Patent Application
20240090616
The disclosure relates to footwear, and more particularly to footwear capable of reducing strain on joints of feet during walking.
In general, footwear refers to things that people wear on their feet when standing or walking on the ground. The footwear includes a cushion for foot health. The footwear with the cushion is also beneficial to a wearer's knee and back.
The conventional technology of the footwear has already been disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2013-0071160. This invention is to keep a foot healthy by providing a multilayered cushion in a lower portion of a shoe.
However, the shoe with the cushion cannot avoid thickening of a sole. Further, the cushion lacks elasticity in a horizontal direction for the sake of elasticity in a vertical direction, and thus causes a problem that the sole is not bent well. When a wearer walks, a metatarsophalangeal joint area gets bent a lot. In particular, when a wearer does a vigorous exercise such as running, the metatarsophalangeal joint area gets bent more.
In particular, if the sole of the shoe is thick and is less elastic in the horizontal direction, more power is needed and joints are strained to fold the metatarsophalangeal joint area. To solve this, there has been released a product which is hollow or has a corrugated sole so that the shoe can be readily bent. However, the released products still have problems that power is needed to bend the metatarsophalangeal joint area and inconvenience is caused by tripping over a step, etc. or catching foreign materials therein even though the shoe is relatively easily bent.
An aspect of the disclosure is to provide footwear, in which a cushion layer is effectively bent even though an outsole of footwear has a thick cushion layer to distribute weight, thereby putting no stain on movement during walking.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided footwear including: an upper surrounding a wearer's foot; a supporter disposed below the upper and supporting the foot; and a walking assister mounted to a mounting groove of the supporter to be adjacent to a metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot and shaped like a torsion spring to generate elasticity in a lengthwise direction of the supporter, wherein the walking assister is compressed in a mid-stance motion of the wearer, and restored in a toe-off motion of the wearer, and the walking assister comprises a first frame area disposed adjacent to a front region of the mounting groove, a second frame area disposed adjacent to a back region of the mounting groove, and an elastic area connecting top portions of the first and second frame areas and generating elasticity between the first and second frame areas.
The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, embodiments are not limited to the following embodiments set forth herein, but may be implemented in various forms. The following embodiments are provided in order to fully describe the disclosure and enable those skilled in the art to understand the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings, the shapes, etc. of the elements may be exaggerated for clearer description, and like numerals refer to like elements.
As shown in
In general, as shown in
Thus, the supporters 1200 and 1300 of the footwear 1000 are required to have a thick cushion layer for weight distribution and be effectively bent in a region adjacent to the metatarsophalangeal joint.
Further, as shown in
Referring back to
The uppers 1100 may have various shapes according to the kinds of footwear 1000. For example, the uppers 1100 form an overall upper region of the footwear 1000 and serve to protect a wearer's foot. Further, the midsole 1200 is interposed between the uppers 1100 and the outsole 1300 and provides cushioning. Further, the outsole 1300 is placed beneath the midsole 1200, and strikes the ground. Here, the midsole 1200 and the outsole 1300 are provided to form the supporters 1200 and 1300 of the footwear 1000.
Meanwhile, the walking assister 100 is provided as an elastic body.
For example, the walking assister 100 may be made of a material of which elasticity is high in a horizontal direction, i.e., in a lengthwise direction of the footwear 1000. The walking assister 100 may be provided in the outsole 1300 or in both the outsole 1300 and the midsole 1200.
For example, the walking as sisters 100 are placed to be adjacent to the metatarsophalangeal joint, and form a pair below the metatarsophalangeal joint so that the metatarsophalangeal joint can be positioned between the pair of walking assisters 100. Further, the walking assisters 100 may be provided as a single body and placed below the metatarsophalangeal joint. However, this is merely to describe this embodiment, and at least one walking assister 100 or two or more multiple walking assisters 100 may be provided.
Further, the walking assisters 100 may be mounted to cross the outsole 1300 or to cross the outsole 1300 and the midsole 1200 in a widthwise direction of the footwear 1000. However, this is merely to describe this embodiment, and at least an area of the walking assister 100 may be surrounded by the midsole 1200 or the outsole 1300.
Further, the walking as sister 100 may be formed with a bottom side longer than a top side. For example, the walking assister 100 may be formed to have a trapezoidal cross-section in the lengthwise direction of the footwear 1000.
Thus, a front region of the footwear 1000 is provided to face upward at an angle of 10˜40° by the walking assister 100. In other words, the walking assister 100 having the trapezoidal cross-section in the lengthwise direction may bend a toe-side region of the footwear 1000 upward as compared with that of the conventional footwear. Therefore, toes of a wearer who wears the footwear 1000 are oriented upward.
Meanwhile, the walking assister 100 may include a first assister 110 disposed forward in with respect to the metatarsophalangeal joint, and a second assister 120 disposed backward with respect to the metatarsophalangeal joint.
In this case, the first assister 110 and the second assister 120 may be different in angle at which the outsole is bent. For example, a degree of bending the outsole 1300 may be varied depending on the use of the footwear 1000. When the outsole 1300 is bent at an angle of 60˜90°, the first assister 110 allows the front region of the outsole to be bent at an angle of 15˜25° and the second assister 120 allows the back region of the outsole to be bent at an angle of 45˜65°.
Further, the first as sister 110 and the second assister 120 may have the bottom sides longer than the top sides so as to smoothly assist walking when the outsole 1300 is bent. In this case, the bottom side of the first as sister 110 may be lengthened in the frontward direction, and the bottom side of the second assister 120 may be lengthened in the backward direction. Therefore, the first as sister 110 assists the front region of the outsole 1300 in being more easily stretched and bent, and the second assister 120 assists the back region of the outsole 1300 in being more easily stretched and bent.
As shown in
Further, even when a wearer is in a driving or sitting position, dorsal flexion where the wearer's toes are bent toward the dorsum of the foot is maintained. Thus, a wearer's toes are oriented upward when wearing the footwear 1000, thereby maintaining the foot comfortable even in a driving or sitting position.
In this way, the walking assister 100 assists a part of the foot, which is bent the most, i.e., a metatarsophalangeal joint area, i.e., in being easily bent. Further, the walking assister 100 uses elasticity to assist motion of lifting the heel of the foot in the toe-off phase where the highest energy is consumed.
In other words, conventional footwear requires power for bending a lower region of the footwear when the metatarsophalangeal joint area is bent in the toe-off phase.
On the other hand, the footwear 1000 according to the first embodiment includes the walking assister 100 so that the supporters 1200 and 1300 of the footwear 1000 can be easily bent, thereby reducing energy consumed during the walking. Accordingly, the footwear 1000 needs less force for the joints and their surroundings and the foot is not strained, thereby having effects on preventing various possible diseases in the foot.
Below, motion of a foot wearing the footwear during walking will be described. However, repetitive descriptions will be avoided, and like numerals refer to like elements throughout.
As shown in
Then, a gait is switched over from the mid stance phase to the toe-off phase. Thus, when a wearer first lifts the heel, the walking assister 100 assists the wearer's metatarsophalangeal joint in being easily bent as the contracted lower region returns to its original shape. In addition, the walking assister 100 assists the heel in being lifted. Because the metatarsophalangeal joint is easily bent, the stress on the metatarsophalangeal joint is relieved to thereby prevent metatarsophalangeal arthralgia, interdigital neuralgia, etc. Further, there is an advantage of reducing overall energy consumption during walking.
Below, footwear according to a second embodiment will be described in detail. However, repetitive descriptions will be avoided, and like numerals refer to like elements throughout.
As shown in
The mounting groove 2000a is provided to be adjacent to the metatarsophalangeal joint, and forms a pair below the metatarsophalangeal joint so that the metatarsophalangeal joint can be positioned between a pair of mounting grooves 2000a. However, the mounting groove 2000a may be provided as a single body and positioned below the metatarsophalangeal joint. Alternatively, two or more multiple mounting grooves may be provided.
The mounting groove 2000a may be provided to cross the outsole 2300 or to cross the outsole 2300 and the midsole 2200, i.e., the supporters 2200 and 2300 in the widthwise direction of the footwear. Further, the mounting groove 2000a may be formed with a lower portion longer than an upper portion in the lengthwise direction of the footwear. However, this is merely to describe this embodiment, and there are no limits to the shape of the mounting groove.
Meanwhile, the walking as sister 200 is mounted to the mounting groove 2000a.
For example, the walking assister 200 may be shaped like a torsion spring. The walking assister 200 may include a first frame area 210, a second frame area 220, and an elastic area 230 to provide elasticity in a parallel direction, i.e. in the lengthwise direction of the footwear 2000.
The first frame area 210 is installed to be adjacent to an internal front region of the mounting groove 2000a, and the second frame area 220 is installed to be adjacent to an internal back region of the mounting groove 2000a. Further, the elastic area 230 is disposed to be adjacent to an internal upper region of the mounting groove 2000a, and connects the first frame area 210 and the second frame area 220 so that the walking assister 200 can provide elasticity in the horizontal direction.
Accordingly, the mounting groove 2000a adjacent to the metatarsophalangeal joint is usually opened in the lower region by the walking assister 200. Thus, a wearer's toes wearing the footwear 2000 is kept bent upward.
Further, when a foot has mid-stance motion during walking, the supporters 2200 and 2300 of the footwear 2000 are compressed by the wearer's weight and the lower region of the mounting groove 2000a becomes narrowed. In this case, the first frame area 210 and the second frame area 220 of the walking as sister 200 are close to each other, and urged to return to their original shapes by elasticity in the horizontal direction.
Then, a gait is switched over from the mid stance phase to the toe-off phase. In this case, when a wearer lifts the heel, the narrowed first and second frame areas 210 and 220 of the walking assister 200 become widened, thereby making the mounting groove 2000a be easily opened.
Because the metatarsophalangeal joint is easily bent, the stress on the metatarsophalangeal joint is relieved to thereby prevent metatarsophalangeal arthralgia, interdigital neuralgia, etc. Further, there is an advantage of reducing overall energy consumption during walking.
As shown in
The walking assisters 300a and 300b may include a first assister 300a and a second assister 300b. As shown in
Thus, the first assister 300a causes the front of the footwear 3000 to bend upwards by 20 to 30° with respect to the metatarsophalangeal joint in a normal state where a wearer is wearing the footwear 3000 or in a heel strike motion. In other words, the first assister 300a causes a wearer's toes to remain bent upwards in a state that no force is exerted on the first assister 300a or in the heel strike motion.
Then, when the foot has a mid-stance motion during walking, the first assister 300a of the footwear 3000 is compressed by the wearer's weight and a space between the first frame area and the second frame area becomes narrow. In this case, the first frame area and the second frame area of the first assister 300a become close to each other, but have properties of returning to their original shapes by elasticity in a horizontal direction.
Then, a gait is switched over from the mid-stance motion to the toe-off motion. In this case, when a wearer lifts the heel, the first frame area and the second frame area of the first assister 300a are spaced apart from each other and a space between the first frame area and the second frame area becomes wide easily.
In addition, the first assister 300a may relieve strain on the toes and the metatarsophalangeal joint when a wearer is driving while wearing the footwear 3000. For example, a wearer moves his or her feet to press the brake or accelerator while sitting during driving. Thus, the toes are in a dorsiflexion state. However, this stance may cause strain on the toes and the metatarsophalangeal joint. To prevent the strain on the toes and the metatarsophalangeal joint, the first assister 300a causes the toes to bend upwards.
Meanwhile, the second assister 300b is provided in back of the first assister 300a and assists a wearer in walking. The second assister 300b assists the back of the foot in stretching based on the elasticity after being compressed by the wearer's weight when switching over from the mid-stance motion to the toe-off motion. In general, when a wearer walks while wearing the footwear 3000 for a long time, a force exerted on the plantar fascia may accumulate and progress to plantar fasciitis. However, the second assister 300b exerts a force toward the rear of the footwear 3000 so that the back of the foot can relax easily relaxed. Accordingly, a wearer can be protected against the plantar fasciitis.
The first assister 300a and the second assister 300b may be made of a lightweight and durable plastic material. For example, the first assister 300a and the second assister 300b may be made of materials such as reinforced nylon, polycarbonate, and acetal resin.
Reinforced nylon may be preferred as the sole of the footwear 300 because it provides excellent strength and abrasion resistance while being lightweight. Polycarbonate may be preferable as the sole of the footwear 300 because it is lightweight while ensuring strength and heat resistance. Acetal resin may be preferred as the sole of the footwear 300 because it has a similar strength to metal and excellent in abrasion resistance and durability.
Meanwhile, the positions of the metatarsophalangeal joint and toes may be different for each user who is wearing the footwear 3000. Thus, the footwear 3000 may be customized for each individual. In manufacturing the footwear 3000, the first assister 300a may be customized corresponding to the positions of the metatarsophalangeal joint and toes for each individual.
As shown in
The upper 4100, the midsole 4200, the sole 4300, the first assister 400a, and the second assister 400b may be provided in the same shapes as those of the footwear 3000 according to the third embodiment. Further, the auxiliary elastic body 500 is provided between the first frame area and the second frame area of each of the first assister 400a and the second assister 400b, thereby providing additional elasticity. For example, the auxiliary elastic body 500 may be made of a material based on neoprene, silicone, and polyurethane.
Neoprene may be preferable as the auxiliary elastic body because it is excellent in durability, safety, and elasticity. Further, Neoprene may be suitable as the sole of the footwear 300 because it is highly waterproof. Silicone may be suitable as the auxiliary elastic body because it is excellent in durability, flexibility, and elasticity. Further, silicone may be suitable as the sole of the footwear 3000 because it is easily processed to have various colors and designs. Polyurethane may be suitable as the sole of the footwear 3000 because it is durable and easy to process and manufacture, and may be suitable as the auxiliary elasticity because it has high flexibility and elasticity.
Like this, the footwear according to the disclosure relieves stress on the metatarsophalangeal joint during a wearer's wearing and walking, and thus has effect on preventing various diseases and maintaining the foot comfortable.
Footwear according to the disclosure has effects on preventing various diseases as stress on a metatarsophalangeal joint is relieved during a wearer's wearing and walking, and maintaining a foot comfortable as weak force is enough to bend an outsole during walking and it is thus easy to assist the walking.
The foregoing technical effects of the disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical effects will become apparent to those skilled in the art by the following descriptions.
The embodiments of the disclosure described above and illustrated in the drawings should not be interpreted as limiting the technical concept of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is defined by appended claims, and various improvements and modifications can be made in the technical concept of the disclosure by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, such improvements and modifications fall within the scope of the disclosure as long as they are obvious to those skilled in the art.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2021-0087939 | Jul 2021 | KR | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/530,057 filed on Nov. 18, 2021, which claims the benefit Korean Patent Application 10-2021-0087939 dated Jul. 5, 2021, the contents of which is all hereby incorporated by reference herein their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17530057 | Nov 2021 | US |
| Child | 18520256 | US |
