular configuration of the first and second chambers and of their arrangement, it is possible to preset, also for each individual user, a particular path of the fluid during walking in order to achieve optimum compensation of the foot impact and therefore considerably improve comfort.
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, an insole having been provided which can be used universally, since it can be applied to any conventional shoe simply by positioning it at the inner sole; the presence of the first and second chambers, of the first and second one-way valves and of the fluid contained within the insole allow to achieve the intended aim and therefore allow the user to walk in an optimum manner and to have optimum comfort since during walking the impact is cushioned and the foot is optimally stabilized and continuously subjected to a massage which can also have therapeutic effects.
The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.
Thus, for example, the number and the location of the first and second chambers and of the first and second one-way valves can be the most pertinent according to specific requirements.
Moreover, the amount of fluid present in the first and second chambers can be changed according to the dimensions of said chambers and to the characteristics of said fluid, which can have, for example, heat absorption properties.
In an optional further embodiment, the insole can have a first body and a second body which are individually provided with a single first and second chambers.
The materials and the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention may of course be the most pertinent according to specific requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV98A000102 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

An insole for shoes, characterized in that it is constituted by a first body (5) and by a second body (6) having, respectively, one or more first (8) and second chambers (12) which are divided by a partition (7) provided with one-way valves (11,15) for adjusting the migration of a fluid.
The insole according to claim 1, characterized in that it is constituted by the first (5) and second (6) bodies, at which one or more chambers (8,12) are provided which are mutually interconnected or not.
The insole according to claim 1, characterized in that at said first body (5) three separate first chambers (9a,9b,9c) are provided which are not connected one another and respectively affect: the heel central region; the heel perimetric region and then the pre-arch region in a transverse direction and then the perimetric region of the tip; and the central part of the metatarsal region.
The insole according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that at each one of said first chambers (9a,9b,9c) there is provided at least one first hole (10) located at suitable first one-way valves (11) formed at said partition (7).
The insole according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that said partition (7) is advantageously made of flexible and/or heat-insulating material.
The insole according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said first one-way valves (11) allow the flow of a preset fluid, such as water or optional mixtures of suitable products, from a region located below said partition (7) at at least one of said one or more first chambers (8).
The insole according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said first one-way valves (11) allow said fluid to flow from said one or more first chambers (8) into said one or more second chambers (12).
The insole according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that three second chambers (13a,13b,13c) are formed at said second body (6), second holes (14) being formed at said second chambers (13a,13b,13c) and being arranged in points which are different from those provided with said first holes (10), said second holes (14) being connected to second one-way valves (15).
The insole according to claims 1 and 8, characterized in that said second one-way valves (15) are formed so that each one affects an overlying first chamber (8), allowing said fluid to flow between a first (8) and a second (12) chambers following a preset direction.
The insole according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first (8) and second (12) chambers and said first (11) and second (15) one-way valves form a closed circuit which allows, during walking and by appropriately adjusting the amount of fluid, a continuous transfer of said fluid from the first chambers (8) to the second chambers (12).
The insole according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first (8) and second (12) chambers are filled with said fluid to approximately 70% of their volume.
The insole according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one or more first (8) and second (12) chambers are located in the chosen regions below the sole of the foot.
The insole according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a first body (5) and a second body (6) which are individually provided with a single first (8) and second (12) chambers.