ELASTIC CUSHION FOR A FOOTWEAR ITEM, FOOTWEAR ITEM HAVING SUCH AN ELASTIC CUSHION

Abstract

Provided is an elastic cushion for the disposal on a textile footwear item. The cushion, in a state when disposed on the sole of a foot, on the side that faces the foot has a shape that is complementary to the arch of the foot. Also provided is a footwear item from a textile material, having at least one cushion as above described that is disposed on the footwear item.

Claims

1. An elastic cushion for the disposal on a textile footwear item, wherein the cushion, when disposed on the sole of a foot, on the side that faces the foot has a shape adapted to be complementary to the arch of the foot.

2. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the cushion, when disposed on the sole of a foot, has a) a hallux ball clearance at the hallux ball of the foot, and/or a heel clearance at the heel of the foot; b) an elongate depression adapted to extend from the hallux ball to the heel on the side that faces the foot; c) an elongate bead adapted to extend from the hallux ball to the heel on the side that faces away from the foot; d) a first peripheral region, on the inside of the foot, adapted to taper towards the outside and/or is curved towards the foot; and/or e) a second peripheral region, on the outside of the foot, at the side of the toes, and/or at the side of the heel, adapted to taper towards the outside.

3. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the cushion comprises at least one portion that is adhesive in relation to the footwear item, wherein a) the adhesive portion, preferably in a substantially residue-free manner, is releasable from the footwear item, and/or b) the cushion comprises at least one protective film and/or protective sheathing that are/is releasably attached to the cushion so as to substantially completely cover the at least one adhesive portion.

4. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the cushion a) comprises at least one composite material, one gas, one liquid, one gel, one aerogel, and/or one foam; b) comprises a basic material, the surface thereof preferably being at least in portions adhesive in relation to the footwear item; c) is composed of a homogeneous basic material; and/or d) comprises a wash resistant basic material.

5. The cushion according to claim 1, having a number of regions of dissimilar viscoelastic properties, wherein a) the regions are formed by dissimilar materials, preferably composite materials; b) the regions are formed from the same basic material which particularly preferably comprises a number of regions of dissimilar viscoelastic properties; c) the cushion has a number of chambers, wherein an exchange of fluids between the chambers is at least impeded, and the chambers particularly preferably contain a plurality of fluids having mutually dissimilar viscoelastic properties.

6. The cushion according to claim 1, further comprising a number of clearances, for receiving replaceable inserts having dissimilar viscoelastic properties.

7. A footwear component from a textile material, having at least one elastic cushion that is disposed on the footwear item, according to claim 1.

8. The footwear component according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cushion is fixed to the footwear item.

9. The footwear component according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cushion is connected to the footwear component so as to be releasable in a non-destructive manner.

10. The footwear component according to claim 7, wherein the footwear item comprises a holding device for mounting the cushion on the footwear item.

11. The footwear component according to claim 10, wherein the cavity is delimited by the material of the footwear component and by a planar material that is fastened, bonded, stitched, and/or welded to said material of the footwear component.

12. The footwear component according to claim 10, wherein the cavity has at least one opening for removing the cushion from the cavity, wherein a) an opening width of the at least one opening is smaller than a cushion width of the cushion that, in a state in which the cushion is disposed in an unstressed manner in the cavity, lies parallel with said opening width; and b) the opening width is larger than or equal to the cushion width in a compressed state of the cushion.

13. The footwear component according to claim 7, wherein the cushion is disposed on an external face or on an internal face of the footwear component.

14. The footwear component according to claim 8, wherein the at least one cushion is adhesively bonded, stitched or welded to the footwear component.

15. The footwear component according to claim 10, wherein the holding device comprises a hook-and-pile fastener element and/or a cavity for receiving the cushion.

Description

[0040] The invention will be described hereunder by means of exemplary embodiments which will be explained in more detail with the aid of the figures in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an exemplary cushion according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a schematic section through an exemplary footwear item according to the invention; and

[0043] FIG. 3a, b show a schematic illustration of the cavity on an exemplary footwear item according to the invention.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an exemplary cushion 30 according to the invention. The cushion 30 is illustrated such as the latter can be disposed on the sole of a left foot. The cushion 30 in the hallux ball region of the foot has a hallux ball clearance 50 (indicated by dashed lines) and in the heel region of the foot has a heel clearance 51 (indicated by dashed lines). The illustrated cushion 30 furthermore comprises a first peripheral region 54, on the inside of the foot, which in relation to the cushion 30 tapers towards the outside and curves towards the foot such that a shape that is complementary to the arch of the foot results on the upper side of the cushion 30, facing the foot. The upper side of the cushion 30 in the example illustrated comprises an adhesive portion 31 which in particular can fully occupy the upper side of the cushion, said adhesive portion 31 being for fastening the cushion 30 to a footwear item. The illustrated cushion 30 is composed, for example, from a homogenous basic material in the form of a gel, the surface thereof, for example on account of a surface treatment at least in the region of the adhesive portion 31, being adhesive. The upper side of the cushion furthermore has an elongate, substantially rectilinear depression 52 (indicated by dashed lines) which extends from the hallux ball region to the heel region. An elongate, substantially rectilinear bead (not visible) extends opposite the depression 52 on the lower side of the cushion that faces away from the foot.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a schematic section through an exemplary footwear item 1 according to the invention. The footwear item 1 is designed as a sock and is shown in a state in which said footwear item 1 is worn on a foot (not illustrated). The section illustrated in relation to the foot is in a sagittal plane. The footwear item 1 in a sole region of the foot has a cavity 41 in. the form of a pocket in which an elastic cushion 30 is located. The illustrated cushion 30, on the upper side thereof that faces the foot, has a shape that is complementary to the arch of the foot, and in the hallux ball region has a hallux ball clearance 50, and in the heel region has a heel clearance 51. On account of this shape, the cushion 30 can conform to the arch of the foot in an optimal manner so as to support the latter without there being any risk of the cushion 30 sliding out of position in relation to the foot.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the cavity 41 on an exemplary footwear item 1 according to the invention. The illustrated cavity 41 has an opening 42 for removing and/or introducing the elastic cushion 30. The opening has an opening width b1. The cushion 30, in a state in which the cushion 30 is disposed in the cavity, has a cushion width b2 that lies in the same direction as the opening width b1. The cushion width b2 in a non-stressed state of the cushion 30 (FIG. 3a) is larger than the opening width b1 such that the cushion 30 cannot pass the opening 42. By contrast, the cushion width b2, in a state in which the cushion 30 is compressed along the cushion width b2 (FIG. 3b), is smaller than or equal to the opening width b1. On account thereof, the cushion 30 can be introduced into the cavity 41 and/or removed therefrom, for example in that said cushion 30 is compressed by a user. The cushion 30, without any compression along the cushion width b2, can be securely held in the cavity 41.

[0047] Features which are illustrated in the context of one example can also be combined in a different manner according to the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0048] 1 Footwear item [0049] 30 Cushion [0050] 31 Adhesive portion [0051] 41 Cavity [0052] 42 Opening [0053] 50 Hallux ball clearance [0054] 51 Heel clearance [0055] 52 Depression [0056] 54 First peripheral region [0057] 55 Second peripheral region [0058] b1 Opening width [0059] b2 Cushion width