Patent Publication Number: US-2023144081-A1

Title: Pad for strengthening muscle of sole of foot, and insole including same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a pad for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot and an insole including the same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Generally, foot stability can affect human upright posture and postural stability. When a foot is unstable, musculoskeletal disorders including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, ankle sprain, restriction of functional movement of a big toe, anterior cruciate ligament injury, and a backache may be caused so that plantar muscle strengthening exercises may be required to prevent these musculoskeletal disorders. 
     Human feet and legs have functional connections. That is, musculoskeletal complex including pelvis, knee, ankle, and foot are connected to each other so that foot stability can be transmitted to the pelvis. 
     Therefore, when suddenly walking or exercising after sitting for a long period of time, calf muscles or plantar muscles having lost their elasticity may become inflamed and painful due to an excessive load. When sitting for a long period of time, especially big muscles of the lower extremities, such as the buttocks and hamstrings, become weak. 
     When walking or exercising in this state, small calf muscles or plantar muscles are used, and thus the muscles becomes stiff and are excessively contracted so that pain may be caused. 
     Meanwhile, a foot intrinsic muscle is an important part that provides basic stabilization function for various factors of the foot and ankle joint and is responsible for a local stabilization function inside the foot and a dynamic support and control function, that is, a function of stably grounding the foot by optimizing a change in structure of the foot pressed against the ground while responding to various grounds and environments and a function of controlling an amount and a timing of muscle activation in the movement of the foot to properly respond to a situation and an environment. 
     In order to strengthen only the intrinsic muscles of the foot while toes are stabilized, Patent Document (entitled “An exercise apparatus for strengthening of a sole muscle” (patent registration number: 10-1951007)) has disclosed an exercise apparatus for strengthening a sole muscle which includes an anterior support, a rear support, a moving part, and a support part, thereby preventing musculoskeletal diseases. However, since the an exercise apparatus for strengthening of a sole muscle is formed in a sandal-type structure capable of being worn on the foot, it cannot be inserted into the insole which absorbs and buffers an impact from the sole of a shoe during walking, and reduces fatigue on a wearer&#39;s foot, and improves a feeling of wearing so that there are difficulties in practical commercialization. 
     Therefore, new technology development research, which can help to treat flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and hallux valgus by strengthening the intrinsic muscle movement of the foot through the insole and can perform correct walking, is urgently required. 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1951007 (registered on Feb. 15, 2019) 
       
    
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention is directed to providing a pad for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot, which can help to treat flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and hallux valgus by strengthening the intrinsic muscle movement of the foot and can perform walking correction, and an insole including the same. 
     Technical Solution 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a pad for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot, which includes an arch support part configured to support an arch portion, a forefoot support part formed in front of the arch support part and configured to support the forefoot portion, and a connecting passage part configured to connect between the arch support part and the forefoot support part, and wherein a load is applied to a rearfoot during walking, a weight moves to a forefoot portion through an outer side of the sole, and then metatarsal bones contact the forefoot support part and are stimulated to generate a driving force in a direction between a big toe and an index toe, thereby correcting walking. 
     In the present invention, a cushion material may be inserted into the pad. 
     In the present invention, an inside of the pad may be filled with a fluid to maintain a pressure. 
     In the present invention, an elastic force between the arch support part and the forefoot support part may be transmitted to each other through the connecting passage part. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides an insole including a bottom member, a cover member, and a pad for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot inserted and installed between the bottom member and the cover member, wherein the pad includes an arch support part configured to support an arch portion, a forefoot support part formed in front of the arch support part and configured to support the forefoot portion, and a connecting passage part configured to connect between the arch support part and the forefoot support part, and wherein a load is applied to a rearfoot during walking, a weight moves to a forefoot portion through an outer side of the sole, and then metatarsal bones contact the forefoot support part and are stimulated to generate a driving force in a direction between a big toe and an index toe, thereby correcting walking. 
     In the present invention, the arch support part may be formed to protrude upward to be rounded in an inside of the insole, thereby allowing an arch structure to be formed at an arch portion of the sole. 
     In the present invention, a body center control part may be formed to protrude upward to be rounded on an outer side of the insole, thereby limiting movement of the center of gravity of a body on the sole. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     In accordance with a pad for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot and an insole including the same according to the present invention, there is an effect capable of minimizing damage to the intrinsic muscle by allowing a point where a forefoot portion and first metatarsal bones are connected, that is, a head portion of lumbar spine of a toe to come into contact with a ground well based on a big toe. 
     In addition, since active movement of the intrinsic muscle of the foot is strengthened, the big toe is moved up, and thus an inner arch of the foot can be easily formed, thereby improving stability of the internal structure of the foot, there is an effect capable of correcting deformed feet due to hallux valgus and the like in a desirable shape. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an exemplary diagram illustrating a weight movement direction of a sole of a foot during walking. 
         FIG.  2    is an exemplary diagram illustrating a disease that may occur when an intrinsic muscle of a toe is not activated. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating a pad for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view illustrating an insole in which the pad for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot is inserted and installed according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view illustrating the insole of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  6    is a bottom view illustrating a bottom surface of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  7    is a side view illustrating a side surface of  FIG.  4   . 
     
    
    
     MODES OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. 
     Prior to describing the present invention, as indicated by an arrow direction of A→B→C shown in an exemplary diagram of  FIG.  1    illustrating a weight movement direction of a sole during walking, it is ideal that a weight should be distributed toward the big toe through an outer side of the sole of the foot and a forefoot from the heel. 
     However, when it becomes a state in which stability pressed against the sole from the outer side to an inner side of the foot is not controlled, the foot becomes unstable to cause misalignment of the pelvis and abnormal structural deformation so that lack of the stability of the foot causes pain and damage to the entire leg. 
     Diseases due to the lack of the stability include plantar fasciitis, functional hallux limitus-rididus, Achilles tendinitis, chronic ankle instability-ankle sprain, an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and low back pain. 
     In addition, referring to the exemplary diagram of  FIG.  2    illustrating a disease that may occur when the intrinsic muscle of the toe is not activated, when active movement of the intrinsic muscle of the toe is not performed properly, Achilles tendinitis, posterior tibial tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, blisters (vesicles), and toe bruises occur. 
     According to the present invention, in order to prevent the above diseases, by ideally inducing a weight movement path while strengthening movement of the intrinsic muscle of the foot during walking, a pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole, which is inserted between a bottom member  11  and a cover member  12  constituting an insole  10  so as to help to treat flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and hallux valgus and to perform desirable correct walking, is proposed. 
     In this regard,  FIG.  3    is a perspective view illustrating the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot according to the present invention,  FIG.  4    is a perspective view illustrating the insole  10  in which the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot is inserted and installed according to the present invention,  FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view illustrating the insole  10  of  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  6    is a bottom view illustrating a bottom surface of  FIG.  4   , and  FIG.  7    is a side view illustrating a side surface of  FIG.  4   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  to  7   , The pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot of the present invention includes an arch support part  110 , a forefoot support part  120 , and a connecting passage part  130  and is characterized in that a load is applied to a rearfoot during walking, a weight moves to a forefoot portion through an outer side of the sole, and then metatarsal bones contact the forefoot support part  120  and are stimulated, and thus a vector is changed in a direction between a big toe and an index toe to generate a driving force, thereby correcting walking. 
     In this case, a soft cushion material  100   b  may be inserted into a protective member  100   a  constituting an exterior of the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot, and an example of the cushion material  100   b  includes polyurethane foam. When being grounded to the ground during walking due to the cushion material  100   b  inserted into the protective member  100   a , buffering and a cushioning feeling may be provided to the insole  10 . In some cases, an inside of the protective member  100   a  of the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot may be filled with a fluid instead of the polyurethane foam to maintain a pressure. That is, the fluid including one or more of a gas (e.g., O 2  or N 2 ) and a liquid may form a pneumatic pressure or a hydraulic pressure. 
     In the present invention, the arch support part  110  is a component for supporting an arch portion. The arch support part  110  is disposed inside the insole  10  to be placed at a position corresponding to an arch portion of a wearer and is formed to be rounded outward to a front side from a first arch line  111  and an end thereof extending along an inner line of the sole to activate the intrinsic muscles of the foot during walking, thereby helping a formation of the arch portion. 
     In the present invention, the forefoot support part  120  is a component formed in front of the arch support part  110  and configured to support a forefoot portion. The forefoot support part  120  may be formed to be connected to the arch support part  110  through the connecting passage part  130 . The forefoot support part  120  may include a first forefoot support line  121  formed to extend from a first connection line  131  of the connecting passage part  130 , a second forefoot support line  122  formed to be bent at an end portion of the first forefoot support line  121 , a third forefoot support line  123  formed to be bent again at an end portion of the second forefoot support line  122 , and a fourth forefoot support line  124  formed to be bent inward at an end portion of the third forefoot support line  123  and connected to a second connection line  132  of the connecting passage part  130 . 
     In the present invention, the connecting passage part  130  is a component for connecting between the arch support part  110  and the forefoot support part  120 . Specifically, the arch support part  110  is formed at one end of the connecting passage part  130 , and the forefoot support part  120  is formed at the other end of the connecting passage part  130 . More specifically, the connecting passage part  130  includes the first connection line  131  formed to extend from the first arch line  111  of the arch support part  110 , and the second connection line  132  formed to extend from the second arch line  112  of the arch support part  110 , thereby allowing a transfer of an elastic force between the arch support part  110  and the forefoot support part  120 . 
     Here, referring to  FIG.  3   , during walking, when a weight is moved on the sole to reach a boundary point P corresponding to an edge portion between the third forefoot support line  123  and the fourth forefoot support line  124 , as a vector is changed in a direction of the big toe or in a direction between the big toe and the index toe, the big toe is lifted to obtain a propulsive force. 
     When the vector in which a weight transfer turns in the direction of the big toe through the outer side of the foot from the heel is not changed during walking, and when the ankle is severely twisted or sprained, ankle sprains or falling may occur due to damage to the ligaments supporting the ankle joint. 
     Accordingly, since exercise or force control to move a muscle is more important than strengthening the intrinsic muscle of the foot among the intrinsic foot exercise, the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot according to the present invention may serve as a point marker as a stimulation point. 
     In particular, referring to  FIGS.  5  to  7   , an upwardly rounded arch support part  13  may be formed to protrude from a position corresponding to the arch portion of the wearer in the bottom member  11  constituting the insole  10 . 
     That is, the arch support part  13  having cushioning relative to a bottom surface of the bottom member  11  through air or the like is formed at the position corresponding to the arch portion inside the bottom member  11  so that it is possible to support the inner side of the foot, help to form an arch inside the foot, and prevent deformation to a flat foot. 
     In addition, the major cause of ankle sprains is sprains due to internal bleeding. In the outer side of the bottom member  11  constituting the insole  10 , through a body center control part  14  due to an ergonomic design allowing a portion opposite to the arch support part  13  to be formed to be high upward, after an impact is absorbed from the heel during walking and before the core of weight is moved to the outer side, sprains may be prevented and, simultaneously, the core of weight may be moved in directions of the big toe and the index finger. 
     In this way, only the structure of the insole  10  is able to stably support the sole of the foot so that a synergistic effect with the role of the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot can be achieved. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , it can be seen that a height of the body center control part  14  is relatively lower than a height of the arch support part  13  based on an upper surface of the bottom member  11 . When the height of the body center control part  14  is formed to be relatively higher than the height of the arch support part  13 , it is not preferable because a weight movement of the sole of the foot may be biased to the inside during walking. 
     For reference, since the cover member  12  coupled to the bottom member  11  may be made of a flexible fabric material, the cover member  12  can be suitably coupled to a curved and rounded shape of the bottom member  11 . 
     As described above, the present invention relates to the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot and an insole  10  including the same, and the present invention is characterized in that the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot, which includes the arch support part  110  configured to support the arch portion, the forefoot support part  120  formed in front of the arch support part  110  and configured to support the forefoot portion, and the connecting passage part  130  configured to connect between the arch support part  110  and the forefoot support part  120 , is inserted and installed in the insole  10 . 
     In this way, since the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot is inserted and installed in the insole  10 , the big toe is allowed to be moved up outward between the big toe and the index toe during walking. As described above, the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot, which is inserted and installed between the bottom member  11  and the cover member  12  of the insole  10 , enables active movement of the foot intrinsic muscle to facilitate the formation of the arch which is the inner arch of the foot so that there is an advantage of capable of performing correction just by walking of a foot which has been deformed due to hallux valgus. 
     In addition, since the pelvis, knee, ankle, and foot are functionally connected and thus the stability of the foot transmits the influence to the pelvis, the pad  100  for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot according to the present invention promotes activation of the intrinsic muscle of the foot in various ground conditions, such as gravel fields and rope riding, and changes the structure of the foot to form an arch appropriately and adhere the sole to the ground maximally and stably so that it has a great meaning in that dynamic stability can be achieved. 
     Although the embodiments have been described with reference to illustrative embodiments of the technical spirit of the present invention, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments disclosed herein, therefore, are not to be taken in a sense for limiting the technical concept of the present disclosure but for explanation thereof, and the range of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention should be construed by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               10 : insole 
               11 : bottom member 
               12 : cover member 
               13 : arch support part 
               14 : body center control part 
               100 : pad for strengthening a muscle of a sole of a foot 
               100   a : protective member 
               100   b : cushion material 
               110 : arch support part 
               111 : first arch line 
               112 : second arch line 
               120 : forefoot support part 
               121 : first forefoot support line 
               122 : second forefoot support line 
               123 : third forefoot support line 
               124 : fourth forefoot support line 
               130 : connecting passage part 
               131 : first connection line 
               132 : second connection line 
             P: boundary point