Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe insole.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, there is known a configuration in which a shoe insole includes a
calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion that supports a calcaneal anterior part
from a sole of a foot (see, for example, Patent Literature 1) .
[0003] In Patent Literature 1, the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion stabilizes
a calcaneus and maintains arches of the sole of the foot in their natural shapes to
support the foot in a well-balanced manner. The conventional shoe insole makes it
easier to balance the foot and generate propulsive force during walking and running,
so that both stability and mobility are achieved.
Citation List
Patent Literature
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0005] However, although the above-described conventional insole can achieve both the stability
and the motility, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain an exercise effect
during walking.
[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoe insole that ensures
the stability and the motility and makes it easier to obtain the exercise effect.
Solution to Problem
[0007] A shoe insole of the present invention includes, in order to maintain an inner longitudinal
arch, an outer longitudinal arch, and a transverse arch of a foot, a calcaneal anterior-part
support protrusion that abuts a calcaneal anterior part of the foot, and a toe ball
support part that supports a thenar and a hypothenar of the foot, with the calcaneal
anterior-part support protrusion maintaining the inner longitudinal arch, the outer
longitudinal arch, and the transverse arch, wherein an insole front part thinner than
the toe ball support part is provided in front of the toe ball support part.
[0008] According to the present invention, the toe ball support part supports the thenar
and the hypothenar of the foot with the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion
maintaining the inner longitudinal arch, the outer longitudinal arch, and the transverse
arch of the foot, and thus toes in front of first to fifth proximal phalanxes of the
foot are released from restraint while states of the arches of the foot are maintained.
Therefore, during walking or running, the toes are freed while the states of the arches
of the foot are maintained, and it is possible to perform a walking motion of grasping
the ground with the toes.
[0009] Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the insole front part is thinner
than the toe ball support part, the degree of freedom of the toes further increases,
the walking motion to grasp the ground with the toes can be easily performed, and
an exercise effect can be enhanced.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate a movement of grasping
the ground with toes and enhance an exercise effect while shapes of arches of a sole
of a foot are maintained to ensure stability and motility of a body.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0011]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an insole according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a bottom view illustrating the insole in which a skeleton of a foot is overlapped.
Figs. 3A to 3H are transverse sectional views illustrating the insole, in which Fig.
3A is a cross sectional view taken along a line S0-S0 of Fig. 2, Fig. 3B is a cross
sectional view taken along a line S1-S1 of Fig. 2, Fig. 3C is a cross sectional view
taken along a line S2-S2 of Fig. 2, Fig. 3D is a cross sectional view taken along
a line S3-S3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 3E is a cross sectional view taken along a line S4-S4
of Fig. 2, Fig. 3F is a cross sectional view taken along a line S5-S5 of Fig. 2, Fig.
3G is a cross sectional view taken along a line S6-S6 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 3H is a
cross sectional view taken along a line S7-S7 of Fig. 2.
Figs. 4A to 4E are longitudinal sectional views illustrating the insole, in which
Fig. 4A is a cross sectional view taken along a line S10-S10 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4B is
a cross sectional view taken along a line S11-S11 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4C is a cross sectional
view taken along a line S12-S12 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4D is a cross sectional view taken
along a line S13-S13 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4E is a cross sectional view taken along
a line S14-S14 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is an explanatory view of arches of a sole of the foot.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a relationship between the insole
and the foot, and the insole is the same as the cross sectional view taken along the
line S13-S13 of Fig. 2.
Description of Embodiments
[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference
to the drawings.
[0013] In the drawings of the present embodiment, one of left and right insoles 1 and a
skeleton of one of left and right feet are illustrated. The other insole 1 and a skeleton
of the other foot are in a mirror-image symmetry.
[0014] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the insole 1 according to the present embodiment.
[0015] The insole (shoe insole) 1 includes an insole body 160, and the insole body 160 has
a shape along an inner contour of a shoe in a plan view, and includes an outer edge
contour 70 that is housed inside the shoe. By adapting the outer edge contour 70 to
the inner contour of the shoe, the insole 1 is fitted at a predetermined position
in the shoe when the insole 1 is inserted. Since the shape of a foot of a user who
uses the insole 1 varies from person to person and is not constant, the overall size
of the insole 1 is selected according to the size of the foot of the user.
[0016] Fig. 2 is a bottom view illustrating the insole 1 in which the skeleton of the foot
is overlapped. Note that this drawing is seen from below and bones are partially hidden
due to overlapping of the bones. A plan view seen from a top of the foot differs from
the bottom view of Fig. 2 in the way the bones overlap.
[0017] As illustrated in Fig. 2, a skeletal structure 10 of the foot includes a calcaneus
12, a talus 14, a navicular bone 16, a cuboid bone 18, first to third cuneiform bones
20, 22, and 24, first to fifth metatarsal bones 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34, first to fifth
proximal phalanxes 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44, second to fifth middle phalanxes 46, 48,
50, and 52, and first to fifth distal phalanxes 54, 56, 58, 60, and 62. Front end
parts of the first to fifth metatarsal bones 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 are first to fifth
metatarsal bone head parts 26A (also called thenar 26A), 28A, 30A, 32A, and 34A (also
called hypothenar 34A). A stepped part positioned at a front part of the calcaneus
12 is a calcaneal anterior part (also called calcaneal tubercle) 12A. Note that, in
Fig. 2, only in the navicular bone 16, a part hidden due to the overlapping of the
bones is indicated by a dotted line.
[0018] In this configuration, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, on a front surface (upper
surface) 1A of the insole body 160, a cuboid bone support protrusion 80 and a calcaneal
anterior-part support protrusion 90 configuring a protrusion 2 are formed. The cuboid
bone support protrusion 80 is provided in a portion corresponding to the cuboid bone
18, and the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 is provided in a region
corresponding to the calcaneal tubercle 12A. The cuboid bone support protrusion 80
and the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 are solidly formed.
[0019] The calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 is provided on the cuboid bone
support protrusion 80, and a front surface of the calcaneal anterior-part support
protrusion 90 overlaps a front surface of the cuboid bone support protrusion 80 to
form one protrusion 2. The cuboid bone support protrusion 80 and the calcaneal anterior-part
support protrusion 90 may be integrated with each other, or may be separate bodies,
and may be formed separately from a flat insole. Note that, in Fig. 2, the calcaneal
anterior-part support protrusion 90 is schematically illustrated together with a contour
line indicating the height of the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90.
[0020] On a back surface (lower surface) 1B of the insole body 160, toe ball support part
(hereinafter called as bulging part) 100 that supports the first metatarsal bone head
part (thenar) 26A and the second to fifth metatarsal bone head parts (hypothenar)
28A to 34A of the foot is formed. The bulging part 100 bulges downward from the back
surface (lower surface) 1B of the insole body 160. The bulging part 100 has an anterior
edge extending on a line connecting from the first proximal phalanx 36 to the fifth
proximal phalanx 44 in a bottom view. An insole front part 110 of the insole body
160 is formed in front of the bulging part 100, and the thickness of the insole front
part 110 is thinner than the thickness of the bulging part 100.
[0021] Figs. 3A to 3H are transverse sectional views illustrating the insole 1, and Figs.
4A to 4E is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the insole 1. Note that, in
Figs. 3A to 3H and 4A to 4E, (S0-S0) to (S7-S7) and (S10-S10) to (S14-S14) corresponds
to (S0-S0) to (S7-S7) and (S10-S10) to (S14-S14) in Fig. 2.
[0022] A cross section taken along a line S0-S0 is a cross section that crosses the vicinity
of the first distal phalanx 54 and the second and third middle phalanxes 46 and 48,
and the insole body 160 on the cross section, that is, the insole front part 110 is
flat.
[0023] A cross section taken along a line S1-S1 is a cross section that crosses the vicinity
of the first to fourth proximal phalanxes 36 to 42 and the fifth distal phalanx 62,
and the back surface 1B of the insole body 160 includes the bulging part 100.
[0024] On the bulging part 100, a thenar part 103 that supports the thenar 26A of the foot
and an other-toe ball part 104 that supports the second to fourth metatarsal bone
head parts 28A to 32A and the hypothenar 34A are formed, and a V-shaped recess 105
is formed between the thenar part 103 and the other-toe ball part 104. An outer peripheral
part 102 gradually decreases in thickness toward an outer side of the bulging part
100 and is upwardly inclined.
[0025] A cross section taken along a line S2-S2 is a cross section that crosses the first
and fifth metatarsal bone head parts 26A and 34A. The insole body 160 of this portion
includes a flat surface part 100A on the front surface 1A and the bulging part 100
bulging downward on the back surface 1B. The bulging part 100 includes a flat body
part 101 and the outer peripheral part 102 whose thickness gradually decreases.
[0026] A cross section taken along a line S3-S3 is a cross section that crosses the metatarsal
bones 26 to 34. The insole body 160 of this portion includes the flat surface part
100A on the front surface 1A and the bulging part 100 on the back surface 1B. On a
trailing edge of the bulging part 100, an arc recess 106 is formed in which a central
part in a width direction is recessed forward in an arc shape in a bottom view.
[0027] A cross section taken along a line S4-S4 is a region corresponding to a transverse
arch that crosses the metatarsal bones 26 to 34, and the insole body 160 has a large
thickness in a region corresponding to an arch of a foot to correspond to a general
foot, and a front surface side of the insole body 160 is downwardly inclined toward
an outer side of a right foot to gradually decrease the thickness. Furthermore, on
the back surface of left and right inner and outer sides, lightened parts 72 and 74
are formed on both sides of a flat part, so that it is possible to permit a slight
deformation in a left-and-right direction on the cross section taken along the line
S4-S4.
[0028] A cross section taken along a line S5-S5 is a region corresponding to the cuboid
bone 18, and the insole body 160 includes the cuboid bone support protrusion 80 having
the maximum thickness. A front surface 80A of the cuboid bone support protrusion 80
including an area from a region corresponding to the cuboid bone 18 to a region 3
(Fig. 2) corresponding to the navicular bone 16 is downwardly inclined toward both
left and right side edges 76 to gradually decrease the thickness. The insole body
160 includes a raised edge 78 at the outermost edge on the cross section taken along
the line S5-S5.
[0029] A cross section taken along a line S6-S6, which crosses the calcaneal tubercle 12A,
is a region corresponding to a backward end point of a longitudinal arch. The insole
body 160 of this portion includes the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90
having the maximum thickness, and a front surface 90A thereof including an area from
a region corresponding to the calcaneal tubercle 12A to the region 3 (Fig. 2) corresponding
to the navicular bone 16 is downwardly inclined toward both the left and right side
edges 76 to gradually decrease the thickness.
[0030] A cross section taken along a line S7-S7, which crosses a rear part of the calcaneus
12, is the region corresponding to the backward end point of the longitudinal arch.
A side of the front surface 1A of the insole body 160 is relatively flat so as to
support a heel to correspond to a general foot. Furthermore, the side of the front
surface 1A of the insole body 160 is upwardly inclined toward both sides, so that
the thickness of the insole body 160 gradually increases, and the insole body 160
includes the raised edge 78 at the outermost edge. On the back surface of the left
and right inner and outer sides, the lightened parts 72 and 74 are formed, so that
it is possible to permit a slight deformation in a left-and-right direction on the
cross section taken along the line S7-S7.
[0031] On a cross section taken along a line S10-S10 and a cross section taken along a line
S11-S11, the front surface is raised in regions corresponding to the cuneiform bones
20 to 24 and the navicular bone 16 configuring an inner longitudinal arch.
[0032] The insole 1 of the present invention supports not only the regions corresponding
to the cuboid bone 18 and the calcaneal tubercle 12A, but also other portions in consideration
of stability. However, such a configuration does not restrain a foot movement. Therefore,
on the cross sections, the insole body 160 is provided with the lightened part 72,
and can subside inside the cuboid bone support protrusion 80. Therefore, even when
force is exerted on the regions corresponding to the cuneiform bones 20 to 24 and
the navicular bone 16, the insole body 160 is deformed by the lightened part 72 to
alleviate a stress.
[0033] Each of the cross section taken along the line S11-S11 to a cross section taken along
a line S13-S13 is the region corresponding to the cuboid bone 18 and the cuboid bone
support protrusion 80 having the maximum thickness is provided at each of the cross
section taken along the line S11-S11 to the cross section taken along the line S13-S13.
The front surface 80A of the cuboid bone support protrusion 80 is downwardly inclined
from the region corresponding to the cuboid bone 18 in a forward-and-backward direction
to gradually decrease the thickness. In other words, when the foot is put in the shoe
fitted with the insole 1 and then an upright standing posture is maintained, the cuboid
bone support protrusion 80 corresponding to the cuboid bone 18 exerts the maximum
stress on a foot sole surface. The insole 1 has a configuration in which the stress
slowly and gradually decreases as apart from the cuboid bone support protrusion 80
in the forward-and-backward direction.
[0034] Furthermore, as a configuration on a bottom surface side of the insole 1, a region
in contact with the shoe is flat in the region corresponding to the cuboid bone 18,
that is, a back side of the cuboid bone support protrusion 80. With this configuration,
a reaction force is constantly exerted on the cuboid bone 18 from the shoe.
[0035] Each of the cross section taken along the line S12-S12 and the cross section taken
along the line S13-S13 is also the region corresponding to the calcaneal tubercle
12A and the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 having the maximum thickness
is provided at each of the cross section taken along the line S12-S12 and the cross
section taken along the line S13-S13. The front surface 90A of the calcaneal anterior-part
support protrusion 90 is downwardly inclined from the region corresponding to the
calcaneal tubercle 12A in the forward-and-backward direction to gradually decrease
the thickness. In other words, the insole 1 has a configuration in which the stress
slowly and gradually decreases as apart from the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion
90 in the forward-and-backward direction. Furthermore, the region in contact with
the shoe is flat in the region corresponding to the calcaneal tubercle 12A, that is,
a back side of the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90. With this configuration,
the reaction force is constantly exerted on the calcaneal tubercle 12A from the shoe.
[0036] On a cross section taken along a line S14-S14, the front surface is raised in a
region corresponding to the fifth metatarsal bone 34 configuring an outer longitudinal
arch.
[0037] The region is located outside the cuboid bone support protrusion 80 and the calcaneal
anterior-part support protrusion 90, and has slight swelling in consideration of the
stability. However, such a configuration does not restrain the foot movement. The
lightened part 74 is provided in a region corresponding to the outer longitudinal
arch, and the insole 1 can subside even outside the cuboid bone support protrusion
80 and the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90. Even when force is exerted
on the fifth metatarsal bone 34 of the outer longitudinal arch, the insole body 160
is deformed by the lightened part 74 to alleviate the stress.
[0038] In this configuration, when the insole 1 is fitted, the cuboid bone 18 is supported
with the cuboid bone support protrusion 80 as an apex. Since the cuboid bone 18 is
supported from below, the foot maintains a neutral position relative to left-right
and front-back directions, and at the same time, with the cuboid bone 18 being a fulcrum,
evagination is permitted in pronation and inversion is permitted in supination.
[0039] As a result, the insole 1 does not disturb a normal motion of a joint, there is little
need for compensation in other regions, and a travel of a center of gravity in the
front-back and left-right directions is facilitated. That is, unlike a plaster cast,
the insole 1 does not fixedly restrain the foot, but alleviates the stress by having
the front surface thereof being downwardly inclined in radial directions from the
cuboid bone support protrusion 80, and furthermore, is provided with the lightened
parts 72 and 74 to facilitate deformation of the insole 1 itself, whereby a movement
is permitted. The insole 1 is formed to support from below the region corresponding
to the cuboid bone 18 so as to smoothly guide the pronation and the supination while
correcting and preventing an excessive distortion of the skeleton of the foot.
[0040] Fig. 5 illustrates arches of a sole of the foot.
[0041] Arches (schematically indicated by a dotted line) 119 are formed on a sole of a human
foot during walking or running, if the sole of the foot is in a natural state.
[0042] The arches 119 include an inner longitudinal arch 121 and an outer longitudinal arch
122 formed in a longitudinal direction of the foot and a transverse arch 120 formed
in a short-length direction of the foot. The transverse arch 120 is formed straddling
the first to fifth metatarsal bones 26 to 34, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The inner
longitudinal arch 121 is formed straddling the calcaneus 12, the talus 14, the navicular
bone 16, the three cuneiform bones 20 to 24, and the first to third metatarsal bones
26 to 30. The outer longitudinal arch 122 is formed straddling the calcaneus 12, the
cuboid bone 18, and the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones 32 and 34.
[0043] Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view illustrating a principle by which a weight F of
the user is exerted on the calcaneus 12 from a tibia 68 via the talus 14 when the
insole 1 is fitted.
[0044] This calcaneus 12 acts as an important part to support the weight F of the user.
In the calcaneus 12, a calcaneal front-side upper end 12B acts as a point of effort
P1 and a calcaneal lower end (calcaneal rear part) 12C acts as a fulcrum P2, and thus,
a moment around the fulcrum P2 is exerted on the calcaneus 12.
[0045] In this configuration, the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 can stabilize
the calcaneus 12 by supporting the calcaneal tubercle 12A substantially directly below
the point of effort P1. Furthermore, the calcaneal tubercle 12A is distant from the
calcaneal lower end 12C as the fulcrum P2, and thus, when the calcaneal anterior-part
support protrusion 90 is provided in the region corresponding to the calcaneal tubercle
12A, it is possible to efficiently support the calcaneus 12 with small force.
[0046] The weight F of the user is exerted also on the cuboid bone 18 via the calcaneus
12. In the cuboid bone 18, the first to fifth metatarsal bone head parts 26A to 34A
act as a fulcrum P3, and thus, a moment around the fulcrum P3 is exerted on the cuboid
bone 18.
[0047] In this configuration, the cuboid bone support protrusion 80 can stabilize the cuboid
bone 18 by supporting the cuboid bone 18 substantially immediately below the point
of effort P1.
[0048] Furthermore, the cuboid bone 18 is distant from the first to fifth metatarsal bone
head parts 26A to 34A as the fulcrum P3, and thus, when the cuboid bone support protrusion
80 is provided in the region corresponding to the cuboid bone 18, it is possible to
efficiently support the cuboid bone 18 with small force.
[0049] Incidentally, the calcaneus 12 is difficult to stabilize just by supporting the cuboid
bone 18, and the cuboid bone 18, the calcaneus 12, and a joint (calcaneocuboid joint)
may be distorted.
[0050] The calcaneus 12 configures simultaneously both the inner longitudinal arch 121 and
the outer longitudinal arch 122, and thus, when the calcaneus 12 is not stabilized,
it is not possible to maintain the longitudinal arch at a normal position. In particular,
the calcaneal tubercle 12A at the front part of the calcaneus 12 is positioned so
that a long plantar ligament 64 linking an intermediate part of the calcaneus 12 and
the second to fifth metatarsal bones 28 to 34 overlaps, as illustrated in Fig. 6.
This long plantar ligament 64 also functions to maintain the longitudinal arch.
[0051] In this configuration, since the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 supports
the calcaneal tubercle 12A via the long plantar ligament 64, the calcaneus 12 is stabilized,
which can reduce the distortion of the calcaneocuboid joint and locate the longitudinal
arch at a normal position. This configuration allows the longitudinal arch to function
more effectively as a spring. In particular, as compared to mid-day, the function
of maintaining the longitudinal arch of the long plantar ligament 64 decreases at
night, and thus, it is effective to support the long plantar ligament 64. The calcaneal
anterior-part support protrusion 90 includes a region 4 corresponding to the calcaneal
tubercle 12A at a position where the long plantar ligament 64 overlaps.
[0052] The calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 supports the long plantar ligament
64 not only to promote passive stability of the arches of the foot but also to support
a tendon of insertion 66 of a long fibular muscle, which is important in actively
stabilizing the outer longitudinal arch, via the long plantar ligament 64. Here, the
passive stability is achieved by a ligament, and the active stability is achieved
by a muscle (tendon). As illustrated in Fig. 2, the tendon of insertion 66 of the
long fibular muscle extends along the cuboid bone 18, then crosses the sole of the
foot from an outer edge of the foot, and reaches bottoms of the first cuneiform bone
20 and the first metatarsal bone 26. Furthermore, a part of the calcaneal anterior-part
support protrusion 90 is located beneath the cuboid bone 18, and supports the navicular
bone 16 via the cuboid bone 18. As a result, a tendon of insertion 67 of a posterior
tibial muscle, which is a main active stabilization structure of the inner longitudinal
arch, is indirectly supported.
[0053] The tendon of insertion 67 of the posterior tibial muscle allows a fascia to extend
to the first to third cuneiform bones 20 to 24, the second and third metatarsal bones
28 and 30, and the navicular bone 16. The two muscles, that is, the long fibular muscle
and the posterior tibial muscle, extend diagonally, so that the longitudinal arch
is held in addition to the transverse arch.
[0054] Furthermore, since the calcaneus 12 also configures the joint, a movement function
is inhibited if the calcaneus 12 is only fixedly supported. Thus, it is necessary
to permit a movement.
[0055] Since the insole body 160 is configured so that the front surface is downwardly inclined
in the radial directions around the cuboid bone support protrusion 80 to alleviate
the stress, it is possible to permit a movement of the joint configured by the calcaneus
12. More specifically, the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 is formed
of a relatively soft material, and a portion having the maximum thickness is sunk
by the weight of the user so that the calcaneal tubercle 12A is supported. When the
calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 is sunk, the insole 1 is downwardly
inclined in front-back and left-right radial directions around the cuboid bone support
protrusion 80, whereby the foot is supported with the cuboid bone 18 being a fulcrum
and a foot movement is permitted around the cuboid bone support protrusion 80.
[0056] In this configuration, the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 abuts the
calcaneal tubercle (calcaneal anterior part of the foot) 12A to maintain the inner
longitudinal arch 121, the outer longitudinal arch 122 and the transverse arch 120
of the foot.
[0057] The calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 can stably support the calcaneus
12, and the transverse arch 120, the inner longitudinal arch 121, and the outer longitudinal
arch 122 of the sole of the foot can be maintained in their natural shapes, and the
stability and motility of the foot can be improved.
[0058] Furthermore, in this state, that is, in a state where the calcaneal anterior-part
support protrusion 90 maintains the inner longitudinal arch 121, the outer longitudinal
arch 122, and the transverse arch 120, the bulging part 100 is configured to support
the first metatarsal bone head part (thenar) 26A and the second to fifth metatarsal
bone head parts (hypothenar) 28A to 34A of the foot.
[0059] In this configuration, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the bulging part 100 comes into
contact with an inner sole 7 of the shoe, and thus the surface part 100A of the bulging
part 100 is held upward. The surface part 100A holds upward the first to fifth metatarsal
bone head parts 26A to 34A such as the thenar 26A and the hypothenar 34A, that is,
a side of the base of toes.
[0060] Therefore, the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90 is in a state where
restraint of the toes is released while the states of the arches of the foot are maintained.
[0061] Generally, an inner sole of a shoe has a high heel side and a low toe side to make
walking easier, but since the toe side is low, force is easily applied to the toe
side when the weight is applied, and the entire toes are easily pressed against the
inner sole 7 of the shoe. Therefore, the toes may be difficult to move, a natural
movement of the toes may be hindered, and it is difficult for the toes to obtain a
stimulus of the natural movement.
[0062] On the other hand, in this configuration, since the bulging part 100 holds the thenar
26A and the hypothenar 34A at a high position with respect to the inner sole 7 of
the shoe, the foot supported by the insole 1 tends to be approximately horizontal
in the shoe, and it is difficult for the weight to be applied to the toe side in front
of the fulcrum P3 (see Fig. 6), which makes it easier to move tips of the toes.
[0063] In this configuration, the insole body 160 includes the calcaneal anterior-part support
protrusion 90. For this reason, the user of the insole 1 keeps the toe side high while
the arches 120 to 122 of the sole of the foot are maintained in their natural shapes,
and it is easy to move so that the toes naturally grab the ground during walking or
running. Therefore, when the user goes up and down a slope or stairs, it is easy to
apply force to the toe side, and it is easy for the toes to obtain an ideal stimulus
of a movement. Using the insole 1 having this configuration makes it easy to suppress
deterioration of a physical function of the foot.
[0064] Just walking with the shoe fitted with the insole 1 of this configuration makes it
possible to train the toes. In particular, in this configuration, since the insole
1 also includes the cuboid bone support protrusion 80, a skeletal balance of the foot
is adjusted, which further improves the stability and the motility, and facilitates
the training.
[0065] In this configuration, the insole front part 110 is thinner than the bulging part
100, which further increases the degree of freedom of the toes in front of the first
to fifth distal phalanxes 54 to 62 of the foot.
[0066] The movement of the toes to grab the ground is easily performed in a case where the
insole front part 110, on which the so-called toes including the proximal phalanxes
36 to 44, the middle phalanxes 46 to 52, and the distal phalanxes 54 to 62 in Fig.
2 rest, is softer than the bulging part 100, on which the thenar 26A and the hypothenar
34A rest.
[0067] In the present embodiment, the insole front part 110 is thinner and softer than the
bulging part 100, so that the toes can be easily moved.
[0068] Therefore, it is possible to easily perform a walking motion to grasp the ground
with the toes, and it is possible to enhance an exercise effect. It is possible to
enhance the exercise effect while the shapes of the arches of the sole of the foot
are maintained to ensure the stability and the motility of a body.
[0069] In this configuration, since the bulging part 100 is formed on the back surface 1B,
as illustrated in Fig. 6, a gap 111 is generated between a close part of the bulging
part 100 and the inner sole 7 of the shoe. Therefore, it is easy to push the insole
front part 110 of the insole 1 toward the gap 111 from above. In addition, the V-shaped
recess 105 is also formed in the bulging part 100, so that a portion between the thenar
part 103 and the other-toe ball part 104 is thin, and the insole front part 110 can
be easily pushed toward the gap 111 by a hallux.
[0070] As described above, in the present embodiment, the toes can be easily bent and force
can be easily applied to the toes, and the motion of grasping the ground with the
toes can be easily performed.
[0071] Furthermore, since the flat surface part 100A of the bulging part 100 is in contact
with the sole of the foot, it is less likely to hinder the movement of the foot as
compared with a case where an uneven shape is in contact with the sole of the foot.
[0072] On the other hand, since it is less likely to hinder the movement of the foot, positions
of the thenar 26A and the hypothenar 34A may shift during walking or exercising, but
the bulging part 100 is formed wide in a front-back direction, so that the bulging
part 100 can support the thenar 26A and the hypothenar 34A.
[0073] As described above, the shoe insole 1 of the present embodiment includes, in order
to maintain the inner longitudinal arch 121, the outer longitudinal arch 122, and
the transverse arch 120 of the foot, the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion
90 that abuts the calcaneal anterior part 12A of the foot, and the bulging part 100
that supports the thenar 26A and the hypothenar 34A of the foot, with the calcaneal
anterior-part support protrusion 90 maintaining the inner longitudinal arch 121, the
outer longitudinal arch 122, and the transverse arch 120, wherein the insole front
part 110 thinner than the bulging part 100 is provided in front of the bulging part
100. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the movement of grasping the ground with
the toes and to train the toes while the shapes of the arches 120 to 122 of the sole
of the foot are maintained in their natural states to ensure the stability and the
motility of the body.
[0074] In the present embodiment, the front surface 1A is flat from the insole front part
110 to the bulging part 100, and the bulging part 100 bulges downward. Therefore,
the bulging part 100 is in contact with the inner sole 7 of the shoe, and the surface
part 100A forming the front surface 1A of the bulging part 100 is in contact with
the sole of the foot on a flat surface, so that the toes can be easily moved.
[0075] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the anterior edge of the bulging part 100
extends on a line connecting from the first proximal phalanx 36 to the fifth proximal
phalanx 44 of the foot, and a portion of the anterior edge between the first proximal
phalanx 36 and the second proximal phalanx 38 is formed with the V-shaped recess 105,
and recessed backward. Therefore, it is easy to push downward the insole 1 of a region
corresponding to the hallux, that is, the first proximal phalanx 36 and the first
distal phalanx 54, and it is possible to facilitate the movement of grasping the ground
with the hallux.
[0076] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the trailing edge of the bulging part 100
is formed with the arc recess 106, in which the central portion in the width direction
is recessed forward. Therefore, it is less likely to feel boundary of the bulging
part 100 on the sole of the foot, so that discomfort can be reduced.
[0077] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the thickness of the outer peripheral part
of the bulging part 100 gradually decreases. Therefore, the outer peripheral part
102 of the bulging part 100 can be gradually deformed according to the weight, and
thus it is possible to reduce the discomfort to the foot.
[0078] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the cuboid bone support protrusion 80 is
arranged so as to overlap the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion 90, and the
cuboid bone support protrusion 80 including an area from a region corresponding to
the cuboid bone 18 of the foot to a region corresponding to the navicular bone 16
of the foot is downwardly inclined toward both left and right side edges to gradually
decrease the thickness, and downwardly inclined from the region corresponding to the
cuboid bone 18 in a forward-and-backward direction to gradually decrease the thickness,
so that the thickness in front-back and left-right radial directions gradually decreases.
Therefore, since the cuboid bone support protrusion 80 is provided, the cuboid bone
18 and the calcaneus 12 are stabilized while an arch shape including the calcaneocuboid
joint between the cuboid bone 18 and the calcaneus 12 is maintained and the movement
of the foot is permitted. Thus, the distortion of the calcaneocuboid joint is reduced,
and a whole of a tarsal bone including the cuboid bone 18 and the calcaneus 12 is
stabilized in a natural state. As a result, joints of the foot can move freely, so
that the function of the foot can be enhanced.
[0079] However, the above-described embodiment is one aspect of the present invention, and
it goes without saying that the above-described embodiment can be appropriately changed
without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0080] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the insole body 160 is integrally
molded, but the protrusion 2 or the bulging part 100 as separate bodies may be detachably
fitted to a flat insole material. Furthermore, if the insole body 160 is formed as
a plurality of layers and the protrusion 2 and the bulging part 100 are fitted to
an intermediate layer, it is possible to form unevenness on a surface material.
[0081] The cuboid bone support protrusion 80, the calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion
90, and the bulging part 100 are formed solidly, but insides of the front surfaces
80A, 90A, and 101 of the cuboid bone support protrusion 80, the calcaneal anterior-part
support protrusion 90, and the bulging part 100 may be hollow.
[0082] An object of an shoe insole of the present invention is to improve an upright standing
posture and enhance a movement function, and it is suitable to widely apply the shoe
insole not only to a shoe used daily, but also to various types of shoes such as a
shoe for sports, which seeks for functionality, such as ski or soccer, a medical shoe
having a purpose of treatment or rehabilitation, and a training shoe having a purpose
of promoting a health. Reference Signs List
[0083]
- 1
- Insole (shoe insole)
- 1A
- Front surface (upper surface)
- 12A
- Calcaneal tubercle (calcaneal anterior part)
- 18
- Cuboid bone
- 26A
- Thenar
- 34A
- Hypothenar
- 36
- First proximal phalanx
- 38
- Second proximal phalanx
- 44
- Fifth proximal phalanx
- 76
- Both side edges
- 80
- Cuboid bone support protrusion
- 90
- Calcaneal anterior-part support protrusion
- 100
- Bulging part (toe ball support part)
- 102
- Outer peripheral part
- 110
- Insole front part
- 120
- Transverse arch
- 121
- Inner longitudinal arch
- 122
- Outer longitudinal arch