Shoe shoe with function of correcting posture of human body

Abstract

Provided is a shoe having a function of adjusting the posture of the body by correcting such a way that a user with O-legs or X-legs naturally touches the ground during walking and can walk with the center of gravity around the outside. The shoe is provided with a pedal and a vamp part stretching across the instep of the foot, and the pedal is provided with a toe tip part and a heel part on which the heel can be placed. When the pedal is divided into an inner side part including a thumb and an outer side part including a little finger of the foot, the inner side part is further provided with a flat thick-bottom area, and other parts of the pedal are flat thin-bottom areas. The thick bottom area extends from the toe tip part to the part corresponding to the inner side longitudinal arch of the foot through the part corresponding to the thumb and the root of the thumb. The thin bottom area continuously extends to the heel part from the parts corresponding to the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger of the foot and the root parts of the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger through the part corresponding to the outer side longitudinal arch of the foot in the long edge direction of the pedal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to footwear such as sandals, which have a sole for placing the user's foot and an upper part that covers the user's foot, and especially to footwear with posture correction functions. Background Technology

[0002] Footwear like sandals is generally constructed by adding a support strap or lugs to a flat sole shaped like the foot. Furthermore, sandals with various functions, such as protrusions on the sole that stimulate acupoints on the foot while walking, have also been developed.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a type of footwear comprising a footrest, a forefoot lug, and an ear flap. The footrest is formed by joining a first layer with a thin sole to a second layer without a thin sole. The thin sole of the first layer is missing a portion relative to the forefoot lug on the little toe side and relative to the heel on the toe tip. According to this structure, when a user walks in this footwear, the user's center of gravity is corrected inwards, and if the user has bowlegs, the distance between the knees is narrowed. Patent Document 1 also further discloses footwear in which the heel portion of the footrest is missing in a rounded or straight shape, allowing the user to walk on tiptoe.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a type of footwear that, in which a sole for placing the user's foot, an upper portion covering the instep, and an inner sole are arranged such that the sole is divided into a toe section and a heel side near the arch. The toe section is further divided into a thumb side (inner side) and a little toe side (outer side), with the little toe (outer side) roughly corresponding to the thin sole. Patent Document 2 also describes an example where the heel portion of the sole has a notch. Because of this notch, the footwear described in Patent Document 2 allows the user to walk on tiptoe, naturally exercising the muscles from the calves, inner thighs, to the buttocks. Existing technical documents Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 7166035 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 7454299 Summary of the Invention The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0006] Walking on your heel (heel strike) while wearing shoes has several advantages. First, by striking the heel first and then absorbing the impact of the ground with the entire foot, the impact on the feet, knees, and lower back is mitigated. Furthermore, heel strike makes it easier to stabilize the body's center of gravity, facilitating balance while walking and reducing the risk of falls. Secondly, heel strike distributes the burden across the muscles and joints of the foot, making even prolonged walking less tiring. Finally, heel strike followed by the entire foot pressing down on the ground minimizes energy loss and improves walking efficiency.

[0007] Therefore, people with bowlegs (genu valgum) tend to tilt their feet outwards when walking because their knees flare outwards. This puts excessive load on the outer side of the heel and foot, making heel strike unstable and causing the landing to tend to be more towards the toes or the inside of the foot. This type of landing, with the center of gravity forward and using the muscles of the foreleg, easily leads to thicker legs. Furthermore, it makes it difficult to maintain balance while walking, making the gait unstable. It also puts stress on the ankle joints, and if left untreated, can lead to knee osteoarthritis.

[0008] On the other hand, people with X-shaped legs (genu varum) tend to have their feet tilt inward when walking because their knees are positioned closer to the inside of their knees. This causes pressure to concentrate on the inside of the foot and toes, resulting in excessive load on the inside of the heel and foot. Landing on the heel can also cause tilting. Furthermore, weight tends to shift to one side, making it difficult to maintain balance, leading to an unstable gait and potentially increasing the risk of falls.

[0009] The inventions disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a simple structure that allows the user to walk on tiptoe while simultaneously correcting bowlegs. However, they do not adequately address the instability caused by the heel-to-toe landing in people with bowlegs. Furthermore, Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not mention users with knock-knees.

[0010] The purpose of this invention is to provide a footwear with a simple structure that has the following functions: users with O-shaped legs and X-shaped legs can naturally land on their heels when walking, which allows the body's center of gravity to be smoothly transferred outward from the heel to the toes, thereby making it easier to maintain balance and adjust the body's posture. Furthermore, the aim is to provide a footwear in which the knees face forward when standing or walking, and the pelvis closes simply by standing, providing support for correct posture. Furthermore, the aim is to provide a type of footwear that, through the unevenness of the insole, alters the point and sequence of foot contact during walking, thereby enabling the use of the correct muscles and bones for walking. This provides support to restore human muscles and bones to the correct position for physical health, allowing for proper posture and walking. Methods for solving problems

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the footwear is characterized in that it includes a footrest for placing a foot and an instep spanning the instep of the foot. The footrest is shaped like the outer periphery of the foot, having a toe section and a heel section for placing the heel. When the footrest is divided into an inner portion including the thumb and an outer portion including the little toe, the inner portion further has a flat, thick-soled area, while the other portions of the footrest have flat, thin-soled areas. The thick-soled area extends along the long side of the footrest from the toe tip, passing through the portion corresponding to the thumb and its base, to the portion corresponding to the inner longitudinal arch of the foot. The thin-soled area extends continuously along the long side of the footrest from the portion corresponding to the middle, ring, and little fingers of the foot and their bases, through the portion corresponding to the outer longitudinal arch of the foot, to the heel.

[0012] According to the present invention, the footwear is constructed such that when a user walks while wearing the footwear, the heel of the foot, in the thin-soled area, first touches the ground. The user's weight is then transferred sequentially from the heel, through the lateral longitudinal arch of the corresponding foot, from the lateral part of the toes, to the medial part of the thick-soled area with the lugs. This allows the user's center of gravity to smoothly transfer outwards from the heel, through the medial side, to the toes. Furthermore, the medial longitudinal arch (foot arch) of the corresponding foot is a thick-soled area, preventing the user's center of gravity from shifting inwards. Therefore, regardless of whether the user has O-shaped or X-shaped legs, their weight is smoothly transferred from the heel to the toes in an outward-shifting manner. This helps maintain the user's walking posture correctly and adjusts body posture. This footwear provides support for the user when standing and walking, helping to restore the muscles and bones to the correct position for physical health, enabling proper walking. Users with O-shaped or X-shaped legs can adjust their posture by continuously using these shoes. Because they can unintentionally walk with one heel on the ground, they also exercise their abdominal muscles, while their knees point outward and their hips and pelvis close. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the footwear according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A This is a plan view of a pair of shoes according to the first embodiment. Figure 2B This is a diagram showing the relationship between the footwear of the first embodiment and the user's foot. Figure 3 This is a side view of the footwear according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 This is a rear view of the footwear according to the first embodiment. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the movement of the main contact area (C) of the user's foot in contact with the footwear and the center of gravity (G) where the user's weight (center of gravity) is significantly affected, the movement being the situation when the user is walking while wearing the footwear of the first embodiment. Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the desired walking condition of a user with bowlegs or knock-knees during walking training while wearing the footwear of this invention. Figure 7 This diagram illustrates the desired walking condition of a user with bowlegs or knock-knees during walking training while wearing the footwear of this invention. Figure 8 This is a diagram showing the skeletal structure of a user with bowlegs when walking, viewed from the front. Figure 9 This is a diagram showing the skeletal structure of a user with bowlegs standing upright while wearing the shoes of this invention, viewed from the front. Figure 10 This is a diagram showing the skeletal structure of a user with bowlegs standing upright while wearing the shoes of this invention, viewed from the side. Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the footwear according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 This is a side view of the footwear according to the second embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [First Implementation] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the footwear according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A It is a two-dimensional drawing of a pair of shoes. Furthermore, Figure 2B It is a diagram illustrating the relationship between footwear and the user's feet. Footwear 1 is a so-called flip-flop, featuring a footrest 10 for placing the user's foot and lugs 20 that function as an upper spanning the instep. Furthermore, Figure 1This refers to shoe 1, which can be worn on the user's left foot. In a pair of shoes 1, shoe 1R, which can be worn on the right foot, and shoe 1L, which can be worn on the left foot, are symmetrical (see reference). Figure 2A ).

[0015] The foot pedal 10 is made of rubber or EVA carbamate material and is a flat plate-shaped component formed by taking the outer periphery of the foot. It has a heel part 10a for placing the user's foot 200 on the heel 202 and a toe part 10b for placing the user's foot 200 on the toe tip 201. The foot pedal 10 has a flat, thick-bottomed area 120 on its inner side, and the other parts of the foot pedal have a flat, thin-bottomed area 100. The junction 130 between the thick-bottomed area 120 and the thin-bottomed area 100 is a chamfered inclined surface.

[0016] The shoe lugs 20 are made of cloth or synthetic resin and consist of a front shoe lug 21 and a side shoe lug 22. The front shoe lug 21 extends upward from the plate surface of the footrest 10 and is the part that is held between the big toe 204 and the index finger 205 of the user's foot 200, and is located at the toe tip 10b of the footrest 10. The side shoe lugs 22 are made of cloth or synthetic resin in the form of a rope or strip, and are divided into an inner shoe lug 22a extending toward the side portion on the big toe side of the footrest 10 (hereinafter referred to as the inner side portion) and an outer shoe lug 22b extending toward the side portion on the little toe side (outer side portion). The ends 22e of the inner shoe lug 22a and the outer shoe lug 22b are respectively fixed to the two sides of the arch area of ​​the footrest 10. The thick-soled area 120 extends in a tongue shape from the toe tip 10b of the footrest 10 to the inner side of the end portion 22e of the side shoe lug 22 along the long side of the footrest 10.

[0017] Figure 2B This diagram illustrates the relationship between the shoe 1 and the user's foot 200. If the line segment connecting the center of the forefoot lug 21 of the shoe 1 and the center of the heel portion 10a of the heel 202 where the user's foot 200 is placed is defined as the center line OO, then the thick-soled area 120 of the footrest 10 extends horizontally from the inner portion of the toe tip 10b, corresponding to the thumb 204 and its base, to the junction 130 of the inner longitudinal arch (foot arch) 207 of the corresponding foot 200. That is, the thick-soled area 120 slightly widens in the width direction of the footrest 10 near the position between the toe tip side (before the forefoot lug 21) and the inner side (corresponding to the end portion 22e of the side lug 22), and slightly narrows in the middle of these positions. On the other hand, the thin-soled area 100 extends continuously along the long side of the footrest 10 from the portion of the toe tip 10b, i.e., the portion of the middle, ring, and little toes 206 and their bases, through the portion of the lateral longitudinal arch 208 of the corresponding foot, to the heel 10a. The heel 10a is a flat area without a thick-soled area and has a wide area sufficient to support the heel 202 of a user with poor balance, such as those with bowlegs or knock-knees.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a side view of shoe 1. Figure 4 This is a rear view of the footwear 1. To absorb impact on the foot when the heel strikes, the thin-sole region 100 of the footrest 10 has sufficient thickness. For example, depending on the size of the footwear 1, it has a thickness of approximately 25mm to 35mm. The thick-sole region 120 of the footrest 10 has a thickness H of, for example, 10mm to 25mm, depending on the size of the footwear 1. Therefore, the surface of the thick-sole region 120 has a height of, for example, approximately 50mm from the bottom surface of the footwear 1.

[0019] The toe portion 10b of the footrest 10 is inclined in a manner that makes it higher than the other surfaces of the thicker sole area. That is, the toe portion has an inclined surface 10C that makes the front end higher than the thickness H of the thicker sole area 120. Depending on the size of the shoe 1, the front end of the inclined surface 10C is higher than the plane of the thickness H of the main part of the thicker sole area 120, for example, by about 10 mm. This is because in the sandal 1 without an upper, the toes of the user's foot are prevented from sliding forward by the wedge effect caused by the inclined surface 10C of the footrest 10.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement of the user's weight on the shoes during walking, as described in the first embodiment. That is, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement of the user's foot in contact with the main contact area (C) of the footwear 1 and the center of gravity (G) where the user's weight (center of gravity) is significantly affected, as the user walks while wearing the footwear. When the user's foot is divided into two parts near the arch: the toe side and the heel side, with the toe side further divided into the big toe side (inner side) and the middle, ring, and little toe sides (outer side), the portion of the transverse head of the adductor hallucis muscle (C3) in the "outer" part of the foot and the portion of the arch side in the flexor digitorum brevis muscle (C2) roughly correspond to the thin-soled area 100. When walking, the user of the footwear of the present invention first places the heel on the heel portion 10a (C1), which is the thin-sole area. At this time, the user's center of gravity also acts on the same heel position (G1) as (C1). When the user walks while wearing the footwear 1 of the present invention, the main contact area between the user's sole and the footwear 1 moves forward along the thin-sole area (C2), (C3) on the outer side of the sole, and finally lands on the "outer" big toe portion (C4). Furthermore, the concentration of the user's weight also moves forward in the outer direction, just like the main contact area. That is, the user's center of gravity also moves forward along the outer side of the sole from the heel position (G1) in the manner of (G2), (G3), (G4). In this way, by shifting the user's center of gravity from the heel position (G1) to the thin-sole area (G2), (G3), the forward center of gravity can be avoided.

[0021] Furthermore, the thick-soled area 120 corresponds to the vicinity of the arch 207 of the foot. This thick-soled area 120 connects to the arch of the user's foot, preventing the user's center of gravity from shifting excessively inward. Thus, the user's center of gravity can be guided from the heel (G1) to the big toe (G4) without shifting excessively inward. That is, even if the user has bowlegs or knock-knees, they can maintain a proper walking posture and knee spacing, bringing it closer to a standard form.

[0022] Users with O-shaped or X-shaped legs can achieve a correct posture by wearing this shoe 1, shifting their center of gravity to their heels while at rest. Simply by wearing this shoe 1, such as standing in sandals, the user's pelvis will close. The sandals provide support for correct posture. Furthermore, the surface of the sandals has a difference in height between the thin sole area 100 and the thick sole area 120. This difference in height alters the point and sequence of foot contact during walking, allowing the user to use the correct muscles and bones of their feet. Therefore, by maintaining correct posture while walking, the muscles used change, resulting in the user closing their hips and pelvis. However, users with bowlegs and knock-knees will not immediately achieve the desired results by walking in this shoe 1 without changing their conscious awareness. Walking training to properly wear this shoe 1 is necessary. That is, it is necessary to perform walking training that involves consciously landing on the heel (see [reference]). Figure 6 , Figure 7 ).

[0023] According to this embodiment, users with O-shaped legs, by wearing shoe 1, are able to position their foot's center of gravity appropriately outward from the heel to the toes, thus correcting the knee spacing to near standard. Furthermore, users with X-shaped legs, by wearing shoe 1, are able to prevent excessive weight concentration on the inner side of the foot, thus correcting the knee spacing to near standard. The sandals of the present invention provide support for standing and walking while wearing shoe 1, helping to restore human muscles and bones to the correct position for physical health, enabling proper walking.

[0024] Figure 6 , Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the desired walking condition of a user with bowlegs or knock-knees when wearing sandals made of the footwear of this invention for walking training. like Figure 6 As shown, when the user of shoe 1 walks, for example, it is necessary for the heel of the left foot 200 to land on the heel portion 10a, which is the thin-soled area (point 1). Next, the outer half of the toe side of the left foot 200 contacts the thin-soled area 100 of the footrest 10, and the user's center of gravity is applied to the thin-soled area of ​​shoe 1 (point 2). Then, the medial longitudinal arch (arch) 207 of the left foot 200 contacts the thick-soled area 120 of the footrest 10, and the user's center of gravity is applied to the thin-soled area 100 of shoe 1, thereby transferring the center of gravity of the left foot to the big toe. In the case of a user with X-shaped legs, it is not easy to apply excessive weight to the thin-soled area 100.

[0025] And, as Figure 7 As shown, with the left foot firmly held in place by the thin and thick sole areas of the footrest 10 of shoe 1 (point 3), the right foot's big toe, with its center of gravity at the big toe, will be the last to leave the ground (point 4). This is because the toe area of ​​footrest 10 becomes an inclined surface 10C, higher than the other surfaces of the thick sole area, thus preventing the toes of the left foot from sliding forward, and the big toe of the right foot will be the last to leave the ground. In this way, even users with O-shaped or X-shaped legs can have their center of gravity corrected to the appropriate position on the inside of the foot by the shoe 1. Therefore, when walking, the weight is indeed smoothly transferred from the heel through the outer longitudinal arch of the foot to the toes. In other words, even users with O-shaped or X-shaped legs can easily maintain balance while walking without leaning to one side.

[0026] Figure 8This diagram shows the skeletal structure 300 of a person with bowlegs when walking, viewed from the front. When wearing normal shoes, people with bowlegs tend to concentrate pressure on the outer parts of the left and right feet 200R and 200L, resulting in poor posture with the thigh bone 302 bent.

[0027] Figure 9 This diagram illustrates the skeletal structure of a user with bowlegs standing upright while wearing the shoes of this invention, viewed from the front. When wearing the shoes 1 of this invention, as previously explained, the user's weight moves from the heel through the inner portion of the toes (the big toe) to the thick-soled area, which has the forefoot lugs. Therefore, the user's feet do not exhibit a bowleg state but remain as described above. Figure 9 The correct posture is shown. In cases of knock-knees, it can also prevent the user's legs from forming an knock-knee position and maintain the correct posture.

[0028] Secondly Figure 10 This is a diagram showing the state of the skeleton 300 when a user with bowlegs is standing upright while wearing the shoes of the present invention, viewed from the side. The so-called "good posture" of the human body refers to a state in which the "ear, shoulder, waist, knee, and ankle" are in a straight line. When users with O-shaped legs stand upright while wearing the shoes of this invention, their posture will be corrected, and the heel 202 of the foot 200 to the sternum 330 will be in a straight line. Furthermore, since walking is done consciously with the heel 202 of the foot 200 in mind, it also has the effect of exercising the abdominal muscles 320, while the knees point outward and the hips 310 and pelvis close.

[0029] Secondly Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the footwear according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, Figure 12 This is a side view of the footwear according to the second embodiment. This footwear comprises a sole (footrest) 10 for placing the foot and an upper portion 23 fixed to the outer periphery of the sole, the upper portion 23 at least covering the instep for placing the foot on the sole. As in the first embodiment, the sole (footrest) 10 has a thin-sole region 100 and a thick-sole region 120. The shapes of the thin-sole region 100 and the thick-sole region 120 are almost identical to those of the footwear of the first embodiment of the present invention. The upper portion 23 replaces the lugs 20 of the first embodiment. Since the upper portion 23 prevents the toes from sliding forward, the footwear of the second embodiment does not have a structure equivalent to the inclined surface 10C of the first embodiment. The shapes of the thin-sole region 100 and the thick-sole region 120 of the footwear in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, except for the inclined surfaces. Their functions and effects are also the same as those of the footwear in the first embodiment.

[0030] As described above, the footwear related to this invention has a simple structure and the following functions: users with O-shaped legs and X-shaped legs naturally land on their heels when walking, which allows the body's center of gravity to be smoothly transferred from the heel to the toes in a way that the center of gravity rotates outward, thereby making it easier to maintain balance and adjust the body's posture. Furthermore, the shoes have a design where the knees face forward when standing or walking, and the pelvis closes as soon as the shoes are worn, providing support for correct posture simply by standing. Furthermore, the shoe's insole, with its varying heights and contours, alters the foot's contact point and sequence during walking, thereby enabling the use of the correct muscles and bones for walking. This provides support to restore the human body's muscles and bones to the correct position for health, allowing for proper posture and walking. Furthermore, the unevenness of the insole creates a structure that makes it easy to kick up with the big toe while walking.

[0031] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the above embodiments are described using flip-flops as an example, but they can also be applied to indoor sandals, etc. Furthermore, the footboard is made of rubber or EVA carbamate material, but the material of the footboard is not limited to these. For example, it can also be made of wood. Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0032] 1: Footwear; 10: Footrest; 10a: Toe area; 10b: Heel area; 100: Thick sole area; 10d: Thin sole area; 20: Upper part of the shoe; 20a: Lug; 21: Forefoot lug; 22: Side lug; 22a: Inner lug; 22b: Outer lug.

Claims

1. A type of footwear comprising a footrest for placing a foot and an instep spanning the instep of said foot, wherein, The footrest is shaped like the outer periphery of the foot, having a toe section and a heel section for placing the heel. When the foot pedal is divided into an inner portion containing the thumb and an outer portion containing the little toe, the inner portion further has a flat, thick-bottomed area, while the other portions of the foot pedal have flat, thin-bottomed areas. The thick-soled area extends along the long side of the footrest from the toe tip, passing through the portion corresponding to the thumb and its base, to the portion corresponding to the inner longitudinal arch of the foot. The thin-soled area extends continuously along the long side of the footrest from the portion corresponding to the middle, ring, and little fingers of the foot and their bases, through the portion corresponding to the outer longitudinal arch of the foot, to the heel.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein, The footwear is configured such that, when a user walks while wearing the footwear, the user's weight moves outward from the heel of the footrest, through the portion corresponding to the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot, to the portion from the toe tip to the portion corresponding to the big toe and its base.

3. The footwear according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, The thick-soled area, corresponding to the size of the footwear, has a thickness of 10mm to 25mm compared to the thin-soled area, and the junction between the thick-soled area and the thin-soled area is a chamfered inclined surface.

4. The footwear according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, The footwear is a sandal or slipper having an ear formed by a side shoe lug that spans the instep and a footrest on which the side shoe lug is attached, the footrest being for placing the foot. The thick-soled area extends from the front end of the footrest, through the portion corresponding to the thumb and its base, to the portion corresponding to the inner longitudinal arch of the foot, and has an end portion at the connection between the side shoe lug and the footrest.

5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein, The toe portion of the foot pedal is tilted in a manner that makes it higher than the other surfaces of the thick-soled area.

6. The footwear according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, The footwear is footwear having a sole for placing the foot and an upper part fixed to the outer periphery of the sole, the upper part at least covering the instep of the foot for placing on the sole.

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