Insole and footwear

Abstract

Provided is an insole 1 capable of suppressing torsion in a lateral direction of a foot. The insole 1 comprises a heel support part 4 for supporting a heel part of the foot. The heel support part 4 is configured such that the repulsion force of a lateral part supporting the lateral side of the heel is larger than the repulsion force of a medial part supporting the medial side of the heel. The insole 1 also comprises: an insole main body 2 that supports at least the arch and heel of the foot; and an arch support part 3 that is provided to the insole main body 2 and supports the arch. The heel support part 4 is provided to the insole main body 2.

Description

Insoles and footwear

[0001] The present invention relates to an insole used as an inner sole for shoes such as sneakers and leather shoes, and to footwear equipped with the insole.

[0002] Conventionally, a known insole for supporting the foot is the one described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which "a midsole or insole for walking footwear is made of a flat, cushioned elastic material and has various recesses and protrusions on the upper surface corresponding to the positions of the sole of the foot, the arch, etc., and is further configured by combining the midsole or insole with a sole or outsole having linear lateral grooves on the surface that contacts the sole of the foot (upper surface) and circular or oval grooves and arc-shaped grooves that convex toward the toes on the ground surface (lower surface)."

[0003] JP 2014-147622 A

[0004] However, the insole described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is unable to prevent twisting of the foot in the left-right direction because it is merely configured to support the arch of the foot.

[0005] The present invention was created in consideration of the above circumstances and with the objective of solving these problems, and is an insole that includes a heel support portion that supports the heel of the foot, and the heel support portion is configured so that the repulsive force of the lateral portion that supports the lateral side of the heel is greater than the repulsive force of the medial portion that supports the medial side of the heel.The present invention also relates to footwear that has the above insole attached as an inner sole.

[0006] According to the present invention, twisting of the foot in the left-right direction can be suppressed.

[0007] 1 is a schematic diagram of an insole according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a bottom view, and (d) is a right side view. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the function of the insole according to the first embodiment, where (a) is a diagram showing foot balance, and (b) is a diagram showing foot balance when the insole is used. 3 is a schematic diagram of an insole according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a bottom view. 4 is a schematic diagram of an insole according to the second embodiment, where (a) is a front view, and (b) is a right side view.

[0008] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0009] [First Embodiment] <Configuration> The insole 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 is a corrective insole (heel angle correction pad) used as an insole for footwear (shoes) such as sneakers, leather shoes, and safety boots, and is provided as a pair, one for the left foot and one for the right foot. As shown in Figs. 1(a) to 1(c), the insole 1 is formed to a size that supports the foot from the arch to the heel. The insole 1 includes a sheet-like insole body 2. The insole body 2 has a two-layer structure in which a highly durable outer material 2b, such as leather, is attached to the surface of a sheet-like base material 2a having a predetermined elasticity.

[0010] Here, the base material 2a is made of, for example, EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin), a material that is both flexible and elastic. The outer material 2b may be made of any material other than leather, such as synthetic leather, fabric, or nonwoven fabric, as long as it is a material that ensures the durability of the insole body 2. The insole body 2 may also be made of only the base material 2a.

[0011] The pair of insole bodies 2 are formed symmetrically, with the portion supporting the heel (calcaneus C) formed in a circular shape and both widthwise sides curved in a concave arc from the portion supporting the arch (cuboid B) to the portion supporting the heel. Attached to the back surface of the base material 2a of each insole body 2 are an arch support portion 3 that supports the arch of the foot and a heel support portion 4 that supports the heel of the foot.

[0012] The arch support portion 3 is formed in the shape of a generally rectangular plate with a longitudinal dimension smaller than the width dimension of the arch support portion of the insole body 2. The arch support portion 3 is attached to the approximate center of the width direction of the insole body 2, with its longitudinal direction aligned with the width direction of the insole body 2. The heel support portion 4 is formed in the shape of a disk smaller than the heel support portion of the insole body 2, and is attached to the center (concentric) of the heel support portion of the insole body 2.

[0013] The arch support 3 is formed in a pad-like shape with a predetermined thickness and has a three-layer structure with a pair of EVA sheet-like base materials 3a, 3b sandwiched between them and a sheet-like cushioning material 3c made of rubber-based EVA (blended with rubber agents). The arch support 3 is formed into a rectangular shape with arc-shaped longitudinal sides. In short, when the heel side of the insole body 2 is aligned with the heel of the footwear and inserted into the insole as a footwear insole, the arch support 3 is attached in a position that supports the arch of the foot from below.

[0014] Next, the heel support part 4 is formed into a roughly disc-shaped pad of a predetermined thickness and has a three-layer structure with a cushioning material 4c as a sheet-shaped main body sandwiched between a pair of base materials 4a and 4b, which are sheets made of EVA. The cushioning material 4c is made up of an outer cushioning part 4d as an outer part that supports the outside of the heel and an inner cushioning part 4e as an inner part that supports the inside of the heel, which are arranged horizontally (left and right) and attached between the pair of base materials 4a and 4b, with approximately one-third of the outer part of the cushioning material 4c being made up of the outer cushioning part 4d and approximately two-thirds of the inner part of the cushioning material 4c being made up of the inner cushioning part 4e.

[0015] The outer buffer section 4d is made of a sheet-like elastic material with high resilience and elasticity, such as a vinyl chloride resin sheet containing a high specific gravity material or special non-vulcanized rubber. The outer buffer section 4d has a compressive stress of, for example, about 80 mPa. Meanwhile, the inner buffer section 4e is made of a rubber-based EVA (blended with a rubber agent) and has a compressive stress of, for example, about 0.07 mPa or 0.17 mPa. In other words, the outer buffer section 4d is made of a material whose resilience (elastic force, compressive stress) is about 50 to 1,000 times greater than that of the inner buffer section 4e. In other words, the outer buffer section 4d and the inner buffer section 4e are made of materials with different hardnesses.

[0016] The sizes (occupied area, size) and materials (resilience) of the outer and inner buffer sections 4d and 4e are adjusted so that, when a consumer of the insole 1 places their heel on the heel support section 4 and stands upright, as shown in Figure 2(b), the left-right balance of the calcaneus C is stabilized, in other words, it is horizontal, the tibia and fibula (not shown) are perpendicular to the ground, the knees face forward, the feet face straight ahead, and there is little space between the calcaneus C and the talus T. In other words, the proportions (occupied areas) of the outer and inner buffer sections 4d and 4e are adjusted to correspond to the shape of the feet of the consumer of the insole 1 and the balance of the center of gravity in a standing position, so as to suppress twisting of the calcaneus C that may occur during walking. Furthermore, the outer buffer section 4d and the inner buffer section 4e may be configured such that the outer buffer section 4d is made of hard urethane and the inner buffer section 4e is made of soft urethane.

[0017] Furthermore, a mark 4f for distinguishing between the left and right sides of the insole body 2 is attached to the outer side of the heel support part 4, i.e., the base material 4a located on the lower side. This mark 4f is made of a sealant or the like colored in a conspicuous color such as orange, and is attached to the outer side of each insole 1, i.e., to the base material 4a located on the lower surface of each heel support part 4, in a position close to the side where the outer buffer part 4d is located, so that the side where the outer buffer part 4d is located can be identified.

[0018] <Operation and Effect> Next, the operation and effect of the insole 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0019] First, the shape of the foot of the consumer of the insole 1 is measured, and the center of gravity balance in a standing position is measured, and the ratio of the outer buffer section 4d to the inner buffer section 4e of the heel support section 4 is determined so as to suppress twisting of the calcaneus C that may occur when the consumer walks. At this time, depending on the consumer, the shape of the left and right feet or the balance of the left and right centers of gravity may differ, and in this case, the ratio of the outer buffer section 4d to the inner buffer section 4e on the left and right sides is made different.

[0020] Specifically, in the case of a consumer whose calcaneus C is tilted left and right when standing without the insole 1, as shown in FIG. 2(a), when the consumer places his / her heel on the heel support portion 4 and stands up straight, the balance (size, material) of the outer buffer portion 4d and the inner buffer portion 4e is adjusted so that the left and right balance of the calcaneus C is stable, in other words, horizontal, and the tibia and fibula of the foot are perpendicular to the ground, the knee faces forward, and the foot faces straight ahead (normal position), as shown in FIG. 2(b).

[0021] Next, the heel support section 4 is formed so as to have the determined ratio of the outer buffer section 4d to the inner buffer section 4e, and the formed heel support section 4 is attached, for example, by adhering it to the underside of the base material 2a of the insole body 2. The arch support section 3 is also attached, for example, by adhering it to the underside of the base material 2a of the insole body 2 so as to be in a position that supports the arch of the consumer, thereby forming a pair of left and right insoles 1. At this time, it is preferable to adjust the thickness (height) of the arch support section 3 and the heel support section 4 so that when the consumer places their feet on the pair of insoles 1 and stands upright, the center of gravity of the consumer's feet is the entire sole (a state in which the consumer is leaning forward slightly).

[0022] Then, the manufactured insoles 1 are attached to the existing insoles that have been inserted into the footwear used by the consumer. At this time, the insole bodies 2 of the insoles 1 are placed on the existing insoles so that the heel side portions of the insole bodies 2 overlap the heel portions of the existing insoles.

[0023] Thereafter, by wearing footwear with these insoles 1 in place and engaging in daily activities, various tasks, or sports, balance adjustment using the arches is possible due to the arches (cuboid bone B) being supported by the arch supports 3 of these insoles 1. At the same time, the heels (calcaneus C) are supported by the heel supports 4 of each insole 1, suppressing lateral twisting of the calcaneus C, and the calcaneus C are firmly held down by the heel supports 4, keeping both knees facing straight ahead and eliminating bow-leggedness and knee-leggedness, allowing the person to walk with their heels alternately pointing straight ahead.

[0024] Therefore, in addition to the support of the cuboid bone B and calcaneus C of each foot provided by the arch support 3 and heel support 4 of each insole 1, the center of gravity of each foot is shifted to the entire sole (a slightly forward-leaning position), which provides more stable and firm support for the body with both feet, allowing for greater exertion. At the same time, improved blood circulation in the feet improves sensitivity to cold and makes the body feel warmer. Furthermore, more stable and firm support for the body with both feet helps prevent unexpected falls and sprains and injuries. Furthermore, a more stable (normal) posture when standing and a more stable body axis reduce stress on the body and alleviate pain in the legs and hips.

[0025] Next, an insole 11 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] [Second embodiment] <Configuration> An insole 11 according to a second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 differs from the insole 1 according to the first embodiment described above in the shape of the insole body 21. Note that components common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0027] Specifically, the pair of insoles 11 each have an insole body 21 sized to support the foot from the toes to the heel. The insole body 21 has a shape in which the peripheral edge of the portion supporting the arch to the heel is raised upward in an arc shape. The insole body 21 has a two-layer structure in which a surface material 21b made of, for example, fabric is attached to the surface of a sheet-like base material 21a having a predetermined elasticity.

[0028] Each base material 21a is made of, for example, EVA. The outer material 21b may be made of any material other than fabric, such as synthetic leather or nonwoven fabric, and the insole body 21 may be made of only the base material 21a. The arch support 3 and heel support 4 are attached by affixing to predetermined positions on the back surface of the base material 21a of the insole body 21.

[0029] <Actions and Effects> As described above, the insole 11 according to the second embodiment can achieve the same actions and effects as the insole 1 according to the first embodiment, and can also achieve the following actions and effects: In short, since the insole body 21 of this insole 11 is formed to a size that supports the foot from the toes to the heel, the consumer can remove the existing insole from the footwear they wear, and then attach the insole 11 in place of the insole.

[0030] When these insoles 11 are attached as the inner soles of footwear, there is less risk of the arch support 3 and heel support 4 shifting (moving) within the footwear, which allows the arch support 3 of the insoles 11 to more reliably support the arch and the heel support 4 to more reliably suppress lateral twisting of the calcaneus C.

[0031] [Others] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the described configurations.

[0032] That is, in each of the above embodiments, the arch support portion 3 and the heel support portion 4 are attached to the back surface of the insole body 2, 21 and protrude from the back surface side, but at least one of the arch support portion 3 and the heel support portion 4 may be built into the insole body 2, 21 or may be attached by hollowing out the insole body 2, 21. Also, at least one of the arch support portion 3 and the heel support portion 4 may be attached to the back surface of an existing insole.

[0033] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 11 Insole 2, 21 Insole body 2a, 21a Base material 2b, 21b Surface material 3 Arch support portion (arch support portion) 3a, 3b Base material 3c Cushioning material 4 Heel support portion (heel support portion) 4a, 4b Base material (sheet body) 4c Cushioning material (main body portion) 4d Outer cushioning portion (outer portion) 4e Inner cushioning portion (inner portion) 4f Mark B Cuboid bone C Calcaneus T Talus

Claims

1. An insole comprising a heel support portion that supports the heel of the foot, wherein the resilience of an outer portion that supports the outside of the heel is greater than the resilience of an inner portion that supports the inside of the heel.

2. The insole according to claim 1, comprising: an insole body that supports at least the arch and heel of the foot; and an arch support section that is provided on the insole body and supports the arch, wherein the heel support section is provided on the insole body.

3. The insole according to claim 2, wherein the heel support portion is formed in the shape of a substantially disc-shaped pad and is attached to the back side of the insole body.

4. The insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the heel support portion has a substantially disc-shaped main body portion, the area of ​​this main body portion that supports the outside of the heel being designated as the outer portion, and the area of ​​the main body portion that supports the inside of the heel being designated as the inner portion.

5. The insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the heel support portion has a pair of sheets, with the outer portion and the inner portion interposed between the pair of sheets.

6. The insole according to claim 2, wherein the arch support portion is formed in a pad shape and attached to the back side of the insole body.

7. Footwear having an insole according to any one of claims 1 to 6 attached thereto as an inner sole.

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