Footwear for Preventing or Treating a Pathological Deformity of a Wearer's Foot

Abstract

A footwear is provided for preventing or treating a pathological deformity of a wearers foot, comprising a toe strap for being fastened to the great toe, an upper for being fastened to a metatarsus region of the foot and comprising a lateral section and a medial section, and an adjustment mechanism comprising a tension element coupled to the toe strap and configured for variably adjusting a pulling force applied to the toe strap, wherein the adjustment mechanism is arranged in or on the lateral section of the upper such that the tension element is guided to a lateral side of the footwear. The medial section of the upper extends from the adjustment mechanism in a medial direction to a medial side of the footwear and is adjustable in its circumferential length.

Claims

1. Footwear (10) for preventing or treating a pathological deformity of a wearers foot, in particular of a joint connecting a great toe to the foot, comprising; a toe strap (26) configured for being fastened to the great toe, an upper (14) configured for being fastened to a metatarsus region of the foot and comprising a lateral section (16) and a medial section (18), and an adjustment mechanism (20) comprising a tension element (24) coupled to the toe strap (26) and configured for variably adjusting a pulling force applied to the toe strap (26) which, in a fastened state in which the footwear (10) is fastened to the foot, is translated into a corrective force (F1, F2) acting upon at least one of the joint and the great toe, wherein the adjustment mechanism (20) is at least partially arranged in or on the lateral section (16) of the upper (14) such that the tension element (24) is guided to a lateral side of the footwear (10), characterized in that the medial section (18) of the upper (14) extends from the adjustment mechanism (20) in a medial direction to a medial side of the footwear (10) and is adjustable in its circumferential length.

2. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the medial section (18) is configured such that it is adjustable in its circumferential length independently from an actuation of the adjustment mechanism (20).

3. Footwear according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a sole (12) to which at least one of a lateral end of the lateral section (16) and a medial end of the medial section (18) is fastened.

4. Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the toe strap (26) comprises a first end (28) fastened to the sole (12) of the footwear (10) and an opposing second end (30) coupled to the tension element (24) of the adjustment mechanism (20), wherein the toe strap (26) is configured to be arranged circumferentially around the great toe such that, in the fastened state of the footwear (10), a wrap length of the toe strap (26) around the great toe is adjustable by applying the pulling force to the toe strap (26).

5. Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the toe strap (26) is configured for being spanned around the great toe such that the toe strap (26) extends along an outer surface of the foot from a lateral side of the great toe to a medial side of the great toe and/or the joint.

6. Footwear according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the adjustment mechanism (20) and the lateral section (16) are designed such that the tension element (24) is guided into the sole (12) of the footwear (10).

7. Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tension element (24) is supported or guided in the lateral section (16) of the upper (14) such that the tension element (24) is translationally movable relative to the lateral section (16) along a longitudinal axis of the tension element (24).

8. Footwear according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the sole (12) is provided with a channel (34) configured to support or guide the tension element (24) and/or the toe strap (26) such that the tension element (24) and/or the strap (26) are/is translationally movable relative to the sole (12) along a longitudinal axis of the channel (34).

9. Footwear according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the sole (12) is built up of multiple sole layers, and wherein the tension element (24) is guided through an outsole or between the outsole and an insole or between the insole and an inserted sole.

10. Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the medial section (18) of the upper (14) is arranged adjacent to or spaced apart from the adjustment mechanism (20).

11. Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism (20) further comprises an adjustment unit (22) which is configured to selectively release or lock a relative translational movement between the tension element (24) and the adjustment unit (22) along the longitudinal axis of the tension element (24) so as to variedly adjust and set the pulling force applied to the toe strap (26).

12. Footwear according to claim 11, wherein the medial section (18) comprises a fastening means (40; 44) configured to tension-resistantly connect two opposing portions (38) of the medial section (18) which, in a released state of the fastening means, are movable relative to one another in a circumferential direction, and wherein the fastening means (40; 44) is configured to be fastened and/or released independently from releasing and/or locking the relative translational movement between the tension element (24) and the adjustment unit (22).

13. Footwear according to claim 12, which is designed such that, in the fastened state of the footwear (10) in which the adjustment mechanism (20) applies the pulling force to the toe strap (26), the adjustment mechanism (20) is subjected to a further pulling force counteracting the pulling force applied to the toe strap (26), wherein the further pulling force is directed from the adjustment mechanism (20) via the medial section (18) into the sole (12) such that a tensile force is exerted to the fastening means (40; 44).

14. Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the adjustment mechanism (20) comprises a Bowden cable for force-fittingly connecting the adjustment unit (22) to the toe strap (26), wherein the Bowden cable is constituted by the tension element (24) and a pressure-resistant sleeve in which the tension element (24) is guided.

15. Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the medial section (18) is constituted by a strap band (42) and a Velcro connection (44) having a first end fastened to the lateral section (16) and a correspondingly designed second end fastened to the strap band (42).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The present disclosure will be more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description when being considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0053] FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a footwear according to a first configuration which is provided in the form of a closed shoe; and

[0054] FIG. 2 schematically shows a top view of a footwear according to a second configuration which is provided in the form of a sandal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] In the following, exemplary embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the Figures, like elements are denoted by identical reference numerals and repeated description thereof may be omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

[0056] In the present disclosure, as is common in anatomy, a reference system is used that is centered on the midline of the wearer's body to indicate position and direction of individual components of the proposed footwear in a state in which the footwear is fastened to a wearer's foot. Accordingly, the term “medial” refers to a direction or side of the footwear pointing towards a medial plane of a wearer's body, i.e. a body of a person who wears the footwear. In anatomy, the term “medial plane”, also referred to as “mid-sagittal plane”, generally refers to an anatomical plane which divides the body into two bilaterally symmetric parts, i.e. passing through body's midline structures. Accordingly, when describing one of a pair of footwear, i.e. fastened to one of the wearer's foot, the term “in the medial direction” means in a direction of the respective other footwear, i.e. fastened to the other foot of the wearer. To that end, the term “lateral” refers to a direction or side of the footwear pointing away from the medial plane of the wearer's body. Accordingly, when describing one of the pair of footwear, i.e. which is fastened to one of the wearer's foot, the term “in the lateral direction” means in a direction which points away of the respective other footwear, i.e. fastened to the other foot of the wearer.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a footwear 10 provided in the form of a closed shoe which is intended to be used for prevention or treatment of a pathological deformity of a wearer's foot (not shown), in particular of a joint connecting a great toe to the foot, also referred to as hallux valgus disease.

[0058] The footwear 10 is configured and designed for being releasably fastened to the wearer's foot and, when being fastened to the foot, for providing an intended therapeutic treatment by applying corrective forces to the foot, in particular to the great toe and the great toe joint, as will be described in the following.

[0059] The footwear 10 comprises a sole 12 which is configured for receiving a bottom or sole of the foot. The sole 12 is provided with a multi-layer design which is built up by an outsole, a midsole, an insole and an inserted sole which, in an upward direction, are arranged successively one onto the other. Specifically, the inserted sole may be releasably received within the sole 12 so as to be interchangeable.

[0060] Further, the footwear 10 comprises an upper 14 which is fixed to the sole 12 and configured to hold the foot within the footwear 10, i.e. in a desired position and orientation relative to the footwear 10. In other words, the upper 14 is configured for being fastened to a metatarsus region of the foot. As can be gathered from FIG. 1, the upper 14 comprises a lateral section 16 and a medial section 18.

[0061] The lateral section 16 and the medial section 18 refer to distinct and delimited sections of the upper 14, wherein the lateral section 16 extends from the medial section 18 in a lateral direction Y and the medial section 18 extends from the lateral section 16 in an opposed medial direction Y′.

[0062] In the shown configuration, the lateral section 16 and the medial section 18 of the upper 14 are fixed to the sole 12. Specifically, a lateral end of the lateral section 16 of the upper 14 is fixed to a lateral side of the sole 12 and a medial end of the medial section 18 of the upper 14 is fixed to a medial side of the sole 12.

[0063] The lateral section 16 carries an adjustment mechanism 20 of the footwear 10 which comprises an adjustment unit 22 and a tension element 24. Specifically, the adjustment mechanism 20 is partly arranged on and within the lateral section 16 of the upper 14 such that the tension element 24 is guided to the lateral side of the footwear 10 as can be gathered from FIG. 1. Specifically, the tension element 24 is provided in the form of a wire which, at one end, is pulled into the adjustment unit 22 and, at the other end, is connected to a toe strap 26 configured for being fastened to the great toe of the foot. Specifically, the footwear 10 is provided such that the tension element 24 is releasably coupled to the toe strap 26. The adjustment mechanism 20 is configured for variably adjusting a pulling force applied to the toe strap 26 which, in the fastened state of the footwear 10, is translated into a corrective force acting upon the great toe and the great toe joint.

[0064] The toe strap 26, at least partially, is arranged within the upper 14 and provided such that it is movable relative to the upper 14. In the fastened state of the footwear 10, the toe strap 26 is designed and configured to hold and fix the great toe in a predefined position within the footwear 10, i.e. relative to the sole 12.

[0065] Specifically, the toe strap 26 comprises a first end 28 which is firmly fixed to the sole 12 such that, in the fastened state of the footwear 10, the first end 28 of the toe strap 26 is arranged between the great toe and the second toe of the foot. In the shown configuration, the first end 28 of the toe strap 26 protrudes into the sole 12 and is arranged between two layers of the sole 12, for example between the insole and the midsole. Opposed to the first end 28, the toe strap 26 further comprises a second end 30 which, in a forward direction X of the footwear 10 and in the lateral direction Y, is arranged before the first end 28. The second end 30 of the toe strap 26 is releasably coupled to the connecting element 24, thereby enabling that the inserted sole can be exchanged.

[0066] As can be gathered from FIG. 1, the toe strap 26 is provided within an elongated and flat shape, wherein its first end 28 is arranged in parallel to the forward direction X of the footwear 10. Further, the toe strap 26 is configured and designed such that, in the fastened state of the footwear 10, it is arranged circumferentially around the great toe such that a wrap length of the toe strap 26 around the great toe is adjustable by applying the pulling force to the toe strap 26 via the tension element 24. More specifically, the toe strap 26 is configured for being spanned around the great toe such that the toe strap 26 extends along an outer surface of the foot from a lateral side of the great toe to a medial side of the great toe and the great toe joint. Accordingly, in the fastened state of the footwear, the toe strap 26 extends backwardly, i.e. along a backward direction X′ of the footwear, and medially, i.e. along a medial direction Y′ of the footwear, inclined along the outer surface of the great toe. By such a configuration, the great toe is prevented from being subjected to a rotational movement upon applying the pulling force to the toe strap 26.

[0067] The toe strap 26 is provided with a seat surface 32 which is configured to, in the fastened state of the footwear 10, fit tightly against the outer surface of the foot. Specifically, the seat surface 32 comprises a first effective surface provided in the region of the first end 28 of the toe strap 26 which tightly fits against the lateral side of the great toe and a second effective surface provided in the region of the second end 30 of the toe strap 26 which fits against the medial side of the great toe and the great toe joint. By such a configuration, upon applying the pulling force to the toe strap 26, the first effective surface applies a first corrective force F1 to the lateral side of the great toe and the second effective surface applies a second corrective force F2 to the medial side of the great toe joint. In this way, both the great toe and the great toe joint are subjected to a corrective therapeutic force which forces them into an anatomically desired or correct position thereby providing an effective therapeutic treatment of hallux valgus diseases.

[0068] For purposefully translating the pulling force into the above described corrective forces, the adjustment mechanism is provided such that the tension element 24 is guided through the sole 12 in a width direction thereof so as to be guided to the medial side of the footwear 10 to be connected to the toe strap 26. Specifically, in this configuration, for being capable of applying the pulling force to the toe strap 26, the tension element 24 is movably supported and guided within the footwear 10, in particular within the lateral section 16 of the upper 14 and the sole 12. For doing so, the footwear 10 is provided with a channel 34 which extends subsequently through the lateral section 16 of the upper 14 and the sole 12. By such a configuration, the adjustment mechanism 20 and the lateral section 16 of the upper 14 are designed such that the tension element 24 is directed into the sole 12 from a lateral side of the footwear 10. Further, the channel 34 supports and guides the tension element 24 in the lateral section 16 of the upper 14 and the sole 12 such that the tension element 24 is translationally movable relative to the lateral section 16 and the sole 12 along a longitudinal axis of the tension element 24 and accordingly along a longitudinal axis of the channel 34. In an alternative configuration, the second end 30 of the toe strap 26 may be configured to protrude into the channel 34 so as to be guided therein and translationally movable relative thereto.

[0069] Specifically, the channel 34 may be provided such that the channel 34 and accordingly the tension element 24 are guided through the outsole or between the outsole and insole or between the insole and the inserted sole of the sole 12.

[0070] Furthermore, in the shown configuration, the channel 34 is designed such that an medial opening (not shown) thereof is arranged to open into an inner space of the upper 14 such that the medial end of the tension element 24 and the second end 30 of the toe strap 24 are arranged within the inner space of the upper 14. Alternatively, the channel 34 may be designed such that the medial opening thereof is arranged at an outer surface of the sole 12 such that the medial end of the tension element 24 and a second end 30 of the toe strap 24 are arranged on an outer surface of the upper 14. In this configuration, a front region of the footwear 10, the upper 14 may be provided with a through opening through which the second end 30 of the toe strap 26 is pulled so as to be arranged onto the outer surface of the upper 14, where it is connected to the tension element.

[0071] For actuating the tension element 24, the adjustment mechanism 20 is equipped with the adjustment unit 22. The adjustment mechanism 20 is provided such that the tension element 24 is translationally moved relative to the adjustment unit 22, i.e. along its longitudinal axis, so as to variedly adjust the pulling force applied to the toe strap 26. For doing so, the adjustment unit 22 is configured to selectively release and lock a relative translational movement between the tension element 24 and the adjustment unit 22 along the longitudinal axis of the tension element 24 so as to variedly adjust and set the pulling force applied to the toe strap 26.

[0072] In the shown configuration, the adjustment unit 22 is provided in the form of a rotary knob which is configured to translate a rotational movement thereof into a translational movement of the tension element 24 relative to the adjustment unit 22. In other words, upon being rotatably actuated by a user, the adjustment unit 22 causes translational movement of the tension element 24 so as to adjust the pulling force acting upon the pulse strap 26. Specifically, the adjustment unit 22 is configured such that a rotational movement thereof into a first direction causes tightening of the tension element 24 and a rotational movement into a second opposed direction causes untightening of the tension element 24, wherein tightening of the tension element 24 is performed by pulling or retracting the tension element 24 into the adjustment unit 22 and untightening is performed by pulling the tension element out of the adjustment unit 22. In a state, in which the adjustment unit 22 is not actuated by the user, i.e. is not rotationally actuated, the adjustment unit 22 is configured to lock relative movement between the tension element 24 and the adjustment unit 22. In other words, in this state, the tension element 24 is neither pulled in nor out of the adjustment unit 22.

[0073] As set forth above, the medial section 18 refers to a part of the upper 14 which is delimited from the lateral section 16 as indicated by a dashed line 36 in FIG. 1. Specifically, the medial section 18 is provided so as to be arranged adjacent to or spaced apart from the adjustment mechanism 20. In other words, the medial section 18 extends from the adjustment mechanism 20, i.e. from the dashed line 36, in the medial direction Y′ to the medial side of the footwear 10.

[0074] The medial section 18 of the upper is designed such that it is adjustable, i.e. variably adjustable in its circumferential length. For doing so, the medial section 18 is provided with an intermitted section along the circumferential direction. This intermitted section is constituted by two opposing portions 38 which face one another and which are movable relative to one another in the circumferential direction. In other words, upon increasing or decreasing a distance between the two opposing portions 38 of the medial section 18, the circumferential length of the upper 14, i.e. its medial section 18, can be increased or decreased. The medial section is configured such that it is adjustable in its circumferential length independently from an actuation of the adjustment mechanism 20.

[0075] For adjusting a desired circumferential length of the upper 14, a fastening means in the form of laces (not shown) and correspondingly designed lace eyelets 40 are provided which are configured to tension-resistantly connect the two opposing portions such that the two opposing portions are prevented from moving away from one another in the circumferential direction. In other words, the fastening means of the medial section 18 is constituted by at least one lace which is connected to the two opposing portions of the medial section via the correspondingly designed lace eyelets 40. In this configuration, a fastened state of the fastening means may be set by tying the at least one lace to the lace eyelets 40, e.g. by means of a shoe-tying knot, wherein a released state of the fastening means for allowing adjustment of circumferential length of the medial section 18 is provided by releasing or untying the laces.

[0076] By such a configuration, the footwear 10 is designed such that the fastening means is configured to be fastened or released independently from releasing or locking the relative translational movement between the tension element 24 and the adjustment unit 22.

[0077] According to an alternative configuration, the adjustment mechanism may comprise a Bowden cable for force-fittingly connecting the adjustment unit to the toaster 24. In this configuration, the Bowden cable is constituted by the tension element 24 and a pressure-resistance sleeve in which the tension element is guided. Specifically, the pressure-resistance sleeve may be directly or pressure-resistantly connected to the adjustment unit 22.

[0078] FIG. 2 shows another configuration of the footwear 10 which is provided in the form of an open shoe, in particular a sandal. Compared to the configuration depicted in FIG. 1, the footwear 10 further differs by the configuration of the medial section 18 of the upper 14. Specifically, in the configuration depicted in FIG. 2, the medial section 18 is constituted by a strap band 42 and a Velcro connection 44. More specifically, the Velcro connection 44 has a first end fastened to the lateral section, in particular a lower surface of the lateral section 16, and a correspondingly designed second end fastened to the strap band 42, in particular an upper surface thereof. By being provided with the

[0079] Velcro connection 44, the medial section 18 of the upper 14 can be selectively engaged and disengaged so as to allow adjustment of the circumferential length of the medial section 16 of the upper 14.

[0080] To that end, the inserted sole, i.e. the upper layer of the sole 12, is provided with an open slot 46 extending through its thickness direction and from the first end 28 of the toe strap 26 to a forward end of the sole 12. By such a configuration, the inserted sole 12 may be exchanged without the decoupling the tension element 24 from the toe strap 26, in particular from its second end 30.

[0081] It will be obvious for a person skilled in the art that these embodiments and items only depict examples of a plurality of possibilities. Hence, the embodiments shown here should not be understood to form a limitation of these features and configurations. Any possible combination and configuration of the described features can be chosen according to the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0082] 10 footwear [0083] 12 sole [0084] 14 upper [0085] 16 lateral section [0086] 18 medial section [0087] 20 adjustment mechanism [0088] 22 adjustment unit [0089] 24 tension element [0090] 26 toe strap [0091] 28 first end of the toe strap [0092] 30 second end of the toe strap [0093] 32 seat surface [0094] 34 channel [0095] 36 boundary line [0096] 38 opposing portion of the medial section [0097] 40 lace eyelets [0098] 42 strap band [0099] 44 Velcro connection [0100] 46 open slot