DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AT LEAST ONE FOOT ARCH OF A USER

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for supporting at least one foot arch of a user, which device is provided with: a forefoot anchor which is configured to be anchored on the foot, at least partly at the location of the distal part of the metatarsal bones (ossis metatarsi I-V); at least one working strap which can be anchored around the heel and the ends of this at least one working strap are attached or attachable to the forefoot anchor, wherein the device can be brought from a fitting position, in which the at least one working strap is not or virtually not tensioned in order to be able to put the device on a foot of the user, to a working position, in which, in the working position, the at least one working strap is tensioned between the heel and the forefoot anchor in such a way that the part or parts of the tensioned at least one working strap situated under the sole support at least one foot arch of a user.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A device configured to support at least one foot arch of a user, comprising: a forefoot anchor configured to be anchored on a foot at least partly at a location of a distal part of the metatarsal bones (ossis metatarsi I-V); and at least one working strap configured to be anchored around the heel and having ends attached to or attachable to the forefoot anchor; wherein the device is configured to be adjusted from a fitting position, in which the at least one working strap is not tensioned in order to place the device on the foot of the user, to a working position, in which the at least one working strap is tensioned between the heel and the forefoot anchor such that at least part of the tensioned at least one working strap is positioned under the sole support of the at least one foot arch of the user.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the at least one working strap comprises a first working strap section which, when in the working position, extends between the forefoot anchor proximal to the head of metatarsal bone I (caput ossis metatarsi I) and a heel bone and at least one second working strap section which, when in the working position, extends between the forefoot anchor proximal to the head of metatarsal bone V (caput ossis metatarsi V) and the heel bone.

20. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first and the second working strap sections, when in the working position, cross under the sole.

21. The device according to claim 2, wherein, when in the working position, the first working strap section forms a medial loop and/or the second working strap section forms a lateral loop.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the first and second working strap sections are anchorable around the heel by the respective medial or lateral loop.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein the medial loop and/or the lateral loop, when in the working position, comprises a first loop section configured to follow the foot outline and a second loop section configured to extend under the foot arch, between the medial side and the lateral side.

24. The device according to claim 18, wherein a force required to elastically deform the at least one working strap is greater than a force required to elastically deform the forefoot anchor.

25. The device according to claim 18, wherein the device is implemented as a brace configured to be fitted over the foot, and wherein, when in the fitting position, ends of the at least one working strap are disconnected from the forefoot anchor and are releasably attachable to the forefoot anchor.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the brace comprises textile connecting parts configured to extend between the forefoot anchor and the heel to cover at least a portion of the instep and/or the sole, and wherein a force required to elastically deform the forefoot anchor are greater than a force required to elastically deform the textile connecting parts.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein each of the textile connecting parts comprise a first section and a second section, wherein a force required to elastically deform the second section is greater than a force required to elastically deform the first section.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the second section comprises at least one of a tactile marker and a visual marker configured to mark a predetermined configuration of the at least one working strap.

29. The device according to claim 25, wherein foot-contacting parts of the brace comprise anti-slip material.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the anti-slip material is positioned on an inner part of the forefoot anchor.

31. The device according to claim 18, wherein the device is incorporated in a shoe and comprises an adjustment device configured to adjust the at least one working strap between the fitting position for putting on and removing the shoe, and the working position for wearing the shoe.

32. The device according to claim 13, wherein the adjustment mechanism is positioned on an outer surface of the shoe.

33. The device according to claim 18, wherein, when in the working position, tension in the least one working strap is adjustable.

34. The device according to claim 18, further comprising a tension-control mechanism configured to adjust the at least one working strap between the fitting position and the working position.

Description

[0019] In this case, reference is made to the following figures, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a bottom view of a prior-art device;

[0021] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a bottom view of a first embodiment of a device of a foot arch;

[0022] FIGS. 3a-d show different views of a second embodiment of the device;

[0023] FIGS. 4a-f show different diagrammatic views of a third embodiment of the device.

[0024] In the figures, identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0025] FIGS. 1 and 2 diagrammatically show a basic structure of devices for supporting a foot arch and also show the anatomy of a foot with respect to the device in order to indicate the position of the devices with respect to the foot.

[0026] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a device known from US 2013/0066249 by means of two dashed lines A and B. FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a first embodiment of a basic structure of the device 1.

[0027] In the device known from US 2013/0066249, an elastic forefoot strap A extends, at least over the sole, at the location of the transition between the tarsal bones (ossa tarsi) and the metatarsal bones (ossis metatarsi), that is to say on or against the basis ossis metatarsi I-V. In other words, the forefoot strap A is situated closer to the proximal part of the metatarsal bones than to the distal part of the metatarsal bones. Furthermore, the loop-shaped working strap B can be secured around the heel, with ends C of the working strap being attached on the forefoot strap B. In the fitted position, the ends C are situated under the sole of a user.

[0028] In order to clearly show the difference between the known device and the device disclosed in this document, FIG. 2 shows the basis of a first embodiment of the device 1 for supporting at least one foot arch of a user in a way similar to that of FIG. 1. The device 1 comprises a forefoot anchor 3 which is configured to be anchored on the foot, at least partly at the location of the distal part of the metatarsal bones (ossis metatarsi I-V), and two working straps 5, 7 which can be anchored around the heel and whose ends are (non-releasably) secured or (releasably) securable to the forefoot anchor 3. The fact that the forefoot anchor is situated much further in the direction of the toes of a foot in the working position than the known forefoot strap is a significant difference. As is shown in FIG. 2, the forefoot anchor 3, more particularly the part of the forefoot anchor 3 running over or along the sole, is situated closer to the caput ossis metatarsi I-V than to the basis ossis metatarsi I-V, that is to say the forefoot anchor 3 may even be situated against or at least partly over the caput ossis metatarsi I-V, which results in the forefoot anchor 3 having to be or being positioned relatively close to the toes. In this way, a relatively large distance is advantageously achieved between the forefoot anchor 3 and the heel anchor which is formed by the working straps 5, 7 for supporting at least one foot arch, as a result of which the collapsing or sagging of at least one of the foot arches (the transversal, medial and/or lateral foot arch) and/or overpronation of the foot can be limited or even prevented in an improved way.

[0029] Also, with the device 1, the attachment or the connection between the forefoot anchor 3 and the working straps 5, 7 in the working position is not secured under the sole, which may, inter alia, significantly increase comfort during use.

[0030] FIGS. 2, 3a-d and 4a-f show three different embodiments of the device 1, 101, 201, wherein one of the differences between the illustrated embodiments is the way in which the working strap is or the working straps are tensioned.

[0031] In the device 1, the working straps 5, 7 are fixedly connected to the forefoot anchor 3, for example by sewing the ends of the working straps to the forefoot anchor 3 or a similar operation. Once the device 1 is fitted on the foot, in which case the forefoot anchor 3 is situated around the forefoot and/or the working straps 5, 7 are passed around the heel in order to form a heel anchor, the device 1 can be brought from a fitting position, in which the working straps are not or hardly tensioned, to a working position by a user. The device 1 can be brought from the fitting position to the working position in two ways. In the first way, the working straps 5, 7 form a heel anchor as illustrated in FIG. 2, as a result of which the device 1 is in the fitting position and by moving the forefoot anchor 3 to the desired position at the location of the distal part of the metatarsal bones, i.e. in the direction of the toes, viewed from the heel, the forefoot anchor 3 is anchored at the predetermined position by a user, as a result of which the device 1 is in the working position. In the second way, the forefoot anchor 3 is already arranged at the desired or predetermined position at the location of the distal part of the metatarsal bones, as is shown in FIG. 2, as a result of which the device 1 is in the fitting position and in this case, the device can be brought to the working position by securing the working straps 5, 7 behind the heel in order to form the heel anchor. In the working position, the working straps between the heel and the forefoot anchor are tensioned in such a way that the parts of the tensioned working straps 5, 7 situated under the sole support at least one foot arch of a user.

[0032] In the device 1, in the working position, the first working strap forms a medial loop 7 and the second working strap forms a lateral loop 5, the first and the second working straps being anchorable around the heel by means of the loop. The medial loop 7 and the lateral loop 5 both have a first section which, in the working position, partly follows the foot outline and a second section which, in the working position, extends under the foot arch, between the medial side and the lateral side. In the working position, the second sections of the loops 5, 7 cross in the crossing 6 which is situated under the sole, approximately midway between the forefoot anchor 3 and the heel anchor.

[0033] FIGS. 3a-d show different views of the second embodiment of the device 101. The device 101 is incorporated in a shoe 102 which may be used to support natural foot movements so as to enhance performance, for example when playing sports or when treating a disorder of the foot, such as for example plantar fasciitis and/or hallux valgus.

[0034] The device 101 and the shoe 102 form an assembly 100. The shoe 102 is to a great extent a shoe 102 which is known per se and therefore the details thereof do not have to be described. It should however be noted that passages have been provided in the shoe, as a result of which the device 101 is situated both inside the shoe 102 and outside the shoe 102. More particularly, the passages for the working straps 105, 107 near the heel are situated on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe in order to, together with the working straps 105, 107, form the heel anchor 104 and also to form the forefoot anchor on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe. The forefoot anchor 103 is situated closer to the caput ossis metatarsi I and V than the basis ossis metatarsi I and V (as is shown in FIGS. 3a-d). It is even possible to position the forefoot anchor 103 still further in the direction of the toes, for example against or at least partly over the caput ossis metatarsi (not shown). These positions of the forefoot anchor 103 and the heel anchor 104 of the device 101 which determine the relatively large distance in between achieve the same advantages as with the above-described device 1.

[0035] The device 101 basically has the same construction as the device 1. One difference is the way in which the working straps 105, 107 are tightened in order to bring the device 101 from a fitting position to a working position. Another difference is that, due to the shoe 102, the forefoot anchor 103 can be configured differently, that is to say that, due to the shoe 102, it is no longer necessary for the forefoot anchor to extend entirely around the foot (circular forefoot anchor), as a result of which the portion (not shown) of the forefoot anchor which is situated under the sole may be done away with. A circular (completely surrounding) forefoot anchor 103 is preferred in order to provide a total optimum support of the foot, for example in order to support the three abovementioned foot arches of the foot to a greater or lesser degree. Also, a further difference is the fact that the working straps 105, 107 do not comprise a loop, such as the working straps 5, 7 shown in FIG. 2. However, the working straps 105, 107 do cross at the crossing 106 under the sole between the forefoot anchor 103 and the heel anchor 104.

[0036] The forefoot anchor 103 can be anchored on the foot by means of the shoe 102, at least partly at the location of the distal part of the metatarsal bones by putting on the shoe. With a person having feet which correspond to the size of the shoe, the forefoot anchor 103 is then automatically anchored at the correct position mentioned above. The illustrated forefoot anchor 103 is provided with an adjustment means 108 by means of which the parts 103a and 103b can be tightened by moving them with respect to each other. The adjustment means 108 is optional and is advantageous when treating specific disorders or for stimulating specific movements, for example when playing sports. Furthermore, the device 101 comprises two working straps 105, 107, the first ends of which are attached to the shoe 102 via adjustment means 110, 112 of the working straps 105, 107 in order to form the heel anchor 104, and the second ends of which are attached to the forefoot anchor 103. The parts of the two working straps 105, 107 running across the heel part or rear side of the shoe 102 (see for example FIG. 3d) are not necessary and may be omitted. In this embodiment of the shoe variant (not shown), the end of each working strap is connected to one of the adjustment means, as a result of which the working straps are not anchored around the heel in order to form the heel anchor, but are anchored near the heel (at the location of the heel bone, viewed in the length direction of the foot) by means of the adjustment means (which form the heel anchor), at the lateral and medial side of the shoe, close to or on the passages in the shoe.

[0037] The device 101 can be brought from a fitting position, in which the working straps 105, 107 are not or hardly tensioned so as to be able to put the assembly 100 on the foot of the user, to a working position. In the working position, the working straps 105, 107 between the heel and the forefoot anchor 103 are tensioned/tightened by means of the adjustment means 108, 110, 112 in such a way that the parts of the tensioned working straps 105, 107 situated under the sole support at least one foot arch of a user.

[0038] The working straps 105, 107 are relatively inelastic, that is to say the forces required to bring about an elastic deformation of the working straps 105, 107 are greater than the forces required to bring about a corresponding elastic deformation of the textile material 120 of which the shoe 102 largely consists.

[0039] FIGS. 4a-f show different diagrammatic views of a second embodiment of the device, more particularly a foot brace 201, which is attached to the foot of a user. The foot brace 201 may be used to treat various disorders, such as for example plantar fasciitis and/or hallux valgus. The foot brace 201 may also be used for supporting natural foot movements in order to enhance performance, for example when playing sports.

[0040] The foot brace 201 is provided with: [0041] a forefoot anchor 203 which is configured to be anchored on the foot 200, at least partly at the location of the distal part of the metatarsal bones (ossis metatarsi I-V), as is also shown and described with regard to the device 1, 101; [0042] at least one working strap 205 which can be anchored around the heel 202 and whose ends 205a, 205b are attachable to the forefoot anchor 203 by means of mechanical securing means, such as for example a hook and loop fastener, wherein the brace 201 can be brought from a fitting position, such as for example shown in FIG. 4d, in which the working strap 205 is not or hardly tensioned in order to be able to fit the device 201 to a foot of the user, to a working position (for example shown in FIGS. 4a-c, and 4f), wherein, in the working position, the at least one working strap 205 is tensioned between the heel 202 and the forefoot anchor 203 in such a way that the parts of the tensioned working strap 205 situated under the sole 208 support at least one foot arch of a user. At the top side or instep side, the forefoot anchor 203 situated around the forefoot may be provided with the mechanical securing means which have already been mentioned above and cooperate with the ends 205a, 205b of the working strap 205. By releasably attaching the ends 205a, 205b of the working strap 205 on the top side or instep side to the forefoot anchor 203, both the comfort of the brace during use and the ease of use during securing and releasing of the ends 205a, 205b of the working strap 205 of the forefoot anchor 203 are increased. Also, the tension in the working strap 205 can be adjusted in a simple manner by means of the releasable attachment of the latter to the forefoot anchor 203.

[0043] As can be seen in FIG. 4c, in order to offer support, the working strap is provided with a first working strap section 205c which, in the working position, extends between the forefoot anchor near the head of metatarsal bone I (caput ossis metatarsi I) and the heel bone (calcanei) and a second working strap section 205d which, in the working position, extends between the forefoot anchor near the head of metatarsal bone V (caput ossis metatarsi V) and the heel bone. In the working position, the first and the second working strap sections 205c,d therefore cross under the sole 208. The working strap 205 may be configured as a single part, in which the ends 205a, 205b form the ends of the working strap 205. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the working strap 205 is composed of two separate working straps which are attached to each other by means of a heel anchor section, for example by means of stitching or sewing. In use, the heel anchor section extends over the heel and is connected to the two separate working straps near the heel, on the medial and lateral side. The heel anchor section may comprise other material properties or may be made of a different material than the two separate working straps, for example, the heel section may have a certain minimum elasticity, that is to say compared to the inelastic or virtually inelastic working straps. The configuration of these two separate working straps is furthermore identical or virtually identical to the configuration of the working strap 205 as shown in FIGS. 4a-f.

[0044] In order to provide, in the working position of the brace 201, a support of the at least one foot arch which has been improved still further, the forces required to bring about an elastic deformation in the working strap 205 are greater than the forces to bring about a corresponding elastic deformation in the forefoot anchor 203. In the alternative embodiment with the heel anchor section, the heel anchor section is more elastic than the two separate working straps, preferably the heel anchor-section is relatively inelastic and/or less elastic than the forefoot anchor 203.

[0045] In order to improve, inter alia, the wearing comfort, the brace 201 furthermore comprises textile connecting parts 210 which extend between the forefoot anchor 203 and the heel 202 and which cover portions of the sides, the instep and/or the sole when brace 201 is being worn. The forces which are required to bring about an elastic deformation in the forefoot anchor 203 are greater than the forces to bring about a corresponding elastic deformation in the textile connecting parts 210. The textile connecting parts 210 are therefore relatively elastic. The textile connecting parts 210 of the brace may comprise first sections 210a and second sections 210b, as is shown in the figures, in particular FIG. 4d, in which case the forces which are required to bring about an elastic deformation in the second sections 210b are greater than the forces to bring about a corresponding elastic deformation in first sections 210a. The second sections 210b may optionally be provided as shown in FIG. 4d, so that these sections 210b form a tactile and/or visual mark for a user for the desired configuration of the working strap sections 205c, 205d. The edges of the brace 201 are largely or completely made of textile of the textile connecting parts 210 in order to increase the wearing comfort of a user. Although not shown in FIG. 4b, the edge of the forefoot anchor 203 on the instep of the foot 200 is preferably formed by textile of the textile connecting parts 210.

[0046] Furthermore, the foot-contacting parts of the brace 201 may, at least partly, be provided with anti-slip material. In order to improve the anchoring on the forefoot during use of the brace, a foot-contacting inner part of the forefoot anchor may, at least partly, be provided with or be made of an anti-slip material.

[0047] Furthermore, it is possible for the second sections 210b of the textile connecting parts 210 to be formed by first sections 210a on which an anti-slip material is provided, so that the advantages of a brace which remains in place during use, which may be achieved by means of the anti-slip material, can be combined with a mark for a user how the working strap sections 205c, 205d should be configured in order to put the brace 201 in the correct working position.

[0048] By combining the second sections 210b of the textile connecting parts 210 with the first sections 210a in order to form the textile connecting parts, it is possible to provide zones of reduced elasticity compared to the surrounding or adjacent zones in the textile connecting parts 210 even in the most elastic base component of the brace, namely the textile connecting parts. Such a zone configuration which may be achieved, for example, inter alia by means of the second sections 210b′ (FIGS. 4a, 4b) which extend over the sides of the foot, facilitates, on the one hand, a comfortable support of the foot, but also offers the possibility to give the brace a certain basic shape (not shown) if the brace is not on the foot of a user. By means of this shape, it is easier for a user to put on the brace 201 in a correct manner.

[0049] Furthermore, FIG. 4f shows that the forefoot anchor 203 may be made from two parts 203a, 203b which can be connected to each other, which parts 203a, 203b can releasably be connected to each other by means of mechanical securing means, such as for example a hook and loop fastener, in order to form a circular (entirely surrounding) forefoot anchor 203. Such a two-part configuration of the forefoot anchor 203 makes it easier to put on the brace 201 and makes advantageous use of the ball of the foot in order to bring about a relatively strong anchoring of the brace without this configuration having an effect on the support to be provided for the at least one foot arch. The circular forefoot anchor 203 may furthermore be composed of zones having different properties or consisting of different materials in order to produce a forefoot anchor having the desired elastic deformation, for example, the part 203a may be made from a different material or have a different material thickness than the part 203b of the forefoot anchor. In this way, it is possible for the forces required to bring about an elastic deformation in the part 203b to be greater than in the part 203a of the forefoot anchor 203. Obviously, it is also possible to design the forefoot anchor as a variant which is not (manually) releasable, in which case the desired anchoring is brought about by configuring the forefoot anchor in such a way that it is anchored at a predetermined position on the foot.

[0050] In the working position, the device described in this document stimulates the perception and proprioception of a user and this solely by the fact that the device is present on the body. The compression on and support of the foot on the body which the device, in particular the brace, provides, results in an increased proprioceptive perception, as a result of which a user can or will perform his/her movements in a more controlled manner. The device thus ensures that a user has more control over his/her foot/feet.