EP1341495B1 - Shoe with a foot-massaging effect - Google Patents

Abstract

A shoe with a foot-massaging effect comprises a sole, optionally with a heel, and a top material. A cushion containing a massage element and/or active medical agents is provided in the interior of the shoe, above the sole, said cushion has a flexible base panel on the bottom, corresponding to the shape of the sole, and an elastic protective nonwoven fabric on the top, the latter being permanently connected to said base panel. A toe cap containing active medical agents can also be provided in the tip of the shoe. These measures result in a fairly significant foot-massaging effect and at the same time, enable the show to be used without creating an odor.

Description

The invention relates to a shoe with fußmassierender effect optionally comprising a sole with a heel and an upper, wherein the shoe interior above the sole a pad containing a massage element is provided, the underside adapted to the shape of the sole flexible base plate and the top with a this firmly connected elastic protective fleece has.

As a rule, shoes have an insole with a smooth structure. Sometimes the insole is at least partially, e.g. in the area of the heel and / or the foot, with a padding of low height to allow a "softer" gait of the wearer of the shoe.

Furthermore, footwear known, which are also referred to as slippers or mules. These are usually characterized by the fact that the shoe by means of a belt or bridge that runs over the Fußrist, is attached to the foot of the wearer. Often such footwear made of injected or foamed plastic and are often formed in one piece. Furthermore, there are such footwear in a multi-part form, the sole, for example, made of leather or wood and on this sole a knob-like structure is applied, for example by gluing. Due to the knob-like structure, the sole of the foot is massaged by the knobs during running of the wearer, whereby a pleasantly high blood circulation is achieved in the feet of the wearer.

Shoes with smooth insoles are disadvantageous in that they exert no massaging effect on the wearer's feet. In the case of shoes with knobbed, foot massaging structures, the problem always arises that the nubby spaces fill with dirt particles and the perspiration segregating from the foot passes into these intermediate spaces. The substance that forms from dirt and sweat between the pimples ultimately leads to an unpleasant odor and possibly to foot diseases caused by fungal bacteria and the like.

The EP 0 427 556 A2 discloses a shoe with a removable insole that effects both a massage action on the foot of a wearer of the shoe and a circulation of air in the sole region. The insole comprises a base plate provided with nubs formed as massage elements, wherein over the upper ends of the massage elements, an anatomically shaped pad is arranged, which is attached along the outer end to the base plate. The pad is an insole whose surface consists of a layer of absorbent material and the underside of which is a layer of foam rubber or a similar shock absorbing material. Furthermore, a plurality of circulation openings are embedded in the anatomical cushion. The attachment of the pad to the base plate is such that the lower side of the pad is spaced from the upper surface of the base plate. By the spacing is one Air chamber formed between the pad and the base plate. The insert pad is made of a substantially air-impermeable material to effect air trapping in the air chamber and to ensure air circulation through the circulation holes when the insole is loaded.

In addition, from the US-A-5,979,076 a shoe whose sole comprises circulation and massage means. The massage means are formed as nubs and extend from the sole towards the interior of the shoe. Above the dimples extends a fluid pervious fabric pad composed of a plurality of cotton plies joined together by gluing or stitching.

Further, the DE-A-2 024 534 a Fußformeinlage with knobs as massage elements.

Furthermore, the shows EP 0 383 685 A1 a soles for a shoe having a formed between an outsole and an insole cavity for receiving balls.

It is an object of the invention to provide a shoe of the type mentioned, in which a relatively high Fußmassierende effect achieved and at the same time a substantially odorless and dirt-free use of the shoe is possible.

According to the invention the object is achieved in that the massage element is designed as a plurality of balls embedded in an elastic material and / or in rows are permanently connected together by the elastic material.

As is known, the sole of the human foot is subdivided into different reflex zones. Medically, there is a direct connection between the individual foot reflex zones to the organs or body parts of humans, with targeted massages on specific foot reflex zones directly affect the well-being of the affected body part or organ. The massaging member having a plurality of balls provides a permanent massage of the sole of the wearer of the shoe while wearing the shoe. The permanent massage of the sole of the foot therefore positively stimulates its well-being. This is achieved in particular by the blood circulation promoting effect of the plantar massage. Just the variety of balls allows a particularly effective massage of the sole of the foot, as the balls push through their point pads easily in the sole of the foot and is generated by the rolling of the foot while running the massage effect. The balls are relatively movable in the pad of the shoe, so that an additional rolling effect of the balls when rolling the foot when running the shoe wearer is achieved, which additionally acts stimulating on the sole of the foot. Depending on the arrangement of the balls in the pad, namely loose or irregular or in even or staggered rows, a different massage effect of the sole of the foot can be achieved. The balls are permanently held to one another without loss of the massaging action of the sole of the foot, both by the embedding in the elastic material and the connection with the elastic material, which for example takes place by means of elastic webs connected in each end with a ball. Here, the Balls are arranged in a plane grape-shaped to each other. The upper side of the massage element and / or the medical active substances arranged and firmly connected to the flexible base plate elastic protective fleece prevents the penetration of foot sweat and dirt in the pad, whereby an odorless use of the shoe is given.

Conveniently, the material of the balls and the elastic material have the same or different Shore hardnesses. By appropriate material pairing, the massage effect of the sole of the foot is to be influenced. Of course, the elastic material may be completely different from the material from which the balls are made, so it may be different materials.

In order to effectively counteract abrasion of the balls, the balls are preferably provided on their surface with a sliding layer. The sliding layer can be applied for example after the production of the balls or introduced into the material during the production of the balls. Of course, the use of a lubricious material for the production of the balls is suitable.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the pad filled with balls on the inner edge circumferentially on a flexible spring band. The flexible spring band allows a complete filling of the pad with balls that are pressed when loaded while running the shoe wearer edge of something in the flexible spring band. As a result, despite the complete filling of the pad, the balls have a certain freedom of movement in order to produce the massage effect.

According to a development of the invention, a valve device is provided in the paragraph, which is connected to the interior of the ball-filled pad. Preferably, the valve device is designed as a one-way valve, wherein in the upper material of the shoe vent openings are introduced. Since the balls in the interior of the pad during movement of the shoe wearer constantly move and change their position, creates a constant negative pressure in the pad, which constantly changes its position within the pad during running. This can be perceived by the wearer as pleasant but also as unpleasant. The valve now allows the possibility of sucking ambient air during running through the negative pressure in the pad as the pressure medium and to guide it into the interior of the pad, so that a "softer" running is felt by the shoe wearer. At each step, as a result of the load, an overpressure is again generated in the pad, which is compensated by the discharge of the air through the vents in the upper of the shoe. During running, therefore, ambient air is constantly sucked in, passed into the interior of the pad and discharged again via the vent openings of the shoe. It is achieved a double massage effect on the one hand by the balls and on the other hand by the unloaded areas of the filled with compressed air cushion.

The construction of a larger air cushion and thus the effect of a "softer" running can be further supported by the fact that between the valve device and the ball-filled padding a flexible, expandable chamber is formed in the paragraph. The flexible chamber has an increased volume for receiving ambient air, which causes an increase in the volume of air in the ball containing the balls.

In order to avoid damaging the chamber accommodated in the heel of the shoe by material wear and wear of the shoe, the flexible, expandable chamber is separated from the bottom of the heel or sole by a solid protective plate on the underside. As a result, the arranged below the protective plate paragraph can be renewed if necessary.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt durch einen Schuh nach der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Einzelheit II gemäß Fig. 1 in einer alternativen Ausgestaltung,

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt durch einen Schuh nach der Erfindung in einer alternativen Ausführung,

Fig. 4

eine Teilansicht auf die Darstellung nach Fig. 3 in Richtung des Pfeiles IV,

Fig. 5

einen Längsschnitt durch eine Einlage für einen erfindungsgemäßen Schuh,

Fig. 6

einen Längsschnitt durch eine alternative Einlage für einen erfindungsgemäßen Schuh und

Fig. 7

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Einzelheit VII gemäß Fig. 6 unter Belastung durch den Fuß eines Trägers des Schuhs.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail in the following description with reference to several embodiments, which are illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a longitudinal section through a shoe according to the invention,

Fig. 2

an enlarged view of the detail II of FIG. 1 in an alternative embodiment,

Fig. 3

a longitudinal section through a shoe according to the invention in an alternative embodiment,

Fig. 4

a partial view of the illustration of FIG. 3 in the direction of arrow IV,

Fig. 5

a longitudinal section through an insert for a shoe according to the invention,

Fig. 6

a longitudinal section through an alternative insert for a shoe according to the invention and

Fig. 7

an enlarged view of the detail VII of FIG. 6 under load through the foot of a wearer of the shoe.

In Fig. 1 a section through a shoe 1 is shown, which has a sole 2 with a shoulder 14 and an upper 3. The sole 2 and the upper 3 are connected together in a conventional manner. In the shoe 1 is above the sole 2, a pad 11, wherein on the base plate 6 are loosely arranged a plurality of balls 12 which slightly shift against each other under load and thus cause a massage effect. The base plate 6 and the protective fleece 9 are firmly connected to one another and have a transition 13 to the upper material 3.

In the shoe interior 4, a pad 5 is provided above the sole 2, which comprises a flexible base plate 6, which is adapted to the shape of the sole 2 and forms the footbed 7. On the base plate 6, a plurality of nubs 8 are attached in the direction of the shoe interior 4. The knobs 8 have the shape of hemispheres, with the round side pointing in the direction of the shoe interior 4. Above the knobs 8 is an elastic protective fleece 9, which rests on the knobs 8 and ends laterally with an increase 39 of the base plate 6 or the upper 3. The knobs 8 are made of elastic material, so that they change their shape under load and take their original shape after relieving. As a result, the rolling in the shoe 1 foot is constantly massaged while walking through the shape changing elastic nubs 8.

In the shoe tip 26, a cap 27 is inserted, which contains a medicinal agent, for example against athlete's foot. Of the Active substance can escape from this through relatively small pores in the cap 27. The cap 27 is designed such that it always endeavors to expand. As a result, it always lies firmly on the protective fleece 9 and in the toe 26.

The pad 12 containing the balls 12 is executed completely sealing and has a trained in paragraph 14 feeder 15. At one end of the feeder 15 is provided in the paragraph 14 accessible from the outside valve 17, via which this pad 11 can be provided with a pressure medium. This allows the protective fleece 9 at an unloaded point 16, as shown in Fig. 2, bulge. Since the unloaded point 16 moves when rolling the foot in the shoe 1, a double massage effect is achieved, on the one hand by the balls 12 and the other by the unloaded point 16 itself. In the upper 3 of the shoe 1 vents 40 are incorporated, the arranged like scales and are cut so that running moisture and dirt from above can not run into the shoe 1. As a result of the rolling foot movement, the air contained in this cushion 11 is discharged via the ventilation openings 40. This results in this cushion 11, a negative pressure, which is compensated by the designed as a one-way valve valve 17, being sucked through the valve 17 by the negative pressure air via the feed 15 into the pad 11.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a chamber 18 is provided in the paragraph 14 between the valve 17 and the pad 12 containing the balls 12, wherein only a short feed 15 is present. In paragraph 14, the chamber 18 is protected at the bottom by a protective plate 19. The underneath arranged sales base 20 is renewable. The chamber 18 is filled with a pressure medium 21, which bulges out at at least partially unloaded protective fleece 9 and under load increases the pressure in the chamber 18, which thereby expands. In this sequence, the massage effect increases. Evanescent air is replaced in the same way as explained with reference to FIG. Optionally, but also manually, eg with a suitable air pump, from time to time air can be replenished into the chamber 18.

The shoe 1 according to FIG. 3 has a medical active substance-containing pad 23, which extends over the entire surface of the upper side of the sole 2, which is acted upon by the foot. About the existing in paragraph 14 valve 17 and the feeder 15, the medicine pad 23 is filled with medical agents. In the protective fleece 9, as shown in FIG. 4, small pores 24 are incorporated, via which the medical active ingredient enters the shoe interior 4.

In Fig. 5, an insert 25 for the shoe 1 is shown, which has a pad 5 with nubs 8 and a cap 27. With this configuration, it is possible to buy normal shoes and to achieve with the insert 25 both a massage effect and a medical effect.

In the insert 25 according to FIG. 6, the base plate 6 is connected to the protective fleece 9 via a peripheral edge 28. In the insert 25 full-area balls 12 are introduced. From the peripheral edge 28 in the direction of the balls 12 facing a circumferential spring band 29 is arranged. In the area of paragraph 14 of the shoe 1 is the valve 17, via which the insert 25 can be provided with both a pressure medium, such as air, as well as with a medical drug. In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the valve 17 may be omitted, whereby the insert can again be used in a normal shoe 1 use.

Fig. 7 shows a part of the insert 25 under load. The foot rolls on the protective fleece 9 of the insert 25. The current main load acts in the direction of arrow through the foot area 31. In this area, the balls 12 are displaced, whereby the spring band 29 is compressed. After the load, the spring band 29 relaxes and pushes the balls 12 back to their original position. This results in both the load and the discharge a massage effect for the foot.

List of reference numbers

1

shoe

2

sole

3

vamp

4

Shoe Affairs

5

6

baseplate

7

footbed

8th

burl

9

protection fleece

10

11

pad

12

Bullet

13

crossing

14

paragraph

15

feed

16

unloaded area

17

Valve

18

chamber

19

protection plate

20

heel sole

21

print media

22

breather

23

pad

24

pore

25

inlay

26

toe

27

cap

28

circumferential edge

29

spring band

30

arrow

31

footer

32

Inside of 6

33

Bottom of 8

Claims (8)

1. Shoe having a foot-massaging effect, which shoe includes a sole (2) possibly with a heel (14) and a top material (3), a cushion (11, 23, 67) containing a massaging element being provided in the shoe interior (4) above the sole (2), which cushion has, on the underside, a flexible base panel (6) adapted to the shape of the sole (2), and, on the upper side, a resilient protective non-woven fabric (9) securedly connected to said base panel, characterised in that the massaging element is in the form of a plurality of balls (12), which are embedded in a resilient material and/or are permanently interconnected in rows by the resilient material.
2. Shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that the material of the balls (12) and the resilient material have identical or different Shore hardnesses.
3. Shoe according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the balls (12) are provided on their surface with a slide-promoting layer.
4. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the cushion (11), filled with balls (12), has a flexible resilient strip (29) circumferentially on the inner edge.
5. Shoe according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, in the heel (14), a valve device (15, 17) is provided which is connected to the interior of the cushion (11) filled with balls (12).
6. Shoe according to claim 5, characterised in that the valve device (15, 17) is in the form of a one-way valve, ventilation openings (40) being fitted in the top material (3).
7. Shoe according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that, between the valve device (15, 17) and the cushion (11) filled with balls (12), a flexible, expandable chamber (18, 34) is provided in the heel (14).
8. Shoe according to claim 7, characterised in that the flexible, expandable chamber (18, 34) is separated on the underside from the lower region of the heel (14), or respectively of the sole (2), by a fixed protective plate (19).

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