Insole for footwear, general-purpose insole, and footwear using general-purpose insole

Abstract

To provide an insole for footwear that enables walking in a posture that is independently optimal for each user, and in a state in which the action of excessive force is not applied to the body.SOLUTION: An insole for footwear is constituted with: an insole bottom part 2; a filled support member 4 which is installed on the insole bottom part 2; a gel body 5 which is arranged on the filled support member 4 and on which the shape of the foot of a wearer is formed; and an upper covering part 3 which covers the insole bottom part 2 and sandwiches, together with the insole bottom part 2, the support member 4 and the gel body 5. The support member 4: has a first guide member 11 for supporting the heel part, a rod-like second guide member 13 extending forward at the sole center part, and a forward extension part 14 interposed between the first guide member 11 and the second guide member 13; and raises and supports the foot at a position forward of the fulcrum of the heel, by means of the forward extension part 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a footwear insole and footwear using the same, and in particular to a footwear insole and footwear using the same that enables a user (hereinafter also referred to as "user") to walk correctly, maintain correct posture when standing and walking, and protect the soles of the user's feet. [Background technology]

[0002] People are increasingly looking to improve their physical health and physical quality, and the demand for rehabilitation functions for low back pain and cervical spondylosis is increasing. In the medical community, it is believed that the key to treating low back pain and cervical spondylosis is to correct poor posture. This is a research field of human dynamics, and the research results on improving the physical properties of shoes are of epoch-making significance.

[0003] As people age, the proportion of calcium loss in different parts of the body increases. However, some calcium loss is not asymmetric, so as people get older, they find it difficult to walk with the correct posture, and often experience foot pain, leg pain, deformation of the body skeleton, unstable walking, foot sole position shift, landing area is reduced and the whole body blood circulation is not smooth, the meridian system is blocked, and the degree of internal organs and endocrine disorders is different, which accelerates the aging of different parts of the body and directly affects the lifespan.

[0004] According to the United Nations' Life Expectancy, Japan has maintained the world's longest life expectancy (84 years) for over 20 years. In the 1970s, it was discovered that foot health and life expectancy are directly related. Correcting the balance of the feet on the ground, the main reason, is the main way to extend the lifespan of the human body. As a result, in Japan, leg deformations associated with age are receiving more and more attention, and the need for insoles that can correct foot and leg deformations, as well as footwear such as shoes and sandals that use such insoles, is constantly increasing.

[0005] Generally, users attach insoles to the soles of their shoes to improve comfort and prevent their feet from getting sweaty. In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, conventional insoles are often made of sheet members made of fiber materials or synthetic resin materials with good moisture absorption properties, or mesh structures made of various materials. Such conventional insoles generally have a flat plate-like structure with a thickness of about 3 to 5 mm (millimeters), and are often configured so that the central part is slightly thicker than the peripheral part. Such insoles are attached inside the shoes so as to fit the inner soles of the shoes, improving the comfort of the user and preventing the feet from getting sweaty. As described above, the insoles are made of fiber materials, synthetic resin materials, etc., and are slightly thicker in the central part, so they have a certain degree of elasticity and cushioning properties.

[0006] A conventional technology for footwear insoles is described, for example, in Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 2013-009984). Patent Document 1 discloses an insole structure for shoes or insoles that includes a layer made of a thermoplastic resin material such as ABS resin. Patent Document 1 also discloses a method for producing an insole that fits the shape of an individual's foot shape using a thermoplastic resin.

[0007] In addition, with regard to improvements to insoles, the applicant of this patent has proposed an insole such as that described in Patent Document 2 (JP Patent Publication No. 2020-137984). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-009984 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-137984 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, the footwear insole of Patent Document 1 described above can be easily and inexpensively provided using thermoplastic resin, which is different from the conventional method of making an insole based on a plaster mold of the shape of the foot shape that suits the individual. However, it is basically difficult to obtain an insole that has the function of a custom-made handmade insole made with human walking in mind. For example, by simply matching the shape of the foot shape, the individual's foot shape can create uniform pressure with the ground, but it is difficult to maintain the balance required to support the weight when walking. In addition, it is not possible to efficiently generate the force to kick the ground or to absorb the impact caused by the rebound from the ground.

[0010] Furthermore, the footwear insole of Patent Document 2 achieves the effect of enabling an individual's foot shape to create uniform pressure with the ground and to maintain the balance necessary to support the body weight when walking, but has the disadvantage of not providing sufficient support for the part of the sole of the human foot near the arch.

[0011] When designing the function and shape of an insole that takes human walking into consideration, it is necessary to understand the structure of the human foot and the walking mechanism. There are three arch shapes in the sole of the human foot (arch): an outer vertical arch shape, an inner vertical arch shape, and a horizontal arch shape. There are three arch shapes in one foot (shown by lines a, b, and c in Figure 14 below), each of which functions to facilitate posture control in the front-back direction, left-right direction, and horizontal rotation direction. In addition, the arch shapes act like springs, helping to reduce the impact on the foot when walking or running.

[0012] Here, the arch will be explained. Figures 14 to 16 are diagrams showing an example of the skeletal structure of a human foot (left foot), where Figure 14 is a plan view, Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line a in Figure 14 (a line showing the medial vertical arch described later), and Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line b (horizontal line) in Figure 14. In Figure 14, the skeletal part corresponding to the sole of a human foot has fulcrums A at the heel, B at the base of the big toe, and C at the base of the little toe, and the weight is supported by these three fulcrums A, B, and C. Since the support is provided by three points, only one support surface is determined, and the foot does not undergo deformation such as twisting with respect to the ground. Also, if the line connecting fulcrum A and fulcrum B is line a, the line connecting fulcrum B and fulcrum C is line b, and the line connecting fulcrum C and fulcrum A is line c, as shown in FIG. 15, in the height direction of the foot, an inner vertical arch Ar1 corresponding to the arch is formed in a direction approximately along line a when viewed from the side, an outer vertical arch Ar2 is formed in a direction approximately along line c when viewed from the side, and a horizontal arch Ar3 is formed in a direction approximately along line b when viewed from the rear in the front-to-rear direction. There are three arch-shaped parts (FIGS. 14 to 16), each of which functions to facilitate posture control in the front-to-rear direction, left-to-right direction, and horizontal rotation direction. The inner vertical arch Ar1 formed in the direction along line a extends in an arc shape corresponding to the arch of the foot, and the height of the inner vertical arch Ar1 is 1 cm (centimeter) for a normal person. However, some people have flat feet, and for such people, the height of the inner vertical arch Ar1 is 0. In addition, the arch shape acts like a spring, and also plays a role in mitigating impact on the foot. These three arches Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 allow us to walk, run, and brace ourselves in our daily walking movements. The structures of the arches Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are gradually formed by walking upright on two legs, so newborn babies do not have them. Although upright bipedal walking is seen in animals other than humans, only humans form arches. Monkeys and orangutans, who do not have arches, sometimes walk on two legs, but this is because they lower their hips or bend their knees to balance their bodies, and they cannot walk almost upright like humans.

[0013] This article explains the relationship between various foot problems and the arch shape of the foot. Since humans began to wear shoes, they have suffered from various foot problems, which have even had a negative effect on the body. Because the feet are protected by shoes, the stimulation to the arch of the foot is reduced, and people gradually walk without using their toes. As a result, the arch muscles of the foot weaken, leading to the collapse of the arch shape. For example, various foot problems such as flat feet, plantar fasciitis, hallux valgus, floating toes, floating feet, and pain in the soles of the feet are occurring. In modern times, the arch shape of the foot gradually deteriorates due to factors such as wearing slippery shoes or shoes that do not stimulate the feet, wearing shoes that do not fit the feet, walking on hard ground, working standing up for long periods of time, lack of exercise, various foot diseases, obesity, and old age. If there is an abnormality in the structure and form of the foot, including the arch shape, the balance of the entire body, including the feet, ankles, knees, buttocks, waist, and neck, is lost, and the body may become unwell. In addition, shoes and insoles equipped with shock-absorbing materials are used to reduce shock when walking, but symptoms such as fatigue, stiff shoulders, back pain, knee pain, and calf tightness are closely related to the shape of the arch of the foot.

[0014] According to the inventor's findings, in order for a human being to walk on two legs in a posture that is uniquely optimal for each footwear user, it is necessary to have an "arch structure" formed in the arch of the foot, and it has become clear that it is necessary to design an insole shape or structure that is suitable for each individual, taking into account this arch structure of the foot.

[0015] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an insole for footwear that can support the body's balance (equilibrium) when walking on two legs, and can support walking without applying undue force to the body.

[0016] A second object of the present invention is to provide an insole for footwear which not only balances the body as described above, but also enables the foot skeleton to be held and supported in a three-dimensional shape, thereby further improving support for the foot, thereby optimizing posture when walking and reducing physical fatigue.

[0017] A third object of the present invention is to provide an insole for footwear which adequately supports the arch of the foot and protects the bones of the foot when the arch is likely to become flattened due to strenuous exercise or impact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] The footwear insole according to the present invention comprises an insole bottom part whose planar shape is cut out into the shape of a shoe sole and whose underside abuts against the inner sole of a shoe, an upper covering part provided so as to cover an upper part of the insole bottom part, a filling support member sandwiched and installed between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part, and a gel body arranged on the filling support member, the gel body being made of a material having thermoplasticity which deforms when heated and also having shape retention which retains the deformed state when cooled after heating, and configured to be molded into the shape of a user's foot when heated, the filling support member having a first guide member, a second guide member and a front extension part, the first guide member being a guide member for supporting the heel of the foot against the gel body, The insole is characterized in that it is made of a roughly ring-shaped protrusion that forms a recess, the second guide member is located at approximately the center of the width of the bottom of the insole and forward of the first guide member, and is made of a rod-shaped or plate-shaped protrusion that extends in the front-to-back direction, the forward extension is interposed between the first guide member and the second guide member, the first guide member, the second guide member and the forward extension are configured to distribute the gel to the left and right sides and the heel, and support the sole of the foot, with the body weight being supported by three points: the fulcrum of the heel, the fulcrum of the base of the big toe, and the fulcrum of the base of the little toe, and the forward extension thrusts up and supports the cuboid bone of the foot at a position forward of the fulcrum of the heel. In the present invention, the height of the second guide member is greater than the height of the first guide member, The forward extension may have an inclined portion that slopes upward toward the front.

[0019] The footwear insole according to the present invention includes an insole bottom part whose planar shape is cut out to match the sole of a shoe, a filling support member, a gel body, and an upper covering part, and the gel body arranged on the filling support member between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part is configured to be molded to the shape of the user's foot. This allows the gel body to be deformed to a shape that matches the condition of the sole of a human foot (the unique shape of the user's foot). By using the footwear insole, an optimal posture can be maintained when walking. Furthermore, the "arch structure in the foot formed in the arch part of the foot" necessary for walking on two legs can be easily formed. This can support the balance of the body when walking on two legs (equilibrium balance) and walking in a state where undue force is not applied to the body. In addition, since the first guide member and the second guide member are provided in the main area of ​​the insole bottom part, an arch structure suitable for supporting the heel and arch of the foot can be more easily formed. In addition, by providing a first guide member consisting of an approximately ring-shaped protrusion that forms a recess in the gel body for supporting the heel of the foot, the recess can cover part or all of the bottom and sides of the heel of the foot, thereby reliably supporting the ankle.

[0020] In addition, a front extension is provided in front of the first guide member and disposed between the first guide member and the second guide member, and the front extension supports the cuboid bone of the foot at a position forward of the heel fulcrum, so that the part of the sole that receives the center of gravity is kept raised above the sole of the shoe. In other words, it is possible to support the foot skeleton in a three-dimensional shape, thereby further improving vertical support of the foot while maintaining body balance, and achieving an appropriate posture when walking and a reduction in physical fatigue.

[0021] In addition, in the footwear insole of the present invention, the gel body may be characterized in that it has a foot side support portion arranged on one of the left and right sides of the second guide member of the filling support member, extending to a portion forward of the forward extension portion, and the foot side support portion supports the arch of the foot at the one of the left and right sides of the second guide member.

[0022] As a result, in the footwear insole of the present invention, when the arch structure formed in the arch of the foot is about to become flattened due to strenuous exercise or impact, the arch of the foot is supported by the foot side support portion, thereby protecting the foot bones.

[0023] In addition, the footwear insole of the present invention may be characterized in that the foot side support portion is arranged on the right side of the second guide member in the insole for the left foot, while being arranged on the left side of the second guide member in the insole for the right foot.

[0024] As a result, in the footwear insole of the present invention, the foot side support parts are arranged in areas that match the arches of the left and right feet, respectively, so that the foot side support parts properly support the arches of the feet, and when the arch structure is in danger of becoming flattened due to strenuous exercise or impact, the arches of the feet can be effectively supported and the foot bones can be protected.

[0025] A general-purpose insole according to a third embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an insole bottom, an upper covering part covering the upper part of the insole bottom, a filling support member sandwiched and filled between the insole bottom and the upper covering part, and a gel body arranged on the filling support member, and extends forward from the heel of the foot to the vicinity of the base of the toes and terminates therein. In addition to the above configuration, the planar shape of this general-purpose insole is characterized in that it has a structure that is approximately symmetrical with respect to the central axis O of the insole body.

[0026] As a result, the universal insole according to the third embodiment can be used in correspondence with a plurality of different types of footwear, and can be applied to a wide range of types of footwear, not just footwear with a shoe structure. In addition, by adding a configuration aspect that is approximately symmetrical about the central axis O of the insole body, the planar shape of the universal insole can be used for either the left or right unit for footwear that does not strictly distinguish between left and right, such as slippers and sandals, thereby further increasing versatility.

[0027] The gist of the second invention of the present invention is a general-purpose insole-using footwear, which is configured by forming a slit hole at the rear end of a bottom plate of a simple footwear such as a slipper, expanding from the opening of the slit hole into the inside of the bottom plate to form a storage space, and inserting and storing the general-purpose insole according to the third embodiment into the storage space. That is, the general-purpose insole-using footwear has a bottom plate that serves as a shoe sole, and the bottom plate has a slit hole extending in the left-right direction at the rear end of the bottom plate and a storage space extending forward from the slit hole, and the general-purpose insole is inserted and stored in the storage space.

[0028] As a result, the general-purpose insole-utilizing footwear of the second invention can be used in correspondence with multiple different types of footwear, and the effects of the insole can be achieved not only in footwear with a shoe structure, but also in a wide range of types of footwear. Effect of the Invention

[0029] The footwear insole according to the first invention of the present invention comprises an insole bottom part whose planar shape is cut out to match the sole of a shoe, a filling support member, a gel body, and an upper covering part. The gel body arranged on the filling support member between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part is configured to be molded to the shape of the user's foot, so that it can be deformed to a shape that matches the condition of the sole of a human foot (the unique shape of the user's foot). By using the footwear insole, an optimal posture can be maintained when walking. Furthermore, the "arch structure in the foot formed in the arch part of the foot" required for bipedal walking can be easily formed. This allows the balance of the body (equilibrium balance) to be maintained when walking on two legs, and supports walking in a state where undue force is not applied to the body.

[0030] Furthermore, a front extension is provided between the first guide member and the second guide member in front of the first guide member, and the front extension supports the foot at a position forward of the heel fulcrum, so that the skeleton of the foot can be held and supported in a three-dimensional shape, and the balance of the body can be properly maintained, and the support of the foot can be further improved, and the posture when walking can be properly adjusted and the fatigue of the body can be reduced. In addition, in a modified example of the gel body, a foot side support part is provided on one of the left and right sides of the second guide member of the filling support member, which is extended to a part forward of the front extension part, and the foot side support part supports the arch of the foot at the one of the left and right sides of the second guide member. As a result, when the arch structure formed in the arch of the foot is likely to be deformed into a flat shape due to intense exercise or impact, the foot side support part can properly support the arch of the foot and protect the skeleton of the foot. In the insole of the present invention, as described above, the balance of the body (equilibrium) when walking on two legs is maintained, and the bone structure of the foot is protected. When the foot steps out during walking, the back foot (supporting foot) stably supports the body weight, so the front foot (stepping foot) steps out better and the stride length increases. As a result, the toes of the front foot point upwards when the front foot lands, preventing stumbling and making it difficult to fall. Usually, elderly people walk with small strides, leaning forward and tiptoeing, so they often trip over things and fall. This is due to the back foot not being able to stably support the body weight. The insole of the present invention has the effect of improving such a situation.

[0031] The universal insole according to another embodiment of the present invention has the same basic structure as the insole according to the first invention, and extends forward from the heel of the foot to the base of the toes, i.e., is a main part limited insole, which can be used in correspondence with a plurality of different types of footwear and can be applied to a wide range of types of footwear, not just footwear with a shoe structure. In addition to the above structure, if the planar shape of this universal insole has a structure that is approximately symmetrical about the central axis O of the insole body, it can be used with either the left or right divided piece for footwear that does not strictly distinguish between left and right, such as slippers and sandals, and the versatility is further increased.

[0032] The second invention of this case relates to footwear using a general-purpose insole, which is made by attaching a general-purpose insole to the sole plate of simple footwear such as slippers. As a result, the footwear can be used in correspondence with a number of different types of footwear, and the effects of the insole can be realized not only in footwear with a shoe structure, but also in a wide range of types of footwear. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a footwear insole according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of a gel body used in the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the footwear insole according to the first embodiment taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the footwear insole according to the first embodiment, in a partially developed state. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of an insole (for the left foot) according to a second embodiment of the first invention. [Figure 6] 11 is a partial plan view showing the configuration of a gel body used in the second embodiment and a filling support member arranged below the gel body. FIG. [Figure 7]7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6, showing a laminated structure of the gel body and the filling support member used in the second embodiment. [Figure 8] 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6, showing a laminated structure of the gel body and the filling support member at the tip portion of the filling support member in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the configuration of a general-purpose insole according to a third embodiment of the first invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the general-purpose insole according to the embodiment taken along the line XX in FIG. 9 along the central axis O. [Figure 11] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the general-purpose insole according to the embodiment taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 9. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of footwear (slippers) in which the general-purpose insole according to the third embodiment is used, as the second invention of the present invention. [Figure 13] 13 is a perspective view including a cross section taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12, showing a state in which the general-purpose insole according to the third embodiment is applied to the footwear according to the second invention. FIG. [Figure 14] 1 is a plan view that shows a schematic representation of the skeleton of a human foot. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line a in FIG. 14, which shows the arch of the foot. [Figure 16] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view in the anterior-posterior direction taken along line b in FIG. 14 showing the arch of the foot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] An embodiment of a footwear insole (hereinafter simply referred to as "insole") of the present invention will be described. Figs. 1 to 4 are diagrams for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. Of these diagrams, Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of an insole (for left foot) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a gel body used in the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the insole according to the first embodiment taken along line III-III in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the main part of the insole of the first embodiment, partially developed.

[0035] In Fig. 1, the reference numeral 1 denotes an insole. In this specification, the part of the insole 1 corresponding to the toes of the user in Fig. 1 is referred to as the tip part, the end part of the insole 1 corresponding to the heel of the user's foot is referred to as the rear end part, the line connecting the tip part which is the toes and the rear end part which is the heel at the center of the insole 1 (which bends midway depending on the shape of the sole of the foot) is referred to as the central axis O, and the direction in which the central axis O extends is referred to as the front-rear direction. In addition, the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the insole 1 is referred to as the left-right direction, the direction from the heel to the toes is referred to as the forward direction, and the opposite direction is referred to as the rear direction, and the right side or the left side is determined when facing forward.

[0036] The insole 1 has a laminated structure in which a plurality of members are layered. The insole 1 has a sole shape cut out into a bottom shape of footwear (represented by "shoes") in plan view, and includes an insole bottom 2 that contacts the inner sole of the shoe on the underside, an upper covering part 3 that is provided so as to cover the upper part of the insole bottom 2, a filling support member 4 that is sandwiched and filled between the insole bottom 2 and the upper covering part 3 and provides various support functions to the user's foot, and a gel body 5 that is placed on the filling support member 4. The filling support member 4 is placed in the area of ​​the insole bottom 2 that supports the heel of the foot to the base of the toes, for example, the first joints of the big toe and little toe. The gel body 5 is placed on the filling support member 4.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the gel body 5 is made of a substantially flat plate having the same (including substantially the same) planar shape as the portion from the first guide member 11 to the second guide member 13 of the filling support member 4, and a cylindrical downward protrusion 5a is formed in the portion of the gel body 5 corresponding to the heel. The gel body 5 is made of a material that has a shape retention property that exhibits a property of being deformed by heating and maintains the deformed state when cooled after heating. The gel body 5 is also made of a material that is not completely rigid at room temperature and has flexibility that follows the deformation of the shoe when walking. For example, the gel body 5 is made of a resin having thermoplasticity, and uses a material that softens when thermal energy is applied and hardens when cooled. For example, polycaprolactone, which is a type of synthetic resin, can be used as such a material. Also, polycaprolactone may be blended with flexible silicone resin or urethane resin. Also, the gel body 5 may be made of an ultraviolet-curing resin that hardens when irradiated with a certain amount of ultraviolet light. In addition, the gel body 5 has a sufficient thickness to hold the heel of the foot when the insole 1 is shaped to fit the shape of the user's foot, and is usually set to a thickness of about 1 to 2 mm (millimeters) before it is heated and deformed.

[0038] A filling support member 4 having a function of lifting and supporting the foot from the flat insole bottom 2 is disposed on the insole bottom 2. The filling support member 4 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the insole bottom 2 and the upper covering part 3. The filling support member 4 is an integrally molded product having a first guide member 11 which is a first protrusion corresponding to the heel part of the insole 1, a second guide member 13 which is a second protrusion extending forward from the first guide member 11 along the central axis O of the insole 1, and a front extension part 14 which is a third protrusion disposed in front of the first guide member 11 and between the first guide member 11 and the second guide member 13. The filling support member 4 is placed on the insole bottom 2. In this case, the filling support member 4 is a separate body from the insole bottom 2, but the filling support member 4 may be molded integrally with the insole bottom 2 when the insole bottom 2 is molded.

[0039] The first guide member 11, the second guide member 13, and the front extension 14 divide the insole 1 (insole bottom 2) into both sides (left and right sides) and the heel part with respect to the central axis O, and the gel body 5 stacked on them can be distributed to both sides and the heel part. The first guide member 11, the second guide member 13, and the front extension 14 are integrally molded using a flexible material such as silicone resin, urethane resin, rubber resin, or EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin), and constitute the filling support member 4. The first guide member 11 is made of a protrusion having a substantially circular shape with a concave or hollow ring shape inside, and functions as a heel support member by accommodating the heel part of the foot. In addition, the second guide member 13 is formed in this embodiment in the vicinity of the central axis O of the insole 1, continuing to the first guide member 11 and extending forward under the presence of the front extension 14, and is made of a protrusion having a rod-like planar shape extending toward the front of the insole 1. The cross section of the second guide member 13 has a substantially semicircular shape. The ring shape of the first guide member 11 does not have to be limited to a shape in which the entire circumference of the protrusion is continuously closed, or the ring shape may have no protrusion in part and an opening or cutout in part.

[0040] The insole 1 is provided with a first guide member 11 having a function as a heel support member, and a second guide member 13 consisting of a rod-shaped protrusion extending along the central axis O of the insole 1, thereby providing a portion that serves as the starting point (fulcrum A, fulcrum B, fulcrum C) for forming the arch of the foot shown in FIG. 14. The tip of the second guide member 13 is disposed near the line b connecting the fulcrum B and the fulcrum C, or behind the line b. This allows a mountain-shaped shape to be formed in the region corresponding to the space between the heel and the arch of the foot of the filling support member 4, and the arch of the foot can be easily supported. In other words, a support arch that forms the vertical ring arch, the outer arch, and the inner arch shown in FIG. 14 can be created. This allows the support of the three-point arch, which is the basis for a human being to walk stably on two legs.

[0041] The height dimension of the protrusion of the first guide member 11 of the filling support member 4 depends on the size of the user's foot, but is preferably about 2 to 5 mm, and the width (diameter) of the bottom surface of the protrusion is preferably about 3 to 6 cm, considering a normal adult. The protrusion of the first guide member 11 has almost the same shape over the entire protrusion. On the other hand, the second guide member 13 is installed away from the first guide member 11 forward, and a front extension portion 14 (described later) is disposed between the first guide member 11 and the second guide member 13. The second guide member 13 has a height dimension larger than that of the first guide member 11, and the height dimension depends on the size of the user's foot, but is preferably about 4 to 7 mm. The rod-shaped second guide member 13 extends with almost the same height dimension over its entire length, and the length dimension is preferably 7 to 12 cm when taken as the length from the center of the first guide member 11 (heel portion) to the tip of the second guide member 13. The width dimension of the bottom surface of the protrusion of the second guide member 13 is smaller than the width dimension (diameter) of the first guide member, and is preferably about 1 to 2 cm. Furthermore, since the second guide member 13 supports the central part of the foot, i.e., the part substantially along the central axis O of the insole 1, it is also necessary to consider its hardness, which is preferably about 45 to 65 HRB.

[0042] The insole 1 has a gel body 5 placed on the portion of the filling support member 4 extending from the first guide member 11 to the second guide member 13, and an upper covering portion 3 provided above the gel body 5. The upper covering portion 3 is shaped by the first guide member 11, the second guide member 13, the forward extension portion 14, and the gel body 5 of the filling support member 4 into a shape suitable for generating and supporting a support arch in the vicinity of the heel and the central axis of the sole of the foot. When the gel body 5 is placed on the filling support member 4, the downward protrusion 5a of the gel body 5 fits into the recessed portion of the first guide member 11. Therefore, the diameter and height dimensions of the downward protrusion 5a of the gel body 5 are approximately equal to the diameter and height dimensions of the first guide member 11. The insole 1 has a first guide member 11 provided on its heel portion, and the gel body 5 placed on it is heated and deformed to form a recess for supporting the heel of the foot. The upper covering part 3 covers part or all of the bottom and sides of the heel at the rear end of the insole 1, thereby providing reliable support for the ankle.

[0043] When the insole 1 is manufactured, the upper covering part 3 is adhered to the insole bottom part 2 so as to sandwich or enclose the filling support member 4 and the gel body 5 between the upper covering part 3 and the insole bottom part 2. In FIG. 1, a dotted line figure 7 in a front-rear circular shape drawn by a dotted line so as to surround the filling support member 4 in the rear half region of the insole 1 defines an attachment part 6 which is an overlapping portion for adhering the upper covering part 3 to the insole bottom part 2. The attachment part 6 is secured over the entire area inside the outline 8 of the insole 1 outside the dotted line figure 7, and in the rear half region, the width dimension of the attachment part 6 is set to about 3 to 7 mm. In the area forward of the rear half region of the insole 1 (this is referred to as the "front half region"), the upper covering part 3 and the insole bottom part 2 are adhered and integrated over almost the entire area. There is no boundary line that should be specifically defined between the front and rear regions on the insole 1, but in this embodiment, as a guide, the front end line 7a (including the extension portion that reaches the outline 8) of the front-rear circular dotted line figure 7 may be set as the boundary line, with the area in front of that being the front half region and the area behind being the rear half region. Note that in Fig. 1, another rectangular dotted line figure 9 that extends continuously to the outline 8 is drawn further forward of the dotted line figure 7, but this is used in the explanation of another embodiment (third embodiment) described later and may be ignored in this embodiment.

[0044] In this embodiment, the front extension 14 is provided between the first guide member 11 and the second guide member 13 as described above. As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the rear end of the front extension 14 is connected to the first guide member 11, the front end is connected to the second guide member 13, and the width dimension is larger than the width dimension of the second guide member 13 and is the same as (including approximately the same as) the diameter of the first guide member 11. When viewed from above, the rear end of the front extension 14 has an arc shape that follows the first guide member 11, and the front end is square. In addition to the protrusions of the first guide member 11 and the second guide member 13, the front extension 14 has a support function as a third protrusion. The forward extension portion 14 is provided in an area forward of the heel of the foot, and is set at a position that roughly corresponds to the position of the cuboid bone in relation to the user's foot, with its height dimension set to be slightly higher (approximately 2 to 7 mm) than the first guide member 11.

[0045] The height dimension of the front extension 14 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. At the connection P1 with the first guide member 11, the front extension 14 has the same (including approximately the same) height dimension as the first guide member 11. The front extension 14 is formed so that its height gradually increases from the connection P1 toward the front, reaches a peak height at the apex P2, which is the connection with the second guide member 13, and continues to the second guide member 13, which extends forward at the same height. The front extension 14 has an inclined portion that slopes upward toward the front. The width dimension of the front extension 14 is set to the same (including approximately the same) dimension as the diameter dimension of the substantially circular first guide member 11, and the front-rear dimension of the front extension 14 is set to 1 / 7 to 1 / 5 of the length dimension (7 to 12 cm) of the second guide member 13 described above, which is approximately in the range of 10 to 24 mm in terms of numerical values. The apex P2 is located in a region forward of the heel of the foot, and corresponds to the position of the cuboid bone in relation to the user's foot.

[0046] The front extension 14 is interposed between the first guide member 11 and the second guide member 13 while undulating in the front-rear direction of the insole 1, and the front extension 14 has a top P2 between the first guide member 11 and the second guide member 13, which has a height dimension greater than that of the first guide member 11. This allows the insole 1 to support the bones of the foot, more specifically the cuboid bone, in a manner that pushes up the bones of the foot, at a part slightly forward of the heel of the foot corresponding to the front extension 14. This supports the body while holding the internal joints of the ankle at a position that is a certain dimension higher than the sole of the shoe. In other words, it is possible to stably support the body weight at its center (center of gravity) by holding the skeleton of the foot in a three-dimensional shape, and to maintain the body in an upright state, and to prevent the body from wobbling.

[0047] As described above, the filling support member 4 includes the first guide member 11, the second guide member 13, and the front extension 14. In this embodiment, the first guide member 11, the second guide member 13, and the front extension 14 are integrally molded using the above-mentioned materials (e.g., silicone resin, urethane resin, rubber resin, or flexible materials such as EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin)) to form the filling support member 4. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the main part of the insole 1, showing the configuration of the integrally molded filling support member 4 and its installation state on the insole bottom 2. Here, the "main part" of the insole 1 refers to the part of the insole 1 that includes the insole bottom 2, the upper covering part 3 that covers the upper part of the insole bottom 2, the filling support member 4 that is sandwiched between the insole bottom 2 and the upper covering part 3 and filled and installed, and the gel body 5 that is arranged on the filling support member 4, and extends from the heel of the foot to the vicinity of the base of the toes. Although the gel body 5 is not shown in Figure 4, as already explained, the gel body 5 is placed on the filling support member 4 so as to cover the first guide member 11, the second guide member 13, and the forward extension portion 14 when viewed in a plan view.

[0048] Next, the manufacturing method of the insole 1 according to the present embodiment will be described below. First, in the peripheral portion of the insole bottom 2, the area where the first guide member 11, the second guide member 13, and the front extension portion 14 are arranged is put in a developed state. Then, the filling support member 4 is installed on the insole bottom 2. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing a state where the filling support member 4 is installed on the upper surface of the insole bottom 2. In this figure, the upper covering portion 3 is shown as a developed view in a state of being turned up from the insole bottom 2. Next, the gel body 5 is installed on the filling support member 4, and the upper covering portion 3 is covered and arranged from above them so as to sandwich the filling support member 4 and the gel body 5 between the insole bottom 2 and the upper covering portion 3. In the latter half region of the insole 1, the peripheral edge portion of the upper covering portion 3 and the pasting portion 6 on the peripheral edge portion of the insole bottom 2 are joined by a sewing machine or an adhesive, etc., and in the former half region of the insole 1, the upper covering portion 3 and the insole bottom 2 are directly adhered and integrated over substantially the entire area by an adhesive or the like. Thereby, when the user walks wearing shoes, the toe portion of the insole 1 becomes a thin plate shape, and the toes or toes can be bent freely.

[0049] Through the above-mentioned adhesion treatment operation, the insole 1 having a three-layer laminated structure including the upper covering portion 3, the filling support member 4 provided with the gel body 5, and the insole bottom 2 is manufactured as a whole. Through the above steps, the insole 1 is completed.

[0050] Next, the usage state of the insole 1 having the above configuration will be described. First, before the insole 1 is mounted on shoes, the insole 1 is heat-treated on the user side. As the heating device, a dedicated heater may be used, but a microwave oven or hot water equipped in a general household may also be used. The heating temperature is suitably, for example, 70°C to 80°C. Also, when heating using a microwave oven, the heating time is suitably about 40 to 60 seconds at 500W. This is to warm the gel body 5 made of a thermoplastic resin material placed on the filling support member 4 to a plastic state, that is, a deformable state, while not being too hot for the user.

[0051] When the insole 1 is heated to a predetermined temperature (e.g., 70°C to 80°C), the gel body 5 becomes deformable due to thermoplasticity, so the insole 1 is placed on a flat floor while it is still warm, and the user stands on the insole 1 and puts his / her weight on it. There is no particular way to put weight on it, but one example is to bend and straighten the knee without removing the sole from the insole 1, that is, to perform bending and stretching exercises. The time for putting weight on it by bending and stretching exercises in this way can be about 30 seconds to 1 minute, and there is no particular regulation. In this way, the user's weight is applied to the insole 1, and pressure is applied from the sole of the foot through the upper covering part 3 to the filling support member 4 equipped with the first guide member 11, the second guide member 13, and the forward extension part 14. This pressure is uneven when viewed over the entire sole of the foot, and for example, no pressure or a small pressure is applied to the arch part, while a larger pressure is applied to the swelling and the base of the toes than to the arch part.

[0052] The insole 1, which is initially flat, is deformed according to the unevenness of the pressure due to the thermal plastic deformation of the gel body 5, and is deformed into a shape that matches the sole of the user's foot with unevenness while receiving the support action from the filling support member 4. When pressure is applied to the filling support member 4, the first guide member 11 has a ring shape with a concave inside, so it presses the part where the heel of the user's foot abuts, forming a concave portion and forming a part for fixing the ankle. At this time, a part of the gel body 5 deforms and enters the concave recess of the first guide member 11 to shape the concave portion, while a part of the gel body 5 that was in the concave recess is pushed aside and overflows around the heel, and has the function of holding the heel by wrapping it. The depth of the concave portion can be, for example, 1 mm to 5 mm. The second guide member 13, the front extension portion 14, and other parts also deform according to the pressure applied to each part. The degree and mode of the deformation of the filling support member 4, i.e., the deformation of the insole 1, differs for each user. After a certain time has passed, the insole 1 is cooled to room temperature, and the gel body 5 made of a thermoplastic resin material cools and hardens, and does not deform, and the insole 1 is fixed in the above-mentioned shaped shape due to its shape-retaining ability. The shaped insoles 1 are produced for each foot. This allows the user to obtain an insole just for himself. When such an insole 1 is attached to a shoe or other footwear and used, the insole 1 becomes completely familiar with the user's foot, so that when walking or exercising, the reaction force from the shoe side acts optimally on the user's body, and no excessive force is applied to the user's body, and the body is not twisted. Therefore, accidents such as stumbling or falling while walking, as in the past, can be greatly reduced, especially for the elderly. In addition, since the body stretches vertically while walking, posture improves and the occurrence of hunched shoulders is prevented.

[0053] As described above, the insole 1 is made of, for example, thermoplastic resin, and can be molded into a shape that matches the shape of the sole of the user's foot and can maintain that shape. It also supports the formation of the arch of the foot, which is unique to humans and is very important for walking, and at the same time supports the joint between the heel bone and the ankle bone to prevent it from slipping out of place.

[0054] Furthermore, in the insole 1 of this embodiment, the above-mentioned front extension portion 14 is provided, so that the upper covering portion 3 supports the foot by pushing up the cuboid bone portion slightly forward of the heel portion of the foot. This holds the joints of the ankle portion at a high position, i.e., holds and supports the foot skeleton in a three-dimensional shape, supports the body, allows the body to be maintained in an upright position, and prevents the body from wobbling.

[0055] When a user wears shoes with the insole 1 attached, the soles of the user's feet fit perfectly into the insole 1, allowing the user to walk comfortably and without applying excessive force to not only the soles of the feet, but also the legs, hips, and entire body. Therefore, the user can walk in an optimal posture for each individual user and without applying excessive force to the body.

[0056] By attaching the insole 1 to shoes, it is possible to maintain an optimal posture when walking. Furthermore, it is possible to easily form the "arch structure in the foot formed in the arch part of the foot" required for bipedal walking. This supports the balance of the body when walking on two legs (equilibrium balance) and walking without applying excessive force to the body.

[0057] Insole 1 also has the effect of fixing the ankle and properly supporting the arch of the foot to protect the foot bone structure, improving stability and sensation of the ground, improving balance and stability, and stimulating pressure points on the soles of the feet, thereby promoting good health.

[0058] In the insole 1 of this embodiment, as described above, the balance of the body (equilibrium) when walking on two legs is maintained, and the bones of the foot are protected. When stepping out, the back foot (supporting foot) stably supports the body weight, so the front foot (stepping foot) steps out better and the stride length increases. As a result, the toes of the front foot point upward when the front foot lands on the ground, preventing stumbling and making it difficult to fall. Usually, elderly people walk with small strides, leaning forward and tiptoeing, so they often trip over things and fall. This is because the back foot does not stably support the body weight. The insole 1 of this embodiment has the effect of improving such a situation.

[0059] Figures 5 to 8 are diagrams for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Among these drawings, Figure 5 is a plan view showing the configuration of an insole (for left foot) according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a partial plan view showing the configuration of a gel body used in the second embodiment and a filling support member arranged under the gel body. Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 6, showing the layered structure of the gel body and the filling support member in the second embodiment. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 6, showing the layered structure of the gel body and the filling support member at the tip portion of the filling support member in the second embodiment.

[0060] In FIG. 5, reference numeral 31 denotes an insole according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and reference numeral 33 denotes a gel body placed on the filling support member 4. In this insole 31, a part of the configuration of the gel body 33 is different from the gel body 5 in the first embodiment. Other configurations, such as the insole bottom part 2, the upper covering part 3, and the filling support member 4, are the same as those in the first embodiment. The differences in the configuration of the gel body 33 will be described later. Since the other parts of the insole 31 are substantially the same as those of the insole 1 in the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0061] The filling support member 4 is installed in the area of ​​the insole bottom 2 that supports the heel of the foot to the base of the toes, for example, the first joints of the big toe and little toe. A gel body 33 is placed on the filling support member 4. The gel body 33 is made of a flat plate having a planar shape shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and a cylindrical downward protrusion 33b is formed in the part of the gel body 33 that corresponds to the heel. As can be seen from these figures, the configuration of the gel body 33 according to the second embodiment is partially different from the gel body 5 in the first embodiment. That is, the gel body 33 differs from the first embodiment in that, in terms of planar shape, the gel body 33 covers the entire planar shape of the filling support member 4, while further comprising a foot side support part 33a that is a fourth protrusion that is arranged to extend to a part forward of the front extension part 14 on one of the left and right sides of the second guide member 13. The physical properties of gel body 33 are the same as those of gel body 5 in the first embodiment, and it is made of a material that exhibits the property of deforming when heated and has the shape-retaining ability to retain the deformed state when cooled after heating.

[0062] The instep side support portion 33a of the gel body 33 is provided at a portion corresponding to the instep of the foot and supports the instep portion of the foot. In the second embodiment, since the insole 31 is an example for the left foot, the instep side support portion 33a is provided at the right side portion of the left and right sides of the second guide member 13 according to the left foot and is not provided at the left side portion. When the insole 31 is for the right foot, the instep side support portion 33a is provided at the left side portion of the second guide member 13 according to the right foot and is not provided at the right side portion. That is, the instep side support portion 33a is provided at one of the left and right side portions of the second guide member 13 and is not provided at the other side portion. And in the insole 31 for the left foot, the instep side support portion 33a is connected to the right front end portion of the front extension portion 14 at the same width dimension in the right side portion, extends forward, and is in contact with the right side portion of the second guide member 13 while maintaining the width dimension and extends to the tip of the second guide member 13, thereby having a substantially rectangular planar shape. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper portion of the instep side support portion 33a covers the top of the second guide member 13 with a thickness of 1 to 2 mm and extends to the side opposite to the vertex, forming an edge 33c of the instep side support portion 33a. When viewed from above, the left end of the edge 33c is at the same position as the left end of the second guide member 13. In such a configuration, the height dimension of the combination of the top of the second guide member 13 and the instep side support portion 33a is about 5 to 10 mm. The cross section of the combination of the second guide member 13 and the instep side support portion 33a has a vertex with a height dimension of about 7 to 12 mm at a position slightly displaced (for example, 1 to 2 cm) to the right from the central portion of the second guide member 13 in FIG. 8. Further, the instep side support portion 33a of the gel body 33 is formed so as to gradually become lower from the vertex position to the right and reach the insole bottom 2, and has a semi-circular cross-sectional structure that fills the space of the right side portion of the second guide member 13 as a whole. And the portion of the instep side support portion 33a corresponding to the instep substantially coincides with the vertex, and its height dimension is about 7 to 12 mm as described above.

[0063] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the main part of the insole 1 centered on the filling support member 4 in the first embodiment, but this figure is also applicable to the second embodiment in that the gel body 5 is not shown. However, when the gel body 33 is placed on the filling support member 4, the gel body 33 is configured to cover the first guide member 11, the second guide member 13, and the front extension part 14 when viewed in a plan view, and on the back side, the downward protrusion part 33b of the gel body 33 fits into the recessed part of the first guide member 11 (see FIG. 7), and further, the foot side support part 33a is placed on the filling support member 4 in a state of protruding to the right region of the second guide member 13 (see FIG. 6), which is different from the first embodiment. Such a difference in configuration has already been explained, and this configuration is a main feature of the second embodiment.

[0064] The manufacturing method of the insole 31 according to the second embodiment is the same as the manufacturing method of the insole 1 according to the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0065] Next, the use of the insole 31 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described. First, before the insole 31 is attached to a shoe, the insole 31 is heated. The heating method is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

[0066] After the insole 31 is heated to a predetermined temperature, the user stands on the insole 31 and puts his / her body weight on the insole 31 to perform shaping processing on the insole 31, which is similar to that described in the first embodiment.

[0067] The deformation of the arch portion when a user stands on the insole 31 and applies his / her body weight to perform a shaping process of the insole 31 will be described. In the insole 31 according to the second embodiment, the filling support member 4 is provided with the foot side support portion 33a, so that pressure is applied from the arch portion of the user's foot to the foot side support portion 33a of the insole 31, and the gel body 33 is deformed. Regarding the degree of deformation, when the arch of the user's foot is a normal arch shape (corresponding to the medial vertical arch Ar1 in this case), when the user stands on the insole 31 and applies his / her body weight as described above, the foot side support portion 33a does not deform or deforms slightly along the sole due to the relationship between the height dimension of the top of the foot side support portion 33a of the arch portion (about 7 to 12 mm) and the height of the medial vertical arch Ar1 corresponding to the user's arch (about 1 cm for a normal person). On the other hand, if the user has a somewhat flat foot arch, when the user stands on the insole 31 and puts his / her weight on it, a greater pressure than that of a normal person is applied to the foot side support part 33a of the filling support member 4. As a result, the foot side support part 33a of the gel body 33 deforms more in response to the pressure than that of a normal person, and the height dimension of the top of the foot side support part 33a, which was about 7 to 12 mm, becomes an extremely small height dimension (for example, about 3 to 7 mm).

[0068] The deformation of the above-mentioned filling support member 4, that is, the degree and mode of deformation of the insole 31, vary from user to user. After a lapse of a predetermined time, when the insole 31 is cooled to room temperature, the gel body 33 made of a thermoplastic resin material hardens and no longer deforms, and due to the shape retention performance, the insole 1 is fixed in the shaped shape. The insole 1 thus shaped is manufactured for each of the left and right feet. As a result, the user of the insole 31 has obtained an insole only for himself / herself. When such an insole 31 is worn and used in shoes or other footwear, the insole fits perfectly to the user's feet. Therefore, when walking or exercising, the reaction force from the shoe side acts optimally on the user's body, no unreasonable force is applied to the user's body, and the body is not twisted or bent. Therefore, especially for the elderly, accidents such as staggering or falling during walking as in the past can be significantly reduced. Also, since the body extends straight in the vertical direction during walking, the posture improves and the occurrence of hunchback and the like is prevented.

[0069] As described in the above explanation, the insole 31 is made of, for example, a thermoplastic resin or the like, and can be molded into a shape that conforms to the shape of the user's sole and retain the shape. In addition, it can form the instep that exists only in humans and create the very important arch of the foot for walking, and at the same time support the joints of the heel bone and the ankle bone so that they do not shift.

[0070] Furthermore, in the insole 31 of the present embodiment, due to the provision of the above-mentioned front extension portion 14, the upper covering portion 3 supports the foot in a manner of pushing up the foot at a portion slightly forward of the heel portion of the foot. This makes it possible to hold the joint of the ankle portion of the foot at a high position, that is, to hold and support the foot skeleton three-dimensionally, so that the body is supported and the body can be maintained in an upright state, and the wobbling of the body is prevented.

[0071] When a user wears shoes with insoles attached, the soles of the user's feet fit perfectly into the insoles, making walking easier and allowing the user to move without exerting excessive force on not only the soles of the feet, but also on the legs, hips, and entire body. This allows the user to walk in an optimal posture for each individual user and without exerting excessive force on the body.

[0072] By attaching the insole 31 to the shoe, the optimal posture can be maintained when walking. Furthermore, the "arch structure in the foot formed in the arch part of the foot" required for bipedal walking can be easily formed. This supports the balance of the body when walking on two legs (equilibrium balance) and walking without applying excessive force to the body.

[0073] Insoles also have the effect of fixing the ankle, which improves stability and improves the sense of balance and stability by improving the sense of contact with the ground. They also have the effect of stimulating pressure points on the soles of the feet, which can promote good health.

[0074] In the second embodiment, when walking wearing a shoe with the insole 31, the filling support member 4 is provided with a foot side support part 33a, which is provided in a part corresponding to the arch of the foot. Regarding the support of the sole of the foot at the arch part, in the insole 31 according to this embodiment, the foot side support part 33a aligned with the sole of the user's foot applies an appropriate support pressure to the arch part of the user's foot, and the arch part can also be supported. And, even when the user is quiet or walking slowly, or when the user is exercising vigorously or bracing himself to lift a heavy load, the medial vertical arch Ar1 shown in FIG. 14 cooperates with the other arches Ar2 and Ar3 to exert a spring action, while the arch part of the user's foot moves downward and comes into contact with the foot side support part 33a, and is appropriately supported by the foot side support part 33a.

[0075] 9 to 11 are diagrams for explaining a general-purpose insole according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Among these diagrams, FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the configuration of a general-purpose insole according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the general-purpose insole according to the third embodiment taken along line XX in FIG. 9 along the central axis O. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the general-purpose insole according to the third embodiment taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 9.

[0076] In FIG. 9, the reference numeral 35 denotes a general-purpose insole according to the third embodiment of the present invention. This general-purpose insole 35 is the same as the main part of the insole 1 cut out along the rectangular dotted line diagram 9 in FIG. 1, which illustrates the insole 1 according to the first embodiment. That is, the general-purpose insole 35 includes an insole bottom part 2 extending forward from the heel part of the foot to the vicinity of the base of the toes, an upper covering part 3 covering the upper part of the insole bottom part 2, a filling support member 4 sandwiched and filled between the insole bottom part 2 and the upper covering part 3, and a gel body 5 arranged on the filling support member 4. The general-purpose insole 35 is an insole body that extends from the heel part of the foot to the vicinity of the base of the toes and has a tip part that terminates at the base of the toes, and corresponds to an independent structure of the main part of the insole described above, that is, a main part limited type insole. When viewed from above, the general-purpose insole 35 has a band shape with a square front end and a semicircular rear end, in other words, a semicircular part having the same diameter as the width of the rectangular part is integrally connected to the rear end of the rectangular part. The planar shape of the gel body 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the above description of the first embodiment, the rectangular dotted line figure 9 was described as "used in the description of another embodiment (third embodiment) described later," but this refers to this embodiment and represents the cut-out line in this embodiment. Therefore, since the configuration of the general-purpose insole 35 is the same as that of the insole 1 of the first embodiment, the configuration is given the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment and detailed description is omitted.

[0077] Also, in FIG. 5 for explaining the insole 31 of the second embodiment, a rectangular dotted-line figure 9 is also shown. However, those identical to the main part of the insole 31 cut out along this dotted-line figure 9 also have the status as a modification example of the third embodiment. Incidentally, in FIGS. 1 and 5, the forward-rearward circular dotted-line figure 7 is a figure that defines the pasting part 6 which is the margin for adhering the upper covering part 3 to the insole bottom part 2. A pasting part 6 is secured between it and the dotted-line figure 9 defined outside it. Since the insole bottom part 2 and the upper covering part 3 are adhered at the pasting part 6, the general-purpose insole 35 itself becomes a completed insole. In FIG. 10, the insole bottom part 2 and the upper covering part 3 are not shown. In FIG. 11, the insole bottom part 2, the upper covering part 3, and the gel body 5 are not shown. However, the insole bottom part 2 is disposed under the filling support member 4, and the upper covering part 3 is disposed on the gel body 5, and the point that the insole bottom part 2 and the upper covering part 3 are joined to each other at the edge is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0078] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an example of a footwear (slipper) in which the general-purpose insole according to the third embodiment is used as the second invention of the present case. FIG. 13 is a perspective view including a cross-section taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12 of the footwear according to the third embodiment, showing the usage state of the general-purpose insole.

[0079] The perspective view of FIG. 12 shows a slipper 37 as footwear for which the universal insole 35 is used, and a slit hole 39 extending in the left-right direction is formed in the rear end of a bottom plate portion 38, which is the sole of the slipper 37. The slit hole 39 is formed to extend forward from the rear end of the bottom plate portion 38 of the slipper 37 toward the inside of the bottom plate portion 38, and forms a storage space that spreads approximately horizontally inside the bottom plate portion 38 from the opening of the rear end of the bottom plate portion 38. The storage space extends in the front-rear direction, for example, from the rear end of the bottom plate portion 38 to a position corresponding to the base of the toes. The universal insole 35 is inserted and stored in the storage space formed by the slit hole 39. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the universal insole 35 is inserted and stored in the storage space formed by the slit hole 39. The universal insole 35 has a structure symmetrical with respect to the central axis O, so there is no need to distinguish between left foot and right foot, and it can be manufactured easily and inexpensively. The central axis O is a line extending in the front-rear direction through the center in the left-right direction when the general-purpose insole 35 is viewed from above. The opening of the slit hole 39 may be always open, but a zipper can also be provided at the opening to store the general-purpose insole 35. This makes it possible to prevent the general-purpose insole 35 from protruding or falling off. The slippers 37 are footwear that utilize the general-purpose insole.

[0080] As a method of attaching the universal insole 35 to the slipper 37, there may be another method other than the method using the slit hole 39. As another example, for example, there is a method in which the universal insole 35 is placed on the bottom plate part 38 of the slipper 37 without forming the slit hole 39 at the rear end part of the bottom plate part 38 of the slipper 37, and a cover cloth (corresponding to the "upper cover part 3" in the first embodiment) is placed on the universal insole 35, and the cover cloth is bonded to the bottom plate part 38 so as to sandwich or wrap the universal insole 35 between the bottom plate part 38 and the cover cloth. In this way, additional processing of the slipper 37 can be minimized.

[0081] The general-purpose insole 35 can be used for simple footwear such as sandals, zori, and indoor footwear in addition to the slippers 37. In this third embodiment, the slippers, sandals, zori, and indoor footwear are collectively referred to as "simple footwear." Therefore, the general-purpose insole 35 can greatly expand the range of footwear in which the insole is used or applied, and can widely publicize the effects of correcting the user's posture and relieving back pain and knee pain.

[0082] The footwear insole according to the present invention comprises an insole bottom part whose planar shape is cut out into the shape of a shoe sole and whose lower surface abuts against the inner sole of a shoe, an upper covering part provided so as to cover an upper part of the insole bottom part, a filling support member that is sandwiched and filled between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part and provides support to a user's foot, and a gel body provided on the filling support member, the gel body being made of a material that has thermoplasticity that deforms when heated and has shape retention that retains the deformed state when cooled after heating, and is configured to be molded into the shape of the user's foot when heated, and the filling support member is provided with a first guide member and a second guide member that are interposed between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part and distribute the filling support member to both sides and a heel part, and the first guide member is provided with a filling support member that is sandwiched between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part and has a shape retention that retains the deformed state when cooled after heating, and is configured to be molded into the shape of the user's foot when heated, and the filling support member is provided with a first guide member and a second guide member that are interposed between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part and distribute the filling support member to both sides and a heel part, and the filling support member is provided with a filling support member that is sandwiched between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part and has a shape retention that retains the deformed state when cooled after heating, and the filling support member is formed into the shape of the user's foot when heated ... filling support member that is sandwiched between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part and has a filling support the second guide member is formed at approximately the center in the width direction of the insole bottom, connected to the first guide member, and is composed of a rod- or plate-shaped protrusion extending from the heel of the first region to the vicinity of the first joints of the toes; the filling support member has a forward extension portion disposed in front of the first guide member and between the first guide member and the second guide member; the first guide member and the second guide member support the area from the heel of the sole of the foot to the vicinity of the first joints of the toes, and the body weight is supported by three points, namely, the fulcrum of the heel, the fulcrum of the base of the big toe, and the fulcrum of the base of the little toe; and the forward extension portion supports the cuboid bone of the foot by thrusting up at a position forward of the fulcrum of the heel.

[0083] The footwear insole according to the present invention includes an insole bottom part whose planar shape is cut out to match the sole of a shoe, a filling support member, and an upper covering part, and the filling support member arranged between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part is configured to be molded to the shape of the user's foot. This allows the shape to be deformed to match the condition of the sole of a human foot (the unique shape of the user's foot). By using the footwear insole, an optimal posture can be maintained when walking. Furthermore, the "arch structure in the foot formed in the arch part of the foot" required for bipedal walking can be easily formed. This can support the balance of the body when walking on two legs (equilibrium balance) and walking in a state where undue force is not applied to the body. In addition, since the first guide member and the second guide member are provided in the main area of ​​the insole bottom part, an arch structure suitable for supporting the heel and arch part of the foot can be more easily formed. In addition, by providing the first guide member consisting of a substantially ring-shaped protrusion forming a recess, the recess for supporting the heel of the foot can cover a part or all of the bottom and side of the heel, thereby reliably supporting the ankle. [Industrial Applicability]

[0084] The insole of the present invention supports the heel of the foot, prevents lateral swaying, and enables the user to walk in a unique and optimal posture for each individual user, without applying undue force to the body. By distributing the load on the sole of the foot evenly to the ground, the arch of the foot is formed more strongly, improving the sense of balance and leg strength, and reducing the strain on the knees and hips.

[0085] Furthermore, the filling support member 4 is provided with foot side support portions 33a, which are provided in areas corresponding to the arch of the foot, so that the arch of the user's foot is reliably supported.

[0086] Furthermore, the cost is much cheaper than the traditional method of making custom insoles by creating a plaster mold of the foot and using that shape, and the insoles can be produced at roughly one-tenth the cost. The production time for the insoles is also much shorter, at just ten minutes, compared to the one week that would normally be required. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1, 31 Insole 2 Bottom of the insole 3. Upper Cover 4. Filling support member 5, 33 Gel body 11 First guide member (first protrusion) 13 Second guide member (second protrusion) 14 Front extension (3rd protrusion) 33a Foot side support part (4th protrusion) 35 General-purpose insoles 37 Slippers (Footwear)

Claims

1. an insole bottom portion whose planar shape is cut into the shape of a shoe sole and whose lower surface abuts against the inner sole of the shoe; An upper covering part provided so as to cover an upper part of the insole bottom part; A filling support member is sandwiched between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part; A gel body disposed on the filling support member, The gel body is made of a material having thermoplasticity that changes shape when heated and has shape retention that maintains the changed shape when cooled after heating, and is configured to be molded to the shape of the user's foot when heated, The filling support member has a first guide member, a second guide member and a front extension portion, The first guide member is a substantially ring-shaped protrusion that forms a recess for supporting the heel of the foot relative to the gel body, The second guide member is disposed at a substantially central portion of the insole bottom in the width direction and in front of the first guide member, and is formed of a rod-shaped or plate-shaped protrusion extending in the front-rear direction, The front extension portion is provided between the first guide member and the second guide member, The first guide member, the second guide member and the forward extension are configured to distribute the gel to the left and right sides and the heel, and support the sole of the foot, and weight is supported by three points: a fulcrum at the heel, a fulcrum at the base of the big toe, and a fulcrum at the base of the little toe. The forward extension portion supports the cuboid bone of the foot by pushing up at a position forward of the heel fulcrum. A footwear insole comprising:

2. The height of the second guide member is greater than the height of the first guide member, The forward extension has an inclined portion that slopes upward toward the front.

2. The footwear insole according to claim 1.

3. The gel body includes a foot side support portion disposed on one of the left and right sides of the second guide member and extending forward of the forward extension portion, The foot side support portion supports the arch of the foot at the left or right side portion of the second guide member.

3. The footwear insole according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The foot side support portion is disposed on the right side of the second guide member in the left foot insole, and is disposed on the left side of the second guide member in the right foot insole.

4. The footwear insole according to claim 3.

5. An insole bottom portion extending forward from the heel portion of the foot to the base of the toes; An upper covering part that covers an upper part of the insole bottom; A filling support member is sandwiched between the insole bottom part and the upper covering part; A gel body disposed on the filling support member, The gel body is made of a material having thermoplasticity that changes shape when heated and has shape retention that maintains the changed shape when cooled after heating, and is configured to be molded to the shape of the user's foot when heated, The filling support member has a first guide member, a second guide member and a front extension portion, The first guide member is a substantially ring-shaped protrusion that forms a recess for supporting the heel of the foot relative to the gel body, The second guide member is disposed at a substantially central portion of the insole bottom in the width direction and in front of the first guide member, and is formed of a rod-shaped or plate-shaped protrusion extending in the front-rear direction, The front extension portion is provided between the first guide member and the second guide member, The first guide member, the second guide member and the forward extension are configured to distribute the gel to the left and right sides and the heel, and support the sole of the foot, and weight is supported by three points: a fulcrum at the heel, a fulcrum at the base of the big toe, and a fulcrum at the base of the little toe. The forward extension portion supports the cuboid bone of the foot by pushing up at a position forward of the heel fulcrum. A general-purpose insole characterized by:

6. The general-purpose insole according to claim 5, characterized in that the general-purpose insole has a structure symmetrical with respect to a central axis O.

7. A general-purpose insole-utilizing footwear having a bottom plate portion, The bottom plate portion has a slit hole extending in the left-right direction provided at a rear end of the bottom plate portion; A storage space is formed extending forward from the slit hole, The universal insole according to claim 5 is inserted and accommodated in the accommodation space. Footwear that uses general-purpose insoles.

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