Patent Publication Number: US-2006000119-A1

Title: Sole pressing a therapeutic point

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a footwear sole for use in footwear including geta (Japanese wooden clogs), sandals and shoes, pressing a therapeutic point stimulating the therapeutic points (which are known as the points good for health when being pressed) on the foot sole during a walk with stretching.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      As the footwear pressing a therapeutic point for stimulating the therapeutic point on the foot sole during walk with stretching, there has been a prior art, for example, disclosed in the official gazette of the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-389 (which is referred to as patent document 1).  
      According to the above patent document 1, a pressing protrusion is pushed up by use of a lever plate during walk. The pressing protrusion working as a point of action is placed between the fulcrum and the bottom end of the lever plate which works as a point of operation. The above pressing protrusion has a short stroke, producing a weak stimulus, and the stimulus force cannot be self-adjusted. Furthermore, it is necessary to energize the spring on the fulcrum axis.  
      According to the method disclosed in the above patent document 1, it has an effect of producing a stimulus onto the therapeutic point of the foot sole being not weakened. However, it is not possible to self-adjust the degree of stimulus simply by adjusting the user&#39;s weight load to be applied.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a function of self-adjusting the strength of the stimulus onto the therapeutic points of the foot sole, according to the degree of a weight load being applied during walk. According to the present invention, the footwear sole has the following structure: Through holes ( 3 ) are disposed on the front portion of a base plate for retaining pressure rods ( 2 ), penetrating through a resilient compression plate ( 4 ) with which the back surface of the base plate ( 1 ) is backed, and covered with a bottom plate ( 5 ). The bottom of the base plate has a hard member in the position including the vicinity of the center of gravity. The base plate and the hard member may be integrally formed.  
      Preferably, a lever plate ( 10 ) is of movable structure with the rear end of the lever plate ( 10 ) being axially supported by a fulcrum axis ( 8 ). The lever plate ( 10 ) has an operating protrusion ( 9 ) being disposed in the vicinity of the center thereof so as to protrude downward from the base plate. Further, the lever plate ( 10 ) is disposed in a concave retraction portion ( 7 ) perforated on the backward lower surface, a heel portion, of the base plate ( 1 ) constituting a base portion of a group of the pressure rods ( 2 ). The lower end of a pressure rod ( 2   a ), being engagedly inserted into a through hole ( 3   a ) positioned at a therapeutic point on the arch of the foot, abuts on the top portion of action of the lever plate ( 10 ).  
      Further, the surface of the footwear base plate ( 1 ) having the through holes ( 3 ) perforated thereon with the pressure rods ( 2 ) being engagedly inserted and retained in the through holes ( 3 ), also including the surface of each pressure rod ( 2 ), is covered with a soft cover plate ( 11 ), so as to mitigate the stimulus caused by the pressure of the pressure rods ( 2 ).  
      Further, the surface of the base plate ( 1 ) is detachably covered with a clean thin-film sanitary sheet ( 12 ), using a magic tape, etc.  
      By modifying the thickness and the shape of the sole-shaped base plate ( 1 ), the base plate ( 1 ) may be used for footwear such as sandals with instep buckles, geta (Japanese wooden clogs) with straps, slippers and leather shoes.  
      According to the present invention, the pressure rod ( 2 ) is retained by the resilient compression plate ( 4 ), and accordingly, an amount of contraction of the resilient compression plate ( 4 ) produced during walk becomes an amount of protrusion of the pressure rod ( 2 ), and thus stimuli on the therapeutic point are repeated. The user can adjust the degree of the expansion and contraction of the resilient compression plate ( 4 ) according to the user&#39;s desire, by adjusting the transfer of the weight load during walk. Accordingly, the bodily sensation of the stimuli to the therapeutic point may be obtained effectively, so as to fit to the user&#39;s body condition.  
      Further, the rocking hard member ( 6 ) becomes a fulcrum of the fluctuation in the front portion of the base plate. This facilitates a rocking inclination of the base plate to the right and left, caused by a weight load transfer during walk. Each amount of variation in the protrusion of the pressure rod ( 2 ) is repeated with a time difference. The strength of the stimulus by each pressure rod ( 2 ) may be recognized by the user through the user&#39;s bodily sensation, and an effect may also be obtained when being used as sport footwear.  
      Since the pressure rod ( 2 ) positioned at the arch of the foot is structured so as to abut on the top portion of action having the operating protrusion ( 9 ) of the lever plate ( 10 ) located to the center thereof, the amount of protrusion of the pressure rod ( 2 ) becomes large. This produces an effect of strengthening the stimulus to the therapeutic point.  
      The soft cover plate ( 11 ) has an effect of mitigating the piercing pressure of the piercing end of the pressure rod ( 2 ). Also, the thin-film sanitary sheet ( 12 ) on the surface has an effect of keeping both the sole skin and the soft cover clean at all times.  
      Further scopes and features of the present invention will become more apparent by the following description of the embodiments with the accompanied drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a side sectional view of the footwear sole according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  shows a bottom plan view of the footwear sole according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  shows a side sectional view of a major portion of a first embodiment of the present invention when functioning.  
       FIG. 4  shows a side sectional view of a major portion of a first embodiment of the present invention when functioning.  
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a side sectional view and a bottom plan view of the footwear sole, respectively, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show transverse sectional views of the footwear sole according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 7A  shows a top plan view of the footwear sole according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 7B and 7C  show side sectional views of the footwear sole according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show transverse sectional views of the footwear sole according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  show diagrams illustrating exemplary configurations of a fluid storage portion in which fluid is confined.  
       FIG. 10  shows an explanation diagram illustrating distribution of a hard member and a resilient member provided on the bottom surface of the footwear sole. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter referring to the charts and drawings. However, it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.  
     First Embodiment  
       FIG. 1  shows a side sectional view of the footwear sole according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Also,  FIG. 2  shows a bottom plan view of the footwear sole according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the above  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a through hole ( 3 ) disposed on the front portion of a base plate ( 1 ) retaining each pressure rod ( 2 ) is structured so as to penetrate through a resilient compression plate ( 4 ) formed of foam rubber, or the like, with which the back surface of the base plate ( 1 ) is backed. Accordingly, when a load is applied on a base plate ( 1 ) during walk, with the center of gravity of the body being transferred forward, the resilient compression plate ( 4 ) is contracted by compression caused by the reaction force of a bottom plate ( 5 ) on which the base plate ( 1 ) is mounted. According to the deformation amount the resilient compression plate ( 4 ), the retained pressure rod ( 2 ) is protruded, and thereby a therapeutic point of the foot sole is stimulated. As such, depending on how much degree the body weight is applied, the protrusion amount of the pressure rod ( 2 ) is self-controlled, enabling adjustment of the stimulus strength to the therapeutic point caused by the weight load being transferred during walk, depending on the body condition of the user.  
       FIG. 4  shows a side sectional view of a major portion of the first embodiment of the present invention when the footwear sole functions. In this  FIG. 4 , a state such that the pressure rod ( 2 ) is protruded at the time the center of gravity of the body is transferred to the forward direction is shown.  
      Because the pressure rod ( 2 ) is retained by the resilient compression plate ( 4 ), the expansion and contraction of the resilient compression plate ( 4 ) produces repeated stimuli to the therapeutic point by moving the pressure rod ( 2 ) in and out. Therefore, as compared to the conventional pressure rod ( 2 ) which moves in and out caused by only a spring, it becomes possible not only to adjust the pressure strength, but also to obtain a bodily sensation fitting to the body condition of the user. Here, the bottom plate ( 5 ) is formed of a hard rubber. With protrusions or grooves added thereto, prevention of slipping can also be attained.  
      A rocking hard member ( 6 ) acts as a fulcrum of rocking to either the big toe side or the little toe side in the front portion of the base plate, facilitating rocking tilts in all directions, caused by a forward transfer of the center of gravity as a transferred body weight load during walk. Therefore, the user can self-recognize the stimulus strength produced by the pressure rod ( 2 ) through the bodily sensation, by which effectiveness as footwear for sport may be obtained.  
       FIG. 3  shows a side sectional view of a major portion of the first embodiment of the present invention when the footwear sole functions. In this  FIG. 3 , a state such that a pressure rod ( 2   a ) being disposed on the rear side of the foot sole is protruded when the center of gravity is transferred during walk is shown.  
      The rear end of a lever plate ( 10 ) is axially supported as a fulcrum axis ( 8 ), and an operating protrusion ( 9 ), functioning as a point of force applied on the lever plate ( 10 ), is disposed in the vicinity of the center of the lever plate ( 10 ). Further, the pressure rod ( 2   a ) positioned in the vicinity of the arch of the foot is formed so as to abut on the top portion of action (point of action). With the above structure, a large protrusion amount of the pressure rod ( 2   a ) is produced by the function of pushing up the operating protrusion ( 9 ) which is operated by a transfer of the center of gravity during walk. Thus, a strengthened stimulus to the therapeutic point can be obtained, as compared to the conventional lever plate in which the point of action is positioned between the fulcrum and the point of force applied.  
      A soft cover plate ( 11 ) also acts as a cushion, by which an effect of mitigating a piercing pressure at the piercing end of the pressure rod ( 2 ) may be obtained. Thus, it becomes possible to simplify the shape of the pressure rod ( 2 ). Further, a thin-film sanitary sheet ( 12 ) covering the surface of the soft cover plate ( 11 ) may be formed of a detachable sanitary sheet made of nonwoven fabric, or the like. With this, the sole skin may be prevented from directly touching the soft cover plate ( 11 ). By keeping on using repetitively after properly replacing the sanitary sheet by the new one when the sanitary sheet becomes soiled, the sole skin and the soft cover plate may always be kept clean.  
      By appropriately modifying the thickness and the shapes of the base plate ( 1 ) and the resilient compression plate ( 4 ), and by adding a variety of kinds of functions, the footwear sole according to the present invention can cope with a variety of footwear including sandals with instep buckles, geta with straps, slippers with top covers, canvas shoes and leather shoes.  
     Second Embodiment  
      Hereafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.  FIG. 5A  shows a side sectional view of the footwear sole according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5B  shows a bottom plan view thereof. In these  FIGS. 5A and 5B , in addition to the rocking hard member ( 6 ) formed of a hard member in the configuration of the above-mentioned first embodiment, another rocking hard member ( 13 ) is provided on the bottom surface side of the base plate ( 1 ), in the backward position of the rocking hard member ( 6 ). The hard member ( 13 ) may be of a protrusion shape, or a rectangular shape having long sides in the width (right and left) direction. The hard member ( 13 ) is disposed in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the base plate ( 1 ), so that the center of gravity thereof coincides with the center of gravity of the footwear sole. Preferably, a plurality of hard members ( 13 ) are provided in separate positions so as to be stable in an upright state. In  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the hard members ( 13 ) are provided in two positions, namely in the vicinity of the footwear sole and in the backward position thereof. With such a structure, the center of gravity of the footwear sole is considered to be located between the two hard members ( 13 ). However, it may also be possible to provide a hard member ( 13 ), having high stability with a certain width and length, directly at the position of the center of gravity. Further, the hard member ( 13 ) may be structured integrally with the rocking hard member ( 6 ). Namely, in principle, the rocking hard member ( 6 ) and the hard member ( 13 ) have an identical function of producing protrusion of the pressure rod by the inclination to the right and left, as well as by the forward and backward inclination. Accordingly, it may also be possible to incorporate the rocking hard member ( 6 ) as a portion of the hard member ( 13 ).  
      The width of the hard member ( 13 ) in the right and left direction is smaller than the width of the footwear sole. The outer circumference of the hard member ( 13 ) is surrounded by a resilient member ( 4 ) which is deformed by compression. On the resilient member ( 4 ) disposed at both the right and left sides of the hard member ( 13 ), the through holes ( 3 ) are provided, into which the pressure rods ( 2 ) are embedded. With this, the pressure rods ( 2 ) may be arranged in the whole circumference of the footwear sole. In addition to the case of the transfer of the center of gravity in the back and forth directions during walk, the pressure rods ( 2 ) are protruded also in case of inclination to the right and left. Thus, it becomes possible to recognize a transfer of the center of gravity in any directions, forward, backward, right and left, at all times. Further, it becomes possible to greatly increase the stimulus area of the footwear sole.  
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show transverse sectional views of the footwear sole according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 6A , a state that the footwear sole is neither tilted to the right nor to the left is shown. Meanwhile, in  FIG. 6B , there is shown a state such that the footwear sole is tilted to one direction, right or left, and the resilient member ( 4 ) is compressed in contrast to the hard member ( 13 ), and as a result, the pressure rod ( 2 ) disposed on the side of the hard member ( 13 ) becomes protruded.  
     Third Embodiment  
      A third embodiment of the present invention will be described hereafter.  FIG. 7A  show a top plan view of the footwear sole according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Also,  FIG. 7B, 7C  show side sectional views thereof. In this third embodiment, there is provided a fluid storage ( 14 ), in which a fluid such as air and gel substance is contained inside the footwear sole. When pushed up by the pressure rod ( 2 ), the fluid storage ( 14 ) is compressed and deformed. With a structure such that the deformed portion is protruded from the upper surface of the footwear sole, the foot sole is stimulated. Since the fluid causes the stimulus on the foot sole, the stimulus applied to the foot sole becomes softer and more comfortable, as compared to the stimulus directly produced by the hard pressure rod ( 2 ). Also, the propagation speed of the stimulus is adjustable according to the deformation speed of the fluid storage ( 14 ). More specifically, more comfortable stimuli may be applied by varying the degree of stimuli gradually and sustaining the stimuli so as to gradually affect the foot sole. Further, by optimally adjusting the protruding cross-sectional area of the fluid storage ( 14 ), it becomes possible to control the degree of stimuli. For example, when the cross-sectional area of the pressure rod ( 2 ) is formed larger, it becomes possible to diffuse the stimulus produced, as compared to the case of the pressure rod ( 2 ) directly stimulating the foot sole.  
      Additionally, in the footwear sole shown in  FIGS. 7A, 7B  and  7 C, the base plate ( 1 ) and the hard member ( 13 ) are formed integrally. In other words, the hard member ( 13 ) is structured so as to include the base plate ( 1 ). Needless to say, as shown in the second embodiment, it may also be possible to structure the base plate ( 1 ) separately from the hard member ( 13 ), so that the hard member ( 13 ) is mounted on the base plate ( 1 ).  
      The pressure rod ( 2 ) is embedded so as to penetrate through the resilient member ( 4 ) disposed on the whole circumference, front, rear, right and left, of the hard member ( 13 ) on the bottom surface of the footwear sole. The fluid storage ( 14 ) in which the fluid is contained is disposed in the vicinity of the upper portion of the pressure rod ( 2 ). Also, the pressure rod ( 2 ) penetrating through the resilient member ( 4 ) reaches the bottom surface of the fluid storage ( 14 ).  
       FIGS. 7B and 7C  show a diagram illustrating an A-A section shown in  FIG. 7A .  FIG. 7B  shows a stationary state in which the fluid storage ( 14 ) is not pushed up by the pressure rod ( 2 ) (a horizontal state).  FIG. 7C  shows a state such that the resilient member ( 4 ) is compressed by the forward transfer of the center of gravity, with the hard member ( 13 ) acting as fulcrum, and the pressure rod ( 2 ) pushes up the fluid storage ( 14 ), and thereby the fluid being contained in the fluid storage ( 14 ) is protruded from the upper surface of the footwear sole.  
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show transverse sectional views of the footwear sole according to the third embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a B-B section shown in  FIG. 7A .  FIG. 8A  shows a state such that the footwear sole is kept in a horizontal state, while  FIG. 8B  shows a state such that the footwear sole is tilted to the right and left directions. As shown in  FIG. 8B , when the footwear sole is inclined to the right and left, similarly to the case shown in  FIG. 7C , the resilient member ( 4 ) is compressed, with the hard member ( 13 ) acting as fulcrum, and the pressure rod ( 2 ) pushes up the fluid storage ( 14 ). As a result, the fluid being contained in the fluid storage ( 14 ) is protruded from the upper surface of the footwear sole.  
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  show diagrams illustrating an exemplary configuration of the fluid storage portion in which fluid is confined. The fluid storage ( 14 ) has two areas: V area and W area, each being formed of bellows shape. From a stationary state shown in  FIG. 9A , when the pressure rod ( 2 ) pushes up the bottom surface of the W area as a result of the transfer of the center of gravity, the W area is compressed as shown in  FIG. 9B , and the fluid stored in the W area moves to the V area. The bottom surface of the W area is formed of, for example, a hard plate, and when the pressure rod ( 2 ) pushes up a portion of the W area, the bottom surface as a whole moves upward. The upper surface position of the W area is fixed, and accordingly, when the bottom surface moves upward, the fluid in the W area moves into the V area being connected to the W area.  
      The V area is disposed in the footwear sole, which is expandable upward. Accordingly, the V area is expanded upward by the volume of the fluid being moved from the W area, and the volume corresponding to the expansion becomes protruded from the upper surface of the footwear sole. Additionally, in the state such that the fluid is not moved into the V area (namely, the state that the W area is not pushed up by the pressure rod ( 2 )), the upper surface of the V area remains substantially on the same height as the upper surface of the footwear.  
      As the material of the fluid storage ( 14 ), any kinds of materials are acceptable, as long as the material has an intensity enough to be tolerant to the compression and expansion. Also, the structure of the fluid storage ( 14 ) is not limited to the bellows shape, and is acceptable as long as being of elastic structure. Further, it is not necessary for the W area being adjacent to the V area. For example, it is acceptable even when both areas are connected with a movable tube, and are disposed apart from each other.  
       FIG. 10  shows an explanation diagram illustrating the distribution of the hard member and the resilient member provided on the bottom surface of the footwear sole. As having been illustrated in the second embodiment, in order to make it possible to stimulate the foot sole when the footwear sole is inclined to any direction, the hard member ( 13 ) is disposed in an area Y, the vicinity of the center of gravity (or the center area) of the footwear sole. Also, an area X surrounding the area Y is formed of the resilient member ( 4 ). The pressure rods ( 2 ) are embedded into the resilient member ( 4 ). In the upright and stationary state, the weight on the foot sole is concentrated to the vicinity of the center of gravity position, and the area Y receives the weight load. In response to the variation of the weight (the transfer of the center of gravity) of the foot sole corresponding to the walking or moving action, the weight load to the X area increases or decreases. The distribution of the X area and the Y area is not limited to the case illustrated in the figure. An optimal distribution shape may be applied depending on the use of the footwear, etc.  
      Further, as another embodiment, it may also be possible to structure in such a manner that the fluid storage ( 14 ) penetrates through the resilient member ( 4 ), so that the fluid storage ( 14 ) is pushed upward by the compression of the resilient member ( 4 ) caused by the transfer of the center of gravity, and as a result, the fluid storage ( 14 ) is protruded from the upper surface of the base plate ( 1 ). The above structure signifies that the fluid storage ( 14 ) is provided, and functions, as the pressure rod ( 2 ) in the first and the second embodiments. Namely, according to the present embodiment, the pressure rod ( 2 ) illustrated in the first and the second embodiments is replaced by the fluid storage ( 14 ) having the function similar to the pressure rod ( 2 ).  
      The foregoing description of the embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular details of the examples illustrated. Any suitable modification and equivalents may be resorted to the scope of the invention. All features and advantages of the invention which fall within the scope of the invention are covered by the appended claims.