EP2584927A1

EP2584927A1 - Kit for making a footwear

Info

Publication number: EP2584927A1
Application number: EP11749516.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luigi Polacco; Alberto Longhi; Marco Coffinardi; Umberto Genovesi
Original assignee: AKKUA Srl
Current assignee: AKKUA Srl
Priority date: 2010-06-24
Filing date: 2011-06-20
Publication date: 2013-05-01
Also published as: WO2011161607A1; ITBS20100113A1; IT1400662B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a kit for making a footwear, in particular for orthotic plantar treatment. The kit comprises a sock (12) in fabric, to which a sole (14) is attached, an insole (10) made in polymer material and having a subdivision into a plurality of portions of insole (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) corresponding to analogous parts of the sole of the foot, preferably shaped as shown in figure 1. The aforesaid subdivision is at least partially copied onto the tread of the sole so that one or more of said portions of insole are separable from the insole to be attached to corresponding portions of the sole to form a proprioceptive and/or osteo-articular orthotic correction.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"Kit for making a footwear"

[0001] The present invention relates to a kit for making a footwear, in particular for orthotic plantar treatment.

[0002] The use of corrective footwear has been known of for some time, for example to combat postural imbalances or podiatric problems, such as plantar fasciitis and heel spurs .

[0003] Over the last decades corrective footwear manufacturing has mainly concentrated on making generally rigid footwear, with thick soles often provided with considerable support at the arch of the foot.

[0004] The aforesaid footwear however has the drawback of being often uncomfortable and restrictive, inasmuch as not respecting the normal physiology of the foot.

[0005] Consequently, a patient to whom the aforesaid footwear is prescribed is unlikely to continue therapy in the domestic environment, where a greater level of comfort is reasonably expected.

[0006] The present invention therefore proposes itself as a hybrid footwear-sock system, so as to simultaneously achieve the advantages of both solutions: on the one hand the need to satisfy the need to protect the foot, on the other the wish to reduce the structural rigidity and constraints typical of normal footwear to a minimum, so as to assure greater freedom of movement and an increased perception of the ground.

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is therefore to enable the patient to benefit from plantar therapy during the times of day he/she would not normally wear standard corrective footwear.

[0008] Such purpose is achieved by a kit according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the footwear.

[0009] The characteristics and advantages of the kit according to the invention will be evident from the following description of its preferred embodiments, made by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0010] - figures 1, 3 and 2 show three views of the insole forming part of the kit which the present invention relates to, the first two ground views from the side of the anchorage pins and the from the opposite side, the third a side view, according to one embodiment;

[0011] - figure 4 shows a view of a tread of a sock associable with an insole according to figure 1;

[0012] - figures 5 and 6 show two semi-moulds, according to a possible variation, which can be used to make the insole according to figures 1 to 3.

[0013] In said drawings, reference numeral 10 has been used to globally denote an insole according to the invention, having a subdivision into a plurality of portions of insole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 corresponding to analogous parts of the sole of the foot.

[0014] In the variation shown, the insole is 2mm to 4mm thick .

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment variation, the insole 10 is made from polymer material, preferably elastomeric and, even more preferably, comprises the copolymer styrene-butadiene-styrene ("SBS") .

[0016] Advantageously, the polymer material comprises a mixture of styrene-butadiene-styrene ("SBS") and of ethylene-vinyl-acetate ("EVA"), optionally in a proportion ranging from 4:1 to 1:4 in weight.

[0017] A kit for making a footwear, in particular for orthotic plantar treatment, comprises the insole 10 having the aforementioned sub-division and furthermore a sock 12, preferably in fabric, to which a sole 14 is attached, for example illustrated in figure 4.

[0018] Preferably the sole 14 is non-slip.

[0019] According to a possible variation, the sole 14 of the sock 12 is 1 to 4 mm thick.

[0020] According to a further variation, the sole 14 is made from leather, in particular calfskin.

[0021] According to yet a further variation, the sock 12 is made with a yarn comprising at least one elastomer.

[0022] According to a particularly advantageous variation, a plurality of protective inserts in polymer material are applied to the outer side of the sock 12 positioned so as to protect specific parts of the foot without limiting its movement; such protective elements are interconnected with each other so as to form a weave or lattice suitable to enclose the foot.

[0023] As a result, the weave of protective elements is positioned so that when the sock 12 is worn by a patient, such weave positions itself around the foot so as to contain and, preferably, protect it.

[0024] Preferably, the portions of insole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are shaped as shown in the drawing in figure 3.

[0025] The subdivision of the plurality of portions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is at least partially copied onto the tread of the sole 14, preferably completely, so that one or more of such portions of insole are separable from the insole 10 to be attached to corresponding portions 1' , 2', 3', 4', 5', 6', 7' of the sole 14 to form a proprioceptive and/or osteo-articular orthotic correction .

[0026] In other words, the portions of insole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are connected to the insole 10 in a releasable manner. This way, after one or more of such portions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 have been separated from the insole 10, they can be attached to the corresponding portions 1' , 2', 3', ', 5', 6', 7' of the sole 14 to perform their corrective function.

[0027] Consequently, the insole 10 represents an assembly of proprioceptive and/or osteo-articular orthotic corrections, which it is possible to make use of, according to specific medical needs, by reciprocally dividing them and connecting them to the sole 14 at the aforementioned seats.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, the portions of insole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are delimited by weakening lines 16, 18, 20, preferably of the polymer material of the insole 10, suitable for facilitating the detachment of each portion from the adjacent portions.

[0029] For example, such weakening lines 16, 18, 20, comprise undercut portions 52 of the insole 10 in relation to the surfaces delimiting them, so that the material which the insole 10 is composed of proves locally thinner.

[0030] Advantageously, the aforesaid undercut portions 52 help to increase the non-slip characteristics of the sole 14.

[0031 ] According to a further variation, the weakening lines 16, 18, 20 comprise perforated portions of the insole 10, for example in a dotted manner, thereby proving more yielding to an applied force, such as cutting or tearing.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment each of such portions of insole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 corresponds to one or to a combination of the following proprioceptive elements so as to treat various medical conditions: opening chain stimulating element 1, that is varus element, closing chain stimulating element 2, that is valgus element, additional opening chain element in the case of a flat foot 3, Lelievre element 4, additional anterior Lelievre element in the case of a pes cavus 5, centre-tip element 6 to associate with the valgus element for lateral spurs, centre-tip element 7 to associate with the varus element for medial spurs.

[0033] Preferably, the kit further comprises attachment means of the insole portions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 to the sole 14.

[0034] According to one variation, the attachment means comprise a glue, or a mixture thereof.

[0035] According to a further variation, the attachment means comprise at least one anchorage pin 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, which extends from each portion of insole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and which is suitable for insertion in a corresponding anchorage hole 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 made in a corresponding portion of sole 14.

[0036] As a result, each portion of insole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, has at least one anchorage pin 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 connected to and extending from it, with a transversal cross-section at least equal to the through section of the corresponding anchorage hole 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50.

[0037] Preferably, the transversal cross-section of the anchorage pin is 0.5-10% greater than the through section of the anchorage hole, so that the insertion (or extraction) of the pin into (or out of) the hole opposes a certain resistance, variable depending on the type of material of the insole/sole.

[0038] Optionally, the anchorage pin 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 can be connected to the corresponding anchorage hole 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 by gluing, depending on whether a more stable or even permanent attachment is desired.

[0039] Preferably, each portion of insole has a plurality of anchorage pins.

[0040] According to yet a further preferred variation, the means of attachment comprise an adhesive covering, at least partially overlapping the surface of each portion of insole destined to abut with the corresponding portion of sole. [0041] As a result, the adhesive covering is suitable to increase the adhesion of the portions of insole and sole, that is to make the surface of the insole more compatible with that of the sole.

[0042] Preferably, the means of attachment comprise an adhesive covering, at least partially made of non-woven fabric (TNT) , which the aforesaid glue is placed on.

[0043] This way, the glue adheres to the non-woven fabric in such a way as to bathe it at least superficially, preferably so as to impregnate it, for increased attachment to the sole.

[0044] Such variation is particularly suitable for the variations with a leather sole, in that the resulting attachment is particularly stable.

[0045] For the variations with a leather sole 14, such sole is preferably glued, advantageously to the lower ends of the protective inserts (not shown) .

[0046] According to a preferred variation, the sole 14 and the insole 10 are traversed by a plurality of through holes for aeration 54, 56, such as to allow the transit of air to and from the compartment of the sock 12 containing the user's foot.

[0047] As regards the fabrication of the insole according to the variations described reference is made for example to the two semi-moulds 58, 60 shown in figures 5 and 6, the functioning of which conforms substantially to the prior art.

[0048] In fact, when the semi-moulds 58, 60 are superimposed with their respective contact surfaces 66, 68 facing each other, the partial cavities 62, 64 delimited by the aforesaid semi-moulds 58, 60, of a complementary shape to the insole to be manufactured, identify a compartment suitable to be filled with the liquid, granular or molten material which the insole is composed of.

[0049] For example, the aforesaid material is fed into the compartment through a feed duct 70, 72.

[0050] For the variation with an insole having an adhesive covering, the known method of manufacture differs in that such covering is positioned in advance in a dedicated seat of the semi-mould 58, 60, for example at the end wall 74 of the partial cavity 62, 64 so that, after the entrance of the material in the cavity, such covering emerges at least partially on the surface of the insole and is retained by the material it is composed of.

[0051] This way, the junction of the adhesive covering and the insole is maintained in a stable, resistant manner.

[0052] Innovatively, the kit which the present invention relates to makes it possible to corroborate an orthotic plantar treatment, in such a way that the patient can maintain stimulation of the foot when not wearing the footwear with the orthosis.

[0053] Treatment with the footwear which the present invention relates to thereby becomes complementary to the orthotic treatment, often limited and strictly dependent on the lifestyle and profession of the patient, who may thus rather benefit from podalic stimulation in his/her free time, at home rather than in the gym, increasing efficacy in terms of time.

[0054] Advantageously, the kit which the present invention relates to can be adapted to the specific medical requirements of each patient, and can if necessary be adapted to the phases of medical progress.

[0055] In fact, as well as the possibility of using a plurality of different portions of insole with the same footwear, it is hypothesised that the patient may also select portions of insole of varying dimension, for example of progressively decreasing thickness.

[0056] Moreover, the aforesaid kit may be supplied indiscriminately to a plurality of subjects and subsequently be adapted by means of several simple steps at the instructions of the medical practitioner.

[0057] Advantageously, the kit which the present invention relates to is extremely simple and intuitive in its use: the various portions of insole in fact have a substantially identical profile to the corresponding outlines made on the sole. This makes the correct positioning of such portions in the relative seats possible even for non-experts.

[0058] Advantageously, the footwear which the present invention relates to can be used both in a preventive and a rehabilitative context, for example for children, not necessarily solely for adults.

[0059] Advantageously, the sock which the present invention relates to, as well as being comfortable for the foot, is also able to contain and protect it, for example to prevent its incorrect positioning.

[0060] Advantageously, the detachment of the individual portions which the insole is composed of is extremely easy, so much so as to be possible even in the absence of specific tools or instruments.

[0061] Advantageously, the footwear which the present invention relates to combines solutions related to classical orthopaedic orthotic concepts, and posturology concepts: two disciplines often distant and contrasting thereby finding common ground through their integration in a single product.

[0062] Advantageously, the footwear which the present invention relates to is recognised as having both an antalgic and posturology function.

[0063] Advantageously, the footwear which the present invention relates to is comfortable, practical, regenerative and aesthetically attractive.

[0064] Advantageously, the kit which the present invention relates to is in line with the change registered in recent years in the sphere of rehabilitation, understood as a discipline able to re-educate, re-adapt and thereby make man' s relationship with himself and his surroundings more harmonious.

[0065] Advantageously, the footwear which the present invention relates to combines excellent properties of mechanical resistance with high levels of comfort for the user .

[0066] A person skilled in the art may make modifications to the embodiments of the footwear and of the kit according to the invention so as to satisfy contingent requirements while remaining within the sphere of the following claims.

[0067] For example, according to one embodiment variation, the thicknesses of the insole and/or of the sole described are increased or decreased depending on the type of material used, for example depending on its compressibility, or depending on the type and/or seriousness of the medical condition to be countered. [0068] In particular, if the footwear is intended for a child, it is preferable for the sole to be low and soft to give the child' s foot an increased quantity and quality of environmental information compared to standard children's footwear.

[0069] Again, the portions of insole described above were seven in number. Despite such number enabling an optimal proportion in terms of the number of components, simplicity of use, productive economy of the kit, dimensions of each portion, variety of medical conditions which can be treated, according to further embodiment variations, the number and functionality of the portions is different.

[0070] Lastly in the above description, the anchorage pins and holes have been positioned respectively on the insole and on the sole; notwithstanding such, a further embodiment provides for a different disposition of the same .

[0071] Moreover, each of the characteristics described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be realised independently of the other embodiments illustrated.

Claims

1. Kit for making footwear, in particular for orthotic plantar treatment, comprising:

a sock, preferably in fabric, to which a sole is attached

- an insole having a subdivision into a plurality of portions of insole corresponding to analogous parts of the sole of the foot

wherein said subdivision is at least partially copied onto the tread of the sole so that one or more of said portions of insole are separable from the insole to be attached to corresponding portions of the sole to form a proprioceptive and/or osteo-articular orthotic correction

2. Kit according to claim 1, wherein each of said portions of insole corresponds to one or to a combination of the following proprioceptive elements opening chain stimulating element, that is varus element, closing chain stimulating element, that is valgus element, additional opening chain element in the case of a flat foot, Lelievre element, additional anterior Lelievre element in the case of a pes cavus, centre-tip element to associate with the valgus element for lateral spurs, centre-tip element to associate with the varus element for medial spurs .

3. Kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the portions of insole are shaped as shown in the drawing in figure 3.

4. Kit according to any of the previous claims, wherein the insole is made from polymer material

5. Kit according to any of the previous claims, wherein the portions of insole are delimited by weakening lines, for example of the polymer material of the insole, suitable for facilitating the detachment of each portion from the adjacent portions

6. Kit according to any of the previous claims, wherein the insole has a thickness of 2 to 4 mm.

7. Kit according to any of the previous claims, wherein the sole of the sock has a thickness of 1 to 4 mm.

8. Kit according to any of the previous claims, comprising means of attachment of the portions of insole to the sole.

9. Kit according to claim 8, wherein said means of attachment comprise a glue

10. Kit according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the means of attachment comprise an adhesive covering, at least partially overlapping the surface of each portion of insole destined to abut with the portion of sole, said covering being at least partially made of non-woven fabric .

11. Kit according to any of the previous claims, wherein the sole and the insole are traversed by a plurality of through aeration holes.

12. Kit according to any of the previous claims, wherein the sole is made in leather, in particular in calfskin

13. Kit according to any of the previous claims, wherein a plurality of protective inserts in polymer material are applied to the outer side of the sock positioned so as to protect specific parts of the foot without limiting its movement, said protective elements being interconnected to each other so as to form a weave or lattice able to enclose the foot

14. Kit according to claims 12 and 13, wherein the leather sole is glued to the lower extremities of the protective inserts

15. Kit according to any of the previous claims, wherein the sock is made from a yarn comprising an elastomer.

16. Kit according to any of the previous claims when dependent on claim 4, wherein the polymer material comprises styrene-butadiene-styrene ("SBS") and, preferably, a mixture of styrene-butadiene-styrene ("SBS") and ethylene-vinyl-acetate ("EVA"), in a ratio ranging from 4:1 to 1:4 in weight.