WO2010095994A1 - A shoe sole - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sole adapted to footwear, wherein previous known soles comprised a static formability, the inventions sole has at least one layer of a formable particle material in at least seven closed sections (30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72) comprised in the sole. The formable particle material comprises in a closed section (30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72) a ball bed, which comprises between each other movable balls (50). The invention also comprises a method to manufacture a ball bed in at least a section (30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72).

Description

Title

A shoe sole Technical field

The present invention pertains to a sole and a method therefore, adapted to footwear, wherein previously known soles comprise a static formability.

Background art

It is previously known to utilize liners or insertion soles of different types to support, massage or stimulate feet's. Hereby are the so called "old" school therapeutic soles only mission is to provide that a foot has a preformed static support from which thus also the feet's become dependent of. The support namely becomes pacified to its own primary mission in itself to become a functional dynamic support. In a conventional formed shoe sole with a static support an inconvenient return to an un-elastic original form is accomplished. A shoe with a so called orthopedic formed bottom only fits the ideal foot at a theoretical walking style, but rarely fitting the individual's specific foot form, and those not change its form according to individual circumstances.

There is a need to the public of a shoe sole which solves problems with current static sole features.

Summary of the invention

The present invention regards a sole for footwear, which should be able to provide a foot a dynamic support, and thus stimulating the foot to its own ability to move in order to provide solutions to the above mentioned problems.

A sole in accordance with the present invention triggers the foots own move ability. This move ability then in itself becomes a good support to other body parts, which then a step at the time results in that posture and walk automatically is normalized in a non demanded manner, which has a non stressful effect on body and mind.

To solve problems with static soles, the present invention sets forth a sole adapted to footwear, wherein previous soles comprise a static formability. Hereby the sole of the present invention comprises: a layer of a formable particle material in at least seven closed sections comprised in the sole, wherein said formable particle material in a closed section is comprised of a ball bed, which is comprised of between each other movable balls: wherein the ball bed is attached to cushion a thrust through the between each other movable balls against the part of the sole having a heel that firstly touches a foundation; wherein the balls in the in this manner attached ball bed through rolling and reloading effects are provided a tendency to a forward displacement as the heel part firstly touches the foundation, when thereafter the bodyweight during the conventional bending of the sole gradually is moved to the soles front part, and finally to the tip of the toe closely to when the foot is raised again, wherein the balls tend to be moved backwards, and where the ball bed receives an elastic and resistive cushioning effect, and wherein an arch foot section is assembled in a cross form, reassembling the form of four triangles which are assembled, wherein every triangle make up an assembling cross at the mutual touching points of the triangles.

Another embodiment provides that the balls have a diameter of at least 0,5 mm and at most 4 mm or between 0,7-2 mm and in special cases larger than 4 mm.

In one embodiment comprises that balls between each other have essentially the same diameter.

A further embodiment comprises that the balls in the ball bed have a low friction in relation to each other, wherein they are attached to an even, durable bottom layer, which preferably has a low friction in compare to the balls.

A further embodiment provides that the balls are comprised of a relatively durable, hard but somewhat elastic material.

Further, another embodiment provides that it has a covering material for the ball bed, which is comprised by a relatively thin and flexible material, which allows an amount of conditioning/breathing between the ball bed and foot.

Yet another embodiment provides that the ball bed is in accordance to the size of the sole, which has a total average volume of between 50 and 110 ml.

Yet a still further embodiment provides that the ball bed has a moisture absorbing effect through all small spaces between balls, and through the constant movement within the ball bed.

Yet a further embodiment comprises that the balls in the ball bed and its flexible surrounding cover is attached so that the pressure from a foot tread allows a reload to form the ball bed and the ball beds pockets upper side in accordance to the main configuration of the foot sole.

A further embodiment provides that the ball bed is divided into seven pockets/sections.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a method to manufacture a ball bed adapted to a sole, wherein at least seven sections comprise the upper layer of a sole, wherein the upper layer comprises the upper part of a cover which surrounds the ball bed itself, wherein at least the sections are sewn on an in-between layer sole, and wherein at least one of the sections is folded inwards, where after it by the folding is assembled with the in-between layer sole from beneath, and that at least one section is folded forward over the in-between layer sole to be sewn to the in-between layer sole along its peripheral edge, wherein a small opening is kept as an inlet of balls, and that the opening thereafter is sewn together when it has been filled with balls: and wherein an arch foot section is assembled in a cross form reassembling the form of four triangles which are assembled, wherein every triangle makes up an assembling cross at the mutual touching points of the triangles.

In one embodiment at least one section is folded inwards and sewn on the in- between layer sole in parallel with another section, and wherein an opening is provided in this section for an inlet of balls.

Brief description of the drawings

Henceforth reference is had to the accompanying drawings in the describing text for a better understanding of the present inventions embodiments and given examples, wherein: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a bottom layer of a sole for footwear in accordance with the present invention:

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an in-between layer of a sole for footwear in accordance with the present invention:

Fig. 3a, b and c schematically illustrate three sections in an embodiment comprised in a sole in accordance with the present invention:

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a part comprised in a sole where the sections according to Fig. 3a, b and c, are attached to the in-between layer in accordance with Fig. 2 according to the present invention:

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates how the sections according to Fig. 3a, b and c, attached to the in-between layer according to Fig. 2, has been filled with spherical balls in one embodiment of the present invention:

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the embodiment of Fig. 5 in a cut view from the side: and

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates one embodiment with seven sections comprised in a sole according to the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments The present invention is henceforth explained in closer detail as a pedagogic sole, which differs from the "old" school therapeutic sole, which only mission is to provide a foot a preformed static support, which the foot then also becomes dependent to. The support is namely pacified against its own primary mission as in itself to be a functional and dynamic support.

The sole according to the present invention instead triggers a foots own moving motion. This moving motion then in itself becomes a good support to other body parts, which then step by step results in that posture and walking is automatically normalized in a non demanding manner, which has a non stressful and harmonic effect on body and mind.

The present invention is inclined to footwear of all kinds and regards preferably in one embodiment a shoe sole or insertion sole. Additionally, one objective of the sole is to stimulate and awake a foot to its own movement motion, and to provide a sole which comprises shoe soles of all kinds as well as insertion soles to footwear such as shoes/socks/stockings. In the present invention, the expression footwear also comprises socks and stockings. These are presumably in firm connection with the shoe bottom or loosely inserted in the shoe and of such a construction that the closest to the foot residing part has the ability to form in accordance with a foot soles orthopedic form, without an unpleasant relapse to its original form, which is the case with a conventional formed shoe sole with a static support. The sole can in one embodiment be able to reform to such changes which occur when bending the foot or through switching between walking styles such as slow walking, fast walking and running.

At a sole constructed according the present invention, the ball bed upper part forms to the form of the foot sole through displacement movements or rolling movements by mainly spherical balls during foot pressure and the movement of toes against a ball beds attached flexible cover material, wherein the ball bed there through forms a dynamic support to the feet/foots, which means that it both supports and stimulates the entire foot sole in a balanced manner, or the entire part thereof which responses to the dimension of the ball bed, and thereby even to such parts of the foot sole, which conventionally not receives satisfactory support or stimulant in a conventional shoe.

A sole according to the present invention, which is correctly formed receives a fairly even distributed pressure over the entire foot sole, and the shoe becomes more relaxing to the foot then e.g. a shoe with a so called orthopedic formed bottom, which only fits the ideal foot during a theoretical correct walk, but which rarely fits the individuals specific form of the foot, and those not change its form to individual circumstances.

In order to relive a reloading of the balls in the ball bed through rolling movements of the surface on which the ball bed rests, the balls should have a relatively big diameter, but to ease the movement between the balls, the diameter should not be that big that a sufficient number of layers do not fit within the available depth of the ball bed. A further factor, that has to be considered is that the balls are not allowed to have such a big diameter that single balls feel like puncture loads via the flexible, relatively thin material between the ball bed and the foot. It has been shown the ball diameter should be at least 0,5 mm and, depending on the cover materials thickness and degree of flexibility, at its highest 4 mm. A diameter of between 0,7-2 mm has shown to be very suitable, and an optimal value is between approximately 1-1,5 mm. The balls should consist of a relatively hard and light material, which should be somewhat elastic. Moreover, the balls should be relatively smooth both to lower the friction between the balls and against the bottom on which the ball bed rests. The balls do not have to be of a material which absorbs moist. It has been shown through experiments that the ball bed as such has a moisture absorbing ability through the system of many small spaces between the balls provides the ball bed in its entire with a good "breathing effect", which furthermore improves through the constant movement of the balls when they are exposed to foot movements. The ball bed provides thus an excellent conditioning between the foot and the shoe bottom, but in order not to diminish or spoil this effect, the material which covers the ball bed should of course allow "breathing". Additionally, as mentioned, this material should be able to adapt to the form of the foot sole to be able to transfer adapting forces to the ball bed. The material should also be durable. As cover material with that for this structures suitable conditions are many woven or non woven fabrics, both natural and synthetic should be usable and many pressed synthetic materials, and thin leather or skin.

Regarding the election of ball material it should be observed that the balls themselves have to have minor elasticity in order to that the ball bed itself should be essentially elastic. In the preferred embodiment, the ball bed comprises multiple layers of small balls. And with an applied pressure against the flexible cover material a reload of the ball bed is accomplished, wherein the balls in upper ball layers are pressed down between balls in under laying layers. If the balls are elastic this down pressuring turns elastic. The total elasticity value depends, i.a. on the number of ball layers or amount of volume.

Through experiments it has been shown that the ball bed according to the invention favorably can be attached so that it also serves as an elastics bed for the foot, and this can be achieved through a relatively small elasticity for each single ball. An advantage hereby is that the claim of the balls should be durable and have a small friction not has to be refrained from as these features very well can be applied to a small elasticity of the ball material. The ball bed according to the invention can in other words be provided with just the elasticity that is most comfortable to the foot without spoiling the form, which the foot through its pressure has provided the ball beds upper layer every time the foots pressure against the ball bed reduces. As before mentioned, the objective in one embodiment of the invention is to be able to provide the foot a dynamic support, and thus stimulate the foot to its own ability of moving. The amount or grade of this effect can be determined through the selection of ball size, and selection of cover material for the ball bed. At a relatively big ball diameter, and a very thin and flexible cover material, this effect gets greater then with a small ball diameter and/or with a cover material, which has a bigger thickness and/or less flexibility. For a more extensive effect a bigger diameter then 4 mm can be chosen. The sole according to the present invention in one embodiment consists of 4 layers, one bottom layer, an in-between layer, ball bed and an upper layer in accordance with the attached drawing figures Fig. 1 to Fig. 6.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a bottom layer 10, which should be placed adjacent to a foot wares bottom, wherein the bottom layer material should be upholding, stable and strong, comprised of plastic or a metallic weave or other suitable material.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an in-between layer 20, which has the approximately same size as the bottom layer 10 in Fig. 1. The in-between layer 20 forms the lower part of the cover of a ball bed, wherein the in-between layer material should be soft, elastically follow some, but at the same time strong. Fig. 3 schematically illustrates three sections/pockets 30, 32, 34 which make up a soles upper layer in one embodiment of the present invention comprised in a sole. The upper layer consists of 3 lose sections 30, 32, 34, shown in Fig. 2. This upper layer makes up the upper cover that surrounds the ball bed itself. The sections are sewn to the in- between layer 20 in the following manner in one embodiment; section 30 is folded inwards along the broken line, which according to drawing rules has been drawn as hidden under the sections 30, 32, 34, whereby they are sewn single folded not double folded to the in-between layer sole 20 in accordance with Fig. 2. Thereafter, the section 30/cover is folded forward over the in-between layer 20, and sewn to the in-between layer 20 along its peripheral edge, but a small opening 42 is kept in the upper part, which is depicted in Fig. 4, for the inlet of balls. The section 30 can in one embodiment of the invention be 5 mm bigger on the length then the in-between layer 20 to provide space for the ball bed. This extra length varies with the size of the sole and the volume of the ball bed. In this case, the sole is the one depicted in Fig. 1. Section 34 is accordingly 5 mm bigger at its rear in this embodiment.

Section 32 is folded inwards along the broken line and sewn on to the in- between layer in parallel and in the same manner as section 30, wherein an opening 42 is kept in section 32 for an inlet of balls. See the Fig. 4.

Section 34 is folded in the same manner as the before mentioned sections 30, 32 inwards along the broken line to be attached downwards on section 32, approximately 1 cm from its lower edge, thereafter together with section 34 to be sewn on to the in-between layer from beneath, and then be folded down over the in-between layers 20 heel part, and sewn together with it along the peripheral edges together with section 32, but with the openings 42, 44, 45 kept for an inlet of the balls which are depicted in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a part comprised in a sole where the sections 30, 32, 34 according to Fig. 3a, b and c, are attached to the in-between layer in accordance with Fig. 2 according to the present invention. Herein, the combined upper layer 30, 32, 34 and the in-between layer 20 have been attached to the bottom layer 10 to be sewn, in one embodiment, on to this with stitches 40 along all three layers peripheral edges, but still with openings 42, 44, 45 as an inlet of balls to form a ball bed. Section 32 is folded inwards along the broken line and is sewn onto the in-between layer in parallel 46 and in the same manner as section 30, flush to section 30, wherein an opening 44 in section 32 is kept for an inlet of balls. Section 34 is folded in the same manner as the sections 30, 32 mentioned before inwards along the broken line, thereafter to be attached downwards on section 32, approximately 1 cm from its lower edge, to be sewn together with section 34 onto the in- between layer from beneath, and thereafter sewn together with this along the peripheral edges together 48 with section 32, but with the openings 42, 44 and 45 kept for an inlet of the balls.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates how sections in accordance with Fig. 3a, b and c, attached to the in-between layer in accordance with Fig. 2, have been filled with spherical balls 50 in one embodiment of the present invention. Herein, the ball bed depicted in Fig. 6 has been filled with balls through the three openings and then been sewn together edge to edge with the three layers. The balls can be constituted of glass, plastic balls or another suitable material.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the embodiment in accordance with Fig. 5 in a cut view from the side, i.e. the entire sewn sole with the bottom sole 10 beneath, whereby the ball bed rests contained in the in-between layer 20 and the upper layer 30, 32, 34 with balls 50.

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a ball bed with at least seven sections 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 comprised in a sole according to the present invention. The sections in this embodiment are folded and sewn to the in-between layer and/or the sole 10 in the same manner as the sections 30, 32, 34 and are filled with balls via openings that then are sewn together. Where it is suitable, the sections are sewn in parallel to each other or overlapping as has been described with reference to Fig. 3a, b, c to Fig. 6. In Fig. 7 is depicted a toe section 60, tread section 62, arch foot and foot support section 64, 66, 68, 70 and a heel section 72. Additionally, all the theories described herein can be exercised on these sections. The arch foot and tread sections are sewn/assembled in a cross format 64, 66, 68, 70 similar to the form of a time glass or four triangles which are closed with stitches, wherein every triangle in one embodiment are displaced 90° to each other, thereby forming a stitch cross at their common touching points.

In accordance with provided tests, the cross form 66, 68, 70, 72 stimulates the foot muscles, and hereby increasing the movement of the foot. Additionally, the circulation of blood is increased and a better balance in the entire body is achieved, and it prohibits hereby that the foot leans inclined in a shoe or the like. Also breathing is stimulated by the foot massage, which the cross in the sole provides.

The ball diameter and ball volume should be varying to be able to adapt it to each and every ones individual needs. The sole can in one embodiment be marketed in for instance the following three different grades. Then the ball diameter and volume in the different sections 30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 in accordance with what Fig. 1 depicts be of the following variations. The ball diameter in the different sections can vary between 0,5 mm and 4 mm, and in special cases have a bigger ball diameter.

Ball volume in section 30; between 30 - 70 ml Ball volume in section 32; between 10 - 20 ml Ball volume in section 34; between 10 - 25 ml

The balls should primary be spherical and have a low friction so that they easily can role and change their position. The surface, on which the ball bed 34 in Fig. 6 rests on, should be durable. It is not necessary that the surface is smooth as the lower ball layer forms a relatively smooth surface, in spite of being bulging, for that of the upper layer comprising bed, but it is of course an advantage if the bottom layer is formed so that it enables a rolling of the balls also in the lower layer of balls. The material, which covers the ball beds uppermost part, i.e. all the material between the ball bed and a foot sole should be enough flexible to adapt to the foot main shape, and hereby transfer an adaption pressure to the upper side of the ball bed to form it. Furthermore, the cover material or at least the side towards the ball bed enable "breathing" in that for foot wear and clothing's conventional meaning, i.e. the material should have the ability to allow moisture exchange between the ball bed and the foot sole. It should be observed that the spaces in the ball bed has a tremendous moisture and humidity isolating ability. Through the movement of the balls it is possible to transport both heat and moisture from one area of the ball bed to another, whereby a heat and humidity distribution is accomplished in the bed. Hereby, the discomfort of local heating of the foot is reduced, which is common when using conventional shoes, especially those of plastic.

During periods of rest, when the shoe with sole according to the present invention is not in use, the ball bed can be dried, and with suitable shoe material, e.g. synthetic, the entire shoe including the ball bed can be washed. If the ball bed is provided in a replaceable insert sole, this procedure becomes favorably easy.

A foot wear with a suitable form according to the invention provides a unique cushion effect, which is lenient to the foot. The ball bed thus cushions the thrust against that part of the sole or heel, which by habit first touches the ground/foundation, when walking or running. Through the rolling and reloading effect, the balls, at normal walking pace, provide a tendency to a forward displacement when the heel is firstly placed against the ground, and when the bodyweight thereafter during the conventional bending of the shoe sole gradually moves over to the front part of the sole, and finally to the tip of the toe, just before the foot is raised again, the balls tend to move backwards. Hereby, is provided as a complement to the ball beds elastic cushioning effect, also a resistive cushioning effect.

If the balls are too small, the bail movement is impaired and thus the ball bed becomes all too compact to easily adapt to the foot.

The ball diameter area to fulfill the above set conditions is in most cases 1-1 ,5 mm, but it should be observed that it for different requestes for instance comfort, foot massage, ball elasticity that the optimal ball diameter also is dependent on the cover materials nature, smoothness and thickness, and in some sense of the volume of the ball bed, which i.a. is dependent on the amount of space, request of elasticity etc. It is also possible to exploit the invention for the specific task of providing the foot sole an effective massage, and in this case it is possible and recommendable to use relatively big balls, and thus also balls with a diameter bigger than 4 mm for instance insert able soles, which can be replaced.

The balls 50 should commonly have the same diameter between each other, but for certain cases it is considered to utilize balls of different diameters. Balls 50 should be durable and relatively hard. The plasticity should in other words be seemingly little and more specific so little that the entire ball beds elasticity not becomes so big that the pressure of the foot sole is entirely elastically absorbed, without providing any noticeable forming of the ball bed as such. A pressure of 75 kg, normal bodyweight, on one ball should not decrease the balls diameter more than 10 %, but even here of course it prevails that specific circumstances can call for a greater elasticity than 10 %.

Henceforth, some alternative embodiments of the sole are described according to the present invention.

The following embodiment of the sole is built on the same basis as the above described soles, but they have been further developed to be able to provide individual needs yet more efficient and simpler. This has been provided by that one, two, three or more pockets in the sections 30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 are provided replaceable, wherein they with a suitable attachment device can be positioned on the bottom layer 10 in accordance with Fig. 1. In this manner it is possible in a simple manner to fulfill every days needs with constantly new and variant degrees of ball fillings.

A further embodiment provides that the sole is positioned in a sock/stocking to be utilized as an in-house slipper. As mentioned above, the sole can comprise more than seven sections in further developments of the same. Although, it is often described that the sections can be assembled through stitches, this does not exclude that the present inventions assembly can be provided with known fabric glues and other means such as Velcro, rivets or combinations of stitches, gluing, Velcro and riveting. It is the wording of the attached set of claims that defines the scope of protection to a person skilled in the art in excess of the herein described embodiments and given examples of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. A sole adapted to footwear, wherein previous soles comprise a static formability, characterized in that it comprises; a layer of a formable particle material in at least seven closed sections (30, 32,

34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72) comprised in the sole, wherein said formable particle material in a closed section (30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72) is comprised of a bail bed, which is comprised of between each other movable balls (50); wherein the ball bed is attached to cushion a thrust through the between each other movable balls (50) against the part of the sole having a heel that firstly touches a foundation; wherein the balls (50) in the of this manner attached ball bed through rolling and reloading effects are provided a tendency to a forward displacement as the heel part firstly touches the foundation, when thereafter the bodyweight during the conventional bending of the sole gradually is moved to the soles front part, and finally to the tip of the toe closely to when the foot is raised again, wherein the balls tend to be moved backwards, and where the ball bed receives an elastic and resistive cushioning effect; and wherein an arch foot section is assembled in a cross form (64, 66, 68, 70) reassembling the form of four triangles which are assembled, wherein every triangle make up an assembling cross at the mutual touching points of the triangles.

2. A sole according to claim 1 , wherein the ball bed comprises multiple layers of balls (50).

3. A sole according to claim 1 , wherein the balls (50) have a diameter of at least 0,5 mm and at most 4 mm or between 0,7-2 mm and in special cases larger than 4 mm.

4. A sole according to claim 1 , wherein the balls between each other have essentially the same diameter.

5. A sole according to claim 1 , wherein the balls (50) in the ball bed have a low friction in relation to each other, wherein they are attached to an even, durable bottom layer (10), which preferably has a low friction in compare to the balls (50).

6. A sole according to claim 1 , wherein the balls (50) are comprised of a relatively durable hard, but somewhat elastic material.

7. A sole according to claim 1 , wherein it has a covering material for the ball bed, which is comprised by a relatively thin and flexible material, which allows an amount of conditioning/breathing between the ball bed and foot.

8. A sole according to claim 1 , wherein the ball bed in accordance to the size of the sole (10), has a total average volume of between 50 and 110 ml.

9. A sole according to claim 1, wherein the ball bed has a moisture absorbing effect through all small spaces between balls, and through the constant movement within the ball bed.

10. A sole according to claim 1, wherein the balls (50) in the ball bed and its flexible surrounding cover, is attached so that the pressure from a foot tread allows a reload to form the ball bed and the ball beds pockets upper side in accordance to the main configuration of the foot sole.

11. A method to manufacture a ball bed adapted to a sole according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least seven sections (30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72) comprise the upper layer of a sole, wherein the upper layer comprises the upper part of a cover which surrounds the ball bed itself, wherein at least the sections (30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72) are sewn on an in-between layer sole (20), and wherein at least one of the sections (30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72) is folded inwards, where after it by the folding is assembled with the in-between layer sole (20) from beneath, and that at least one section (30, 32, 34, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72) is folded forward over the in-between layer sole (20) to be sewn to the in-between layer sole (20) along its peripheral edge, wherein a small opening (42) is kept as an inlet of balls (50), and that the opening thereafter is sewn together when it has been filled with balls, and

wherein an arch foot section is assembled in a cross form (64, 66, 68, 70) reassembling the form of four triangles which are assembled, wherein every triangle makes up an assembling cross at the mutual touching points of the triangles.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein at least one section (32) is folded inwards and sewn on the in-between layer sole (20) in parallel with another section (30), and wherein an opening is provided (44) in this section (32) for an inlet of balls (50).