WO2019144168A1

WO2019144168A1 - Sole element with defined bending stiffnesses

Info

Publication number: WO2019144168A1
Application number: PCT/AT2019/060023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hannes Stockinger
Original assignee: Adomus Gmbh
Priority date: 2018-01-25
Filing date: 2019-01-23
Publication date: 2019-08-01
Also published as: EP3742918A1; DK3742918T3; DE202018000386U1; US20210137215A1; HRP20221486T1; EP3742918B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sole element that is introducible into a shoe, comprising a flexible top layer (1) for receiving a foot in a footbed (2), an insole body (3) having locally different bending properties, which insole body extends parallel to a top layer surface and which insole body (3) is joined to the top layer surface, the insole body (3) is in the form of a one-piece body extending over a first subregion (6, 6') and over a second subregion (7), which first subregion (6, 6') of the insole body (3) having a high bending stiffness is arranged in a plane adjacent to the second subregion (7) of the insole body (3) having a low bending stiffness, wherein the second subregion (7) is arranged in a manner at least partially enclosing the first subregion (6), wherein the first subregion (6, 6') is arranged in the region of the midfoot and/or in the heel region.

Description

Sole element with defined bending stiffness

This invention relates to a sole element insertable into a shoe comprising a flexible cover layer for receiving a foot in a footbed, an insert body having partially bending properties, which insert body extends parallel to a cover surface and which insert body is connected to the cover layer surface, the insert body as a itself formed over a first portion and over a second portions extending one-piece body, which first portions of the insert body having a high bending stiffness in a plane adjacent to the second portion of the insert body is arranged with a low bending stiffness, the second portion of the first portion at least partially is arranged enclosing.

W02010085834A1 discloses a sole element comprising a cover layer, an insert body attached to the cover layer and extending parallel to the cover layer, wherein adjusting elements can be attached to the insert body in order to adapt the sole element to the needs of the user via the adjustment elements. WO2010085834A1, page 4, second paragraph mentions the formation of the insert body with different material properties, in particular bending properties, to satisfy the support function and the adaptability of the insert body. Neither the text of the specification of WO2010085834A1 nor the figures of WO2010085834A1 give the skilled person a clear guide on how to make the insole element comprising different material properties. In particular, WO2010085834A1 does not disclose the formation of a first partial region with a first bending stiffness and of a second partial region with a second bending stiffness.

DE29810518 is mentioned in W02010085834A1 as prior art. DE29810518 discloses a shoe insert which can be assembled in a modular manner. There is no reference in DE29810518 to the formation of different bending stiffness subregions of the shoe insert by an application of this modular system.

No. 2,142,410 discloses a shoe sole with an adjustment element in the heel region, which heel region is designed to extend in a planar manner (see FIG. 1 of US Pat. No. 2,142,410) or with a convex arch shape. There is no reference in US2184210 to the formation of different bending stiffnesses.

DE1982317U discloses an insole comprising a pad. There is no indication in DE1982317U that the insole in the area of the pad has a higher flexural strength. The insole (indicated in Figure 1 of DE1982317U by the reference numeral 5) is formed of pressure leather. Print leather is freely deformable. DE102016211118 does not disclose that the first portion and the second portion are arranged one above the other. Figure 1 of DE 102016211118 discloses that the first portion and the second portion are arranged adjacent.

From DE60009767 or DE19904744 it is not clear that the mentioned subregions have different bending stiffnesses.

DE102014215897 discloses a sole in which sole under the appearance of partial regions have different contact surface sizes with the substrate. FIG. 1 of DE102014215897 shows the arrangement of the different partial regions, wherein no enclosing arrangement can be recognized.

The chambers in the sole proposed in EP0553736 are filled with air (Luftkammem). In the prior art, air has no flexural rigidity.

DE34046504 discloses the formation of pockets filled with a granulated natural cork bed. A bed has no flexural rigidity.

The invention disclosed below has the task of adapting a shoe to the needs of the user by inserting the sole element according to the invention into the shoe.

The invention disclosed below relates, for example, to an insole. The sole element according to the invention may also be part of an inner shoe, which inner shoe is introduced into an outer shoe.

This object is achieved by an apparatus and a method according to the claims. According to the invention this is achieved in that

the first subregion is arranged in the region of the midfoot and / or in the heel region.

The first portion having a high flexural rigidity is arranged in the form of islands in the insert body.

The arrangement of first partial regions with a high bending stiffness and second partial regions with a low bending stiffness in the insert body determines the deformation behavior of the sole element according to the invention. A movement of the voltage applied to the first portions foot is thereby prevented, while a movement of the voltage applied to the second portion foot is released.

The formation of the first partial regions with a high bending stiffness and of second partial regions with a low bending stiffness, the second partial regions at least partially enclosing the first partial regions, corresponds to the structure of a sole of the foot, for which reason the insert body according to the invention can be adapted very well to the needs of a person. The insert body extends in partial areas below the footbed. The insert body supports the footbed and influences the distribution of forces on the foot due to its mechanical properties.

An enclosing arrangement of the second subarea about the first subarea is present when the second subarea is arranged as an area extending around the first subarea. The second subarea extends along the entire circumference of the first subarea.

An at least partial enclosure of the first subarea by the second subarea is present when regions of the first subarea are not arranged adjacent to a second subarea. This may in particular be the case if the first subregion extends to the edge of the inventive insole, so that no arrangement of a second subregion is possible for geometrical reasons.

A different bending stiffness between the first partial area and the second partial area can be achieved by different thicknesses of the insert body and / or by the arrangement of different materials or material combinations in the partial areas. The latter can be done for example by arranging Reinforcement bodies in the insert body. The formation of the cover layer with different thicknesses creates under no circumstances different bending properties, since the cover layer according to the common teaching of a very soft material pointing towards no bending property is formed.

The transition between the subregions must by no means be abrupt or erratic, that is to say a clear subareas boundary. The transition between the subregions can also be continuously rising or falling.

By the above-described arrangement of first portions with higher bending stiffness and second portions with lower bending stiffness - each compared to each other - the deformation behavior of the sole element in the region of the first portion is specifiable so that the sole element in a conventional use such as walking only in one Direction and / or primarily in the selected second sub-areas deform. A deformation of the sole element in the first portion in a different direction is prevented by the increased bending stiffness.

Defining the first subareas and the second subareas prevents the user from inconveniently deforming the inlay sole element in an area and / or from causing a deformation of the insole insulator in an area in a certain direction that is unpleasant for the user. The invention disclosed herein is capable of achieving the advantageous effect of preventing deformation in a range in one direction, since a sole element is subjected to a certain load in the normal use case, which load in the normal case of prior art sole elements deformation of the Sole element in one area in one through the Stress caused direction causes. In the case of the sole element according to the invention, this deformation, which is unpleasant for the user, is prevented by the increased flexural rigidity of the first partial region, which first partial region is arranged in a region with deformations to be prevented.

The sole element according to the invention can be characterized in that the insert body has an arcuate shape in the first partial region, wherein the insert body in the first partial region has an arcuate shape with a flexural rigidity increasing from an arc end to a vertex. A variable over the arc length flexural rigidity can be achieved by the choice of material. The insert body may, for example, have reinforcing elements in first partial areas with a higher bending stiffness. The number or density of the reinforcing elements may vary over the length of the arc.

In the first subarea, the insert body may have an arcuate shape with a different insole body thickness than the arc length, wherein the insole body in the first subarea has an arcuate shape with an insole body thickness increasing from an arcuate end to an apex.

Such a bow is easier to deform because of the kinking properties by a force acting in the direction of the center of the sheet than by a force directed away from the center of the sheet. The sole element according to the invention can be characterized in that the insert body in use in the first portion only in the direction of the center point and thus exclusively downwards and not upwardly deformable.

This is particularly important for an insole because the forces acting on a insole are in no way limited to forces acting from top to bottom (mainly due to the weight of the user), but also, for example, due to the deformation of the shoe taking place forces with one direction of action from bottom to top. A deformation caused thereby, for example, a warping of an insole from bottom to top would be uncomfortable for the user.

The person skilled in the art is able to exploit this characteristic buckling behavior of the sheet for preventing deformations in a defined direction in the region of the sheet.

It may have the first portion of the insert body in a plane parallel to a top surface of a V-shaped structure. The second portion extends in this embodiment between the legs of the V, so that the first portion partially surrounds the second portion.

The V-like structure of the first subregion can be arranged as often as desired on the surface of the cover layer. The insert body may be made of a thermoplastic. One skilled in the art will be able to select a suitable thermoplastic material which is preferably adaptable to the user's foot at about 120 degrees Celsius. Since the cover layer is usually made of an insulating material, the surface temperature of the footbed during the fitting process is about 50 degrees Celsius.

The sole element according to the invention may comprise an adjusting element which can be arranged in the first part region, which adjusting element can be attached to an insert body surface of the insert body.

The adjustment element is a three-dimensional body which is positioned under the sole element for locally lifting the sole element. The sole element is arranged for this purpose on the insert body surface of the insert body according to methods of the prior art. Document W02010085834A1 cited at the beginning mentions possible forms of the connection of an adjusting element to the insert body.

The adjusting element may have different heights in order to achieve a local inclination of the footbed. The adjusting element can be designed as a pad.

The adjusting element can furthermore be fastened to the insert surface via areal adhesives such as adhesive surfaces or hook-and-loop surfaces. A flat connection of the adjusting element to the insert body surface has the advantage that the shear forces occurring can be well absorbed. The use of releasable connection means such as hook-and-loop fasteners also allows the quick and easy removal and, if necessary, changing the adjustment.

The adjusting element can be attached to the insert body with any mechanical connection means.

The arrangement of a planar adjusting element in the region of the first partial area and the areal connection of the adjusting element to the insert body further increase the bending stiffness of the first partial area. The adjusting element can have a shape adapted to the surface of the insert body for surface connection to the insert body.

The adjusting element can be arranged in the concave shaped first portion. This prevents that the sole element in the region of the adjusting element undergoes a deformation upwards, which would be very uncomfortable for the user.

The adjusting element can be arranged in particular at the vertex of the concave first portion.

For a better understanding of the invention, this will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

In each case, in a highly simplified, schematic representation: 1 shows a possible embodiment of the inventive insole without adjusting element,

Fig. 2, the embodiment of the inventive insole shown in Figure 1 with

adjusting,

Fig. 3 shows a possible further embodiment of the inventive insole without a

adjusting,

Fig. 4, the embodiment of the inventive insole shown in Figure 3 with a

Adjusting.

By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component names, wherein the disclosures contained in the entire description can be mutatis mutandis to the same parts with the same reference numerals or component names. Also, the location information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc. related to the immediately described and illustrated figure and these position information in a change in position mutatis mutandis to transfer to the new location.

In the figures, the embodiments of the inventive sole element are shown. The figures do not include the foot which, when using the illustrated embodiments of the sole elements, is in contact with the sole elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of the insole according to the invention. FIG. 1 on the left comprises a view of the sole according to the invention and the sectional views of the sections A-A, B-B and C-C entered in the view. This arrangement of view and Schnittbildem is maintained in all figures 1 to 4.

The inventive sole element has a shape so that the sole element can be introduced into a shoe according to the prior art. FIG. 1 shows, in particular in the view, a sole with a plan shape known from the prior art, which essentially follows the shape of a foot.

The inventive sole element comprises a cover layer 1 for receiving a foot in a footbed 2. The cover layer 1 is made of a textile, so that a comfortable surface for the user can be formed.

Below the cover layer, a insert body 3 is arranged, by means of which insert body 3 the bending properties of the prior art sole element according to the invention are assigned. In some areas, the insert body 3 situated below the cover layer 1 and extending parallel to the cover layer 1 and connected to the cover layer 1 has different bending stiffnesses.

The sole element according to the invention comprises, in particular in the integrally formed insert body 3, two first partial regions 6, 6 ', which first partial regions 6, 6' are enclosed by a second partial region 7. The first partial regions 6, 6 'each have a higher bending stiffness than the adjacent second partial regions 7. Using the conventional teaching, such a higher bending stiffness of the first subregion can be achieved by a reinforcing body not shown in FIG. 1 and / or by a greater thickness of the insert body 3 in the region of the first subregion 6.

By arranging first partial regions 6, 6 'adjacent to second partial regions 7, the bending stiffness and thus the deformation behavior of the sole element according to the invention are advantageously determined.

In the case of the embodiment of the sole element according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, the first partial regions 6, 6 'are clearly separated from the second partial regions by partial region boundaries 8, 8' indicated in FIG. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the thickness of the insert body between the first partial areas 6, 6 'and the second partial area is continuous, that is to say without jumps.

The first partial region 6, which is arranged near the midfoot region 5, has a concave arcuate cross-sectional shape as seen in the sectional view C-C. The thickness of the insert body 3 is increasing in the region of this first partial region 6 from the partial region boundary 8 to the arc vertex 9.

As a result of this special shaping of the first subarea 6, it is achieved that this first subarea 6 can only be deformed downwards under normal load by a foot, as shown by the arrow 10 in FIG.

The further first partial region 6 'is arranged in the heel region 4 of the sole element according to the invention. The further first partial region has a convex arcuate shape, wherein the insert body in the area of the further first partial region 6 'has a thickness which is the same over the arc length and thus has the same flexural rigidity.

The first portion 6 includes adhesion surfaces 13 for attaching adjusting elements, which are not shown in Figure 1 (see in particular section AA in Figure 1). By means of these adjusting elements, as shown in the further figures and described below, the sole element in the first partial region 6 can be increased so as to achieve better adaptation to the foot. The adhesion surface 13 has a partition 14, so that the user can easily and accurately place adjustment elements, which preferably have the shape of the sub-areas marked by the subdivision 14. FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the sole element according to the invention, wherein the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and described above, supplemented by an adjusting element 11. By means of the adjusting element 11, the inventive sole element is raised in an area around the adjusting element 11, whereby advantageous effects are achieved by forming the sole element in the first partial region 6.

In the case of a sole element as described in WO2010085834A1, it can be observed that the sole element can be deformed upwards in use, in particular when walking in the midfoot region 5, which can be uncomfortable for a user. When walking, especially when rolling the foot over the toe area, the sole element is bent in particular in the middle foot area 5 under a relieving load in the midfoot area 5 and in the heel area 4.

This circumstance can be reinforced by arranging an adjusting element 11 in the middle foot region 5, since the sole element and in particular the insert body 3 undergo an initial deformation due to the arranged adjusting element 11, which initial deformation promotes upward discomfort to the user.

The above-described advantageous embodiment of the first portion 6 prevents the deformation of the sole element in the first portion 6. In particular, the user uncomfortable deformation is suppressed upward by the formation of the first portion in an arc shape with increasing from the Teilbereichsgrenze 8 to the apex bending bending stiffness ,

The further first partial region 6 ', in which further first partial region 6' no upward deformation is to be observed, has a constant bending rigidity.

The insert body 3 of the sole element shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 is made of a thermoplastic, so that the sole element can be adapted by heating the thermoplastic in a simple process to the shape of the foot of the user.

Figure 3 shows another possible embodiment of the sole element according to the invention, which is suitable for insertion into a shoe. For this purpose, the sole element according to the invention has a shape adapted to the sole or to the footbed of the shoe.

The sole element comprises a flexible covering layer 1 for receiving the foot in a footbed 2. The sole element according to the invention is thus in contact with the foot via the footbed 2, the position of the foot being influenced by the material properties of the sole element.

The sole element further comprises in turn an insert body 3, which insert body 3 extends parallel to the cover layer surface and is connected to this area. The insert body 3 is formed as a one-piece body extending over first partial regions 6, 6 'and over second partial regions 7, wherein the term integrality is to be understood here as meaning that the partial regions are inseparably connected to one another.

There is arranged a first portion 6 of the insert body 3 with a high bending rigidity in a plane adjacent to a second portion 7 of the insert body 3 with a low bending rigidity. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the higher bending stiffness is achieved by the arrangement of a body in the insert body 3 defining the first portion 6.

The second partial region 7 is arranged at least partially surrounding the first partial region 6, so that the first partial region 6 is arranged in the shape of an island in the second partial region 7.

The first portion 6 has a V-shaped structure in a plane in the insert body 3. In particular, the first subregion 6 forms two V-shaped structures, which together form an X-shaped structure. The first portion 6 is arranged island-shaped in the second portion 7 with its x-shaped structure.

Due to the x-shaped structure of the first portion 6, the property of the sole element is significantly influenced with respect to a torsion. A torsion of the sole element is possible only in the torsion region 12 marked in FIG. 3 due to the geometric structure of the first partial region.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the sole element according to the invention, also shown in FIG. 3, which sole element has been supplemented by an adjusting element 11. The adjusting element 11 conceals the adhesion surface 13 in the view. The adhesion surface 13 is not shown in the sections for reasons of clarity.

The first partial region 6 is suitable for influencing a possible deformation of an adjusting element 11 arranged between the legs of the V-shaped form on the insert body surface such that a preforming of the sole element in this partial region is prevented upwards. Such a movement of the sole element upwards would - as stated above - very uncomfortable for the user.

The further first portion 6 'is the same in the embodiments shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 as in the embodiments shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 and requires no further explanation.

The embodiments show possible embodiments, it being noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiments thereof, but rather also various combinations of the individual embodiments with each other possible and this possibility of variation due to the doctrine of technical action by objective invention in the skill of those working in this technical field holds professional.

The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and drawings are to be considered to interpret the claims. Individual features or combinations of features from the illustrated and described different embodiments may represent for themselves inventive solutions. The task underlying the independent inventive solutions can be taken from the description.

All statements of value ranges in the present description should be understood to include any and all sub-ranges thereof, e.g. is the statement 1 to 10 to be understood that all sub-areas, starting from the lower limit 1 and the upper limit 10 are included, ie. all sub-areas begin with a lower limit of 1 or greater and end at an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8, 1, or 5.5 to 10.

For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that for a better understanding of the construction, elements have been shown partially unevenly and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 cover layer

2 footbed

3 insert body

4 heel area

5 midfoot area

6 first subarea

7 second subarea

8 subrange limits

9 arc vertex

10 arrow

11 adjustment element

12 torsion area

13 adhesion surface

14 subdivision

Claims

claims

1. Sole element insertable into a shoe comprising

a flexible covering layer (1) for receiving a foot in a footbed (2),

an insert body (3) having, in some regions, different bending properties, which insert body extends parallel to a cover layer surface and which insert body (3) is connected to the cover layer surface,

the insert body (3) is designed as a one-piece body extending over a first partial region (6, 6 ') and over a second partial region (7),

which first partial regions (6, 6 ') of the insert body (3) is arranged with a high flexural rigidity in a plane adjacent to the second partial region (7) of the insert body (3) with a low bending stiffness,

wherein the second subregion (7) is arranged at least partially surrounding the first subregion (6),

characterized in that

the first subregion (6, 6 ') is arranged in the region of the midfoot and / or in the heel region.

2. sole element according to claim 1, characterized in that

the insert body (3) in the first portion has an arc shape, wherein

the insert body (3) in the first partial region has an arcuate shape with a flexural rigidity increasing from one end of the arc to one apex (9).

3. sole element according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that

the insert body in the first portion (6) has an arcuate shape with a different over the arc length insert body thickness, wherein

the insert body (3) in the first subregion has an arcuate shape with an insert body thickness increasing from an arc end to a vertex (9).

4. sole element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

the first portion (6, 6 ') of the insert body (3) in a plane parallel to a

Cover layer surface has a V-shaped structure.

5. sole element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that

the insert body (3) is made of a thermoplastic.

6. sole element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that

the sole element in the first part region comprises an adjusting element (11) which

Adjusting element (11) on an insert body surface of the insert body (3) can be arranged.

7. Sole element according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the first portion (6, 6 ') has a concave arc shape and the adjusting element (11) in the concave shaped first portion (6, 6') is arranged.

8. sole element according to claim 7, characterized in that

the adjusting element (11) is arranged at the vertex (9) of the concave first partial region (6, 6 ').