SHOE ELEMENT WITH A TOE DIVIDER AND A WIDENING CLIP

Abstract

A shoe element (1) is shown, comprising a toe separator (2) which comprises a toe-separating projection (3) and which is formed in such a way that it is arranged between the first toe and the second toe. The toe-separating projection (3) comprises a fastening device which is designed for fastening a widening clip (10) to the toe-separating projection (3).

Claims

1. A shoe element, comprising a toe separator which comprises a toe-separating projection and is formed in such a way that it is arranged between the first toe and the second toe, wherein the toe-separating projection comprises a fastening device which is designed for fastening a widening clip to the toe-separating projection.

2. The shoe element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the toe-separating projection exhibits a length extending from the distal side to the proximal side which is greater than its thickness extending from the medial side to the lateral side.

3. The shoe element according to claim 1, wherein the fastening device comprises a cavity, formed by the toe-separating projection, for accommodating a protrusion formed on the widening clip.

4. The shoe element according to claim 3, wherein the cavity is formed on the proximal edge of the toe-separating projection , wherein the base of the cavity is distally offset in relation to the proximal edge.

5. The shoe element according to claim 1, wherein the toe-separating projection or the fastening device comprises a passage extending from the medial side to the lateral side.

6. The shoe element according to claim 1, wherein the toe separator comprises a widening clip which comprises at least one laminar portion and which is fastened to the fastening device of the toe-separating projection such that the thickness of the toe separator is greater than the thickness of the toe-separating projection.

7. The shoe element according to claim 1, wherein the shoe element is a shoe sole with which the toe-separating projection is integrally formed.

8. The shoe element according to claim 7, wherein an edge of the shoe sole is raised in relation to a contact surface of the shoe sole provided for the sole of a foot, such that the toes of the foot are enclosed by the raised edge at least distally.

9. The shoe element according to claim 8, wherein the region of the edge located distally with respect to the toes transitions into the toe-separating projection and/or in that the toe-separating projection transitions into the contact surface of the shoe element for the sole of the foot.

10. A widening clip for a shoe element, or a shoe element formed according to claim 1, which comprises at least one laminar portion and adapted to be fastened to the fastening device of the toe-separating projection, such that the at least one laminar portion increases the thickness of the toe separator extending from the lateral side to the medial side or such that the thickness of the toe separator (2) is greater than the thickness of the toe-separating projection.

11. The widening clip according to claim 10, further comprising a first laminar portion and a second laminar portion which are connected via a flexible connecting portion.

12. The widening clip according to claim 11, characterised in that the first laminar portion comprises a locking element and the second laminar portion comprises a complementary locking element to which the locking element can be locked, preferably or detachably locked, wherein the first laminar portion and the second laminar portion can be pivoted with respect to each other about the flexible connecting portion such that the locking element and the complementary locking element can be moved into a locking engagement.

13. A set comprising a shoe comprising a shoe element according to claim 1 and at least one widening clip which comprises at least one laminar portion and adapted designed to be fastened to the fastening device of the toe-separating projection, such that the at least one laminar portion increases the thickness of the toe separator extending from the lateral side to the medial side or such that the thickness of the toe separator is greater than the thickness of the toe-separating projection.

14. The set according to claim 13, characterised by multiple widening clips, wherein the at least one laminar portion of the multiple widening clips exhibits different thicknesses in order to be able to adapt the thickness of the toe separator, depending on the widening clip selected.

15. The set according to claim 13, characterised by multiple widening clips, wherein the toe separator exhibits an additional thickness of 1 to 3 mm in relation to the toe-separating projection by attaching a first widening clip to the toe separating projection, the toe separator exhibits an additional thickness of 3 to 5 mm in relation to the toe-separating projection by attaching a second widening clip to the toe-separating projection, and the toe separator exhibits an additional thickness of 5 to 7 mm in relation to the toe-separating projection by attaching a third widening clip to the toe-separating projection.

16. The shoe element according to claim 5, wherein the passage is adapted to be able to accommodate a locking element and/or a complementary locking element of the widening clip.

17. The shoe element according to claim 7, wherein the shoe sole is an insole or inner sole.

18. The shoe element according to claim 8, wherein the toes of the foot are enclosed by the raised edge also laterally and medially, wherein the toe-separating projection extends proximally from the region of the edge located distally with respect to the toes.

19. The widening clip according to claim 11, wherein the flexible connecting portion is constricted in relation to the height and/or thickness of the first and second laminar portions.

20. The widening clip according to claim 12, wherein the locking element is a conical or domed locking element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention has been described on the basis of preferred embodiments and examples. Particularly preferred embodiments are described below on the basis of figures. The features thus disclosed, individually and in any combination of features, advantageously develop the subject-matter of the claims. There is shown:

[0023] FIG. 1 a plan view onto a shoe element and/or shoe in accordance with the invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 a perspective sectional view of a first embodiment of a shoe element in accordance with the invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 the view from FIG. 2, with a widening clip attached;

[0026] FIG. 4 a perspective view of the widening clip from FIG. 3, when unfolded;

[0027] FIG. 5 the widening clip from FIGS. 3 and 4, when folded up; and

[0028] FIG. 6 a second embodiment in which the widening clip comprises a protrusion for accommodating in a cavity of the toe-separating projection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a shoe or shoe element 1, namely the insole or inner sole of or for a shoe, in a plan view. The shoe element 1 comprises a toe-separating projection 3 which extends proximally in the shape of a wall from the region of a raised edge 4 located distally with respect to the toes, and/or protrudes proximally from the region of the edge 4 located distally with respect to the toes. The edge 4 is raised in relation to a contact surface of the shoe element 1 provided for the sole of a foot, such that the toes of the foot are enclosed by the raised edge 4 at least distally and in the example shown also laterally and medially. The shoe element 1 and/or shoe is open towards the top in the region of the toes. In the region of the instep, the shoe element 1 comprises a band 5 which spans the shoe element 1 from the medial edge up to the lateral edge. The band 5 and/or the toe-separating projection 3 are formed integrally with the shoe element 1 and in particular manufactured in one piece in an injection-moulding process.

[0030] The toe-separating projection 3 is arranged such that when a foot is arranged in the shoe element 1, the toe-separating projection 3 is arranged between the first (big) toe and the second toe (the toe adjacent to the big toe).

[0031] FIGS. 2 to 5 show a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the invention which differs from the first embodiment only in that a widening clip 10 comprises a protrusion 14 and the toe-separating projection 3 comprises a cavity 3c on its proximal edge 3a for accommodating the protrusion 14. The first and second embodiment are otherwise identical, such that the description for one embodiment also applies correspondingly to the other embodiment.

[0032] As can best be seen from FIG. 2, the toe-separating projection 3 comprises a fastening device, namely a passage 3b extending from the medial side to the lateral side, which is designed for fastening a widening clip 10 (FIGS. 3 to 6) to the toe-separating projection 3.

[0033] The widening clip 10 comprises a first laminar portion 11 and a second laminar portion 12 which are connected via a flexible connecting portion 13 which acts as a hinge (see for example FIG. 4). The first portion 11 and the second portion 12 can be pivoted with respect to each other about the flexible connecting portion 13 such that a locking element 15 formed on the first portion 11 and a complementary locking element 16 formed on the second portion 12 can be moved into a locking engagement, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4 and in FIG. 5. The locking element 15 is formed to be conical or domed. The complementary locking element 16 is formed as a locking cavity, in particular a locking socket.

[0034] In order to enlarge the toe separator 2, which in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of the toe-separating projection 3 only, in terms of its thickness extending from the lateral side to the medial side, the widening clip 10 can be folded at least partially around the toe-separating projection 3, such that the locking element 15 and the complementary locking element 16 of the widening clip 10 are arranged in the passage 3b, where they are locked to each other. This holds the widening clip 10 on the toe-separating projection 3. When the widening clip 10 is fastened to the toe-separating projection 3, the first portion 11 is situated on the flank of the toe-separating projection 3 facing the second toe, and the second portion 12 is situated on the flank of the toe-separating projection 3 facing the big toe. The thickness of the toe separator 2 thus corresponds substantially to the sum of the individual thicknesses of the first portion 11, the second portion 12 and the toe-separating projection 3. The connecting portion 13 is arranged proximally with respect to the proximal edge 3a of the toe-separating projection 3 and surrounds the proximal edge 3a of the toe-separating projection 3.

[0035] The widening clip 10 exhibits a constriction 13a in relation to its height (see for example FIGS. 4 and 6) and/or its thickness (not shown) between the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 and/or in the region of the flexible connecting portion 13. The constriction 13a means that the widening clip 10 exhibits a lower bending resistance moment in the region of the flexible connecting portion 13 than in the region of the first and second portions 11, 12. This enables the widening clip 10 to be specifically deformed in the region of the constriction 13a and/or in the region of the flexible connecting portion 13 in order to attach it to the toe-separating projection 3.

[0036] As can be seen for example from FIGS. 3 and 6, the height of the toe-separating projection 3, which is in particular wall-shaped, decreases from the distal side to the proximal side. In relation to the height of the first and second portions 11, 12, the constriction 13a can additionally take into account the decreasing height of the toe-separating projection 3—in particular, a smooth transition between the upper edge of the toe-separating projection 3 and the upper edge of the widening clip 10 can be formed.

[0037] As can best be seen from FIG. 6, the second embodiment comprises a protrusion 14 which, when the widening clip 10 is fastened to the toe-separating projection 3 as described above, engages with the cavity 3c in a positive fit. This enables tilting by the widening clip 10 about an axis extending through the passage 3b to be prevented even further. The cavity 3c is formed on the proximal edge 3a of the toe-separating projection 3, in particular in the region of the transition to the contact surface for the sole of the foot. The base of the cavity 3c is distally offset in relation to the proximal edge 3a of the toe-separating projection 3.

[0038] A shoe comprising a shoe element 1 as shown herein can for example be supplied with or without a widening clip 10. The shoe, the shoe element 1 and at least one widening clip 10 preferably form a set. If the set comprises only one widening clip 10, the user can decide whether the thickness of the toe-separating projection 3 is sufficient or whether they would like to increase the thickness of the toe separator. In order to increase the thickness of the toe separator 2, the widening clip 10 can be fastened to the toe-separating projection 3. If the set comprises multiple widening clips 10, the at least one laminar portion 11, 12 of the multiple widening clips 10 preferably exhibits different thicknesses, in order to be able to adapt the thickness of the toe separator 2 depending on the widening clip 10 selected. The first and second portions 11, 12 of a first widening clip 10 can for example each exhibit a thickness of about 1 mm, thus enabling the thickness of the toe separator 2 to be increased by about 2 mm. The portions 11, 12 of a second widening clip 10 can each exhibit a thickness of about 2 mm, thus enabling the thickness of the toe separator 2 to be increased by about 4 mm. The first and second portions 11, 12 of a third widening clip 10 can each exhibit a thickness of about 3 mm, thus enabling the thickness of the toe separator 2 to be increased by about 6 mm.

[0039] Providing a widening clip 10 for fastening to the toe-separating projection 3 opens up a variety of options. The shoe or the shoe element 1 can for example be supplied in a set together with multiple widening clips 10 having different thicknesses. The user can for example independently increase the thickness over time by attaching a thicker widening clip 10. Alternatively, a widening clip 10 or a set of widening clips 10 can be individually adapted to needs or a treatment, for example by an orthopaedic specialist.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0040] 1 shoe element [0041] 2 toe separator [0042] 3 toe-separating projection [0043] 3a proximal edge [0044] 3b passage [0045] 3c cavity [0046] 4 raised edge [0047] 5 band [0048] 10 widening clip [0049] 11 first laminar portion [0050] 12 second laminar portion [0051] 13 connecting portion [0052] 13a constriction [0053] 14 protrusion [0054] 15 locking element [0055] 16 complementary locking element