ZA200100215B

ZA200100215B - Footwear.

Info

Publication number: ZA200100215B
Application number: ZA200100215A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Marthienes Johannes Delport
Original assignee: Marthienes Johannes Delport
Priority date: 1998-06-11
Filing date: 2001-01-09
Publication date: 2001-08-07

Description

: SHOE INSERT AND SHOE INCLUDING SAID SHOE INSERT

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to foot-wear.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

In many shoes the upper surface of the base or sole formation does not take the natural weight-bearing parts of the foot sufficiently into . consideration. This causes a strain on bones and/or muscles and/or ligaments in a foot or leg, in particular when heavy loads are applied to feet : 10 as happens during exercises, sporting events and even when executing heavy work or standing on hard surfaces. Consequently the muscles and ligaments supporting the arches in the foot become strained or weakened and this results in a deformation of the arches, often with painful effects for the wearer of such shoes.

Is A number of suggestions have been made to overcome this problem.

Special shoe inserts have been developed. In the case of sport shoes, such as running or rugby or soccer boots, spikes or studs were placed in critical positions. However, often these positions are not satisfactory.

It is an object of the invention to provide an insert for a shoe which will assist in counteracting over-straining of the foot so as to prevent deformation and pain or injury to the wearer and offer improved athletic performance to a wearer.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a shoe insert, which includes a heel portion; a medial portion extending forwardly from the heel portion; and a metatarsal portion extending forwardly from the medial portion and terminating in a round metatarsal edge; the shoe insert being characterized thereby that the medial portion has a curved transverse cross-sectional shape; that the metatarsal portion has rearwardly a convex shape leading forwardly onto a concave shape in transverse sectional view from the heel portion towards the metatarsal edge; and that the metatarsal edge is adapted to be located substantially behind the joints of the five metatarsal . bones to the proximal phalanges of the foot of a wearer.

The medial portion may include a convex raised pad adapted to be located below a wearer's foot base.

The heel portion may include a dome shaped pad.

The shoe insert may be integrally formed with a shoe sole structure of a shoe.

The shoe insert may be made of resilient plastics material.

Also according to the invention there is provided a shoe including a shoe upper construction, an outer sole and an inner sole, which includes a heel portion; a medial portion extending forwardly from the heel portion; and a metatarsal portion extending forwardly from the medial portion and } terminating in a round metatarsal edge; the inner sole being characterized thereby that the medial portion has a curved transverse cross-sectional shape; that the metatarsal portion has rearwardly a convex shape leading s forwardly onto a concave shape in transverse sectional view from the heel portion towards he metatarsal edge; and that the metatarsal edge is adapted to be located substantially behind the joints of the five metatarsal bones to the proximal phalanges of the foot of a wearer.

The shoe may be a sport shoe, running shoe, a rugby or soccer boot, or a baseball shoe.

The shoe may include spikes, studs or cleats. : BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with the reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. Hi must be noted that all drawings refer to a right foot, a shoe insert for a right foot or a shoe for a right foot. Obviously all details will be applicable, vice versa , to a left foot.

In the drawings there is shown in:

Figure 1 a view from below of a shoe insert in accordance with the invention shown below the bone structure of a right foot;

Figure 2 a side view of the shoe insert and the foot bone structure seen along arrow ll in Figure 1;

Figure 3 on an enlarged scale, a side view of the shoe insert illustrated in

Figures 1 and 2; .

Figure 4 a sectional end view of the shoe insert seen along arrows IV -IV in Figure 3;

Figure 5 a sectional end view of the shoe insert seen along arrows V - Vin

Figure 3;

Figure 6 a sectional end view of the shoe insert seen along arrows VI - VI in Figure 3;

Figure 7 a side view of a sport shoe including a shoe insert as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6;

Figure 8 a side view of a running shoe provided with a shoe insert as ) illustrated in Figures 1 to 6;

Figure 9 a view from below of the running shoe seen along arrow IX in

Figure 8; 1s Figure 10 a side view of a rugby boot including a shoe insert as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6;

Figure 11 a view from below of the rugby boot seen along arrow X! in

Figure 10;

Figure 12 a side view of a baseball shoe including a shoe insert as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6; and

Figure 13 a view from below of the baseball shoe seen along arrow Xlll in } Figure 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to Figure 1, a view from below of a shoe insert in accordance 5s with the invention and the bones of the right foot of a wearer of a shoe are illustrated.

The various bones of the foot are indicated by the following reference numerals: 12: calcaneum : 14: talus 16: cuboid bone 18: navicular bone 20: lateral cuneiform bone 22: medial cuneiform bone 24. intermediate cuneiform bone 26....34; first to fifth metatarsal bones 36....44. proximal phalanges 46....54: distal phalanges

The cuboid bone 16 anteriorly has facets for the bases of the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones 26 ... 34. Medially, there is a facet for the lateral - cuneiform bone 20.

The navicular bone 18 articulates with the three cuneiform bones, namely 5s the medial cuneiform bone 22, the lateral cuneiform bone 20 and the intermediate cuneiform bone 24 anteriorly and with the talus 14 posteriorly.

Laterally the navicular bone 18 frequently articulates with the cuboid 16.

The three cuneiform bones 20, 22, 24 have articulations with the bases of the first, second and third metatarsal bones 26, 28, 30 respectively. The lateral cuneiform bone 20 also articulates with the cuboid 16, and all three } articulate with the navicular bone 18 posteriorly.

The metatarsal bones 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 articulate with the proximal ) phalanges 36, 38, 40 , 42, 44.

The bones as shown in the drawing are held together by means of tendons, muscles, and ligaments, details of which are not shown.

As is shown two longitudinal arches are formed below the foot. The one is on the inside extending from the first metatarsal bone 26 to the calcaneum 12 and rises higher than the arch on the outside and is subject to great stress during use of the foot, in particular if strenuous movements are performed. The outer and shorter arch, which extends from the fifth metatarsal bone 34 to the calcaneum 12, carries the major part of the weight of the body.

Furthermore, movement takes place in the joint between the metatarsal : bones 26 .... 34 and the proximal phalanges 36 .... 44 and also between the metatarsal bones 26 .... 34 and the various cuneiform bones 20 .... 24 and the cuboid bone 16.

These bones and arches have to be supported correctly so that they retain their natural formation and location whilst being able to take up the stress acting on them and yet they must have sufficient freedom of movement to take up shock loads. Thus strain on the muscles of the foot and leg can help to be relieved and this avoids pain and injury, which in turn will assist in preventing sports injuries.

The invention will now further be described by referring to the various ] drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the shoe support insert 56 includes a heel portion 58, forwardly thereof a medial portion 60 and forwardly thereof a metatarsal portion 62 terminating in a rounded metatarsal edge 64. The support insert 56 is joined to or is integral with an outer sole 66, which has a front sole part 66.1 in the region of the toes.

As is shown in Figure 3, the heel portion 58 is provided with an integrally formed rounded pad 68, which is made of high memory resilient material.

In other words, it deflects or expands under the application of pressure of a wearer standing thereon but after removal of the load it returns to its original condition. This pad 68 is dome shaped.

The medial portion 60 has a first part 70, which extends substantially parallel and horizontally from the heel portion 58 and passes over into a : convex portion 72 and then, by way of a concave portion 74, up to the metatarsal edge 64 (see also Figure 1).

On the side a raised pad 76 is provided to fit below the arch of a foot.

In the Figures 7 to 13 various shoes are shown which are provided with a shoe insert 56 as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. However, this shoe insert 56 may also be formed integrally with the respective sole of a shoe so as to constitute an upper sole. Therefore any reference to a shoe insert 56 hereafter also includes an upper sole having the same } construction.

Figure 7 shows a sport shoe 78 provided with an insert 56. )

The underside of the insert 56 is adapted to any unevenness in the construction of the inside of the shoe 78. This also applies to all other shoes illustrated below.

In Figures 8 and 9 a running shoe 80 provided with an insert 56 as illustrated.

The running shoe 80 has spikes or running studs 82, which are located in the positions shown in Figure 9.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a rugby boot 84 provided with an insert support

The rugby boot 84 is provided with studs 86 as shown in the various ] positions.

A baseball shoe 88, provided with an insert 56, is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. This shoe 88 has cleats 90, which are distributed as shown in s Figure 13.

List of reference numerals 12 calcaneum 14 talus 16 cuboid bone s 18 navicular bone lateral cuneiform bone 22 medial cuneiform bone 24 intermediate cuneiform bone 26... 34 first to fifth metatarsal bones 10 36..44 proximal phalanges 46... 54 distal phalanges 56 shoe support insert 58 heel portion 60 medial portion

Is 62 metatarsal portion 64 rounded metatarsal edge 66 outer sole

Nn 66.1 front sole part : 68 rounded pad 70 first part 72 convex portion s 74 concave portion 76 raised pad 78 sport shoe . 80 running shoe 82 running studs 84 rugby boot 86 studs 88 baseball shoe 90 cleats

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A shoe insert, which includes a heel portion (58); a medial portion (60) extending forwardly from the heel portion (58); and a metatarsal portion (62) extending forwardly from the medial portion (60) and terminating in a round metatarsal edge (64); characterized thereby that the medial portion (60) has a curved transverse cross-sectional shape; that the metatarsal portion (62) has rearwardly a convex shape (72) leading forwardly onto a concave shape (74) in transverse sectional view from the heel portion (58) towards the metatarsal edge (64); and that the metatarsal edge (64) is adapted to be located substantially behind the joints of the five metatarsal bones : (26 ... 34) to the proximal phalanges (36 ... 44) of the foot of a wearer.

2. A shoe insert as claimed in claim 1, characterized thereby that the medial portion (60) includes a convex raised pad (72) adapted to be located below a wearer's foot base.

3. A shoe insert as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized thereby that the heel portion (58) includes a dome shaped pad.

4, A shoe insert as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that it is integrally formed with a shoe sole structure of a shoe (78, 80, 84, 88).

5. A shoe insert as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that it is made of resilient plastics material.

i3

6. A shoe including a shoe upper construction, an outer sole and an } inner sole, which includes a heel portion (58); a medial portion (60) extending forwardly from the heel portion (58); and a metatarsal portion (62) extending forwardly from the medial portion (60) and terminating in a round metatarsal edge (64); characterized thereby that the medial portion (60) has a curved transverse cross-sectional shape; that the metatarsal portion (62) has rearwardly a convex shape (72) leading forwardly onto a concave shape (74) in transverse sectional view from the heel portion (58) towards the metatarsal edge (64); and that the metatarsal edge (64) is adapted to be located substantially behind the joints of the five metatarsal bones (26 ... 34) to the proximal phalanges (36 ... 44) of the foot of a wearer.

7. A shoe as claimed in claim 6, characterized thereby that it is a sport shoe, running shoe, a rugby or soccer boot, or a baseball shoe (88).

8. A shoe as claimed in claim 7, characterized thereby that it includes spikes (82), studs (86) or cleats (90).

AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 4 November 1999 (04.11.99); : original claims 1-8 replaced by amended claims 1-6 (2 pages)]

1. A shoe insert, which includes a heel portion (58); a medial portion (60) extending forwardly from the heel portion (58); and a metatarsal portion (62) extending forwardly from the medial portion (60) and terminating in a round metatarsal edge (64); characterized thereby that the heel portion (58) includes a dome shaped pad (68); that the medial portion (60) has a horizontal part (70), which forms part of the medial portion (60) and is located on one side of the medial portion (60) and extends substantially parallel and horizontally from the heel portion (58) and passing over into the metatarsal portion (62); that the medial portion (60) further has a } convex raised pad (76) located adjacent the horizontal part (70) on the side of the medial portion (60) opposite to the horizontal part (70) and . being adapted to be located below a wearer's foot base; that the metatarsal portion (62) has rearwardly a convex shape (72) leading from the horizontal part (70) and the convex raised pad (76) forwardly onto a . concave shape (74) in transverse sectional view seen from the heel portion (58) towards the metatarsal edge (64); and that the metatarsal edge (64) is adapted to be located substantially behind the joints of the five metatarsal bones (26 ... 34) to the proximal phalanges (36 ... 44) of the foot of a wearer.

2. A shoe insert as claimed in claim 1, characterized thereby that it is integrally formed with a shoe sole structure of a shoe (78, 80, 84, 88).

a. A shoe insert as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized thereby that it is made of resilient plastics material. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

4, A shoe including a shoe upper construction, an outer sole and an inner ] sole, which includes a shoe insert, A shoe insert, which includes a heel portion (68); a medial portion (60) extending forwardly from the heel portion (58), and a metatarsal portion (62) extending forwardly from the medial portion (60) and terminating in a round metatarsal edge (64); characterized thereby that the heel portion (58) includes a dome shaped pad (68); that the medial portion (60) has a horizontal part (70), which forms part of the medial portion (60) and is located on one side of the medial portion (60) and extends substantially parallel and horizontally from the heel portion (58) and passing over into the metatarsal portion (62); that the medial portion (60) further has a convex raised pad (76) located adjacent the horizontal part (70) on the side of the medial portion (60) opposite to the horizontal part (70) and being adapted to be located below a wearer's foot base; that the metatarsal portion (62) has rearwardly a convex shape (72) leading from the horizontal part (70) and the convex raised pad (76) forwardly onto a concave shape (74) in transverse sectional view seen from the heel portion (58) towards the metatarsal edge (64); and that the metatarsal edge (64) is adapted to be located substantially behind the joints of the five metatarsal bones (26 ... 34) to the proximal phalanges (36 ... 44) of the foot of a wearer.

5. A shoe as claimed in claim 4, characterized thereby that it is a sport shoe, running shoe, a rugby or soccer boot, or a baseball shoe (88).

6. A shoe as claimed in claim 5, characterized thereby that it includes spikes (82), studs (86) or cleats (90). 125f AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)