US20240000187A1

US20240000187A1 - Footwear for healthcare operators, as well as kit comprising the footwear

Info

Publication number: US20240000187A1
Application number: US18/039,223
Authority: US
Inventors: Luigi Cuocolo; Antonio TRANI
Original assignee: Sanbeatles Srl
Current assignee: Sanbeatles Srl
Priority date: 2020-12-03
Filing date: 2021-11-30
Publication date: 2024-01-04
Also published as: WO2022118194A3; WO2022118194A2; EP4255246A2

Abstract

Footwear for healthcare operators includes a sole having an upper portion configured to come into contact with a foot of a healthcare operator, and a lower portion designed to come into contact with a floor. The lower portion of the sole has a first, substantially planar rotation zone positioned to remain at the forefoot of the operator upon wearing the footwear, so as to facilitate a rotation of the footwear around the rotation zone.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to the technical field of footwear, and it particularly relates to a footwear for healthcare operators, such as nurses or doctors.
Furthermore, the invention also relates to a kit comprising such footwear.

STATE OF THE ART

Healthcare operators such as nurses and doctors need suitable healthcare footwear. As a matter fact, on the one hand operators spend most of their time at work on their feet and on the other hand healthcare environments, such as hospitals or nursing homes require that the footwear meets specific requirements and/or standards.
A fundamental characteristic of such footwear lies in the fact that they can be washed, disinfected and they are comfortable. In this sense, footwear of the clog type, fully made of polymeric material having a thick sole, also made of polymeric material, are known.
Furthermore, healthcare operators often have to push trolleys or wheelchairs, to move the patients. Therefore, such operations entail various stresses on the foot and on the footwear which should retain the foot therein.
The known footwear can be improved both as regards comfort and as regards the effectiveness in retaining the foot during use.
Furthermore, after a relatively short use, the known footwear tend to deform under the weight of the operator. Such characteristic becomes more evident as the weight of the operator increases.
On the other hand, though footwear with very rigid soles allow a prolonged use, they are particularly uncomfortable.
A further drawback of the known footwear lies in not preventing diseases or discomfort, such as for example backache, contractures or the like, for the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the drawbacks illustrated above by providing a footwear for healthcare operators that is highly functional and cost-effective.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear for healthcare operators that is particularly comfortable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear for healthcare operators that retains the foot of the operator during use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear for healthcare operators that facilitates the rotation of the operator or the foot of the operator.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear for healthcare operators that is durable over time.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear for healthcare operators that adapts to various operators.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit for manufacturing a footwear that is particularly durable and adaptable to various operators.
These and other objects that will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained as described, illustrated and/or claimed in claims 1 to 31.
The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.
In a further aspect, irrespective of the above, there may be provided for a footwear for healthcare operators according to claims 32 to 41.
The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of such invention.
In a further aspect, irrespective of the above, there may be provided for a footwear for healthcare operators according to claims 42 to 51.
The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of such invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a footwear 1;

FIG. 2 is a top schematic view of a footwear 1 in which the pressure points P1, P2, P3 are shown;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a respectively a schematic exploded and lateral view of an embodiment of a footwear 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a respectively schematic exploded and lateral view of another embodiment of a footwear 1;

FIGS. 7 and 8A are a respectively schematic exploded and lateral view of another embodiment of a footwear 1, with FIG. 8B showing an enlargement of FIG. 8A;

FIGS. 9 and 10A are a respectively schematic exploded and lateral view of another embodiment of a footwear 1, with FIG. 10B showing an enlargement of FIG. 10A;

FIGS. 11 and 12A are a respectively schematic exploded and lateral view of another embodiment of a footwear 1, with FIG. 12B showing some enlargements of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a footwear 1, with FIGS. 14A and 14B showing enlarged details of the footwear 1 of FIG. 13 in two operating steps with a support disc-shaped element 21 respectively inserted and removed into/from the footwear 1;

FIG. 15 is an exploded schematic view of the footwear 1 of FIG. 13 ;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are a schematic view of the footwear 1 in two different operating steps rotated with respect to each other, with FIGS. 18 and 19 showing some enlargements, respectively of FIG. 16 and of FIG. 17 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached figures, herein described is a footwear 1 particularly suitable for healthcare operators such as doctors, nurses or the like. Therefore, such footwear 1 may preferably be a healthcare footwear and it may thus be suitable for use in environments such as hospitals, clinics, hospitalisation facilities or the like.
The footwear 1 may have any configuration and it may comprise a sole 10. The latter may be particularly suitable for supporting the foot of the operator during work. For example, the footwear 1 may have the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 .
Depending on the embodiments, the sole 10 of the footwear 1 may have different characteristics so as to suitably support the operator, retain the foot in the correct position, prevent injuries to the operator and/or facilitate the movement thereof.
Essentially, the footwear may comprise differentiated bearing zones which may comprise reinforcement elements for vertically supporting the foot of the operator, counteracting elements for horizontally supporting the foot of the operator and/or a pin element for facilitating the rotation of the foot of the operator on the floor.
In particular, the sole 10 may have an upper portion 11 with an upper surface 12 which may come into contact with the foot of the operator and a lower portion 15 with a lower surface 16 which may come into contact with the floor.
Preferably, but not exclusively, the upper portion 11, may be the insole while the lower portion 15 may be the tread.
According to a particular aspect of the invention, the sole 10 may be configured to facilitate the rotation of the footwear 1 with respect to the floor. In particular, the lower portion 15 of the footwear 1 may be configured so as to facilitate the rotation of the footwear 1 with respect to a rotation zone 27.
In this manner, when the operator needs to rotate the foot, the footwear 1 may facilitate or promote such rotation around the zone 27.
For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 10A, 12A and 13 , such zone 27 may be advantageously positioned so as to remain at the forefoot of the operator.
Such characteristic is particularly advantageous given that the operator may rotate the foot even when the foot is in the thrust or load step, a situation in which load is applied onto the forefoot. For example, such movement may be carried out while moving a patient.
In other words, the rotation zone 27 may act as a pin so as to facilitate or promote the rotation of the lower portion 15 and therefore of the footwear 1 with respect to a rotation axis Z passing through the zone 27.
The lower surface 16 may therefore comprise the rotation zone 27. The latter may be substantially planar and lie in a plane n. In particular, depending on the configuration of the footwear 1, the entire lower surface 16 may lie on a plane π (for example FIG. 4 ) or the lower surface 16 may be substantially arch-shaped and have a heel (FIG. 6 ).
Advantageously, in this latter case, as better explained hereinafter, in the event of the displacement of the weight on the forefoot, the zone 27 may be in contact with the floor while the remaining zone 17 of the surface 16 may be substantially lifted from the floor.
In other words, during use, the rotation zone 27 may therefore remain substantially coplanar to the floor, while the rotation axis Z may be substantially transversal with respect to the plane π, preferably substantially perpendicular with respect to the plane π, and therefore with respect to the floor.
The rotation zone 27 of the surface 16 may have a coefficient of friction in rotation different with respect to that of the remaining zone 17 of the surface 16. In particular, such coefficient of friction may be different upon driving the footwear 1 and therefore the surface 16 in rotation.
According to a particular embodiment, the zone 27 may have a lower coefficient of friction with the floor with respect to the zone 17 so that upon the rotation of the foot of the operator, the zone 27 easily slides on the floor therefore facilitating the rotation of the foot.
It is clear that the difference of coefficient of friction is to be considered based on the assumption that the other conditions, such as the configuration of the floor and the load applied, are the identical. Such characteristic, that is the difference of coefficient of friction, may be obtained in different manners.
For example, the zone 27 may have a plurality of substantially circular or concentric grooves or protrusions, while the zone 17 may be configured in a per se known manner, with substantially horizontal or vertical grooves or protrusions. In this manner, along the directions X and Y perpendicular to each other and lying in the plane π, the coefficient of friction of the zones 27 and 17 may be substantially identical, while upon the rotation around the axis Z the coefficient of friction of the zone 27 may be significantly lower than that of the zone 17.
On the other hand, irrespective of the presence and of the geometry of the grooves or protrusions, the zone 27 may be made of a different material with respect to the material of the zone 17. For example, the zone 17 may be made of “soft” materials such as thermoplastic rubber or the like with high coefficient of friction, while the zone 27 may be made of “hard” materials such as rigid polymers or technopolymers with low coefficient of friction. It is clear that high or low coefficient of friction is considered relating to the same floor.
The portion 15 may therefore comprise a pin element 20 made of such material with low coefficient of friction which may include the zone 27.
For example, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 10A and 12A, the pin element 20 may be a disc-shaped element or disc 21 which may preferably have a circular-shaped base. The axis Z may pass through the disc 21 or it may be the central axis of the disc 21.
The disc 21 may include the zone 27 having a low coefficient of friction with respect to the zone 17. In particular, at least one part of the lower surface of the disc 21 or, preferably, the entire lower surface of the disc 21 may define such zone 27 with low friction.
The portion 15 may comprise a seat 18 for housing the disc 21. In particular, the disc 21 may be inserted into the seat 18 so as to be integrally joined with the portion 15.
The disc 21 and the seat 18 may be mutually configured so that when the disc 21 is inserted into the seat 18, the surface 27 of the disc 21 cooperates with the zone 17 to define the substantially flat surface 16. In other words, the disc 21 may be inserted so as to remain substantially flush with the surface 16.
On the other hand, according to a different embodiment, the disc 21 may protrude slightly with respect to the zone 17 so that upon loading the forefoot, the force is transmitted to the ground substantially through the surface 27 and therefore the rotation around the axis Z of the footwear 1 is particularly facilitated.
Suitably, a support element 180 arranged at the portion 15 and designed to remain flush with the surface 16 which may define the seat 18 may be provided for. In other words, the disc 21 may be inserted into the support element 180.
The support element 180 may for example be forged or glued with the lower portion 15. In other words, it may be an integral part of the latter.
This may allow prevent dirt or water from entering into the footwear 1 through the seat 18 even when the disc 21 is not present.
Preferably, such element 180 may be circular-shaped. For example, as shown in the attached drawings, may comprise a substantially circular flat central zone 182 and a side wall 183 extending from the latter so as to internally define the seat 18 for the disc 21.
The disc 21 and the element 180 may be mutually shaped and counter-shaped.
The disc 21 may therefore be inserted into the seat 18 and retained therein by means of suitable means of the per se known type. For example, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 10A, the disc 21 and the support element 180 may be mutually configured to allow the snap-insertion of the disc 21 into the latter 180.
In particular, the support element 180 may comprise an annular relief 181 while the disc 21 may comprise a corresponding relief 211.
The disc 21 may be made of a single piece, for example as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 10A. In this case, the disc 21 may be entirely made of the material used for the zone 27.
On the other hand, the disc 21 may be made of several parts, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, into two parts. In this case, the disc 21 may comprise a part 210 which may include the zone 27 and it may be made of such material with low friction and a support part 212.
Preferably, such support part 212 may be inserted into the seat 18 and it may comprise the relief 211 designed to interact with the corresponding relief 181 of the support element 180 so that the disc 21 is retained in the seat 18. In other words, the coupling/de-coupling of the annular relief 211 and of the relief 181 may correspond to the insertion/removal of the disc 21 into/from the seat 18.
Suitably, upon inserting the disc 21 into the support element 180, the latter may be constrained to each other so as to be substantially integrally joined therewith.
It is clear that the two parts 210 and 212 of the disc 21 may be coupled to each other in a per se known manner, for example they may be coupled by gluing.
Possibly, the support part 212 may have a width substantially similar to the internal width of the support element 180, while the part 210 including the zone 27 may have a different width, preferably smaller.
In this manner, the forces acting on the part 212 may be applied on the floor by means of the zone 27 which may have an operating surface in contact with the floor 27′, that is the footprint, substantially smaller than the part 212 and much smaller than the surface 16.
Preferably, the entire weight of the operator may be applied to the ground by means of the zone 27 and more particularly the operating surface 27′. It is clear that should the zone 27 be flat, the zone 27 and the operating surface 27′ may coincide.
Preferably, the disc 21 and the support element 180 may be snap-coupled. Possibly, the disc 21 may be removably inserted into the support element 180.
In this manner, for example in case of wear out, the disc 21 may be replaced without having to replace the entire footwear 1.
Suitably, the operator may remove the disc 21 by simply pulling the latter. The material that the disc 21 is made of may deform so as to allow the removal thereof from the seat 18.
According to a different embodiment, the pin element 20 may be rotatably movable with respect to the remainder of the sole 10. In this manner, when the operator rotates the foot, the zone 27 may remain substantially integrally joined with the ground, while the zone 17 may rotate around the zone 27, that is around the axis Z, with the foot of the operator. The axis Z may be the central axis of the disc 21.
In this case, the zone 27 may preferably have a coefficient of friction in rotation greater than the zone 17 of the surface 16.
Suitably, for example as illustrated in FIG. 13 , the pin element 20 may comprise, or consist of a disc 21 may be positioned rotatably movable in the seat 18. In this case the disc 21 may rotate with respect to the support element 180 which may be integrally joined with the rest of the footwear which will rotate integrally joined with the foot of the operator.
The disc 21 may therefore include the zone 27 which may be made of a material with a high coefficient of friction, for example made of rubber, and/or it may be shaped so as to have a high coefficient of friction in rotation. For example, as shown in FIG. 15 , the zone 27 may have a plurality of radial shapes 271.
Possibly, in this case, the disc 21 may be more rigid with respect to the rest of the lower portion 15, or with respect to a zone of the portion 15 in proximity of the zone 27.
In this manner, when the weight of the operator is loaded onto the forefoot, the entire weight may be applied onto the floor through the disc 21 and therefore the zone 27. By so doing, the friction between the zone 27 and the floor may be particularly high, and at the same time the zone 17 may be substantially spaced from the floor. In this manner, the rotation of the footwear 1 with respect to the zone 27 may be particularly facilitated.
The disc 21 may be made of a single piece or, preferably, it may be made of several parts, for example two parts. The disc 21 may therefore comprise the lower part 210 which includes the zone 27 which may for example be made of rubber, and an upper connection element 212 which may be rotatably coupled with the support element 180 inserted into the seat 18.
The part 212 may comprise the relief 211 while the support element 180 may comprise a corresponding relief 181. In this manner, the part 212 and the element 180 may be easily snap-coupled.
Preferably, such coupling may be of the removable type, so as to allow the insertion and the removal of the part 212 into/from the element 180, and therefore the disc 21 into/from the seat 18.
With particular reference to FIG. 14A which schematically shows the forces acting in case of vertical load, when the weight is loaded on the forefoot, the latter may be applied on the portion 182 of the support element 180.
Suitably, the parts 212 and 210 of the disc 21 may be configured so that the forces acting on the portion 182 are applied on the floor by means of the zone 27 which may have an operating surface in contact with the floor 27′, that is the footprint, substantially smaller than the portion 182 and much smaller than the surface 16.
Preferably, the entire weight of the operator may be applied to the ground through the zone 27 and more particularly the operating surface 27′. It is clear that should the zone 27 be flat, the zone 27 and the operating surface 27′ may coincide.
Thanks to this characteristic, the zone 27 may exert a particularly high friction.
According to a particular aspect of the invention, the central portion 182 of the support element 180 may bend slightly once the operator loads the weight thereon.
Suitably, the bending of the central portion 182 may compress the disc 21 so as to increase the coefficient of friction.
Possibly, the bending of the central portion 182 may promote the lateral dilatation of the disc 21, or of a part 210 thereof, so as to reduce the friction with the side wall 183 of the support element 180, as schematically illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 14A in which the arrows do not indicate the counteracting direction but the internal forces of the part 210 of the disc 21.
Possibly, the disc 21 may further comprise a plurality of vertical strips 213, that is substantially transversal to the plane it, so that the lateral thrusts, that is parallel to the plane π, following the vertical loading of the disc 21 due to the weight are discharged on such vertical strips 213 and only a small part thereof on the lateral surface 183.
In other words, due to such configuration, the displacement of the weight on the forefoot may correspond to a decrease in resistance to the rotation of the disc 21 in the seat 18 and to the application of the entire weight on the ground through the operating surface 27′ therefore increasing the coefficient of friction at the zone 27 and decreasing it in the zone 17.
It is clear that the element 180 and the disc 21 may be mutually configured so that once coupled the latter may rotate with respect to the former.
Similarly to the description disclosed above, the disc 21 may comprise one or more reliefs 211 while the element 180 may comprise corresponding reliefs 181 so as to allow the insertion and removal of the disc 21.
According to a particular aspect of the invention, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 , the element 180 and the disc 21 may be mutually configured so that the mutual rotation with respect to the axis Z may correspond to the sliding along the axis. In other words, when the operator rotates the foot, the disc 21 may protrude by a height h with respect to the remaining zone 17 of the sole. Preferably, such height h may be in the order of few millimetres, for example of about 1-2 mm.
Thanks to this characteristic, the weight of the operator may be substantially exclusively transferred onto the ground through the zone 27, while the zone 17 may be substantially spaced from the floor. In this manner, the rotation of the foot of the operator may be particularly facilitated.
According to a particular aspect of the invention, irrespective of whether the disc 21 is fixed, that is integrally joined with the zone 17, or rotatably movable with respect to the zone 17, the disc 21 may be configured differently so as to resist and/or deform differently depending on the vertical load, that is substantially perpendicular to the plane π, exerted thereon.
Suitably, the footwear 1 may comprise the disc 21 having a different predetermined resistance to crushing, that is to the vertical load of the user, depending on the size of the footwear 1 (generally a larger footwear corresponds to a larger weight of the operator).
Possibly, the operator may replace a worn out too rigid or too soft disc 21 with a new disc 21 or a disc having a greater or lower resistance depending on the needs.
A kit comprising a footwear 1, possibly with a disc 21, and at least another disc 21 or a plurality of discs 21 which may be identical to each other (for example to replace the former once worn out) or different from each other, so that the operator inserts the disc 21 having the desired predetermined resistance into the seat 18, may therefore be provided for.
For example, two discs 21 may have the portion 210 made of different material, for example more rigid in one case and softer in the other so that they have different resistance to compression and therefore provide a different support to the foot of the operator.
Due to these characteristics, the footwear 1 may be particularly effective and particularly comfortable at the same time. As a matter fact, an excessively rigid or excessively soft disc 21 may jeopardise both the comfort of use and the effectiveness in facilitating the rotation around the zone 27. For example, such situations could occur in the event of tall and slim or short and overweight operators, same case applying to male or female operators.
According to a particular aspect of the invention, the sole 10 may have one or more zones 30 configured to differently support the foot of the operator. Preferably, such zones 30 may be zones with high resistance to compression, that is they may provide support to the foot greater than the remaining parts of the sole.
Suitably, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 , the zones 30 may be at one or more of points P1, P2, P3. As a matter fact, such points P1, P2, P3 may correspond to the points in which the foot applies the weight on the surface 12 of the sole 10.
According to a first embodiment, the sole 10 may have a different thickness at one or more of zones 30. In particular, the zone 31 of the sole 10 at the heel of the operator may have thickness greater than the zone 32, 33 of the sole 10 at the forefoot of the operator. In other words, the surface 12 may be substantially inclined. As shown in the attached drawings, the footwear 1 may also have or not have a heel.
Preferably but not exclusively, the difference d of the thickness between the zone 31 and the zone 32, 33 may be greater than 15 mm, preferably greater than 20 mm. For example, such difference d in thickness may be comprised between 20 and 24 mm.
Therefore, the inclination of the sole entails a different support of the zone 31 and of the zone 32, 33 to the foot of the operator.
Advantageously, such difference d may compensate the anatomical difference of the human foot. As a matter fact, in this manner, the foot of the operator may be slightly inclined and about half of the weight may be applied onto the sole 10 at the point P1 and therefore at the zone 31 and half of the weight at the points P2 and P3 and therefore at the zones 32, 33.
The footwear 1 may therefore be particularly comfortable to wear.
According to a different embodiment, irrespective of the inclination of the sole 10, the latter may have support zones 30 configured to mutually differently support the foot.
In particular, the zone 31 and/or 32 and/or 33 may have a resistance to compression greater than the remaining zones of the sole 10. Advantageously, as described above, such zones 31, 32, 33 may correspond to points P1, P2, P3.
Suitably, reinforcement elements 310, 320, 330 having high resistance to compression which may be arranged in one or more of the points P1, P2, P3 to define the support zones 31, 32, 33. Such reinforcement elements may be made of silicone or rubber.
Advantageously, the sole 10 may comprise suitable seats 311, 321, 331 for the reinforcement elements 310, 320, 330.
Such reinforcement elements 310, 320, 330, same case applying to the seats 311, 321, 331 may vary in number and shape depending on the preferences.
FIGS. 5, 9 and 11 show a footwear 1 with the reinforcement element 340 and the reinforcement element 310 positioned in the seat 341 and 311 which may be at the heel of the operator.
According to a particular preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, the seat 341 and the reinforcement element 340 may be mutually configured so that the latter may be inserted/removed into/from the former.
For example, the seat 341 may have a substantially cylindrical extension along the axis Y or parallel thereto and they may have an opening accessible from the external so as to allow the insertion and the removal of the reinforcement element. Preferably, the seat 341 may be a through hole passing through the tread 15 and a pair of opposite openings may be provided for so as to facilitate the insertion and the removal of the reinforcement element 340.
Similarly to the description disclosed above relating to the disc 21, reinforcement elements 340 having different resistance so as to support the operator differently depending on the needs, may be provided for.
Therefore, the operator may replace the reinforcement element 340 once worn out or it may replace the reinforcement element 340 with another one having a different resistance.
On the other hand, the footwear 1 may be particularly quick and cost-effective to manufacture given that the footwear 1 may be manufactured with the seat 341 and insert the reinforcement element 340 having a predetermined resistance depending on the needs.
For example, a kit which may comprise a plurality of reinforcement elements 340 may be provided for. For example, a reinforcement element for operators weighing less than one for operators weighing between 60 and 80 kg and another for operators weighing more than 80 kg.
The footwear 1 may therefore be cost-effective and comfortable.
FIG. 5 shows a footwear 1 having the reinforcement element 310 positioned at the point P1 and the reinforcement elements 320 and 330 positioned at the points P2 and P3.
Suitably, the insole 11 may comprise the seats 311, 321 and 331 for the reinforcement elements 310, 320 and 330.
On the other hand, this configuration is not exclusive. For example, FIG. 9 shows a footwear 1 in which the reinforcement elements 320 and 330 and the respective seats 321 and 331 have a different geometry.
Suitably, the pin element 20 described above, preferably the disc 21, may define a reinforcement element and it may be at the points P2 and P3 as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 7, 9, 11, 13 .
Possibly, for example as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 , the footwear 1 may therefore comprise both the reinforcement element 340 and the disc-shaped reinforcement element 21 both of which may be configured or selected depending on the weight of the user.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the footwear 1 may be configured to retain the foot of the operator laterally, that is along directions substantially parallel to the plane π.
In particular, the footwear 1 may retain the foot along the axis X, that is avoid the sliding thereof forward and backward along the axis Y transversal to the axis X or parallel to the axis Y. In this manner the operator may move the patients, move the beds or other similar operations safely.
Advantageously, the footwear 1 may comprise suitable counteracting elements 40 to retain the foot.
According to a particular aspect, the footwear 1 may comprise a “high” upper, that is it may be a footwear of the type known as “sanbeatles”. In other words, the upper may remain at the ankle of the operator. In this manner, the footwear 1 may laterally support the foot of the operator.
Furthermore, a cap arranged at the tip of the foot may be provided for. Such cap may counteract the sliding of the foot. Suitably, the cap may be made of a rigid material so as to protect the foot of the operator.
Furthermore, advantageously, a counteracting element 41 arranged at the heel may be provided for and it may be configured to retain the heel both along a direction of the axis X and along both directions of the axis Y or substantially parallel thereto.
Therefore, the counteracting element 41 may have a substantially U-shaped base and a substantially L-shaped section with a side wall 413 arranged along the entire extension of the counteracting element 41 to define a seat 411 suitable to partially house the heel of the operator.
It is clear that the footwear 1 may comprise the counteracting element 41 irrespective of the presence or absence of the pin element 20 and of the differentiated support zones 30.
For example, the footwear 1 may comprise the counteracting element 41 (FIG. 3 ) alone or it may comprise the counteracting element 41 and the reinforcement element 340 (FIG. 9 ) or the counteracting element 41 and the reinforcement elements 320 and 330 (FIG. 5 ) or the counteracting element 41 and the disc 21 (FIG. 13 ). Possibly, the footwear 1 may further comprise the counteracting element 41 and the disc 21 and one or more of the reinforcement elements 310, 320, 330 (FIGS. 9 and 11 ).
Possibly, the footwear 1 may further comprise a rear counteracting element 42 and/or a front counteracting element 43, which may respectively remain at the heel and at the instep of the foot of the operator.
The counteracting element 42 may therefore counteract the thrusts of the foot along a direction of the axis X while the reinforcement element 43 may counteract the thrust of the foot in the opposite direction along the axis X.
Such counteracting elements 42, 43 may be made of flexible material, preferably elastic.
Furthermore, the counteracting elements 42, 43 may be substantially curved so as to adapt to the conformation of the foot.
It is clear that one or more of the counteracting elements 40, same case applying to one or more of the reinforcement elements 30 may not be exposed and they may be, for example, fully or partially embedded in the footwear 1. FIGS. 4, 6, 8A, 10A, 12A, 14A actually schematically show the footwear 1 wherein the solid arrows indicate the counteracting action exerted by the different elements, in particular by the reinforcement 30 and/or counteracting 40 elements.
Generally, thanks to the presence of one or more of the reinforcement elements 30 and/or of the disc 21, the foot of the operator may be correctly supported both in terms of resistance of the reinforcements and in terms of positioning of the reinforcements as described above.
The correct support of the foot allows both high comfort and prevention of possible discomfort or diseases, such as backache, knee ache or the like, for the operator.
Furthermore, the counteracting elements 40 may allow to stably retain the foot inside the footwear 1 and furthermore, they may counteract the exit of the foot therefrom due to sudden movements that they encounter when moving a patient or a bed.
Lastly, the presence of the pin element 20 may facilitate the rotation of the footwear 1 and therefore of the foot of the operator during particular movements to which healthcare operators are subjected, such as for example moving patients.
In other words, the footwear 1 may comprise the reinforcement elements 30, 21 for vertically supporting the foot of the operator, the counteracting elements 40 for horizontally supporting the foot of the operator and/or the pin element 20 to facilitate the rotation of the foot of the operator.
The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the attached claims. All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the technical needs, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1.-51. (canceled)

52. Footwear for healthcare operators, comprising:

a sole having an upper portion designed to come into contact with a foot of a healthcare operator, and a lower portion with a lower surface designed to come into contact with a floor,

wherein the lower portion of the sole comprises a first planar rotation zone positioned to remain at a forefoot of the operator wearing the footwear so as to facilitate a rotation of the footwear around the first planar rotation zone; and

a disc-shaped element that defines the first planar rotation zone, the lower portion of the sole comprising a support element that defines a circular seat designed to house the disc-shaped element, the disc-shaped element being rotatably movable within the support element,

wherein the support element is flush with the lower surface, the disc being inserted into the support element to remain flush with the lower surface or to partially protrude therefrom, and

wherein the disc is removably insertable into the support element, so as to be replaceable.

53. The footwear according to claim 52, wherein the lower portion of the sole further comprises a second zone, the first planar rotation zone and the second zone being configured so as to have a different coefficient of friction with the floor, so that upon the rotation of the foot of an operator the second zone easily slides on the floor to simplify the rotation of the foot.

54. The footwear according to claim 53, wherein the first planar rotation zone is made of a first material, the second zone being made of a second material different from the first material.

55. The footwear according to claim 52, wherein the disc-shaped element comprises a deformable portion which includes the first rotation zone, the disc-shaped element being configured so that a loading thereof by the forefoot of an operator promotes a compression of the deformable portion.

56. The footwear according to claim 55, wherein the deformable portion has an operative surface disposed to come into contact with the floor, the operative surface being smaller than the rotation zone so that a weight of the operator is loaded only on the operative surface and operative surface latter has a high friction with the floor.

57. The footwear according to claim 53, wherein the sole has one or more high reinforcement zones configured to support the foot of the operator in one or more points.

58. The footwear according to claim 57, further comprising a first heel zone of the sole designed to remain at a heel of the operator and a second forefoot zone designed to remain at the forefoot of the operator, the first heel zone having a greater thickness than the second forefoot zone of the sole so that the heel of the operator has a greater distance from the floor than the forefoot, causing the foot to be inclined.

59. The footwear according to claim 58, wherein a difference between a thickness of the first heel zone and the thickness of the second forefoot zone is equal to or greater than 20 mm.

60. The footwear according to claim 58, wherein the first heel zone of the sole comprises a first reinforcement element having a first predetermined resistance to compression.

61. The footwear according to claim 60, wherein the first heel zone comprises a first seat, the first reinforcement element being insertable and removable into and from the first seat of the first zone.

62. The footwear according to claim 61, wherein the first heel zone comprises a second reinforcement element, the sole comprising a second seat for the second reinforcement element.

63. The footwear according to claim 62, wherein the second forefoot zone comprises a third reinforcement element having a second predetermined resistance to compression.

64. The footwear according to claim 63, wherein the second zone comprises a third seat for the third reinforcement element.

65. The footwear according to claim 64, wherein the sole comprises an insole and a tread, the insole including the first seat for the first reinforcement element, the tread including the second and the third seat for the second and the third reinforcement element.

66. A kit comprising:

a footwear according to claim 52; and

an accessory,

wherein the accessory comprises a first and a second disc-shaped element, the first and the second disc-shaped element having different resistances to compression, the first and the second disc-shaped element being alternatively insertable into the circular seat.