Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02804655 2013-01-08
Support clasp for shoe inserts
Description
The invention relates to an orthopedic shoe insert to support and guide the
foot and provides novel
insert cores for shoe inserts, which comprise a support clasp extending
essentially longitudinal in
reference to the insert core with mutually linked diagonally extending support
arms.
Orthopedic shoe inserts are commonly inserted into shoes and here act to
compensate or distribute
forces in order to support the foot, particularly the arch of the foot, and to
guide it in its natural
progression of motion. This way the static of the entire body can be improved
"from the ground
up," by the insert returning the joints of the foot and consequently also the
knee and hip joints into
their physiologically correct position or holding them there. Thus, shoe
inserts can contribute not
only to easing acute foot ailments but they can also be used for the
prophylaxis and therapy of
complaints and diseases of the knee joint, the hip, the pelvis, as well as the
spinal cord. Indications
for orthopedic shoe inserts are in particular faulty alignment of the knee and
hip, splayfoot,
flatfoot, and hollow foot.
In general, shoe inserts are embodied as "long-sole" variants, covering the
entire inner sole in a
shoe and thus the heel, ball, and toes of the foot. Other variants are
shorter, so-called three-fourth
inserts, which extend from the heel to the ball of the foot. The positioning
of the shoe insert at the
foot occurs generally via the heel. Here a recess, material thinning, or a
more elastic upholstery
element may be provided by which the heel section of the insert is centered at
the ball of the heel.
Orthopedic shoe inserts of prior art are designed laminar comprising several
material layers.
Generally at least one upholstering coating or cover layer is provided at the
top facing the foot as
well as a mechanically stable, shaping, supportive, and if applicable
upholstering layer on the
bottom facing the shoe. In order to provide the insert with the supporting and
guiding function
required for its operation additionally a mechanically solid stiffening
element may be provided,
which during production is inserted into or between the material layers in a
manner known per se
and is mechanically connected thereto. The supportive effect of such
stiffening elements or "insert
cores" is frequently insufficient in orthopedic inserts of prior art,
primarily when the insert cannot
be individually adjusted to the weight of the patient or the therapy, for
example. Additionally, a
guiding function is desired which controls the rolling behavior of the foot
and allows a
physiological line of motion, to the extent possible. Inserts of prior art can
fulfill this operational
function sometimes only to a very insufficient extent. Additionally,
orthopedic inserts of prior art
show a large volume in order to achieve the mechanic stability required for
their functionality, and
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then usually need shoes particularly adjusted to the inserts, which leave
sufficient space above the
footbed. Accordingly the applications for orthopedic shoe inserts of prior art
are limited in
standard shoes.
It is desirable to further develop orthopedic shoe inserts in order to
overcome the above-mentioned
disadvantages. It is desirable that in an essentially identical design of the
inserts, particularly
during production, adjustments to the patient can be implemented easily with
regards to the
support function and/or guiding function. The provision of a novel
construction is also here in the
forefront, which allows a simplified production of a series of inserts with
differently embodied
mechanic support or guidance function in the very same automated production
process,
simultaneously reducing the setup time.
In one aspect, the invention provides a supporting insert core for a shoe
insert to support or guide a
foot, with the insert core containing a carrier and a support clasp arranged
therein, particularly
comprising a mechanically stronger material, which can provide the mechanic
support function or
guiding function of the entire insert. According to one aspect of the
invention, the support clasp
comprises essentially diagonally extending support arms intersecting, i.e.
linked to each other
particularly in the area of the arch of the foot, which taper towards the
opposite ends of the insert
core. At least two rear support arms and at least one frontal support arm or
at least two frontal
support arms and at least one rear support arm are provided, which form the
support clasp of the
insert core. According to one aspect of the invention, the support arms each
extend diagonally in
the insert core and preferably essentially along its longitudinal extension
and thus the shoe insert.
Here two respective support arms, essentially diagonally opposite each other,
form a support
bridge as the supporting element of the support clasp. According to the
invention a first support
bridge is intersected by additional support bridges, also formed by support
arms essentially
diagonally opposite each other. The support clasp is therefore preferably
arranged in the insert core
such that it extends in its longitudinal extension essentially along the
longitudinal extension of the
insert core or preferably the insert itself. This way, the intersected support
arms and/or the support
arches preferably extend essentially from the heel or the transition of the
arch of the foot and the
heel to the ball of the toes.
Thus, the invention provides to arrange a support clasp inside the insert
core, comprising a carrier
essentially made from at least or precisely two intersecting support bridges,
which extend mutually
linked diagonally in the insert core. Here it is provided that this support
clasp essentially performs
the mechanical support and guiding function of the insert core and thus the
entire shoe insert, with
the insert core being a component thereof.
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In one aspect, the present invention provides an insert core for an orthopedic
shoe insert,
comprising: a carrier, and a rigid support clasp arranged in the carrier, said
support clasp
comprising: a first and a second rear support arm and a first and a second
frontal support arm,
which rear support arms and front support arms intersect in the area of the
arch of the foot, and
taper towards opposite ends of the insert core, the insert core having rear
sections that are aligned
towards the heel, and having frontal sections that are aligned towards the tip
of the foot with
sections respectively facing the inside of the foot forming internal sections
and sections
respectively facing the outside of the foot forming external sections, wherein
the first of said rear
support arms and the second of said frontal arms extend substantially in
diametrically opposite rear
internal sections and frontal external sections, respectively, to form a first
support bridge crossing
the insert core, wherein the second of said rear support arms and the first of
said frontal arms
extend substantially in diametrically opposite rear internal sections and
frontal external sections,
respectively, to form a second support bridge crossing the insert core,
wherein one of said first and
second support bridges is stronger in terms of mechanical support in
comparison with the other of
said first and second support bridges extending transversally thereto.
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Advantageously this insert can be embodied thinner than shoe inserts of prior
art with similar
mechanical support and guiding functions. While shoe inserts of prior art
achieve the support or
guiding function particularly via the great strength of the laminar material
of an elastic foam
material and thus must be particularly thick at the points of the insert
supporting or guiding such
that the insert is bulky and would no longer fit into certain narrow shoes,
according to the teaching
of the present invention a thick, mechanically strong laminar material can be
waived for yielding
the mechanic support or guiding function.
The embodiment of the mechanic support or guiding function of a support arm of
the support clasp
is based in a first embodiment of the insert core according to the invention
in a higher strength
module of the material of the support arm. Alternatively or additionally it
may be based on the
embodiment with a greater material thickness of the insert core in the area of
the support arm. In
an alternative or additional variant the embodiment is based on a greater
material width in the area
of the support arm.
The invention provides that the support clasp in its concrete design and
embodiment can be easily
adjusted inside the insert core to achieve a certain support or guiding
function without thereby the
overall structure of the insert core and thus the entire insert changing,
particularly with regards to
the external dimensions, particularly the thickness of the insert.
Advantageously the other
structures and materials used in the insert can remain unchanged. The
invention therefore allows
particularly to use the very same production process for an insert core and/or
for a shoe insert in
which, with regards to the support or guiding function of the insert,
variously embodied insert
cores can be easily produced in a fully automated fashion.
The different embodiment of the support or guiding function is achieved
according to the invention
particularly such that the support clasp comprises several individually
embodied support arms,
which by changing the material features and/or particularly adjusting/changing
the exterior form
(thickness, width) their mechanic strength can be individually adjusted. For
example, in a second
product charge of the insert core or the insert at least one support arm may
be embodied with a
different material strength and/or particularly a different width than in a
first charge. A wider
and/or thicker support arm leads, particularly locally, to a higher mechanic
strength and thus to a
differently embodied support or guiding function of the insert. Inversely, if
a beneficially reduced
supporting effect and thus a higher mechanic elasticity shall be achieved in a
certain zone of the
insert it is provided for example primarily to embody the support arm
respectively allocated to this
zone/section with a lesser material strength, particularly with a lower width.
Inside the carrier the support clasp is embodied from a mechanically stiffer
(material) in reference
to the other materials of the insert core, here particularly the carrier and
also particularly in
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reference to the other material layers of the shoe insert, which means
embodied more resistant and
showing a higher elasticity module. For this purpose it is provided in a first
embodiment of the
invention that the support clasp is embodied from a stiffer material than the
other elements of the
insert core.
In an alternative or additional embodiment the support clasp represents an
integral part of the
carrier and is embodied in one piece with the carrier and made from the same
material. The
support clasp is distinguished from the carrier particularly by a higher
material strength. This
means, in this case the mechanically stiffer support clasp is achieved by
increasing the material
strength in the section of the carrier forming the support clasp. If here an
individual increase or
reduction of the stiffness of one or more support arms shall be achieved, in
this embodiment it is
provided to increase and/or reduce the material strength locally in the area
of said support arm
and/or preferably to widen and/or narrow the material zone within a variable
zone forming the
support arm in the carrier.
In a first embodiment the insert core is therefore embodied comprising several
parts, i.e. a carrier
and at least one support clasp, which can be produced separately, which
preferably comprises a
different, particularly mechanically stronger material. In an alternative
embodiment the insert core
is therefore embodied in one piece and as one part, with particularly the
carrier and the support
clasp comprising the same material and preferably allowing to be jointly
produced in a uniform
method.
Advantageously the invention allows a simple adjustment or variation of the
mechanic strength of
individual or several support arms of the support clasp within an automated
production process by
a minimal adjustment of the respective tool with a very short setup time. Here
a modular structure
of the insert core and/or the tool is preferred. For example, the invention
allows that within the
very same basic tool for the production of the insert core or the support
clasp or alternatively the
entire insert only individual tool elements need to be exchanged in order to
yield support clasps,
insert cores, and/or complete shoe inserts with certain mechanic support
functions. The automatic
production also comprises the automatic exchange of the partial tool elements
to determine the
mechanic strength of the support clasp according to the specifications of the
control program. The
invention is not limited to the processing principles described here for the
automatic production of
insert cores. For example, applicable are here both injection molding
processes known per se as
well as multilayer lamination processes.
In a preferred embodiment the rigid support clasp represents an injection
molded part. Here
thermoplastic materials, particularly impact resistant ones are preferred.
Preferred are
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polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, and particularly ethylene vinyl
acetate (EVA), as well
as mixtures of these components.
Here, individually adjusted insert cores and inserts can be produced in a most
economic fashion
with regards to the mechanic support function. Simultaneously, by the simple
automation of the
production process the otherwise manually performed individual production or
adjustment
methods of distributed components of prior art are avoided with regards to the
results yielded and
the quality of the product manufactured. The invention allows for the first
time the automated
industrial production of a plurality of individually confectioned orthopedic
shoe inserts in a high,
consistent quality while being highly economical. Similar methods are not
known from prior art.
In detail it is provided that the insert core according to the invention can
be divided into rear
sections, which inside the shoe insert are aligned towards the heel, and
frontal sections, which are
aligned towards the tip of the foot. Further, the insert core can be divided
into internal sections
aligned towards the inside of the foot and external sections aligned towards
the outside of the foot.
Overall here a division into four quadrants results, with a rear internal
section, a rear external
section, a frontal internal section, and a frontal external section. The
invention particularly
provides that a support arm of the support clasp extending at least in a
frontal or in a rear internal
section is embodied differently with regards to its mechanic support function
than at least one
opposite support arm extending in the same frontal and/or rear external
section. For example,
accordingly the rear support arm extending in the internal section shows
different mechanic
features than the other rear support arm, which extends in the external
section. Additionally, it may
be provided for the two frontal support arms that their mechanic stability can
be different in the
same fashion.
In one embodiment in detail those diagonally opposite frontal and rear support
arms, jointly
forming a diagonal support bridge, are embodied adjusted to each other with
regards to their
mechanic stability and support functions and preferably equalized. In variants
it is provided here
that both are embodied respectively mechanically stronger or alternatively
respectively
mechanically weaker than the other support arms of the support clasp.
Accordingly, in a particular
variant it is provided in detail that the frontal support arm extending in the
frontal external section
is embodied stronger in reference to the frontal support arm extending in the
frontal internal
section with regards to its mechanic support function. In a preferred
additional embodiment the
rear support arm extending in the rear external section is embodied weaker
with regards to its
mechanic support function in reference to a rear support arm extending in the
rear internal section.
The frontal and rear support arms extending in the diagonally opposite rear
internal and frontal
external sections form a support bridge, which compared to the other, second
support bridge
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formed by the other support arms extending laterally in reference thereto,
crossing the first support
bridge, are embodied stronger with regards to the mechanic support function.
The objective of the invention also covers an orthopedic shoe insert
comprising the insert core
according to the invention as well as a method for its production. The method
can be performed
automatically: In a first step the insert core may be produced from a carrier
and a support clasp, if
applicable, produced separately and embodied individually with regards to the
mechanic strength.
In a second step the individually produced insert core is assembled in a
conventional end
processing to form a shoe insert.
In a particular embodiment the orthopedic shoe insert is formed from a
structured insert core
according to the invention, combined with a base sole and if applicable a
coating or cover layer
facing the foot. In a first embodiment the insert core is inserted into the
base layer in a manner
known per se and mechanically connected thereto in a fixed manner. In a
particular embodiment
the base layer is formed by a targeted foaming of an insert core according to
the invention and
comprising the insert core as an integrated form part. Here, it may be
provided for example that the
insert core according to the invention is completely surrounded in a molding
process by a formed
mass or is sectionally molded in order to form the orthopedic shoe insert. The
invention is not
limited to this type of production, though. Alternative methods are the
adhesion of the insert core
with other components in order to form the shoe insert. Known methods are here
a layered
adhesion of foam material on the side of the sole core facing away from the
foot and facing the
foot so that it is integrated in the shoe insert formed in this manner.
Additionally, there are other
known methods to form shoe inserts. They may be adjusted by one trained in the
art knowing the
teaching according to the invention such that the insert core according to the
invention can be used
here in order to form a shoe insert. For example, in a first embodiment of the
production method
the insert core is inserted into an injection molding tool and subsequently
one or more plastic form
materials are introduced into the molding tool, particularly injected, namely
such that the insert
core is either sectionally or entirely surrounded or encased by a form
material. The form material
will cure in the mold at the insert core to form the orthopedic shoe insert.
Additionally a cover layer may be provided in the shoe insert in order to
improve skin tolerance
and/or adhesion or gliding features between the core of the insert and the
foot to be cushioned or
supported. In an appropriate embodiment of the production process for this
purpose the insert core
is inserted together with the cover layer directly into the molding tool to
form the base layer and
yielded as a component of the shoe insert. An integral form piece is yielded
in a single production
process. The form piece yielded in this manner can directly be used as an
orthopedic shoe insert
without any substantial additional processing steps.
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The invention is explained in greater detail based on the attached figure and
the description of said
figure, without being limited thereto.
The figure shows an embodiment of the insert core 100 according to the
invention for the use in an
orthopedic insert sole 400. It shows a carrier 200 and a support clasp 300.
The lines X and Y
respectively indicate the division of the insert core into four sections: the
rear internal section 110,
the rear external section 112, the frontal internal section 120, and the
frontal external section 122.
The support clasp 300 comprises mutually linked support arms 310, 320, 312,
322, respectively
extending in the above-mentioned sections 110, 120, 112, and 122. The opposite
support arms 310
and 312, each extending in the rear sections, are embodied mechanically
different according to the
invention such that they can perform a differently strong support function. In
the embodiment
shown this also applies to the two frontal support arms 320 and 322. In the
embodiment shown the
diagonally opposite support arms 310 and 322, extending in the rear internal
section 110 and the
frontal external section 122 opposite thereto, form a mechanically
particularly strong support
bridge, which according to the invention is embodied stronger than the other
support arms 312 and
320 extending intersecting it and perform a stronger support function. The
invention is not
restricted to this concretely shown embodiment.
According to the invention at least one support arm, preferably two diagonally
opposite support
arms, show a higher mechanical strength which can be individually adjusted. In
the figure this is
embodied in the support arms 310 and 322. For this purpose they each show a
variable zone to
implement a material widening 315 and 325 which can be individually adjusted.
The material
widening is embodied variable in the zone 315, 325, so that by a minimal
change in said zone 315,
325 an individual adjustment can be achieved by the means used to produce the
support clasp 300.
For a better positioning and shaping of the insert core with the insert the
insert core optionally
shows a recess 210 in the area of the rear section, which particularly shall
be positioned
underneath the heel of the foot and centered here. Further, the insert core
optionally comprises
material reductions 228, 227, which allow flexible sections 220, 222 for the
adjustment of the
otherwise mechanically stiff insert core to the form of the shoe. The insert
core 100 is an integral
component of the orthopedic insert sole 400.
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