EP2695539A1 - Device for high-heeled shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a transverse bar (34) made of flexible and damping material, delimited by anterior and posterior lines extending from interior towards exterior of foot of a wearer, where the device is made of EVA foam. The bar is erected behind heads of metatarsals (12) of the foot of the wearer and in front of base of the metatarsals in order to limit slip of the foot and intensity of impact on the ground during walking. The bar is delimited by a straight line formed in front of the base of the metatarsals and by one of the lines formed behind the heads of the metatarsals.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of footwear and in particular shoes with heels.

Classic high-heeled shoes are generally considered very uncomfortable during extended wear.

Indeed, because of the presence of a heel, the foot slides towards the front of the shoe, this phenomenon being all the more important that the heel of the shoe is high.

When walking, in the absence of heels, the foot is in digitigrade position only at the end of a step. However, the wearing of heels shortens the plantigrade phase of walking and increases the digitigrade phase. This increases the pressure on the forefoot. In addition, the toes tend to contract to resist forward thrust. All this contributes to the tiredness felt by the user when walking.

In addition to this fatigue, there are skin lesions, such as blisters or calluses.

Many solutions have already been proposed to solve these problems.

We can notably quote the document WO 2009/041993 which describes a sole having a raised central portion. This central part aims to support the internal and external arch of a very arched foot. Thus, this sole has a filling effect of a hollow foot.

This sole, however, has disadvantages.

Indeed, this sole raises the arch, which verticalizes the metatarsals and places the foot in tip. This leads to significant tensions in the fibular muscles during walking.

Moreover, this sole is suitable only for feet already strongly arched and not to normal feet.

Finally, this sole does not prevent the sliding of the foot towards the front of the shoe.

The document WO 98/14083 has similar disadvantages since the proposed sole has a raised central portion and a forward sloping portion that does not prevent the foot from sliding forward of the shoe.

The document WO 2008/113197 describes a heeled shoe comprising a particular sole with a transverse hill standing in front of the heads of the five metatarsals as well as a medial cushion under the heads of the metatarsals and a front cushion under the toes.

The medial cushion creates cushioning that helps relieve toes. In addition, the transverse hill placed under the toes creates an increase in the foot support surface at the toes.

However, the effect of this soleing remains limited. Indeed, the increase of the foot support surface is limited to the toes and its action during walking is also limited. It can therefore only allow a reduction itself limited fatigue felt when walking with high heel shoes. In addition, the median cushion is cushioning but does not create an increase in the foot support surface.

It should also be noted that this document provides, for the transverse hill, a height of between 5 and 10 mm and for the front and median cushions, a thickness of about 5 mm.

However, these heights are not compatible with conventional shoes. Indeed, when a shoe of excessive thickness is inserted into a shoe, this causes a tightening of the foot in the shoe and conventional pathologies.

Thus, this sole can only be suitable for specific shoes, designed to insert it. Its application is therefore limited since it is not a universal sole.

Finally, the document US 2009/0007455 describes a device comprising a generally triangular dome having two vertices behind the head of two metatarsals while the third vertex extends below the base of the third metatarsal.

This dome makes it possible to fill the natural angle formed by the bones.

However, this has only a limited impact on reducing fatigue felt during walking.

The invention therefore aims to overcome the disadvantages of heeled shoes by providing a device for insertion into such a shoe and to significantly reduce the discomfort created by these shoes for a running time of several hours.

This device is also designed to be suitable for any shoe, without creating foot tightness and therefore cutaneous pathologies.

The invention also relates to a shoe incorporating from its conception such a device.

Thus, the invention relates to a device for insertion into a high-heeled shoe, having a crossbar made of a soft and cushioning material, delimited by two lines extending from the inside to the outside of a wearer's foot. and standing behind the metatarsal heads of the wearer's foot and in front of the base of these metatarsals, so as to limit the sliding of the foot forward or backward and the intensity of the impact on the ground, when walking.

Preferably, this bar is delimited by a first substantially straight line intended to be placed in front of the metatarsal base of the wearer's foot and a second line intended to be placed behind the heads of the metatarsals, this second line having, in its central region, a convex form. In addition, the two lines can be oriented obliquely from the inside to the outside of the foot of a carrier approaching his heel.

In a preferred embodiment, this bar has a convex longitudinal section.

Advantageously, the device also comprises a base of a flexible and damping material, intended to cover at least part of the first sole of the shoe and in which said bar is integrated.

Advantageously, this base comprises an anterior limit intended to be located behind the second phalanges of the toes of the wearer's foot.

Preferably, the device also comprises a heel element made of a soft and cushioning material, intended to be placed vertically between the upper of the boot and the heel of the wearer's foot, so as to limit the sliding of the foot towards the foot. 'before and also backwards, when walking.

In an alternative embodiment, this heel element has a generally trapezoidal shape whose height is less than that of the upper of the shoe at the heel and whose large base is intended to be in contact with the sole of the shoe.

In another embodiment, the heel element has the shape of a rectangle whose small width is less than the height of the upper of the shoe at the heel and two angles are bevelled.

The device is advantageously made of an EVA foam whose Shore A hardness is between 20 and 30.

• la figure 1 représente en vue de dessus, le pied d'un porteur, ainsi que son positionnement par rapport à une semelle de chaussure et au dispositif selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe et de côté du pied d'un porteur et du dispositif selon l'invention, le dispositif et le pied du porteur étant placés à plat sur le sol,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe et de côté du pied d'un porteur dans une chaussure à talons, dans laquelle a été inséré un dispositif selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus d'un exemple de dispositif selon l'invention,
• la figure 5 est une vue de dessus d'un élément de talon pouvant faire partie du dispositif selon l'invention, et
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective illustrant une chaussure dans laquelle est insérée un dispositif selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, advantages and characteristics thereof will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows and which is made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 represents in a view from above, the foot of a wearer, as well as its positioning relative to a shoe sole and to the device according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a sectional and side view of the foot of a wearer and the device according to the invention, the device and the wearer's foot being placed flat on the ground,
• the figure 3 is a sectional and side view of the foot of a wearer in a heeled shoe, into which a device according to the invention has been inserted,
• the figure 4 is a top view of an exemplary device according to the invention,
• the figure 5 is a top view of a heel element that can be part of the device according to the invention, and
• the figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a shoe in which is inserted a device according to the invention.

The elements common to the different figures will be designated by the same references.

The figure 1 illustrates the bones of the foot, so as to better describe the structure and positioning of a device according to the invention. Indeed, the structure and dimensions of the device must be adapted to the size of the wearer's foot, so as to effectively perform its function.

Thus, the reference 10 corresponds to the second and third phalanges of the toes, the reference 11 to the first phalanx of the toes, while the reference 12 corresponds to the metatarsals.

The anterior part or head of the metatarsals is identified by the reference 120, while the posterior or base part of the metatarsals is identified by the reference 121.

Finally, the reference 13 globally designates the other bones of the foot which include the cuneiforms, the cuboid, the navicular, the talus and the calcaneus.

Generally speaking, in the description, the term "prior" means an area located or intended to be located towards the front of the foot, that is to say on the side of the second and third phalanges 10 and later, a part situated or destined to be located on the side of calcaneus 130.

The reference 2 is a line representing the outline of a tread or the first sole of a shoe.

Indeed, it is recalled here that a shoe is essentially composed of a rod (reference 6 on the figures 3 and 6 ) and a sole assembly. The upper corresponds to the upper part of the boot which is intended to dress and protect the foot. The figure 3 shows the rear portion 22 of the rod present at the heel. The sole is the set of parts forming the underside of the shoe and which provides the connection between the foot and the ground. The sole is conventionally formed of a heel 20, a tread or wear sole 21, intended to be in contact with the ground, and a first mounting sole 23 placed on the outsole, which solidarises the stem at the sole assembly. Finally, the sole conventionally comprises a sockliner which is fixed on the first mounting plate.

The contours of the tread sole, the first mounting sole and the insole are substantially identical.

Now reference is made to figure 4 which illustrates an example of a device according to the invention. This device is intended to be inserted into a shoe, instead of the insole or on this insole.

This device 3 has substantially the same contour as the first mounting plate but its anterior limit, corresponding to the front of the foot, is preferably shorter. Indeed, as illustrated by figure 1 this anterior limit 30 lies behind the second phalanx 10 of the toes. The interest of this provision will be explained in the following description.

The device 3 essentially comprises three parts: an anterior portion 33, a medial portion 34 and a posterior portion 35.

The essential part of the device 3 is the central portion 34. This central portion has the general shape of a bar. It is therefore raised compared to the front 33 and rear 35 parts.

This central portion 34 is delimited by the lines 31 and 32. As illustrated by FIG. figure 1 the line 31 constitutes the anterior boundary of the central portion 34 and is intended to be placed slightly behind the heads 120 of the metatarsals 12. Moreover, the posterior limit 32 of the central portion 34 is intended to be placed slightly forward of the base 121 of the metatarsals 12.

These two lines 31 and 32 are intended to extend between the inside 14 and the outside 15 of the foot of a wearer, that is to say transversely relative to the wearer's foot.

In the example shown in figures 2 and 3 , this bar 34 has, in the longitudinal direction, a convex section. This shape is well adapted to the comfort of the foot 1. However, this section could present another profile.

In the transverse direction, the bar 34 has a flat section.

It may also be noted that the device 3 could be limited to this central portion 34, the latter being placed between the first mounting sole and the insole, during the manufacture of the shoe, or on the insole, thanks for example to adhesive means. Other fastening means may be envisaged, such as seams.

This bar 34 may be made of a damping and flexible material, typically an EVA foam.

In the example shown in figure 4 this bar is integrated in a sole or base 4. In this case, the central portion 34 is raised relative to the front portion 33 and the rear portion 35 through the insertion of an element 340, in this sole 4 .

This base 4 is made of a damping and flexible material, such as silicone, Noene® or EVA foam.

EVA foam has proved particularly interesting. Indeed, this material has a good shape memory or a low remanence.

It may be noted that this is not particularly the case of silicone gels which eventually flatten after a relatively short period of use.

This sole or base 4 can also be perforated or microperforated to help evacuate perspiration. It can also be treated beforehand with products that limit the drawbacks associated with perspiration.

In particular, it is possible to retain an EVA foam with a density of 200 kg / mm ³ and a Shore A hardness of 28.

A soft and cushioning material makes it possible to reduce the pressures when walking. This has an analgesic effect and allows a decrease in skin reactions, such as blisters.

Moreover, this material is dense enough not to tire the muscles and tendons during walking, absorbing shock waves appropriately.

It should also be noted that EVA foam limits foot slippage.

As indicated above, the anterior limit 30 of the base 4 is preferably behind the anterior end of the foot 1. In other words, the base 4 does not completely cover the sole 23 of the shoe.

As illustrated by figures 2 and 3 this free zone at the second and third phalanges 10 of the toes creates a shoulder 40 due to the thickness of the base. This allows the toes to be lengthened by lowering them. This facilitates the propulsion phase of the foot and contributes to horizontalize and decompress the heads 120 of the metatarsals 12.

It should be noted that the presence of the shoulder 40 in the device 3 also has the advantage of limiting the skin lesions on the top of the toes, including bulbs or corns. It also reduces the toe of the big toe against the shoe and therefore the risk of trauma of the nails.

Finally, the fact that the base 4 does not completely cover the sole makes the device invisible, once the foot positioned in the shoe.

In addition, the front portion 33 creates a cushioning making walking more comfortable, without preventing the progress of the step thanks to the difference in height that is created between the heads 120 of the metatarsals 12 and the second and third phalanges 10 of the toes, by the shoulder 40.

Moreover, the rear portion 35 also contributes to the comfort of the user when walking. Indeed, the heel area, like the big toe area, is a cushioning area when walking.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in figure 4 , the base 4 typically has a height of about 2 mm, while the element 340 placed under the base 4, in the central portion 34, also has a height of about 2 mm.

This element 340 can be fixed under the base 4 by appropriate adhesives or other fastening means.

Of course, if the device 3 had only the central portion 34, in the absence of the base 4, this central portion would then have a height of about 4 mm.

The role of the central part 34 will be explained with reference to the figure 3 .

This central portion 34 is raised relative to the first sole 23. It has a mechanical action on the metatarsals which consists in lifting them by lifting their heads and thus, to increase the bearing surface along the diaphysis of the metatarsals. This increase in the bearing surface makes it possible to reduce the pressures and stresses exerted on the heads 120 of the metatarsals and on the forefoot. In particular, the raising of the toes during walking is limited, which reduces their stroke and their solicitation. It also leads to a spreading of the metatarsals and therefore to a spacing of the heads 120 of the metatarsals. This avoids any tightening of the nerves passing between these heads 120.

In addition, this central portion has a damping effect of the heads 120 of the metatarsals, when the contact of the forefoot on the ground. Indeed, it slows down the movement of the ground supports, limits the intensity of the impact on the ground and helps to limit mainly the sliding of the foot forward. The central portion secondaryly limits the sliding of the foot to the rear when the foot off the ground.

Finally, it also has an effect on the toes that are elongated due to metatarsal uplift. This helps to prevent twitching of the toes when walking.

This central portion 34 is suitable for all types of feet.

To contribute to the comfort of the user, this bar 34 is well adapted to the shape of the metatarsals 12.

This is why the two lines 30 and 31 are preferably oriented obliquely from the inside 14 towards the outside of the foot of a wearer, so as to approach the heel or the calcaneus 130 of the wearer.

In addition, the line 32 may be substantially straight, while the line 31 has, in its central region, a convex shape.

As previously indicated, this bar 34 is effective with a relatively low height of about 4 mm. It is therefore effective without increasing the tightening of the foot and can be adapted to conventional shoes.

By way of example, are given in the table below the dimensions of the device 3 illustrated in FIG. figure 4 for different sizes. Size (EU) Thickness base 4 Thickness element 340 Total length ℓ ₁ Length front part 33 ℓ ₂ Length of central part 34 ℓ ₃ Length rear part 35 42 2 mm 2 mm 21.7 cm 5.5 cm 5.5 cm 10.7 cm 41 2 mm 2 mm 20.7 cm 5 cm 5.3 cm 10.4 cm 40 2 mm 2 mm 20 cm 4.8 cm 5 cm 10.2 cm 39 2 mm 2 mm 19.2 cm 4.7 cm 4.9 cm 9.6 cm 38 2 mm 2 mm 18.5 cm 4.3 cm 4.8 cm 9.4 cm 37 2 mm 2 mm 17.8 cm 4 cm 4.7 cm 9.1 cm 36 2 mm 2 mm 17.2 cm 3.7 cm 4.5 cm 9 cm

In general, the thickness of the base is between 1 and 4 mm when the device according to the invention is inserted into a standard manufacturing shoe. Moreover, the thickness of the element 340 is between 1 and 5 mm.

Preferably, the device 3 can be associated with a heel element 5 which is illustrated on the figures 2 , 3 , 5 and 6 .

Of course, this heel element can only be provided for shoes whose stem is present at the heel.

Its shape can be adapted to that of the stem of the heel.

This heel element 5 can be made of a damping and flexible material. The materials described above with reference to the base 4 can be used to achieve this element.

This heel element may have a generally trapezoidal shape. Its height is less than that of the upper 22 of the shoe at the heel 20 and the large base of this element is intended to be in contact with the sole 23 of the shoe.

This element 5 can also be in accordance with the example illustrated in FIG. figure 5 and have the general shape of a rectangle whose small width corresponds to the height of the stem 22 of the shoe at the heel and whose angles are beveled.

In an exemplary embodiment, the height h is equal to 4.5 cm, the length L to 7.5 cm, the length ℓ to 2.5 cm, the height h to 1.2 cm and the length t 'to 4 cm.

In order to improve the comfort of the user, the angles present in the element 5 are preferably rounded.

The two bevelled angles share the same width of this rectangle.

In this embodiment, it is the large width side L of the element 5 which is intended to come into contact with the sole 23 of the shoe.

This heel element makes it possible to wedge the heel of the user's foot against the rear part 22 of the upper of the shoe and thus to fill the space left behind the foot because of the slope given to the shoe by the heel 20.

In addition, this heel element 5 slows the detachment of the heel of the foot relative to the shoe, which slows the sliding of the foot forward and backward, when walking.

Indeed, when walking, the foot naturally makes a slip forward and back of the shoe. When this slip is decreased, the stresses supported by the forefoot are also limited. It is the same for the friction of the forefoot on the shoe and the friction of the heel of the wearer with regard to the Achilles tendon which limits the bulbs at this level. This further contributes to the comfort of the user.

In practice, the heel element 5 reinforces the anti-slip effect that is already obtained by the bar 34. Indeed, the heel element increases the support surface at the back of the foot and slows down. the running of the foot forward. It also limits the sliding of the foot backwards.

It can also be noted that this heel element makes it possible to give extra support to the foot, by increasing the contact area between the foot and the shoe. It ensures better stability during the propulsion phase of the foot that intervenes at the end of the step. It therefore facilitates walking while respecting its mechanics, providing damping during damping phases and facilitating propulsion, during the propulsion phase.

The thickness of this heel element 5 is between 1 and 3 mm and can be of the order of 2 mm.

Thus, the device according to the invention can be incorporated in a conventional shoe.

However, preferably, the integration of this device can be provided during the design of the shoe to eliminate any risk of tightening in the shoe. This makes it possible to provide a base 4 and / or a bar 34 of greater height.

By way of example, the base may have a thickness of between 1 and 8 mm when the boot is designed to integrate a device according to the invention.

The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics appearing in the claims are only intended to facilitate the understanding of the latter and they can not limit its scope.

Claims (10)

Device for insertion into a high-heeled shoe, having a transverse bar (34) made of a soft and cushioning material, delimited by two lines (30, 31) extending from the inside (14) outwards (15). ) of the foot of a carrier and standing behind the heads (120) metatarsals (12) of the wearer's foot and in front of the base (121) of these metatarsals, so as to limit the sliding of the foot and the intensity of impact on the ground, when walking. Device according to claim 1, wherein said bar (34) is delimited by a first substantially straight line (32) intended to be placed in front of the base (121) of the metatarsals of the wearer's foot and a second line (31) intended to be placed behind the heads (120) of the metatarsals, this second line having, in its central region, a convex shape. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said bar (34) has a convex longitudinal section. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, also comprising a base (4) of a flexible and damping material, intended to cover at least part of the first sole (23) of the shoe and in which is integrated said bar (34). ). Device according to claim 4, wherein said base (4) has an anterior limit (30) intended to be located behind the second phalanges (10) of the toes of the wearer's foot. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, also comprising a bead element (5) of a flexible and damping material, intended to be placed vertically between the rod (22) of the shoe and the heel of the wearer's foot , so as to limit the sliding of the foot forward, when walking. Device according to Claim 6, in which the heel element has a generally trapezoidal shape whose height is less than that of the shoe shank (22) at the heel and whose large base is intended to be in contact with the heel. the sole (23) of the shoe. Device according to claim 6, wherein the heel element (5) has the shape of a rectangle whose small width is less than the height of the upper (22) of the shoe at the heel and whose two angles are beveled. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, made of an EVA foam whose Shore A hardness is between 20 and 30. High heel shoe incorporating a device according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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