Massage insole with multiple support regions

Abstract

The insole described within uses a multiplicity of nodules of varying diameters and heights to provide the requisite level of flexibility, support, and stimulation to the various regions of the foot. These advantages are created while maintaining a low thickness, thereby allowing the insole to fit within a shoe without creating discomfort. Gradients of pressure that generate variations in the laminar flow of the foot bed lead to better circulation and perfusion of the capillary foot bed of the foot transection irrigation, allowing for better circulation and venous return.

Claims

1. An insole for use on a human foot, the human foot including a medial longitudinal arch, a lateral longitudinal arch, a transverse arch, and toes, the insole comprising: a foot bed of substantially consistent thickness; the foot bed being flexible to permit insertion into a shoe; a multiplicity of nodules affixed to the foot bed, the multiplicity of nodules of varying heights, the varying heights taken as an average to define an average nodule height; a transverse arch support adapted to support the transverse arch; the transverse arch support created by nodules having a greater than average height; lateral longitudinal arch support; the lateral longitudinal arch support created by nodules having a lesser than average height; medial longitudinal arch support; the medial longitudinal arch support created by nodules having a greater than average height; a partial insole wedge beneath a portion of the foot bed; the partial insole wedge formed from a material with greater shock absorption than that of the foot bed; the partial insole wedge having a tapered shape from thin to thick, being thin at a center of the insole and thick at a back of the insole; the insole for placement into a shoe; whereby the nodule height determines the amount of support provided to the human foot.

2. The insole of claim 1, further comprising: a heel cup adapted to support a heel of the human foot; the heel cup including a foot bed region without nodules in order provide support without lateral movement.

3. The insole of claim 1, wherein the transverse arch support is formed from a grid of between ten and forty nodules.

4. The insole of claim 1, further comprising: a toe support region adapted to support toes of the human foot; the toe support region formed by nodules lesser than average height, and of substantially equal height and width.

5. The insole of claim 1, further comprising: a ball support region adapted to support the ball of the human foot; the ball support region formed by nodules lesser than average height, and of substantially equal height and width.

6. An insole that provides both support and therapeutic massaging to a human foot, the human foot including a medial longitudinal arch, a lateral longitudinal arch, a transverse arch, and toes, the insole comprising: a foot bed; the foot bed having a thickness; the thickness being substantially consistent throughout the insole; a multiplicity of nodules; each nodule of the multiplicity of nodules affixed to the foot bed; each nodule of the multiplicity of nodules having a height and a diameter; a partial insole wedge; the partial insole wedge joined to the foot bed; the partial insole wedge formed from a material with greater shock absorption than that of the foot bed; the partial insole wedge having a thick end and a thin end; the thick end toward a rear of the insole; the thin end toward a middle of the insole; the insole divided into regions that are adapted to support the human foot, the regions including: a toe contact region, adapted to massage the toes, the associated nodules being a minimum height; a transverse arch support region, adapted to correspond to the transverse arch, the associated nodules being taller than surrounding nodules; a lateral longitudinal arch support region, adapted to correspond to the lateral longitudinal arch, wherein the associated nodules are no taller than the surrounding nodules; a medial longitudinal arch support region, adapted to correspond to the medial longitudinal arch, wherein the associated nodules are of a greater height and greater diameter; the insole for insertion into a shoe; whereby the nodules act to support the medial longitudinal arch, lateral longitudinal arch, and transverse arch, while providing a massaging action during walking.

7. The insole of claim 6, further comprising: a heel cup adapted to support a heel of the human foot; the heel cup including a foot bed region without nodules to provide support without lateral movement.

8. The insole of claim 6, wherein the transverse arch support is formed from a grid of between ten and forty nodules.

9. The insole of claim 6, further comprising: a ball support region adapted to support the ball of the human foot; the ball support region formed by nodules lesser than average height, and of substantially equal height and width.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the disclosed insole;

(3) FIG. 2 is a right-side view thereof;

(4) FIG. 3 is a left-side view thereof;

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view thereof;

(6) FIG. 5 is a back view thereof;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view thereof;

(8) FIG. 7 is a bottom view thereof;

(9) FIG. 8 is a view of the bottom of an exemplary human foot;

(10) FIG. 9 is a view of the bones within an exemplary human foot; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a view of the insole with exemplary nodule height and width measurements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

(13) Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a first embodiment of the disclosed insole is shown.

(14) The insole 100 includes an upper sole 104 formed from a combination of a foot bed 105 and nodules 140.

(15) Nodules 140 of differing heights and widths form differing support regions within the insole 100. A toe contact region 142 includes nodules 140 of minimal height to minimize the height increase of the foot 1 (see FIG. 8) within the shoe. The ball contact region 144 includes nodules 140 of increased width and height to provide a greater massaging action to the ball 10 (see FIG. 8) of the foot 1 (see FIG. 8).

(16) The transverse arch support 146 is a region of increased nodule 140 height as compared to surrounding regions, thereby providing support for the transverse arch 44 (see FIG. 8) of the foot 1 (see FIG. 8). The transverse arch support 146 is formed from a number of nodules arranged in a grid. For example, the use of between ten and forty nodules to form the transverse arch support 146 is anticipated.

(17) Lateral longitudinal arch support 148 uses smaller nodules, but increasing in height toward the rear of the insole 100. The increased height maximizes the benefit of the nodules, and biasing toward the rear of the insole 100 avoids greatly increasing the height of the foot 1 (see FIG. 8) within the shoe.

(18) The most significant arch support, the medial longitudinal arch support 150, is shown with a trapezoidal shape. The nodules 140 increase in height and diameter moving from the center of the insole 100 toward the edge of the inner foot 24 (see FIG. 8).

(19) The heel cup 154 is shown with its associated nodules 140 that surround a section without nodules 140. The result is firm support for the heel 22 (see FIG. 8) with minimal lateral shifting.

(20) Referring to FIG. 2, a right-side view of a first embodiment of the insole 100 is shown.

(21) The insole 100 is shown with foot bed 105 and a multiplicity of nodules 140. The partial insole wedge 106 decreases in thickness from the rear of the insole 100 toward the middle of the insole 100.

(22) The short nodules 140 of the toe contact region 142 are shown, as are the slightly higher nodules 140 of the ball contact region 144.

(23) Referring to FIG. 3, a left-side view of a first embodiment of the insole is shown.

(24) The medial longitudinal arch support 150 is shown with the higher, wider nodules 140. Again, the partial insole wedge 106 is shown decreasing in thickness from the rear of the insole 100 toward the middle of the insole 100.

(25) Referring to FIG. 4, a back view of a first embodiment of the insole 100 is shown, and FIG. 5, a front view of a first embodiment of the insole 100 is shown.

(26) The nodules 140 are shown increasing in height toward the inside of the insole 100, forming a lateral longitudinal arch support slope 160.

(27) The increased height forms the medial longitudinal arch support 150 (see FIG. 1).

(28) Referring to FIG. 6, a top view of a first embodiment of the insole 100 is shown.

(29) Again shown are the toe contact region 142, ball contact region 144, transverse arch support 146, lateral longitudinal arch support 148, medial longitudinal arch support 150, and heel cup 154.

(30) Referring to FIG. 7, a bottom view of a first embodiment of the insole 100 is shown.

(31) The partial insole wedge 106 passes from the rear of the insole 100 to slightly past the middle of the insole 100. Where not covered by the partial insole wedge 106, the upper sole 104 is seen from the bottom view.

(32) Referring to FIG. 8, a view of the bottom of an exemplary human foot is shown.

(33) The foot 1 is generally divided into the forefoot 18, midfoot 20, and heel 22. Within the forefoot 18, the foot 1 includes the ball 10, or region behind the toes. The ball 10 is divided into the inner ball 12, middle ball 14, and outer ball 16.

(34) The portion of the foot 1 that faces toward its matching foot is referred to as the inner foot 24. Its opposite is the outer foot 26.

(35) The toes include the hallux or big toe 30, second toe or index toe 32, third toe or middle toe 34, fourth toe or ring toe 36, and fifth toe or little toe 38.

(36) The arches of the foot 1 include the medial longitudinal arch 40, lateral longitudinal arch 42, and transverse arch 44.

(37) Referring to FIG. 9, a view of the bones within an exemplary human foot is shown.

(38) The distal phalanges 50, middle phalanges 52, proximal phalanges 54, and metatarsals 56 make up the forefoot 18 (see FIG. 8).

(39) The medial cuneiform 58, middle cuneiform 60, lateral cuneiform 62, navicular 64, and cuboid 66 make up the midfoot 20.

(40) Finally, the talus 68 and calcaneus 70 make up the heel 22.

(41) Referring to FIG. 10, a view of the insole 100 with exemplary nodule 140 height and width measurements.

(42) For each letter location, measurements were taken. All measurements are in millimeter (mm), with the exception of the dimensionless ratio.

(43) The measurements are as follows: Min Dia (mm)the minimum nodule 140 diameter, taken at or near the top of the nodule 140; Max Dia (mm)the maximum nodule 140 diameter, taken at or near the bottom of the nodule 140; Height (mm)the nodule 140 height, measured from the top of the foot bed 105; Foot bed thickness (mm)the thickness of the underlying foot bed 105; Wedge thickness (mm)the thickness of the partial insole wedge 106, if it exists beneath the measured section of foot bed 105; and Ratio of nodule 140 max dia to heightthe ratio of maximum nodule 140 diameter over nodule 140 height.

(44) TABLE-US-00001 Ratio Foot of bed Wedge nodule Min Max thick- thick- max dia dia Height ness ness dia to Nodule Nodule (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) height region A 4.3 5.7 12.0 2.4 1.0 0.5 medial longitudinal arch support B 4.5 5.0 6.4 2.4 1.5 0.8 medial longitudinal arch support C 3.5 3.9 5.0 2.4 1.5 0.8 lateral longitudinal arch support D 3.6 4.6 5.5 2.3 N/A 0.8 transverse arch support E 3.7 4.1 5.6 2.3 5.7 0.7 lateral longitudinal arch support* F 3.6 4.0 5.5 2.4 2.0 0.7 lateral longitudinal arch support G 3.2 3.4 1.1 1.1 N/A 3.1 ball contact region H 2.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 N/A 2.0 toe contact region *Nodule located just to the rear of this region.

(45) Measurements A, B, and C support the assertion of taller nodules 140 in the medial longitudinal arch support 150, with decreasing height toward the center of the insole 100, reflecting the lateral longitudinal arch support slope 160.

(46) Measurements G and H show the use of shorter nodules 140 toward the front of the insole 100.

(47) The ratio of nodule 140 diameter to height shows how stiffer nodules 140 are used in areas of greater support. For example, the ratio for measurement A is lower than that of F, indicating a taller or narrower nodule 140, and thus more prone to flexion. This is acceptable as measurement A was taken in the medial longitudinal arch support 150 region where the more flexible nodule 140 maximizes the massage effect, and measurement F was taken in transverse arch support 146 region, where the stiffer nodule 140 focuses on support.

(48) Measurements G and H show very stiff nodules 140, indicating little flexion with a strong focus on support.

(49) It is noted that the foot bed 105 is a substantially equal thickness across the insole 100.

(50) Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same results.

(51) It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.