Patent Application
20200288811
Original Non-Provisional Application
The benefits of wearing insoles are well known in the fields of sports medicine and health sciences. There are a number of common foot ailments which may be associated with either a particular lifestyle activity or a pre-existing medical condition. Runners, for instance, often suffer from plantar fasciitis, wherein the band of tissue between the toes and the heel become tight and tear, while those living and coping with diabetic neuropathy require additional stimulation across the base of the foot to increase circulation. To address these conditions people often seek out therapeutic massage to encourage oxygenation, venous return, and increased lymphatic return in order to relieve pain and reduce fatigue.
Use of an insole designed to massage and stimulate the tissues of the foot can provide immediate relief as well as long-term benefits in addressing these issues. A dynamic insole is one which massages the foot by transferring an internal fluid across the plantar surface of the foot in response to changing pressures produced when the wearer shifts their weight.
During physical activity an insole also provides protection to the foot and throughout the skeletal system by absorbing shock and pressure endured when standing for long periods of time, walking, or running. In the case of a dynamic insole, the protection is further bolstered, when compared to a traditional foam insole, as the internal fluid is able to rapidly move across the arch in order to absorb and disperse the force of the impact across a larger area of the foot.
A study done by The Ohio State University in 2018 quantified the benefits of a dynamic insole. The purpose of the research was to assess the effects of different insoles configurations (i.e., no additional insole, a static insole, and a dynamic insole) on the measured tibial acceleration while walking while wearing athletic shoes and while wearing work boots. Table 1 summarizes the measured acceleration while walking across the various insoles and shoe type.
The complete results were published as “Quantifying the effectiveness of static and dynamic insoles in reducing the tibial shock experienced during walking” (2019, Lavender et al.)
The present invention is a therapeutic insole which may be installed by the user on top of the existing insole of the footwear. The insole is designed with a sealed chamber which may extend across the toe, arch, or heel portion of the foot—or across any combination therein. This chamber is filled with a fluid substance that can traverse across the chamber in response to changes in pressure caused by a weight shift by the wearer. The fluid may consist of any number of materials including gas, liquid, or gel-like substance. The movement of the fluid serves to massage the foot muscles and tendons, promote the release of toxins, and encourage circulation. The chamber may also have areas with restrictions or unique shapes which restrict and guide the fluid for maximum effectiveness.
As each foot is unique, a retailer may be challenged to maintain shelf space to accommodate the large variety of products. The insole needs to be personally matched not only to match the user's requirements to their different activities or support level but also to the size and shape of each foot. Herein, the present invention also discloses an apparatus and method for adjusting the size and changing features without the use of tools, thus allowing the retailer to carry a limited number of products while accommodating a broad span of consumer needs.
Any activity where a person is on their feet for a length of time can result in foot pain or fatigue. More stressful activities, such as running, can cause impact injuries which directly affect the foot and transfer throughout joints of the skeletal system. The therapeutic insole 100 disclosed employs a dynamic fluid layer 26 to provide both cushion to minimize impact and immediate therapy to the plantar tissues of the foot. Furthermore, the therapeutic insole 100 works by stimulating the muscles under the foot and promoting circulation deep into the toes—critical to those living and coping with diabetic neuropathy. This increase in circulation provides a natural healing approach while soothing damaged nerves and stimulating muscles. Users who use such an insole report impressive improvements in comfort and pain management.
Sections of the therapeutic insole 100 are shown in
The base layer 12 is manufactured as a single piece and the bottom surface of the base layer 52 is shown in
Common materials used for the base layer 12 and the upper layer 10 may include closed cell foam, carbon fibers, elastic rubber, microfiber, or any other flexible material. In the preferred embodiment, the material for the base layer 12 and upper layer 10 is TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane, which is extremely flexible and durable. The base layer 12 and upper layer 10 may also include a layer designed with a perspiration-absorbing system.
The upper layer 10 may be peripherally bound and sealed to the base layer 12 by means of ultrasonic welding, adhesives, stitching, or other mechanical means. The chamber 38 between the upper layer 10 and base layer 12 may reside exclusively in the heel section 14, intermediate arch section 24, or toe sections 18; or there may be a plurality of chambers 38 disposed across any combination of these sections. In the preferred embodiment, the chamber 38 extends across the distal end of the intermediate arch 24 and proximal edge of the heel section 14.
As shown in
The fluid substance 26 may comprise a liquid, gas, or gel or some combination therein. The fluid 26 is configured to traverse across the chamber 38. When the fluid 26 is a non-compressible material, such as a liquid or gel, the chamber 38 is not filled to the full capacity, so that the fluid 26 can transfer from one section to the other. When the fluid 26 is a gas, the pressure of the chamber 38 is configured such that it is capable of further compression under the weight of the user.
Similar series of perforated arrangements for sizing the toe section 18 may be made in the base material 12 of the heel section 14, wherein the perforations are inset from the proximal peripheral edge of the heel 34.
The following example is provided to illustrate a method of use whereby the user may possess an unaltered factory insole which is preconfigured to fit a large shoe sizes (such as men's 11-13). If the user requires a smaller size, he/she may tear at the first perforation 20 to accommodate a medium shoe size (such as men's 9-10.5), or tear at the second perforation 22 to accommodate a small shoe size (such as men's 7-8.5).
In the preferred embodiment, the series of perforations 20 and 22 are created in the base material through a die cutting process. It is common for perforated materials created by die cut methods to have a series of cuts regularly spaced across the face of the material which passes from the top side of the material and through the bottom side of the material. Perforations in a durable material, such as TPU, may be difficult to tear with the common method of perforation described.
A unique feature of the therapeutic insole 100 is the ability for the user to configure the insole to function with thong sandals. Thong sandals are generally defined as having a strap, pipe, or post which passes between the big toe (first phalanges of the foot) and the second toe (second phalanges of the foot) to connect the midfoot strap and the sole of the shoe. In one embodiment the therapeutic insole 100 may be designed with a strap plug 46 formed within the base material 12 and generally corresponding between the first and second phalanges of the user to create an opening for the post of the thong sandal. The strap plug 46 may be removed by the user to create an opening within the base material 12 through which the thong strap may pass through. The strap plug 46 may preferably be elliptically shaped and have a diameter greater than 5 mm. Additionally, a strap insertion path 56 comprising a generally straight line connecting from the peripheral edge of the base material to the edge of the strap plug 46 and intended to be cut or torn by the user such that the user may position the therapeutic insole on the pre-existing factory insole without removing the thong strap from the sole of the shoe. The strap plug 46 and strap insertion path 56 may be formed as a perforation during the die cut process and may be formed by deep cuts 42, shallow cuts 44, or a combination therein as described within this specification.
The therapeutic insole 100 may further comprise an adhesive layer on the bottom of the base layer 52 to aid in positioning the therapeutic insole to the existing insole of the shoe. The adhesive layer is preferably configured as adhesive strip 54 with a non-adhesive release liner. Alternatively, the adhesive layer may cover the entirety of the bottom of the base layer 52 and wherein there are deep cut 44 perforations present in the bottom of the base layer 42, the adhesive layer may also be perforated.
