WO2012028921A1

WO2012028921A1 - Footwear for the correction of anatomic defects or defects in walking

Info

Publication number: WO2012028921A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/001953
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emanuele Battaglia
Original assignee: Terraferma Srl
Priority date: 2010-08-30
Filing date: 2011-08-26
Publication date: 2012-03-08
Also published as: ITUD20100162A1; IT1401767B1

Abstract

Footwear (10) for anatomic defects or defects in walking, comprising a sole (1 1) provided at the upper part with an insole (13) on which the sole of the user's foot rests, an upper (12) attached at least to a peripheral segment of the sole (1 1) and able to surround at least part of the back of the user's foot, a positioning tongue (15) attached to the insole (13) in correspondence with a zone housing the big toe, and having an annular conformation so as to house the big toe inside it, and a rigid element (20) attached to the upper (12) at least in correspondence with a zone housing the joint of the big toe. The rigid element (20) is, on one side, connected to the tongue (15) on the external side thereof and, on the other side, extends beyond the zone housing the joint of the big toe. The footwear (10) also comprises at least an adjustment element (23) associated with the upper (12), and constrained to the rigid element (20) in the segment extending beyond the zone housing the joint.

Description

"FOOTWEAR FOR THE CORRECTION OF ANATOMIC DEFECTS OR DEFECTS IN WALKING"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an article of footwear used to correct anatomic defects or defects in walking. In particular, the footwear according to the present invention is applied to persons who have Hallux Valgus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that some people suffer from Hallux Valgus, that is, an anatomic deformation of the foot in which there is a progressive deformation of the joint between the first metatarsus and the basal phalanx of the big toe, such as to thrust toward the outside of the foot the articular heads and bring the big toe close up to the other toes of the foot.

It is also known that normal footwear, being made for people who have a normal anatomy of the foot and walk normally, have a conformation that is not perfectly suitable for people with Hallux Valgus.

Indeed, the use of normal footwear by people with Hallux Valgus not only deforms the footwear, but also causes a constant friction of the deformed joint against the inner part of the upper, and consequent redness and even bursitis. Furthermore, since this deformation is progressive if it is not contrasted constantly, it can lead to a loss of propulsive force in walking and also unstable support on the ground, with consequent problems of posture, muscular pains and other.

Articles of footwear are known that are suitably conformed for people with Hallux Valgus. This type of footwear normally has a tongue or tape disposed on the insole of the shoe in correspondence with the position that the big toe assumes when the shoe is worn.

The tape is conformed so as to exert a traction on the big toe so as to contrast its thrust toward the other toes of the foot. Articles of footwear are also known where the tape is selectively adjustable to vary the contrasting tension on the big toe.

These types of footwear, since they act only on the big toe and not on the joint, substantially do not intervene on the condition of friction with the inner part of the upper, and have a limited effect on the chafing and consequent bursitis.

Therefore, known footwear of this type is effective only to a limited extent on the correction of the posture of the big toe: it also has high production costs.

Another disadvantage of this type of known footwear is that the traction and contrast parts provided limit the possible aesthetic conformations of the footwear itself.

One purpose of the present invention is to obtain an article of footwear for the correction of anatomic defects or defects in walking which is simple and economical to produce, which is effective in correcting the defect and which limits to a minimum any chafing between the upper and and the defective parts of the user's foot.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an article of footwear which, while effective for correcting the defect, does not limit the possible aesthetic conformations.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, an article of footwear according to the present invention is applied to people suffering from anatomic defects or defects in walking, in particular people suffering from Hallux Valgus.

In particular, the article of footwear according to the present invention comprises at least a sole provided at the upper part with an insole on which the sole of the user's foot rests, and an upper fixed to at least a peripheral segment of the sole and able to surround at least part of the back of the user's foot so as to keep it adherent to the insole when worn.

The article of footwear according to the present invention comprises at least a positioning tongue attached to the insole in correspondence with the zone housing the big toe in the worn condition, and having an annular conformation to house the big toe inside it. Furthermore, the article of footwear comprises at least a rigid element attached to the upper at least in correspondence with the zone housing the joint of the big toe in the worn condition.

According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the rigid element is connected on one side to the tongue by the outer side thereof and, on the other side, extends beyond the zone housing the joint of the big toe.

According to the invention, the article of footwear also comprises at least an adjustment element associated with the upper in a segment in which the latter surrounds the back of the foot, and constrained to the rigid element in the segment extending beyond the zone housing the joint.

In this way, the rigid element has the function of a lever bar, which is pivoted in correspondence with the joint of the big toe.

When in the inactive condition the bar is put under traction by the tongue, which in turn is subjected to the force of the big toe toward the inside of the footwear and is contrasted by the adjustment element.

Therefore, by increasing the traction on the adjustment element, a contrasting force is applied on the tongue, and the big toe, being contrasted, tends to return toward its correct anatomic position.

With the present invention a Class I lever system is actuated, in which the fulcrum is in correspondence with the joint of the big toe and, on both sides of the fulcrum, there are actions of traction and of contrast.

Advantageously, the segment of rigid element between the fulcrum and the zone where traction is applied by the adjustment element is greater in length than the segment of rigid element between the fulcrum and the zone where contrast is applied on the tongue.

According to a variant, the rigid element is articulated to assist the movement of the upper during walking.

According to a variant, the rigid element is made of plastic material.

According to another variant the rigid element is made of metal material.

According to another variant, the tongue comprises adjustment members which allow to adjust the annular conformation thereof, so as to adapt it to the sizes of the big toe.

According to another variant, the adjustment element comprises a closing band, on one side associated with the rigid element and on the other side provided with an attachment member to the upper, such as a buckle, a clip, a section of Velcro ® or other type of attachment known in the shoe industry and suitable to keep the tension adjusted.

According to another variant, the article of footwear comprises at least a pad made of soft material, for example silicone, attached to the upper in correspondence with the zone where the joint is positioned, and suitable to confer an improved anatomic conformation on the footwear, in particular in correspondence with the joint of the foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of an article of footwear according to the present invention;

- fig. 2 is a cross section of a detail of the article of footwear in fig. 1 ;

- fig. 3 is a plan view of the article of footwear in fig. 1, in a first operating condition;

- fig. 4 is a plan view of the article of footwear in fig. 1, in a second operating condition.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF

EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, an article of footwear is shown in its entirety, in this case a sandal 10 according to the present invention, used to correct anatomic defects, in this case for people suffering from Hallux Valgus.

The sandal 10 comprises, traditionally, a sole 1 1 and an upper 12, to allow the user to wear it.

The sole 1 1 comprises an insole 13 on which the sole of the user's foot rests, while the upper 12 in this case is conformed to surround the neck of the foot, to confer on the footwear the characteristic sandal conformation 10.

However, it is not excluded that the upper may be conformed differently, for example to at least partly surround the zone of the heel and/or the Achilles tendon, and also to leave only the toes open, or to cover the toes like a walking shoe.

The materials that make up the sole 1 1 and the upper 12 can also be chosen from among those traditionally used in the shoe industry, for example leather, rubber, synthetic, mixed or other, depending on the type of footwear to be obtained.

According to the invention, the sandal 10 comprises a tongue 15, in this case made directly from a front portion of the upper 12; the tongue 15 has a free end attached adjustably to the sole 1 1, to define an annular conformation in which the big toe is housed.

With particular reference to the section in fig. 2, the tongue 15 is inserted in through manner inside a through eyelet 16 made on the insole 13, and is housed below the latter with its free end.

In particular, on the free end of the tongue 15 a piece of felt 17 is attached, whereas on an upper surface of the sole 1 1 a segment of Velcro ® 19 is attached, so as to selectively vary the position of cooperation between the two and, then, to tighten or loosen the annular conformation assumed by the tongue 17.

This adjustment allows a comfortable housing of the big toe depending on its actual size.

Again according to the invention, the sandal 10 comprises a rigid bar 20, in this case made of metal, which is inserted into a corresponding pocket 21 sewn along one side of the upper 12.

In this case, the rigid bar 20 has an articulation point 22 which assists the movement of walking, making the sandal 10 more ergonomic.

In particular, the rigid bar 20 extends from the tongue 15 as far as the rear edge of the upper 12. In this way, the rigid bar 20 and the tongue 15 are mechanically constrained, that is, the movement of one determines a consequent movement of the other, and vice versa.

The sandal 10 according to the present invention also comprises an adjustment band 23, which slides partly inside the upper 12 and on one side is constrained to the rigid bar 20 and on the other side, free outside the upper 12, on the other side with respect to the rigid bar 20.

By constraint of the adjustment band 23 to the rigid bar 20, we mean that the adjustment band contacts directly or indirectly an external surface of the rigid bar 20, to press on the latter when it is under tension.

In correspondence with its free end and outside the upper 12, the adjustment band 23 comprises a section of Velcro ® 25, which cooperates with a piece of felt 26 attached on the outer surface of the upper 12, so as to allow the adjustment of the reciprocal position of the adjustment band 23 and upper 12.

In this case, a portion of Velcro ®, not shown, of the upper 12 also cooperates with the piece of felt 26, which allows to adjust the closing of the sandal 10 on the user's foot.

In other solutions, not shown, the sandal 10 can be adjusted on the user's foot by means of other traditional systems, for example with laces, elastic bands or other.

With reference to figs. 3 and 4, when the sandal 10 according to the invention is worn on the foot, it acts as follows.

When the sandal 10 is in its inactive condition (fig. 3), the big toe is housed inside the annular conformation of the tongue 15 and presses with its protruding joint against the rigid bar 20, in a fulcrum point F, symbolically indicated by a triangle in the drawings.

In this way a Class I lever is defined between the tongue 15 and the adjustment band 23, by means of the rigid bar 20 pivoted in correspondence with the fulcrum point F.

As can be seen from the drawings, the fulcrum point F is much nearer the tongue 15 than the adjustment band 23. This condition is mechanically advantageous, as will be explained in detail hereafter.

In fact, when the sandal 10 is in the active condition (fig. 4), the adjustment band 23 is drawn toward the outside and the tension achieved is fixed by means of the cooperation between the Velcro ® 25 and the felt 26.

This tension exerts a force of traction, represented by the arrow T, on the rigid bar 20. Due to the effect of the Class I lever defined, the force of traction T generates a force of contrast, represented by arrow A, on the tongue 15.

The force of contrast A determines a traction toward the outside of the tongue 15 on the big toe, so as to tend to return the latter to its natural anatomic position.

Furthermore, the fulcrum condition defined between the rigid bar 20 and the joint, and the traction carried out by the adjustment band 23 on the rigid bar 20, means that the joint does not move toward the outside, in practice increasing the correct effect of the tongue 15 on the big toe.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the sandal 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the sandal 10 comprises a pad 27 of silicon material, shown by a line of dashes in fig. 1, which is attached to the inner part of the upper 12 in correspondence with the fulcrum point F, so as to increase the ergonomics and comfort of the sandal 10, in particular in correspondence with the joint of the foot.

It also comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the insole 13 is the orthopedic type.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of footwear for anatomic defects, or defects in walking, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Footwear for anatomic defects or defects in walking, comprising at least a sole (1 1) provided at the upper part with an insole ( 13) on which the sole of the user's foot rests, an upper (12) attached at least to a peripheral segment of said sole (1 1) and able to surround at least part of the back of the user's foot, at least a positioning tongue (15) attached to said insole (13) in correspondence with a zone housing the big toe, and having an annular conformation so as to house the big toe inside it, and at least a rigid element (20) attached to said upper (12) at least in correspondence with a zone housing the joint of the big toe, characterized in that said rigid element (20) is, on one side, connected to said tongue (15) on the external side thereof and, on the other side, extends beyond the zone housing the joint of the big toe, and in that it also comprises at least an adjustment element (23) associated with said upper (12), and constrained to said rigid element (20) in the segment extending beyond the zone housing the joint.

2. Footwear as in claim 1, characterized in that the segment of rigid element (20) between the zone housing the joint and the zone associated with the adjustment element (23) has a greater length than the segment of the rigid element (20) between the zone housing the joint and the zone associated with the tongue (17).

3. Footwear as in claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the rigid element (20) comprises a point of articulation (22) which allows it to articulate so as to assist the movement of the upper (12) during walking.

4. Footwear as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the rigid element (20) is made of metal material.

5. Footwear as in any claim from 1 to 3, characterized in that the rigid element (20) is made of plastic material.

6. Footwear as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the tongue (15) comprises adjustment members (17, 19) which allow the adjustment of the annular conformation.

7. Footwear as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the adjustment element comprises a closing band (23), which on one side is associated to the rigid element (20), and on the other side is provided with an attachment member (25) to the upper (12).

8. Footwear as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises at least a pad (27) made of soft material attached to the upper (12) in correspondence with the positioning zone of the joint.