Visco-elastic insert

Abstract

The present invention relates to visco-elastic inserts, in particular to shoe inserts, and in particular to heel supports having a main body with regions of dissimilar hardness.

Claims

1. A heel support comprising: a main body including a foot bed surface pointing toward a sole of a foot, a floor surface, a first region made from a first visco-elastic material with a first hardness, a second region defining a first portion of the floor surface and being made from a second visco-elastic material with a second hardness, a third region defining a second portion of the floor surface and being made from a third visco-elastic material with a third hardness, and a layer provided between the foot bed surface and the second and third regions; and, a shell arranged on an outer edge of said main body and being made from the first visco-elastic material; said layer being made from the first visco-elastic material; said second region being surrounded by said first region and said third region being surrounded by said second region; said second visco-elastic material of said second region being softer than said first visco-elastic material of said first region; said third visco-elastic material of said third region being softer than said second visco-elastic material of second region; said first region having a first abutting edge, said second region having second inner and outer abutting edges, and said third region having a third abutting edge; said first abutting edge, said second inner and outer abutting edges, and said third abutting edge having protrusions and abutting clearances; said first abutting edge of said first region and said second outer abutting edge of said second region being intermeshed with each other through the protrusions and abutting clearances of said first abutting edge and said second outer abutting edge in a mutually matching serpentine manner; said second inner abutting edge of said second region and said third abutting edge of said third region being intermeshed with each other through the protrusions and abutting clearances of said second inner abutting edge and said third abutting edge in a mutually matching serpentine manner; and, said second region having a kidney like or a tear like planar shape, wherein a thickness of the main body tapers off toward a front area of the main body thereby forming a front edge of the main body, and wherein the shell does not extend to the front edge of the main body.

2. The heel support of claim 1, wherein: said first visco-elastic material has a hardness of 45 to 60 Shore, said second visco-elastic material has a hardness of 25 to 50 Shore, and said third visco-elastic material has a hardness of 20 to 30 Shore.

3. The heel support of claim 1, wherein the first visco-elastic material with the first hardness, the second first visco-elastic material with the second hardness, and the third first visco-elastic material with the third hardness are silicone based rubber materials.

4. The heel support of claim 1, wherein the second region that is made from the second visco-elastic material with the second hardness and the third region that is made from the third visco-elastic material with the third hardness are integrally cast in the first visco-elastic material with the first hardness.

5. The heel support of claim 1, wherein the second region has an oak-leaf like shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1A to 1C show a heel support according to example embodiments of the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B show a heel support having a shell according to an example embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B show a heel support for a left foot and for a right foot according to an example embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B show a plan view and a cross-sectional view of the heel support of FIG. 3A according to an example embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIGS. 5A and 5B show an insert and a heel support according to example embodiments of the invention;

(7) FIGS. 6A and 6B show an insert in a plan view and in a cross section view according to an example embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1A shows a plan view of an insert according to an example embodiment of the invention, in the form of a heel support 10, having a visco-elastic main body which has a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3. The first region 1 is composed of a visco-elastic material, for example of silicone-based rubber, with a hardness of 45 to 60 Shore. The second region 2 is softer than the main-body region 1 with the first hardness, and is surrounded by the first main-body region 1. The second region 2 is composed of a visco-elastic material, for example of silicone-based rubber, with a hardness of 25 to 50 Shore, preferably of 35 to 50 Shore. The third region 3 is softer than the second main-body region 2 with the second hardness, and is surrounded by the second main-body region 2. The third region 3 is composed of a visco-elastic material, for example of silicone-based rubber, with a hardness of 20 to 30 Shore.

(9) The configuration of the insert shown in FIG. 1A has the advantage that a heel spur may be relieved by the third soft region 3, the somewhat harder second region 2 at the same time having a hardness and a size which allow for the foot to be guided and for the entire profile of the plantar fascia to be relieved.

(10) The transition from the soft third region 3 via the somewhat harder second region 2 to the hardest first region 1 has the further advantage that a positive wearing sensation is created when the visco-elastic insert 10 is treaded on, and that no edges between a soft region and a harder main region are perceptible.

(11) FIG. 1B is a cross-section view of the heel support in the form of a heel wedge 10 shown in FIG. 1A according to an example embodiment of the invention. The heel wedge has a visco-elastic main body which has a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3. The second region 2 and the third region 3 are surrounded by the material of the first region 1, or are integrally cast in the material of the first region 1, respectively, both at the top, that is, in the direction of the foot bed 12, as well as on the bottom, that is, in the direction of the lower face 11.

(12) FIG. 1C is a cross-section view of the heel support shown in FIG. 1A in the form of a heel wedge 10 according to an example embodiment. The heel wedge has a visco-elastic main body which has a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3. The second region 2 and the third region 3 are surrounded by the material of the first region 1 or are integrally cast in the material of the first region 1, respectively, only at the top, that is, in the direction of the foot bed 12. In the downward direction the second region 2 as well as the third region 3 reach down to the lower face 11.

(13) FIG. 2A is a plan view of the heel support 10 of FIG. 1A having a visco-elastic main body which has a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3. A shell 4 is located on the lateral and rear periphery of the first region 1.

(14) FIG. 2B is a cross-section view of the heel support of FIG. 2A with the first region 1, the second region 2, and the third region 3. The shell 4 tapers off from the rear to the front along the main body.

(15) In combination with the soft third region 3 and the somewhat harder second region 2, the additional shell 4 has the effect that an evasive movement by the shell 4 which encloses the hind foot is prevented. This results in a holistic system in which not only the heel spur is relieved and the entire profile of the plantar fascia is relieved, or may even be supported in a hollow manner, respectively, but in which at the same time the hind foot is stabilized by the shell 4.

(16) FIG. 3A is a plan view of a heel support 10 for a left foot according to an example embodiment of the invention with a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3, as well as a shell 4. The basic shape of the second region 2 is kidney-like; the basic shape of the third region 3 is oval. The second region 2 and the third region 3 occupy more than half the base area of the heel support 10.

(17) The shape of the second region 2, and the large area of the total area composed of the second region 2 and of the third region 3 lead to a particularly positive wearing sensation and to the entire plantar fascia being able to be relieved in a particularly positive manner.

(18) The first region 1 and the second region 2 are intermeshed. The second region 2 and the third region 3 are also intermeshed. Apart from aesthetic aspects, such intermeshing has the technical advantage that it results in a transitional region which has a shore hardness which is between the shore hardnesses of the adjacent regions. As a result, the transitional regions are not perceived to be that hard. The interfaces in the transitional portion between the respectively adjacent regions 1 and 2, or 2 and 3, respectively, are also increased such that the visco-elastic materials of the mutually adjacent regions have improved mutual bonding.

(19) FIG. 3B is a plan view of the heel support 10 of FIG. 3A, for a right foot with a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3, as well as a shell 4.

(20) FIG. 4A is a cross-section view of the heel support 10 of FIG. 3A with a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3, as well as a shell 4. The shell 4 tapers off from the rear to the front along the main body.

(21) FIG. 4B is a cross section of the heel support 10 of FIG. 3A with a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3, as well as a shell 4. The shell 4 tapers off from the rear to the front along the main body.

(22) FIG. 5A is a plan view of an insert 10 according to an example embodiment of the invention, for a left foot with a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3. The basic shape of the second region 2 is kidney-like; the basic shape of the third region 3 is oval. The second region 2 and the third region 3 occupy more than half the base area of the heel area of the insert 10.

(23) FIG. 5B is a plan view of a heel support 10 according to a further example embodiment of the invention with a first region 1, a second region 2, and a third region 3. The basic shape of the second region 2 is kidney-like; the basic shape of the third region 3 is oval. The second region 2 and the third region 3 occupy more than half the base area of the heel support 10. The first region 1 and the second region 2 are intermeshed by way of teeth. The second region 2 and the third region 3 are also intermeshed by teeth.

(24) FIG. 6A is a cross section of an insert 10 according to an example embodiment of the invention, having a visco-elastic main body which has a first region 1 and a third region 3. The first region 1 is composed of a visco-elastic material, for example of silicone-based rubber, with a hardness of 45 to 60 Shore. The third region 3 is composed of a visco-elastic material, for example of a silicone-based rubber, with a hardness of 20 to 30 Shore. The third region 3 is surrounded by a second region 2. The second region 2 is made from the harder material of the first region 1, and elements 33 embedded therein are made from the softer material of the third region 3. On account thereof, the second region 2 is also visco-elastic, having a hardness of 25 to 50 Shore, preferably of 35 to 50 Shore. The elements 33 are cylindrical. However, the latter may also have any other suitable shape; they may be spherical, rod-shaped, or hexahedron-shaped, for example.

(25) Alternatively, the second region 2 may also be made in that elements from the harder material of the first region 1 are embedded in the softer material of the third region 3.

(26) FIG. 6B is a plan view of insert 10 of FIG. 6A according to an example embodiment of the invention, having a visco-elastic main body which has a first region 1 and a third region 3. The second region 2 is made from the harder material of the first region 1 and from elements 33 from the softer material of the third region 3, which are embedded therein.

(27) In summary, an insert 10 is provided which has a main body with a first region 1 with a first hardness. The main body has a second region 2 with a second hardness. The second region with the second hardness is softer than the first region with the first hardness and is surrounded by the first region with the first hardness. The insert 10 has a shell 4 which adjoins the periphery of the first region 1 of the main body. The main body has a third region 3 with a third hardness. The third region with the third hardness is softer than the second region 2 with the second hardness and is surrounded by the second region 2 with the second hardness. The abutting edges of the first region 1 and of the second region 2 are intermeshed by way of protrusions and matching clearances in a mutually matching serpentine manner or toothed manner. The abutting edges of the second region 2 and of the third region 3 are intermeshed by way of protrusions and matching clearances in a mutually matching serpentine manner or toothed manner. The second region 2 has a kidney-like or tear-like planar shape, and either the first region 1 is formed from a first visco-elastic material with a first hardness, the second region 2 is formed from a second visco-elastic material with a second hardness, and the third region 3 is formed from a third visco-elastic material with a third hardness, or the first region 1 is formed from a first visco-elastic material with a first hardness, and the third region 3 is formed from a second visco-elastic material with a second hardness, and the second region 2 is formed from elements 33 of the second visco-elastic material that are embedded in the first visco-elastic material. The insert 10 is a heel support or heel cushion.

(28) It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the example embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.