Insole and footwear

Abstract

To solve the problem in a conventional insole in which the toes tend to be floating toes inside footwear, and the original function of the foot is hardly exhibited.SOLUTION: In an insole 10, a first raised part 15 of a body part 11 supports an inside longitudinal arch from a sole 62 side, a second raised part 16 of the body part 11 supports an outside longitudinal arch from the sole 62 side, and a tip area R1 of the body part 11 supports the toes 63 from the sole 62 side. With the structure, the toes 63 of a user are prevented from becoming floating toes inside a shoe, and the toes 63 fulfill the original function in doing exercise so as to train intrinsic muscles, and the skeleton of the foot is held in an appropriate position by using the muscle power of the intrinsic muscle so as to realize walking with reduced burden on the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an insole and footwear. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional insole structure is described in Patent Document 1. The insole includes a seat portion disposed over the entire bottom surface of the shoe, and a support plate portion that supports the seat portion from below, from the longitudinal center portion of the seat portion to the heel portion. The seat portion is formed with a toe portion, a protruding portion, an arch portion, and a heel portion from the front end to the rear end.

[0003] The arch portion is a portion formed to accommodate the metatarsal bones, excluding the protruding portion, and the area directly below the lateral malleolus. Specifically, the arch portion includes an inner wall portion formed to accommodate the first metatarsal bone, an outer wall portion formed to accommodate the fifth metatarsal bone, and a central wall portion formed between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. The inner wall portion, the outer wall portion, and the central wall portion are on the front surface side of the sheet portion, and are shaped such that the sheet portion is curved upward in an arch shape and protrudes.

[0004] With this structure, the medial longitudinal arch, lateral longitudinal arch and transverse arch of the sole of the shoe wearer are supported from below by the arch portion, preventing the collapse of the foot bone structure and reducing the burden, etc., associated with the distortion of the foot bone structure when the shoe wearer is walking or exercising.

[0005] Furthermore, the structure described in Patent Document 2 is known as a conventional insole structure. The insole is a sole-shaped bottom part attached to the sole of a shoe, and is formed in a size that covers the heel part of the foot from the sesamoid part through the metatarsal bones. The insole is formed with a front support convex part, a calcaneus support convex part, and a rear heel support part from the front end to the rear end. The front support convex part, the calcaneus support convex part, and the rear heel support part are shaped to protrude from the surface side of the insole.

[0006] The anterior support protrusions support multiple metatarsal bones from the sole of the foot, and the calcaneus support protrusions support the inside of the anterior part of the calcaneus from the sole of the foot. This structure allows the user's talus to be returned to its ideal position, and the position of the fibula can be pushed upward. By returning the tarsal bones to their normal position, the above three arch structures of the user's sole are restored, and the relative positions of the tibia and fibula above the ankle are stabilized, allowing the entire body to be balanced. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6991539 [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-217063 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The insole described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 has an inner wall, an outer wall, and a central wall that are curved and protruded in an arch shape on the surface side of the sheet part. The inner wall, the outer wall, and the central wall come into contact with the sole of the user's foot, firmly support the above three arches from the sole side, and prevent distortion of the foot skeleton.

[0009] However, in the above insole, the three arches are supported from the sole side, and the central area of ​​the sole including the arch area of ​​the sole is raised, so that the user's toes are in a floating state relative to the seat part inside the shoe. Then, the user cannot use his / her toes properly during exercise such as walking, and the intrinsic muscles that control the gripping action of the toes weaken. As a result, the three arches are not supported in the proper position by the intrinsic muscles, and there is a problem that strain is generated due to the distortion of the foot skeleton during exercise.

[0010] Furthermore, the insole is structured to firmly support the three arches from the sole of the foot, so that when the user wears footwear fitted with the insole, the three arches of the user are firmly supported from the sole of the foot, preventing distortion of the foot bone structure.

[0011] However, as described above, the insole has a problem that the user's toes are raised above the seat inside the footwear, so that the intrinsic muscles are not trained, and the three arches are not kept in the proper position when the user is not wearing footwear, for example, at home, so that the burden caused by the distortion of the foot bone structure is not improved. Furthermore, the inability of the toes to function properly when not wearing footwear may lead to a fall at home, etc., and a fracture.

[0012] In addition, the insole firmly supports the three arches from the sole of the foot, and the toes are raised, so that the plantar fascia is loosened and the tension of the plantar fascia is not increased. As a result, the windlass mechanism and truss mechanism do not function well, and it is difficult to achieve shock absorption and stability during exercise such as walking. Furthermore, when not wearing shoes, such as at home, the three arches are not kept in the correct position, and the plantar fascia is loosened. This also has an adverse effect on the muscle-tendon complex connected to the plantar fascia, and there is a problem that it is difficult to achieve the effects of functioning as a blood flow pump and preventing and improving swelling.

[0013] Furthermore, in the insole described in Patent Document 2 mentioned above, similar to the insole described in Patent Document 1, a front support convex portion, a calcaneus support convex portion, and a posterior heel support portion are formed, thereby enabling the above three arches to be supported from the sole of the foot.

[0014] However, with the above-mentioned insoles, the sole-shaped bottom is not formed in the toe area from the sesamoid bone area forward, so the user's toes float above the bottom of the shoe inside the shoe, and the user cannot use their toes properly when walking or doing other exercises.

[0015] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an insole and footwear that supports the medial longitudinal arch and lateral longitudinal arch from the sole of the foot, and allows the toes to come into contact with the main body and exert force, thereby allowing the foot to exhibit its natural functions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] The insole of the present invention is an insole that is fitted inside footwear and supports the sole of the foot of a user of the footwear, and comprises a main body portion arranged from the heel to the toes of the user, a first raised portion formed on the surface side of the main body portion and supporting the medial longitudinal arch of the user from the sole of the foot, and a second raised portion formed on the surface side of the main body portion and supporting the lateral longitudinal arch of the user from the sole of the foot, and is characterized in that in the tip region of the main body portion, the back side of the main body portion is formed as a flat surface and the thickness of the toe side of the main body portion is formed thicker than the thickness of the heel side of the main body portion.

[0017] In addition, the insole of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a first depression formed on the surface side of the main body portion and supporting the ball of the user's big toe from the sole of the foot, and a second depression formed on the surface side of the main body portion and supporting the ball of the user's little toe from the sole of the foot, and in an intermediate region between the first depression and the second depression of the main body portion, the surface side of the main body portion is formed as a flat surface.

[0018] In addition, in the insole of the present invention, the first raised portion has an apex rearward of the center of the medial longitudinal arch, and the ridge of the first raised portion is formed from the apex toward the diagonally forward inward direction of the main body portion, and the second raised portion has an apex rearward of the center of the lateral longitudinal arch, and the ridge of the second raised portion is formed from the apex toward the diagonally forward inward direction of the main body portion.

[0019] In the insole of the present invention, the surface of the tip region is located at a higher position inside the footwear than the surface of the middle region.

[0020] In addition, the insole of the present invention is characterized in that a recess is formed on the back surface side of the main body portion at the boundary between the middle region and the tip region, extending in the lateral width direction of the main body portion.

[0021] In addition, the footwear of the present invention is footwear worn by a user, comprising a sole portion arranged from the heel to the toes of the user and supporting the sole of the user's foot, a first raised portion formed on the surface side of the sole portion and supporting the medial longitudinal arch of the user from the sole of the foot, and a second raised portion formed on the surface side of the sole portion and supporting the lateral longitudinal arch of the user from the sole of the foot, wherein the toe side of the tip region of the sole portion is higher than the heel side, and the toes of the user are in contact with the tip region of the sole portion. Effect of the Invention

[0022] In the insole of the present invention, the first protuberance of the main body supports the medial longitudinal arch from the sole side, the second protuberance of the main body supports the lateral longitudinal arch from the sole side, and the tip region of the main body supports the toes from the sole side. This structure prevents the user's toes from floating inside the shoe, and allows the toes to perform their original functions during exercise, etc., thereby training the intrinsic muscles. The foot skeleton is then held in the correct position using the strength of the intrinsic muscles, allowing the user to walk with reduced strain.

[0023] In addition, in the insole of the present invention, the first and second recesses in the main body contain the balls of the first and second toes within the area in which they are formed inside the footwear. This structure prevents the balls of the first and second toes, which are the load-bearing points on the sole of the foot, from slipping sideways inside the footwear, allowing the toes to perform their natural functions during exercise, etc.

[0024] In addition, in the insole of the present invention, the first and second raised parts of the main body support the medial and lateral longitudinal arches from the sole of the foot, and their shape shifts the center of gravity of the user to the front of the foot. This structure allows the toes to move while applying firm pressure to the main body, and prevents the toes from floating inside the footwear.

[0025] In addition, in the insole of the present invention, the toes come into contact with the main body inside the footwear, and the main body comes into contact with the bottom surface inside the footwear. This structure prevents the toes from floating inside the footwear, allowing the toes to perform their original functions during exercise, etc.

[0026] In addition, in the insole of the present invention, when the user is exercising such as walking, the main body bends in the area where the recess is formed, allowing the tip area of ​​the main body to move along the sole of the foot. This structure prevents the toes from lifting off the bottom of the footwear and makes it easier to pinch the toes.

[0027] In the footwear of the present invention, even in a structure without an insole, a first protuberance supporting the medial longitudinal arch from the sole side is formed on the surface side of the sole part supporting the sole of the foot, and a second protuberance supporting the lateral longitudinal arch from the sole side is formed. The tip region of the sole part supports the toes from the sole side. This structure prevents the user's toes from floating, and allows the toes to perform their original functions during exercise, etc., thereby training the intrinsic muscles. The foot skeleton is held in the correct position using the strength of the intrinsic muscles, allowing the user to walk with reduced burden. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the foot structure of a user of footwear equipped with an insole according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the intrinsic muscles of a foot of a user wearing footwear equipped with an insole according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the intrinsic muscles of a foot of a user wearing footwear equipped with an insole according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4C] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the intrinsic muscles of a foot of a user wearing footwear equipped with an insole according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4D] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the intrinsic muscles of a foot of a user wearing footwear equipped with an insole according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the plantar fascia of a foot of a user wearing footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state of a foot inside a piece of footwear to which an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached. [Figure 8A] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the results of using footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view showing the insole before and after comparison of use. [Figure 8B] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the results of using footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view showing the insole before and after comparison of use. [Figure 8C] FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the results of using footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention, comparing the insole before and after use. [Figure 9A] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the results of using footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view showing the insole before and after comparison of use. [Figure 9B]FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the results of using footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view showing the insole before and after comparison of use. [Figure 9C] FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the results of using footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention, comparing the insole before and after use. [Figure 10A] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the results of using footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view showing the insole before and after comparison of use. [Figure 10B] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the results of using footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view showing the insole before and after comparison of use. [Figure 10C] FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the results of using footwear equipped with an insole according to one embodiment of the present invention, comparing the insole before and after use. [Figure 11A] FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating footwear according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11B] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating footwear according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] An insole 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description of this embodiment, the same components are generally designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted. The up-down direction indicates the thickness direction of the insole 10, the left-right direction indicates the width direction of the insole 10, and the front-rear direction indicates the length direction of the insole 10.

[0030] Fig. 1A is a plan view of the insole 10 of this embodiment, showing the insole 10 as viewed from the front side. Fig. 1B is a side view of the insole 10 of this embodiment, showing the insole 10 as viewed from the medial side. Fig. 1C is a side view of the insole 10 of this embodiment, showing the insole 10 as viewed from the lateral side. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the insole 10 of this embodiment, showing the insole 10 as viewed from the back side.

[0031] 1A, the insole 10 is a member that is attached inside the footwear and supports the foot and foot bones of the footwear wearer from the sole 62 (see FIG. 7) side. It is preferable to use the insole 10 after removing the inner sole that is attached to the footwear when it is purchased, but it may also be attached to the upper surface of the inner sole.

[0032] The insole 10 is formed by press molding an elastic material such as polybutadiene thermoplastic elastomer (RB) or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The insole 10 mainly includes a main body 11 formed from the heel 66 (see FIG. 7) to the toes 63 (see FIG. 7) of the sole 62, and a shock absorbing part 12 (see FIG. 2) bonded to the heel 66 and its surrounding area on the back side of the main body 11. As described above, the main body 11 and the shock absorbing part 12 are formed of an elastic material such as RB or EVA.

[0033] In the insole 10 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the shock absorbing part 12 may be disposed on the back surface of the main body part 11, or may not be disposed thereon. When the shock absorbing part 12 is not disposed on the main body part 11, the back surface of the main body part 11 is formed as flat surfaces 21, 22 (see Fig. 1B) over substantially the entire surface. The shock absorbing part 12 may be formed of an elastic member made of a different material from that of the main body part 11.

[0034] As shown in the figure, the surface side of the main body 11 is mainly formed with a first depression 13 supporting the ball of the big toe 65 (see Figure 7) of the sole 62 and its surrounding area, a second depression 14 supporting the ball of the little toe of the sole 62 and its surrounding area, a first protuberance 15 supporting the sole 62 below the medial longitudinal arch of the foot skeleton, a second protuberance 16 supporting the sole 62 below the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot skeleton, and a third depression 17 supporting the heel 66 of the sole 62 and its surrounding area.

[0035] Additionally, a plurality of small holes 18 are formed in the tip region R1 of the main body 11 of the insole 10. The small holes 18 are formed penetrating the main body 11 in its thickness direction, thereby improving the air permeability and water permeability within the footwear. In addition, a wall portion 19 is formed from the rear end of the main body 11 to the intermediate region R2, with the end of the main body 11 curving toward the surface side. The wall portion 19 functions to encase the sole 62 within the footwear, thereby preventing the foot from slipping sideways within the footwear.

[0036] Here, the tip region R1 of the main body 11 in this embodiment is at least a region on the tip side of the first recessed portion 13. As shown in the figure, the tip region R1 is, for example, a region on the tip side of a line connecting the tips of the first recessed portion 13 and the second recessed portion 14. Moreover, the middle region R2 of the main body 11 in this embodiment is a region between the first recessed portion 13 and the second recessed portion 14 in the width direction of the main body 11 (left-right direction on the paper), and is formed continuously to the rear side of the tip region R1.

[0037] 1B and 1C, the thickness of the main body 11 is gradually increased from the rear end side toward the front end side in the tip region R1 of the main body 11. For example, the thickness T1 of the main body 11 around the first recessed portion 13 on the rear end side of the tip region R1 is 3.0 mm, and the thickness T2 of the main body 11 around the contact region with the toes 63 on the tip side of the tip region R1 is 6.0 mm.

[0038] The tip region R1 of the main body 11 functions as a region for supporting the toes 63 of the user from the sole 62 side. In the tip region R1 of the main body 11, the back side of the main body 11 is formed as a flat surface 21. Almost the entire surface of the flat surface 21 of the main body 11 is in contact with the bottom surface 61 (see FIG. 7) inside the footwear, so that the contact region of the tip region R1 of the main body 11 with the toes 63 is located higher inside the footwear than the middle region R2.

[0039] With this structure, the five toes 63 of the user are in contact with the main body 11 inside the footwear, and the main body 11 in this contact state is supported by the inner bottom surface 61 of the footwear. In other words, the toes 63 of the user are prevented from floating above the bottom surface 61 inside the footwear, and it becomes possible to firmly apply force to the main body 11 and the bottom surface 61.

[0040] Furthermore, the thickness T3 of the main body 11 at the first recess 13 and the second recess 14 is 2.0 mm, and the thickness T4 of the main body 11 at the intermediate region of the main body 11 is 3.0 mm. In the intermediate region R2, the front surface of the main body 11 is formed as a flat surface without any protrusion, and the first recess 13 and the second recess 14 are recessed by 1.0 mm from the intermediate region R2.

[0041] The thickness T5 of the main body 11 of the first protuberance 15 is 7.5 mm at its top. The thickness T6 of the main body 11 at the top of the second raised portion 16 is 9.5 mm. The thickness T7 of the main body 11 at the rear end region R3 between the first raised portion 15 and the second raised portion 16 is 5.8 mm. The second raised portion 16 is raised further toward the surface side of the main body 11 than the first raised portion 15.

[0042] The thickness of the main body 11 at the third recess 17 is 5.0 mm, and is recessed 0.8 mm from the rear end region R3. The rear surface of the main body 11 rearward of the tip region R1 is also formed as a flat surface 22. As a result, the rear surface of the main body 11 is formed as flat surfaces 21, 22 over substantially the entire surface.

[0043] As described above, the first recess 13 supports the ball of the big toe 65 of the sole 62, the second recess 14 supports the ball of the little toe of the sole 62, and the third recess 17 supports the heel 66 of the sole. The ball of the big toe 65, the ball of the little toe, and the heel 66 of the sole 62 are load points of the sole 62. The ball of the big toe 65, the ball of the little toe, and the heel 66 are respectively accommodated in the first recess 13, the second recess 14, and the third recess 17 in the footwear, and are prevented from slipping sideways in the footwear. With this structure, the first protuberance 15 supports the medial longitudinal arch from the sole side at a desired position, and the second protuberance 16 supports the lateral longitudinal arch from the sole side at a desired position. This structure prevents the toes 63 of the user from floating inside the footwear, allowing the toes 63 to perform their natural function during exercise, etc.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of small holes 18 are formed in the tip region R1 of the main body 11, penetrating from the front surface to the back surface of the main body 11. A recess 23 is formed on the back surface of the main body 11 along the boundary between the tip region R1 and the middle region R2. Specifically, the recess 23 is formed as a line connecting the tips of the first recess 13 and the second recess 14 in a straight line. The recess 23 is a region recessed by about 0.5 mm from the back surface of the main body 11. As will be described in detail later, when a user performs an exercise such as walking, the main body 11 is bent in the region where the recess 23 is formed, so that the tip region R1 of the main body 11 can move along the sole 62, preventing the toes 63 from lifting off the bottom surface 61 of the footwear, and facilitating the transmission of force to the main body 11 and the bottom surface 61 of the footwear by the gripping action of the toes 63.

[0045] In addition, a plurality of cut lines 24 are formed in the tip region R1 of the main body 11 in accordance with the size of the user's foot, so that the insole 10 can be used as a general-purpose product.

[0046] Next, the skeletal structure of the foot, the intrinsic muscles of the foot, and the plantar fascia will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. Note that the explanation of the foot skeleton shown in Figure 3, the explanation of the intrinsic muscles shown in Figures 4A to 4D, and the explanation of the plantar fascia shown in Figure 5 have already been disclosed in various books, on the Internet, etc., and therefore detailed explanations thereof will be omitted here.

[0047] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the foot skeleton. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating the first layer of intrinsic muscles of the foot. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating the second layer of intrinsic muscles of the foot. FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram illustrating the third layer of intrinsic muscles of the foot. FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram illustrating the fourth layer of intrinsic muscles of the foot. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the plantar fascia.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 3, the foot skeleton is mainly composed of tarsal bones 31, metatarsals 32, and phalanges 33. The foot skeleton has an outer longitudinal arch, a medial longitudinal arch, and a transverse arch, and it is known that maintaining these three arches in the proper positions serves as a cushion that absorbs shock when walking, a spring that propels the body, and a balance maintaining function that maintains posture when standing.

[0049] Here, the lateral longitudinal arch is formed, for example, with the cuboid bone 34 of the foot skeleton as the apex of the arch, by the calcaneus 35, the cuboid bone 34, and the metatarsal bone 36 of the fifth toe, and is formed linearly outside the center of the sole 62 in the length direction of the sole 62. The medial longitudinal arch is formed, for example, with the navicular bone 37 of the foot skeleton as the apex of the arch, by the calcaneus 35, the navicular bone 37, and the metatarsal bone 38 of the first toe, and is formed linearly in the length direction of the sole 62 so as to include the arch region 64 (see FIG. 7) that is medial to the center of the sole 62. The transverse arch is formed, for example, with the metatarsal bone 39 of the second toe as the apex of the arch, by the crests of the metatarsals 38, 39, 40, 41, and 36 of the first toe toes, and is formed from the ball of the first toe 65 to the ball of the little toe of the sole 62.

[0050] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4A to 4D, the foot skeleton is supported by, for example, the first layer intrinsic muscles shown in Figure 4A to the fourth layer intrinsic muscles shown in Figure 4D. As shown in Figure 4A, the first layer intrinsic muscles include, for example, the abductor digitorum minimi 42, the flexor digitorum brevis 43, and the abductor hallucis 44. As shown in Figure 4B, the second layer intrinsic muscles include, for example, the quadratus plantaris 45, the flexor digitorum longus 46, and the lumbrical muscle 47. As shown in Figure 4C, the third layer intrinsic muscles include, for example, the long plantar ligament 48, the flexor digitorum minimi brevis 49, the flexor hallucis brevis 50, and the adductor hallucis 51. As shown in Figure 4D, the fourth layer intrinsic muscles include, for example, the plantar interosseous muscle 52 and the dorsal interosseous muscle 53.

[0051] 5, the plantar fascia is a tough aponeurosis that is formed on the bottom side of the foot skeleton, has three fiber bundles 54, i.e., medial fiber bundle, central fiber bundle, and lateral fiber bundle, and is attached from the medial side of the calcaneal tubercle to the proximal phalanges of the first to fifth toes. The plantar fascia is connected to the muscle-tendon complex 55 via the calcaneus 35.

[0052] Although the details will be described later, by using the insole 10 of this embodiment, the toes 63 are prevented from floating in the footwear, and the toes 63 grip the walking surface when walking, etc., thereby training the intrinsic muscles. Then, the skeleton of the foot is supported by the intrinsic muscles that function properly, and the three arches of the skeleton are maintained in the proper positions. As a result, the tension of the plantar fascia is increased, and the stability of the foot is maintained. Also, when walking, the tension of the plantar fascia is increased, and the windlass mechanism and truss mechanism function properly, improving shock absorption and stability when walking.

[0053] Next, the undulating shape of the main body 11 of the insole 10 will be described, as well as the state of the user's foot inside the footwear and its effects will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating the undulating shape of the front side of the main body 11 of the insole 10 of this embodiment. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state of the foot inside the footwear to which the insole 10 of this embodiment is attached. In Figure 7, the dashed dotted line indicates the line of the bottom surface 61 inside the footwear, and the dotted line indicates the user's foot.

[0054] 6 shows a contour map of the front surface side of the main body 11 of the insole 10, with the intervals between each contour line being in units of 0.5 mm. The point indicated by X1 is the top of the first raised portion 15, which is located at a height of 7.5 mm from the rear surface of the main body 11. The point indicated by X2 is the top of the second raised portion 16, which is located at a height of 9.5 mm from the rear surface of the main body 11. The contour map in FIG. 6 shows the flat surfaces 21 and 22 on the rear surface of the main body 11 as 0.0 mm, which is the reference height position.

[0055] The first protuberance 15 is a structure for supporting the medial longitudinal arch of the foot skeleton from the sole 62. As indicated by X1, the apex of the first protuberance 15 is formed so as to support the calcaneus 35 side of the navicular bone 37 constituting the medial longitudinal arch. In other words, the apex of the first protuberance 15 is formed at a position that supports the medial longitudinal arch slightly rearward from the center of the arch. The arrow 56 indicates the ridge of the first protuberance 15, and the ridge is formed so as to incline from the apex indicated by X1 toward the diagonally forward inner side of the main body 11.

[0056] The second protuberance 16 is a structure for supporting the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot skeleton from the sole 62. As indicated by X2, the apex of the second protuberance 16 is formed so as to support the calcaneus 35 side of the cuboid bone 34 constituting the lateral longitudinal arch. In other words, the apex of the second protuberance 16 is formed at a position that supports the lateral longitudinal arch slightly rearward from the center of the lateral longitudinal arch. The arrow 57 indicates the ridge of the second protuberance 16, and the ridge is formed so as to incline from the apex indicated by X2 toward the diagonally forward inner side of the main body 11.

[0057] With this structure, the first raised portion 15 and the second raised portion 16 are raised by about 5 mm from the surface of the main body 11, but the sole 62 of the user is supported by the main body 11 inside the footwear so that the rear side of the center of the medial longitudinal arch and the lateral longitudinal arch is raised. Then, due to the above-mentioned support state of the main body 11, the center of gravity of the user shifts toward the toes 63 when standing.

[0058] Furthermore, as shown in the figure, in the tip region R1 of the main body portion 11, the thickness of the main body portion 11 increases toward the tip side of the main body portion 11, and as described above, the contact area of ​​the tip region R1 of the main body portion 11 with the toe 63 is located higher inside the footwear than the middle region R2.

[0059] With this structure, the sole 62 of the user is supported at three points below the toes 63, below the medial longitudinal arch, and below the lateral longitudinal arch, so that the three arches of the foot skeleton are dome-shaped and held in the proper positions. In other words, with the insole 10 of this embodiment, the pinching action of the toes 63 appropriately trains the intrinsic muscles, and the three arches of the foot skeleton are held in the proper positions by utilizing the muscle strength.

[0060] 7, by using the insole 10 of this embodiment, the first protuberance 15 and the second protuberance 16 support the medial longitudinal arch and the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot skeleton on the sole 62 of the user, and the tip region R1 of the main body 11 supports the toes 63. In other words, the insole 10 is structured such that the medial longitudinal arch, the lateral longitudinal arch, and the toes 63 are supported by the main body 11, rather than the lateral arch being supported from the sole 62 by the protuberance structure of the main body 11. The first recess 13 and the second recess 14 accommodate the ball of the big toe 65 and its surrounding area and the ball of the little toe and its surrounding area on the sole 62, preventing the foot from slipping sideways in the footwear.

[0061] With this structure, when the user is standing, the first raised portion 15 and the second raised portion 16 facilitate plantar flexion of the toes 63, shifting the center of gravity toward the front of the foot and facilitating the application of force to the toes 63. As a result, the toes 63 of the user are prevented from floating above the bottom surface 61 inside the footwear.

[0062] Furthermore, when the user walks, the toes 63 of the user firmly transmit force to the bottom surface 61 inside the footwear and grip the walking surface, thereby training the intrinsic muscles. The skeleton of the foot is supported by the intrinsic muscles functioning properly, so that the three arches of the skeleton are maintained in the proper positions. As a result, even when the user walks indoors or otherwise without wearing shoes, the three arches of the skeleton are maintained in the proper positions by the intrinsic muscles, so that the user can walk using the toes 63 even without wearing shoes, and this provides the effect of preventing falls, etc.

[0063] In addition, by training the intrinsic muscles and maintaining the three skeletal arches in the correct positions, tension in the plantar fascia is increased, and foot stability is maintained. In addition, increased tension in the plantar fascia allows the windlass and truss mechanisms to function properly, improving shock absorption and stability when walking, and realizing walking that places less strain on the body.

[0064] 5, the plantar fascia is connected to the muscle-tendon complex 55 via the calcaneus 35, and increasing the tension of the plantar fascia also improves the muscle function of the gastrocnemius of the muscle-tendon complex 55. The gastrocnemius is a muscle in the calf, also known as the second heart, and its function as a blood pump is improved, which has the effect of preventing and improving swelling and improving the strength of the legs to brace themselves, thereby preventing falls.

[0065] The intrinsic muscles are connected to the tibialis anterior muscle (not shown) of the leg, and the muscular function of the tibialis anterior muscle is also improved by increasing the tension of the plantar fascia. The tibialis anterior muscle has the function of lifting the toes 63, and thus has the effect of preventing falls.

[0066] Finally, with reference to Figs. 8A to 10D, a description will be given of use examples 1, 2, and 3 in which footwear equipped with the insole 10 of this embodiment is used.

[0067] Figures 8A to 8C compare the shapes of insole 10 before and after use, with Figure 8A showing the surface of the entire insole 10, Figure 8B showing the surface of insole 10 on the tip region R1 side, and Figure 8C showing the inner surface of insole 10 on the tip region R1 side.

[0068] In Example 1, the user is a man in his 40s, 177 cm tall and weighing 74 kg, and the insole 10 is attached to athletic shoes that he mainly wears at the gym for about two months. The frequency of use is about four days a week, and about two to three hours a day on a running machine or in an exercise studio.

[0069] 8A, it is considered that the first protuberance 15 and the second protuberance 16 of the insole 10 as a whole are maintained even after use, and the three arches of the sole 62 are held in proper positions. It is also considered that the first recessed portion 13, the second recessed portion 14, and the third recessed portion 17 are maintained in a recessed state, and the insole 10 is used in a state where it fits firmly to both the sneaker and the foot.

[0070] As shown by circle 67 in FIG. 8B, the contact area of ​​main body 11 with toe 63 becomes concave to conform to the shape of toe 63, so that toe 63 comes into firm contact with main body 11 and toe 63 performs its original function, and it is believed that pressure is applied from toe 63 to main body 11.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 8C, the tip region R1 of the main body 11 is warped toward the front side, but the contact region of the main body 11 with the toes 63 is crushed toward the back side. Recent athletic shoes tend to adopt a toe spring structure to prevent the toes of the shoes from getting caught on the floor when kicking off while walking, and to achieve a smooth rolling motion while walking. Due to this shoe structure, the tip region R1 of the main body 11 of the insole 10 is warped toward the front side, but the contact region of the toes 63 is crushed toward the back side, so that the toes 63 are considered to function properly.

[0072] Figures 9A to 9C compare the shapes of insole 10 before and after use, with Figure 9A showing the surface of the entire insole 10, Figure 9B showing the surface of insole 10 on the tip region R1 side, and Figure 9C showing the inner surface of insole 10 on the tip region R1 side.

[0073] In the second example, the user is a man in his 60s, 180 cm tall and 70 kg in weight, and wears the insole 10 in his sneakers that he mainly wears when commuting to and from work for about three months. The frequency of use is almost daily, and the user walks for about one hour per day.

[0074] 9A, it is considered that the first protuberance 15 and the second protuberance 16 of the insole 10 as a whole are maintained even after use, and the three arches of the sole 62 are held in proper positions. It is also considered that the first recessed portion 13, the second recessed portion 14, and the third recessed portion 17 are maintained in a recessed state, and the insole 10 is used in a state where it fits firmly to both the sneaker and the foot.

[0075] As shown by circle 68 in FIG. 9B, the contact area of ​​main body 11 with toe 63 becomes concave to conform to the shape of toe 63, so that toe 63 comes into firm contact with main body 11 and toe 63 performs its original function, with pressure being applied from toe 63 to main body 11.

[0076] As shown in Fig. 9C, as described above, when the insole 10 is attached to an athletic shoe that employs a toe spring structure, the tip region R1 of the main body 11 is warped toward the front side. Although not as much as the insole 10 shown in Fig. 8C, the contact region with the toes 63 is crushed toward the back side, which is considered to allow the toes 63 to function properly.

[0077] 10A to 10C show the shapes of the insole 10 before and after use, with Fig. 10A showing the entire surface of the insole 10, Fig. 10B showing the surface of the tip region R1 side of the insole 10, and Fig. 10C showing the inner surface of the tip region R1 side of the insole 10. Note that the tip region R1 of the main body 11 is partially cut to fit the shape of the sneakers.

[0078] In the example 3, the user is a woman in her 70s, 155 cm tall and weighing 50 kg, and the insole 10 is worn in athletic shoes that are mainly used for walking for about five months. The frequency of use is almost daily, and the user walks for about one hour per day.

[0079] 10A, it is considered that the first protuberance 15 and the second protuberance 16 of the insole 10 as a whole are maintained even after use, and the three arches of the sole 62 are held in proper positions. It is also considered that the first recessed portion 13, the second recessed portion 14, and the third recessed portion 17 are maintained in a recessed state, and the insole 10 is used in a state where it fits firmly to both the sneaker and the foot.

[0080] As shown by circle 69 in FIG. 10B, the contact area of ​​main body 11 with toe 63 becomes concave to conform to the shape of toe 63, so that toe 63 comes into firm contact with main body 11 and toe 63 performs its original function, with pressure being applied from toe 63 to main body 11.

[0081] As shown in Fig. 10C, as described above, when the insole 10 is attached to an athletic shoe that employs a toe spring structure, the tip region R1 of the main body 11 is warped toward the front side. Although not as much as the insole 10 shown in Fig. 8C, the contact region with the toes 63 is compressed toward the back side, so that the toes 63 are considered to function properly.

[0082] As shown in the above-mentioned examples 1 to 3 of use, although the gender, age, purpose of use, frequency of use, etc. vary, in all examples of use, it has been proven that the contact area of ​​the main body 11 with the toes 63 is recessed to conform to the shape of the toes 63, thereby preventing the toes 63 of the user from floating above the bottom surface 61 inside the footwear.

[0083] Furthermore, in all the examples of use, the first protuberance 15 and the second protuberance 16 were maintained, and the intrinsic muscles were trained by the action of grasping the walking surface of the toes 63, proving that the three arches of the skeleton were maintained in the proper positions by the intrinsic muscles. Also, the fact that the first protuberance 15 was maintained also proved to have the effect of suppressing flat feet by maintaining the arch area 64.

[0084] In this embodiment, the case where the user wears footwear fitted with the insole 10 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this case. As shown in Fig. 11A and Fig. 11B, even in footwear 70 not fitted with the insole 10, such as sandals, slippers, room shoes, sneakers, and leather business shoes, the structure of the insole 10 described with reference to Figs. 1 to 10C is formed in the sole portion 71 of the footwear 70, thereby providing the same effect as that of the footwear fitted with the insole 10 described above.

[0085] FIG. 11A is a plan view of footwear 70 according to this embodiment, showing the state of footwear 70 as viewed from the surface side. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of footwear 70 according to this embodiment, showing a cross section along line AA shown in FIG. 11A. For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, the instep pad 72 disposed on the surface side of the sole part 71 to keep the footwear 70 on the user's foot is shown by a dotted line. In addition, in explaining the footwear 70, the same components as those in the insole 10 are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations are omitted. In explaining the footwear 70, FIG. 1 to FIG. 10C and their explanations will be referred to as appropriate.

[0086] 11A, footwear 70 is, for example, a sandal made of resin. Footwear 70 mainly includes a sole portion 71 and an instep portion 72 integrally molded with sole portion 71. A user can walk or the like while wearing footwear 70 by inserting their foot between sole portion 71 and instep portion 72. Footwear 70 is integrally molded by injecting resin into a mold.

[0087] On the surface 73 side of the sole portion 71, there are mainly formed a first depression 13 supporting the ball of the big toe 65 of the sole 62 and its surrounding area, a second depression 14 supporting the ball of the little toe of the sole 62 and its surrounding area, a first protuberance 15 supporting the sole 62 below the medial longitudinal arch of the foot skeleton, a second protuberance 16 supporting the sole 62 below the lateral longitudinal arch of the foot skeleton, and a third depression 17 supporting the heel 66 of the sole 62 and its surrounding area.

[0088] 11B, the back surface 74 of the sole portion 71 is provided with anti-slip grooves and patterns, but is basically formed as a flat surface. In the tip region R1 of the sole portion 71, the thickness of the sole portion 71 is formed to gradually increase from the rear end side toward the tip end side. With this structure, for example, when standing, almost the entire surface of the back surface 74 of the sole portion 71 comes into contact with the running surface (not shown), and the contact area of ​​the tip region R1 of the main body portion 11 with the toes 63 is located higher than the middle region R2 with respect to the running surface.

[0089] In the footwear 70 of this embodiment, the five toes 63 of the user are in contact with the surface 73 of the sole portion 71 when wearing the footwear 70, and the back surface 74 of the sole portion 71 is supported by the running surface. In other words, the toes 63 of the user are prevented from floating above the surface 73 of the sole portion 71, and it is possible to firmly apply force to the sole portion 71.

[0090] With this structure, the footwear 70 of this embodiment prevents the toes 63 from floating in the footwear, and the toes 63 grip the walking surface when walking, etc., thereby training the intrinsic muscles. The skeleton of the foot is supported by the intrinsic muscles that function properly, and the three arches of the skeleton are maintained in the proper positions. As a result, the tension of the plantar fascia is increased, and the stability of the foot is maintained. Furthermore, when walking, the tension of the plantar fascia is increased, and the windlass mechanism and the truss mechanism function properly, improving shock absorption and stability when walking. In addition, the footwear 70 of this embodiment achieves the same effects as those obtained by using the insole 10 described above.

[0091] In the present embodiment, the thickness of the tip region R1 of the main body 11 is gradually increased from the rear end side toward the tip end side, but the present invention is not limited to this case. In the tip region R1 of the main body 11, the thickness T2 of the main body 11 in the contact region with the toe 63 on the tip side is greater than the thickness T1 of the main body 11 around the first recessed portion 13 on the rear end side, thereby obtaining the above-mentioned effect. In addition, in the tip region R1 of the main body 11, the thickness of the main body 11 may be increased in a stepped manner from the rear end side toward the tip end side. In addition, various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 10 Insoles 11 Main body 12 Shock absorbing part 13 First recess 14 Second recess 15 First ridge 16 Second ridge 17 Third recess 18 small hole 19 Wall 21,22 flat surface 23 Recess 24 Cut Line 31 Tarsus 32, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41 Metatarsals 33 phalanges 34 cubic bone 35 Calcaneus 37 Scaphoid bone 42 Abductor digiti minimi muscle 43 Flexor digitorum brevis 44 Abductor hallucis 45 Quadratus plantaris 46 Flexor digitorum longus 47 Lumbilical Muscle 48 Long plantar ligament 49 Flexor digitorum brevis 50 Flexor hallucis brevis 51 Adductor hallucis 52 Plantar interosseous muscle 53 Dorsal interosseous muscle 54 Fiber bundle 55 Muscle-tendon complex 61 Bottom 62 Sole of the Foot 63 Toes 64 Arch Area 65 Ball of the Foot 66 Heel 70 Footwear 71 Sole 72 Instep 73 Surface 74 Back side

Claims

1. An insole that is attached inside footwear and supports the sole of a user of the footwear, A main body portion disposed from the heel to the toes of the user; A first protuberance formed on a surface side of the main body portion and supporting the medial longitudinal arch of the user from the sole of the foot; A second protuberance is formed on the surface side of the main body portion and supports the outer longitudinal arch of the user from the sole of the foot. An insole characterized in that, in the tip region of the main body portion, the back side of the main body portion is formed as a flat surface, and the thickness of the toe side of the main body portion is formed thicker than the thickness of the heel side of the main body portion.

2. a first recess formed on a surface side of the main body and configured to support the ball of the user's foot from the sole; a second recess formed on a surface side of the main body and configured to support the ball of the user's little toe from the sole of the foot; The insole according to claim 1 , wherein a front surface side of the main body portion is formed as a flat surface in an intermediate region between the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion of the main body portion.

3. The first raised portion has an apex on the rear side of the center of the inner longitudinal arch, and a ridge of the first raised portion is formed from the apex toward the diagonally forward inner side of the main body portion, 2. The insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the second raised portion has an apex located rearward of the center of the lateral longitudinal arch, and a ridge of the second raised portion is formed from the apex toward the inside of the diagonally forward direction of the main body portion.

4. The insole according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the tip region is positioned higher than the surface of the middle region inside the footwear.

5. The insole according to claim 2 , wherein a recess is formed on the back surface side of the main body portion at a boundary between the intermediate region and the tip region, the recess extending in a lateral width direction of the main body portion.

6. Footwear worn by a user, A sole portion disposed from the heel to the toes of the user and supporting the sole of the user; A first protuberance formed on a surface side of the sole portion and supporting the medial longitudinal arch of the user from the sole of the foot; A second protuberance is formed on the surface side of the sole portion and supports the outer longitudinal arch of the user from the sole of the foot. In a tip region of the sole portion, the toe side is higher than the heel side, Footwear characterized in that the toes of the user are in contact with the tip region of the sole portion.

Images