CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201510372628.9, filed on Jun. 30, 2015.
FIELD
The disclosure relates to a shoe insole, and more particularly to a shoe insole that provides cushion and support to a foot of a user and that is capable of assisting movement of the foot in a forward direction.
BACKGROUND
Human feet are subject to impact from running, walking and other activities, which may cause foot injuries. When foot injuries occur, most people will change their gesture or their way of walking in order to reduce pain from the injured site, however, such changes may impose strain on other limb parts or joints, and may result in new injury.
For reducing the foot injuries, a conventional shoe typically includes an outsole, a midsole disposed on the outsole, and an insole disposed on the midsole and opposite to the outsole. The midsole is made of a rigid material for providing stability and sufficient support for the foot, and the insole is made of a resilient material to enhance comfort and cushioning. However, since additional cushioning is needed at areas where a user typically places more weight on the foot, the conventional shoe usually fails to provide satisfying cushioning and comfort, especially for people who have foot or knee deformity, such as flat feet, high arches, bowlegs, or knock knees.
SUMMARY
Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a shoe insole that can alleviate at least the drawback of the prior art.
According to one aspect of the disclosure, the shoe insole includes a fiber pad having a first portion that corresponds in position to a forefoot of a user and that includes a plurality of fiber layers stacked in a top-bottom direction. Each of the fiber layers includes a plurality of fibers and a resin material interconnecting the fibers. The first portion of the fiber pad has a first longitudinal cross-section profile concave relative to the forefoot of the user in a toe-to-heel direction.
Therefore, another object of the disclosure is to provide a slipper that can alleviate at least the drawback of the prior art.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, the slipper includes an upper part for at least covering a forefoot of a user, and the above shoe insole connected to the upper part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a shoe insole according to the disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the first embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an encircled portion in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a fiber pad of the first embodiment sectioned along a toe-to-heel direction;
FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of a first portion of a second embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the fiber pad of the second embodiment sectioned along a transverse direction perpendicular to the toe-to-heel direction;
FIG. 7 is a top view of a third embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure, illustrating the fiber pad sectioned along the toe-to-heel direction;
FIG. 9 is a top view of the fourth embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of a fifth embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the fiber pad of the fifth embodiment sectioned along the toe-to-heel direction;
FIG. 12 is a top view of the fiber pad of the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 13 is a schematic top view of a sixth embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure;
FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of the sixth embodiment;
FIG. 15 is a schematic top view of a seventh embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure;
FIG. 16 is a schematic top view of an eighth embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure;
FIG. 17 is a schematic side view of the eighth embodiment; and
FIG. 18 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a slipper according to the disclosure including the shoe insole in FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a shoe insole according to the disclosure includes a fiber pad 2 and an elastomer body 3.
The fiber pad 2 has a first end 21 that is adjacent to a toe part of a foot of a user (not shown), a second end 22 that is opposite to the first end 21 in a toe-to-heel direction (X), and a first portion 23 that is located between the first and second ends 21, 22 and that corresponds in position to a forefoot of the user. The first portion 23 of the fiber pad 2 includes a plurality of fiber layers 231 (see FIG. 3) stacked in a top-bottom direction (Z) perpendicular to the toe-to-heel direction (X). Each of the fiber layers 231 includes a plurality of fibers 232 and a resin material 233 interconnecting the fibers 232. The fibers 232 are made of, for example, glass fiber, carbon fiber, or an organic material such as rice straw, rush, or other grass-like plant.
During manufacture, the fibers 232 may be first pre formed into sheets, immersed in a thermosetting resin bath or a thermoplastic resin bath, and then stacked and hot-pressed. The resin material 233 is formed after the thermosetting resin or the thermoplastic resin applied to the fibers 232 is solidified.
Referring to FIG. 4, the first portion 23 of the fiber pad 2 has a first longitudinal cross-section profile 24 concave relative to the forefoot of the user in the toe-to-heel direction (X).
The elastomer body 3 encapsulates the fiber pad 2, and has a front end 31 that is proximate to the first end 21 of the fiber pad 2, a rear end 32 that is distal from the first end 21 of the fiber pad 2, and opposite top and bottom surfaces 33, 34 that extend from the front end 31 to the rear end 32. The elastomer body 3 may be made of a flexible plastic material, such as a flexible foam made of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyurethane (PU).
The first portion 23 of the fiber pad 2 provides support to the forefoot of the user, and acts like a seesaw, where a lowermost part 235 (see FIG. 1) of the fiber pad 2 serves as a pivot point. When the user moves in a forward direction, a front part of the first portion 23 of the fiber pad 2 is pressed down as the toe part of the foot steps on the ground. At this time, a rear part of the first portion 23 of the fiber pad 2 is elevated, which assists the foot of the user to move forwardly and upwardly. Compared with the above-mentioned conventional shoe, walking or running speed of the user may be increased, and the user may be able to conserve more energy with the assistance in the forward and upward movement.
In summary, the fiber pad 2 provides stability and support to the foot, and the elastomer body 3 provides comfort and cushioning. Incorporation of the fiber pad 2 into the elastomer body 3 makes the shoe insole suitable for use in a variety of shoes, especially for shoes designed for people with foot or knee deformity. The show insole can counteract the reaction force of the ground and reduce the impact of the foot against the ground during walking and running.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure is similar to the first embodiment. The difference between the first and second embodiments resides in that the first portion 23 of the fiber pad 2 of the second embodiment further has a first transverse cross-section profile 20 concave relative to the forefoot of the user in a transverse direction (Y) which is transverse to the toe-to-heel direction (X), so that the first portion 23 of the fiber pad 2 corresponds in shape to the forefoot. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the head ends of the arrows point to areas that are proximate to the foot of the user. Such ergonomic design enhances wearing comfort.
When walking or running on an uneven surface, the foot may turn inward as it lands on the surface and may be sprained easily. Since the fiber pad 2 corresponds in shape to the forefoot and can assist frontward and upward movement of the foot, the fiber pad 2 provides stability to the foot and lowers the risk of foot sprains.
Referring to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure is similar to the second embodiment. The difference between the second and third embodiments resides in that the fiber pad 2 of the third embodiment further has a second portion 25 that corresponds in position to a midfoot of the user for supporting the midfoot. When the user moves in the forward direction, the second portion 25 of the fiber pad 2 is elevated as the front part of the first portion 23 of the fiber pad 2 is pressed down by the toe part of the foot. In this way, the arch of the foot is assisted by the second portion 25 of the fiber pad 2 to move forwardly and upwardly. The shoe insole of the third embodiment may achieve the same speed-increasing and energy-conserving functions as those of the first embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a fourth embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure is similar to the third embodiment. The difference between the third and fourth embodiments resides in that the second portion 25 of the fiber pad 2 of the fourth embodiment has an area (as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 9) that corresponds in position to the arch of the foot, and that has a second longitudinal cross-section profile convex toward the midfoot of the user in the toe-to-heel direction (X), and a second transverse cross-section profile (sectioned along the arrow (a) in FIG. 9) convex toward the midfoot of the user in the transverse direction (Y).
The longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot distribute strain imposed on the foot, and provide support to the foot during jumping action. The second longitudinal cross-section profile 26 and the transverse cross-section profile are respectively configured to correspond in shape to the inner longitudinal arch and the transverse arch of the foot.
The fiber pad 2 of the fourth embodiment provides arch support. For people with flat feet, the fiber pad 2 of the fourth embodiment may alleviate pain of the foot and reduce the possibility of bone deformity after extensive walking.
It should be noted that in this embodiment, the second longitudinal profile 26 corresponds in shape to the inner longitudinal arch of the foot. In other modifications of the embodiment, the second longitudinal profile 26 may correspond in shape to the outer longitudinal arch of the foot.
Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, a fifth embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure is similar to the fourth embodiment. The difference between the fourth and fifth embodiments resides in that the fiber pad 2 of the fifth embodiment further has a third portion 27 extending from the second portion 25 opposite to the first portion 23 for supporting a rearfoot of the user. The third portion 27 of the fiber pad 2 has two lateral supporting segments 271 that are spaced apart from each other, that extend from the second portion 25 of the fiber pad 2, and that cooperatively define a recess 272 (see FIG. 12) therebetween. The recess 272 corresponds in position to a heel of the rearfoot. As such, lateral sides of the rearfoot of the user are supported while the heel of the rearfoot is in contact with the elastomer body 3, thereby providing support and sufficient comfort to the forefoot.
It should be noted that in other variations of the embodiment, the thickness of the second end 22 of the fiber pad 2 may be greater than that of the first end 21 of the fiber pad 2, and the first end 21 of the fiber pad 2 may be configured to be more flexible than the second end 22 of the fiber pad 2.
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a sixth embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure is similar to the fifth embodiment. The difference between the fifth and sixth embodiments resides in that the fiber pad 2 of the sixth embodiment is formed with a plurality of through holes 28 in the top-bottom direction (Z). The fiber pad 2 further has first and second lateral edges 291, 292 opposite in the toe-to-heel direction (X), and top and bottom surfaces 293, 294 opposite in the top-bottom direction (Z) and covered by the top and bottom surfaces 33, 34 of the elastomer body 3. The first lateral edge 291 has a portion 295 recessed toward the second lateral edge 292. The second portion 25 of the fiber pad 2 is located adjacent to the portion 295 of the first lateral edge 291.
Furthermore, the elastomer body 3 of the sixth embodiment is formed with a plurality of perforation holes 35 respectively in spatial communication with the through holes 28 of the fiber pad 2 so as to provide ventilation to the foot.
Referring to FIG. 15, a seventh embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure is similar to the sixth embodiment. The difference between the sixth and the seventh embodiments resides in that the through holes 28 and the perforation holes 35 are omitted in the seventh embodiment. The elastomer body 3 of the seventh embodiment partially encapsulates the fiber pad 2. The fiber pad 2 further has an exposed zone 297 that is exposed from the elastomer body 3, and that is located at the bottom surface 294 (see FIG. 14) of the fiber pad 2.
Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, an eighth embodiment of the shoe insole according to the disclosure is similar to the sixth embodiment. The difference between the sixth and the eighth embodiments resides in that the fiber pad 2 of the eighth embodiment further has a protruding block 234 attached to the top surface 293 of the first portion 23 of the fiber pad 2 and corresponding in position to the Yung Chuan acupuncture point of the foot, and two opposite lateral recesses 296 recessed respectively from the first and second lateral edges 291, 292 of the fiber pad 2. The elastomer body 3 of the eighth embodiment further has a plurality of spaced-apart front-part protrusions 41 disposed on the top surface 33 of the elastomer body 3 at positions that correspond to the first and second portions 23, 25 of the fiber pad 2, and a rear-part protrusion 42 disposed on the top surface 33 of the elastomer body 3 at a position that corresponds to the third portion 27 of the fiber pad 2. The rear-part protrusion 42 has an area that is larger than the area of each of the front-part protrusions 41.
The protruding block 234 provides message function to the Yung Chuan acupuncture point of the foot. The configuration of the lateral recesses 296 permits the fiber pad 2 to be bent easily, thereby enhancing flexibility and wearing comfort. The front-part and rear-part protrusions 41, 42 provide additional cushioning for reducing impact of the foot against the ground.
Referring to FIG. 18, an embodiment of a slipper according to the disclosure has an upper part 5 that is for at least covering the forefoot of the user, and the shoe insole of the eighth embodiment that is connected to the upper part 5.
In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects.
While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Patent Application
20170000214
