Foot support brace

Abstract

To provide a foot support brace capable of correcting and / or preventing hallux valgus and bunionette by pulling a wearer's first toe inward the body and the fifth toe outward the body.SOLUTION: A foot support brace 100 includes a first support part 1 formed of a cylindrical body and wrapping around and supporting the first toe of a wearer, a second support part 2 formed of a cylindrical body and wrapping around and supporting the fifth toe of the wearer, and a band part 3 formed of an elastic belt-like body, one end of which is connected to the first support part 1, and the other end of which is connected to the second support part 2, where the band part 3 is disposed along the inside and the outside of the body of the wearer's foot.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a foot support for correcting and / or preventing hallux valgus and hammertoe varus. [Background technology]

[0002] Hallux valgus and hallux varus are well-known problems that can occur in the toes. When people with hallux valgus or hallux varus walk in shoes, the protruding part of the toe caused by hallux valgus or hallux varus rubs against the shoe, causing pain.

[0003] Hallux valgus is a type of deformity of the first toe (big toe), in which the tip of the first toe bends toward the adjacent second toe (index toe), and the joint at the base of the first toe protrudes toward the outside of the foot.Hallux valgus is a condition in which the tip of the fifth toe (little toe) bends toward the adjacent fourth toe (ring toe), and the joint at the base of the fifth toe protrudes toward the outside of the foot.

[0004] If symptoms of hallux valgus and hammer toe become severe, walking barefoot can cause pain in the joints at the base of the first and fifth toes, and can also lead to an unnatural walking posture to avoid the pain, which can cause pain in the knees and hips.

[0005] Therefore, various types of supports have been developed to prevent and correct hallux valgus and hammertoe varus.

[0006] For example, the supporter for correcting hallux valgus and little toe varus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is composed of a tubular band made of an elastic material that tightens the metatarsal joint of the foot in the width direction, with a housing portion that fits over the big toe and little toe formed integrally at the top of the band.

[0007] Furthermore, for example, the supporter disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured with elastic pull-in sections that extend from each of the big toe insertion section and little toe insertion section toward the heel side, and that pull the big toe and little toe toward the heel side when the sole of the foot is curved concavely when worn.

[0008] Furthermore, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses a support for preventing and correcting hallux valgus or little toe varus, which is composed of a big toe wrapping portion (1) that wraps around the big toe, a little toe wrapping portion (2) that wraps around the little toe, and a band (3) that is fully or partially elastic, one end of which is fixed to the outer side of the big toe wrapping portion, passes from the fixed point around the outside of the foot, wraps around the heel, and has the other end fixed to the outer side of the little toe wrapping portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3203213 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4538470 [Patent Document 3] Utility Model Registration No. 3092122 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The supporter for correcting hallux valgus and pinky varus described in Patent Document 1 corrects hallux valgus and pinky varus by pressing the metatarsal joint inward from both sides using a tubular band that has a tightening force in the width direction. However, a strong force is required to push the metatarsal joint back toward the inside of the foot with the tightening force of the tubular band, and as mentioned above, a strong tightening force is not desirable for people with hallux valgus or hammertoe varus, who experience pain in the joints at the base of the first and fifth toes. Also, because the tubular band is configured to wrap around the instep and sole of the forefoot, the strong tightening force not only causes pressure and stress, but also may impede blood flow. Furthermore, the supporter in Patent Document 1 is intended to indirectly open the first and fifth toes toward the outside of the foot, and does not directly pull the first and fifth toes toward the outside of the foot to open them.

[0011] Furthermore, the supporter described in Patent Document 2 has a pulling section arranged on the sole of the foot that pulls the big toe and little toe toward the heel when the sole is curved concavely, thereby regenerating the longitudinal arch and balancing the entire sole of the foot, improving posture and preventing hallux valgus and the like. However, because this pulling portion pulls the big toe and little toe toward the heel, i.e., toward the rear inside of the foot, it cannot correct hallux valgus or hallux varus in people whose big toe or little toe has already been bent inward due to hallux valgus or hallux varus. Furthermore, because the first and fifth toe insertion sections are formed to encase the entire thumb and little finger, respectively, the pulling force exerted on the thumb and little finger by the pulling section is also exerted on the tips of the thumb and little finger, and if symptoms of hallux valgus or hammertoe are present, the thumb and little finger are more likely to be pulled further towards the inside rear of the foot, making the symptoms more likely to worsen.

[0012] Furthermore, the supporter described in Patent Document 3 has a band fixed to the thumb and little finger housing sections that applies an external force in an outward direction to the thumb and also to the little finger, thereby maintaining the thumb or little finger in a normal state or correcting deformed fingers known as hallux valgus or little finger varus to return them to their normal state. However, because the thumb and little finger wrapping portions are formed like pouches that wrap around the tips of the wearer's thumb and little finger, the tensile force from the band is strongest at the tips of the thumb and little finger wrapping portions. The direction of the force applied to the tips is not outward, but is generally in the same direction as the band's placement near the part where it is fixed to the thumb and little finger wrapping portions, which has limited the ability to correct deformed thumbs and little fingers.

[0013] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a foot support that can prevent and / or correct hallux valgus and hammertoe varus by pulling the wearer's first toe inward and the fifth toe outward. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The foot support of the present invention comprises a first support part consisting of a tubular body that wraps around and supports the wearer's first toe, a second support part also consisting of a tubular body that wraps around and supports the wearer's fifth toe, and a band part consisting of an elastic band-like body, one end of which is connected to the first support part and the other end of which is connected to the second support part, and the band part is arranged along the inside and outside of the wearer's foot.

[0015] As described above, the present invention comprises a first support part made of a tubular body, a second support part also made of a tubular body, and band parts arranged along the inner and outer sides of the wearer's foot and connected to the first support part and the second support part. Therefore, the elastic force of the band part applies a compressive force to the metatarsophalangeal joint, and by pulling the first support part and the second support part made of a tubular body with the band part, a tensile force is applied to the first toe towards the inner side of the body and a tensile force is applied to the fifth toe towards the outer side of the body, making it possible to prevent and / or correct hallux valgus and hammer toe varus.

[0016] In the foot support of the present invention, if necessary, the band portion has a first band portion having one end connected to the first support portion and a second band portion having the other end connected to the second support portion, and the other end of the first band portion and one end of the second band portion are engaged with each other to pull the wearer's first and fifth toes backward.

[0017] As described above, the present invention has the first band portion and the second band portion that are attached to pull the wearer's first and fifth toes backward, so the tensile force applied to the first and fifth toes can be adjusted appropriately depending on the pulling length of the first band portion and the second band portion, and an appropriate load can be applied to the first and fifth toes depending on the symptoms of hallux valgus and hammer toe varus.

[0018] The foot support of the present invention is, as necessary, composed of a single band-shaped body, and the first support part and the second support part are formed into a cylindrical body by bending both ends of the single band-shaped body toward the same surface and fixing them to the same surface.

[0019] In this way, in the present invention, the foot support is made up of a single band-shaped body, and has the first support part and the second support part formed into a cylindrical body by bending both ends of the band-shaped body to the same side.Therefore, it can be manufactured simply by fixing both ends of the single band-shaped body to the same side, which reduces the number of parts of the foot support and keeps manufacturing costs down.

[0020] The foot support according to the present invention may, if necessary, include a connecting portion that connects the portion of the band portion near the first support portion with the portion of the band portion near the second support portion.

[0021] In this way, in the present invention, the connecting portion connects the band portion near the first support portion and the band portion near the second support portion to each other, so that the foot support is constructed as an integrated unit, and for example, while the first support portion is worn on the first toe, the second support portion can be kept waiting near the fifth toe, thereby improving the wearability of the foot support.

[0022] In the foot support of the present invention, if necessary, the connecting part is formed so that its longitudinal length is shorter than the width of the wearer's instep, and the first support part is attached to the outer side of the wearer's first toe, and the second support part is attached to the inner side of the wearer's fifth toe.

[0023] In this way, in the present invention, the connecting portion is formed so that its longitudinal length is shorter than the width of the wearer's instep, and the first support portion is attached to the outer side of the wearer's first toe, and the second support portion is attached to the inner side of the wearer's fifth toe.Therefore, when the first support portion is attached to the outer side of the wearer's first toe, the first support portion is prevented from rotating inward, and when the second support portion is attached to the inner side of the wearer's fifth toe, the second support portion is prevented from rotating outward.This makes it easier for the tensile force of the band portion to act from the outside to the inside of the wearer's first toe and from the inside to the outside of the wearer's fifth toe, making it possible to more effectively correct and prevent hallux valgus and hammertoe varus.

[0024] In the foot support according to the present invention, a dome-shaped transverse arch pad is fixed to the connecting portion as required, and is arranged along the portion corresponding to the metatarsal head of the wearer.

[0025] In this way, in the present invention, the dome-shaped transverse arch pad, which is arranged along the part corresponding to the wearer's metatarsal head, is fixed to the connecting part, so that the transverse arch pad can form a transverse arch, which guides the foot bones such as the talus into their normal position, preventing excessive pronation and, in particular, correcting and preventing hallux valgus.

[0026] The foot support of the present invention is, as necessary, made of a roughly cylindrical body and equipped with a main body having the first support part that wraps around and supports the wearer's first toe, the second support part that wraps around and supports the wearer's fifth toe, and a third support part that wraps around and supports the instep and sole of the wearer near the metatarsals.

[0027] In this way, in the present invention, the main body portion comprises the first support portion that supports the first toe, the second support portion that supports the fifth toe, and the third support portion that supports the instep and sole of the foot.By inserting the foot like a sock, the first support portion can be inserted over the first toe and the second support portion can be inserted over the fifth toe, thereby improving wearability.

[0028] The foot support according to the present invention may, if necessary, be provided with a shock absorbing section at the portion of the main body that corresponds to the sole of the wearer's foot, for absorbing shock.

[0029] In this way, the present invention is provided with the buffer section for absorbing shock, so that when walking, etc., the shock applied to the sole of the foot when landing can be absorbed by the buffer section, thereby reducing the load on the sole of the foot.

[0030] The foot support of the present invention has a dome-shaped transverse arch pad fixed to the main body portion or the cushioning portion, as necessary, and arranged along the portion corresponding to the wearer's metatarsal heads.

[0031] In this way, the present invention is provided with a transverse arch pad that is arranged along the portion corresponding to the wearer's metatarsal head, which allows the formation of a transverse arch, guiding the foot bones such as the talus into their normal position to prevent over-pronation, and in particular, correcting and preventing hallux valgus.

[0032] The foot support of the present invention may, if necessary, be provided with a figure-eight portion that is fixed to the main body portion and fixes the ankle joint; when worn, the figure-eight portion is guided from the inside of the wearer's sole, through the instep, to the outside of the body, wrapped around the back of the heel, and again crossed through the instep, before being guided to the outside of the wearer's sole.

[0033] As described above, the present invention is provided with the figure-eight portion that fixes the ankle joint, thereby fixing the wearer's ankle joint, improving joint compatibility, stabilizing the ankle joint, and suppressing swinging of the wearer's ankle when walking (heel lock), thereby preventing inversion sprains and eliminating instability when standing on one leg, thereby assisting the wearer in stable walking. Furthermore, the figure-eight portion assists in damping the dorsiflexion of the ankle joint, thereby guiding the wearer's center of gravity in the tiptoe direction and assisting the wearer in walking. Furthermore, the figure-eight portion can stabilize the wearer's ankle joint and help absorb impact from the ground (floor) during the early stance phase (the period when the foot is on the ground while walking).

[0034] In the foot support according to the present invention, if necessary, the band portion is composed of a first band portion which is separate from the first support portion and has one end connected to the first support portion, and a second band portion which is separate from the first support portion and has the other end connected to the second support portion, The third support portion of the main body wraps around and supports the wearer's instep and sole near the metatarsal bones to the back of the heel, and has an attachment portion at the part corresponding to the back of the wearer's heel, and the first band portion and the second band portion are individually attached to the attachment portion.

[0035] In this way, in the present invention, since the first band portion and the second band portion are individually attached to the attached portion, the tensile force of the first band portion and the tensile force of the second band portion can be adjusted individually, and the tensile force can be adjusted according to the degree of symptoms of hallux valgus or hammer toe, preventing excessive strain on the first or fifth toes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a foot supporter according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the foot support according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the foot support according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the foot support according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams showing a method of wearing the foot supporter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a foot supporter according to a first embodiment of the present invention is worn. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the function of a foot support according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the function of a foot support of a comparative example. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the foot support according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another example of the foot support according to the first embodiment of the present invention when worn. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a foot supporter according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a foot supporter according to a second embodiment of the present invention is worn. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another example of a foot support according to the second embodiment of the present invention when worn. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a foot supporter according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a foot supporter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of a foot supporter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a foot supporter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is worn. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of the buffer part of the foot supporter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a foot support according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention when worn. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] (First embodiment of the present invention) A foot support according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. Throughout this embodiment, the same elements are given the same reference numerals.

[0038] The foot support 100 according to this embodiment is to be worn on the wearer's foot. The foot support 100 is configured with a first support part 1, which is made of a tubular body and wraps around and supports the wearer's first toe (big toe), a second support part 2, which is also made of a tubular body and wraps around and supports the wearer's fifth toe (little toe), and a band part 3, which is made of an elastic band-like body and has one end connected to the first support part 1 and the other end connected to the second support part 2.

[0039] The first support part 1 is made of a cylindrical body without a bottom, and is formed to a length sufficient to cover the first proximal phalanx of the wearer's first toe. The first support part 1 is formed from a fabric such as a woven fabric or knitted fabric that is stretchable at least in the circumferential direction, taking into consideration ease of fitting to the wearer's first toe.

[0040] The second support part 2 is made of a cylindrical body without a bottom and is formed to a length sufficient to cover the fifth proximal phalanx of the wearer's fifth toe. The second support part 2 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the first support part 1. The second support part 2 is formed from a fabric such as a woven fabric or knitted fabric that is stretchable at least in the circumferential direction, taking into consideration the ease of fitting to the wearer's fifth toe.

[0041] The first support part 1 and the second support part 2 may be configured to taper from their base end (metatarsal side) to their tip end (middle phalanx side) as shown in Fig. 2. By forming the tip end side to be narrower, the gap between the wearer's first and fifth toes is reduced, and the pulling force of the band part 3 toward the inside of the body of the first toe (hereinafter simply referred to as the inside) acts on the outer side surface close to the tip of the first toe, and the pulling force of the fifth toe toward the outside of the body (hereinafter simply referred to as the outside) acts on the inner side surface close to the tip, so that the first toe can be pulled inward and the fifth toe can be pulled outward more effectively.

[0042] The band portion 3 is made of a strip-shaped body that is stretchable in its longitudinal direction, and is made of fabric such as woven fabric or knitted fabric. The band portion 3 is composed of a first band portion 3a fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the first support portion 1 and a second band portion 3b fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the second support portion 2. The first support part 1 and the second support part 2 are fixed to the same surface of the band part 3.

[0043] On one end side of the band portion 3, one end of the first band portion 3a is fixed to an area of ​​approximately half the circumference of the first support portion 1, so that when the wearer puts on the foot support 100, the fixed portion is positioned on the inside. Furthermore, on the other end side of the band portion 3, the other end of the second band portion 3b is fixed to an area of ​​approximately half the circumference of the second support portion 2, so that when the wearer puts on the foot support 100, the fixed portion is positioned on the outside.

[0044] In the example shown in Fig. 1, the band portion 3 is shown as a rectangular strip with the same width in the longitudinal direction, but is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the width of the band portion 3 can be made to increase with distance from both ends and to be greatest at the center portion that contacts the wearer's heel. By increasing the contact area of ​​the band portion 3 with the wearer's heel, the load per unit area on the wearer's heel can be reduced and displacement of the band portion 3 due to increased static friction can be suppressed.

[0045] In order to reduce the burden that the band portion 3 places on the heel of the wearer, a shock absorbing material such as a cushion may be provided in the approximate center of the band portion 3.

[0046] Furthermore, although the above description has been given of the band portion 3 being formed integrally with the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b, this is not limited thereto, and the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b may also be configured as separate bodies.

[0047] 4, only one end of the first band portion 3a is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the first support part 1. On the other end side of the first band portion 3a, on the back surface that faces the wearer when worn, an attachment part 4 made of a hook surface of a hook-and-loop fastener is fixed. Also, only the other end of the second band portion 3b is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the second support part 2. At one end of the second band portion 3b, on the surface facing away from the wearer when worn, an engaging portion 5 made of a hook-and-loop surface of a hook-and-loop fastener is fixed. When a wearer puts on the foot support 100 configured in this manner, the first support part 1 and the second support part 2 are attached to the first and fifth toes, respectively, and then the second band part 3b is kept pulled backward, and the fastening part 4 of the first band part 3a, which has been separately pulled backward, is attached to the fastening part 5 of the second band part 3b to put on the foot support 100.

[0048] As described above, since the sole has the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b that are attached and pull the wearer's first and fifth toes backward, the pulling force applied to the first and fifth toes can be adjusted appropriately according to the pulling length of the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b, and an appropriate load can be applied to the first and fifth toes according to the symptoms of hallux valgus and hammertoe varus.

[0049] The method of fastening the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b is not limited to hook-and-loop fasteners, but may also use, for example, buttons, dot buttons, snaps, hooks, buckles, fasteners (zippers, zippers), front hooks, spindle stoppers, etc.

[0050] Next, the method of wearing and functioning of the foot support 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0051] 5, the wearer inserts the tip of the first toe into the first support part 1, and inserts the tip of the fifth toe into the second support part 2. At this time, the first band part 3a fixed to the first support part 1 is positioned on the inside, and the second band part 3b fixed to the second support part 2 is positioned on the outside.

[0052] In this state, grasp the center portion of the band portion 3, align the band portion 3 extending from the first support portion 1 and the second support portion 2 along both sides of the foot, and while pulling the band portion 3, place the center portion of the band portion 3 behind the wearer's heel so that the band portion 3 is wrapped around the heel, thereby completing the putting on of the foot support 100 (see Figure 6).

[0053] When the foot support 100 is worn in this manner, a pulling force acts backward on the band portion 3 (first band portion 3a and second band portion 3b) as shown in FIG.

[0054] As a first action of the band portion 3 having this tensile force, if the wearer has hallux valgus, the first band portion 3a uses its elastic force to apply a pressing force F1A that presses outward on the metatarsophalangeal joint, which is the joint between the first toe and the first metatarsal bone and protrudes inward, correcting the flexion of the joint.If the wearer has hallux varus, the second band portion 3b uses its elastic force to apply a pressing force F2A that presses inward on the metatarsophalangeal joint, which is the joint between the fifth toe and the fifth metatarsal bone and protrudes outward, correcting the flexion of the joint.

[0055] Furthermore, as a second effect of band portion 3, if the wearer has hallux valgus, the tensile force of first band portion 3a of first support portion 1 pulls the fabric portion to which first band portion 3a is fixed backward, and a tensile force F1B acts on the fabric portion on the outer side (the side of the second toe) opposite the fixed fabric portion toward the fixed fabric portion, i.e., inward. As a result, the bent first toe is pulled inward and guided to its normal position, thereby correcting hallux valgus.

[0056] If the wearer has hallux varus, the fabric portion to which second band portion 3b is fixed is pulled backward by the tensile force of second band portion 3b of second support portion 2, and a tensile force F2B acts toward the fixed fabric portion, i.e., outward, on the fabric portion on the medial side (the side of the fourth toe) opposite the fixed fabric portion. As a result, the bent fifth toe is pulled outward and guided to its normal position, thereby correcting hallux varus.

[0057] As described above, by compressing the metatarsophalangeal joints and pulling the first and fifth toes, people with hallux valgus or hammertoe varus can have their toes guided back to their normal positions and corrected. Also, for wearers whose metatarsophalangeal joints are not prominent, pulling the first toe inward and the fifth toe outward can prevent hallux valgus and hammertoe varus.

[0058] In contrast, for example, as shown in Figure 8, if the support parts that support the first and fifth toes are formed as pouches (first support part 101 and second support part 102), the tensile force from the first band part 3a and the second band part 3b will be applied to the tip of the pouch. The tensile direction of the tensile forces F1C and F2C applied to the tip of the pouch is generally rearward, similar to the tensile direction of the first band part 3a and the second band part 3b. If the wearer has hallux valgus or hammertoe varus, the direction of the tensile forces F1C and F2C acting on the tip of the pouch-like body will be approximately the same as the direction in which the first and fifth toes are bent and extended, so there will be almost no inward tensile force on the first toe or outward tensile force on the fifth toe, and the hallux valgus or hammertoe varus will not be corrected.

[0059] As described above, the glove comprises a first support part 1 made of a tubular body, a band part 3 arranged along the inside and outside of the wearer and connected to first support part 1 and second support part 2, and the elastic force of band part 3 applies compressive forces F1A and F2A to the metatarsophalangeal joints, and by pulling first support part 1 and second support part 2 made of tubular bodies with band part 3, a tensile force F1B is applied to the first toe inward of the body and a tensile force F2B is applied to the fifth toe outward of the body, making it possible to prevent and / or correct hallux valgus and hammertoe varus.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 9, the foot support 100 may have a connecting portion 6 made of a strip that connects at least one of the two side ends of the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b. Fig. 9 shows, as an example, an example in which the band portion 3 is configured such that the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b are separate bodies. 9, the connecting part 6 is fixed to one side end of the band part 3 near the first support part 1 and the second support part 2. This connecting part 6 connects the first band part 3a and the second band part 3b on the instep side of the wearer when the foot support 100 is worn. Note that the first band part 3a and the second band part 3b may also be connected by the connecting part 6 on the sole side of the wearer's foot. The length of the connecting part 6 in the longitudinal direction is set to approximately the width of the wearer's instep, and it may or may not be stretchable.

[0061] The length of the connecting part 6 in the longitudinal direction can also be configured to be shorter than the width of the wearer's instep. In this case, it is preferable that the connecting part 6 is not stretchable or is less stretchable (has greater stretch resistance) than the band part 3. In this case, the foot support 100 is worn with the attachment portion between the first support portion 1 and the first band portion 3a positioned on the outside of the wearer's first toe (the side toward the second toe), and the attachment portion between the second support portion 2 and the second band portion 3b positioned on the inside of the wearer's fifth toe (the side toward the fourth toe), as shown in Figure 10.

[0062] The connecting portion 6 is fixed to the second band portion 3b and pulls the first band portion 3a toward the second band portion 3b, preventing the first support portion 1 from rotating inward. As a result, the tensile force exerted by the first band portion 3a on the first toe tends to act on the wearer's first toe from the outside to the inside, thereby correcting and preventing hallux valgus. On the other hand, the connecting portion 6 is fixed to the first band portion 3a and pulls the second band portion 3b toward the first band portion 3a, preventing the second support portion 2 from rotating outward. As a result, the tensile force exerted by the second band portion 3b on the fifth toe tends to act on the wearer's fifth toe from the inside to the outside, preventing and preventing hallux varus.

[0063] As described above, because the connecting portion 6 connects the band portion 3 near the first support portion 1 and the band portion 3 near the second support portion 2, the foot support 100 is constructed as an integrated unit, and for example, while the first support portion 1 is worn on the first toe, the second support portion 2 can be kept waiting near the fifth toe, thereby improving the wearability of the foot support 100. Furthermore, because the foot support 100 is constructed as an integrated unit, when the band portion 3 is constructed as separate members consisting of the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b, it is possible to prevent either of the band portions 3a, 3b from being lost.

[0064] Furthermore, the connecting part 6 is formed so that its longitudinal length is shorter than the width of the wearer's instep, and the first support part 1 is attached to the outside of the wearer's first toe, and the second support part 2 is attached to the inside of the wearer's fifth toe. Therefore, when the first support part 1 is attached to the outside of the wearer's first toe, it prevents the first support part 1 from rotating inward, and when the second support part 2 is attached to the inside of the wearer's fifth toe, it prevents the second support part 2 from rotating outward. This makes it easier for the tensile force from the band part 3 to act from the outside to the inside of the wearer's first toe, and from the inside to the outside of the wearer's fifth toe, making it possible to more effectively correct and prevent hallux valgus and hammertoe varus.

[0065] (Second embodiment of the present invention) In the foot support according to the first embodiment, the first and second support parts and the band part are formed as separate bodies, but this is not limited to this. As shown in Figures 11 to 13, the first and second support parts and the band part can also be formed from a single strip-shaped body. In the following description, the description of the configuration that overlaps with the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0066] The foot support 200 is composed of a stretchable band-shaped body, a first support part 21 made of a tubular body that wraps around and supports the wearer's first toe, a second support part 22 made of a tubular body that wraps around and supports the wearer's fifth toe, and a band part 23 made of a band-shaped body, one end of which is connected to the first support part 21 and the other end of which is connected to the second support part 22.

[0067] The first support part 21 is formed into a cylindrical body by bending one end of one band-shaped body to the back side (the side facing the wearer when worn) and fastening it to the back side. At this time, the one end of the one band-shaped body is fastened obliquely to the longitudinal direction, so that the cylindrical body is tapered. Similarly, the second support part 22 is formed into a cylindrical body by folding the other end of one band-shaped body to the back side (the side that faces the wearer when worn) and fastening it to the back side. At this time, the other end of one band-shaped body is fastened obliquely to the longitudinal direction, so that the cylindrical body is tapered.

[0068] As described in the first embodiment, the band portion 23 may be configured as a first band portion and a second band portion that are separate bodies. That is, the band portion 23 may be configured as a first band portion having a first support portion 21 and a second band portion having a second support portion 22.

[0069] To wear the foot support 200 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, the fastening part of the first support part 21 is worn so that it faces the second toe, and the fastening part of the second support part 22 is worn so that it faces the fourth toe, but it is also possible to wear the fastening part of the first support part 21 on the inside of the body and the fastening part of the second support part 22 on the outside of the body.

[0070] As described above, the foot support 200 is made up of a single band-shaped body, and is provided with the first support part 21 and the second support part 22 formed into a cylindrical body by bending both ends of the band-shaped body to the same side. Therefore, it can be manufactured simply by fixing both ends of the single band-shaped body to the same surface, which reduces the number of parts of the foot support 200 and keeps manufacturing costs down.

[0071] Furthermore, by wearing the first support part 21 so that its fixed portion faces the second toe and the second support part 22 so that its fixed portion faces the fourth toe, the tensile force exerted by the band part 23 on the first support part 21 and the second support part 22 acts from the outside to the inside on the wearer's first toe and from the inside to the outside on the wearer's fifth toe, thereby more effectively correcting and preventing hallux valgus and hammertoe varus.

[0072] 13, foot support 100 may have connecting parts 6 that connect band parts 23 to each other in the areas of band parts 23 near first support part 21 and near second support part 22. Connecting parts 6 are configured so that their length in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the width of the wearer's instep. It is preferable that connecting parts 6 are not stretchable or are formed to have less stretchability (greater stretch resistance) than band parts 3. This prevents the first support part 21 from rotating inward when it is attached to the outside of the wearer's first toe, and prevents the second support part 22 from rotating outward when it is attached to the inside of the wearer's fifth toe, making it easier for the tensile force from the band part 23 to act from the outside to the inside on the wearer's first toe and from the inside to the outside on the wearer's fifth toe, thereby more effectively correcting and preventing hallux valgus and hammertoe varus.

[0073] (Third embodiment of the present invention) In the foot support according to the first embodiment described above, the band portion is configured to pull the wearer's first and fifth toes, but this is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 14, it may also be configured to include a transverse arch pad at the portion corresponding to the metatarsal head of the wearer, forming a transverse arch while pulling the wearer's first and fifth toes. In the following description, the description of the configuration that overlaps with the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0074] The foot support 300 of this embodiment is configured with a connecting portion 6 that connects the band portions 3 to each other in the vicinity of the first support portion 1 and the vicinity of the second support portion 2 of the band portion 3, and this connecting portion 6 is fixed to the other end of the band portion 3, which is on the sole side of the wearer's foot when the foot support 300 is worn.

[0075] A dome-shaped transverse arch pad 7 is fixed onto this connecting portion 6 (on the plantar side) to form a transverse arch. The transverse arch pad 7 is formed so that its thickness increases from the wearer's first and fifth metatarsals toward the central third metatarsal bone. The material constituting the transverse arch pad 7 is not particularly limited, but for example, a flexible synthetic resin or the like can be used.

[0076] The foot support 300 according to this embodiment forms a transverse arch in the wearer using the transverse arch pad 7, and is particularly capable of correcting and preventing hallux valgus. One of the factors that causes hallux valgus is that the muscles in the feet weaken due to lack of exercise or aging, causing the arch to drop, which causes the talus at the ankle to tilt inward, shifting the center of gravity toward the first toe and causing overpronation. Therefore, in the foot support 300 of this embodiment, first, the formation of a transverse arch is ensured by the dome-shaped transverse arch pad 7, and then the band portion 3 pulls the wearer's first toe inward, thereby guiding not only the first toe but also the foot bones such as the talus into their normal position, thereby particularly correcting and preventing hallux valgus.

[0077] As described above, the dome-shaped transverse arch pad 7, which is arranged along the part corresponding to the wearer's metatarsal head, is fixed to the connecting part 6, so that the transverse arch pad 7 can form a transverse arch, which guides the foot bones such as the talus into their normal position, preventing excessive pronation and, in particular, correcting and preventing hallux valgus.

[0078] (Fourth embodiment of the present invention) In the foot support according to the first embodiment, the first support part and the second support part are formed as separate bodies, but this is not limited thereto, and the first support part and the second support part can also be formed as a single body, as shown in Figures 15 to 18. In the following description, the description of the configuration that overlaps with the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0079] The foot support 400 of this embodiment is configured to include a main body 40 having a first support part 41 made of an approximately cylindrical body that wraps around and supports the wearer's first toe, a second support part 42 made of a cylindrical body that wraps around and supports the wearer's fifth toe, and a third support part 43 made of a cylindrical body that wraps around and supports the instep and sole of the wearer near the metatarsals, and a band part 3 made of an elastic band-like body, one end of which is connected to the first support part 41 and the other end of which is connected to the second support part 42.

[0080] The band portion 3 is composed of a first band portion 3a fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the first support portion 41 in the main body portion 40, and a second band portion 3b fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the second support portion 42 in the main body portion 40, and these first band portion 3a and second band portion 3b are configured as separate bodies. The first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b may be integrally formed.

[0081] The main body 40 is elastic and is composed of a first support part 41 that supports the first toe, a second support part 42 that supports the fifth toe, and a third support part 43 that surrounds and supports the instep and sole of the foot. The third support part 43 has openings 44 between the first support part 41 and the second support part 2, through which the wearer's second to fourth toes are inserted.

[0082] Furthermore, flat buffer parts 45 are fixed to the main body 40 at the portions corresponding to the soles of the wearer's feet to absorb the shock to the soles of the feet when the wearer touches the ground.

[0083] In this way, since the shoe is provided with a buffer section 45 for absorbing shock, the buffer section 45 can absorb the shock that acts on the sole of the foot when landing during walking, etc., thereby reducing the load on the sole of the foot.

[0084] As shown in Fig. 18, a transverse arch pad 7a for forming a transverse arch as shown in the third embodiment may be provided on the buffer section 45, and a dome-shaped medial longitudinal arch pad 7b for forming a medial longitudinal arch may be provided in a portion corresponding to the wearer's arch. Furthermore, a dome-shaped lateral longitudinal arch pad 7c, which is smaller than the medial longitudinal arch pad 7b and forms an lateral longitudinal arch, may be provided in a portion corresponding to the outer side of the wearer's arch. For convenience of explanation, only the buffer section 45 is shown in Fig. 17. The arch pads 7a to 7c are formed of, for example, a flexible synthetic resin. The arch pads 7a to 7c can also be installed on the inner peripheral surface of the main body 40.

[0085] In this way, since the shoe is provided with a transverse arch pad 7a arranged along the part corresponding to the wearer's metatarsal head, the transverse arch pad 7a can form a transverse arch, guiding the foot bones such as the talus to their normal position, preventing over-pronation and in particular correcting and preventing hallux valgus. Furthermore, since the shoe is provided with the medial longitudinal arch pad 7b and / or lateral longitudinal arch pad 7c, it forms the arch of the foot, absorbing shock when walking and allowing for smooth kicking off, and also guides the foot bones such as the talus into their normal position to prevent excessive supination, and in particular, can correct and prevent hallux varus.

[0086] Additionally, foot support 400 has support auxiliary section 46 made of a stretchable band at the section of main section 40 that corresponds to the area around the wearer's instep. Both ends of support auxiliary section 46 are fixed to sections of main section 40 that correspond to the medial and lateral sides of the wearer's foot. This support auxiliary section 46 assists in tightening the main section 40 against the wearer's foot while foot support 100 is being worn, and can prevent main section 40 from shifting from its appropriate position.

[0087] The foot support 100 further comprises a figure-eight part 47 made of a band-like body that is wrapped around the wearer's sole and ankle.

[0088] The figure-eight portion 47 is fixed to the main body portion 40 between the main body portion 40 and the buffer portion 45 with both ends inclined toward the rear of the body. The figure-eight portion 47 is configured to cross at a portion corresponding to the wearer's instep and wrap around the back of the wearer's heel. More specifically, when the wearer is wearing the foot support 400, the figure-eight portion 47 is guided from the inside of the wearer's sole, past the instep, to the outside of the body, wrapped around the back of the heel above the portion around which the band portion 3 is wrapped, and then crosses over the instep again, before being guided to the outside of the wearer's sole (see FIG. 17).

[0089] In this way, by providing a figure-eight portion 47 that fixes the ankle joint, it is possible to fix the wearer's ankle joint, improve joint compatibility, stabilize the ankle joint, and suppress swinging of the wearer's ankle when walking (heel lock), thereby preventing inversion sprains and eliminating instability when standing on one leg, thereby assisting the wearer in stable walking. Furthermore, the figure-eight portion 47 assists in damping the dorsiflexion of the ankle joint, thereby guiding the wearer's center of gravity in the tiptoe standing direction and assisting the wearer in walking. Furthermore, the figure-eight portion 47 can stabilize the wearer's ankle joint and assist in absorbing impact from the ground (floor) during the early stance phase (the period when the foot is on the ground while walking).

[0090] As described above, the main body 40 comprises the first support part 41 that supports the first toe, the second support part 42 that supports the fifth toe, and the third support part 43 that supports the instep and sole of the foot. By inserting the foot like a sock, the first support part 41 can be inserted over the first toe and the second support part 42 can be inserted over the fifth toe, thereby improving wearability.

[0091] The main body 40 can also be configured to cover the wearer's back heel like a so-called foot cover. In this case, a cushioning material may be provided in the part of the main body 40 that comes into contact with the band 3 and corresponds to the back heel of the wearer.

[0092] Also, as shown in Figure 19, an attachment portion 48 can be arranged in the part of the main body 40 corresponding to the rear of the wearer's heel, and the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b can be attached to this attachment portion 48, respectively. In this case, the fastening portions 4 and 8 are fixed to the other end of the first band portion 3a and one end of the second band portion 3b, respectively, and the fastening portions 4 and 8 are each individually fastened to the fastened portion 48.

[0093] In this way, since the first band portion 3a and the second band portion 3b are individually attached to the attached portion 48, the tensile force by the first band portion 3a and the tensile force by the second band portion 3b can be adjusted individually, and the tensile force can be adjusted according to the degree of symptoms of hallux valgus or hammer toe, preventing excessive strain on the first or fifth toes.

[0094] The first to fourth embodiments can be implemented in appropriate combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1 1st support part 2 Second support part 3. Band 3a 1st Band Section 3b Second Band Section 4, 8 Attachment part 5 Attached part 6 Connecting part 7 Lateral arch pad 7a Lateral arch pad 7b Medial longitudinal arch pad 7c Outer longitudinal arch pad 21 1st support part 22 Second support part 23 Band Club 40 Main body 41 1st support part 42 Second support part 43 Third support part 44 Opening 45 Buffer 46 Support auxiliary part 47 Figure Eight Club 48 Attached part 100, 200, 300, 400 Foot Supports 101: 1st support part 102:Second support part F1A, F2A pressing force F1B, F2B, F1C, F2C tensile force

Claims

1. a first support part that is made of a tubular body and that wraps around and supports the wearer's first toe; a second support part that is made of a tubular body and wraps around and supports the wearer's fifth toe; a band portion made of a stretchable band-like body, one end of which is connected to the first support portion and the other end of which is connected to the second support portion; The band portion is disposed along the inside and outside of the wearer's foot. A distinctive foot support.

2. The foot support according to claim 1, the band portion has a first band portion whose one end is connected to the first support portion and a second band portion whose other end is connected to the second support portion, The other end of the first band portion and one end of the second band portion are engaged with each other to pull the wearer's first and fifth toes backward. A distinctive foot support.

3. The foot support according to claim 1, It is composed of one strip, The first support portion and the second support portion are formed into a cylindrical body by bending both ends of the one strip toward the same plane and fixing them to the same plane. A distinctive foot support.

4. The foot support according to claim 1, a connecting portion that connects the portion of the band portion near the first support portion and the portion of the band portion near the second support portion to each other; A distinctive foot support.

5. The foot support according to claim 4, The connecting portion is formed so that its longitudinal length is shorter than the width of the instep of the wearer, The first support portion is attached to the outside of the wearer's first toe, The second support part is attached to the inside of the wearer's fifth toe. A distinctive foot support.

6. The foot support according to claim 4, A dome-shaped transverse arch pad is fixed to the connecting portion, and is disposed along a portion corresponding to the metatarsal head of the wearer. A distinctive foot support.

7. The foot support according to claim 1, The shoe is made of a substantially cylindrical body and has a main body portion having the first support portion that wraps around and supports the wearer's first toe, the second support portion that wraps around and supports the wearer's fifth toe, and a third support portion that wraps around and supports the instep and sole of the wearer near the metatarsal bones. A distinctive foot support.

8. The foot support according to claim 7, The main body may be provided with a shock absorbing section at a portion corresponding to the sole of the wearer's foot. A distinctive foot support.

9. The foot support according to claim 8, A dome-shaped transverse arch pad is fixed on the main body or the cushioning part, and is arranged along a portion corresponding to the metatarsal head of the wearer. A distinctive foot support.

10. The foot support according to claim 7, a figure-eight portion fixed to the main body portion and fixing the ankle joint; When worn, the figure-eight portion is guided from the inside of the sole of the wearer's foot through the instep to the outside of the body, wrapped around the back of the heel, and again passes through the instep to form a crossing state, before being guided to the outside of the sole of the wearer's foot. A distinctive foot support.

11. The foot support according to claim 7, The band portion is composed of a first band portion having one end connected to the first support portion and a second band portion having the other end connected to the second support portion, which are separate members; The third support portion of the main body portion wraps around and supports the wearer's instep and sole near the metatarsal bones to the rear of the heel, and includes an attached portion at a portion corresponding to the rear of the wearer's heel, and the first band portion and the second band portion are individually attached to the attached portion. A distinctive foot support.

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