[0001] The present invention relates to a multilayer insole to be fitted in footwear and
the like, of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1.
[0003] It is known that presently footwear items or shoes and the like are commonly formed
with a sole, a vamp, an insole and a heel.
[0004] The sole is the part of the shoe in contact with the ground and is usually made of
leather, rubber or plastic; the vamp constitutes the part surrounding the foot at
the upper part thereof from the heel to the toes; the heel represents a raised base
portion present under the sole and placed at the foot heel; finally, the insole is
an element reproducing the shape of the foot and is placed internally of the shoe
and, in particular, upon the sole and adjacent to the inner surface of the vamp.
[0005] The shoe, as any other type of garment, performs an action mainly of the containment
and support type adapted to implement a protection means for protecting the foot from
external agents, such as the cold and the wet, without hindering the foot movements
and therefore the normal walking.
[0006] Therefore, a shoe must be first of all soft and flexible; it must not be hard and
stiff and consequently must not represent too stiff a constraint for the foot, preventing
natural movements thereof.
[0007] In addition, people are forced to walk on hard grounds such as asphalt, concrete,
marble, tiles. These surfaces are not adapted to absorb either the energy or the vibrations
triggered at the moment the shoe is resting on the ground.
[0008] Therefore these actions are returned from the shoe to the individual who absorbs
almost the entirety thereof.
[0009] This aspect may give rise to serious pathologies such as tendinitis, talalgias, periostitis,
fatigue fractures, pains in the joints, particularly the feet, knees, ankles, back,
and up to the cranium base. For instance, a study from the University Charite of Berlin
shows that walking on flat surfaces is the primary cause of postural alterations.
[0010] For the above reasons, it is important to have a shoe capable of ensuring not only
comfort, but also a high ability to absorb the vibrations and energy arising when
an individual is moving, while at the same time offering a proper position of the
foot and therefore a correct posture of the whole person.
[0011] Consequently, of the greatest importance are the materials of which the shoe is made
and the shape of same, and in particular the materials of the sole and insole which
are the elements defining the shoe capability of absorbing the aforesaid actions.
[0012] One of the solutions hitherto adopted contemplates use of air under pressure. In
this solution at least one air-containing sealed bag is disposed inside the sole,
which bag by becoming deformed allows said energy to be absorbed.
[0013] In another solution, still based on use of air, the sole is provided with a bladder
which is connected to the outside by a valve. While people are walking, the bladder
is alternately compressed and expanded due to the weight force. This force creates
an airflow through said valve and therefore a volume variation enabling said action
to be damped.
[0014] In another case use of springs is provided, which are suitably disposed in the vicinity
of the heel, which springs being subjected to the action of the weight, continuously
vary their length and therefore generate an action adapted to limit the efforts exerted
by the shoe on the foot.
[0015] In a still further solution, exploitation of multilayer insoles is provided.
[0016] In this case manufacture of an insole takes place by overlapping a multiplicity of
layers on each other, each of them being designed in such a manner as to provide an
appropriate comfort to the shoe user. Each layer is therefore made of a particular
thickness and/or material depending on the action to be performed.
[0017] The known art mentioned above has some important drawbacks.
[0018] In fact, it does not offer a system capable of ensuring a sufficient absorption of
the vibrations and energy that dangerously fall on the individual.
[0019] In addition, the presently described solutions are subject to quick deterioration
due to use and therefore the services they offer have a quick decay.
[0020] These solutions, mainly due to the great thickness, adversely affect the shoes' aesthetic
appearance and therefore can be hardly applicable to smart shoes.
[0021] In particular, the multilayer insoles currently present on the market are characterised
by a low efficiency.
[0022] In addition, the materials of which the multilayer insoles are made do not ensure
a high comfort sensation, due to an unproper transpirable quality of the materials
used.
[0023] Under this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise
a multilayer insole to be fitted in shoes and the like, capable of substantially obviating
the mentioned drawbacks.
[0024] Within the scope of this technical task, it is an important aim of the invention
to ensure the absence of stress on an individual by absorbing the vibrations and energy
arising at the moment the shoe comes into contact with the ground.
[0025] Another important aim of the invention is to ensure a high comfort under any use
condition of the shoe.
[0026] A further aim of the invention is to make a structure that is efficient, of long
duration and low cost.
[0027] A not least aim of the invention is to devise a multilayer insole capable of suiting
any type of shoes.
[0028] The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are achieved by a multilayer
insole to be fitted in shoes and the like as claimed in the appended Claim 1.
[0029] Preferred embodiments are highlighted in the sub-claims.
[0030] The features and advantages of the invention are hereinafter clarified by the detailed
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the insole according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a first portion of a shoe substantially defining a vamp, adapted to house the
insole according to the invention;
Fig. 3 shows a second portion of a shoe, substantially defining a sole, adapted to house
the insole according to the invention;
Fig. 4 shows a mode of use of the insole according to the invention; and
Fig. 5 shows the insole seen in Fig. 1 in a fitted position and ready for use.
[0031] With reference to the drawings, the multilayer insole to be fitted in shoes and the
like according to the invention is generally denoted at 1.
[0032] It allows an element to be created which is able to absorb energies and vibrations
triggered when a shoe 2 comes into contact with the ground, preventing them from reaching
the foot.
[0033] In particular, the insole 1 absorbs the energy and vibrations that reach the user's
foot through a sole 3, i.e. the portion of shoe 2 coming into contact with the ground.
[0034] In the embodiment shown, the sole 3 is formed with different elements and in particular
it preferably comprises a plurality of inner blocks or inserts 4 and a component 5
which is provided with housings adapted to lodge said plurality of inserts 4.
[0035] Finally, component 5 is internally secured to the lower portion of a vamp 6, i.e.
the portion of shoe 2 surrounding the foot.
[0036] Inserts 4 are preferably three in number: the two first 4a and 4b are made of absorbent
material such as expanded-cell foams, and the third 4c made is of a polymeric material,
such as polyvinylchloride.
[0037] The first insert 4a is disposed in the front part of the sole, while the two others
4b-c are located at the rear of the sole 3, i.e. the region adapted to house the heel.
In particular, insert 4c is preferably disposed between insert 4b and component 5.
[0038] In vamp 6 preferably a cloth 6a, a double cloth for example, is provided which is
secured to the lower edge of the vamp, i.e. the edge that is adapted to come into
contact with sole 3, and allows the inserts 4 to be maintained in the housings present
in component 5.
[0039] The multilayer insole 1 is therefore suitable to be disposed inside the shoe 2 and,
in particular, it has the lower surface in contact with the double cloth 6a and the
side surface in contact with vamp 6.
[0040] It extends along a major extension surface 1a and preferably comprises at least three
layers, extending in the direction of surface 1a: a damper element 7, an upper layer
8 and a lower layer 9.
[0041] The damper element 7 is a layer of a material that advantageously ensures passage
of air and a high absorption capability.
[0042] In an original manner, said material constituting the damper element 7 is preferably
an open-cell foam of damping microcellular polyurethane material. In particular, this
material is poron 62-red marketed by Rogers Corporation or a double layer comprising
the aforesaid poron 62-red.
[0043] In particular, it has a high elasticity determining a minimum energy return to the
user's foot, during the expansion step immediately following the impact of shoe 2
on the ground. Another important physico-mechanical feature of the material is its
damping capability, i.e. it is able to absorb the vibrations arising at the moment
of said impact without transferring them to the foot.
[0044] Finally, the material used for the damper element 7 advantageously has a resiliency,
i.e. the ability to resists impacts, equal to a value of about 4 if measured by an
"ASTM D2632-92, Vertical Rebound" test and a 90%-compression recovery time included
between 0.3 s and 2.5 s. By 90%-compression recovery time it is intended the time
required by the material, elastically deformed by a compression, to take back 90%
of the volume lost due to the above action.
[0045] A further feature of said material is a good shape memory enabling it to acquire
the starting shape again, when the compression and expansion steps have been completed.
[0046] Finally, the material is able to offer a good duration under any use condition of
the shoe 2, also due to a good resistance to abrasion and wear.
[0047] The damper element 7 is placed in the upper part of the multilayer insole 1. In particular,
the element 7 is disposed in the vicinity of the insole 1 portion that, when said
insole 1 is fitted in shoe 2, is in direct contact with the foot or with an upper
layer 8 in contact with the foot.
[0048] The damper element 7 substantially extends over the whole insole 1 in the direction
of the major extension surface 1a and therefore substantially concerns the whole contact
region between the insole 1 and the foot, as shown in Fig. 1.
[0049] Finally, the element 7 is a layer of greater thickness than the adjacent ones, included
between 2 mm and 6 mm, preferably of about 3 mm.
[0050] In addition, the upper layer 8 is disposed in the contact region between the foot
and the insole 1 and is suitable to define the rest surface of the foot in the shoe
2.
[0051] This upper layer 8 is made of natural leather or other similar material suitable
to define a comfortable rest surface for the foot and to allow passage of air through
the insole 1. Finally, said upper layer 8 has a thickness included between 0.5 mm
and 1.5 mm, said thickness being substantially of 0.8 mm.
[0052] The lower layer 9 is arranged in the lower part of the multilayer insole 1 and is
housed under the damper element 7. This lower layer 9 therefore defines the surface
of the multilayer insole 1 coming into contact with the inner part of the sole 2a
of shoe 2 when the insole 1 is fitted inside the shoe.
[0053] The lower layer 9 is preferably made of a polymeric material and, in particular,
ethylene vinyl-acetate.
[0054] In order to ensure an appropriate passage of air through the lower layer 9, at least
one cavity 9a is formed in the front portion of said layer 9. Alternatively, instead
of cavity 9a, a plurality of holes can be formed on the lower layer 9.
[0055] The lower layer 9 contemplates the presence of a flange 10 in the upper surface,
which flange 10 is integral with said layer 9 and is disposed on at least part of
the perimeter of the multilayer insole 1, preferably on the edge surrounding the insole
region designed to get into contact with the foot heel.
[0056] Flange 10 is a border of such a height that it can receive the layers of the insole
1 overlying the lower layer 9 and such a thickness that a greater stability can be
ensured to the user of a shoe 2 equipped with this insole 1.
[0057] Finally, the flange 10 and lower layer 9 are preferably made of one piece construction.
[0058] Under said lower layer 9, the multilayer insole 1 can be provided with an airbag
11 adapted to cover at least part of same and in particular that part of the insole
1 that will come into contact with the heel.
[0059] The airbag 11 comprises two plates 11a mutually linked in such a manner as to define
an air-containing sealed bladder which is preferably divided into two sub-bladders
by a third plate 11b.
[0060] Finally provided in plate 11b is a series of through holes 11c enabling an airflow
to be created between said two sub-bladders and, therefore, the sub-bladder volume
to be varied in such a manner as to at least partly absorb the impact of the shoe
2 on the ground.
[0061] Operation of a multilayer insole 1 to be fitted in shoes and the like, described
above as regards structure, is as follows.
[0062] As soon as sole 3 comes into contact with the ground, the insole 1 begins to get
elastically deformed. In particular, the front portion of the damper element 7 starts
becoming deformed and, as it is subjected to compression forces due to the user's
weight, begins to compress and therefore to absorb the energy and vibrations resulting
from the aforesaid contact.
[0063] As contact extends to the rest of sole 3, also the remaining portion of the damper
element 7 is elastically deformed by compression and absorbs said energies.
[0064] This absorption operation is finally promoted by the presence of the airbag 11 that
is subjected to deformation and continuously varies the air location inside it, which
air can move inside a sub-bladder but also between the two sub-bladders, due to the
presence of holes 11c.
[0065] Finally, the particular selection of the material of which the damper element 7 is
made allows the insole 1 to slowly recover its starting position, thereby minimising
the energy and vibration discharge on the user's foot.
[0066] This recovery time of element 7 is at all events sufficient for the insole 1 to have
the element 7 fully decompressed at the time of the following step, so that it is
ready to absorb energy again.
[0067] In addition, the deformation of the damper element 7 and the airbag 11 allows the
insole 1 to absorb any possible unevenness present on the ground.
[0068] The invention achieves important advantages.
[0069] The insole ensures a high ability to absorb the energy and vibrations arising at
the moment the shoe 2 contacts the ground, as well as a high comfort.
[0070] In fact, element 7 is made of a material allowing a 90%-compression recovery time
sufficiently high, to such an extent that the return of energy to the foot is minimised,
but at the same time to such an extent that the sole is allowed to appear again fully
extended at the time of the following step, always ensuring a high damping ability.
[0071] In addition, the materials of which the insole 1 is made ensure a high duration of
said insole 1.
[0072] Furthermore, the multilayer insole 1 offers a high comfort to the user, due to its
capability of absorbing both the contact energy between shoe 2 and the ground and
any possible unevenness of the ground.
[0073] The sensation of comfort is further increased due to the capability of transpiration
of the insole 1 that allows passage of an airflow adapted to enable optimal temperature
and humidity values to be obtained inside shoe 2.
[0074] A non negligible advantage of the invention is the fact that insole 1, due to the
physico-mechanical features of the material of element 7, is able to suit the peculiar
physiognomy of the user's foot.
[0075] Another advantage resides in that insole 1 is on the whole thin and therefore can
be accommodated in any type of shoe 2, even in smart shoes.
[0076] A further advantage concerns the low manufacturing costs of insole 1.
1. A multilayer insole (1) to be fitted in a footwear or shoe (2), extending along a
major-extension surface (1a) and comprising: at least one damper element (7) adapted
to damp the impact of said shoe (2) on the ground, substantially extending over the
whole of said insole (1) in the direction of said major-extension surface (1a) and
being placed in the upper part of said insole (1), characterised in that said damper element (7) is an open-cell foam made of damping microcellular polyurethane
material with a 90%-compression recovery time included between 0.3 s and 2.5 s, said
damper element (7) is disposed in the vicinity of the insole portion that, when said
insole (1) is fitted in shoe (2), is in direct contact with the foot or with an upper
layer (8) in contact with the foot, said material of said damper element (7) has a
resiliency equal to a value of about 4 if measured by an "ASTM D2632-92, Vertical
Rebound" test.
2. A multilayer insole (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein
said material of said damper element (7) is adapted to enable passage of an airflow
through said damper element (7) in a direction at right angles to said major extension
surface (1a).
3. A multilayer insole (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein
said material of said damper element (7) has a thickness included between 2 mm and
6 mm.
4. A multilayer insole (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, comprising
an airbag (11), placed in the lower part of said insole (1) and having two plates
(11a) adapted to define an air-containing sealed bladder and a third plate (11b) placed
between said two plates (11a), which is adapted to divide said bladder into two sub-bladders
and is provided with through holes (11c) designed to enable passage of air between
said two sub-bladders.
5. A multilayer insole (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, comprising
a lower layer (9) placed between said damper element (7) and airbag (11), adapted
to come into contact with said shoe (2) and comprising a flange (10) placed on at
least part of the perimeter of said insole (1) and suitable to improve a user's stability.
6. A multilayer insole (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lower layer (9) comprises
a cavity (9a) suitable to enable passage of said airflow between said damper element
(7) and airbag (11).
7. A multilayer insole (1) as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said lower layer (9) is
made of ethylene vinyl-acetate.
8. A multilayer insole (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, comprising
an upper layer (8) made of natural leather and suitable to be placed on top of said
damper element (7) and to define the rest surface of a foot in said shoe (2).
9. A footwear or shoe (2) comprising a multilayer insole (1) as claimed in one or more
of the preceding claims.
1. Mehrschichtige Innensohle (1) zur Einpassung in Schuhe (2), die entlang einer vorherrschenden
Verlaufsfläche (1a) verläuft und mindestens ein Dämpfungselement (7) umfasst, das
geeignet ist, den Aufprall des genannten Schuhs (2) auf den Boden abzuschwächen, im
Wesentlichen über die Gesamtheit der genannten Sohle (1) in Richtung der genannten
vorherrschenden Verlaufsfläche (1a) verläuft und im oberen Teil der genannten Sohle
(1) angeordnet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich bei dem genannten Dämpfungselement (7) um einen Schaum mit offenen Zellen
aus dämpfendem Polyurethan-Mikrozellwerkstoff mit einer Dauer bis zur Rückkehr auf
90 % der Kompression zwischen 0,3 s und 2,5 s handelt, wobei das genannte Dämpfungselement
(7) in der Nähe des Teils der Sohle angeordnet ist, der, wenn die Sohle (1) in den
Schuh (2) eingesetzt ist, sich in direktem Kontakt mit dem Fuß oder mit einer oberen
Schicht (8) in Kontakt mit dem Fuß befindet, wobei der genannte Werkstoff des genannten
Dämpfungselements (7) eine Resilienz in Höhe eines Werts von ca. 4 aufweist, wenn
diese mit einem Test des Typs "ASTM D2632-92, Vertical Rebound" gemessen wird.
2. Mehrschichtige Innensohle (1) nach einem oder mehreren der vorangegangenen Ansprüche,
bei der der genannte Werkstoff des genannten Dämpfungselements (7) geeignet ist, den
Durchgang eines Luftstroms über das genannte Dämpfungselement (7) in senkrechter Richtung
zu der genannten vorherrschenden Verlaufsfläche (1a) zu gestatten.
3. Mehrschichtige Innensohle (1) nach einem oder mehreren der vorangegangenen Ansprüche,
bei der das genannte Dämpfungselement (7) eine Stärke zwischen 2 mm und 6 mm aufweist.
4. Mehrschichtige Innensohle (1) nach einem oder mehreren der vorangegangenen Ansprüche,
die einen Airbag (11) im unteren Teil der genannten Innensohle (1) umfasst, der zwei
Platten (11a), die geeignet sind, eine Luft enthaltende dichte Kammer zu definieren,
und eine dritte, zwischen den beiden genannten Platten (11a) angeordnete Platte (11b)
umfasst, die geeignet ist, die genannte Kammer in zwei Unterkammern zu unterteilen,
und mit durchgehenden Öffnungen (11c) versehen ist, die geeignet sind, den Luftdurchlass
zwischen den beiden genannten Unterkammern zu gestatten.
5. Mehrschichtige Sohle (1) nach einem oder mehreren der vorangegangenen Ansprüche, die
eine zwischen dem genannten Dämpfungselement (7) und dem genannten Airbag (11) angeordnete
untere Schicht (9) umfasst, die geeignet ist, mit den genannten Schuhen (2) in Kontakt
zu gelangen, und einen Flansch (10) auf mindestens einem Teil des Umfangs der genannten
Innensohle (1) umfasst, der geeignet ist, die Stabilität eines Benutzers zu verbessern.
6. Mehrschichtige Innensohle (1) nach Anspruch 5, bei der die genannten untere Schicht
(9) einen Hohlraum (9a) umfasst, der geeignet ist, den Durchgang des genannten Luftstroms
zwischen dem genannten Dämpfungselement (7) und dem genannten Airbag (11) zu gestatten.
7. Mehrschichtige Innensohle (1) nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, bei der die genannte untere
Schicht (9) aus Ethylen-Vinylacetat besteht.
8. Mehrschichtige Innensohle (1) nach einem oder mehreren der vorangegangenen Ansprüchen,
umfassend eine obere Schicht (8) aus Naturleder, die geeignet ist, über dem genannten
Dämpfungselement (7) angeordnet zu werden und eine Auflagefläche für einen Fuß in
den genannten Schuhen (2) zu definieren.
9. Schuhe (2), umfassend eine mehrschichtige Innensohle (1) nach einem oder mehreren
der vorangegangenen Ansprüche.
1. Une semelle intérieure multicouches (1) destinée à être insérée dans des chaussures
(2), s'étendant le long d'une surface de développement prédominante (1a) et comprenant
au moins un élément amortissant (7) apte à amortir le choc de ladite chaussure (2)
sur le sol, s'étendant essentiellement sur la totalité de ladite semelle (1) en direction
de ladite surface de développement prédominante (1a) et étant placée sur la partie
supérieure de ladite semelle (1) caractérisée en ce que ledit élément amortissant (7) est une mousse à cellules ouvertes en matière polyuréthane
micro-cellulaire amortissant, un temps de retour à 90 % de compression compris entre
0,3 s et 2,5 s, ledit élément amortissant (7) est placé à proximité de la partie de
la semelle que, lorsque ladite semelle (1) est insérée dans la chaussure (2), est
en contact direct avec le pied ou avec une couche supérieure (8) en contact avec le
pied, ladite matière dudit élément amortissant (7) a une résilience équivalent à une
valeur de 4 environ si mesurée à l'aide d'un test « ASTM D2632-92, Vertical Rebound
».
2. Semelle multicouche (1) selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, dans
laquelle ladite matière dudit élément amortissant (7) est apte à permettre le passage
d'un flux d'air à travers ledit élément amortissant (7) en direction perpendiculaire
à ladite surface de développement prédominante (1a).
3. Semelle multicouche (1) selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, dans
laquelle ladite matière dudit élément amortissant (7) a une épaisseur comprise entre
2 mm et 6 mm.
4. Semelle multicouche (1) selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, comprenant
un airbag (11), placé sur la partie inférieure de ladite semelle (1) présentant deux
plaques (11a) aptes à définir une chambre étanche contenant de l'air et une troisième
plaque (11b), placée entre lesdites deux plaques (11a), laquelle est apte à diviser
ladite chambre en deux sous-chambres et est munie de trous traversant (11c) aptes
à permettre le passage d'air entre lesdites deux sous-chambres.
5. Semelle multicouche (1) selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, comprenant
une couche inférieure (9) placée entre ledit élément amortissant (7) et ledit airbag
(11), apte à entrer en contact avec ladite chaussure (2) comprenant une bride (10)
placée sur au moins une partie du périmètre de ladite semelle (1) et apte à améliorer
la stabilité d'un utilisateur.
6. Semelle multicouche (1) selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle ladite couche inférieure
(9) comprend une cavité (9a) apte à permettre le passage dudit flux d'air entre ledit
élément amortissant (7) et ledit airbag (11).
7. Semelle multicouche (1) selon la revendication 5 ou 6, dans laquelle ladite couche
inférieure (9) est en éthylène acétate de vinyle.
8. Semelle multicouche (1) selon l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, comprenant
une couche supérieure (8) en cuir naturel apte à être placée supérieurement audit
élément amortissant (7) et à définir la surface d'appui d'un pied dans ladite chaussure
(2).
9. Chaussure (2) comprenant une semelle multicouche (1) selon l'une ou plusieurs des
revendications précédentes.