Orthotic device

Abstract

By knitting the material continuously and integrally using circular knitting, manufacturing costs are reduced, and the orthotic device is easy to wear while supporting the arch of the foot without shifting position and assisting in the formation of the medial longitudinal arch and transverse arch. [Solution] The orthotic device 1 is a circular knitted orthotic device 1 which is made of a tubular body and has an orthotic device body 10 which is inserted into the wearer's foot and an arch forming part 40 which is disposed on the inside of the orthotic device body 10 and bulges out toward the part corresponding to the wearer's arch.

Description

Technical Field

[0005] , , ,

[0006]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device that can suppress manufacturing costs by continuously and integrally knitting by circular knitting, and can support the instep while being easy to wear and without displacement from the instep, and can assist in the formation of the inner longitudinal arch and the transverse arch.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a device that can store a functional object to be stored and can be worn on a part of the body.

[0003] <0000​​​​​​​​​​​​Furthermore, the foot support for kendo disclosed in Patent Document 4 consists of an ankle covering portion that faces the ankle when worn, a heel covering portion that faces the heel, a dorsum covering portion that faces the instep, and a sole covering portion that faces the sole, and comprises a main body made of an elastic material that can be attached to the foot detachably, and a hook-and-loop fastener whose one end is attached to the surface of the ankle covering portion so as to be detachable, and whose other end is attached to the upper rear side of the ankle covering portion to make the ankle covering portion tightly adhere to the ankle, and the main body The foot covering portion comprises a first shock-absorbing mechanism provided in the sole covering portion that spans the entire width of the sole and is positioned opposite the arch portion and the lateral portion of the arch portion, and a second shock-absorbing mechanism provided in the heel covering portion of the main body. The thickness of the first shock-absorbing mechanism portion is greater than the thickness of the second shock-absorbing mechanism portion, and the main body is configured such that when the main body is worn on the foot, the area near the base of the toes is not covered by the sole covering portion and remains exposed. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 01-62820 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-166098 [Patent Document 3] Registered Utility Model No. 3084399 Gazette [Patent Document 4] Patent No. 6876168 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The storage bag in the affected area warming support described in Patent Document 1 and the pocket in the support described in Patent Document 2 are manufactured separately from the support body that is fastened to the wearer's body, and are then attached to the support body by sewing or other means. Therefore, the manufacturing of supporters involved many steps, was time-consuming and labor-intensive, and presented the challenge of high manufacturing costs. Furthermore, neither Patent Document 1 nor Patent Document 2 discloses anything about forming the medial longitudinal arch or transverse arch by wearing a supporter on the foot.

[0009] Furthermore, while the foot support described in Patent Document 3 above is described as having a pad on the inner surface of a tubular body corresponding to the arch of the wearer's foot, this foot support does not have a housing for the pad, which presents the problem that the pad is prone to shifting.

[0010] Furthermore, in the kendo foot support described in Patent Document 4, the first shock-absorbing material is fixed to the upper surface of the sole covering portion on the inside of the main body. However, when the heel covering portion is fitted to the heel, there is a problem that the first shock-absorbing material may not be positioned appropriately on the arch of the foot depending on the wearer. Moreover, this kendo foot support requires the ankle covering portion to be fitted to the ankle, the heel covering portion to the heel, the dorsum covering portion to the instep, and the sole covering portion to the sole of the foot, and then one end of the flap-type woven hook-and-loop fastener is pulled and attached to the surface of the ankle covering portion. As a result, it is easily visible from the outside, and putting on and taking off the support is troublesome.

[0011] The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide an orthotic device that reduces manufacturing costs by continuously knitting it integrally using circular knitting, is easy to wear, and can support the arch of the foot without shifting position from the arch, thereby assisting in the formation of the medial longitudinal arch and transverse arch. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The orthotic device according to the present invention is an orthotic device that is knitted integrally and continuously by circular knitting, and consists of an orthotic device body made of a tubular body that is inserted into the wearer's foot, and an arch-forming portion disposed on the inside of the orthotic device body that bulges out toward the part corresponding to the wearer's arch.

[0013] Thus, in this invention, since the orthotic device, which includes the orthotic body and the arch-forming part, is knitted integrally and continuously using circular knitting, the manufacturing cost of the orthotic device can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, because the orthosis has an arch-forming section on the inside that bulges towards the wearer's arch, it does not shift position relative to the wearer's arch, but instead pushes the arch upward, thereby assisting in the formation of the medial longitudinal arch and transverse arch. In addition, since the orthosis can be easily worn indoors, it can continuously assist in the formation of the medial longitudinal arch and transverse arch. Furthermore, because it is constructed in a tubular shape, it is easy to wear while also providing an auxiliary function in forming the inner longitudinal and transverse arches.

[0014] The orthotic device according to the present invention optionally comprises an arch forming portion having a pad with a top portion near the portion corresponding to the wearer's scaphoid bone and a housing portion for housing the pad, wherein the housing portion has an opening knitted using the entire circumference of the cylinder of a circular knitting machine, a bag-like body knitted using a part of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine continuous with the opening, and an edge portion knitted using the entire circumference of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine continuous with the bag-like body, and the orthotic device body has an upper opening formed into a bag shape by makeup knitting using the entire circumference of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine from the upper end of the edge portion of the housing portion on one end of the tubular body.

[0015] Thus, in this invention, since the arch-forming portion has a pad housed in a housing portion, it is possible to prevent the pad from popping out of the housing portion during movements such as walking, and to position it in a location corresponding to the wearer's arch. Furthermore, since the pad is completely covered by a bag-like body, the pad does not directly touch the wearer's sole, thus preventing excessive friction between the pad and the sole of the foot.

[0016] The orthotic device according to the present invention, if necessary, has a lower opening at the other end of the tubular body, which is formed into a bag shape by makeup knitting using the entire circumference of the cylinder of a circular knitting machine, and the lower opening is formed to have less elasticity than the upper opening.

[0017] Thus, in the present invention, since the lower mouth part is formed to have less stretchability than the upper mouth part, the opening sizes of the upper mouth part and the lower mouth part can be changed according to the part to be fastened, and it can function as an anchor with an appropriate tightening force. Further, since the lower mouth part is formed to have less stretchability, the entire first to fifth middle metatarsal bones are tightened toward the center of the foot, assisting in the formation of the transverse arch, and contrary to the tightening of the first to fifth middle metatarsal bones, the spaces between the first to fifth toes are widened, and hallux valgus and claw toe can be prevented and improved.

[0018] The orthosis according to the present invention is, if necessary, formed such that one cylindrical side of the orthosis main body is curved inward.

[0019] Thus, in the present invention, since one cylindrical side of the orthosis main body is curved inward, the orthosis can be adapted to the shape of the foot including the wearer's instep, improving the wearing comfort. Further, when one cylindrical side of the orthosis main body is knitted by tack knitting or the like, the stretching resistance of the cylindrical side increases, so that the displacement of the pad toward the inside of the body can be suppressed.

[0020] The orthosis according to the present invention is, if necessary, such that the pad has a mountain-shaped convex part with the vicinity of the part corresponding to the navicular bone of the wearer as the top, and the convex part is formed at the part corresponding to the middle metatarsal bone to the calcaneus in the longitudinal direction of the pad and is formed at the part corresponding to the first to third middle metatarsal bones in the width direction of the pad.

[0021] Thus, in the present invention, since the convex part is formed at the part corresponding to the middle metatarsal bone to the calcaneus in the longitudinal direction of the pad and is formed at the part corresponding to the first to third middle metatarsal bones in the width direction of the pad, it can assist in the formation of an ideal medial longitudinal arch and transverse arch.

[0022] The equipment according to the present invention, if necessary, has an inclined surface on the inner surface of the pad that is inclined toward the outer surface side with respect to the vertical line.

[0023] Thus, in the present invention, since the pad has an inclined surface on the inner surface that is inclined toward the outer surface side with respect to the vertical line, the load applied during walking can be dispersed along the inclination, and the inner longitudinal arch can be effectively maintained. Also, the contact area between the bottom surface of the pad and the ground contact surface can be reduced, and the impact received by the ball of the foot from the ground contact surface can be minimized.

[0024] The equipment according to the present invention, if necessary, has a heel covering part that covers the wearer's heel and a front covering part that is continuously knitted to cover the wearer's instep and sole, and the arch forming part is formed in the front covering part.

[0025] Thus, in the present invention, since the equipment body has a heel covering part that covers the wearer's heel, when the equipment body is worn, the equipment body can be made to have a shape that is curved at the wearer's heel, and the heel covering part can position the equipment body at a predetermined position.

[0026] The equipment according to the present invention, if necessary, includes a pad having a top in the vicinity of a portion corresponding to the navicular bone of the wearer and a housing part that houses the pad and is continuously knitted with the equipment body, and the housing part is knitted with a part of the cylinder in a circular knitting machine as a knitting range.

[0027] Thus, in the present invention, since the housing part knitted in the front covering part is knitted with a part of the cylinder in a circular knitting machine as a knitting range, the housing part can be knitted by the same method as the heel covering part without introducing a special knitting machine. Using a conventional circular knitting machine, the equipment body and the housing part continuous with the equipment body can be integrally knitted without increasing the manufacturing cost.

[0028] In the orthotic device according to the present invention, the heel covering portion and the housing portion are, if necessary, assembled within the same range of the cylinder.

[0029] Thus, in this invention, since the heel covering portion and the housing portion are assembled within the same range of the cylinder, the housing portion can be assembled on the sole side of the orthotic body, which is on the same side as the side where the heel covering portion is located, in the same manner as the assembly of the heel covering portion. This makes it possible to provide the wearer's sole with the effect of arch formation using the housing portion.

[0030] In the orthotic device according to the present invention, the housing portion is, if necessary, constructed with a narrower range of the cylinder than the heel covering portion.

[0031] Thus, in this invention, since the housing section is assembled within a narrower area of ​​the cylinder than the heel covering section, the width of the assembled housing section can be reduced, and not only the width of the housing section but also its position can be easily changed according to the application. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0032] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of the orthotic device body and housing part according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view, (b) is an end view of line AA of (a), and (c) is a plan view. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing another example of use of the housing according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view, (b) is an end view of (a) along line BB, and (c) is a top view. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram of an orthotic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a CC line end view of (a), and (c) is a top view. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram of a pad according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view, (b) is a right side view, (c) is a left side view, and (d) is a cross-sectional view of (a) along the CC line. [Figure 5]This is a schematic diagram showing the orthotic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention being worn on the instep. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of a cylinder in a circular knitting machine for knitting an orthotic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a front view showing the state in which the housing portion of the orthotic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention has been pulled out. [Figure 8] A schematic diagram of the orthotic device body and housing according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a side view and (b) is a bottom view. [Figure 9] This is a side view showing another arrangement example of the housing according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a bottom view showing another example of a housing according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This is a bottom view showing another example of a housing according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram showing a method for accommodating a pad in the accommodating section of an orthotic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram showing a method for assembling an orthotic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a schematic diagram showing a method for assembling an orthotic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0033] (First embodiment of the present invention) Hereinafter, an orthotic device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. Throughout this embodiment, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0034] The orthotic device 1 according to this embodiment is knitted integrally and continuously using a circular knitting machine. The orthotic device 1 can be worn on the foot (instep and sole).

[0035] The orthotic device 1 consists of a tubular body and comprises an orthotic device body 10 that is inserted into the wearer's foot, and an arch-forming portion 40 disposed inside the orthotic device body 10 and bulging toward the arch of the wearer's foot. The arch-forming portion 40 is positioned on the sole side of the wearer's foot and includes a pad P having its apex near the portion corresponding to the navicular bone, and a housing portion 20 that accommodates the pad P.

[0036] First, we will explain the orthotic device body 10 and the housing section 20 that make up the orthotic device 1.

[0037] The orthotic device body 10 is composed of an upper opening portion 11, which is disposed at the upper end of the orthotic device body 10 and is formed in the shape of a bag; a lower opening portion 12, which is disposed at the lower end of the orthotic device body 10 and is formed in the shape of a bag; and a covering portion 13, which is disposed between the upper opening portion 11 and the lower opening portion 12 and covers at least a part of the wearer's foot.

[0038] The orthotic device body 10 has a curved portion 14 formed on one side of the tubular shape that corresponds to the inside of the wearer's body, which curves inward. This curved portion 14 is the part that corresponds to the inside of the body where the arch of the foot is located when the wearer wears the orthotic device 1, and is formed to curve outward toward the outside of the body. The orthotic device body 10 is knitted using face yarn and back yarn, and can be knitted by, for example, plain knitting, but this curved portion 14 can be formed by tuck knitting or the like, in which two or more loops on one side of the tubular shape of the orthotic device body 10 are bundled together and the knitting yarn is passed through them. As described above, since one tubular side of the orthotic device body 10 is formed to curve inward, the orthotic device 1 can be adapted to the shape of the wearer's foot, including the arch, thereby improving wearability. Furthermore, if one tubular side of the orthotic device body 10 is knitted using a tuck knit or the like, the stretch resistance of that tubular side increases, which helps to prevent the pad P from shifting inward.

[0039] The upper opening 11 and lower opening 12 have a double-layered, bag-like structure, providing stronger circumferential resistance to stretching and contracting than the covering portion 13. As a result, the upper opening 11 and lower opening 12 function as anchors, enabling the orthosis 1 to be positioned correctly on the wearer.

[0040] The storage section 20 is connected to the upper opening 11 of the orthotic body 10 and comprises an edge portion 21 that is organized around the entire circumference of the orthotic body 10, a circular opening 22 that is partially connected to the edge portion 21 and is formed for inserting a pad P, and a bag-like body 23 that is organized from the opening 22 to the edge portion 21 and is not connected to the edge portion 21, and is capable of accommodating the pad P inserted through the opening 22. The storage section 20 is organized independently of the orthotic body 10 (bag-like body 23) and is expandable and contractible in at least one direction. For example, the storage section 20 can be organized to expand and contract only in the width direction and not in the longitudinal direction of the orthotic body 10, or it can be organized to expand and contract in both the width direction and the longitudinal direction.

[0041] Since only the upper end of the edge 21 of the storage section 20 is connected to the orthotic body 10, the bag-like body 23 of the storage section 20 can be pulled out from the inside to the outside of the orthotic body 10. When pulling out the storage section 20, the front and back surfaces of the bag-like body 23 can be pulled out as is, or the front and back surfaces of the bag-like body 23 can be reversed and pulled out inside out.

[0042] If the storage section 20 is pulled out while turned inside out, the front and back surfaces of the bag-like body 23 are reversed and it is returned to the inside of the orthotic device body 10. At this time, the opening 22 is open in the central part of the inside of the orthotic device body 10 and is visible from the upper opening 11 side.

[0043] Furthermore, when returning the bag-like body 23 to the inside of the orthotic device 10, as shown in Figure 2, the front and back surfaces of the bag-like body 23 can be turned inside out. In this case, the opening 22 is on the inner circumferential side of the orthotic device 10, that is, the side opposite to the wearer, and cannot be seen from the upper opening 11 side.

[0044] In this way, since the opening 22 of the storage section 20, with its front and back surfaces turned inside out, is positioned on the inner circumferential surface side of the orthotic device body 10, even if the upper opening 11 of the orthotic device body 10 is rolled up due to vigorous movement by the wearer or the passage of time, the opening 22 will not be exposed to the outside, thus preventing the contents stored in the storage section 20 from falling out.

[0045] The edges 21 and the opening 22 are knitted using face yarn and back yarn, while the bag-like body 23 is knitted using only face yarn, and can be knitted by, for example, plain knitting.

[0046] As described above, the storage section 20 can be pulled out from the inside to the outside of the orthotic device body 10. When the storage section 20 is pulled out, the opening 22 for inserting the pad P becomes easier to recognize, making it easier to insert and store the pad P.

[0047] Figure 3 shows an example in which the pad P is housed in the housing section 20 with the front and back surfaces of the bag-like body 23 turned inside out. The pad P can also be housed in the housing section 20 as shown in Figure 1, but by housing it with the opening 22 facing the inner circumferential surface of the orthotic body 10, it is possible to prevent the pad P from flying out of the housing section 20 during movement such as walking, and to position it in a position corresponding to the arch of the wearer's foot. In addition, since the pad P is completely covered by the bag-like body 23, the pad P does not directly touch the sole of the wearer's foot, thus preventing excessive friction between the pad P and the sole of the foot.

[0048] As shown in Figure 4, the pad P is formed in a roughly oval shape that generally corresponds to the arch of the wearer's foot, with a wider front portion corresponding to the toes and a narrower rear portion corresponding to the heel. A mountain-shaped protrusion 50 is formed on the central side of the pad P. The protrusion 50 gently undulates and rises from the portion corresponding to the metatarsals that constitute the medial longitudinal arch, passing through the portion corresponding to the cuneiform bones, and having its highest point 51 located roughly in the portion corresponding to the navicular bone, from this point 51 toward the portion corresponding to the talus and calcaneus (see Figure 5(a)). Furthermore, in the width direction of the pad P, the protrusion 50 is formed from the point 51 to roughly the portion corresponding to the first metatarsal bone or the third metatarsal bone (see Figure 5(b)). The pad P shown in Figure 4 is for the left foot, and the protrusion 50 is formed on the central right side corresponding to the medial side of the body. Note that the protrusion 50 does not necessarily have to be formed in the portion corresponding to the metatarsals or calcaneus as long as it can form the medial longitudinal arch; for example, the protrusion 50 may be formed in the portion corresponding to the metatarsals or navicular bone. Thus, since the protrusion 50 of the pad P is formed from the apex 51 near the navicular bone in the anterior-posterior direction up to the part corresponding to the metatarsal bone or calcaneus, it supports the wearer's arch and pushes it upward, thereby assisting in the formation of the medial longitudinal arch. Furthermore, since the protrusion 50 of the pad P is formed up to the part corresponding to the first metatarsal bone or third metatarsal bone in the width direction, it supports the metatarsal bone on the cuneiform side and pushes it upward, thereby assisting in the formation of the transverse arch.

[0049] The bottom surface 52 of the pad P is formed to curve outward from the contact surface as it extends from the central part toward the front-to-back direction corresponding to the wearer's toes and heels, thereby mitigating the impact when the wearer's foot makes contact with the ground.

[0050] The inner surface of the pad P, which corresponds to the inside of the wearer's body, has inclined surfaces 53 and 54. The inclined surface 53 is formed at an angle toward the outer surface of the pad P with respect to the vertical line of the contact surface, and the inclined surface 54 is formed at an angle steeper than that of the inclined surface 53 toward the outer surface of the pad P with respect to the vertical line of the contact surface. Since the inclined surface 53 is formed at a gentler angle than the inclined surface 54, it supports the wearer's arch while distributing the load applied during walking along the incline, suppressing the sinking of the convex portion 50 and effectively maintaining the medial longitudinal arch. Furthermore, since the inclined surface 54 is formed at a steeper angle than the inclined surface 53, it reduces the contact area between the bottom surface 52 of the pad P and the contact surface, distributing the load applied during walking along the incline to effectively maintain the medial longitudinal arch, and minimizing the impact received by the arch of the foot from the contact surface. Thus, because the pad P has inclined surfaces 53 and 54 on its inner surface that are tilted toward the outer surface with respect to the vertical, the load applied during walking is distributed along the inclination, and the medial longitudinal arch can be effectively maintained. In addition, the contact area between the bottom surface 52 of the pad P and the ground can be reduced, minimizing the impact that the arch of the foot receives from the ground.

[0051] The pad P is made of an elastic material, such as urethane resin, from the viewpoint of mitigating impact on the arch of the foot and facilitating its placement in the storage area 20. Furthermore, the elastic force of the pad P can be used as a propulsive force during walking to assist the wearer's walking.

[0052] Furthermore, the pad P may be configured to have other protrusions in addition to the protrusion 50 to assist in the formation of the lateral longitudinal arch and the transverse arch. In this case, the length of the orthosis 1 and the pad P in the anterior-posterior direction is adjusted as appropriate.

[0053] Next, Figure 5 shows an example of orthotic device 1 being fitted to the instep of the wearer's left foot.

[0054] As shown in Figure 5, it is preferable to wear the orthosis 1 with the lower opening 12 towards the toes and the upper opening 11 towards the ankle. This is because if the foot is inserted from the lower opening 12 side, the storage section 20 containing the pad P may roll up to the outside of the orthosis body 10 from the upper opening 11 side. Therefore, when wearing the orthosis 1, the foot should be inserted from the upper opening 11 side to put on the orthosis 1.

[0055] As described above, the pad P is positioned in the area corresponding to the wearer's arch, that is, in the area corresponding to the metatarsal bones or calcaneus, and also in the area corresponding to the first metatarsal bones or third metatarsal bones. In this case, by positioning the apex 51 of the convex portion 50 of the pad P at the position corresponding to the navicular bone, an ideal medial longitudinal arch can be formed.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, since the toe-side portion and the ankle-side portion where the upper opening 11 and lower opening 12 are located have different thicknesses (circumferential lengths), the upper opening 11 and lower opening 12 can also be formed with different elasticity properties. The upper opening 11 needs to be elastic enough to easily expand in accordance with the thickness near the ankle and to function as an anchor. In contrast, the lower opening 12 needs to function as an anchor at the toe side where the expansion is smaller than near the ankle, so it is preferable that it be formed to be less elastic than the upper opening 11. Thus, since the lower opening 12 is formed to have less elasticity than the upper opening 11, the size of the openings of the upper and lower openings 12 can be changed depending on the area being tightened, allowing it to function as an anchor with appropriate tightening force. Furthermore, because the lower opening 12 is formed to have less elasticity, it tightens the entire first to fifth metatarsal bones toward the center of the foot, assisting in the formation of the transverse arch. At the same time, contrary to the tightening of the first to fifth metatarsal bones, it widens the space between the first to fifth toes, which can prevent and improve bunions and hammertoes.

[0057] Next, the assembly process in the manufacturing method of the orthotic device body 10 and the housing section 20 according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 6 and 7. In Figure 6, the knitting positions (butt needle positions) of the cylinders 100 arranged on the circumference of the circular knitting machine are indicated by n1 to n16 in a counterclockwise direction at 22.5-degree intervals. Furthermore, for the sake of explanation, Figure 7 shows the storage section 20 turned inside out and pulled out, and emphasizes that the upper opening 11 and lower opening 12 are knitted in a bag-like shape.

[0058] The orthotic device 1 is knitted using a circular knitting machine by first knitting the housing section 20, and then knitting the orthotic device body 10 immediately after knitting the housing section 20.

[0059] First, the storage section 20 is knitted by repeatedly using the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine as the knitting range, with the end of the opening 22 as the starting position for circular knitting.

[0060] Following the opening 22, the bag-shaped body 23 is formed by knitting the fabric in a bag-like manner, starting from the upper end, passing through the lower end, and then returning to the upper end, while changing the knitting range of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine from between n5-n9-n13 to between n8-n9-n10. The bag-shaped body 23 is knitted as a bag-shaped fabric by raising the bat needles located between the knitting ranges n4-n1-n14 (outside the knitting range of the cylinder 100) to the non-knitting level (the upper surface of the center cam), and by using the bat needles located between the knitting ranges n5-n9-n13 of the cylinder 100 to decrease and increase stitches by raising and lowering the needles through the forward and reverse reciprocating rotation of the cylinder 100.

[0061] Following the bag-like body 23, the edge portion 21 is knitted by repeatedly using the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine as the knitting range. The storage section 20 is assembled in the manner described above.

[0062] After the storage section 20 is assembled, the upper opening 11 of the orthotic device body 10 is assembled. At the start of knitting the upper opening 11, elastic yarn is added in addition to the base yarn, and after knitting a predetermined number of walls, the elastic yarn is held in place by the jack and retracted.

[0063] The upper opening 11 of the orthotic device body 10 is formed by repeatedly using the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 of a circular knitting machine as the knitting range, and knitting the fabric in a double-knit pattern from the lower end of the upper opening 11, through the upper end, and then back to the lower end. After this makeup is assembled, Jack is moved forward, the elastic thread is transferred to the bat needle, and the upper end of the edge 21 in the housing section 20 is sewn to the lower end of the upper opening 11 of the orthosis body 10.

[0064] Following the upper opening portion 11, the covering portion 13 is formed by repeatedly using the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine as the knitting area.

[0065] Following the covering portion 13, the lower opening portion 12 is formed by repeatedly using the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine as the knitting range, starting from the upper end of the lower opening portion 12, passing through to the lower end, and then returning to the upper end to knit the fabric in a double-knit pattern. At the starting position of knitting the lower opening 12, elastic yarn is supplied in addition to the ground yarn at the beginning of knitting the lower opening 12. After knitting a predetermined number of walls, the elastic yarn is held by the jack and moved backward. When it is folded back and returns to near the upper end, the jack is moved forward, the elastic yarn is transferred to the butt needle, and the bag-shaped lower opening 12 is knitted.

[0066] Thus, the orthotic device 10 comprises a housing section 20 having an opening 22 knitted using the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine, a bag-like body 23 knitted using a part of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine, which is continuous with the opening 22, and an edge 21 knitted using the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine, which is continuous with the bag-like body 23, and an upper opening 11 formed into a bag shape by makeup knitting using the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine from the upper end of the edge 21 of the housing section 20. Therefore, unlike conventional methods, the housing section 20 can be knitted integrally and continuously without sewing it to the orthotic device 10, and the manufacturing cost of the orthotic device 1 can be significantly reduced.

[0067] As described above, since the orthosis, which includes the orthosis body 10 and the arch forming part 40 (housing part 20), is knitted integrally and continuously using circular knitting, the manufacturing cost of the orthosis 1 can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, since the orthotic device body 10 has an arch-forming portion 40 that bulges out toward the arch of the wearer's foot on the inside, it does not shift position relative to the wearer's arch and pushes the arch upward, thereby assisting in the formation of the medial longitudinal arch and transverse arch. Furthermore, because it is constructed in a tubular shape, it is easy to wear while also providing support for forming the inner longitudinal and transverse arches. Furthermore, since orthosis 1 can be easily worn indoors, it can constantly assist in the formation of the medial longitudinal arch and transverse arch. Furthermore, since the storage section 20 is constructed to be expandable and contractible independently of the orthotic device body 10, the storage section 20 can expand and contract regardless of the amount of expansion in the longitudinal and width directions of the orthotic device body 10. When a pad P is stored in the storage section 20, the storage section 20 expands to match the size of the pad P, positioning the pad P in a predetermined location and holding it stably.

[0068] In the above explanation, the arch-forming section 40 was described using the housing section 20 and the pad P housed in the housing section 20 as an example. However, for example, the housing section 20 could be made thicker by changing the knitting yarn without housing the pad P.

[0069] (Second embodiment of the present invention) In the orthotic device according to the first embodiment described above, the orthotic device body is configured to cover only the wearer's instep and sole. However, as shown in Figures 8 to 14, the orthotic device body can also be configured to cover the heel in addition to the wearer's instep and sole. In the following description, any configurations that overlap with the first embodiment described above will be omitted.

[0070] As will be described in detail later, the orthotic device according to this embodiment is formed as a tubular knitted fabric (tubular body) that is integrally and continuously knitted by circular knitting and has elasticity. As shown in Figure 8, the orthotic device body 10 is configured to include an upper opening 11, which is disposed at the upper end of the orthotic device body 10 and is formed in the shape of a bag; a lower opening 12, which is disposed at the lower end of the orthotic device body 10 and is formed in the shape of a bag; a covering portion 60, which is disposed between the upper opening 11 and the lower opening 12 and covers at least a part of the wearer's foot; and a storage portion 70, which is formed in conjunction with the covering portion 60 and is disposed on the inside of the part of the orthotic device body 10 corresponding to the wearer's sole, and is capable of accommodating a pad P.

[0071] The covering portion 60 is made of a tubular body and includes a lower leg covering portion 61 that covers the lower leg of the wearer, a heel covering portion 62 that covers the heel of the wearer, and a front covering portion 63 that is made of a tubular body and covers the instep and sole of the wearer.

[0072] On the sole side of the anterior covering portion 63, a storage portion 70 is formed, which is continuously formed with the anterior covering portion 63. This storage portion 70 is formed to be expandable and contractible independently of the orthotic body 10 (bag-like body 72), regardless of the expansion and contraction of the orthotic body 10. The storage portion 70 only needs to be expandable and contractible in at least one direction; for example, it can be formed to expand and contract only in the width direction and not expand or contract hardly in the longitudinal direction of the orthotic body 10, or it can be formed to be expandable and contractible in both the width and longitudinal directions. In this way, since the storage section 70 is constructed to be expandable and contractible independently of the orthotic device body 10, the storage section 70 can expand and contract regardless of the amount of expansion in the longitudinal and width directions of the orthotic device body 10. When a pad P is stored in the storage section 70, the storage section 70 expands to match the size of the pad P, positioning the pad P in a predetermined location and holding it stably.

[0073] The storage section 70 has an opening 71 formed along the width direction of the orthotic device body 10, and a bag-shaped body 72 that is continuously formed from the opening 71, with the opening 71 serving as the insertion point for the pad P. In the example shown in Figure 8, the opening 71 is formed along the width direction near the portion corresponding to the entire sole of the foot, including the posterior arch, but is not limited to this. The opening 71 can also be sewn shut. The bag-like body 72 is positioned on the lower opening 12 side of the opening 71 and is constructed to be roughly the size that extends from the opening 71 to the vicinity of the wearer's metatarsal head. The bag-like body 72 can also be positioned on the heel covering 62 side of the opening 71.

[0074] As described above, since the opening 71 is formed over the entire sole side, including the area near the posterior arch of the wearer's foot, a pad P that matches the size of the wearer's instep can be accommodated in the storage section 70 through the opening 71, thereby providing the effect and function of the pad P to the entire sole of the wearer's foot in the width direction.

[0075] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, the storage section 70 is designed to be pullable from the inside to the outside of the orthotic body 10. When the storage section 70 is stored inside the orthotic body 10, the outer fabric of the orthotic body 10 is on the inside of the bag-like body 72 and the lining is on the outside of the bag-like body 72. However, by turning the storage section 70 inside out, that is, by making the outer fabric of the orthotic body 10 the outside of the bag-like body 72 and the lining the inside of the bag-like body 72, it can be pulled out to the outside of the orthotic body 10. The pulled-out storage section 70 may be positioned on the lower opening 12 side of the opening 71, or on the heel covering 62 side, as described above.

[0076] Thus, since the bag-like body 72 in the storage section 70 is knitted in such a way that it can be pulled out from the inside to the outside of the orthotic body 10 through the opening 71, the knitted fabric on the sole side of the orthotic body 10 is interposed between the wearer's sole and the bag-like body 72 in the storage section 70. When the pad P is stored inside the bag-like body 72, the thickness of the knitted fabric interposed between the wearer's sole and the pad P can be arbitrarily adjusted depending on whether the bag-like body 72 is positioned inside or outside the orthotic body 10, allowing the wearer to appropriately change the degree of function provided by the pad P. Furthermore, discomfort to the wearer's sole caused by the pad P can be suppressed.

[0077] As shown in Figure 9(b), the pouch-like body 72 in the storage section 70 is generally assembled symmetrically with respect to a center line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the orthosis 1 as the axis of symmetry. However, it is not limited to this arrangement, and the pouch-like body 72 can also be assembled asymmetrically. Specifically, the pouch-like body 72 can be assembled with its tip positioned towards one of the two ends of the orthosis body 10. For example, as shown in Figure 10, the pouch-like body 72 can be assembled on the side corresponding to the arch of the wearer's foot.

[0078] The storage section 70 can be knitted using the same knitting method throughout, but the knitting method can also be varied depending on the part. For example, if the storage section 70 is placed inside the orthotic body 10, it may be knitted so that the side facing the wearer's sole is thinner and the side facing the sole of the orthotic body 10 is thicker. In this case, if the storage section 70 is turned inside out and pulled out to the outside of the orthotic body 10, the thicker knitted part of the storage section 70 will be on the side facing the orthotic body 10, and the thinner knitted part will be on the opposite side from the orthotic body 10. In addition, the part corresponding to the wearer's arch can be knitted thicker to assist in the formation of the medial longitudinal arch, etc., without the use of a pad P.

[0079] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the housing portion 70 can also be formed with an opening 71 at the rear of the portion corresponding to the arch of the wearer's foot, with a length of approximately half the length of the front covering portion 63 in the width direction (one-quarter of the total length in the circumferential direction). Thus, since an opening 71 is formed along the width direction of the orthotic device body 10, in a part of the plantar side including the area near the posterior arch of the wearer's foot, the function and effect of the pad P can be accurately applied to the arch of the wearer's foot, and the formation of various arches, such as the medial longitudinal arch, can be appropriately assisted.

[0080] To house the pad P inside the housing section 70 while the housing section 70 is housed inside the orthotic device body 10, as shown in Figure 12, the wearer can house the pad P inside the housing section 70 by inserting it through the opening 71 after putting on the sock 1 and pushing it all the way to the back of the bag-like body 72. Alternatively, the wearer may house the pad P inside the housing section 70 beforehand before putting on the orthotic device 1. In this way, with the storage section 70 housed inside the orthosis 1, the wearer can insert and remove the pad P into and out of the storage section 70 even while wearing the orthosis 1. Therefore, the pad P can be easily stored in the storage section 70 at the wearer's convenience, such as when returning home, going out, or going to sleep, without having to remove the orthosis 1.

[0081] For the pad P to be stored inside the storage section 70 with the storage section 70 extended to the outside of the orthotic device body 10, the wearer must store the pad P inside the storage section 70 beforehand, before putting on the orthotic device 1. In this case, by forming a separate opening on the side circumference of the bag-like body 72, it is also possible to store the pad P inside the storage section 70 after the wearer has put on the orthotic device 1.

[0082] Next, the knitting method for the orthotic device 1 according to this embodiment using a circular knitting machine will be explained with reference to Figures 13 and 14.

[0083] The orthosis 1 is knitted using a circular knitting machine by sequentially knitting the upper opening 11, lower leg covering 61, heel covering 62, rear of the front covering 63, storage section 70, front of the front covering 63, and lower opening 12.

[0084] First, the upper opening portion 11 is formed by starting the knitting on the circular knitting machine at the lower end of the upper opening portion 11 (the part that forms the boundary with the lower leg covering portion 61), and knitting the fabric in a double-knit pattern from the lower end to the upper end (the part that forms the opening of the orthosis 1), and then returning from the upper end to the lower end (see Figure 13(a)).

[0085] Next, the lower leg covering portion 61 is constructed by sequentially repeating multiple courses, with the construction area A, which is the entire circumference of the cylinder 100, as the construction area (see Figure 13(b)).

[0086] The heel covering section 62 uses knitting range B (n5-n9-n13), which is approximately half the circumference of the cylinder in the circular knitting machine, as the knitting range. The bat needles in knitting ranges other than the knitting range used by cylinder 100 are raised to the non-knitting level (upper surface of the center cam), and the fabric is knitted by decreasing and increasing stitches using needle-raising and needle-down functions by the forward and reverse reciprocating rotation of cylinder 100 with the bat needles between the knitting ranges used by cylinder 100 (see Figure 13(c)).

[0087] The area behind the front covering portion 63, from the heel covering portion 62 to the opening 71 of the housing portion 70, is constructed by sequentially repeating multiple courses, with the construction range A being the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 (see Figure 13(d)).

[0088] The storage unit 70 uses knitting range B (n5-n9-n13), which is approximately half the circumference of the cylinder 100 in the circular knitting machine, as its knitting range. It raises the bat needles in knitting ranges other than the knitting range used by the cylinder 100 to the non-knitting level (upper surface of the center cam), and knits the fabric by decreasing and increasing stitches using the needle-raising picker and needle-down by the forward and reverse reciprocating rotation of the cylinder 100 with the bat needles between the knitting ranges used by the cylinder 100 (see Figure 14(a)).

[0089] The front covering portion 63, from the opening 71 of the housing portion 70 to the lower opening portion 12, is organized by sequentially repeating multiple courses, with the organization range A being the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 (see Figure 14(b)).

[0090] The lower opening 12 is formed in the same way as the upper opening 11 by repeatedly using the knitting range A, which is the entire circumference of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine, as the knitting range, and knitting the fabric in a double-knit pattern from the upper end of the lower opening 12, through the lower end, and then back to the upper end (see Figure 14(c)). At the knitting start positions of the upper opening 11 and lower opening 12, elastic yarn is supplied in addition to the base yarn at the start of knitting.

[0091] Furthermore, the storage section 70 shown in Figure 11 uses a knitting range (n5-n7-n9) which is narrower than the knitting range B of the heel covering section 62 and is a quarter of the circumference of the cylinder 100 in a circular knitting machine. The bat needles in the knitting ranges other than the knitting range used by the cylinder 100 are raised to the non-knitting level (upper surface of the center cam), and the fabric is knitted by decreasing and increasing stitches by needle-raising pickers and needle-downs using the bat needles between the knitting ranges used by the cylinder 100 through the forward and reverse reciprocating rotation of the cylinder 100.

[0092] As described above, since the orthotic device body 10 has a heel covering portion 62 that covers the wearer's heel, when the orthotic device 1 is worn, the orthotic device body 10 is curved at the wearer's heel, and the heel covering portion 62 allows the orthotic device body 10 to be positioned in a predetermined location.

[0093] Furthermore, since the housing section 70, which is knitted in the front covering section 63, is knitted using a portion of the cylinder 100 of the circular knitting machine as the knitting range, the housing section 70 can be knitted in the same way as the heel covering section 62 without introducing a special knitting machine. This avoids increasing manufacturing costs by using a conventional circular knitting machine to knit the orthotic body 10 and the housing section 70, which is continuous with the orthotic body 10, as a single unit.

[0094] Furthermore, since the heel covering portion 62 and the housing portion 70 are assembled within the same range of the cylinder 100, the housing portion 70 can be assembled on the sole side of the orthotic body 10, which is on the same side as the heel covering portion 62, in the same manner as the heel covering portion 62 is assembled. This allows the wearer's sole to be provided with the effect of arch formation using the housing portion 70.

[0095] Furthermore, since the housing section 70 is assembled within a narrower area of ​​the cylinder 100 than the heel covering section 62, the width of the assembled housing section 70 can be reduced, and not only the width of the housing section 70 but also its position can be easily changed according to the application.

[0096] Furthermore, the orthotic device 1 according to each of the above embodiments can also be manufactured in the shape of a sock or the like. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0097] 1. Orthotic device 10 Orthotic device body 11 Upper mouth part 12 Lower mouth part 13 Covering part 14 Curved section 20 Storage Units 21 Edge 22 Opening 23 Bag-shaped body 40 Arch forming section 50 Convex part 51 Top 52 Bottom 53, 54 Slope 60 Covered part 61 Lower leg covering 62 Heel covering 63 Front covering portion 70 Storage Units 71 Opening 72 Bag-shaped body 100 cylinders P Pad

Claims

1. An orthotic device that is knitted in a continuous, integrated manner using circular knitting, The orthotic device consists of a tubular body that is inserted into the wearer's leg, An orthotic device characterized by having an arch-forming portion disposed on the inside of the orthotic device body and bulging toward the part corresponding to the arch of the wearer's foot.

2. In the orthotic device according to claim 1, The arch-forming portion comprises a pad having its apex near the portion corresponding to the wearer's scaphoid bone, and a housing portion that accommodates the pad. The aforementioned housing has an opening formed using the entire circumference of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine, a bag-like body formed using a part of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine, which is continuous with the opening, and an edge formed using the entire circumference of the cylinder of the circular knitting machine, which is continuous with the bag-like body. The orthotic device is characterized in that the orthotic device body has an upper opening formed in the shape of a bag by makeup knitting using the entire circumference of the cylinder of a circular knitting machine from the upper end of the edge of the housing portion, and this opening is located on one end of the tubular body.

3. In the orthotic device according to claim 2, The orthotic device body has a lower opening at the other end of the tubular body, which is formed into a bag shape by makeup knitting using the entire circumference of the cylinder of a circular knitting machine. The orthotic device is characterized in that the lower opening portion is formed to have less elasticity than the upper opening portion.

4. In the orthotic device according to claim 1, An orthotic device characterized in that one tubular side of the orthotic device body is formed to curve inward.

5. In the orthotic device according to claim 2, The pad has a mountain-shaped protrusion whose peak is near the part corresponding to the wearer's scaphoid bone, An orthotic device characterized in that the protrusions are formed in the front-to-back direction of the pad in portions corresponding to the metatarsal bones or calcaneus, and in the width direction of the pad in portions corresponding to the first metatarsal bones or third metatarsal bones.

6. In the orthotic device according to claim 2, The orthotic device is characterized in that the pad has an inclined surface on its inner surface that is inclined toward the outer surface side with respect to the vertical line.

7. In the orthotic device according to claim 1, The orthotic device body comprises a heel covering portion that covers the wearer's heel, and a front covering portion that is continuously assembled with the heel covering portion and covers the wearer's instep and sole. The orthotic device is characterized in that the arch-forming portion is formed in the front covering portion.

8. In the orthotic device according to claim 7, The arch-forming portion comprises a pad having its apex near the portion corresponding to the wearer's scaphoid bone, and a housing portion that houses the pad and is knitted in a continuous manner with the orthotic body. The aforementioned housing is characterized in that it is knitted with a part of the cylinder of a circular knitting machine as the knitting range.

9. In the orthotic device according to claim 8, A sock characterized in that the heel covering portion and the housing portion are knitted within the same range of the cylinder.

10. In the orthotic device according to claim 8, A sock characterized in that the housing portion is knitted within a narrower range of the cylinder than the heel covering portion.

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