US20250176660A1

US20250176660A1 - Padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type

Info

Publication number: US20250176660A1
Application number: US18/523,882
Authority: US
Inventors: Jin Hoo BU; Dong Yeoub KIM
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Bu Jin Hoo
Priority date: 2023-11-30
Filing date: 2023-11-30
Publication date: 2025-06-05

Abstract

Proposed is a padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type. The padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type that induces a posture in which the heel is maintained at 90° to the ground, so that the foot is in balance or in a neutral position, thereby maintaining overall body balance by allowing an attachment pad with a material, thickness, and hardness set to suit the user's foot condition to be attached to a set area on the surface of a shoe sole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type and, more particularly, to a padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type that induces a posture in which the heel is maintained at 90° to the ground, so that the calcaneal angle is neutral, which is the resting calcaneal stance position (RSCP) angle, when upright, thereby maintaining overall body balance by allowing an attachment pad with a material, thickness, and hardness set to suit the user's foot condition to be attached to a set area on the surface of a shoe sole.

Description of the Related Art

Feet are one of the most essential parts of the body for balance, and in order to maintain overall body balance, it is important to first maintain the balance of the feet in a neutral position and keep the heels at 90 degrees from the ground. If the feet and ankles are not balanced, the body may become distorted and deformed.
Moreover, even though the pressure of each region of the foot is different, most outsoles and midsoles of shoes have the same hardness throughout the sole. Thus, a shoe wears out easily on the high-pressure regions of the sole of the foot, and after a certain period of time, the difference between the worn areas and non-worn areas increases, causing the foot to become more distorted. When the wearer continues to wear shoes with asymmetric sole wear, the imbalance in the body becomes more severe.
Technologies to compensate for these shortcomings are being researched. Examples of such technology include Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2005-0122205 “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING HUMAN BALANCE AND GAIT AND PREVENTING FOOT INJURIES” and Korean Patent No. 10-1557782 “ORTHOTIC FOOT DEVICE WITH REMOVABLE COMPONENTS SUPPORT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME”.
The apparatus of the first example consists of an electrode or a vibration actuator, an insole, a sock, a shoe, a shoe insertion member, a platform, and a control device to generate non-deterministic random signals and repetitive pattern signals, which may improve foot sensation and blood flow and promote therapeutic effects. However, external stimulation is needed and there are limits to the effectiveness of maintaining body balance during normal walking.
The device of the second example consists of a flexible insole sash, an arch support member, a metatarsal support member, a cushion layer, and an intermediate attachment concave part, which may improve comfort and wearability. However, there are limits to maintaining body balance by manufacturing shoes that fit an individual's body type and characteristics.

Documents of Related Art

(Patent Document 0001) Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2005-0122205 “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING HUMAN BALANCE AND GAIT AND PREVENTING FOOT INJURIES”
(Patent Document 0002) Korean Patent No. 10-1557782 “ORTHOTIC FOOT DEVICE WITH REMOVABLE SUPPORT COMPONENTS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present disclosure has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present disclosure is intended to provide a new type of padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type, which guides the heel to maintain a 90° angle to the ground (RCSP) to make the balance of the foot neutral by allowing an attachment pad, such as a medial longitudinal arch pad, a medial heel pad, a lateral heel pad, a cuboid pad, and a metatarsal pad, with material, thickness, and hardness set to suit the user's foot condition to be attached to a set area on the surface of a shoe sole.
Furthermore, an objective of the present disclosure is to reduce pain by reducing pressure on the plantar fascia and to help the wearer walk normally.
In order to achieve the above objective, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type that maintains body balance by correcting pressure on a sole of a foot, the shoe including: a shoe body 200 having a shoe sole 100 in contact with a user's foot; and an attachment pad 300 attached to a setting area of a surface of the shoe sole 100 to protrude upward and has a material, thickness, and hardness set according to a condition of the user's foot, wherein the attachment pad 300 may consist of one selected from the group of a connection pad, a calcaneus pad 350, and a metatarsal pad 360, wherein the connection pad may consist of: a medial longitudinal arch pad 310 disposed on an inner edge of a midfoot corresponding to a foot arch, convexly formed in a half-moon shape or a streamlined shape, made of a hard material, and formed to a thickness corresponding to a height at which the foot arch has collapsed to perform a function of raising the collapsed foot arch; a medial heel pad 320 arranged to be connected to the medial longitudinal arch pad 310, disposed on an inner edge of a hindfoot corresponding to the foot arch, convexly formed with a curved line, made of a hard material, and performing a function of straightening a heel that has collapsed inward to a neutral position; a lateral heel pad 330 arranged to be connected to the medial heel pad 320, placed on an outer edge of the hindfoot in response to the foot arch, convexly: formed with a curved line, and having an edge thickness corresponding to an angle at which the heel is collapsed; and a cuboid pad 340 arranged to be connected to the lateral heel pad 330, placed on an outer edge of the midfoot, convexly formed in a dome shape, the calcaneus pad 350 may be placed in a rear central portion of the midfoot and a front central portion of the hindfoot corresponding to a calcaneus, and may be convexly formed in a circular or an oval shape, and may be made of memory foam materials to absorb a load imposed on the calcaneus, thereby reducing pain caused by lipoatrophy, and heel pain caused by mid-bone spurs and plantar fasciitis, and the metatarsal pad 360 may be disposed on a rear portion of a forefoot and a front portion of the midfoot corresponding to metatarsal bones, may have a “∧” shaped toe support end formed convexly in an area between a big toe and an index toe, may be made of a material with bounce characteristics, and may guide the big toe to be positioned straight to provide a repulsive force to the big toe when the heel is lifted while walking, thereby inducing normal walking, wherein the calcaneus pad 350 may be divided into a plurality of pieces to correspond to a shape of the calcaneus.
In this case, the calcaneus pad 350 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the calcaneus by consisting of a central portion 352 and a plurality of side portions 354 of different heights or hardness that surround the central portion.
In addition, a bridge pad 370 may be further provided to connect the calcaneus pad 350 and at least one of the medial longitudinal arch pad 310, the medial heel pad 320, the lateral heel pad 330, and the cuboid pad 340 of the connection pad, thereby distributing the load received by the calcaneus pad.
In addition, the shoe body 200 may be divided into six division regions 110: a medial forefoot region, a lateral forefoot region, a medial midfoot region, a lateral midfoot region, a medial hindfoot region, and a lateral hindfoot region, and any of the division regions 110 where the attachment pad 300 is to be placed may be selected according to a user's foot type corresponding to individual division regions 110, and the attachment pad 300 having hardness and thickness set for each selected division region 110 may be placed in the corresponding division region 110.
The attachment pad 300 may be made of any one material selected from the group of a material with bounce characteristics, a memory foam material, and a hard material, and the material may be selected according to the user's foot type corresponding to individual division regions 110.
The attachment pad 300 may be placed in the division region 110 selected to correspond to each of ten abnormal foot types, and a combination of one or more attachment pads 300 having hardness, thickness, a shape, and a material set to suit each of the abnormal foot types may be disposed in the shoe body 200, wherein the ten abnormal foot types may include a normal foot hindfoot valgus type, a normal arch with excessive hindfoot valgus type, a normal arch hindfoot varus type, a flat foot neutral alignment type, a flat foot hindfoot valgus type, a flat foot with excessive hindfoot valgus type, a hollow foot neutral alignment type, a hollow foot hindfoot valgus type, a hollow foot with excessive hindfoot valgus type, and a hollow foot with excessive hindfoot varus type.
According to the above-described technical solutions, the following effects can be expected:
First, an adhesive pad is attached to the surface of the sole to ensure that the alignment of the heel is close to neutral, allowing normal walking and overall body balance to be maintained.
Second, abnormal foot types other than the neutral (normal) foot type can be maintained in a type close to a normal foot.
Third, pressure or strain on sore points of plantar fasciitis in patients with plantar fasciitis can be reduced, and a walking pattern of a patient with plantar fasciitis can be improved to restore a normal gait.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objectives, features, and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are exemplary views of a padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view showing division regions of a shoe body according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are exemplary configuration views in which an attachment pad according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is disposed in the division regions of the shoe body;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the arrangement configuration of the attachment pad according to the embodiment of the present disclosure as seen from the rear end of the shoe body;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view of a metatarsal pad according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view of a medial longitudinal arch pad according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view of a medial heel pad according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view of a lateral heel pad according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view of a cuboid pad according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in normal foot neutral alignment according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in normal foot hindfoot valgus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in a normal arch with excessive hindfoot valgus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in a normal arch with hindfoot varus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in flat foot neutral alignment according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in flat foot hindfoot valgus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in a flat foot with excessive hindfoot valgus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in hollow foot neutral alignment according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in hollow foot hindfoot valgus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in a hollow foot with excessive hindfoot valgus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a view showing the center of gravity measured in a hollow foot with excessive hindfoot varus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 22 is a view showing measured foot conditions according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 23 is an exemplary view of a middle pad according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 24 is an exemplary view of a bridge pad connected to the middle pad according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description and the accompanying drawings are provided for the overall understanding of the present disclosure, and the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Detailed descriptions of well-known configurations and functions that may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure will be omitted.
The present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings, and in describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that a detailed description of related known technology or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description will be omitted.
The terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions in the present disclosure, and may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator, and thus the definition should be made based on the content throughout this specification explaining the present disclosure.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type according to an embodiment of the present disclosure consists of a shoe body 200 and an attachment pad 300.
To manufacture a padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type according to the present disclosure, the user's feet are measured, and the attachment pad 300 reflecting the measured results is attached to the shoe so that the gait, foot type, and sole pressure may be corrected by wearing custom-made shoes. The measurements are made using a base plate made of transparent cellophane or acrylic on which the heel line of a normal foot is projected, and an imbalance pad manufactured to Position and balance values are place the foot unbalanced.
measured by placing the foot to be measured on the imbalance pad so that a measurer may position himself or herself in a neutral position, and the foot type of the foot to be measured is determined on the basis of the difference between the base plate and the measurer's foot. In this case, as in FIG. 22 , in determining the type of the foot according to the resting calcaneal stance position (RSCP), A shows a neutral foot type, showing that a normal foot remains neutral, B represents the foot type of hindfoot valgus, and C represents the foot type of hindfoot varus.
The shoe body 200 has a shoe sole 100 that the user's foot comes into contact with. The shoe body 200 may be a shoe such as a sneaker, a heeled shoe, a flat shoe, a boot, etc., having an upper 210 as in FIG. 1A, or may be a shoe such as a sandal, a slipper, etc., having a sandal band 220 as in FIG. 1B.
As shown in FIG. 2 , the shoe body 200 may be divided into: a forefoot, which is the front part closest to the toes; a midfoot, which is the middle part; and a hindfoot (rearfoot), which is the rear part closest to the heel. In addition, by dividing the region toward the arch line as an inner (medial) region and the region along the opposite line as an outer (lateral) region, the shoe body 200 is subdivided into six division regions 110: a medial forefoot region, a lateral forefoot region, a medial midfoot region, a lateral midfoot region, a medial hindfoot region, and a lateral hindfoot region.
The attachment pad 300 is attached to a setting area of the upper surface of the shoe sole 100 and protrudes upward. The attachment pad 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is attached to the upper surface of a midsole forming the shoe sole 100. The attachment pad 300 has a material, thickness, and hardness set to suit the condition of the user's feet. Any of the division regions 110 where the attachment pad 300 is to be placed is selected according to the characteristics of the user's foot type corresponding to individual division regions 110, and the attachment pad 300 having a hardness and thickness set for each selected division region 110 is placed in the corresponding division region 110.
The attachment pad 300 is made of a material selected from among materials with bounce characteristics, memory foam materials, and hard materials, and the material is selected according to the characteristics of the user's foot type corresponding to individual division regions 110. The attachment pad 300 includes a medial longitudinal arch pad 310, a medial heel pad 320, a lateral heel pad 330, a cuboid pad 340, a calcaneus pad 350, and a metatarsal pad 360.
The medial longitudinal arch pad 310 is disposed on the inner edge of the midfoot corresponding to the arch of the foot, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7 , and may be convexly formed in a streamlined shape as shown in FIG. 3 or in a half-moon shape as shown in FIG. 4 . The medial longitudinal arch pad 310 is made of a hard material and is formed to a thickness corresponding to the height at which the foot arch has collapsed (fallen), thereby performing the function of raising the collapsed foot arch.
The medial heel pad 320 is arranged to be connected to the medial longitudinal arch pad 310 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8 , is disposed on the inner edge of the rearfoot corresponding to the arch of the foot, and is convexly formed with a curved line. As shown in FIG. 5 , the medial heel pad 320 has an edge portion raised higher than an inner portion thereof and is made of a hard material, thereby performing the function of straightening the heel that has collapsed inward to a neutral position.
The lateral heel pad 330 is arranged to be connected to the medial heel pad 320 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 9 , is placed on the outer edge of the rearfoot in response to the arch of the foot, is convexly formed with a curved line, and has an edge thickness corresponding to the angle at which the heel is collapsed. As shown in FIG. 5 , the lateral heel pad 330 has an edge portion raised higher than an inner portion thereof.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the cuboid pad 340 is arranged to be connected to the lateral heel pad 330 as shown in FIG. 10 , is placed on the outer edge of the midfoot (outer calcaneal arch formed by the cuboid bone and calcaneal joint), is convexly formed in a half-moon shape or a dome shape, and supports the cubic bone.
The calcaneus pad 350 is placed in the rear central portion of the midfoot and the front central portion of the hindfoot corresponding to the calcaneus, and is formed convexly in a circular or oval shape as shown in FIG. 5 . The calcaneus pad 350 is made of memory foam materials and absorbs the load imposed on the calcaneus, thereby reducing pain caused by lipoatrophy, and heel pain caused by mid-bone spurs and plantar fasciitis, etc.
The metatarsal pad 360 is disposed on the rear portion of the forefoot and the front portion of the midfoot corresponding to the metatarsal bones, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 . The metatarsal pad 360 may be configured in a variety of shapes. In particular, as shown in FIG. 6 , the metatarsal pad 360 has a “158 ” shaped toe support end 361 formed convexly in the area between the big toe and index toe, and is made of a material with bounce characteristics to guide the big toe to be positioned straight. Thus, when the heel is lifted during walking, the wearer touches the ground with the straightened big toe, so that ground reaction force is provided and normal walking is induced.
Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24 , in the present disclosure, the calcaneus pad 350 is divided into a plurality of pieces and formed into a shape corresponding to the shape of the calcaneus, thereby protecting the metatarsal bones according to the user's foot type.
As shown in FIG. 23 , the calcaneus pad 350 may have a shape in which a relatively large circular central portion 352 is the main part, and a plurality of side portions 354 of different heights or hardness surround the central portion 352. The reason for separating the side portions 354 like this is to correspond to the shape of the calcaneus according to the user's foot type.
Meanwhile, the divided portions of the calcaneus pad 350, for example, the central portion 352 and the side portions 354, may be made of different materials, and may be made of any one material selected from the group of: materials with bounce characteristics, memory foam materials, and hard materials, which may be adjusted to suit the user's foot condition.
In addition, a bridge pad 370 is provided to connect the calcaneus pad 350 and one or more of the medial longitudinal arch pad 310, medial heel pad 320, lateral heel pad 330, and cuboid pad 340 of a connection pad, thereby distributing the load received by the calcaneus pad 350.
As in FIGS. 12 to 21 , the attachment pad 300 is placed in the division region 110 selected to correspond to each of 10 abnormal foot types. In this case, a combination of one or more attachment pads 300 having hardness, thickness, shape, and material set to suit the abnormal foot type is disposed in the shoe body 200.
The 10 abnormal foot types include normal foot hindfoot valgus, normal arch with excessive hindfoot valgus, normal arch hindfoot varus, flat foot neutral alignment, flat foot hindfoot valgus, flat foot with excessive hindfoot valgus, hollow foot neutral alignment, hollow foot hindfoot valgus, hollow foot with excessive hindfoot valgus, and hollow foot with excessive hindfoot varus. FIG. 11 shows the normal foot neutral alignment and FIG. 12 shows the normal foot hindfoot valgus. It can be seen that the center of gravity arrow spreads evenly throughout the entire foot.
FIG. 13 shows the normal arch with excessive hindfoot valgus, and the center of gravity arrow is focused on the hindfoot. FIG. 14 shows the normal arch hindfoot varus, and the center of gravity arrow is relatively focused on the lateral region of the foot. FIG. 15 shows the flat foot neutral alignment, and the center of gravity arrow is relatively focused on the medial region of the foot, but spreads evenly. FIG. 16 shows the flat foot hindfoot valgus, and the center of gravity arrow is focused on the medial region of the foot. FIG. 17 shows the flat foot with excessive hindfoot valgus, and the center of gravity arrow is focused on the medial region of the foot. FIG. 18 shows the hollow foot neutral alignment, and the center of gravity arrow spreads relatively evenly, similar to the case of normal foot neutral alignment. FIG. 19 shows the hollow foot hindfoot valgus, and the center of gravity arrow is bent at the hindfoot. FIG. 20 shows the hollow foot with excessive hindfoot valgus, and the center of gravity arrow is bent at the hindfoot. FIG. 21 shows the hollow foot with excessive hindfoot varus, and the center of gravity arrow is bent in the hindfoot and lateral region.
The drawings shown for explanation of the present disclosure are an embodiment in which the present disclosure is embodied, and as shown in the drawings, various types of combinations are possible to realize the gist of the present disclosure.
Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the technical spirit of the present disclosure extends to the extent that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type to maintain body balance by correcting pressure on a sole of a foot, the shoe comprising:

a shoe body having a shoe sole in contact with a user's foot; and

an attachment pad attached to a setting area of a surface of the shoe sole to protrude upward and has a material, thickness, and hardness set according to a condition of the user's foot,

wherein the attachment pad consists of one selected from the group of connection pad, a calcaneus pad, and a metatarsal pad,

wherein the connection pad consists of: a medial longitudinal arch pad disposed on an inner edge of a midfoot corresponding to a foot arch, convexly formed in a half-moon shape or a streamlined shape, made of a hard material, and formed to a thickness corresponding to a height at which the foot arch has collapsed to perform a function of raising the collapsed foot arch; a medial heel pad arranged to be connected to the medial longitudinal arch pad, disposed on an inner edge of a hindfoot corresponding to the foot arch, convexly formed with a curved line, made of a hard material, and performing a function of straightening a heel that has collapsed inward to a neutral position; a lateral heel pad arranged to be connected to the medial heel pad, placed on an outer edge of the hindfoot in response to the foot arch, convexly formed with a curved line, and having an edge thickness corresponding to an angle at which the heel is collapsed; and a cuboid pad arranged to be connected to the lateral heel pad, placed on an outer edge of the midfoot, convexly formed in a dome shape,

the calcaneus pad is placed in a rear central portion of the midfoot and a front central portion of the hindfoot corresponding to a calcaneus, and is convexly formed in a circular or an oval shape, and is made of memory foam materials to absorb a load imposed on the calcaneus, thereby reducing pain caused by lipoatrophy, and heel pain caused by mid-bone spurs and plantar fasciitis, and

the metatarsal pad is disposed on a rear portion of a forefoot and a front portion of the midfoot corresponding to metatarsal bones, has a “∧” shaped toe support end formed convexly in an area between a big toe and an index toe, is made of a material with bounce characteristics, and guides the big toe to be positioned straight to provide a repulsive force to the big toe when the heel is lifted while walking, thereby inducing normal walking,

wherein the calcaneus pad is divided into a plurality of pieces to correspond to a shape of the calcaneus.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the calcaneus pad is formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the calcaneus by consisting of a central portion and a plurality of side portions of different heights or hardness that surround the central portion.

3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein a bridge pad is further provided to connect the calcaneus pad and at least one of the medial longitudinal arch pad, the medial heel pad, the lateral heel pad, and the cuboid pad of the connection pad, thereby distributing the load received by the calcaneus pad.

4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoe body is divided into six division regions: a medial forefoot region, a lateral forefoot region, a medial midfoot region, a lateral midfoot region, a medial hindfoot region, and a lateral hindfoot region, and

any of the division regions where the attachment pad is to be placed is selected according to a user's foot type corresponding to individual division regions, and the attachment pad having hardness and thickness set for each selected division region is placed in the corresponding division region.

5. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the attachment pad is made of any one material selected from the group of a material with bounce characteristics, a memory foam material, and a hard material, and the material is selected according to the user's foot type corresponding to individual division regions.

6. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the attachment pad is placed in the division region selected to correspond to each of ten abnormal foot types, and a combination of one or more attachment pads having hardness, thickness, a shape, and a material set to suit each of the abnormal foot types is disposed in the shoe body,

wherein the ten abnormal foot types include a normal foot hindfoot valgus type, a normal arch with excessive hindfoot valgus type, a normal arch hindfoot varus type, a flat foot neutral alignment type, a flat foot hindfoot valgus type, a flat foot with excessive hindfoot valgus type, a hollow foot neutral alignment type, a hollow foot hindfoot valgus type, a hollow foot with excessive hindfoot valgus type, and a hollow foot with excessive hindfoot varus type.