Insole having bendable property

Abstract

An insole having a bendable property, comprising an integrally molded sheet-like single-piece body (10), a constituent material of the body (10) comprising a thermoplastic resin. The body (10) comprises a bending portion (11), the bending portion (11) extending in a direction of a short side of the body (10) to one of two opposing side edges of the body (10); the bending portion (11) protrudes toward one surface of the body (10) and is concavely curved to form a U-shaped structure and a gap (16) corresponding to the U-shaped structure. The bending portion (11) divides the body (10) into a proximal end (12) and a distal end (13), and a length ratio of the proximal end (12) to the distal end (13) in a direction of a long side of the body (10) is between 0.25 and 0.6.

Description

Insoles with bendable properties Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an insole, and more specifically to an insole with bendable properties. Background Technology

[0002] In today's society, a user spends most of their day wearing shoes to provide foot protection, thus increasing the demands on the support strength and comfort of shoe soles and / or insoles. The main material of the sole and / or insole is typically a polyurethane coating, which provides advantages such as lightweight and soft touch to reduce the user's burden and effectively cushion the impact when the feet strike the ground.

[0003] However, the insoles and soles made from this covering material still suffer from insufficient strength and low durability, making it difficult to effectively support the foot and extend the lifespan of the insoles and soles. Therefore, developing high-strength materials for the insoles and / or soles has become an urgent goal in the relevant field.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing shoe soles or insoles, the present invention provides an insole with bendable characteristics, comprising an integrally formed sheet-like body, the body being composed of a thermoplastic resin, wherein: the body includes a bending portion extending toward a short side of the body to one of opposite side edges of the body; and the bending portion protruding toward one surface of the body and concave to form a U-shaped structure and a corresponding gap formed by the U-shaped structure.

[0006] The bend divides the body into a proximal end and a distal end. The length ratio of the proximal end to the distal end along a long side of the body is between 0.25 and 0.6. The height of the gap is between 2 and 4 millimeters, and the width of the gap is between 3 and 9 millimeters.

[0007] The body is composed of a fiber composite material, which is a composite of a thermoplastic resin and a fiber material. The thermoplastic resin includes polycarbonate, polyamide, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, polyurethane, polyacetal, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, or a combination thereof. The fiber material may be carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, basalt fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, or a combination thereof.

[0008] The fiber composite material comprises a continuous fiber composite material, and at least a portion of the length of the continuous fiber is the same as the length of the long side of the body.

[0009] The body includes two bends, and the two bends are recessed toward the same surface of the body or toward two opposite surfaces of the body.

[0010] In this configuration, at least a portion of the two bends are interconnected, and a connecting structure is included between the two bends, with each end of the connecting structure connecting to the two bends respectively.

[0011] Furthermore, the thickness of the body gradually increases at the distal end along the long side away from the bend.

[0012] Furthermore, the distal end of the body is a non-planar surface.

[0013] Furthermore, the body is at least partially covered with a covering material to form a composite insole, wherein the hardness of the covering material is less than that of the insole with bendable properties, and the covering material comprises ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer or a combination thereof.

[0014] Furthermore, the surface of the insole body, which has bendable properties, covers more than 80% of the area of ​​the composite insole.

[0015] The insole provided by this invention achieves the following advantages:

[0016] 1. The insole with bendable properties of the present invention can provide sufficient support to the user to protect the user's feet.

[0017] 2. The insole with bendable characteristics of the present invention is simple to manufacture and has excellent material strength and durability, which can greatly improve the quality of shoe soles.

[0018] 3. The insole with bendable characteristics of the present invention is a bendable insole, wherein the bend corresponds to a joint formed between a metatarsal bone and a proximal phalanx of the user, so that the bend can produce a bending characteristic in response to the user's gait.

[0019] 4. The flexible insole of the present invention can be formed by encapsulating the covering material around the main body using an injection molding technique. This composite insole combines the main body with the properties of rigidity, lightness, strong support, and flexibility, while also possessing the soft and highly elastic properties of the covering material. The composite insole provides support during walking or exercise, and the covering material provides bounce to the user.

[0020] 5. The insole of the present invention, which has bendable characteristics, can generate a variety of combinations of forms through the design of the bending point, such as the design of the number and position of the connecting structures, so as to meet the various functional requirements of different shoe bodies.

[0021] 6. The insole of the present invention, which has bendable properties, is made of a thermoplastic base material. It not only has excellent elasticity, shock absorption and durability, but also has environmental protection and recyclability. It can be reused through recycling and reprocessing after its service life, reducing the impact on the environment. It can also be remelted and molded under low energy consumption conditions, achieving efficient use of resources. This is in line with the goals of sustainable development in modern society and achieves the effects of reducing waste and protecting the environment. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1A is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 1B is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 1C is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an angle generated when the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is used.

[0029] Figure 6A is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6B is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0031] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Symbol explanation:

[0033] 10: Ontology

[0034] 11: Bend

[0035] 11A: First bend

[0036] 11B: Second bend

[0037] 12: Proximal end

[0038] 13: Remote

[0039] 14: Upper surface

[0040] 15: Lower surface

[0041] 16, 16A, 16B: Gap

[0042] 17: Covering material

[0043] 18: Connected Structure

[0044] 20: Composite insole

[0045] H: Height

[0046] L: Width

[0047] θ: Angle Detailed Implementation

[0048] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of each embodiment are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some examples or embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, these drawings can be applied to other similar scenarios without creative effort. Unless obvious from the context or otherwise specified, the same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same structures or operations.

[0049] As indicated in this invention and the claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," or "the" do not specifically refer to the singular and may also include the plural. Generally speaking, the terms "comprising" and "including" only indicate the inclusion of explicitly identified steps and elements, which do not constitute an exclusive list, and the method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements.

[0050] Please refer to Figures 1A and 2 for a first preferred embodiment of a bendable insole provided by the present invention. The insole includes a body 10, which is generally sheet-shaped, with a proximal end 12 and a distal end 13 at both ends along one long side. The two surfaces of the body 10 are an upper surface 14 and a lower surface 15.

[0051] The body 10 includes at least one bend 11, which is formed by a U-shaped structure protruding and concave towards the upper surface 14, such that the lower surface 15 of the bend 11 correspondingly forms a gap 16. The bend 11 divides the body 10 into a proximal end 12 and a distal end 13, wherein the length ratio of the proximal end 12 to the distal end 13 along the long side of the body 10 is between 0.25 and 0.6, and the bend 11 extends along a short side of the body 10 to one of its opposite two edges.

[0052] Furthermore, the extension direction of the bend 11 is perpendicular to the direction of the long side.

[0053] The height H of the gap 16 preferably facing the upper surface 14 is between 2 and 4 mm, and the width L of the gap along the long side is between 3 and 9 mm.

[0054] Please refer to Figure 5 simultaneously. When the body 10 is subjected to at least a partial external force, the bend 11 and the gap 16 will shrink or enlarge, and the angle θ between the proximal end 12, the distal end 13, and the bend 11 will also change accordingly. Preferably, the angle θ that allows the body 10 to be bent without causing permanent deformation is between 120° and 190°, that is, the elastic range of the bend 11 of the body 10 is between 120° and 190°. In this invention, "permanent deformation" refers to the irreversible deformation that occurs after the body 10 is subjected to the external force, which cannot be restored to its original shape even after the external force is removed.

[0055] The thickness of the body 10 is between 0.25 mm and 25 mm. This thickness can be uniform throughout the body 10, or it can have different thickness distributions at different locations. Referring to Figure 1B, in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the body 10 gradually increases at the distal end 13 along the long side direction away from the bend 11.

[0056] The proximal end 12 or the distal end 13 of the body 10 can be a plane or a non-plane. Referring to FIG1C, in the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distal end 13 of the body 10 is a non-plane, that is, a curved surface. One edge of the non-plane of the distal end 13 curves toward the upper surface 14, so that the distal end 13 can better adapt to and fit a user's foot, providing the user with a more comfortable experience and better protection.

[0057] Furthermore, the body 10 is integrally formed. In this invention, "integral forming" means that the material or components constituting the body 10 are processed in one go to form the shape and structure of the body 10, so that the body 10 is a one-piece structure without additional splicing, welding or assembly.

[0058] Preferably, the body 10 is composed of a thermoplastic resin, and in some preferred embodiments, the body 10 is entirely composed of the thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin includes polycarbonate, polyamide, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyoxymetheylene, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, or combinations thereof.

[0059] More preferably, the body 10 is made of a fiber composite material, which combines the aforementioned thermoplastic resin as a matrix with a fiber material. This allows the body 10 to simultaneously possess advantages such as light weight, rigidity, and flexibility, while providing excellent protection against injury to the foot from stepping on large, sharp objects such as stones. At the same time, in addition to supporting the user's foot and improving the insole's durability, the body 10 can also adapt to the bending effect produced by foot movement.

[0060] The fiber material can be carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, basalt fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, or a combination thereof.

[0061] Furthermore, the fiber composite material of the body 10 is a continuous fiber composite material, wherein the fiber material is a continuous fiber, and the continuous fiber extends along the long side direction. In this invention, "continuous fiber" refers to a continuous fiber that maintains continuity of at least 2 cm in the length direction; preferably, the length of the continuous fiber is at least more than 10 cm. More preferably, the length of the continuous fiber is the same as the length of the long side of the body 10.

[0062] Preferably, the fibrous material of the body 10 includes both continuous fibers and multiple short fibers, further increasing the structural strength of the body 10. In this invention, "short fibers" refers to fibrous materials with a length of less than 2 cm.

[0063] Referring to Figures 1A to 5, in some preferred embodiments, when the body 10 of the insole with bendable characteristics is applied to a shoe body, the bending point 11 bends along with the bending of the user's foot. It is noteworthy that the bending point 11 is positioned at a joint formed between a metatarsal bone and a proximal phalanx of the user, allowing the bending point 11 to adapt to the user's gait and even provide different bending intensities depending on the user's walking or exercise. This achieves both bending characteristics and support, making the shoe suitable for gait movements of varying intensities.

[0064] Please refer to Figures 3 and 4, which illustrate the fourth and fifth preferred embodiments of the bendable insole provided by this invention. In these preferred embodiments, the body 10 includes two bending points 11, namely a first bending point 11A and a second bending point 11B. The body 10 can further adapt to the degree of foot flexion. When the first bending point 11A and the second bending point 11B bend simultaneously, they can provide a larger angle θ than with only one bending point 11, thus providing better bending characteristics. This makes the bendable insole suitable for users to engage in more types of sports, such as long jump and high jump, which require significant foot flexion.

[0065] In the fourth preferred embodiment, referring to Figure 3, the two bends 11 protrude concavely towards the same surface of the body to form a U-shaped structure, and the first bend 11A and the second bend 11B respectively form the gaps 16A and 16B on the lower surface 15 corresponding to the concave structures. Preferably, the two bends 11A and 11B are arranged alternately and parallel to each other.

[0066] In the fifth preferred embodiment, referring to FIG4, the body 10 includes two bends 11. The difference from the fourth preferred embodiment is that the two bends 11 protrude and curve toward the upper surface 14 and the lower surface 15 of the body respectively to form a U-shaped structure.

[0067] The main body 10 can further adapt to the degree of flexion of the foot. The protrusion of the first bend 11A on the upper surface 14 and the protrusion of the second bend 11B on the lower surface 15 can improve the fit of the insole to the foot. The two bends 11 of the insole can improve the user's comfort and make the user more flexible and comfortable when performing more complex sports such as mountain climbing and rock climbing, which require flexible bending of the foot.

[0068] Please refer to Figure 7, which shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the bendable insole provided by the present invention. Preferably, at least a portion of the two bends 11 are interconnected. This interconnection can be either intersecting or a connecting structure 18 can be provided between the two bends 11, with each end of the connecting structure 18 connecting to one of the bends 11. The connecting structure 18 can also be a U-shaped structure formed by a concave curve protruding towards one surface of the body, or a groove. Thus, the insole provided by the present invention can achieve various combinations of bends 11 and / or connecting structures 18 through the design of their number and position, thereby adapting to the various functional requirements of different shoe bodies.

[0069] In addition, the body 10 is simple to manufacture. It only requires heating and pressurizing to make the bending part 11 corresponding to the shape, and then cutting the shape or groove according to the requirements.

[0070] Please refer to Figures 6A and 6B for a first and second preferred embodiment of an insole with bendable properties provided by the present invention, which includes the body 10 being at least partially covered in a covering material 17 to form a composite insole 20.

[0071] The covering material 17 can be fixed to the outside of the body 10 using an injection molding technique. The hardness of the covering material 17 is less than that of the body 10. The covering material 17 comprises ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic elastomer, or a combination thereof. More preferably, the covering material 17 is a foamed material, giving it a porous structure, thus enabling the composite insole 20 to achieve high cushioning and significant lightweight.

[0072] Preferably, the surface of the body 10 covers more than 80% of the area of ​​the composite insole 20. More preferably, the surface of the body 10 covers more than 90% of the area of ​​the composite insole 20, so that the body 10 can provide the user's foot with full and complete support.

[0073] Furthermore, the composite insole 20 is made by injecting the heated covering material 17 into a cavity of a mold using an injection molding technique. Before the covering material 17 cools down in the mold but is not completely solidified, the body 10 is inserted into a corresponding space of the mold. After the covering material 17 cools down, the body 10 will be firmly bonded to the covering material 17. Finally, after the covering material 17 has completely cooled down, the mold is opened and the composite insole 20 is removed.

[0074] The composite insole 20, combined with the body 10, achieves the characteristics of being hard, lightweight, supportive, and flexible, while also possessing the high elasticity of the covering material 17. The composite insole 20 can provide support when the user walks or exercises, while the covering material 17 can provide the user with bounce.

[0075] As can be seen from the above description, the insole with bendable properties provided by the present invention can achieve the following advantages:

[0076] 1. The insole with bendable properties of the present invention can provide sufficient support to the user to protect the user's feet.

[0077] 2. The insole with bendable characteristics of the present invention is simple to manufacture and has excellent material strength and durability, which can greatly improve the quality of shoe soles.

[0078] 3. The insole with bendable characteristics of the present invention is a bendable insole, wherein the bend corresponds to a joint formed between a metatarsal bone and a proximal phalanx of the user, so that the bend can produce a bending characteristic in response to the user's gait.

[0079] 4. The flexible insole of the present invention can be formed by encapsulating the covering material around the main body using an injection molding technique. This composite insole combines the main body with the properties of rigidity, lightness, strong support, and flexibility, while also possessing the soft and highly elastic properties of the covering material. The composite insole provides support during walking or exercise, and the covering material provides bounce to the user.

[0080] 5. The insole of the present invention, which has bendable characteristics, can generate a variety of combinations of forms through the design of the bending point, such as the design of the number and position of the connecting structures, so as to meet the various functional requirements of different shoe bodies.

[0081] 6. The insole of the present invention, which has bendable properties, is made of a thermoplastic base material. It not only has excellent elasticity, shock absorption and durability, but also has environmental protection and recyclability. It can be reused through recycling and reprocessing after its service life, reducing the impact on the environment. It can also be remelted and molded under low energy consumption conditions, achieving efficient use of resources. This is in line with the goals of sustainable development in modern society and achieves the effects of reducing waste and protecting the environment.

[0082] It should be noted that, based on the explanations and descriptions in the foregoing specification, those skilled in the art can make changes and modifications to the above embodiments. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and described above, and some equivalent modifications and changes to this disclosure should also be within the scope of protection of the claims of this disclosure. Furthermore, although this specification uses some specific terms, these terms are only for convenience of explanation and do not constitute any limitation on the invention.

Claims

1. A shoe insole with bendable properties, characterized in that, It comprises a one-piece molded sheet-like body, the constituent material of which includes a thermoplastic resin, wherein: The body includes a bend that extends toward a shorter side of the body to one of its opposite two edges; and The bend protrudes toward one of the surfaces of the body and is concave to form a U-shaped structure and a corresponding gap.

2. The insole with bendable properties as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bend divides the body into a proximal end and a distal end. The ratio of the length of the proximal end to the length of the distal end along a long side of the body is between 0.25 and 0.

6. The height of the gap is between 2 and 4 millimeters, and the width of the gap is between 3 and 9 millimeters.

3. The insole with bendable properties as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The body is composed of a fiber composite material, which is a composite of the thermoplastic resin and a fiber material, wherein: The thermoplastic resin comprises polycarbonate, polyamide, thermoplastic polyester elastomer, polyurethane, polyacetal, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, or a combination thereof; and The fiber material may be carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, basalt fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, or a combination thereof.

4. The insole with bendable properties as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The fiber composite material comprises a continuous fiber composite material, and at least a portion of the length of the continuous fiber is the same as the length of the long side of the body.

5. The insole with bendable properties as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The body includes two bends, and the two bends are recessed toward the same surface of the body or toward two opposite surfaces of the body.

6. The insole with bendable properties as described in claim 5, characterized in that, At least a portion of the two bends are connected to each other, and a connecting structure is included between the two bends, with each end of the connecting structure connected to the two bends respectively.

7. The insole with bendable properties as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The thickness of the body gradually increases at the far end along the long side away from the bend.

8. The insole with bendable properties as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The far end of the body is a non-planar surface.

9. The insole with bendable properties as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The body is at least partially encapsulated by a covering material to form a composite insole, wherein the hardness of the covering material is less than that of the body, and the covering material comprises ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer or a combination thereof.

10. The insole with bendable properties as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The surface of the body covers more than 80% of the area of ​​the composite insole.

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