Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PLANTAR FOR REFLEXOLOGICAL STIMULATION
DESCRIPTION
The present invention refers to an insole of a type apt to be employed for
reflexological stimulation of the sole of the foot in order to perform a
vertical
pressure stimulation thereof.
Several kinds of insoles are known, insertable into shoes or incorporated
therein,
aiming at stimulating selected zones of the sole of the foot for
reflexological
purposes, e.g. for improving or correcting a subject's walking or posture.
However, known insoles generally perform an undifferentiated stimulation of
the
various areas of the sole of the foot, and therefore are not selective with
respect to the
specific stimulation that can be more indicated for each single reflexological
area or
area portion. Therefore, the known insoles are less than satisfactory in terms
of
attainable therapeutic results.
Hence, the technical problem set and solved by the present invention is to
provide an
insole for reflexological stimulation overcoming the drawbacks mentioned above
with reference to the known art.
Such a problem is solved by an insole according to claim 1.
Preferred features of the present invention are present in the dependent
claims
thereof.
The present invention provides several relevant advantages. The main advantage
lies
in that the insole of the invention, by having elastic elements of different
rigidity
and/or height in different zones of the sole of the foot, allows to attain a
specific and
selective stimulation and support.
Other advantages, features and the operation modes of the present invention
will be
made apparent in the following detailed description of some embodiments
thereof,
given by way of a non-limiting example. Reference will be made to the figures
of the
annexed drawings, wherein:
~ Figure 1 shows a partially sectional perspective view of an embodiment of
the
insole according to the present invention when inserted in a sports shoe and
worn
on by a user;
~ Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the insole of Figure 1; and
~ Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the insole, taken along line A-A of
Figure 2.
Initially referring to Figures 2 and 3, an insole for reflexological
stimulation of the
sole of the foot according to an embodiment of the invention is generally
denoted by
1. The insole 1 is of a type apt to be removably extracted and inserted into a
shoe.
The insole 1 comprises a bottom layer 2 apt to contact the shoe insole and a
top layer
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3 apt to contact the subject's sole of the foot. Between said layers 2 and 3
it is
received a plurality of elastic elements, generally denoted by 4, extending in
a
direction substantially orthogonal to the sole of the foot and arranged at
selected
reflexological areas thereof to perform said stimulation.
Preferably, the bottom layer 2 is made of flexible PVC and has a thickness of
about 1
mm. Always according to a preferred embodiment, the top layer 3 is made of a
material soft to the touch.
The bottom layer 2 and the top layer 3 are fixed therebetween, e.g., glued, at
the
periphery of the insole. The perimeter of the insole 1 may also be reinforced
by linear
seams. Moreover, a fixing between the two layers of the insole, by glueing
lines
and/or perimeter seams, may be provided also at the periphery of each
reflexological
area at which the elastic elements are arranged, as schematically shown in
Figure 2,
so as to provide a containment casing or cell for the elastic elements 4
arranged in
said area.
Preferably, between the top layer 3 and the elastic elements 5 it is also
provided an
additional intermediate layer 6, made e.g. of Para rubber, to improve the
comfort of
the subject wearing the insole 1.
In the present embodiment the elastic elements 4 are helical compression
springs,
each having a first end 41 fixed onto the bottom layer 2 and a second end 42
apt to
act onto the sole of the foot. For this purpose, at said second end 42 each
elastic
element has a coupling means 5 for coupling to the sole of the foot, which in
the
present embodiment is implemented by an element substantially hemisphere- dome-
or drop-shaped preferably made of an elastic material like, e.g., silicone,
Indian
rubber (caoutchouc) or Para rubber.
Always according to a preferred embodiment, the coupling means 5 has a height
comprised in a range of about 1 - 1.5 mm and a plan width equal to about (2x2)
mm.
The coupling means 4 makes the resting of the sole of the foot onto the insole
comfortable, and propagates the pressure wave to an area of the reflexological
zones
of the sole of the foot without creating decubitus ulcers or irritations.
According to a preferred embodiment, the main body of the elastic elements
comprised between the two ends 41 and 42 is made of an elastic fiber material,
like,
e.g. carbon fiber or tempered steel having controlled deflection, i.e.,
specific for the
weight to which it has to be subjected and therefore for the patient's
anthropometric
characteristics.
As it is shown in Figure 2, in the present embodiment the elastic elements 4
are
arranged in sets at reflexological areas corresponding to the adductor
hallucis, the
flexor hallucis brevis, the flexor digiti minimi brevis pedis, the abductor
digiti
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minimi brevis pedis, the supinator wedge, the pronator wedge and the abductor
hallucis.
As it is known to those skilled in the art, insole reflexology consists in the
stimulation of determined points of the sole of the foot, basically
corresponding to
the muscle insertions of the so-called intrinsic muscles maintaining the foot
arches,
with which it is possible to influence the general physiology of human body
for
therapeutic purposes. In particular, a therapeutic correction of the ascending
postural
anomalies is possible.
In general, the elastic elements 4 are apt to perform a proprioceptive,
exteroceptive,
pressoceptive and/or reflex triggering stimulation for correcting
musculoskeletal,
myofascial and/or vascular disorders; for this purpose, they are arranged in
correspondence of exteroceptors, proprioceptors, pressoceptors and/or any
other
reflexological point of the sole of the foot. Said proprioceptors,
exteroceptors,
pressoceptors and reflexological points, of superficial, articular and deep
type, are
basically located at the muscle insertions of the sole of the foot.
Of course, variant embodiments could provide elastic elements arranged in
correspondence of any other point of exteroceptive, pressoceptive and reflex
triggering stimulation of the sole of the foot, in association or not in
association with
the seven proprioceptive points indicated above.
The rigidity and/or the height of the elastic elements 4 is differentiated in
different '
zones of the sole of the foot. In particular, Figure 2 shows an exemplary map
of the
distribution of the elastic elements 4 in said selected areas. The elastic
elements
depicted as darker and denoted by 401 in said figure have a height and
rigidity greater
than the elements depicted as lighter and denoted by 402; this in order to act
also as
support in the various reflexological points of the sole of the foot. Hence,
in the
present embodiment it is provided that the height and the rigidity of the
elastic
elements 4 are greater at the centre of each of said selected reflexological
areas of the
sole of the foot.
It will be understood that the shape, the height and the elasticity of each
elastic
element may be selected so as to attain a correct reflexotherapic stimulation
of the
proprioceptors, exteroceptors, pressoceptors and reflexological points in
general of
the sole of the foot in each specific patient and for each specific pathology.
Said
parameters are selected on the basis of therapeutic indications referring to
the patient
who should wear on the insole 1.
Referring also- to Figure 1, during walking the elastic elements 4 deflect
under the
subject's load and then gradually return, as the load is eliminated, in the
extended
condition at rest. Preferably, the rigidity of the elastic elements 4, or of
at least part
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thereof, is such that those, under the maximum load exerted by the subject,
reduce
their height of about 1/3 or of about 1/2.
It will be appreciated that the insole 1 provides not only a pressure
stimulation, but,
by virtue of the spring-like implementation of the elastic elements, also a
vibratory
stimulation, above all when the elastic elements are made of metal; hence, the
stimulation actually is a two-fold one.
Of course, the insole of the invention is susceptible of several embodiments
alternative to the one described hereto. E.g., it may be permanently
incorporated into
a shoe instead of being removable with respect thereto.
Moreover, the elastic elements could provide an embodiment different from the
above-illustrated one, e.g. by replacing, in some or all of the elements, the
helical
springs with spiral compression springs.
Moreover, according to a variant embodiment it is possible to provide
additional
stiinulation areas arranged below the toes, schematically depicted as hatched
in
Figure 2 and denoted by 7, for the therapy of hammer or en griffe toes.
The present invention has hereto been described with reference to preferred
embodiments thereof. It is understood that there could be other embodiments
referable to the same inventive concept, all however falling within the
protective
scope of the claims set forth hereinafter.
