Sole structure for footwear and footwear having the same

Abstract

To provide a sole structure for footwear which is comfortable to wear and can stimulate meridian points of the sole of a foot only by wearing and walking or the like, and footwear provided with the same.SOLUTION: A sole structure 100 for footwear includes a sole base material 10 made of a soft resin, a piezoelectric element 20 capable of generating electricity by a change in stress applied to the sole structure, and a light emitting means 30 that emits light by the generated electricity, wherein the light emitting means 30 is disposed at a position corresponding to an acupuncture point of a sole of a wearer, and the sole base material 10 has infrared transparency at least on a sole side of a position where a light emitting part of the light emitting means is disposed. At the time of walking or the like, power is generated by the change of pressurizing force to the piezoelectric element 20, stimulation is applied to the effective spot of the sole by the thermal effect by the light beam emitted from the light emitting means 30, blood circulation is improved and health can be promoted. Also, since there is no projecting part on the surface, it is comfortable to wear and stimulation can be applied to the acupuncture points of the sole only by wearing and walking or the like.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a footwear sole structure and footwear equipped therewith, which can stimulate acupressure points on the soles of the feet by walking or the like while wearing footwear such as shoes, thereby improving blood circulation and exhibiting health-promoting effects. [Background technology]

[0002] Health sandals that stimulate the soles of the feet with hard protrusions are well known. Wearing health sandals is expected to stimulate acupressure points on the soles of the feet, improve blood circulation, and have a health-promoting effect.

[0003] In addition, a footwear insole has been proposed that provides appropriate stimulation to the soles of the feet to improve blood circulation, reduce foot fatigue, and fit snugly to the feet for a comfortable fit (Patent Document 1).

[0004] The footwear insole described in Patent Document 1 is made by fitting a textured top plate with numerous protrusions on the surface of an insole base plate that has been pre-cut to the shape of the foot so that it can be inserted into footwear, so that it comes into contact with the sole of the foot.The outer edges of these two plates are airtightly fastened together to trap air between the plates and within the protrusions, and the textured top plate is made of a material that allows the protrusions to deform and return to their original shape when pressure is applied.

[0005] In recent years, light-emitting shoes have been proposed that improve human health by emitting light of various wavelengths using light-emitting diodes installed at positions corresponding to acupressure points on the human legs (Patent Document 2).

[0006] The light-emitting shoes described in Patent Document 2 have a circuit board equipped with a light-emitting diode, a switch, and a power source placed under the insole inside the shoe, and the light-emitting diode emits light rays of various wavelengths, thereby improving human health. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-090406 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-314496 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, conventional health sandals have the problem that the weight of the feet is placed on the hard protrusions, causing strong irritation to the soles of the feet, and when worn for a long period of time, the strong irritation can become painful and uncomfortable.

[0009] Furthermore, the footwear insole of Patent Document 1 is constructed with air filled between the insole base and the uneven surface, and the uneven surface can come into contact with and stimulate the entire sole of the foot; however, when the foot is placed on the ground by walking or the like and weight is applied, the air inside concentrates in the areas where weight is not applied (arch of the foot), and the protrusions in other areas remain as hard as the surface material, and the protrusions in areas where a heavy weight is applied, such as the heel and the protrusions slightly forward of the arch of the foot, deform and flatten when subjected to pressure from the weight, resulting in a problem in which the stimulation to the sole of the foot is weakened.

[0010] Furthermore, the light-emitting shoes of Patent Document 2 are configured to have a circuit board equipped with a switch and power source installed inside the shoe, which requires space to be provided inside the shoe, under the insole, to place the circuit board, resulting in the problem of making the sole of the footwear thicker.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its object is to provide a footwear sole structure and footwear equipped with the same that is comfortable to wear and can stimulate the pressure points on the soles of the feet simply by wearing the sole structure and walking.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a sole structure for footwear, and footwear equipped with the same, which can improve the stimulation effect on the acupressure points on the soles of the feet and provide comfort, depending on the speed at which force is applied due to weight transfer when running, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] According to the present invention, a sole structure for footwear comprises a power generating means capable of generating electricity in response to changes in stress applied to the sole structure, a light emitting means having a light source electrically connected to the power generating means, and a sole base material made of soft resin and on which the power generating means and light emitting means are arranged, the light emitting portion of the light emitting means being arranged at a position corresponding to an acupressure point on the sole of the wearer's foot, and the sole base material being infrared transparent at least on the side of the sole of the foot where the light emitting portion is arranged.

[0014] This footwear sole structure comprises a power generating means capable of generating electricity in response to changes in stress applied to the sole structure due to walking or the like, and a light emitting means equipped with a light source that emits light using the generated electricity, both of which are disposed on a sole base material made of soft resin, the light emitting portion of the light emitting means being positioned at a position corresponding to an acupressure point (acupuncture point) on the sole of the wearer's foot, and the sole base material being infrared transparent at least on the sole side of the foot at the position where the light emitting portion of the light emitting means is disposed. Therefore, when incorporated into footwear such as a shoe, changes in stress applied to the power generating means disposed in the part of the footwear sole structure that receives the stress (hereinafter simply referred to as stress) applied to the sole structure during walking or the like generate electricity to light the light source, and the heat effect of the light emitted from the light source and emitted from the light emitting portion stimulates the acupressure points on the sole of the foot (moxibustion effect), improving blood circulation and promoting health. Furthermore, because there are no protrusions on the surface, the footwear is comfortable to wear, and simply walking or the like while wearing it stimulates the acupressure points on the sole of the foot. "Walking, etc." refers to any movement or action that involves stepping on the soles of footwear, such as walking, running, or jumping.

[0015] The light emitting means preferably includes a light guide means that optically connects the light source and the light emitting unit, and the light guide means and the light emitting unit form a light guide unit. This allows the hard light source to be placed on the edge of the area that comes into contact with the sole of the foot or on the plantar arch (arch) and allows light rays to be emitted from the light emitting unit via the light guide unit, so that the heat effect of the light can stimulate acupressure points on the sole of the foot (moxibustion effect) and improve comfort when worn.

[0016] It is also preferable that the light guide unit is detachable from the light source and the footwear sole structure, which allows the light guide unit to be replaced with one that corresponds to the desired acupressure point on the sole of the foot, and therefore, for example, the light guide unit can be replaced with a light guide unit that is positioned to be effective for the stomach and intestines, a light guide unit that is effective for lower back pain, or the like, depending on the physical condition of the day, thereby diversifying the ways of use.

[0017] It is also preferable to provide the light guide unit with a plurality of light emitting parts corresponding to the acupressure points on the soles of the feet. This allows the light emitting parts corresponding to the acupressure points on the soles of the feet to be integrated into the light guide unit, resulting in a simple structure.

[0018] It is also preferable to further include a control unit that controls the light emission state of the light source. This allows the amount and intensity of light emitted from the light emitting unit to be adjusted, so that the effect of stimulating the acupressure points on the soles of the feet with heat (moxibustion effect) can be freely adjusted.

[0019] It is also preferable to provide a terminal device connected to the control unit via a communication means. This allows light source control information to be sent to the terminal device, and the user can check the history information of the acupressure point stimulation on the sole of the foot linked to the control information on the terminal device. Furthermore, since the control unit can be remotely operated from the terminal device, the user can freely adjust the effect of the stimulation (moxibustion effect) on the acupressure points on the sole of the foot when wearing the footwear sole structure.

[0020] It is also preferable that the light-emitting section has a Fresnel lens structure, which allows for a flat design that can focus or diffuse the emitted light, thereby providing acupressure stimulation to the soles of the feet (moxibustion effect) and further improving comfort when worn.

[0021] The soft resin is preferably a viscoelastic material, which improves the cushioning properties of the sole structure for footwear and makes it more comfortable to wear.

[0022] It is preferable that a dilatant material having dilatant properties is laminated on at least the upper or lower surface of the power generation means. This improves the efficiency of stress transmission to the power generation means when a high-speed load is applied during walking, etc., and improves the effectiveness of light irradiation on acupressure points. On the other hand, when stationary or when a low-speed load is applied, the material becomes softer, improving the feel on the soles of the feet. Therefore, when walking, etc., it is possible to achieve both improved stimulation of acupressure points on the soles of the feet and comfort, depending on the speed at which force is applied due to weight shift. In addition, the soundproofing properties of the dilatant material can reduce the sound emitted by the power generation means, etc.

[0023] The power generation means is preferably a piezoelectric element. Piezoelectric elements have excellent response and load resistance, and can generate electricity stably, so the heat generated by the light emitted from the light-emitting unit can stably stimulate acupressure points on the soles of the feet (moxibustion effect). In addition, because they are quiet when generating electricity, they can be used comfortably while walking, etc.

[0024] The light source is preferably an infrared light source or a far-infrared light source, which allows the thermal effect (deep heating) of the infrared or far-infrared rays emitted from the light source to more effectively stimulate the acupressure points on the soles of the feet.

[0025] It is preferable that a visible light source be further provided as a second light source in addition to the light source, electrically connected to the power generating element, so that it is possible to check by light emitted from the visible light source whether the piezoelectric element is generating electricity normally and whether the light source is lit.

[0026] The sole structure is preferably a detachable insole that fits into the sole of the footwear. This allows the insole to be inserted into shoes or other footwear only when necessary to stimulate the acupressure points on the sole of the foot. Furthermore, the insole can be replaced using the health module to suit the physical condition of the day, such as with an insole designed to help the stomach or intestines, or an insole designed to help with lower back pain.

[0027] According to the present invention, footwear is characterized by including any one of the above-described footwear sole structures of the present invention.

[0028] By wearing the footwear, electricity is generated by changes in stress applied to the piezoelectric elements arranged in the footwear sole structure due to walking, etc., and the heat effect of the light emitted from the light source and emitted from the light-emitting unit stimulates the acupressure points on the soles of the feet (moxibustion effect), improving blood circulation and providing health-promoting effects.In addition, because there are no protrusions on the surface of the footwear sole structure, it is comfortable to wear, and the acupressure points on the soles of the feet can be stimulated simply by walking or running while wearing it. [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] According to the present invention, a footwear sole structure is constructed by embedding a power generating means capable of generating electricity in response to changes in stress applied to the sole structure due to walking or the like, and a light emitting means equipped with a light source that emits light using the generated electricity, both of which are embedded in a sole base material made of soft resin, and the light emitting portion of the light emitting means is positioned corresponding to the acupressure points on the sole of the wearer's foot, and the sole base material is infrared transparent at least on the sole side of the foot at the position where the light emitting portion of the light emitting means is positioned. Therefore, when incorporated into footwear such as a shoe, electricity is generated in response to changes in stress on the power generating means embedded in the footwear sole structure during walking or the like, and the heat effect of the light emitted from the light source and the light emitting portion stimulates the acupressure points on the sole of the foot (moxibustion effect), improving blood circulation and promoting health. Furthermore, because there are no protrusions on the surface, the sole structure is comfortable to wear, and the acupressure points on the sole of the foot can be stimulated simply by wearing it and walking or the like.

[0030] Furthermore, in the footwear sole structure, the light emitting means comprises a light guiding means that optically connects the light source and the light emitting section, and the light guiding means and the light emitting section constitute a light guiding unit, so that a hard light source can be positioned at the edge of the area that comes into contact with the sole of the foot or at the plantar arch (arch) and light rays can be emitted from the light emitting section by the light guiding unit, thereby improving comfort when worn while stimulating acupressure points on the sole of the foot with the thermal effect of the light rays (moxibustion effect). Also, by making the light guiding unit detachable from the light source and the footwear sole structure, it can be replaced with a light guiding unit that corresponds to the desired acupressure point on the sole of the foot, so that it can be replaced with a light guiding unit that corresponds to the purpose, such as a light guiding unit positioned to be effective for the stomach and intestines or a light guiding unit that is effective for lower back pain, depending on the physical condition of the day, and the use patterns can be diversified.

[0031] Furthermore, the footwear sole structure has a dilatant material having dilatant properties laminated on at least the upper or lower surface of the piezoelectric element (power generation means), which improves the efficiency of stress transmission to the piezoelectric element when a high-speed load is applied during walking, etc., and improves the effectiveness of light irradiation on the acupressure points on the soles of the feet. On the other hand, when stationary or when a low-speed load is applied, the material becomes softer, improving the feel on the soles of the feet. Therefore, when walking, etc., it is possible to achieve both improved stimulation of the acupressure points on the soles of the feet and comfort, depending on the speed at which force is applied due to weight shift.

[0032] Furthermore, according to the present invention, footwear is provided with a footwear sole structure, and is configured by arranging, on a sole base material made of soft resin, a power generation means capable of generating electricity in response to changes in stress applied to the sole structure due to walking, etc., and a light generation means having a light source that emits light using the generated electricity, and the light generation portion of the light generation means is positioned at a position corresponding to the acupressure point on the sole of the wearer's foot, and the sole base material has infrared transparency at least on the sole side of the foot at the position where the light generation portion is positioned, so that when walking, etc., electricity is generated in response to changes in stress on the power generation means embedded in the footwear sole structure, and the thermal effect of the light emitted from the light source and emitted from the light generation portion stimulates the acupressure point on the sole of the foot, improving blood circulation and providing a health-promoting effect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a footwear sole structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of the footwear sole structure of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another configuration example of the footwear sole structure. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of footwear according to the present invention. [Figure 5] 2 is a diagram showing the footwear sole structure of FIG. 1 in use. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing another example of the configuration of footwear according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing another example of the configuration of the light-emitting means that constitutes the footwear sole structure of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a footwear sole structure and footwear according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows the configuration of a footwear sole structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX showing the configuration of footwear sole structure 100. Fig. 3 shows another example of the configuration of footwear sole structure 100.

[0036] 1 and 2, a footwear sole structure 100 according to this embodiment includes a sole substrate 10 made of a soft resin, power generation means 20 capable of generating electricity in response to changes in stress applied to the sole structure due to walking or the like, and light emitting means 30 that emits light using the electricity generated by the power generation means 20. This footwear sole structure 100 is an insole that can be attached to and detached from a portion of footwear such as a shoe that is worn on the sole of the foot.

[0037] The sole substrate 10 is made of a soft, cushioning resin and formed into the shape of a sole of a foot. This improves the cushioning properties of the sole structure for footwear, contributing to better comfort. The soft resin may be a resin or resin foam such as urethane, silicone, olefin, or natural rubber. Furthermore, when the footwear sole structure 100 is an insole, the sole substrate 10 may be made of known insole materials or structures, such as cork or a structure in which a sheet-like container is sealed to allow fluid to flow.

[0038] In addition, in this embodiment, the sole substrate 10 has infrared transparency on the sole side of the foot at the position where the light-emitting portion of the light-emitting means 30 is located. That is, in this embodiment, the sole substrate 10 has an infrared-transmitting region 11 made of an infrared-transmitting soft resin on the upper surface side of the light-emitting portion of the light-emitting means 30. The material constituting the infrared-transmitting region 11 may be any material that can transmit infrared rays without impairing comfort, and fabric may also be used. The infrared-transmitting region 11 may be either transparent or opaque. Furthermore, the infrared-transmitting region 11 need only transmit infrared rays to an extent that it can provide a thermal effect to the acupressure points on the foot, and does not necessarily need to have 100% infrared transmittance. Note that infrared transparency refers to the ability to transmit at least one wavelength range of near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared.

[0039] The power generation means 20 is capable of generating electricity in response to changes in stress applied to the sole structure when walking, etc. In this embodiment, the power generation means 20 is embedded in the sole base material 10. By embedding the power generation means 20 in the sole base material 10, the power generation means 20 can be protected from damage. Furthermore, since the power generation means 20 may generate noise when generating electricity, embedding it in the sole base material 10 reduces noise during power generation, thereby achieving comfort when walking, etc.

[0040] This power generating means is preferably a thin power generating element that can be housed within the thickness of the sole base material 10. Suitable examples include a piezoelectric element that generates electrical energy through electric polarization caused by deformation and strain when stress is applied, a magnetostrictive power generating element that generates electrical energy through the magnetostrictive effect and electromagnetic induction by distorting a magnetostrictive material with stress, and an electromagnetic induction element made up of a thin film coil and magnetic core. Piezoelectric elements are particularly preferred from the perspective of quietness during power generation.

[0041] In this embodiment, a piezoelectric element is used as the power generating element 20, and the following description will be given assuming that the power generating means 20 is the piezoelectric element 20. For example, a relatively thin, disk-shaped piezoelectric element is used as the piezoelectric element 20. When running, the footwear is lifted and further stepped on, and the stress (hereinafter also referred to as pressing force) generated causes electrical polarization due to physical deformation and strain in the piezoelectric element 20 disposed in the sole substrate 10, thereby generating electrical energy. Furthermore, as for the stress generated when walking, etc., electrical energy can be generated by repeatedly bending the thin piezoelectric element along the bending and restoring deformation of the sole substrate, causing electrical polarization due to deformation and strain inside the piezoelectric element.

[0042] Furthermore, in order to improve the efficiency of transmitting pressure to the piezoelectric element 20 when walking, etc., it is preferable that a dilatant member 21 having dilatant properties is laminated on at least the upper surface (the sole side) or the lower surface (the surface opposite to the upper surface) of the piezoelectric element 20. Furthermore, the soundproofing properties of the dilatant member 21 can reduce the sound generated by the piezoelectric element 20 (power generation means).

[0043] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , dilatant members 21 are disposed on both the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element 20. The dilatant members 21 are formed by sealing a dilatant material having dilatant properties in a covering material made of an elastic material that can be deformed by stress applied to the sole structure during walking, etc. In this manner, by laminating the dilatant members 21 on the piezoelectric element 20, the efficiency of transmitting pressure to the piezoelectric element 20 can be improved and the effectiveness of irradiating the acupressure points can be improved during high-speed loading (hereinafter simply referred to as high-speed loading) when stress is applied at a high shear rate, such as when the wearer steps strongly and quickly during walking, etc. On the other hand, during low-speed loading (hereinafter simply referred to as low-speed loading) when stress is applied at a low shear rate, such as when the wearer is standing still or walking slowly, the material becomes softer and provides a better feel on the sole of the foot. Therefore, during walking, etc., both improved stimulation of the acupressure points on the sole and comfort can be achieved depending on the speed at which force is applied due to weight shift. Furthermore, since the dilatant material 21 also has soundproofing properties, the sound emitted by the power generation means can be reduced by laminating the dilatant material 21 on the piezoelectric element 20 (power generation means). As in this embodiment, by laminating the piezoelectric element 20 (power generation means) on a dilatant material and embedding it in the sole base material, the effect of reducing the sound caused by the power generation means is further improved.

[0044] The dilatant material constituting the dilatant member 21 may be any known dilatant material as long as it can achieve the above-described effects. Specifically, examples include a reaction product of a silanol-terminated polyorganosiloxane with a boron compound, a dilatant composition in which acrylate-styrene copolymer microparticles are dispersed in water, and a structure in which a porous resin base is impregnated with a dilatant liquid containing dispersed microparticles. However, it is preferable to use a reaction product of a silanol-terminated polyorganosiloxane with a boron compound, which is less likely to cause separation between the solid content and the dispersion medium. Furthermore, the coating material sealing the dilatant material is preferably a material that allows the dilatant material to deform and has rubber elasticity that allows the dilatant material to return to its original shape. Examples of suitable materials include silicone rubber, SEBS rubber, and urethane rubber. The dilatant performance, resilience, and hardness under no load of the dilatant member 21 are appropriately adjusted in consideration of the balance between the transmission of pressure force when a shear force is applied at high speed and the feel on the sole of the foot when a shear force is applied at low speed.

[0045] The dilatant member 21 is preferably sized to cover the effective power generation area of ​​the piezoelectric element 20, and its shape in a plan view is not particularly limited and is set appropriately depending on the shape of the piezoelectric element 20 and the way it is stored in the sole. The thickness of the dilatant member 21 is adjusted appropriately depending on the way it is incorporated into the sole and the balance between the transmission of pressure when a shear force is applied at high speed and the feel on the sole when a shear force is applied at low speed.

[0046] The light emitting means 30 is electrically connected to the piezoelectric element 20 by wiring L or the like, and can emit light using the electrical energy generated by the piezoelectric element 20. For example, a plurality of infrared LEDs (light emitting diodes) or far-infrared LEDs (light emitting diodes) can be used as the light emitting means 30. By using infrared LEDs or far-infrared LEDs, the infrared or far-infrared rays can penetrate deeply into the acupoints, stimulating the acupoints on the soles of the feet through a thermal effect (deep heating). The number of light emitting means 30 can be designed according to the number of acupoints on the soles of the feet to be stimulated.

[0047] In this embodiment, if necessary, a storage means may be provided between the piezoelectric element 20 and the light emitting means 30. In this case, the piezoelectric element 20 generates electricity, stores a certain amount of electricity, and then supplies it to the light emitting means 30 to emit light. A known storage means such as a capacitor can be used as the storage means.

[0048] In the above-described embodiment, the dilatant members 21 are disposed on both the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element 20 of the footwear sole structure 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the configurations shown in Figures 3(A) to 3(C) may be used.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 3(A), the footwear sole structure 100a of the present invention has a configuration in which the dilatant member 21 is disposed only on the upper surface of the piezoelectric element 20a. The footwear sole structure 100a has the same configuration as the above-described footwear sole structure 100, except for the configuration of the piezoelectric element 20a. In this case, during walking or other such processes, a pressing force is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 20a via the dilatant member 21 laminated on the upper surface of the piezoelectric element 20a, causing physical distortion in the piezoelectric element 20a, thereby generating electrical energy. This improves the efficiency of pressing force transmission and improves the effectiveness of light irradiation of acupressure points. Furthermore, by using the dilatant member 21 as a soundproofing material, the sound generated by the piezoelectric element 20 (power generation means) can be reduced.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 3(B), the footwear sole structure 100b of the present invention has a configuration in which the dilatant member 21 is disposed only on the underside of the piezoelectric element 20b. The footwear sole structure 100b has the same configuration as the above-described footwear sole structure 100, except for the different configuration of the piezoelectric element 20b. In this case, during walking or other such processes, a pressing force is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 20b via the dilatant member 21 laminated on the underside of the piezoelectric element 20b, causing electrical polarization in the piezoelectric element 20b due to physical deformation and strain, thereby generating electrical energy. This improves the efficiency of pressing force transmission and improves the effectiveness of light irradiation of acupressure points. Furthermore, by using the dilatant member 21 as a soundproofing material, the sound generated by the piezoelectric element 20 (power generation means) can be reduced.

[0051] 3(C), the footwear sole structure 100c of the present invention does not have a dilatant member laminated on the piezoelectric element 20c, and is composed only of the piezoelectric element 20c. The footwear sole structure 100c has the same configuration as the above-described footwear sole structure 100, except for the different configuration of the piezoelectric element 20c. In this case, when walking, etc., a pressing force is transmitted directly to the piezoelectric element 20c, causing electrical polarization in the piezoelectric element due to physical deformation and strain, thereby generating electrical energy.

[0052] Fig. 4 shows an example of the configuration of footwear 100A equipped with footwear sole structure 100 of the present invention. Fig. 5 shows an image of footwear sole structure 100 in use.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 4, footwear 100A includes footwear sole structure 100 and upper 200. Footwear sole structure 100 is configured to be detachable as an insole attached to a sole attachment portion of footwear 100A.

[0054] As shown in Figure 5, when footwear 100A is worn, piezoelectric element 20 is positioned corresponding to the heel of the wearer, and the light-emitting portion of light-emitting means 30 is positioned corresponding to the acupressure points on the sole of the wearer's foot. When walking, etc., pressure from the heel is transmitted to piezoelectric element 20 via dilatant member 21, and changes in pressure cause piezoelectric element 20 to generate electricity, causing light-emitting means 30 to emit light. The thermal effect of infrared or far-infrared rays stimulates the acupressure points on the sole of the foot.

[0055] FIG. 6 shows another example of the configuration of footwear according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, footwear 100B includes footwear sole structure 100 and further includes visible light source 31. In this case, for example, a light-emitting diode or the like serving as visible light source 31 is provided at the rear of footwear 100B. Visible light source 31 is electrically connected to piezoelectric element 20. As a result, it is possible to confirm whether piezoelectric element 20 is generating electricity normally by using the light emitted from visible light source 31. In addition, visible light source 31 can function as a means for transmitting error information such as a malfunction of not only piezoelectric element 20 but also light-emitting means 30, depending on the color and light-emitting method (e.g., lighting up, blinking, etc.). Note that the location of light-emitting diode serving as visible light source 31 is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the light from the visible light source 31 is visible from outside the footwear. Visible light source 31 may also be disposed in footwear sole structure 100.

[0056] As described above, the footwear sole structure 100 of this embodiment comprises a sole base material 10 made of soft resin, a piezoelectric element 20 capable of generating electricity due to changes in stress applied to the sole structure when walking, etc., and light-emitting means 30 that emits light using the generated electricity, with the light-emitting portion of the light-emitting means 30 being positioned at a position corresponding to the acupressure point on the sole of the wearer's foot, and the sole base material 10 having infrared transparency on the side of the sole of the foot where the light-emitting portion is positioned.

[0057] As a result, when walking or the like, electricity is generated by changes in stress applied to the piezoelectric element 20 embedded in the sole base material 10 of the footwear sole structure 100, and the heat effect of the light emitted from the light emitting means 30 stimulates the acupressure points on the soles of the feet (moxibustion effect), improving blood circulation and promoting health. In addition, since there are no protrusions on the surface, the shoes are comfortable to wear, and the acupressure points on the soles of the feet can be stimulated simply by wearing them and walking or the like.

[0058] Furthermore, by using a silicone-based gel resin as the soft resin, cushioning properties are improved, resulting in a more comfortable fit.

[0059] Furthermore, by laminating the dilatant material 21 having dilatant properties on the upper and / or lower surfaces of the piezoelectric element 20, the efficiency of transmitting pressure to the piezoelectric element 20 can be improved when a high-speed load is applied, such as when stepping hard and fast, during walking, thereby improving the effectiveness of light irradiation on the acupressure points. On the other hand, when a low-speed load is applied, such as when standing still or walking slowly, the material becomes softer, improving the feel on the soles of the feet. Therefore, when walking, etc., it is possible to achieve both improved stimulation of the acupressure points on the soles and comfort, depending on the speed at which force is applied due to weight shift.

[0060] By using an infrared LED or far-infrared LED as the light-emitting means 30, the acupressure points on the soles can be stimulated by the thermal effect (deep heating) of the infrared or far-infrared rays emitted from the light source.

[0061] Footwear 100A of this embodiment includes a footwear sole structure 100 and an upper 200. By wearing footwear 100A, changes in stress (pressure) on piezoelectric elements embedded in the footwear sole structure during walking or other activities cause electric polarization, generating electricity. The generated electricity is used to light up LEDs, and the heat generated by the light emitted from the light source stimulates acupressure points on the soles of the feet (moxibustion effect), improving blood circulation and providing health-promoting effects. Furthermore, because the footwear sole structure has no protrusions on its surface, it is comfortable to wear, and simply walking or other activities while wearing the footwear stimulate the acupressure points on the soles of the feet.

[0062] In the footwear sole structures 100, 100a, 100b, and 100c of the above-described embodiments, the light-emitting means 30 may be composed of a light source 30a and a light-emitting unit 30b. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , in a footwear sole structure 100d, the light-emitting means 30 includes a light-guiding unit 30c that optically connects the light source 30a and the light-emitting unit 30b, and the light-guiding unit 30c and the light-emitting unit 30b form a light-guiding unit. In this embodiment, a light-guiding plate is used as the light-guiding unit 30c, but other light-guiding units such as optical fibers may also be used. The light-emitting unit 30b may be formed integrally with the light-guiding unit 30c or may be a separate unit. Furthermore, the light-guiding unit may include multiple light-emitting units 30b corresponding to acupressure points on the sole of the foot. For example, the light source 30a may be positioned at a specific location on the sole substrate 10, and the light may be guided to each acupressure point by the light-guiding unit 30c. This allows for a simplified structure by integrating the light-emitting units 30b corresponding to multiple sole pressure points into the light guide unit. The light guide unit is also configured to be detachable from the light source 30a and the sole base material 10. "Optical connection" includes both contact and non-contact. Furthermore, the light-emitting units 30b may be configured with a Fresnel lens structure. This adds a light-collecting / diffusing function, allowing for adjustment of the light emission state.

[0063] The present invention may further include a control unit that controls the light emission state of the light source. This allows the amount and intensity of light emitted from the light-emitting unit to be adjusted, thereby freely adjusting the effect of stimulating acupoints on the soles of the feet with a thermal effect (moxibustion effect). A terminal device connected to the control unit via a communication means may also be provided. This allows acupoint stimulation history information to be sent to the terminal device, such as a smartphone. Therefore, the user can check the acupoint stimulation history information on the soles of the feet linked to the control information on the terminal device. Furthermore, since the control unit can be remotely operated from the terminal device, the user can freely adjust the effect of stimulating acupoints on the soles of the feet (moxibustion effect) when wearing the footwear sole structure. Either a wired or wireless communication means can be used as the communication means.

[0064] In the above-described embodiments of the footwear sole structures 100, 100a, 100b, and 100c, the sole substrate 10 has infrared transparency on the sole side of the position where the light-emitting portion of the light-emitting means 30 is disposed, but the present invention is not limited to this. The entire surface layer of the sole substrate may be made of a material that is infrared transparent. Alternatively, the entire sole substrate may be made of a material that is infrared transparent.

[0065] Furthermore, in the footwear sole structure 100 of the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which a gel resin is used as the soft resin, but the present invention is not limited to this. Other soft resins having cushioning properties may also be used.

[0066] Furthermore, in the footwear sole structure 100 of the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which an infrared LED or far-infrared LED is used as the light-emitting means 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. Other light sources having a warming effect may also be used.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments of footwear sole structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d, examples have been described in which piezoelectric elements 20, 20a, 20b, and 20c are disposed at positions corresponding to the heels of the wearer, but the present invention is not limited to this. They may also be disposed at positions other than the heels.

[0068] Furthermore, in the footwear sole structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d of the above-described embodiments, examples have been described in which the piezoelectric element 20 is used as the power generation means, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any means capable of generating power based on a similar principle can be used.

[0069] Furthermore, although the example in which the power generating means is embedded in the sole base material has been described, it may also be disposed on the surface of the sole base material.

[0070] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the footwear sole structures 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, and 100d are described as examples of insoles that are detachable from the sole attachment portion of footwear such as shoes, but the present invention is not limited to this. The sole portion may be configured as a midsole or outsole of footwear such as shoes.

[0071] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and its technical scope includes various modified design forms within the scope that do not deviate from the gist of the invention described in the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0072] The present invention can be used for the purpose of improving health promotion effects by stimulating pressure points on the soles of the feet through walking while wearing footwear such as shoes, thereby improving blood circulation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10 Sole base material 11 Infrared transmission area 20, 20a, 20b, 20c power generation means (piezoelectric element) 21 Dilatant member 30 Lighting means 30a light source 30b Light-emitting part 30c light guiding means 31 Visible light source 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d Footwear sole structure 100A, 100B Footwear 200 Upper L wiring

Claims

1. 1. A sole structure for footwear, comprising: a power generating means capable of generating electricity in response to a change in stress applied to the sole structure; a light emitting means having a light source electrically connected to the power generating means; a sole base material made of soft resin and having the power generating means and the light emitting means disposed thereon; The light emitting portions of the light emitting means are arranged at positions corresponding to pressure points on the soles of the wearer's feet, The sole structure for footwear is characterized in that the sole base material has infrared transparency at least on the sole side of the foot at the position where the light emitting portion is arranged.

2. 2. The footwear sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting means comprises a light guiding means that optically connects the light source and the light emitting portion, and the light guiding means and the light emitting portion form a light guiding unit.

3. 3. The footwear sole structure according to claim 2, wherein the light guide unit is detachable from the light source and the footwear sole structure.

4. 3. The footwear sole structure according to claim 2, wherein the light guide unit comprises a plurality of the light emitting portions corresponding to acupressure points on the sole of the foot.

5. The footwear sole structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit for controlling the light emission state of the light source.

6. 6. The footwear sole structure according to claim 5, further comprising a terminal device connected to the control unit via a communication means.

7. The footwear sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitting portion has a Fresnel lens structure.

8. 2. The footwear sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the soft resin is a viscoelastic material.

9. 2. The footwear sole structure according to claim 1, wherein a dilatant member having dilatant properties is laminated on at least the upper surface or the lower surface of the power generating means.

10. 2. The footwear sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the power generating means is a piezoelectric element.

11. 2. The footwear sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an infrared light source or a far-infrared light source.

12. 12. The footwear sole structure according to claim 11, further comprising a visible light source electrically connected to the power generating element as a second light source separate from the light source.

13. 13. The sole structure for footwear according to claim 1, wherein the sole structure is an insole that is detachable from a sole attachment portion of the footwear.

14. Footwear comprising the footwear sole structure according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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