JP6725525B2 - Modular insert system for shoe soles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to a footwear sole for correcting, supporting, or accommodating a wearer's gait.

In addition to providing overall support to the wearer's foot during walking or running, the sole can be manufactured so that the degree of foot support varies between the various parts of the sole. Thus, for example, the heel site material that is subject to maximum impact may be manufactured to provide the maximum impact cushioning effect. For example, the desired support variations could be achieved by varying the mechanical properties of the sole material such as shape, thickness, density, hardness, and flexibility. In this way, the sole could be manufactured to provide optimum support to the foot of a typical wearer. Since the characteristics of gaits vary greatly from person to person, footwear manufacturers design their soles to fit a wide range of gait styles, centered on estimated general levels. The sole could also be configured to suit various forms of application. For example, the sole could be configured for short runs, long runs, a particular sport such as golf, tennis, or cross-country skiing, or for everyday wear. Running shoes require different sole configurations for different distances and different types of terrain.

Therefore, the wearer may have a wide range of uses, but may want a sole that may be of insufficient construction for any of those uses, such as for road running and cross-country running. For different uses, different shoes, either separate shoes or separate shoes for different distances, are forced to be purchased.

Specialized soles are also available that are configured to adapt to or correct a particular style of gait, such as supination or supination. Shoes with soles that are customized for a particular combination of gait style, sport, or application are also available. The sole can be customized for a particular person or for a particular foot. However, bespoke soles are expensive, and the present invention is primarily concerned with footwear soles that can be mass produced and mass distributed as commercial retail products.

It has been proposed to provide a degree of customizability of the support provided to the wearer's foot by an orthodontic insole, laid on top of the one-piece sole of the shoe. Such insoles may carry various sites of support that are arranged to suit a particular application or gait style. The hardness of the site could be customized, for example by replacing some of the braces. Such a customizable braces is known from EP 2383952, in which the molded parts of the braces can be replaced by similarly molded parts of different hardness. As such, the braces described in this document provide the finite customization of support that an insole provides.

EP 1352579 describes a midsole with sites of varying hardness so that it can be customized for a particular wearer. The assembled portion of the midsole may be formed as a continuous molding, in which case the customized sole cannot be further customized. Alternatively, the assembly can be left as a separate component of the sole, which greatly reduces the overall mechanical integrity of the sole.

German Patent No. 20320091 describes an adaptable insert that provides a finite amount of customization of the support provided to a particular part of the sole. The insert is from the inside of the sole (ie, the left-hand side of the right shoe or the right-hand side of the left shoe) or the outer side of the sole (ie, the right-hand side of the right shoe or the left-hand side of the left shoe). Plugged in and kept in place using clips. The insert also includes a hexagonally shaped vertical hole into which a hexagonal peg of a particular hardness can be inserted. Thus, the virtual hardness of the insert can be altered by inserting a nail that is stiffer than the material of the insert, so that when the insert is in place, that of the sole. The wearer may have some control over the degree of support provided to a particular site. The midsole is provided with a wide horizontal cavity that is open on one side and into which the insert can be pushed. The presence of the wide cavities reduces the overall mechanical integrity of the sole, even if there are inserts therein, and provides water and dust passages that enter the sole and travel deep within the sole. The presence of midsole material above and below the cavity reduces the amount of vertical support provided by the outer insert, and defines the total amount of vertical support that the sole would have at the site of the insert. This may reduce the effectiveness of the outer insert, as it may be less accurate. Over time, the material of the midsole above and below the cavity and the material of the insert around the miter will lose stretch and elasticity due to repeated compression during the walking cycle. Such insert elements are generally placed at the site of the sole that requires greater support, which results in repeated compression of the insert material and the midsole material above and below the insert, resulting in crushing. This means that it will be particularly susceptible to alteration, which will shorten the wear life of the shoe.

Given the finite customizability of the prior art, such as the ones mentioned above, it is suitable for mass production, yet it can be given a high degree of individual customizability without significantly compromising the overall mechanical integrity of the sole. A sole is required. There is a further need for a customizable, mass-producible sole that reduces the rate at which the midsole material becomes irreversibly crushed through repeated walking cycles.

The invention described herein seeks to overcome at least some of these and other disadvantages inherent in the prior art. In particular, the invention provides a customizable sole system according to claim 1, a sole according to claim 17, a plurality of support adjustment elements according to claim 18, and a method according to claim 19. With the goal.

A support customization system for soles of shoes or other footwear is described below. The sole comprises a relatively soft, elastic midsole and a hard outsole (optional). A rigid insert element is provided for insertion into the vertical cavity in the midsole. By varying the hardness of the various inserts in the various vertical cavities, a wearer's gait can be provided with a pronator adjustment effect that can be precisely tuned. Describe the primary, secondary, and tertiary pronation adjustment effects.
The invention and its advantages will be further explained in the description detailed below, together with illustrations of exemplary embodiments and implementations shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are merely intended to illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. When the same reference numbers are used in different drawings, the reference numbers are intended to refer to the same or corresponding features. However, the use of different reference signs should not be construed as an indication that there are particular differences between the features referenced by themselves. In this specification, the terms "hardness" and "durometer hardness" are used in the same meaning, and the numerical value of hardness is based on the Shore A hardness scale.

In side view, there is shown a schematic cross section of an exemplary shoe employing the support customization system of the present invention. An isometric view shows an example of a support adjustment insert for use in the support customization system of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a first exemplary sole employing the support customization system of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a second exemplary sole employing the support customization system of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a side view of an exemplary vertical cavity arrangement in a sole for a support customization system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an example of a vertical cavity arrangement in a sole for a support customization system according to the present invention in a cross section viewed from the side. In rear view, there is shown a cross-section of an exemplary vertical cavity arrangement at the heel portion of a sole for a support customization system according to the present invention. In rear view, a cross-section of an exemplary vertical cavity arrangement at the forefoot portion of a sole for a support customization system according to the present invention is shown. In cross section from the side, another example of a vertical cavity arrangement in a sole for a support customization system according to the invention is shown. In a side-view cross section, a first example of an insert holding arrangement for holding a support adjustment insert in a vertical cavity in a support customization system according to the present invention is shown. FIG. 7 shows a second example of an insert holding arrangement for holding a support adjustment insert in a vertical cavity in a support customization system according to the present invention, in a side view. FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing an example of catch and rotation drive means during withdrawal of a support adjustment insert for use in a support customization system according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing an example of a variation of a support adjustment insert having an upper protrusion for use in a support customization system according to the present invention. FIG. 15 shows, in cross section from the rear, an exemplary arrangement of the support adjustment insert of FIGS. 13 and 14 in a sole for a support customization system according to the present invention. FIG. 4 shows an example of a composite insert for use in a support customization system according to the present invention in a cross-section viewed from the side.

An example of a support customization system according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b. FIG. 1 a depicts a schematic cross section of a shoe having a sole 1 with an outsole 4, a midsole 3 joined to the outsole 4, and a liner or insole 6 laid on the upper surface 7 of the midsole 3. .. The midsole 3 could be made of an elastic material, for example an elastomer such as ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) or other suitable material. Outsole 4 could be constructed from a hard elastic material, such as rubber or polyurethane, and at least the ground facing surface of outsole 4 could be harder than midsole 3. The liner or insole 6 may be made of a relatively thin and/or soft material and serves to provide a comfortable surface for the sole of the wearer's foot. The liner or insole 6 could be removed, exposing the upper surface 7 of the midsole 3.

The exemplary sole 1 illustrated in FIG. 1a each extends along a vertical axis 8 from the lower surface 15 of the midsole (ie, the upper surface of the outsole 4 in this example) up to the upper surface 7 of the midsole 3. A plurality of vertical cavities 5 (six in the figure) are provided. The midsole 3 could be constructed of a continuous material to ensure overall mechanical integrity of the sole, except for the holes (cavities 5) formed therein. It is to be understood that the vertical direction in this document is the vertical direction when the shoe is in close contact with the ground. Therefore, the vertical axis 8 is generally parallel to the upper foot facing surface 7 of the midsole 3 and/or the lower ground facing surface 15 of the midsole 3 at least at the heel portion 14 and/or the midfoot portion 13 of the sole 1. Is substantially orthogonal to the basic surface 9 of the sole 1, which is considered to be The terms “below” and “above” as used herein are also defined with respect to the vertical axis 8. It should be noted that the term "vertical" is used to describe the general orientation of the vertical cavity 2 rather than the precise orientation thereof, up to 15 degrees, or up to 30 degrees from the vertical axis 8 shown in Fig. 1a. Up to and including different orientations.

FIG. 1 b, also referred to herein as a support adjustment insert, shows a set of inserts or stoppers 5 designed for insertion into the cavity 2 in the midsole 3. In the example shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the insert 5 is obtained by first removing or lifting the insole 6 and then pushing the insert 5 into each cavity 2 through the insertion opening 10 in the upper surface 7 of the midsole. , Could be inserted into the cavity 2. Alternatively, sole 1 can be configured to insert insert 5 from below through an opening in outsole 4. This has the advantage that the insertion opening 10 can be used more quickly. Alternative possibilities include providing an insertion opening 10 in both the outsole 4 and the upper surface 7 of the midsole 3, as discussed below.

The insert 5 could, for example, be made of an elastomeric material and could have a different hardness than the midsole 3 and/or different hardness from each other. A portion of the insert 5 could be substantially the same hardness as the material of the midsole 3 to provide ineffective support adjustment in the particular cavity 2. It is also possible to provide an insert 5 that is less stiff than the midsole 3, which means, for example, by inserting one or more inserts 5 that are softer than the material of the surrounding midsole 3. Decreasing dynamic stiffness may be useful in providing negative support regulation at specific sites of the sole 1.

The hardness of the insert 5 could be selected from a set of predetermined hardnesses. For example, a pair of shoes having a sole, such as that shown in FIG. 1a, can be purchased with a set of inserts 5 similar to that shown in FIG. 1b, where multiple alternative inserts are each There are various hardnesses available for insertion into cavities, each insert having one of a predetermined selection of hardnesses. The number of inserts 5 in the set may be greater than the number of cavities 2 in the sole 1. The midsole 3 may have a hardness in the range of, for example, 30-70 Shore or 45-60 Shore, and the set of inserts 5 supplied may include, for example, some inserts with a hardness of 50 Shore. , 60 shore, 70 shore, 80, 90, and even 100 shore. Then, in order to achieve a desired local support hardness at the position of each cavity and collectively at each site of the sole 1 in which the cavity 2 is provided, various inserts 5 of various hardness are provided. It could be fitted into the cavity 2 to be filled. If the midsole has a first durometer hardness, the set of inserts that can be selected for insertion into the cavity may each have one of a plurality of predetermined durometer hardnesses. Could include things. The plurality of durometer hardnesses may include different durometer hardnesses between 5 and 20 Shores, and may include durometer hardnesses between 5 and 40 Shores greater than the first durometer hardness. As discussed below, the plurality of durometer hardnesses may include the same durometer hardness as the first durometer hardness and/or one or more durometer hardnesses less than the first durometer hardness. The first durometer hardness of the midsole 3 may be constant in all parts of the midsole 3 or may be different between parts of the midsole 3. In the latter case, the first durometer hardness could be considered to be either the average durometer hardness of the midsole 3 or the local durometer hardness of a particular part of the midsole 3.

For example, during walking, when the wearer puts weight on the sole, the insert 5, which is stiffer than the surrounding midsole material, is more likely to contact the ground and the wearer's foot than is transmitted from the surrounding midsole material. Helps transfer power from between. Thereby, each of these rigid inserts enhances support to the wearer's foot at the position of the inserted sole. The inserts 5 each have at least one of a set of hardnesses in the vertical direction, and the inserts 5 have a substantially vertical overall depth 11 of the sole 1 or at least a substantially midsole. As it extends along the overall depth 11 of 3, the final vertical hardness of the sole 1 at the location of each cavity 2 depends only on the hardness of the particular insert 5, or mostly It is determined by the hardness of the object 5. If the hardness of the outsole 4 is different from the hardness of the insert 5, it can also contribute to the effect on the final vertical hardness of the sole 1 in that position, but especially if the outsole 4 is thin and If the difference in hardness between the outsole 4 and the insert 5 is small, the contribution may be small. Similarly, the non-major contributions of the insole 6 or of the midsole that extend above or below the insert 5 when the insert 5 is inserted may also be attributed to the final vertical stiffness of the sole 1 in a particular cavity. The impact on performance will be slight. The term "final vertical stiffness" is used herein to indicate a measure of the compressibility and elasticity of the sole (ie, measured along the vertical axis 8) approximately in the vertical direction.

The vertical cavity 2 and insert 5 shown in the example of FIGS. 1a and 1b have substantially parallel vertical sidewalls. The cavity 2 thus has, for example, a substantially constant horizontal cross-section along its length 11, or has a tapered cross-section, or is fitted into the cavity 2 and/or is later removed for replacement. Could have other shapes as possible. The horizontal cross section of the cavity 2 and the insert 5 may be regular, such as circular, oval, oval, hexagonal, triangular, square or rectangular, or irregular. The insert 5 and cavity 2 may be dimensioned to allow more than one cavity/insert to fit within a particular gait adjustment site of the sole 1, as described below. Be beneficial. In this respect, the cavity and insert 5 could for example be formed with a horizontal cross section with a maximum transverse dimension of between 5 mm and 30 mm wide.

Because the inserts 5 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the midsole 3 and because the inserts 5 have a relatively small lateral dimension, the plurality of inserts 5 and cavities 2 are finely disassembled into the final sole. It can be installed at a specific portion of the sole 1 so as to adjust the vertical hardness. Therefore, the pronation adjustment area in the forefoot region 12 of the sole 1 is, for example, a plurality of pronation adjustment areas (for example, 3 to 10 inserts) each having a hardness suitable for the amount of pronation adjustment of the wearer. Could be installed. The hardness of 3 to 10 inserts 5 may be the same or may be gradual. For example, the hardness of the insert may increase from the last insert 5 to the first insert 5.

The discussion above relates primarily to one shoe insert 5 and cavity 2. The insert 5 and the cavity 2 could be made similarly, so that in a pair of shoes the same insert 5 can be used in the cavity 2 of either shoe. The support customization system may be arranged such that multiple pairs of shoes can share the same set of support adjustment inserts 5.

The use of a plurality of replaceable inserts 5 of varying hardness means that the support provided by the sole 1 can be fine-tuned to the wearer's needs. The support could be fitted separately between the left shoe and the right shoe, between different parts 12, 13, 14 of one sole 1 and even within the same part of the sole 1. ..

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a sole 1 similar to the sole 1 shown in FIG. 1a, for example with a support adjustment insert 5 in order to achieve a customized support to help correct the gait of the wearer. It shows in more detail how it can be placed on the midsole 3. FIG. 2 shows the right shoe midsole 3 as seen from above. However, it should be understood that although the placement of the insert 5 may differ between the left and right shoes, the following description applies equally to the corresponding left shoe.

In the exemplary configuration of FIG. 2, the sole 1 includes a heel portion 19, a heel inner portion 21, a heel outer portion 22, a forefoot portion 23, and a metatarsal region 24. These parts are merely examples, and other parts may be selected. If there are multiple inserts 5 at each site as shown, the support that the site as a whole adds will have an overall average hardness equal to the intermediate durometer value between the available values of the available inserts. It can be fine-tuned by including individual inserts of different durometer hardness to either provide or provide gradual support to the entire site.

The left and right feet are born slightly different in pronation due to the natural asymmetry of the posture of the person and the asymmetry in global motor coordination, and the neurological effects affecting the posture and gait of the person.

Since the inserts 5 of a specific part or a plurality of parts of the sole can have the same cross-sectional shape, the insert 5 can be inserted between all the cavities 2 of the specific part or between all the cavities 2 of the sole. , Could be replaceable. In this case, the support of a wide variety of configurations added by the sole can be realized with a relatively small number of inserts 5.

Each insert 5 may be formed as a single continuous piece of material or may be formed of two or more element pieces. The insert 5 may be a solid solid, for example to ensure its rigidity, or a hollow body, for example to reduce the weight and material costs of the shoe. The insert 5 may be open at one or both ends and may have an opening in its side wall.

FIG. 2 illustrates an ideal gait line 20, also known as the stability axis or "S line," that illustrates how the wearer's foot rolls during its ground contact (walking cycle) from the heel to the toes. The outline is what should be done. Exemplary sites 19,21,22,23,24 are identified only schematically, illustrates how it is possible to use how to adjust the gait of the wearer inserts 5 in various sites Used to

Advantageously, the cavities 2 can be of the same size and shape, as illustrated in FIG. A plurality of inserts 5 of different hardness can be interchangeably fitted in each cavity 2, and a particular insert 5 can be fitted in a plurality of cavities 2 in a particular set. The inserts 5 may have different hardnesses, but may have the same size and shape. The rearmost heel portion 19 of the midsole 3 in FIG. 2 is shown without the insert 5 in this example. Example shown, it is be plotted to indicate a support adjusting insert 5 may be how used for pronation / supination adjustment, to adjust the hardness of the rearmost portion 19 May be useful and the rearmost portion 19 of the midsole 3 serves primarily to cushion and coordinate heel landing impacts on the ground and initial forward movement of the foot.

The medial adjustment site 21 and the external adjustment site 22 can be used to adjust the amount of pronation during the initial phase of the gait cycle (ie, the initial heel impact). .. By proper selection of the hardness of the insert 51 of the inner portion 21 and the hardness of the inserts 51 and 52 of the inner adjusting portion 21 and the outer adjusting portion 22, the stability of the foot centering on the stable "S line" 20 It is possible to influence the degree of pronation. In addition, the use of a graded hardness insert 5 at a particular site not only provides a pronational amount, but also pronational changes to the forward movement of the foot during foot contact during walking or running. You will be given the opportunity of a secondary adjustment that can also adjust the speed of. As an example, by incorporating the six inner adjusting inserts 51 shown in FIG. 2, the hardness of the three inserts 52 can be increased relative to the hardness of the midsole 3 and/or the inner adjusting insert 51. By selecting, it is possible to perform the adjustment within the next time. A stiff outer insert 52 will promote more pronation and a soft outer insert 52 will reduce the amount of pronation. However, by varying the difference between the durometer hardness of the outer insert 52, it is possible to achieve a secondary adjustment effect. For example, if there is a large difference in hardness between the inserts along the heel-to-toe direction (ie, the outermost insert 52 at the back is sufficiently harder than the outermost insert 52 at the front). In addition, the pronation speed is fast for the forward movement of the foot. This means that pronation occurs within a short time when considering the ratio of the total contact time. On the other hand, if the hardness of the insert 52 changes little along the heel-to-toe direction, the effect of strengthening the pronation against forward movement of the foot will be diminished. If the leading outer insert 52 is stiffer than the trailing insert 52, it will act to slow the pronation.

Outer insert 52 and inner insert 51 can be further used to achieve a third order adjustment effect, as the insert can be selected to change the pronation speed. If the outer adjustment portion 22 is provided with more cavities and inserts 52 (for example, if there are 5 inserts in a line extending parallel to the heel-toe axis), then 5 The hardness of the outer insert 52 can be selected to vary the pronation speed along the heel-toe axis. Therefore, by being able to select the hardness of the outer insert 52, not only can the amount of pronation be changed (primary effect), but also the speed at which pronation occurs (secondary effect) and the pronation It is possible to change the axial variation (third-order effect) of speed.

The use of many cavities/inserts allows for fine disassembly and varying pronation/pronation adjustments in a wide variety of ways. For example, it is possible to set the hardness of the insert 5 in consideration of individual bones or bone groups of the foot. For example, it is possible to correct the excessive inclination of the calcaneus/talus while minimizing the influence on the metatarsal region or the forefoot region.

The adjustment effect described above for the replaceable insert 52 of the outer part 22 is due to the other parts shown in FIG. 2, the inner adjusting part 21 having a plurality of inner adjusting inserts 51 and the forefoot adjusting insert. It is also applied to the forefoot adjustment part 23 having the object 53. A single metatarsal adjustment insert 54 is shown in the metatarsal adjustment site 24, and the metatarsal adjustment insert 54 is provided to prevent the wearer's arch from settling down. Can be included in. The sole 1 could comprise such a single midfoot insert 24, either alone or in combination with one or more other inserts, for example as shown in FIG.

As a result of such finely adjustable and adaptive gait adjustments, it is possible to improve the wearer's gait and correct the wearer's medial skeleton, which has a beneficial effect on the wearer. Not only has it, but it also promotes durability on the outsole 4, thus extending the life of the shoe.

Furthermore, if the individual inserts are replaceable, the sole "fits" for different applications, or for different wearers, or as the shoe deteriorates or the wearer's gait changes. Can be made.

The following examples illustrate the hardness of inserts that could be selected for various gait adjustment purposes. The example is based on a sole configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 2 and the hardness offered corresponds to an exemplary midsole material with a hardness of 50 Shore. When the hardness of various inserts is listed for a particular site, they are listed in order from tail to top.

Example 1: Correction of slight supination External adjustment site 22: 50 Shore, 60 Shore, 60 Shore Inner adjustment site 21: All less than 50 Shore Forefoot external adjustment site 23: All 60 Shore

Example 2: Corrective external adjustment site 22 for acquired pronation of supination: All 50 shore (no correction)
Inner adjustment part 21: 50, 60, 70, 80, 80, 60 shore Forefoot outer adjustment part 23: All 60 shore

Example 3: Outer adjustment site 22:50, 50, 60 shore for correction of severe overall over-pronation 22:50, 50, 60 shore Inner adjustment site 21:70, 80, 90, 80, 70, 60 Shore Forefoot outer adjustment site 23: All 60 shore

Example 4: Congenital slight overpronation correction external adjustment site 22:50, 50, 60 Shore internal adjustment site 21: 70, 60, 50, 50, 50, 50 Shore Forefoot external adjustment Part 23: 70, 60, 50, 50, 50 Shore

Example 5: Corrective external adjustment site 22 for slight acquired pronation of supination: All 50 shore (no correction)
Inner adjustment part 21: 50, 50, 60, 60, 70, 70 shore Forefoot outer adjustment part 23: All 50 shore (no straightening)

A second exemplary sole layout is shown in FIG. In this case, a plurality of inserts 55 are provided in the metatarsal pronation adjustment site 25 in the metatarsal region 13. It is possible to use such an arrangement alone or in addition to inserts at other sites 19, 21, 22 and/or 23 to affect pronation from the outside to the inside. it can. By decreasing the hardness of the insert 55 from the outside to the inside, the pronation speed can be increased. For example, by increasing the hardness of the insert 55 from the outside to the inside. , Will help slow down pronation in the midfoot region. In the configuration of Figure 3, two sizes of inserts are shown. Thus, in such a configuration, the shoe would be provided with two sets of inserts 51/52 and 53/55, each having multiple hardness inserts.

4a-4c illustrate an exemplary arrangement of openings 10 in cavity 2 as described above with respect to FIG. In FIG. 4 a, the cavity 2 comprises an opening 10 in the upper surface 7 of the midsole 3, the lower end of which is closed by the outsole 4. In Figure 4b, the cavity 2 is shown with an opening 10 in the outsole 4, the upper end of which is closed by a small portion of the material of the midsole 3 (e.g. less than 10% vertical thickness). FIG. 4 c shows that the cavity 2 has an upper opening through the upper surface 7 of the midsole and a lower opening through the outsole 4 so that the insert 5 can be routed through either end of the cavity 2. 3 shows a third variation, which can be inserted or replaced by Therefore, in the variations shown in FIGS. 4b and 4c, the vertical cavity 2 extends through the lower surface 15 of the midsole 3 to the lower surface 15′ of the outsole 4.

The insert 5 could be fixed in the cavity 2 by any suitable means. The insert could be glued, bonded or welded in place in the cavity 2 if it is intended to leave the insert permanently mounted in the cavity. The insert 5 can be poured into the cavity 2 and may then be supplied as a liquid set to a predetermined hardness.

FIG. 5 shows a variation of the system of the invention that includes a plate 16 over all or part of the insert 5 to delocalize the pressure created between the foot and the individual inserts 5. The plate 6 could be sufficiently stiff and flexible to disperse the pressure without affecting the effects of the graded or varying stiffness of the insert. The plate 16 could optionally be provided in a recess in the upper surface 7 of the midsole 3, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows three variants of the cavity 2 which are slightly tilted from vertical, here transversely. The vertical axes 81, 82 of the one or more cavities 2 could be slightly tilted outwards or inwards to enhance the effect of insert hardness selection. Similarly, the cavity 2 in the forefoot region could be tilted slightly from vertical as shown in FIG.

The cavity 2 could also be tilted vertically, as shown in FIG. In the example shown, six inserts 5 are shown with a vertical axis 8'set at various angles α with respect to an axis 8 orthogonal to the major surface of the sole. In this example, the last insert tilts rearward and the leading insert tilts forward, which enhances rotation or rocking in the wearer's gait. Therefore, with this configuration, in addition to strengthening the wearer's rotational gait, pronation adjustment as discussed above is possible. The tilt angle described herein is preferably less than 30 degrees, more preferably less than 15 degrees.

The insert 5 could for example be made such that it can be manually pushed into the midsole 3. Figure 9a shows how the outer wall of the insert 5 can be provided with positive fit engagement means, in this case projections 25 which engage corresponding recesses 25' in the cavity wall as shown in Figure 9b. Show what you can do. Alternatively, the protrusion 25 may be arranged in the cavity 2 and the recess 25 ′ may be arranged in the insert 5. Alternatively, the projection 25 on the wall of the insert 5 may simply grip the wall of the cavity 2 (insert 5) without having to previously form the recess 25' on the wall of the cavity.

10a and 10b show an alternative arrangement for securing the insert in the cavity when the threads 26 are provided on the outer wall of the insert 5. The inner wall of the cavity 2 could be provided with a corresponding thread 26'.

In order to insert and/or remove the insert 5 into and from the cavity 2, the insert 5 has pull-out engagement means for pulling out the insert, or the insert 5 in the cavity 2. A rotary drive engagement means could be provided for screwing on or for unscrewing the insert from the cavity 2. Two exemplary arrangements are illustrated in Figures 11a and 11b. FIG. 11 a shows how a concave or shaped grip 27 can be provided at the end of the insert 5 to provide a catch as the insert 5 is withdrawn from the cavity 2. FIG. 11b shows a grooved recess for engagement with a screwdriver or similar tool so that the threaded insert 5 can be screwed into or unscrewed from the cavity 2. 28 is illustrated.

12a and 12b illustrate two examples of how the ends of the insert 5 can be shaped to enhance the gait adjusting effect when placed in the cavity 2. The insert 5 shown in FIG. 12 a has a rounded protrusion 29 that extends beyond the length 11 of the insert 5 that will be accommodated in the cavity 2. The protrusion 29 can enhance the gait adjustment effect when such one or more inserts 5 fitted into the sole 1 extend beyond the upper surface 7 of the midsole 3. The protrusions could, for example, extend from the face 7 of the midsole 3 up to 5 mm, or even up to 10 mm. Such protrusions 29 touch the wearer's foot and the foot responds to local pressure from the protrusion 29 to alter its orientation and movement, thereby affecting the wearer's gait perceptual motor load response. Also produces an effect known as.

FIG. 12b shows a bevel that may be used to reinforce the pronation direction, for example, with the inner and outer inserts 5, such as the example shown in FIG. 13 which shows a rear section of the midsole 3. Shown is an insert 5 having an upper surface 30. The inner insert 5 has a domed projection 29 for load response, as described with reference to Figure 12a, and the outer insert 5 has a beveled upper surface 30 to enhance pronation adjustment. .. These various types of protrusion inserts could be used alone or together depending on the desired effect.

If the insert is made up of two or more insertion sub-parts, each individual sub-part may respectively form part of the cross-section of the insert over the vertical length 11 of the insert 5. , A part of the vertical length 11 of the insert may each be formed such that the insert 5 is formed from two or more insert pieces arranged along a vertical axis. An example of such an insert 5 is shown in Figures 14a and 14b and could comprise inserts of varying vertical length and/or varying hardness. Inserts 5 ′, 5 ″, 5 ″″ of varying hardness and/or vertical length are provided in one piece to provide the insert 5 with a particular required overall vertical hardness. Could be combined with the insert. The inserts and inserts could be color coded or otherwise marked to indicate the intended hardness, vertical length, and/or site of the sole. Different parts of the sole can be provided with inserts 5 of different cross-sectional shapes or dimensions, in which case different sets of inserts 5 or inserts 5', 5 for different parts of the sole 1 can be provided. ″, 5″″ may be required. Alternatively, the vertical cavities 2 and inserts 5 or inserts 5 ′, 5 ″, 5 ′″ may be sized and shaped so that each insert 5 fits into each vertical cavity 2.

As such, the composite insert 5 of Figures 14a and 14b can be, for example, glued, bonded, screwed, clipped, or welded together, or can be inserted and secured in the cavity 2 alone. It may comprise a plurality of possible parts 5', 5", 5"'. The parts 5′, 5″, 5″″ are finely divided by the composite insert by selecting the appropriate parts 5′, 5″, 5″″ for its height and final vertical hardness. It may have different heights and/or different hardnesses so that it can be a fitted assembly.

Claims (20)

A system for pronation adjustment customization for footwear, the system comprising:
A sole (1) comprising a midsole (3) comprising a continuous volume of elastomeric material having a first durometer hardness of 30 to 70 Shore, said midsole (3) comprising an upper foot facing surface (7) and A sole (1) having a lower ground facing surface (15);
A plurality of vertical cavities (2) in a first portion of the midsole (3), each vertical cavity (2) being a vertical axis () that is substantially orthogonal to the upper foot facing surface (7). 8) a vertical cavity (2) extending along a lower ground facing surface (15) and an upper foot facing surface (7) of the midsole (3),
At each position of the vertical cavity (2), it is inserted substantially completely into one of the vertical cavities (2) to adjust the vertical support hardness of the sole (1). A plurality of support adjustment elements (5) of
Equipped with
The vertical cavity (2) receives the one of the support adjustment elements (5), so that the upper foot facing surface (7) and/or the lower ground facing surface (15) has an insertion opening (10). Equipped with
The plurality of support adjustment elements (5) include a first support adjustment element (5) having a second durometer hardness and a second support adjustment element (5) having a third durometer hardness different from the second durometer hardness. And at least one of the second and third durometer hardnesses is greater than the first durometer hardness,
The vertical cavity (2) and the support adjustment element (5) are such that the final vertical hardness of the sole (1) at the position of each vertical cavity (2) is mostly in the cavity. Each is configured as determined by the hardness of (5),
The vertical cavity (2) and the support adjusting element (5) are arranged such that the first plurality of the vertical cavity (2) is arranged at the first pronation adjustment site (21) of the sole (1). A second plurality of the vertical cavities (2) are arranged for pronation adjustment such that they are arranged at a second pronation adjustment site (22) of the sole (1), The system in which the first and second internal adjustment sites (21, 22) are respectively on the inner side and the outer side of the ideal gait line (20) of the sole (1). Each of the first and second support adjusting elements (5) and the plurality of vertical cavities (2) are inserted into the first vertical cavity of the vertical cavities. The upper foot facing surface (7) and/or the upper leg facing surface (7) and/or the support adjusting element (5) can be passed through the insertion opening (10) of the first vertical cavity and exchangeably inserted into the first vertical cavity (2). The system according to claim 1, having a cross section substantially the same as the first vertical cavity (2) in a horizontal plane (9) parallel to the lower ground facing surface (15). The first support adjustment element (5), the second support adjustment element (5), and the first vertical cavity of the plurality of vertical cavities (2) are the same along the vertical axis (8). System according to claim 1 or claim 2, having a vertical length (11) of. Said first and second supporting regulatory element (5) and said plurality of vertical cavities (2), respectively, along said at least most of the vertical length (11) has a substantially constant cross-section The system according to claim 3 . Said first and second support adjusting element (5) each comprising a first protrusion (25, 26) arranged on an outer wall of said first or second support adjusting element (5),
And/or the first vertical cavity (2) comprises a second protrusion (25', 26') arranged on an inner wall of the first vertical cavity (2),
In the first vertical cavity (2) along the vertical axis (8) in the direction of removing the first and/or second support adjustment element (5) from the first vertical cavity (2). The first and/or second protrusions (25, 25', 26, 26') may be provided with the first or second support adjustment element to resist movement of the first or second support adjustment element (5). System according to one of the preceding claims, configured to provide a positive fit or friction grip between the outer wall of the element (5) and the inner wall of the first vertical cavity (2). The system according to claim 5, wherein the first and/or second projections (26, 26') are formed as threads of a screw. One or more of said support adjustment elements (5) comprises engagement catching means (28, 29) formed at each end of said support adjustment elements (5),
The engagement catching means (28, 29) are arranged along the vertical axis (8) of the vertical cavity (2) from within one of the vertical cavities (2) to the support adjusting element (5). Configured to provide a catch when pulling out to remove
And/or said engaging and catching means (28, 29) are provided when said support adjusting element (5) is inserted into said vertical cavity (2), or said support adjusting element (5) is said vertical cavity (2). When taken out of 2), it is arranged to provide a rotational drive catch for driving the rotation of the support adjusting element (5) about the vertical axis (8) of the vertical cavity (2). ,
System according to one of claims 1 to 6. The first and/or the second support adjustment element is arranged above the upper side when the first and/or second support adjustment element (5) is completely inserted into one of the vertical cavities (2). The sensory-motility stimulating protrusion (29) is configured so as to swell and project at the foot-opposing surface (7), and the degree of swelling of the sensory-motor stimulating protrusion (29) is the first or second support adjustment element ( System according to one of the preceding claims, configured to provide a sensorimotor load-responsive stimulus to the wearer's foot at the position of 5). When fully inserted into the corresponding one of the vertical cavities (2), each support adjustment element (5) is substantially along the overall vertical depth (11) of the midsole (3). 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system extends over the entire length of the system. The first and second plurality of the vertical cavities (2) and the plurality of support adjustment elements correspond to the first and second plurality of the support adjustment elements (5). System according to claim 9, having substantially identical cross-sections so that they can be fitted into the vertical cavities (2) of the two plurality (18, 19). 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the second durometer hardness is at least 5 Shore greater than the first durometer hardness. 12. The system of one of claims 1-11, wherein the third durometer hardness is at least 5 Shore greater than the second durometer hardness. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second durometer hardness is less than or equal to the first durometer hardness. One of claims 1 to 13, wherein the sole comprises an outsole (4) having a fourth durometer hardness greater than the first durometer hardness, which is below the lower ground facing surface (15) of the midsole. The system described in one. Wherein at least one of the lower end of the vertical cavity (2) is closed by the front Symbol outsole (4) The system of claim 14. At least one of the vertical cavities (2) extends through the outsole (4) and comprises a lower insertion opening (10) for receiving one of the support adjustment elements (5). The system according to claim 14. Footwear, comprising a sole (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 16. A plurality of support adjustment elements (5) according to one of claims 1 to 16. Use of the system of one of claims 1 to 16, the footwear of claim 17, or the support adjustment element of claim 18 to provide pronation adjustment that the sole provides to a wearer's foot. A method of customizing, the method comprising:
Determining a pronation adjustment requirement for the wearer's foot;
Selecting the first and second support adjustment elements (5) from the plurality of support adjustment elements (5) based on the pronation adjustment requirement;
Installed at the third gait adjustment site (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) to adjust the pronation adjustment that the sole (1) brings to the wearer's foot and to meet the pronation adjustment requirement. Selecting the first vertical cavity (5) to be formed based on the pronation adjustment required amount,
Inserting one of the first and second support adjustment elements (5) into the first vertical cavity (2);
Including the method. The other of the first and second support adjusting elements is located in the third gait adjusting part (21, 22, 23, 24, 25), or the third gait adjusting part (21, 22, 23, 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of inserting into a second vertical cavity (2) at a fourth gait adjustment site (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) different from 24, 25). ..

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