EP3995027A1 - Shoe element with a toe separator and an expansion clip - Google Patents

Abstract

A shoe element (1) is shown, which comprises a toe separator (2) having a toe separator bar (3) and designed in such a way that it is arranged between the first toe and the second toe. The toe separator (3) has a fastening device which is designed for fastening a widening clip (10) to the toe separator (3).

Description

The invention relates to a shoe element with a toe separator and a widening clip that can be attached thereto. Furthermore, the invention relates to the widening clip and a set of a shoe with a shoe element and at least one widening clip. The shoe element can be, for example, the sole of a shoe or for a shoe. The invention thus also relates to a shoe with a shoe element. A hallux valgus can be treated with the toe separator according to the invention, which is arranged between the first toe (big toe) and the second toe. A hallux valgus is a misalignment of the big toe, which is often caused by predisposition and/or the wrong footwear. The big toe deviates outwards or laterally. This changes the direction in which the tendons are pulled, further increasing the displacement of the big toe.

Shoes with a toe separator are known in principle. For example, there are sandals that have a bandage that spans the instep and is connected to the shoe sole by means of a toe separator that runs between the big toe and the second toe.

From the EP 2 710 988 B1 a shoe insole with a base element and with at least one toe separator connected to the base element and protruding from the plane of the base element is known. The at least one toe separator can be displaced distally and proximally relative to the base element.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a shoe element which has an improved toe separator.

The object is solved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments result from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

The invention is based on a shoe element which comprises a toe separator which has at least one toe separator. The toe separator is designed to fit between the first toe (big toe) and the second toe (toe adjacent to the big toe), i. H. located in the first toe receiving area and the second toe receiving area. The toe separator can basically only consist of the toe separator. Advantageously, a widening clip can be attached to the toe separator, which together with the toe separator forms the toe separator. The shoe element can be a shoe sole, for example, in particular an insole or inner sole or an insole. A shoe with such a shoe sole can, for example, have further sole elements in the bottom of the shoe, such as an outsole or a midsole. In exemplary embodiments, the shoe sole designed as an insole or insole can be attached to an outsole or outsole of the shoe, in particular in a materially bonded manner, for example glued.

The toe separator has a fastening device, such as. B. a recess and / or a passage, which is designed for the attachment of a widening clip on the toe separator. The fastening device can be designed in such a way that the widening clip can be fastened to the toe separator in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner. Alternatively, the widening clip can be cohesively such. B. by an adhesive layer to be attached to the toe separator.

As used herein, directional terms have the following meaning: "Proximal" as used herein means the direction in which the heel is pointing. "Distal" as used herein means the direction in which the tips of the toes point. "Lateral" as used herein means toward the outside of the body, i. H. toward the side of the sole of the foot or shoe where the little toe is located. As used herein, "medial" means toward the median plane of the body, i. H. on the side where the big toe is located.

The toe separator can, for example, have a length extending from distal to proximal that is greater than its thickness extending from medial to lateral. Furthermore, the toe separator can have a height that is greater than its thickness, which extends from medial to lateral. In general, the toe separator can be plate or be wall-shaped and extend with its wall plane from distal to proximal and from top to bottom. The thickness of the toe separator can be between 3 and 9 mm, preferably between 6 and 8 mm, more preferably about 7 mm.

In further developments, the shoe element can be a shoe sole, in particular an insole or inner sole or an insole, with which the toe separator is formed integrally. For example, the shoe sole made of plastic, such as. B. a foamed plastic and / or polyurethane. As a result, the shoe element, including the toe separator, can be produced using the injection molding process.

An edge of the shoe sole can be raised in relation to a contact surface of the shoe sole provided for a sole of the foot. The edge of the shoe sole is raised at least in such a way that the toes of the foot or the area of the shoe element provided for the toes are surrounded at least distally, preferably also laterally and/or medially, by the raised edge. The toe separator can extend proximally from the region of the rim distal to the toes, in particular protrude proximally from the region of the raised rim distal to the toes.

In further developments, the region of the edge located distal to the toes can merge into the toe separator and/or the toe separator can merge into the contact surface of the shoe element, in particular the shoe sole, provided for the sole of the foot.

The toe separator or the fastening device of the toe separator can have a medial to laterally extending passage, in particular a hole, such as a hole. B. a hole with a circular cross-section, wherein the passage is adapted in particular to be able to receive a locking element and / or a locking counter-element of the widening clip. The toe separator may include the widening clip or the widening clip may be attached to the toe separator, wherein the widening clip has at least one plate-shaped portion and is attached to the attachment means of the toe separator so that the thickness of the toe separator is greater than the thickness of the toe separator. As a result, by attaching the widening clip, the thickness of the toe separator can be changed and individually adjusted to the needs of the wearer can be adjusted. Optionally, the fastening device can have a recess formed by the toe separator for receiving a projection formed on the widening clip. The recess can be formed on the proximal edge of the toe separator, preferably in the area in which the toe separator merges into the contact surface. The bottom of the recess may be offset distally with respect to the proximal edge.

The invention also relates to the extension clip attachable to the toe separator. The widening clip has at least one plate-shaped section and is designed to be attached to the fastening device of the toe separator in such a way that the at least one plate-shaped section increases the thickness of the toe separator extending from lateral to medial or the thickness of the toe separator is greater than the thickness of the toe separator. For example, the toe separator can have a flank pointing to the first toe and a flank pointing to the second toe. The at least one platelet-shaped section of the widening clip can be fastened, for example, to the flank of the toe separator that points to the big toe or, alternatively or additionally, to the flank of the toe separator that points to the second toe.

In an exemplary embodiment, the widening clip can essentially consist of a platelet-shaped section, which is designed to be attached to the attachment device of the toe separator on the flank of the toe separator facing the big toe or on the flank of the toe separator facing the second toe, in particular in a form-fitting manner and /or force-fit, alternatively material-fit. For example, the widening clip or the platelet-shaped section of the widening clip can have a fastening counter-element which can be fastened to the fastening device of the toe separator. For example, the counter-fastening element can be a first latching means and the fastening device can be a second latching means, which can be latched with one another in a non-positive and/or positive manner in order to fasten the widening clip to the toe separator, in particular to fasten it detachably or permanently. In designs in which the platelet-shaped section is arranged on the side of the toe separator that points toward the big toe, the big toe can be separated from the toe separator by selecting a suitable thickness for the platelet-shaped section are spread medially according to the thickness of the platelet-shaped section. This can correct a misalignment (e.g. hallux valgus) of the big toe.

In preferred embodiments, the widening clip has a first plate-shaped section and a second plate-shaped section that are connected via a flexible connection section. The widening clip can be arranged on the toe separator in such a way that the first plate-shaped section is arranged on the flank of the toe separator pointing towards the second toe and the second plate-shaped section is arranged on the flank of the toe separator towards the big toe. For example, the first platelet-shaped section can have a counter-fastening element, which can be fastened to the fastening device of the toe separator. Alternatively or additionally, the second platelet-shaped section can have a counter-fastening element, which can be fastened to the fastening device of the toe separator. In preferred embodiments, the first platelet-shaped section can have a, for example, pin-shaped or mushroom-shaped latching element and the second platelet-shaped section can have a mating latching element with which the latching element can be latched, preferably releasably. The first lamina-shaped section and the second lamina-shaped section can be pivoted about the flexible connecting section relative to one another in such a way that the latching element and the mating latching element can be brought into latching engagement. As a result, the widening clip can be attached to the toe separator by at least partially enclosing the toe separator. The latching element and/or the mating latching element can extend through the passage of the toe separator and be connected or latched to one another to produce a latched connection. The flexible connecting section can cover or enclose the proximal edge of the toe separator.

The flexible connection section can be constricted, for example with respect to the height and/or the thickness of the first and second plate-shaped sections. As a result, the platelet-shaped sections can be pivoted relative to one another about the flexible connecting section in a particularly advantageous manner. For example, the flexible connecting section can be designed as a film hinge. Due to the reduced thickness and/or reduced height of the flexible connecting section, the area of the bend can be constructively fixed to this section.

The invention also relates to a set, i. H. an assembly comprising a shoe element or a shoe with the shoe element and at least one extension clip described herein. For example, the shoe can be delivered together with one or more widening clips that are loosely enclosed with the shoe, for example. Depending on the needs of the wearer of the shoe, the thickness of the toe separator can be adjusted. For example, the shoe can be used without a widening clip, in which case the thickness of the toe separator then corresponds to the thickness of the toe separator bar. If a different thickness is desired, the desired widening clip can be selected and attached to the toe separator, the thickness of the toe separator then essentially corresponding to the sum of the thicknesses of the toe separator and the at least one plate-shaped section, in particular the first and second plate-shaped sections.

Preferably, only one widening clip can be attached to the toe separator at a time. In order to change the thickness of the toe separator, a widening clip attached to the toe separator can be removed and, if necessary, replaced with a widening clip of greater or lesser thickness, in particular contained in the set. For example, the locking connection of the widening clip to be removed can be released for this purpose. In exemplary applications, no widening clip can initially be attached to the toe separator, with the smallest or thinnest widening clip of the set being attached to the toe separator in a subsequent step, with the widening clip currently attached to the toe separator being compared in further subsequent steps against the next larger or next thicker widening clip of the set sets is exchanged.

The set can thus comprise a number of widening clips, with the at least one plate-shaped section of the number of widening clips having different thicknesses in order to be able to adjust the thickness of the toe separator depending on the selection of the widening clip. For example, a first, a second, and a third widening clip can be included in the set, with selective attachment of the first widening clip to the Toe separator of the toe separator in relation to the toe separator an additional thickness of 1 to 3 mm, such as. B. 2 mm, by attaching a second widening clip to the toe separator of the toe separator in relation to the toe separator an additional thickness of 3 to 5 mm, in particular 4 mm, and by attaching a third widening clip to the toe separator of the toe separator in relation to the toe separator one additional thickness of 5 to 7 mm, in particular 6 mm. Thus, for example, the toe separator can have a thickness of 7 mm without the widening clip attached, whereby by attaching the first widening clip the thickness of the toe separator is reduced to about 9 mm, by attaching the second widening clip the thickness of the toe separator is reduced to about 11 mm and by attaching the third widening clip the Thickness of the toe separator can be increased to about 13mm. These dimensions are only examples and can be varied depending on requirements.

In embodiments with an extension clip with a first and second plate-shaped section, these can have the same or different thickness in relation to one another. The increase in thickness of the first platelet-shaped section from the first fastening clip to the second or third fastening clip may be different than or equal to the increase in thickness of the second platelet-shaped section from the first fastening clip to the second or third fastening clip.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Schuhelement bzw. einen erfindungsgemäßen Schuh,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Schnittansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Schuhelements,

Figur 3

die Ansicht aus Figur 2 mit einem angebrachten Verbreiterungsclip,

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Verbreiterungsclips aus Figur 3 in einem aufgeklappten Zustand,

Figur 5

den Verbreiterungsclip aus den Figuren 3 und 4 in einem zusammengeklappten Zustand, und

Figur 6

eine zweite Ausführungsform, in der der Verbreiterungsclip einen Vorsprung zur Aufnahme in eine Ausnehmung des Zehentrennstegs aufweist.

The invention has been described on the basis of preferred embodiments and examples. Particularly preferred embodiments are described below with reference to figures. The features disclosed thereby advantageously develop the subject matter of the claims individually and in any combination of features. Show it:

figure 1

a plan view of a shoe element according to the invention or a shoe according to the invention,

figure 2

a perspective sectional view of a first embodiment of a shoe element according to the invention,

figure 3

the view off figure 2 with an attached widening clip,

figure 4

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the extension clip figure 3 in an unfolded state,

figure 5

the widening clip from the Figures 3 and 4 in a folded state, and

figure 6

a second embodiment in which the widening clip has a projection for receipt in a recess of the toe separator.

In the figure 1 a shoe or a shoe element 1, namely the insole or inner sole of a shoe or for a shoe, is shown in a plan view. The shoe element 1 has a toe separator 3, which extends in a wall-like manner in front of the region of a raised edge 4 distal to the toes in a proximal direction or protrudes proximally from the region of the edge 4 distal to the toes. The edge 4 is raised in relation to a contact surface of the shoe element 1 provided for a sole of the foot, so that the toes of the foot are bordered at least distally, in the example shown also laterally and medially by the raised edge 4 . The shoe element 1 or the shoe is open at the top in the area of the toes. In the area of the instep, the shoe element 1 has a bandage 5 which spans the shoe element 1 from the medial edge to the lateral edge. The bandage 5 and/or the toe separator 3 are formed integrally with the shoe element 1, in particular produced in one piece by injection molding.

The toe separator 3 is arranged so that when the foot is placed in the shoe element 1, it is arranged between the first toe (big toe) and the second toe (toe adjacent to the big toe).

In the Figures 2 to 5 a first embodiment of the invention is shown. In the figure 6 a second embodiment of the invention is shown, which differs from the first embodiment only in that a widening clip 10 has a projection 14 and the toe separator 3 has a recess 3c at its proximal edge 3a for receiving the projection 14 . Otherwise, the first and the second embodiment are the same, so that the description for one embodiment also applies accordingly to the other embodiment.

How best from the figure 2 As can be seen, the toe separator 3 has a fastening device, namely a passage 3b extending from medial to lateral, which is used for fastening a widening clip 10 ( Figures 3 to 6 ) is formed on the toe separator 3.

The extension clip 10 has a first plate-shaped section 11 and a second plate-shaped section 12 which are connected via a flexible connecting section 13 which acts as a hinge (see e.g. figure 4 ). The first section 11 and the second section 12 can be pivoted relative to one another about the flexible connecting section 13 in such a way that a latching element 15 formed on the first section 11 and a mating latching element 16 formed on the second section 12 can be brought into a latching engagement, as indicated by the arrow in FIG figure 4 and in figure 5 is shown. The latching element 15 is in the form of a pin or a mushroom head. The counter-locking element 16 is designed as a locking recess, in particular as a locking bush.

To the toe separator 2, in the Figures 1 and 2 consists only of the toe separator 3, to increase its thickness extending from lateral to medial, the widening clip 10 can be folded at least partially around the toe separator 3, so that the locking element 15 and/the counter-locking element 16 of the widening clip 10 is arranged in the passage 3b and locked into each other there. As a result, the widening clip 10 is held on the toe separator 3 . When the widening clip 10 is attached to the toe separator 3, the first section 11 is located on the flank of the toe separator 3 pointing to the second toe and the second section 12 is located on the flank of the toe separator 3 pointing to the big toe. The thickness of the toe separator 2 thus corresponds to Substantially the sum of the individual thicknesses of the first section 11, the second section 12 and the toe separator 3. The connecting section 13 is arranged proximal to the proximal edge 3a of the toe separator 3 and surrounds the proximal edge 3a of the toe separator 3.

The widening clip 10 points between the first section 11 and the second section 12 and/or in the area of the flexible connecting section 13 in relation to the height (see e.g figures 4 and 6 ) and/or in terms of thickness (not shown). Constriction 13a. The constriction 13a causes the widening clip 10 to have a lower bending resistance moment in the area of the flexible connecting section 13 than in the area of the first and second sections 11, 12 13 for attachment to the toe separator 3 deform.

For example from the Figures 3 and 6 As can be seen, the height of the particularly wall-shaped toe separator 3 decreases from the distal to the proximal direction. The constriction 13a can also take into account the decreasing height of the toe separator 3 in relation to the height of the first and second sections 11, 12; in particular, a smooth transition between the upper edge of the toe separator 3 and the upper edge of the widening clip 10 can be formed.

How best from the figure 6 As can be seen, the second embodiment preferably has a projection 14 in the area of the connecting section 13 which, when the widening clip 10 is attached to the toe separator 3--as described above--engages in a form-fitting manner in the recess 3c. As a result, tilting of the widening clip 10 about an axis extending through the passage 3b can be prevented even better. The recess 3c is formed on the proximal edge 3a of the toe separator 3, in particular in the area of the transition to the contact surface for the sole of the foot. The bottom of the recess 3c is offset distally in relation to the proximal edge 3a of the toe separator 3.

A shoe with a shoe element 1 shown herein can be delivered with or without an enlargement clip 10, for example. The shoe preferably forms a set with the shoe element 1 and at least one widening clip 10 . If the set includes only one widening clip 10, the user can decide whether the thickness of the toe separator 3 is sufficient or whether he wants to increase the thickness of the toe separator 2. In order to increase the thickness of the toe separator 2, the spreading clip 10 can be attached to the toe separator bar 3. If the set includes several widening clips 10, it is preferred that the at least one platelet-shaped section 11, 12 of the several widening clips 10 has different thicknesses, depending on the selection of the Widening clips 10 to be able to adjust the thickness of the toe separator 2. For example, the first and second sections 11, 12 of a first widening clip 10 can each have a thickness of approximately 1 mm, as a result of which the thickness of the toe separator 3 can be increased by approximately 2 mm. The sections 11, 12 of a second widening clip 10 can each have a thickness of approximately 2 mm, as a result of which the thickness of the toe separator 2 can be increased by approximately 4 mm. The first and second sections 11, 12 of a third widening clip 10 can each have a thickness of about 3 mm, whereby the thickness of the toe separator 2 can be increased by about 6 mm.

The provision of a widening clip 10 for attachment to the toe separator 10 opens up a multitude of possibilities. For example, the shoe or the shoe element 1 can be delivered in a set with several widening clips 10 of different thicknesses. For example, the user can independently increase the thickness over time by attaching a thicker extension clip 10. Alternatively, a widening clip 10 or a set of widening clips 10 can be individually adapted to the needs or therapy, for example by an orthopedic specialist.

Reference List

1

shoe element

2

toe separators

3

toe separator

3a

proximal edge

3b

passage

3c

recess

4

raised edge

5

bandage

10

widening clip

11

first laminar section

12

second laminar section

13

connection section

13a

constriction

14

head Start

15

locking element

16

locking counter element

Claims (15)

Shoe element (1) comprising: - a toe separator (2) which has a toe separator bar (3) and is designed in such a way that it is arranged between the first toe and the second toe,
characterized in that - The toe separator (3) has a fastening device which is designed for fastening a widening clip (10) to the toe separator (3). Shoe element (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the toe separator (3) has a length extending from distal to proximal that is greater than its thickness extending from medial to lateral. Shoe element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening device has a recess (3c) formed by the toe separator (3) for receiving a projection (14) formed on the widening clip (10). Shoe element (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the recess (3c) is formed on the proximal edge of the toe separator (3), the bottom of the recess (3c) being offset distally with respect to the proximal edge (4). . Shoe element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toe separator (3) or the fastening device has a medial to laterally extending passage (3b), wherein the Passage (3b) is adapted in particular to be able to accommodate a latching element (15) and/or a mating latching element (16) of the widening clip (10). Shoe element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toe separator (2) comprises a widening clip (10) which has at least one platelet-shaped section (11, 12) and is attached to the fastening device of the toe separator bar (3) in such a way that the thickness of the toe separator (2) is greater than the thickness of the toe separator (3). Shoe element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoe element (1) is a shoe sole, in particular an insole or inner sole, with which the toe separator (3) is formed integrally. Shoe element (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that an edge (4) of the shoe sole is raised in relation to a contact surface of the shoe sole provided for a sole of the foot, so that the toes of the foot at least distally, preferably also laterally and medially, the raised edge (4) and the toe separator (3) extending proximally from the region of the edge (4) located distal to the toes. Shoe element (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the area of the edge (4) distal to the toes fits into the toe separator (3) and/or that the toe separator (3) into the contact surface of the shoe element (1) for the sole of the foot transforms. Widening clip (10) for a shoe element (1) designed in particular according to Claim 1, which has at least one plate-shaped section (11, 12) and is designed to be attached to the attachment device of the toe separator (3) in such a way that the at least a platelet-shaped section (11, 12) which increases the thickness of the toe separator (2) extending from lateral to medial or the thickness of the toe separator (2) is greater than the thickness of the toe separator bar (3). Widening clip (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized by a first plate-shaped portion (11) and a second plate-shaped portion (12) connected via a flexible connecting portion (13) which, in relation to the height and/or the thickness of the first and second platelet-shaped sections (11, 12), preferably constricted, are connected. Widening clip (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first platelet-shaped section (11) has a latching element (15), in particular in the form of a pin or mushroom head, and the second platelet-shaped section (12) has a latching counter-element (16), with which the latching element ( 15), preferably releasably, latchable, wherein the first plate-shaped section (11) and the second plate-shaped section (12) can be pivoted about the flexible connecting section (13) relative to one another in such a way that the locking element (15) and the locking counter-element (16 ) can be brought into a locking engagement. Set comprising a shoe with a shoe element (1) according to claim 1 and at least one widening clip (10) according to one of claims 10 to 12. Set according to the preceding claim, characterized by a plurality of widening clips (10), the at least one platelet-shaped section (11, 12) of the plurality of widening clips (10) having different thicknesses in order, depending on the widening clip (10) selected, to vary the thickness of the toe separator (2nd ) to customize. Set according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized by a plurality of widening clips (10), whereby by attaching a first widening clip to the toe separator (3) the toe separator (2) has an additional thickness of 1 to 3 mm in relation to the toe separator (3). Attaching a second widening clip to the toe separator (3) of the toe separator (2) in relation to the toe separator (3) an additional thickness of 3 to 5 mm and by attaching a third widening clip to the toe separator (3) of the toe separator (2) in relation on the toe separator (3) has an additional thickness of 5 to 7 mm.

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