SUPPORT STRUCTURE OF A FOOT ARTICULATION AND SHOE WHICH COMPRISES SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE

Abstract

Support structure (1) of a foot articulation that comprises a body in which a foot articulation can be arranged, a lung body (3), associated with the body, which defines a deformable chamber (4). The lung body comprises a first portion (5) which extends in a direction substantially longitudinal and a second portion (6) which extends in a direction substantially orthogonal with respect to the first portion arranged between the body and the ankle of the foot articulation, such that when occurs a foot support inclined at an angle with respect to a ground plane, is generates a first force on said first portion defined by a first vector (T1) substantially orthogonal with respect to said ground plane (P) that causesin feedbacka subsequent expansion of said second portion which generates a second force, defined by a second vector (T2) substantially parallel to said ground plane, that is adapted to provide a support for ankle.

Claims

1. A support structure (1) of a foot articulation (2) comprising: a body (1) in which said foot articulation (2) is adapted to be arranged; a lung body (3, 3), associated with said body (1), which defines a deformable chamber (4), wherein said lung body (3, 3) comprises: a first portion (5, 5) that extends in a substantially longitudinal direction (X) along said foot (2) in a laterally position, wherein said first portion (5, 5) extends substantially starting from a heel up to a metatarsus of said foot (2); and a second portion (6, 6) that extends in a substantially orthogonal direction (Y) with respect to said first portion (5, 5), said second portion (6, 6) being arranged between said body (1) and an ankle (2) of said foot articulation (2); such that: when a foot support during a gait is made with a direction substantially orthogonal to a ground plane (P), said lung body (3, 3) is in an inactive configuration (A); when a foot support during the gait is made with a direction inclined at an angle () with respect to said ground plane (P), said lung body (3, 3) passes in an active configuration (B) in which a first force on said first portion (5, 5) is generated, said first force being defined by a first vector (T1) substantially orthogonal with respect to said ground plane (P), said first force causingon feedbacka subsequent expansion of said second portion (6, 6) that generates a second force, said second force being defined by a second vector (T2) substantially parallel to said ground plane (P), such that a support for said ankle is provided.

2. The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein said lung body (3, 3) contains in said deformable chamber (4) a fluid with predetermined density.

3. The support structure (1) according to claim 2, wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of: a liquid, a gas, a gel, a natural or synthetic rubber, a latex and combinations thereof.

4. The support structure (1) according to claim 1 wherein said lung body (3, 3) has an inverted T-shape wherein a base portion of said T is arranged at the side edge of the foot (2) and wherein the stem portion of said T is arranged at the ankle (2) of the foot (2), in particular said second portion (6, 6) is arranged in a decentered position substantially at the end of said first portion (5, 5), which in use is arranged in correspondence of the heel of said foot (2).

5. The support structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein a first (3) and a second lung body (3) arranged opposite to each other with respect to said foot articulation (2) are provided.

6. The support structure (1) according to claim 5, wherein said first (3) and second lung (3) bodies are fluidically independent from each other.

7. Support structure (1) according to claim 5, wherein said first (3) and second lung body (3) are fluidically connected to each other by a connection duct (15), in such a way that: when occurs a foot support during the gait with a direction inclined at an angle () with respect to the ground plane (P), the first (3) or second lung body (3) on which a foot pressure is generated, passes in said active configuration causing, by the fluid dynamic connection made by said connection duct (15), activation of said second (3) or first (3) lung body located on the other edge of the foot (2), such that both said first and second lung bodies (3, 3) switch in said active configuration (B); and such that a first force according to a first vector (T1) is generated, produced by compression of said first portion (5) or (5) of the deformable chamber of the lung body (3) or (3), which causesin feedbackby the contact with the ground (P), a subsequent contemporaneous expansion of said second portions (6, 6) that generate respective second forces defined by second vectors (T2, T2) which are opposite to each other.

8. A shoe (10) comprising a body (1) in which a foot articulation (2) can be arranged, and a support structure (1) of the foot articulation (2), wherein said support structure (1) of the foot articulation comprises: a lung body (3, 3), associated with said body (1), which defines a deformable chamber (4), wherein said lung body (3, 3) comprises: a first portion (5, 5) that extends in a substantially longitudinal direction (X) along said foot (2) in a laterally position, wherein said first portion (5, 5) extends substantially starting from a heel up to a metatarsus of said foot (2); and a second portion (6, 6) that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal direction (Y) with respect to said first portion (5, 5), said second portion (6, 6) being arranged between said body (1) and an ankle (2) of said foot articulation (2); such that: when a foot support during a gait is made with a direction substantially orthogonal to a ground plane (P), said lung body (3, 3) is in an inactive configuration (A); when a foot support during the gait is made with a direction inclined at an angle () with respect to said ground plane (P), said lung body (3, 3) passes in an active configuration (B) in which a first force on said first portion (5, 5) is generated, said first force being defined by a first vector (T1) substantially orthogonal with respect to said ground plane (P), said first force causingon feedbacka subsequent expansion of said second portion (6, 6) that generates a second force, said second force being defined by a second vector (T2) substantially parallel to said ground plane (P), such that a support for said ankle is provided.

9. The shoe (10) according to claim 8, wherein said first portion (5, 5) is arranged at a tread edge (11) of said shoe (10) and said second portion (6, 6) is arranged at an inner wall (12) of said body (1) which is arranged between the upper and the lining inner of said shoe, said first portion (5, 5) protrudes with respect to said tread edge (11) in order to define a side pillow.

10. The shoe (10) according to claim 8, wherein first (3) and a second (3) lung bodies are provided located opposite to each other in foot articulation (2).

11. The shoe (10) according to claim 10, wherein said first (3) and second lung (3) bodies are fluidically independent from each other.

12. The shoe (10) according to claim 10, wherein said first (3) and second (3) lung bodies are fluidically connected to each other by a connection duct (15), in such a way that: when a foot support occurs during the gait with a direction inclined at an angle () with respect to the ground plane (P), the first (3) or second (3) lung body on which a foot pressure is generated, passes in said active configuration causing, by the fluid dynamic connection made by said connection duct (15), activation of said second (3) or first (3) lung body located on the other edge of the foot (2), such that both said first and second lung body (3, 3) switch in said active configuration (B); and such that a first force according to a first vector (T1) is generates, produced by compression of said first portion (5) or (5) of the deformable chamber of the lung body (3) or (3), which causesin feedbackby contact with the ground (P), a subsequent contemporaneous expansion of said second portions (6, 6) that generate respective second forces defined by second vectors (T2, T2) which are opposite to each other.

13. A sock support or ankle support (100) comprising a support structure (1) of the foot articulation (2) according to claim 1.

14. An insole that comprising a support structure (1) of the foot articulation (2) according to claim 1.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

[0048] Further characteristic and advantages of the invention are better shown by the examination of the following detailed description of more forms of preferred embodiment, but not exclusive, shown for example and not limitative, with the support of the attached drawings, wherein:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatical cross sectional view of a support structure of a foot articulation, according to the present invention;

[0050] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a perspective view of a shoe equipped with the support structure of FIG. 1, having a single lung body;

[0051] FIGS. 4 and 5 show respectively an elevational side view and a rear view of the shoe of FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0052] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the support structure of FIG. 1 applied to a sock support/ankle support;

[0053] FIG. 8 shows an elevational front view of a further exemplary embodiment of the shoe of FIGS. 2 and 3 having a first and a second lung body;

[0054] FIG. 9 shows a rear view of the shoe of FIG. 8 where advantageously, a dynamic connection fluid between the two lung bodies side that is arranged on the rear outer edge of the heel is provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] With reference to FIG. 1, is shown in a shape diagrammatical view a support structure 1 for a foot articulation 2 (FIG. 6). The support structure 1 comprises a body 1 in which foot articulating 2 in adapted to be arranged, said support structure 1 also a lung body 3 that defines a deformable closed chamber 4. The lung body 4 is defined by a first portion 5, 5 that extends in a direction substantially longitudinal along the axis X of the foot 2 from the heel to the metatarsus, and by a second portion 6, 6 that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal along the axis Y with respect to the first portion 5 and is confinedin usebetween the body 1 and the ankle 2(FIG. 6) of the foot 2.

[0056] This way, when a foot support during the gait maintain a normal direction substantially orthogonal with respect to the ground plane P the lung body remains in an inactive configuration A. When occurs a foot support during the gait inclined at an angle with respect to the ground plane P, as shown in FIG. 5, the lung body 3 passes through an active configuration B. It is generates a first force according to a first vector T1, produced by the compression of the first portion 5 of the deformable chamber of the lung body 3, which in the contact with the ground, causesin feedbacka subsequent expansion of the second portion 6. The second portion 6 being confined between the shoe and the ankle, generates a second force defined by a second vector T2 orthogonal with respect to the ankle 2(FIG. 5). Therefore, the second portion 6 while expanding creates a side support for ankle 2 in order to limit potential distortive effects of the incorrect foot support in a position not coplanar with respect to the ground plane P.

[0057] In other words, the first 5 and the second portion 6 of the lung body 3 is able to create a stiffening that embraces the foot 2 and the ankle 2 in response to the foot actions 2 in contact with the ground plane P. In this way, the lung body 3 presents a proactive protection support which is adapted to support the foot 2 and the ankle 2 during involuntary movements that can be determining potentially dangerous actions causes of injuries. In particular, the lung body 3 contains in the deformable chamber 4 a fluid. For example, a fluid selected from the group consisting of: a liquid, a gas, a gel or a combination thereof.

[0058] Structurally, as shown in FIG. 1 and in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lung body 3 is conformed has a reverse-T shaped with the a base portion of the T is arranged at the side edge of the foot 2, and whereas the stem portion of the T is arranged in correspondence to the ankle 2. More in particular, the stem portion of the T, i.e. the second portion 6, is arranged in a decentered position with respect to the first portion 5, substantially at the end of the first portion 5, which in use is located at the heel of the foot 2.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiment, as shown in figures from 2 to 5, the support structure 1 is applied to a body 1 of a shoe 10. The first portion 5 is arranged at a tread edge 11 of the shoe 10, whereas the second portion 6 is arranged at an inner wall 12 of the shoe 10 arranged between the upper and the lining internal.

[0060] Preferably, as better shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first portion 5 protrudes with respect to the tread edge 11 defining a kind of side pillow.

[0061] In particular, the first portion 5 in a cross sectional view has a comma-shaped profile. The first portion 5 comprises in particular, as better shown in FIG. 2, a first cross section 15 restricted which extends on either side of the tread edge 11, and a second cross section 16 neighboring to the first cross section 15 has a roundish-shaped profile. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a first 3 and a second lung body 3 located opposite to each other whit respect to the foot articulation 2 are provided. The first lung body 3 acts mainly on the foot support, with respect to the ground P, which is inclined at an angle towards the outer edge of the foot 2, whereas the second lung body 3 acts mainly on the foot support, with respect to the ground plane P, which is inclined at an angle towards the inner edge of the foot.

[0062] The first 3 and second lung body 3, as better shown in FIG. 9, are fluidically connected to each other, by a connection duct 15 that extends starting from the respective first portions 5 and 5. In particular, always as shown in FIG. 9, when occurs an unbalanced foot support indifferently towards the outer edge or inner edge, both the lung body 3 and 3 pass in the active configuration B. In detail, the second portions 6 and 6 are able to expand in opposite directions defined by vectors T2 and T2 opposite to each other. Such effect allows to embrace the ankle and to limit the movements, reducing then the injuries risks.

[0063] In the FIGS. 6 and 7 an exemplary embodiment of the support structure applied to a sock support or ankle support 100 is shown. Also in this exemplary embodiment, the first portion 5 of the lung body 3 is arranged along the side edge of the sock support or ankle support and the second portion 6 is arranged on the side face of the sock support or ankle support 100 and, preferably it is incorporate into the tissue. Even in another exemplary embodiment, not shown, the support structure 1 is applied to an insole can be arranged in the shoe 10.

[0064] The description of which above of one or more exemplary embodiments particular is capable of show the invention from a viewpoint conceptual so that other, using the prior art, can be changing and/or adapting in various applications an exemplary embodiment without further researches and without moving away from each other by the inventive concept, and, then is intended that such adaptations and changes will be high as equivalent of an exemplary specific embodiment. The means and the material to provide the various functions described can be changes nature without for this come out from the field of invention. Is intended that the expresses or the terminology used have object purely described and for this not limitative.