ES1311098U - OPEN SHOE ARTICLE WITH GEL METATARSAL CAPSULE (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Article of footwear (1) comprising: - a sole (2), substantially flexible and elastic to allow substantial flexing during ambulation of a person, comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being adapted for direct contact and interaction with at least a part of the lower part of the foot of a person and the lower surface being adapted for direct contact and interaction with the ground surface: - fastening means (3) connected to the sole (2) at one or more points thereof, configured to extend over a portion of the anterosuperior side of the foot of a person, and said fastening means (3) being adapted to secure the article of footwear (1) to the foot of a person: and characterized in that the sole (2), additionally, comprises a flexible metatarsal capsule (4) which in turn comprises a material in a gel state, said metatarsal capsule (4) being arranged in at least a part of the sole (2) intended for direct contact with the metatarsal zone of the foot of a person providing cushioning to the load that (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

OPEN SHOE ARTICLE WITH GEL METATARSAL CAPSULE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an open footwear item, preferably of the flip-flop, sandal or flip-flop type, intended to improve the mechanical condition of the foot of a person wearing said footwear item, both statically (when the person remains standing without walking) and dynamically (during walking). More specifically, the footwear item of the invention incorporates in its sole a capsule comprising a material in a gel state, said capsule being arranged in at least one part of the sole intended for direct contact with the metatarsal area of a person's foot, providing cushioning, decompression and resistance to fatigue to said area of the foot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, there are many known benefits of maintaining good muscle mass and tone, correct posture and adequate joint health in order to be able to perform different daily functions, as well as in sports. This is especially relevant in an increasingly sedentary and ageing society, where mobility problems are one of the main causes of the deterioration in the quality of life of the population.

Within these mobility problems, those associated with the lower limbs are those that can be more limiting in the long term, as they can affect everyday tasks such as walking, sitting, bending, jumping or going up and down stairs. In the sports field, on the other hand, the lower body suffers, in most sports, great efforts and impacts that can wear down different physiological structures, crucial for good joint and mechanical health. Not only is this true, but the physical condition of the lower limbs and joints can affect the rest of the body. Various problems, such as back pain and disorders or postural problems, can arise from a poor physical condition of the lower body.

Within the lower limbs, the health of the feet and ankles is especially relevant, since the quality of the stride can have a great impact on the three joints of the leg (ankle, knee and hip), as well as lead to numerous mobility problems if the stride is not adequate. In addition, the fact that the feet support the entire weight of the body, both when performing efforts or work with impact and when standing statically, can cause great wear and tear on muscles, bones, cartilage and other structures of the foot. Therefore, it is vitally important to have appropriate footwear that allows the foot to be kept in the best possible mechanical condition in order to prevent wear and pain.

For this reason, there are orthopedic footwear items on the market, insoles, accessories that are placed on conventional footwear, etc., all of them intended to improve the mechanical health of the foot. Some of them focus on the main support and load areas of this extremity, such as the metatarsal area and the plantar heel area, that is, the lower area of the calcaneus bone, incorporating reinforcements or cushioning in these areas to avoid overloading them.

However, these insoles and accessories (such as gel or foam pads that can be inserted and removed either from the foot or from the metatarsal area of conventional footwear) are problematic in hot environments or times of the year when open shoes such as flip-flops, sandals or flip-flops are predominant. In these cases, the use of removable insoles or accessories has significant limitations, so it is not advisable when it comes to ensuring good mechanical health of the foot and leg.

The first of these limitations is the attachment of these structures to the foot or footwear, which is usually done by means of adhesives or strips, which makes it very difficult for the piece or structure to remain in the right place while wearing the footwear. This can not only lead to a feeling of discomfort for the person but also, and more seriously, to unwanted changes in the gait with their corresponding muscular and joint consequences. On the other hand, the adhesives used can damage or stain both the footwear on which they are placed and the foot of the person wearing it. In addition, in many cases these compounds are not environmentally friendly.

There is currently no open-toe shoe, flip-flop or sandal, that directly incorporates a structure in its design intended to improve the mechanical health of the metatarsal area of the foot. This is mainly due to the fact that in most cases the area where the insoles to cushion the metatarsus are placed coincides with the area where the support straps are attached to the foot.

For all these reasons, it would be advantageous to provide an open shoe incorporating a structure adapted to guarantee or improve the mechanical health of the metatarsal area of the foot so that said structure remains in a fixed position in the footwear article without involving the use of undesirable materials such as some adhesives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With the aim of overcoming the limitations described above, the present invention aims at providing an open footwear item adapted to cushion, decompress and reduce fatigue of the metatarsal area of a person's foot, thus reducing possible traumatic problems in the anatomy of the foot and in the lower limbs, both during static use and during use in movement or in sports activities.

The object of the invention relates to a footwear article comprising:

- a sole, substantially flexible and elastic to allow substantial flexing during a person's walking, comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, relative to the position of support of the article of footwear on the ground, the upper surface being adapted for direct contact and interaction with at least a part of the bottom (sole) of a person's foot and the lower surface being adapted for direct contact and interaction with the ground surface; and

- fastening means connected to the sole at one or more points thereof, configured to extend over a portion of the anterosuperior side of a person's foot, and said fastening means also being adapted to secure the article of footwear to a person's foot;

and where the sole additionally comprises a flexible metatarsal capsule which in turn comprises a gel-state material, said metatarsal capsule being arranged in at least a part of the sole intended for direct contact with the metatarsal area of the foot of a person, providing cushioning to the load applied to said metatarsal area during walking.

In this way, the gel-filled capsule acts as a cushion for the metatarsal bones of the foot, reducing impact, overload and fatigue. In addition, the position of the capsule on the sole remains fixed at all times, so that unwanted movements that could cause discomfort or a bad step cannot occur.

In the scope of the present invention, the term "gel material" will be understood as a material comprising a colloidal physical system where the continuous phase is solid and the dispersed phase is liquid.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metatarsal capsule is arranged in at least one part of the sole intended for direct contact with the area corresponding to one or more phalanges of the foot of a person and/or the area located between the metatarsus and the phalanges, providing cushioning to the load applied to said areas during walking. This feature is also advantageous since the area corresponding to the phalanges, and more specifically the intermediate or contact area between the metatarsus and the phalanges, bears a large part of the load during the step, so having adequate cushioning represents a great mechanical benefit.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the sole additionally comprises a flexible heel capsule which in turn comprises a gel-like material, said second capsule being arranged in at least a part of the sole intended for direct contact with the plantar heel area of a person's foot, providing cushioning to the load applied to said plantar heel area during walking. As in previously described embodiments, this second capsule is advantageous because the plantar heel area (the lower part of the calcaneus bone) also bears a large part of the load during walking.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the metatarsal and/or heel capsule comprises a plurality of cavities and each of the cavities comprises a gel-like material. This feature is advantageous because, depending on the stride of the person wearing the footwear, the gel-like material of the capsule will deform in one way or another. For example, if the person is a pronator, the material of the capsule will experience a greater sinking on the inner side of the foot, thus reducing the cushioning in that area. The gel-filled cavities comprising the capsule allow the cushioning to be homogenized along the entire surface of contact with the foot, regardless of the stride or the use of the footwear.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the sole comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper and lower portions comprising the upper and lower surfaces of the sole, respectively. Additionally, at least a part of the metatarsal and/or heel capsule is arranged between the upper portion and the lower portion of the sole. Preferably, the upper portion of the sole comprises one or more holes that allow direct contact between a person's foot and one or more parts of the capsule(s). This way of fixing the capsule to the sole is especially advantageous since it ensures greater placement and stability of the same.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the sole comprises a polymeric material, preferably polyethylene and/or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). These materials are safe, low in cost and optimal for use in this type of footwear. Furthermore, ethylene vinyl acetate can be foamed in different thicknesses, which favours the embodiment described above in which the sole comprises two portions.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fastening means comprise:

- one or more strips adapted to be placed over the instep of a person's foot and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the foot; and/or

- two or more strips, each adapted to be placed between the first web space and a lateral region of the instep of a person's foot.

These two options correspond, respectively, to a flip-flop-type footwear configuration and a slip-on-type footwear configuration. Other open footwear configurations would also form part of the object of the invention. For example, sandal-type footwear, which partially supports the back of the foot, as well as footwear comprising different structures (a single piece that supports the instep like a clog, an element that includes the support of the instep by holding the thumb, etc.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the metatarsal and/or heel capsule comprises a shape complementary to the anatomy of the area of the foot corresponding to the arrangement of said metatarsal and/or heel capsule. This may imply that the metatarsal and/or heel capsule of the right foot has a different shape to that of the left foot. In general, in this case the shape of the right capsule may comprise a shape corresponding to the mirror image of the left capsule, although the shape of each capsule may also be completely independent.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the metatarsal capsule comprises a triangular shape with rounded vertices and/or the heel capsule comprises an ovoid shape, these shapes being those that produce a better anatomical adaptation to the foot. These shapes designed for their anatomical adjustment to the different shapes of the foot provide greater comfort to the person, as well as optimal cushioning and functionality.

Finally, in another preferred embodiment of the invention, the metatarsal and/or heel capsule comprises thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and the gel material comprises thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), although other materials, including polyurethane or thermoplastic rubber, can also be used. TPU is advantageous when manufacturing the capsule, which would be filled, according to this embodiment of the invention, with the corresponding gel-like TPE. These materials allow obtaining a capsule that is flexible but sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape, at least partially, with the TPU also being resistant to sweat and friction. The physical-mechanical properties of TPE, on the other hand, allow for great impact absorption, guaranteeing great resistance to the tensions and compressions subjected during the use of the footwear item.

All terms and embodiments described anywhere herein are equally applicable to all aspects of the invention. It should be noted that, as used in the description and claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include their plurals unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, the term "comprises" or "comprising" as used herein also describes "consists of" or "consisting of" in accordance with generally accepted patent practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Below is a brief description of each of the figures used to complement the description of the invention that follows, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

Figure 1 shows a top view of a pair of footwear items, one corresponding to the right foot and the other to the left, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Specifically, two flip-flops are shown (with support for the instep through the lateral areas of the same and the first interdigital space) that incorporate a capsule in the metatarsal area and a capsule in the heel area.

Figure 2 shows one of the articles of footwear represented in Figure 1 from an oblique view for greater detail. It also shows an upper portion and a lower portion of the sole comprised in the article of footwear according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows different views of a first capsule according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows different views of a second capsule according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows different views of a second capsule composed of a plurality of cavities according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

NUMERICAL REFERENCES OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to assist in a better understanding of the technical characteristics of the invention, the aforementioned figures are accompanied by a series of numerical references where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following are represented:

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description of the present invention which will be described hereinafter refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention can be implemented. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to implement the present invention. It is to be understood that various embodiments of the present invention are different from one another, but need not be mutually exclusive. Accordingly, the detailed description which will be described hereinafter is not intended to be taken in a restrictive sense, and the scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims, in addition to all scopes equivalent to those claimed by the appended claims. In the drawings, reference numerals refer to the same or similar functions in various aspects.

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows two articles of footwear (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention, one of them adapted to be worn on a left foot (left) and the other adapted to be worn on a right foot (right). Each of these articles of footwear (1) comprises a sole (2), whose upper surface (visible in Figure 1), in relation to the position of support of the article of footwear on the ground, is adapted to come into contact with the substantially lower surface of a foot (sole) and whose lower surface (not visible in Figure 1) is adapted to come into contact with the surface of the ground. The sole (2) is constructed of a substantially flexible material, preferably a polymeric material, and even more preferably polyethylene and/or ethylene vinyl acetate, although other materials such as leather, rubber, raffia or esparto grass can also be used, among other non-limiting examples. This flexibility of the sole (2) allows a natural movement and flexion of the foot during the different phases of walking.

Each article of footwear (1) further comprises fastening means (3) which enable a person's foot to be secured to said article of footwear (1). Said fastening means (3) are connected to the sole (2) at one or more points thereof and are adapted to extend over a portion of the upper anterior side of the foot, as can be seen in Figure 1. In this figure, it can be seen how the fastening means (3) comprise two strips, each of them connecting one side of the sole (2) at the height of the low instep (the area closest to the ankle) with the part of the sole corresponding to the first interdigital space. That is, Figure 1 shows an article of footwear (1) of the flip-flop type according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other possibilities are also contemplated in the present invention, such as flip-flop-type configurations, with one or more straps connecting both sides of the sole at the height of the instep in a transversal manner to it, or sandal-type, also including support for the back of the foot. The material comprised in the support means can vary, from polyvinyl chloride, rubber or rubber to leather, among other non-limiting examples.

Finally, Figure 1 shows a metatarsal capsule (4) and a heel capsule (5) incorporated into the sole (2) of the footwear item (1). The metatarsal capsule (4) is located in the area of the sole (2) intended to come into direct contact with the metatarsal area of the foot of a person wearing the footwear item (1), while the heel capsule (5) is located in the part of the sole (2) intended to come into contact with the plantar heel.

The metatarsal (4) and heel (5) capsules, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, are made of a flexible material that is resistant to pressure, sweat and friction so that their integrity is not compromised during use of the footwear item (1). Said material preferably consists of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), but may comprise or consist of other types of materials. In turn, the metatarsal (4) and heel (5) capsules are filled with a gel-like material, which provides said capsules (4, 5) with cushioning, decompression and fatigue reduction properties in the corresponding areas of the foot (metatarsals and heel, respectively), both during walking and in static or even impact situations (jumping or running). The gel-like material preferably used is thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Thus, the capsule (4, 5) is formed, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, by approximately 40% TPU and 60% TPE in a gel state.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 it can be seen that the shape of the metatarsal capsule (4) consists of a triangle with rounded vertices resembling the shape of a canine plantar pad. This is advantageous according to the anatomy of the metatarsal area of the human foot, since it allows the load to be adequately distributed between the metatarsals, avoiding fatigue and overload of the same and of the associated anatomical structures (plantar muscles, fascia, etc.).

Following this same philosophy, the shape of the heel capsule (5) shown in Figure 1 is also designed to adapt to the anatomy of the foot, in this case to that corresponding to the plantar heel area (lower part of the calcaneus bone). As can be seen in the aforementioned figure, this shape comprises a substantially straight side to which another curved side is opposed. The sides adjacent to the substantially straight side are substantially perpendicular to it and all the vertices are rounded to avoid discomfort or lacerations of the foot during walking.

However, other shapes of the metatarsal (4) and heel (5) capsules are equally possible within the scope of the present invention. Although Figure 1 shows an example in which the shapes of the metatarsal (4) and heel (5) capsules corresponding to the right and left feet are the same, it is also possible that they are not. For example, the shape of the capsules (4, 5) corresponding to the right foot may correspond to the mirror image of the shape of the capsules (4, 5) corresponding to the left foot. In cases where podiatric anomalies exist, the shapes of the right and left capsules (4, 5) could not be related at all to meet the anatomical needs of the person wearing the footwear item (1).

Figure 2 shows a different view of the footwear item (1) corresponding to the right foot already shown in Figure 1. From this new view two portions comprised in the sole (2) can be seen: an upper portion (6) comprising the upper surface of the sole (2), and a lower portion (7) comprising the lower surface of the sole (2). This division of the sole (2) into two portions allows at least a part of the metatarsal capsule (4) and/or heel capsule (5) to be placed between the first and second portions (6, 7) of the sole (2), increasing its level of fixation thereto. In this embodiment of the invention it is advantageous that the sole (2) comprises a thermo-expandable or foamable material, such as ethylene vinyl acetate or EVA rubber.

Although the capsule (4, 5) can be arranged entirely between the upper and lower portions (6, 7) of the sole (2), Figure 2 shows an embodiment in which the upper portion (6) comprises two holes that allow direct contact of part of the metatarsal (4) and heel (5) capsules with the foot. Note that in both Figure 2 and Figure 1 the three-dimensional nature of the capsule cannot be seen, this appearing flat when in reality it is projected in the vertical direction.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, it is advantageous to have an additional structure adapted to fix the capsule between the lower and upper portions (6, 7) of the sole (2). Figures 3-5 show embodiments of a metatarsal capsule (4), and of two heel capsules (5), respectively. In all these embodiments it can be seen that the capsule (4, 5) comprises two structures: one of lesser thickness that acts as a base of the capsule (8) and one of greater thickness adapted to contain the material in a gel state inside, thus acting as a casing (9).

The shell (9) of the capsule is fixedly arranged on a surface of the base (8), this surface occupying, in the embodiments shown in Figures 3-5, a greater space than the vertical projection of the shell (9) on it. In this way, the lower surface of the base (8) can be fixed to the upper surface of the lower portion (7) of the sole (2) and then an upper portion (6) of the sole (2) comprising a hole that substantially fits the shape of the shell (9) of the capsule (4, 5) can be placed on top. After this, the upper surface of the base (8) that is in contact with the lower surface of the upper portion (6) of the sole (2) would also be fixed to the latter. Although the aforementioned fixings are carried out with adhesives, in this configuration the fastening of the capsule (4, 5) in its position with respect to the entire sole (2) is guaranteed. These attachments could also be made by other methods known in the art, such as through stitching.

Figures 4 and 5 show alternative embodiments of the heel capsule (5), although the characteristics of said embodiments are equally applicable to the metatarsal capsule (4). In Figure 4, the envelope (9) is formed by a single cavity (10) or volume in which the corresponding gel is housed. In Figure 5, however, the envelope (9) is formed by a plurality of closed cavities (10), each of them being adapted to house a gel material in its interior volume. The cavities (10) shown in Figure 5 have a substantially spherical shape, although other shapes are also contemplated in the object of the invention. This characteristic is advantageous because, depending on the tread of the person wearing the footwear item (1), the gel material of a capsule (4, 5) that only comprises a single cavity (10) will deform in one way or another. For example, if the person is pronator, the capsule material (4, 5) will experience a greater sinking on the inner side of the foot, thus reducing the cushioning in that area. Having a plurality of cavities (10) filled with gel allows the cushioning to be homogenized along the entire surface of contact with the foot, regardless of the tread or the use of the footwear item (1).

Finally, it should be noted that the dimensions of the metatarsal (4) and heel (5) capsules shown in Figures 3-5 may vary depending on the size in which the footwear (1) is manufactured, since they are associated with the size and anatomy of the foot intended to wear it. Therefore, there is no upper or lower limit, within the scope of the present invention, for said dimensions, since the footwear (1) could be used both by children and by adults of large dimensions.

Examples of possible dimensions of the metatarsal (4) and heel (5) capsules for different embodiments of the invention are presented below. These examples are merely illustrative and not limiting.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3, and following the nomenclature established in said figure, the dimensions of the metatarsal capsule (4) may be included within the following values:

X e [21, 41] mm;

And e [36, 56] mm;

d e [1, 10] mm;

Z<b>e [0.1, 5] mm.

Note that the envelope (9) of the capsule (4, 5) may comprise a variable thickness (Z<e>), as shown in the embodiment of Figure 3, where the maximum (ZEmax) and minimum (ZEmin) thickness of said envelope (9) can be seen, comprised, in the embodiment of the invention shown, between the following values:

ZEmax e [2, 10] mm;

ZEmin and [0.5, 4] mm.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4, and following the nomenclature established in said figure, the dimensions of the heel capsule (5) correspond to the following values:

X e [31, 51] mm;

And e [43, 63] mm;

d e [1, 10] mm;

Z<b>∈ [0.1, 5] mm.

Z<e>∈ [0.5, 10] mm.

Finally, according to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5, and following the nomenclature established in said figure, the dimensions of the heel capsule (5) correspond to the following values:

X ∈ [27, 47] mm;

Y ∈ [49, 69] mm;

d ∈ [1, 10] mm;

Z<b>∈ [0.1, 5] mm.

Z<e>∈ [0.5, 10] mm.

Z<c>∈ [0.1,4] mm;

D ∈ [1, 10] mm.

Claims (14)

1. - Footwear article (1) comprising: - a sole (2), substantially flexible and elastic to allow substantial flexing during a person's walking, comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being adapted for direct contact and interaction with at least a portion of the bottom of a person's foot and the lower surface being adapted for direct contact and interaction with the ground surface; - fastening means (3) connected to the sole (2) at one or more points thereof, configured to extend over a portion of the antero-upper side of a person's foot, and said fastening means (3) being adapted to secure the footwear item (1) to a person's foot; and characterized by that The sole (2) additionally comprises a flexible metatarsal capsule (4) which in turn comprises a gel-like material, said metatarsal capsule (4) being arranged in at least one part of the sole (2) intended for direct contact with the metatarsal area of a person's foot, providing cushioning to the load applied to said metatarsal area during walking. 2. - Footwear item (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the metatarsal capsule (4) is arranged in at least one part of the sole (2) intended for direct contact with the area corresponding to one or more phalanges of the foot of a person and/or the area located between the metatarsus and the phalanges, providing cushioning to the load applied to said areas during walking. 3. - Footwear item (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sole (2) additionally comprises a flexible heel capsule (5) which in turn comprises a gel-state material, said heel capsule (5) being arranged in at least a part of the sole (2) intended for direct contact with the plantar heel area of a person's foot, providing cushioning to the load applied to said plantar heel area during walking. 4. - Footwear item (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the metatarsal capsule (4) and/or the heel capsule (5) comprises a first portion or base (8) and a second portion or envelope (9) of greater thickness than that of the base (8), said envelope (9) being arranged on the base (8) in a fixed manner. 5. - Footwear item (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the metatarsal capsule (4) and/or the heel capsule (5) comprises a plurality of closed cavities (10) and wherein each of the cavities (10) comprises a material in a gel state. 6. - Article of footwear (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sole (2) comprises an upper portion (6) and a lower portion (7), said upper (6) and lower (7) portions comprising the upper and lower surfaces of the sole (2), respectively, and wherein at least a part of the metatarsal capsule (4) and/or the heel capsule (5) is arranged between the upper portion (6) and the lower portion (7) of the sole. 7. - Footwear item (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the upper portion (6) of the sole comprises one or more holes that allow direct contact between the foot of a person and one or more parts of the capsule(s) (4, 5). 8. - Footwear item (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sole (2) comprises a polymeric material. 9. - Footwear item (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the polymeric material comprises polyethylene and/or ethylene vinyl acetate. 10. - Footwear item (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means (3) comprise: - one or more strips adapted to be placed over the instep of a person's foot and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the foot; and/or - two or more strips, each adapted to be placed between the first web space and a lateral region of a person's foot. 11. - Footwear item (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the metatarsal capsule (4) and/or the heel capsule (5) comprises a shape complementary to the anatomy of the area of the foot corresponding to the arrangement of said metatarsal (4) and/or heel (5) capsules. 12. - Footwear item (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the metatarsal capsule (4) comprises a triangular shape with rounded vertices. 13.- Footwear item (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heel capsule (5) comprises an ovoid shape. 14.- Footwear item (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the metatarsal capsule (4) and/or the heel capsule (5) comprises thermoplastic polyurethane and wherein the gel-state material comprises thermoplastic elastomer and/or polyurethane.