Abstract:
The present invention relates to an inner sole for a shoe, comprising a base body, a covering layer and several cushioned layers arranged on the surface of the sole. A first cushioned layer is provided in the ball area of the forefoot, a second cushioned layer is included in the transition area of the metatarsus and the tarsus and a third cushioned area is provided between the metatarsus and the heel. The cushioned layers are subdivided into individual, separate plateau-like fields which are located close to each other in the transversal direction of the sole surface. This provides an inner sole which brings about a substantial improvement in the transport of fluids in the venous and lymphatic vessel system in the legs during movement of the foot joints and ankle joints by means of synergistic support of the muscle structure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an inner sole for a shoe, which is embodied as a foot support, having an inner sole with a sole base body, a sole cover layer and several cushion layers arranged on the surface of the sole. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     On the average, every fifth person in the age group between 20 and 70 years needs treatment because of diseased veins, and particularly every third person suffers from pathological vein changes which, although they do not yet need invasive treatment, nevertheless cause troubles and may need treatment in the future. In general, the cause of this often is a genetically caused weakness of the connective tissues, which leads to a relaxation of the walls of the veins and therefore to a lack in the ability of the venous valves to close. This results in a reduction of the venous return flow from the legs into the body. 
     Supportive measures are known in the form of so-called pressure hose, but preventive measures are unknown, in particular in connection with people who, because of their occupation, perform predominantly sitting or standing tasks. In these cases it is suggested to move the legs as much as possible in order to increase the venous return flow from the legs back into the body by promoting the so-called foot and calf muscle pump. This is aided to a great extent by walking barefoot, however, the shoes which are customary these days have a rather disadvantageous effect. 
     Walking shoes are known, wherein resilient layers in the form of supports are used in the heel area. But these known resilient layers are merely intended to compensate the specific overloads occurring during walking, or at least to assist in partially preventing them (German Patent DE 39 02 872 A1). 
     In connection with an orthopedic inner sole for shoes known from German Patent DE 87 00 681 U1, cushioned, layers are also embodied as an arched padding, which protrudes upward above the covering layer of the soles, and is provided in one piece with a large surface for support and pressure distribution in defined areas of the foot. An inner sole for a shoe is moreover known from German Patent DE 35 08 582 C2, which has a resilient padding in the area of the reflex zones of the foot. This padding has a symmetrically or asymmetrically concavely arched, or respectively bulged shape, and is essentially circular when viewed from above, and is therefore used for stimulating the nerves in these reflex zones. The reflex zones in the feet have an exclusive effect on the nervous system which, inter alia, affects the arterial blood supply of defined organs. No remedy for the problems of venous outflow of blood mentioned at the outset, in particular in the area of the lower leg, can be achieved by this. 
     An inner pole for a shoe is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,877, wherein an intermediate sole is put together from individual elements over its entire surface, of which a segment, which is arranged in the forefoot joint area, is divided into individual sub-segments. The sub-segments adjoin each other in the transverse direction of the sole surface. The individual segments and sub-segments are each flat and of the same thickness. By means of a differently resilient embodiment, this known inner sole for a shoe is used for the differentiated support of the foot, wherein the position of the segments takes into consideration the position of the corresponding bones of the foot. 
     A similar purpose is sought in European Patent, EP 0 316 289 A, wherein the inner sole of the shoe is provided with hollow spaces distributed over the sole surface, which can be filled with a resilient material corresponding to the shape of the foot. Such an inner sole for a shoe is used for orthopedic correction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inner sole for a shoe of the type mentioned at the outset, which makes possible a considerable improvement of the venous return flow through the legs into the body, starting at the foot, by means of synergistic support of the muscle contraction in the course of the movement of the foot and ankle joints. 
     To attain this object, a first cushioned layer is provided in the forefoot joint area, a second cushioned layer in the metatarsus/tarsus transition area, and a third cushioned layer in the metatarsus/heel transition area. Each of these cushioned layers, which are provided for aiding the venous outflow of blood, is itself divided into individual plateau-like fields, which are positioned next to each other in the transverse direction of the sole surface and are separated from each other. The surface of the cushioned layers, which are also covered by the sole cover layer, approximately forms a plane with the surface of the sole base body are provided in connection with an inner sole for a shoe of the type mentioned. 
     Suitable support areas, which positively affect a contraction of the musculature of the foot, result from the steps in accordance with the present invention, wherein the cushioned layers are not raised separately, but are placed in a plateau-like manner into defined areas of the foot and are divided into fields which are separated from each other. These discrete support points are arranged in such a way that the muscle contraction is prompted, or respectively stimulated and therefore improved during the normal movement of the foot, but also considerably while standing. This results in a synergistic support during the movement sequence of the individual joints which, as a continuous homogeneous movement wave, has a positive effect on the venous and lymphatic vessel system. In other words, a homogeneous mechanical squeezing of the venous and lymphatic vessel system takes place, which leads to an increase in the venous return flow from the legs in the direction toward the body. This characteristic support movement promotes the action of the so-called foot and calf muscle pump, in particular since the division of the pillow-cushioned layers into individual areas is similar to the arrangement of the muscles in the foot. 
     With further embodiments in accordance with the present invention, cushioned layers are provided in further important areas of the muscle arrangement. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the inner sole for a shoe can either be individually employed as an insole, or it is provided as a sole which is directly integrated into a shoe. 
     Further details of the present invention can be taken from the following description, in which the exemplary embodiments represented in the drawings are described in detail and explained. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1 , is a view from above on an inner sole of a shoe in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 2 , is a section along the line II-II in  FIG. 1  in an enlarged view, 
         FIG. 3 , is a section along the line III-III in  FIG. 1  in an enlarged view, and 
         FIGS. 4 and 5 , is are respectively a section similar to the one in  FIG. 3 , but in accordance with two variants of the first exemplary embodiment, 
         FIG. 6 , is a view from above on an inner sole of a shoe in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 7 , is a longitudinal section similar to the one in  FIG. 3 , but through the second exemplary embodiment, 
         FIG. 8 , is an interior view in the longitudinal direction of the second exemplary embodiment, 
         FIG. 9 , is a view from above on the pre-processing stage of the inner sole of the shoe in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, 
         FIG. 10 , is a longitudinal sectional view similar to the one in  FIG. 7 , but in the longitudinal direction of  FIG. 9 , 
         FIG. 11 , is a view from above on an inner sole of a shoe in accordance with a variant of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and 
         FIG. 12 , is a longitudinal section similar to the one in  FIG. 7 , but through the variation of the second exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The inner sole  11 , or respectively  111 , or respectively  111 ′ represented in the drawings and embodied as a foot support, for example, in accordance with two exemplary embodiments and a variant of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is used for the synergistic support of the musculature in the course of the movement of the foot and ankle joints for improving the conveyance of fluids in the venous and lymphatic vessel system through the legs, and it can be embodied as an insole or as a sole integrated into a shoe. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the inner sole  11 , or respectively  111  has several cushioned layers  12  to  16 , or respectively  112  to  116  provided over the sole surface  17 , or respectively  117 , of which the cushioned layers  12 ,  112 ,  13 ,  113  and  14 ,  114  are divided into separate, plateau-like fields  18  to  22 ,  118  to  122 , or respectively  23  to  25 , or respectively  123  to  125 , or respectively  26 ,  27 ,  126 ,  127 , which are separated from each other. 
     The first cushioned layer  12 ,  112  is provided in the forefoot joint area, i.e. in the area of the toes. This first cushioned layer  12 ,  112  is divided into five fields  18  to  22 ,  118  to  122 , which are separated from each other and arranged next to each other in the transverse direction of the inner sole  11 ,  111 . The individual fields  18  to  22 ,  118  to  122  are of different width and length, approximately corresponding to the base area of the partial areas of the respective individual toes. This is correspondingly true for the shape of the front and rear borderline  28 ,  128 , or respectively  29 ,  129 , of this first cushioned layer  12 ,  112 . The second cushioned layer  13 ,  113  is provided in the transition area between the metatarsus and the tarsus and in an area facing away from the plantar arch. This second cushioned layer  13 ,  113  is divided into three fields  23  to  25 ,  123  to  125 , which are shaped to correspond to this partial area of the metatarsus/tarsus and are arranged divided and lying next to each other in the transverse direction of the inner sole  11 ,  111 . This is correspondingly true for the circumferential borderline  31 ,  131  of this second cushioned layer  13 ,  113 . The third cushioned layer  14 ,  114  is provided in a transition area between the metatarsus and the heel and divided into two fields  26 ,  126  and  27 ,  127  which, viewed in the transverse direction of the inner sole  11 ,  111 , lie next to each other and are provided laterally on the outside. Here, too, the circumferential borderline  32 ,  132  approximately corresponds to the transition area between the metatarsus and the heel. 
     The fourth cushioned layer  15 , or respectively  115 , is arranged in the area of the heel and is designed in a plateau-like manner as a uniform, non-divided layer, which is approximately oval in the transverse, or respectively longitudinal direction of the inner sole  11 ,  111 . The fifth cushioned layer  16 ,  116  is also embodied as a uniform, non-divided layer, but is provided in the approximate shape of a sickle in the area of the plantar arch. 
     The cushioned layers  12  to  16 ,  112  to  116  are made of a resilient (foam) material, for example silicon. They have a flat upper surface and are embodied to be approximately rectangular, advantageously slightly trapezoidal, in cross section. 
     In the first exemplary embodiment in accordance with  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the inner sole  11  has a sole base body  36 , which here is triple-layered, and constitutes the basic shape of the inner sole  11  and in accordance with  FIG. 1  is designed to correspond to a foot, here the right foot. It is understood that the corresponding other, i.e. left inner sole  11 , is designed to be mirror-symmetrical. The sole base body  36  consists, for example, of three cork layers  33 ,  34 ,  35 . A sole cover layer  37  which, for example is made of leather, is provided on the sole base body  36 . The cushioned layers  12  to  16  are arranged in the sole base body  36  in a recessed manner between the sole base body  36  and the sole cover layer  37 . The upper and center layers  33 ,  34  of the sole base body  36  are provided with corresponding depressions  38  for this purpose which, corresponding to the fields  18  to  27  of the cushioned layers  12  to  14  and corresponding to the cushioned layers  15 ,  16 , have different base surfaces. The depressions  38  have been worked into the sole base body  36  to such a depth that the respective flat top of the plateau-like, cushioned layers  12  to  15  lies approximately in a plane, i.e. co-planar with the surface of the sole base body  36 . The cushioned layer  16  constitutes an exception. With this exemplary embodiment the depressions  38  extend as far as the top of the lower layer  35 . Among themselves, the cushioned layers  12  to  15  are of approximately the same height and are in a range between 2 to 5 mm, preferably in a range at 3 mm. The material of the top, or respectively the sole cover layer  37 , covers the cushioned layers  12  to  16  in such a way, that they, or respectively their fields  18  to  27 , are enclosed by a depression along the edge and are fixedly connected with, preferably glued to, the central layer  34  of the sole base body  36 , so that, besides the borderlines  28 ,  29  and  31 ,  32 , intermediate borderlines  41  to  47  result, which extend approximately vertically with respect to the transverse direction of the inner sole  11 . In other words, the depressions  38  are designed to correspond to the total base surface of the cushioned layers  12  to  15 . 
     With the two variants in accordance with  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the surface arrangement of the cushioned layers  12  to  15  of the inner sole  11  of the shoe, including the arrangement of the fields  18  to  27 , is exactly the same as shown in  FIG. 1 . The essential difference of the variants in  FIGS. 4 and 5  with respect to the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3  rests in that a cushioned resilient intermediate layer  51 ′, or respectively  51 ″ is provided over the entire surface of the sole base body  36 ′ between the sole base body  36 ′, or respectively  36 ″, and the sole cover layer  37 ′, or respectively  37 ″. Here, the intermediate layer  51  is made of the same resilient material as the cushioned layers  12  to  16  and is fixedly connected with, preferably glued to, the entire surface of one of the layers  34 ′ ( FIG. 4 ), or respectively  35 ″ ( FIG. 5 ), which have no depressions, of the sole base body  36 ′. 
     In accordance with  FIG. 5 , the cushioned intermediate layer  51 ″ is of a thickness in the range between 2 to 3 mm, which is approximately uniform over the entire base surface, so that a continuous flat cushion results, which is considerably more resilient than the layers of the sole base body  36 ′. Compared with  FIG. 3 , in this variant of the intermediate layer  51 ″ has been placed over the entire surface between the lower layer  35 ′ and the center layer  34 ′. 
     In accordance with  FIG. 4 , the intermediate layer  51 ′ lies between the center layer  34 ′ and the upper layer  33 ′ and has a different thickness. Accordingly, here the upper layer  33 ′ is provided with depressions  38 ′, and the cushioned intermediate layer  51 ′ with depressions  52  corresponding to the depressions  38  for receiving the cushioned layers  12  to  16 , over which the upper material, or respectively the sole cover layer  37 ′ again extends in the same way as the sole cover layer  37  in accordance with  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     With the second exemplary embodiment in accordance with  FIGS. 6 to 10 , the inner sole  111  has a dual-layer sole base body  136 , which constitutes the basic shape of the inner sole  111  and which in accordance with  FIG. 6 , or respectively  9 , is designed to correspond to a foot, here the left foot. It is also understood here that the corresponding other, i.e. the right inner sole, is designed to be mirror-symmetrical. The sole base body  136  is constructed from two cork layers, for example. A sole cover layer  137  is provided on the sole base body, which is made of leather, for example. 
     The cushioned layers  112  to  115  are arranged between the sole base body  136  and the sole cover layer  137  in a recessed manner. The sole base body  136  is provided with corresponding depressions  138  for this purpose which, corresponding to the fields  118  to  127  of the cushioned layers  112  to  114  and corresponding to the cushioned layer  115 , have a different base surface.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show the corresponding depressions  138  in a view from above, or respectively in section. Thus, the sole base body  136  has a maximum thickness in the range between 3.5 to 4 mm, preferably 3.7 mm, and a minimum thickness in the area of its depressions  138  between approximately 1 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably 1.3 mm. It is furthermore indicated in  FIG. 9  that the entire surface  136  of the sole base body  153 , which for example is multi-layered, is covered with a thin textile cover  139 . It is possible in a manner not shown that, instead of or in addition to this, the underside  154  of the sole base body  136  can be covered over its entire length with such a thin textile cover. The sole base body  136 , or respectively its layers, are made of cork scrap compacted by means of a binder. 
     In accordance with  FIG. 7 , the entire surface  152  of the sole base body  136  is moreover covered with a resilient, or respectively cushioned intermediate layer  151 . The intermediate layer  151  thus covers the entire surface, including the depressions  138  of the sole base body  136 , so that depressions  152  corresponding to the depressions  138  remain in the intermediate layer  151 . The intermediate layer  151  has a continuous thickness of, for example, approximately 3 mm. The same as the cushioned layers  112  to  116 , the intermediate layer  151  is preferably made of a foamed material, for example foamed natural latex. 
     The cushioned layers  112  to  115  have been placed into the depressions  152  of the intermediate layer  151  and consist, for example, of the foamed natural latex and have a thickness in the range between 4 and 5 mm, preferably of 4.5 mm, for example. In contrast thereto, the cushioned layer  116  for the plantar arch of the foot is not arranged in a depression, but directly on the intermediate layer  151 , which in this area is flat, i.e. not provided with depressions. On its thickest part, this cushioned layer  116  also has a thickness of approximately 4 to 5 mm, preferably 4.5 mm, wherein its thickness continuously decreases toward the inside of the sole  111 . Thus, the flat surfaces  156  of the plateau-like, cushioned layers  112  to  115  are raised by 1.5 to 2.5 mm, preferably approximately 2 mm, above the surface  157  of the intermediate layer  151 . The material on the top, or respectively the sole cover layer  137 , covers the cushioned layer  116  and furthermore the cushioned layers  112  to  115  in such a way that the latter, or respectively their fields  118  to  127 , are enclosed by a depression along the edge and are fixedly connected with, preferably glued to, the intermediate layer  151  so that, besides the borderlines  128 ,  129  and  131 ,  132 , intermediate borderlines, or respectively areas  141  to  147 , result, which extend approximately vertically with respect to the transverse direction of the inner sole  111 . 
     The variant represented in  FIGS. 11 and 12  differs from the second exemplary embodiment only in the design of the second cushioned layer  113 ′.  FIGS. 11 and 12  for this variant have the same reference numerals as those in  FIGS. 6 to 10 , only a prime has been added. 
     In accordance with  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the second cushioned layer  113 ′ is provided with the outer field  125 ′, the center field  124 ′ and the inner field  123 ′, wherein the two former fields are designed in accordance with the representations in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In comparison with the field  123  in  FIG. 6 , the inner field  123 ′ of the second cushioned layer  113 ′ has been pulled forward in a bow shape toward the first cushioned layer  112 ′. This bow-shaped extended area  123 ′ lengthens and widens the front surface of the field  123 ′. As can be seen in  FIG. 12 , this bow-shaped extended area  123 ′ is not level like the remaining surface areas of the cushioned layer  113 ′, but is arched upward, i.e. again raised in relation to the raised surface of the sole cover layer  137 ′. This arching raises the level of the bow-shaped extended area  123 ′ in relation to the remaining area of the field  123 ′ and the fields  124 ′ and  125 ′ by approximately 2 mm.