Insole

Abstract

The invention relates to an insole (1; 1a; 1c; 1d), which has an insole underside (5; 5a; 5c; 5d) and an insole upper side (2; 2a; 2c; 2d), the insole underside (5; 5a; 5c;5d) being intended to bear against at least part of a shoe sole (6; 6a; 6c), and the insole upper side (2) being intended to bear at least part of the surface of the sole of a foot. At least one region (3; 3a; 3c; 3d) is expediently provided that has a concave curvature. As a result of the concave curvature, the insole acts as a diaphragm spring which is formed as an individual spring and which can cushion loads during use. The load on the foot of a person using the insole is thus lessened, which improves posture. The stress on joints when exposed to prologend loading is also reduced.

Claims

1. Insole, which has an insole underside and an insole upper side, the insole underside being intended to bear against at least part of a shoe sole, and the insole upper side being intended to bear at least part of the surface of the sole of a foot, characterized in that at least one region that has a concave curvature is provided.

2. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one concavely curved region is provided for supporting the longitudinal arch of the foot, in particular the inner longitudinal arch of the foot.

3. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that a cavity between the insole underside and the shoe sole of a shoe into which the insole is placed is open to at least one side, preferably two sides.

4. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the insole is formed in one piece.

5. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the insole has a substantially constant thickness.

6. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one fastening means is provided which is arranged to provide a a preferably detachable connection of the insole to a shoe into which the insole is placed.

7. Insole according to claim 6, characterized in that the fastening means is provided in a front region in which a forefoot can rest against the insole underside, in a middle region on a side facing away from the at least one concavely curved region and/or in a rear region in which a heel can rest against the insole underside and in particular projects from the insole underside.

8. Insole according to claim 6, characterized in that the fastening means is at least partially incorporated into the insole and/or flush with the insole underside.

9. Insole according to claim 6, characterized in that the fastening means comprises a multi-part, preferably two-part magnetic fastening element.

10. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one concavely curved region has a reinforcing means which is preferably formed from a different material than the insole.

11. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one concavely curved region comprises a reinforcing means that is preferably integrally molded to the insole and/or is molded into the insole.

12. Insole according to claim 10, characterized in that the reinforcing means is exchangeable and/or detachably attachable.

13. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the insole is formed from a plastic, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, a natural raw material, for example wood or cork, and/or a material comprising lignin and/or hemp fibers.

14. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the insole is manufactured or manufacturable by injection molding, extrusion, deep-drawing and/or blow molding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Embodiments of the invention are to be explained in more detail below on the basis of examples with reference to the non-limiting figures. It is shown:

[0038] FIG. 1A a first embodiment of an insole according to the invention in a first view,

[0039] FIG. 1B a first embodiment of an insole according to the invention in a second view,

[0040] FIG. 2 a further embodiment of an insole according to the invention,

[0041] FIG. 3A details of an insole according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 3B further details of an insole according to the invention,

[0043] FIG. 4 another embodiment of an insole according to the invention,

[0044] FIG. 5A a particular embodiment of an insole according to the invention,

[0045] FIG. 5B a particular embodiment of an insole according to the invention in a second view.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0046] An insole (1) for a left shoe shown in a top view in FIG. 1a is formed of polypropylene (PP) and includes an insole upper side (2) against which, in use, a foot of an insole user not shown in FIG. 1a can abut.

[0047] An insole (1) shown in FIG. 1b in a side view on an inner side shows a concavely curved region (3) which bounds a cavity (4) bounded by an insole underside (5) and a shoe sole (6) shown schematically in dashed lines. A contact plane (9) is formed in a forefoot region (7) and in a heel region (8) of the insole (1), where the insole underside (5) abuts the shoe sole (6).

[0048] The concavely curved region (3) is designed to support the longitudinal arch of a foot.

[0049] Further, the cavity (4) is open to two sides, both the medial side (10) and the lateral side (11), and extends continuously from the medial side to the lateral side.

[0050] A thickness (12) of the insole is substantially constant, that is a distance from the insole top (2) to the insole bottom (5) is the same everywhere except for a maximum deviation of 6.5%.

[0051] The position of the insole (1) shown in FIG. 1b is an initial position in which no load is applied by the weight of a person using the insole (1).

[0052] Under load, the insole (1) acts in the manner of a diaphragm spring designed as an individual spring. Spring arms (13, 14) rest against the shoe sole (6) in the forefoot (7) and heel (8) region and are movable in the contact plane (9), while the cavity (4), which is located below a diaphragm spring region, is reduced in size by the concave curvature being pressed in the direction of an arrow (15) by the load.

[0053] It is understood that the insole (1) returns to the initial position when the load is relieved.

[0054] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, where identical or equal-acting parts are designated with the same reference number as in FIG. 1, and the letter a is added to the respective reference number.

[0055] An insole (1a) shown in FIG. 2 differs from that shown in FIG. 1b in that a flexible magnetic fastening element (16) is attached to the underside of the insole in a heel region (8a), which, together with a magnetic counterholder (17) inserted in a shoe sole (6a), enables the insole (1a) to be detachably connected to the shoe sole (6a). Spring arms (13a, 14a) are movable in a contact plane (9a).

[0056] Although it is conceivable for the fastening element (16) to be in full contact with the counterholder (17) in an initial position of the insole (1a) shown in FIG. 2, this is not necessary. In case of partial contact with the counterholder (17) at a rear end (18) shown in FIG. 2, it is ensured that no slipping of the insole (1a) is possible in an unloaded state. Advantageously, a particularly simple correction of a position in the shoe before use is possible.

[0057] Under load, a surface forming the contact plane (9a) with which the fastening element (16) bears against the counterholder (17) is increased. As a result, a more stable connection is provided with increasing load. Advantageously, slipping of the insole (1a) in the shoe under load is prevented since the ends (13a, 14a) have fewer degrees of freedom with increasing load.

[0058] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, where identical or equal-acting parts are designated by the same reference number as in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the letter b is added to the respective reference number.

[0059] A fastening element (16b) shown in a plan view in FIG. 3a is made of flexible magnetic ribs (19, 20), of which the ribs (19) extend transversely, that is from the medial to the lateral side, and the ribs (20) extend longitudinally, that is with a directional component predominantly in the longitudinal direction of a foot. Honeycombs (21) are formed between the ribs (19, 20).

[0060] In this embodiment, the flexible magnetic ribs (19, 20) are made from an elastomer into which magnetic elements not shown in FIG. 2 are embedded.

[0061] A magnetic counterholder (17b) shown in a top view in FIG. 3b comprises a housing (22) formed of an elastic material such as sponge rubber, into which a magnetic counterholder element (23) is incorporated. The shape of the counterholder element (23) and the fastening element (16b) are identical.

[0062] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, where identical or equal-acting parts are designated by the same reference number as in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the letter c is added to the respective reference number.

[0063] An insole (1c) shown in FIG. 4 differs from those shown in FIG. 1b and FIG. 2 in that a flexible magnetic fastening element (16c, 24) is attached to the underside of the insole in both a forefoot (7c) and a heel (8c) region, and a total of two magnetic counter holders (17c, 25) are provided.

[0064] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, where identical or equal-acting parts are designated by the same reference number as in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the letter d is added to the respective reference number.

[0065] An insole (1d) shown in FIGS. 5a and b differs from those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in that a reinforcing means (26) made of Kevlar is provided, which in this embodiment is x-shaped, which is fully incorporated into the insole (1d) and whose shape is adapted to the contour of the insole (1d) in a concavely curved region (3d). The reinforcing means causes an increase in stiffness in the concavely curved region (3d).

[0066] It is conceivable that the reinforcing means (26) is incorporated at a different position into the insole, has a different shape and/or is made from a different material. It is also conceivable that the reinforcing means can be detachably attached to the insole (1d) and/or is exchangeable.

[0067] It is understood that all possible combinations of features of the features shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are conceivable. For example, an insole (1d) shown in FIG. 5b can have flexible magnetic fastening elements (16c, 24) as shown in FIG. 4.