JP7500024B2 - Shoe sole with shock absorbing layer structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure, specifically, a bent structure is formed in the midsole to form an arch support in order to absorb shock and distribute stress evenly to the midfoot, forming a shock absorbing layer between the midsole and outsole, and a buffer part is formed on the bottom surface of the outsole to properly guide the center of pressure on the sole when walking, thereby preventing and correcting deformation of the foot.

The human body is interconnected through a kinetic chain that connects the feet, knees, pelvis and spine, so foot diseases and foot deformities can lead to various musculoskeletal disorders, such as pain and deformity in the knees, hips and shoulders. Therefore, it is important to walk correctly to prevent foot deformities, and shoes that can distribute the pressure on the user's feet and induce correct walking are needed.

However, conventional shoe pads are mass-produced and cannot meet the foot shapes of all users with different foot structures. If shoes with pads that do not fit the shape of the foot are worn for a long period of time or if the user walks with an incorrect posture, stress concentration occurs in incorrect places, which can lead to foot diseases such as plantar fasciitis.

The following Patent Document 1 discloses slippers with an arch portion, in which the end of the upper leather is inserted between the midsole that forms the arch portion and the sole, and then the midsole and sole, excluding the arch portion, are sewn together with sewing thread.

In the aforementioned Patent Document 1, an arch portion is formed on the upper part of the midsole, and the arch portion fits closely to the sole of the foot, providing comfort and stability. However, the arch portion of Patent Document 1 only fits closely to the medial arch of the sole of the foot, and does not distribute stress or absorb shock in the midfoot, so there is a problem in that it cannot prevent inversion caused by the metatarsal bones or lateral arch.

The following Patent Document 2 relates to a sole with inclined grooves that correspond to the position of the joints of the foot and the movement of the foot skeleton, and discloses a sole that bends naturally like the foot by forming inclined grooves from the rear end to the entire length of the sole in accordance with the position of the joints of the foot.

However, the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 only configures the sole to bend like the foot with inclined grooves that correspond to the position of the joints in the foot and the movement of the foot skeleton, but does not disclose a structure for dispersing stress or absorbing shock in the midfoot. This means that it is unable to effectively induce pressure transfer in the foot as the foot walks, and there is a problem in that it is difficult to reduce pressure applied to the metatarsals and metatarsal heads, which are the protruding parts of the foot where fatigue accumulates the most during the stance phase of walking.

Korean Registered Utility Model No. 20-2007-0000124 Korean Patent No. 10-1833886

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and the object of the present invention is to provide a sole consisting of a midsole and an outsole, in which an arch support that supports the foot arch is provided in the midfoot part of the midsole, and a curved structure is formed in the midfoot part of the midsole, thereby providing a shock absorbing layer between the midsole and the outsole, and thus providing a shock absorbing layer structure that can disperse pressure on the foot when walking.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sole with a shock absorbing layer structure that can correct the foot by forming a buffer part on the bottom surface of the outsole that can guide the correct center of pressure path when walking, thereby preventing excessive internal rotation that can occur during the stance phase when the foot touches the ground.

The sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention, which is intended to achieve the above-mentioned objective, comprises a midsole that constitutes the upper part of the sole and in which an arch support is formed in the area corresponding to the arch of the foot, and an outsole that constitutes the lower part of the sole and in which a buffer part that guides the path of the center of pressure when the user walks is formed, and is characterized in that a shock absorbing layer that absorbs shock to the midfoot part of the foot is formed between the midsole and outsole.

The midsole is formed with a bent structure in which the part corresponding to the midfoot part of the foot is bent upward, and when combined with the outsole, a hollow layer is formed between the midsole and the outsole.

The bending structure allows the inner part of the foot to bend more than the outer part.

The arch support of the midsole includes an inner arch support that protrudes in a dome shape from the part that corresponds to the inner arch of the foot, and an outer arch support that protrudes in a dome shape from the part that corresponds to the outer arch of the foot.

The medial arch support protrudes more than the lateral arch support.

The rear foot portion of the midsole is formed into a cup shape, with the frame of the midsole embracing the heel of the foot.

The outsole is combined with the midsole to form a first curve structure in which the forefoot is lifted upward, and a second curve structure in which a portion of the rear foot is cut away.

The buffer portion includes a first buffer groove, a second buffer groove, and a third buffer groove formed in the areas corresponding to the first metatarsal head, the fifth metatarsal head, and the calcaneus of the foot.

The buffer section includes a fourth buffer groove in which a streamlined groove is formed along the outer line of the outsole from the second buffer groove to the third buffer groove.

As described above, according to the present invention, by forming an arch support in the midsole that supports the arch of the foot, it is possible to prevent metatarsal inversion, improve the propulsive force of the foot, increase walking efficiency, and maintain proper body alignment.

In addition, according to the present invention, the midfoot part of the midsole is formed with a curved structure, and a shock absorbing layer is formed between the midsole and the outsole, which makes it possible to distribute pressure on the foot when walking.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, a buffer groove is formed on the bottom surface of the outsole that can guide the center of pressure of the foot when walking, preventing excessive inward rotation of the foot that can occur when walking, making it possible to prevent and correct flat feet, and increasing the contact area of the foot to distribute foot pressure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the human foot. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the human foot. FIG. 1 shows the stress distribution in a normal foot and the stress distribution in a flatfoot, where (a) shows the stress distribution in a normal foot, and (b) shows the stress distribution in a flatfoot. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe sole having a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention. 1A and 1B are side views of a shoe sole having a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention, where (a) is an inner side view and (b) is an outer side view. 1 is a front view of a shoe sole having a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of a shoe sole having a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention. 1 is a diagram for explaining the pressure center path on the bottom surface of an outsole of a shoe sole having a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of an outsole of a shoe sole having a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention.

Below, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining the structure of the human foot, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the stress distribution of a normal foot and a flat foot. The sole having the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention can be manufactured to fit the shape of the right foot and the left foot, and since they have a symmetrical structure, the following description will be based on the right foot.

In addition, in the present invention, "inner side" means the inside of the foot when both feet are side by side, and "outer side" means the outside of the foot.

As shown in FIG. 1, the human foot has the first to fifth metatarsal bones that support the instep behind the toes, and the part where each metatarsal bone touches the phalanges is called the metatarsal head. In this invention, the metatarsal head connected to the big toe phalange is described as the first metatarsal head 10, and the metatarsal head connected to the little toe phalange is described as the fifth metatarsal head 20. In general, the first metatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head 20, and the heel bone, the calcaneus 30, which protrude from the sole of the foot, come into contact with the ground first.

The triangular portion with the first metatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head 20, and the calcaneus 30 as vertices forms a curved foot arch. The foot arch connecting the first metatarsal head 10 or the fifth metatarsal head 20 to the calcaneus 30 is called the longitudinal arch, and the portion on the inside of the foot connecting the first metatarsal head 10 to the calcaneus 30 forms the medial longitudinal arch, and the portion on the outside of the foot connecting the fifth metatarsal head 20 to the calcaneus 30 forms the lateral longitudinal arch. In general, the medial longitudinal arch is formed larger than the lateral longitudinal arch.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, because the foot structure differs from person to person, the distribution of stress applied to the sole of the foot differs depending on the foot structure. Figure 3(a) shows the stress distribution of a normal foot, and it can be seen that in the case of a normal foot, the stress is distributed evenly on the metatarsal bones and calcaneus, but in the case of a flat foot as shown in Figure 3(b), the stress tends to concentrate on the calcaneus, i.e., the heel. Conventional ready-made shoes have the problem of being difficult to satisfy all of the different foot shapes of each person.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a sole having an impact absorbing layer structure according to the present invention, Figure 5 is a side view of a sole having an impact absorbing layer structure according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a front view of a sole having an impact absorbing layer structure according to the present invention, and Figure 7 is a rear view of a sole having an impact absorbing layer structure according to the present invention.

The sole having the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention includes a midsole 110 which constitutes the upper part of the sole 100 and has an arch support formed in the part corresponding to the arch of the foot, and an outsole 120 which constitutes the lower part of the sole 100 and has a buffer part formed therein which guides the path of the center of pressure when the user walks, and is characterized in that a shock absorbing layer 130 is formed between the midsole 110 and the outsole 120 to absorb shock to the midfoot part of the foot.

The sole 100 is the base of a slipper or shoe and is manufactured in different sizes to accommodate various foot sizes. The upper part is made of a midsole 110 and the lower part is made of an outsole 120. The midsole 110 and the outsole 120 are made of elastic materials such as urethane or rubber.

The midsole 110 is a sole member that directly supports the sole of the user's foot, and forms a curved structure in which the part corresponding to the midfoot part of the foot is curved upward, i.e., toward the user's longitudinal arch part and the metatarsal bones in the center of the sole. In addition, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the dome-shaped medial arch support 111 and lateral arch support 112 protrude from the medial and lateral midfoot parts of the midsole 110 to support the medial longitudinal arch and lateral longitudinal arch of the user, respectively.

The bent structure of the midsole 110 is bent so that the medial portion of the foot is formed larger than the lateral portion, because the medial longitudinal arch is generally formed deeper than the lateral longitudinal arch. As the bent structure is formed larger on the medial side, the medial arch support 111 also protrudes larger than the lateral arch support 112.

The forefoot of the midsole 110 is curved upward so that it can be inclined toward the user's foot. The inclination of the forefoot allows the shape of the forefoot from the first metatarsal head 10 and the fifth metatarsal head 20 toward the center of the foot to be dorsiflexed, which makes the take-off smoother, makes the dorsiflexion of the toes more natural, and induces an arch curling effect when walking.

In addition, the rear part of the midsole 110 is formed with a cup-shaped heel cup 140, where the frame of the midsole hugs the heel of the foot, collecting the fat layer of the heel, absorbing the shock applied to the heel when walking, and stabilizing posture.

The outsole 120 is a sole member that is connected to the midsole 110 at the bottom of the midsole 110 to cushion the impact from the ground. The outer frame protrudes upward and acts as a locking member to press the midsole 110 into the outsole 120, but is not limited to this. For example, the midsole 110 and the outsole 120 can be bonded together.

In addition, the midfoot portion of the outsole 120 has a flat shape, unlike the bent structure of the midfoot portion of the midsole 110, and when combined with the midsole 110, an impact mitigation layer 130 is formed in the midfoot portion. The impact mitigation layer 130 provides a buffer space that buffers the impact on the midfoot when the user walks, and can distribute stress on the midfoot evenly.

Furthermore, the forefoot portion of the outsole 120, like the forefoot portion of the midsole 110, is curved upward so that it can be inclined toward the user's foot, allowing the user's forefoot to dorsiflex when walking, making the take-off smoother and inducing an arch roll-up effect.

In addition, the rear foot portion of the outsole 120 is formed with a curved structure in which a portion is cut to have a predetermined inclination, so that the heel can stably contact the ground when walking or standing up, and can reduce the impact on the heel when the heel tilts backward. The curved structure of the rear foot portion of the outsole 120 can be formed with different heights on the inside and outside, for example, the curved structure toward the inside can be further cut.

Figure 8 is a diagram for explaining the pressure center path on the bottom surface of an outsole of a shoe sole having a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention, and Figure 9 is a rear view of an outsole of a shoe sole having a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present invention.

On the other hand, in normal walking, the walking cycle is divided into a stance phase and a swing phase, with the stance phase being the period during the walking cycle when the sole 100 is in close contact with the ground, and the swing phase being the period during the walking cycle when the sole 100 is off the ground.

When the sole 100 touches the ground during the stance phase, pressure on the sole of the foot is concentrated on the first metatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head 20, and the calcaneus 30, and if walking continues, these protruding parts of the sole of the foot will feel considerable fatigue.

The sole 100 according to the present invention is formed on the bottom surface of the outsole 120, and has a buffer portion that guides the center of pressure path when walking. More specifically, the buffer portion is a groove formed on the bottom surface of the outsole 120, and can provide a buffer space when walking.

The cushioning section includes a first cushioning groove 121, a second cushioning groove 122, and a third cushioning groove 123 formed on the bottom surface of the outsole 120 at positions corresponding to the first metatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head 20, and the calcaneus 30, respectively. Each cushioning groove is formed, for example, in an elliptical or streamlined shape to effectively cushion a wide range of the metatarsal heads, but is not limited thereto.

Anatomically, the average human foot is formed with a larger medial arch than the lateral arch, and pressure is concentrated on the lateral longitudinal arch rather than the medial longitudinal arch when walking. In other words, during the stance phase, pressure on the sole of the foot starts from the calcaneus 30, and the center of pressure moves along the lateral longitudinal arch to the fifth metatarsal head 20 and the first metatarsal head 10. This path of movement of the center of pressure is called the COP (Center of Pressure) path, and the COP path is formed from the calcaneus 30 to the fifth metatarsal head 20 along the lateral line of the foot.

The buffer section includes a fourth buffer groove 124, which is a streamlined groove formed along the COP path from the third buffer groove 123 to the second buffer groove 122 on the bottom surface of the outsole 120. Thus, when the user walks, the first to fourth buffer grooves guide the pressure on the sole of the foot to move along the correct COP path, improving the support force of the sole 100 and preventing excessive inward rotation that may occur while walking.

As described above, the sole 100 having the shock absorbing layer structure of the present invention forms arch supports 111, 112 in the midsole 110 that support the foot arch, thereby preventing metatarsal inversion, and the sole of the foot adheres closely to the sole 100, improving the propulsion of the foot and maintaining proper body alignment. The bending structure of the midfoot part of the midsole 110 forms a shock absorbing layer 130 between the midsole 110 and the outsole 120, dispersing the stress distribution of the foot when walking.

In addition, the bottom surface of the outsole 120 is formed with a buffer groove that can guide the center of pressure of the foot when walking, preventing excessive inward rotation of the foot that can occur when walking and expanding the contact area of the foot with the ground, dispersing the pressure of the foot.

The above description of the present invention is merely illustrative, and a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical concept or essential features of the present invention.

100 Sole 110 Midsole 120 Outsole 130 Shock absorbing layer 140 Heel cup

Claims (7)

A midsole that constitutes an upper part of the sole and has an arch support formed in a portion that corresponds to the arch of the user's foot;
An outsole that constitutes a lower portion of the sole and has a buffer portion formed therein that guides a pressure center path when a user walks;
Between the midsole and the outsole, a shock absorbing layer is formed to absorb shock to the midfoot of the user ,
The sole having an impact absorbing layer structure, wherein the cushioning portion includes grooves formed on a bottom surface of the outsole, the grooves being a first cushioning groove formed in an elliptical shape corresponding to a first metatarsal head of the user's foot, a second cushioning groove formed in an elliptical shape corresponding to a fifth metatarsal head of the user's foot , a third cushioning groove formed in an elliptical shape corresponding to a portion of the user's foot corresponding to the calcaneus, and a fourth cushioning groove formed in a streamlined shape along the pressure center path from the third cushioning groove to the second cushioning groove and so as to be concave toward the inside of the user's foot . 2. The sole having the shock absorbing layer structure according to claim 1, wherein the midsole is formed in a bent structure in which a portion corresponding to a midfoot of a user's foot is bent upward, and a hollow layer is formed between the midsole and the outsole when combined with the outsole. The shoe sole having the shock absorbing layer structure according to claim 2 , wherein the bending structure bends more at an inner portion of a user's foot than at an outer portion of the user's foot. The arch support of the midsole includes an inner arch support protruding in a dome shape at a portion corresponding to the inner arch of the user's foot,
4. The shoe sole having the shock absorbing layer structure according to claim 3, further comprising an outer arch support protruding in a dome shape at a portion corresponding to the outer arch of the user's foot. A sole having the shock absorbing layer structure described in claim 4, characterized in that the medial arch support protrudes more than the lateral arch support. 4. The shoe sole having a shock absorbing layer structure according to claim 3, wherein the rear foot portion of the midsole is formed in a cup shape such that the frame of the midsole embraces the heel of the user's foot. The sole having the shock absorbing layer structure described in claim 3 is characterized in that the outsole is combined with the midsole to form a first curve structure in which the forefoot is lifted upward and a second curve structure in which a part of the rear foot is cut away.