SHOE INSERT AND SHOE

Abstract

A shoe insert for a shoe, and a shoe with a shoe bed, constructed to receive a foot, include a substantially rigid stiffening region which includes at least a region of the shoe insert (or foot bed) extending substantially diagonally from a talus and a navicular bone to at least one of metatarsal heads IV and V of the received foot, wherein the stiffening region is arched toward a sole of the foot in a region of the talus and the navicular bone of the received foot, and a raised region which is raised with respect to a contact surface of a metatarsophalangeal joint of the received foot and which extends at least in a region from a metatarsal head III to the metatarsal head V of the received foot.

Description

The invention relates to a shoe insert and a shoe, and in particular a shoe insert and a shoe which stabilize the foot during the pedaling motion and thereby increase the pedaling power.

The foot is the main contact point with a bicycle during cycling. Physical power is converted into forward motion at the interface foot-cycling shoe-cleat-pedals. During the transfer of power, torsions are generated in all areas of the foot (upper, lower ankle, metatarsal and forefoot), whereby force is deflected into the horizontal plane, so that the force is the no longer available for the forward motion via the pedals. Power is hence lost.

Specifically, the force produced by the muscles (hip flexors/extensors, hamstring/leg extension, calf muscles) and affecting propulsion is transferred via the tibia and fibula bones to the ankle bone (talus). This is the point where the first major power loss occurs, because the ankle bone buckles inward (pronation) (see FIG. 1b). The weaker the muscles and ligaments, the greater is the loss of force due to friction. Torsions occur even under optimal conditions, since pronation is a natural damping mechanism. However, this damping mechanism is not necessary when cycling, because the impact load from the body weight is absent, making damping unnecessary.

The force is transferred to the metatarsophalangeal joint via the metatarsal bones of the foot. The problem here occurs that large concentrated (point) forces are produced, because four other toe joints exist in addition to the metatarsophalangeal joint, which are loaded significantly less.

The prior art discloses various shoe inserts, in particular orthopedic shoe inserts or insoles. For example, the international patent application WO 02/49472 A1 discloses a shoe sole with an arch plate, wherein the arch plate can be arched in the region of the metatarsal bone between the heel region and the bunion.

The international patent application WO 2007/057626 A1 describes an inherent power plate which supports the foot through an arch in the region of talus and navicular bone.

Another shoe insert for athletic shoes is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,147 A. It is proposed to raise the shoe insert in the heel and toe region in relation to the metatarsal bone.

The German utility model DE 20 2006 002 991 U1 describes an orthopedic shoe insert designed particularly for severely arched feet. More particularly, this shoe insert is characterized in that it is typically constructed as a short insert or a half insert, which predominantly does not include the forefoot.

Another shoe insert is described in the published patent application DE 10 2006 044 026 A1. This shoe insole is characterized in that it is equipped with pads having an arrangement that affects the foot muscles of a subject, such that a foot position that is different from the normal foot position is corrected by the body's own sensory motor system while walking.

The publication DE 111 74 44 A relates to a shoe with an orthopedic insert. The orthopedic insert is combined with an x-shaped elastic spring.

In particular, the known solutions have a disadvantage in that power continues to be lost between the talus and toe joints while cycling.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shoe insert and a shoe, which obviate the disadvantages of the prior art and which more particularly improve force transmission from the foot to the pedal axis.

This object is attained with the invention by the features of claims 1 and 8. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are recited in the dependent claims.

According to a particular advantage of the shoe insert of the present invention, the force is distributed uniformly onto the metatarsus, such that the pedal axle is at least substantially uniformly loaded over the entire width of the forefoot. This is achieved in that the shoe insert has a stiffening area which extends, when the foot is placed, substantially diagonally from the talus and the navicular bone to the lateral edge of the forefoot, especially the area of the metatarsal heads IV and/or V. According to a preferred embodiment of the inventive shoe insert, the stiffening region is formed as a contiguous region. The stiffening region serves as strong metatarsal support. The stiffening region can be rigid or substantially rigid, but is advantageously not constructed to be completely rigid, but to have a small flexibility. According to the invention, the stiffening region has in the region of talus and navicular bone a curvature facing the sole of the foot when the foot is placed. In addition, according to the invention, the shoe insert causes an inclined position of the foot in the region of the metatarsal heads such that the lateral edge of the forefoot, in particular the metatarsal heads IV and/or V, are raised relative to the medial border of the forefoot, especially relative to the metatarsophalangeal joint. According to the invention, the shoe insert has a raised region which rises up from the metatarsal head III to the metatarsal head V when the foot is placed. Preferably, the increase from the medial edge to the lateral edge of the forefoot is at least substantially linear. However, the shoe insert may also be arched in the region of the metatarsal heads against the foot sole or against the shoe sole, as long as only the laterally located metatarsal heads, i.e., particularly the metatarsal heads IV and/or V, are raised relative to the medially located metatarsal heads, especially relative to the metatarsophalangeal joint. The lateral edge of the forefoot may, for example, be raised by reinforcing the shoe insert in this region in form of a wedge.

Preferably, the shoe insert is designed so that the rising region is located under the metatarsal heads when the foot is placed. Particularly preferred is an embodiment where the rising portion extends in the center between the metatarsal head I and the metatarsal head V. This is the region underneath which ideally the pedal axis extends. In a preferred embodiment of the shoe insert, the rising portion is constructed on top of the line of the pedal axle. In a preferred embodiment (depending on shoe size), the rising portion has along the pedal axle a width of about 10 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the metatarsal heads V is located about 1.5 to 4 mm, preferably about 2 to 3.5 mm, higher than the metatarsal head I. Preferably, the shoe insert thus rises in the region of the metatarsal head laterally by approximately 1.5 to 4 mm, preferably by about 2 to 3.5 mm. The rising portion is preferably anteriorly and posteriorly flat. These measurements apply to a situation where a certain pressure, for example generated by a placed foot, is exerted on the insole, and soft materials such as fabric, foam and the like are depressed.

According to another preferred embodiment, a flat preferably kidney-shaped pad is disposed on the shoe insert under the metatarsal heads II to IV. Furthermore, the shape of the shoe insert is matched exactly to the size of the shoe insole.

According to another preferred embodiment, the shoe insert is constructed as an insole.

The invention further relates to a shoe with an integrated shoe insert constructed according to the invention. The foot bed of the shoe is thus formed, for example, in the same manner as the inventive shoe insert, i.e., the foot bed of the shoe has a stiffening region which includes at least a portion of the foot bed and which, when the foot is placed, extends substantially diagonally from the talus and the navicular bone to the metatarsal heads IV and/or V, wherein the stiffening region is arched against the sole of the foot in the region of talus and navicular bone, when the foot is placed, and the foot bed has a raised region which rises at least in the region from the metatarsal head III to the metatarsal head V, when the foot is placed.

The inventive shoe insert provides a strong, yet flexible metatarsal support, which has the highest point in the region of the talus and the navicular bone. This prevents medial twisting of the foot. The entire metatarsal region is stabilized and a typical pathological load during cycling, namely the distribution of the main pressure from the forces acting on the metatarsophalangeal joint, is reduced. With the inventive shoe insert, the force is evenly distributed across all regions of the metatarsus. The foot is thus raised along the pedal axle (the ideal position of the pedal and cleat position under the foot is the intersection of a connecting line between metatarsal heads I and V exactly in the middle of the forefoot). This prevents a lateral excursion of the foot, for example, when riding out of the saddle.

The shoe insert according to the invention is specifically designed for cycling and therefore differs fundamentally from inserts designed for running. For clarity, the different movement patterns and the resulting requirements for both situations will be briefly explained:

The movement pattern during walking or running is divided into three phases:

Landing phase: During the landing phase, the heel bone sets down in a slight supination position of the foot on the outer edge.

Main support phase: The entire foot is in contact with the ground. The main support phase is associated with a physiological pronation movement.

Push-off phase: This develops maximum pressure under the metatarsal heads II and III. Rolling off occurs via the metatarsophalangeal joint. The push-off phase is associated with torsion within the tarsus, forefoot pronation and rear foot supination.

The movement pattern during the pedaling cycle can also be divided into three phases:

Thrust phase (top/bottom dead center): The foot is brought forward/backward to the starting position for an effective propulsion position. This phase is unimportant for propulsion.

Pressure phase: The pressure phase is the most important phase of the force transmission, having a share of about 70% of the propulsion. Maximum force is attained at about 90° to 130° of the pedal position.

Pull phase: The pull phase has a share of about 70% of the propulsion. In the pull phase, the pressure phase of the other leg is supported.

The focus of force transmission during cycling is maximum fixation of the foot during pedaling. In competitive cycling, the soles of cycling shoes are therefore, if possible, completely torsion-stiff. Carbon is standard as a stiffening material for the cycling shoe cleat. Unlike the walking/running shoe, the sole must not be flexible, since the foot should be fixed in position at the maximum—from below by way of the stiffened sole of the cycling shoe for the pressure phase and from above by way of a tight fit (buckles, ratchets . . . ) for the pull phase in the pedaling cycle. The goal is the complete “stiffening” of the foot by the cycling shoe so as to prevent loss of power due to shear forces. Another particular feature is the connection of the foot/shoe with the bicycle by way of toe clips which are connected with the shoe over 2-3 cm in the forefoot. The cycling shoe should actually be regarded more as an orthotic that fixes the foot (from the lower ankle on).

According to the invention, the lateral edge of the forefoot is raised relative to the medial edge. Advantageously, the foot may be raised continuously in the region of the metatarsal heads, preferably substantially linear, from the metatarsal head I to the metatarsal head V. Raising the forefoot may also be limited to the region of the metatarsal heads III to V.

The cycling insert has the function of additionally stabilizing the foot in the shoe and allowing only the least possible movement.

The movement of the body and the function of the shoe are different when walking/running and when cycling, so that the functionality of the inserts also differs.

This leads to important properties of the inventive shoe insert. A cycling shoe insert is formed so that the foot has as much contact as possible with the insert, i.e., substantially over the entire sole of the foot. A cycling shoe insert is always formed as a long sole in order to stabilize the foot as much as possible. To prevent torsion of the foot when most optimally transmitting power, the cycling shoe insert has a strong support at the elevation for the navicular bone and a slight elevation at the outer edge of the foot.

Optimal power transfer to the pedal is achieved by

• • preventing bending of the foot by a stable elevation in the region of the talus and the navicular bone,
  • distributing force transmission to the entire forefoot through a stable inclination of the forefoot (in the region of the metatarsal heads) by raising the lateral region relative to the medial region of the forefoot, and preventing the forefoot from breaking out laterally.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the figures of the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1a, 1b illustrate the effect of the shoe insert for preventing medial rotation of the foot;

FIG. 2 illustrates the exemplary arrangement of a wedge for implementing the rising region;

FIG. 3 illustrates the course of the pedal axle underneath the foot;

FIG. 4 illustrates the inclination of the metatarsal heads;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the pedaling cycle; and

FIG. 6 schematic illustrates an exemplary cycling insert.

An example embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a cycling insert 100. However, the invention is not limited to cycling inserts 100, but includes, for example, also insoles or shoes with a built-in shoe insert, as long as these have only the features of the independent claims.

Improvement in the power transmission from the foot to the pedal axle 110 is attained with the cycling insert 100. In particular, shear forces (rear foot-forefoot) are reduced by the stiffening region 120 of the cycling insert 100. Force transmission during the pedaling cycle then becomes more efficient, thereby minimizing improper loading as well as overloading of the musculoskeletal system.

The stiffening portion 120 operates as a strong, yet flexible metatarsal support, which has the highest and strongest point 130 in the region of the talus and the navicular bone, thus preventing medial inward rotation of the foot (see FIGS. 1a and 1b). In an exemplary embodiment, the lateral edge of the forefoot (metatarsal heads III, IV, V) is raised by a wedge 140. This counteracts the typical improper loading during pedaling, namely distribution of the major pressure from the forces acting on the metatarsophalangeal joint caused by bending of the ankle and inward rotation of the entire leg axis. The power is distributed more uniformly across the metatarsal heads by raising the metatarsal heads (V, IV, III) (see FIG. 4). The pedal axle 110 extends in the center between the metatarsal head I and the metatarsal head V (see FIG. 3).

Raising the lateral edge of the wedge 140 serves as a boundary and prevents the foot from breaking out laterally, for example, when cycling out of the saddle (cycling in a standing position) and/or during the pull phase of pedaling cycle (see FIG. 5).

The embodiment of the invention is not limited to the aforementioned preferred exemplary embodiments. Instead, a number of variants may be considered that make use of the inventive arrangement and the inventive method even with fundamentally different embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 100 Cycling insert
• 110 Pedal axle
• 120 Stiffening region
• 130 Highest and strongest point
• 140 Wedge

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A shoe insert for a shoe constructed to receive a foot, the shoe insert comprising:

a substantially rigid stiffening region which includes at least a region of the shoe insert extending substantially diagonally from a talus and a navicular bone to at least one of metatarsal heads IV and V of the received foot, wherein the stiffening region is arched toward a sole of the foot in a region of the talus and the navicular bone of the received foot, and

a raised region which is raised with respect to a contact surface of a metatarsophalangeal joint of the received foot and which extends at least in a region from a metatarsal head III to the metatarsal head V of the received foot.

11. The shoe insert of claim 10, wherein the raised region is formed in regions of metatarsal heads of the received foot.

12. The shoe insert of claim 10, wherein the raised region is formed at least in a region of a connecting line connecting metatarsal heads I and V of the received foot.

13. The shoe insert of claim 12, wherein the raised region extends approximately 5 mm on both sides of the connecting line.

14. The shoe insert of claim 10, wherein a pronation wedge causes the raised region to be raised in the region from a metatarsal head III to the metatarsal head V of the received foot.

15. The shoe insert of claim 10, wherein a lateral edge of the shoe insert is raised in a region of a forefoot with respect to a medial border of the shoe insert by approximately 1.5 to 4 mm.

16. The shoe insert of claim 10, wherein the shoe insert is constructed as an insole.

17. A shoe constructed to receive a foot, the shoe comprising a foot bed with:

a substantially rigid stiffening region which includes at least a region of the foot bed extending substantially diagonally from a talus and a navicular bone to at least one of metatarsal heads IV and V of the received foot, wherein the stiffening region is arched toward a sole of the foot in a region of the talus and the navicular bone of the received foot, and

a raised region which is raised with respect to a contact surface of a metatarsophalangeal joint of the received foot at least in a region from a metatarsal head III to the metatarsal head V of the received foot.

18. The shoe according to claim 17, wherein the shoe comprises a cleat disposed underneath the raised region.