SHOE OUTSOLE FOR DECREASING KNEE ADDUCTION MOMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to an outsole for decreasing a knee adduction moment that has a front foot portion and a rear foot portion having different inclined angles corresponding to the knee adduction moments generated differently during walking operations in which a user's outsole contacts the ground, that is, standing, grounding and jumping operations, so that the knee adduction moments are decreased in accordance with the characteristics of the walking operations, thus adjusting bow legs or knock-knees, releasing and further preventing the pain of the knee joints, efficiently releasing the impact applied to the knee upon climbing mountains, and maintaining stable posture upon golf swing operation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an outsole for decreasing a knee adduction moment for general shoes, such as, knee joint-protecting shoes, hiking shoes, walking shoes, golf shoes, and so on, and more particularly, to an outsole for decreasing a knee adduction moment that has a front foot portion and a rear foot portion having different inclined angles corresponding to the knee adduction moments generated differently during walking operations in which a user's outsole contacts the ground, that is, standing, grounding and jumping operations, so that the knee adduction moments are decreased in accordance with the characteristics of the walking operations, thus efficiently releasing and preventing the pain of the user's knee and ankle, reducing the impacts applied to the user's knee and ankle upon climbing mountains, and adjusting the user's golf swing operation to allow him or her to maintain stable swing posture.

2. Background of the Related Art

Human bodies walking upright support their almost weight through their knee joints, and accordingly, the knee joints are weak for osteoarthritis. The osteoarthritis generated on the knee means degenerative arthritis on the cartilage of knee joints, and if excessive loads are repeatedly applied to the cartilage of knee joints, that is, the degenerative arthritis occurs on the cartilage of knee joints.

If the body stands by feet during walking, generally, the center line of the body's weight is passed through the center between the feet, so that the load applied to the inside of the knee joint is larger than that to the outside thereof. Further, if the body stands by a foot during walking, the repulsive force against the ground by the body's weight is eccentrically generated from the center of the knee to the inside of the body. When the body stands by a foot, accordingly, the load, which is larger than that when the body stands by feet is applied toward the inside of the knee. When the body stands by a foot, that is, a knee adduction moment, which is a rotary force rotating the leg inward to allow the inside of the knee to be compressed, is larger than that when the body stands by feet. Particularly, the impact applied to the knee joints upon climbing is larger than that upon general walking, and accordingly, the knee adduction moment is more increased upon climbing.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the generation of knee adduction moment from a general shoe, and the knee adduction moment M1 generated from the general shoe is obtained by the following mathematical expression 1.

M1=d1×F  Mathematical expression 1

In this expression 1, M1 indicates the knee adduction moment generated when a general shoe is worn, d1 a length of a moment arm as a vertical distance between a line of action of a repulsive force from the ground and the center of a knee, and F a repulsive force against the ground generated upon walking.

So as to solve load deflection in which the load applied to the inside of the knee is larger than that to the outside of the knee and to distribute the load applied to the knee, in conventional practice, a wedge is attached to the inner sole or the underside of the outsole of a shoe to allow a user's foot and leg to be inclined inward, thus moving the user's knee inward.

Since the user's foot slips inward, however, a shearing force is generated from the shoe, and further, an excessive force is given to avoid the slipping of his or her foot, which undesirably applies relatively large load to the inside of the foot and the knee of the user.

So as to overcome the above-mentioned problems, accordingly, there have been developed technologies for decreasing the knee adduction moment through the movement of the center of the repulsive force on the outsole of the shoe against the ground, but the technologies do not consider that knee adduction moments are generated differently during walking operations in which the user's outsole contacts the ground, that is, standing, grounding and jumping operations. In more detail, they do not consider that the knee adduction moment generated from the heel portion of a rear foot portion upon standing is different from that from the metatarsal heads of a front foot portion upon jumping and that the height of the outsole of the front foot portion is generally lower than that of the rear foot portion. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the sizes of knee adduction moment generated during walking operations like standing, grounding and jumping after the general shoe is worn. In the knee adduction moments generated during the walking operations, as shown in FIG. 3, the knee adduction moment generated from the heel portion of the rear foot portion is different from that from the metatarsal heads of the front foot portion, and at this time, the knee adduction moments generated from the rear foot portion and the front foot portion are large. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the moving distance relation of the outsole underside surface according to the height of the outsole and the angle between one side surface of the outsole and the outside ground of the outsole. As shown in FIG. 11, a moving distance δ of the underside surface of the outsole is varied in proportion to the height of the outsole, and if the angles between one side surface of the outsole and the outside ground of the outsole in the front and rear foot portions are the same as each other, the moving distance δ of the underside surface of the outsole of the front foot portion having the low height of the outsole is shorter than that of the rear foot portion. The moving distance δ of the underside surface of the outsole is obtained by the following expression: δ=tan(γ)×h, wherein δ indicates a moving distance of the underside surface of the outsole, γ an angle between one side surface of the outsole and the outside ground of the outsole, and h a height of the outsole. Further, there is another problem that over-pronation occurs in the rear foot portion so that the user's heel upon standing is excessively inclined inward, and the shape of the longitudinal section of the outsole of the rear portion of the shoe is inclined inward or outward, thus making a consumer who wants to wear the shoe feel reluctant in wearing. When legs stretch to stand on the ground during normal walking, generally, the tibia below the knee rotates outward (that is, upon the user's walking, his or her right leg rotates in a clockwise direction and his or her left leg rotates in a counterclockwise direction) to allow the load of the knee joints to be reduced, thus decreasing the knee adduction moments, which is called ‘Screw Home Movement’. However, if the knees become badly functioned and the soft movements of the knee joints are damaged, the tibia below the knee does not rotate outward well, thus causing pain on the knee and developing degenerative arthritis. If a patient having the degenerative arthritis stretches his or her legs to stand on the ground, the tibia below the knee reversely rotates inward to make the pain on the knee get worse, and especially, in case of an in-toeing patient, the distance between his or her knees is more open than that between the normal walker's knees, thus increasing the knee adduction moments. When his or her legs stretch to stand on the ground during the walking operation, accordingly, there is a need for development of a function for inducing the outward rotation of the tibia below the knee.

In case of golf, swing is an operation for striking a ball by a golf club with a centrifugal force generated from a golfer far away. So as to improve the centrifugal force, it is important that the rotational movement of the upper body of the golfer is efficiently conducted and the lower body is also stably supported. The preparation posture of the golfer, that is, the address state where he or she stands to contact his or her golf club with the ground, causes the center of his or her weight to be collected to the inside of his or her outsoles, and in this case, the movement of his or her lower body is prevented to maintain the balance of the body upon back swing or down swing, so that stable swing balance is kept to send the golf ball accurately.

Upon the back swing or down swing in the address state, however, the soles of his or her feet push toward the outside of the golf shoes, and accordingly, his or her lower body moves to cause the swing track to be not constant, thus making the whole swing operation unstable. Especially, if his or her knees are open physically, the above-mentioned problems may become more serious.

In this case, accordingly, there is a need for the development of golf shoes capable of moving the center of a repulsive force against the ground outward to prevent a force from being collected toward the inside of the knees and suppress the feet from being pushed toward the outside of the body, thus maintaining the lower body stably upon the addressing operation or the swing operations connected to back swing, down swing, impact, follow through, and finishing.

Accordingly, there is a definite need for the development of a technology capable of overcoming the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an outsole for decreasing a knee adduction moment that considers the differences among the walking operation characteristics of the human body, that is, standing, grounding and jumping and the difference between the heights of a front foot portion and a rear foot portion thereof, thus controlling over-pronation of the rear foot portion, reducing a consumer's reluctance in a design view thereof, efficiently releasing and preventing the pain of a user's knee and ankle, reducing the impacts applied to the user's knee and ankle upon his or her walking or climbing, and adjusting his or her golf swing operation to allow him or her to maintain stable swing posture.

To accomplish the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an outsole of a shoe for decreasing a knee adduction moment, the outsole including: a front foot portion formed on a front portion thereof as a region corresponding to the front portion of a user's foot; an intermediate foot portion extended from the front foot portion; and a rear foot portion extended from the intermediate foot portion, as a region corresponding to the rear portion of the user's foot, wherein at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal sections of the front foot portion and the rear foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is not formed at 90°, while an angle between any one side surface of the inner and outer surfaces and the outside ground of the outsole is being smaller than the angle between the other side surface opposite to one side surface and the outside ground of the outsole, and wherein a maximum value in the angles between the inner surface of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is different from a maximum value in the angles between the inner surface of the rear foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole, and a maximum value in the angles between the outer surface of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is different from a maximum value in the angles between the outer surface of the rear foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole.

According to the present invention, desirably, at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is not formed at 90°, an angle between any one surface of the inner and outer surfaces of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is smaller than an angle between the other side surface opposite to one side surface and the outside ground of the outsole, and a space portion or a low hardness member having lower hardness than the outsole of the shoe is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to one side surface of at least a portion of the longitudinal surface of the front foot portion or the rear foot portion in a direction of one side surface having the small angle in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole.

According to the present invention, desirably, at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is smaller than 90°, an angle between any one surface of the inner and outer surfaces of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is smaller than an angle between the other side surface opposite to one side surface and the outside ground of the outsole, and both side surfaces of the longitudinal section of the rear foot portion are not inclined in the same direction as one side surface having the small angle in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole.

According to the present invention, desirably, at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is smaller than 90°, an angle between any one surface of the inner and outer surfaces of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is smaller than an angle between the other side surface opposite to one side surface and the outside ground of the outsole, both side surfaces of the longitudinal section of the rear foot portion are not inclined in the same direction as one side surface having the small angle in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole, and a space portion or a low hardness member having lower hardness than the outsole of the shoe is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to one side surface of at least a portion of the longitudinal surface of the rear foot portion in a direction of one side surface having the small angle in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole, the space portion or the low hardness member being formed or located at the bottom or center of the side surface portion of the outsole.

To accomplish the above object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an outsole of a shoe for decreasing a knee adduction moment, the outsole including: a front foot portion formed on a front portion thereof as a region corresponding to the front portion of a user's foot; an intermediate foot portion extended from the front foot portion; and a rear foot portion extended from the intermediate foot portion, as a region corresponding to the rear portion of the user's foot, wherein a high gravity member is insertedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the front surface and at least a portion of the outer surface of the front foot portion of the outsole or an upper of the shoe, and a space portion or a low gravity member is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the rear surface and at least a portion of the inner surface of the rear foot portion of the outsole.

According to the present invention, desirably, the angle between the inner surface of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is smaller than the angle between the outer surface of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole, so that the outsole is worn for a user having bow legs.

According to the present invention, desirably, the angle between the outer surface of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is smaller than the angle between the inner surface of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole, so that the outsole is worn for a user having knock-knees.

To accomplish the above object, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an outsole of a shoe for decreasing a knee adduction moment or a knee abduction moment, the outsole including: an outward or inward moving member or an outward or inward moving space portion or member from the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole against the ground fixedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the underside surface of the outsole contacted with the ground or formed integrally with the outsole in such a manner as to be located eccentrically toward the outer or inner surface of the outsole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outsole of a shoe for decreasing a knee adduction moment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the generation of knee adduction moment after a general shoe is worn;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the sizes of knee adduction moment generated during walking operations like standing, grounding and jumping after the general shoe is worn;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 in an outsole according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1 in the outsole according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 in an outsole according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1 in the outsole according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1 in an outsole according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1 in an outsole according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the generation of knee adduction moment after the shoe having the outsole according to the present invention is worn;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the moving distance relation of the outsole underside surface according to the height of the outsole and the angle between one side surface of the outsole and the outside ground of the outsole;

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a shoe outsole according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the shoe outsole according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 in an outsole according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 in the outsole according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the outsole according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an explanation on a shoe outsole for decreasing a knee adduction moment according to the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawing. In the description, furthermore, a detailed explanation on the well known functions and components of the present invention will be avoided for the brevity of the description.

According to the present invention, a joint pain-releasing shoe 1 largely includes an upper 20 adapted to surround the top and heel portions of a user's foot and an outsole 10. Now, an explanation on the configuration of the outsole 10 according to the present invention will be in detail given.

[Configuration]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outsole of a shoe for decreasing a knee adduction moment according to the present invention. The outsole 10 includes a front foot portion 100 formed on a front portion thereof as a region corresponding to the front portion of a user's foot in which his or her metatarsal heads are located; an intermediate foot portion 200 extended from the front foot portion 100; and a rear foot portion 300 extended from the intermediate foot portion 200, as a region corresponding to the rear portion of the user's foot in which his or her heel portion is located. In case of the left outsole 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the right side of the outsole 10 is referred to as ‘inner surface’, and the left side thereof is as ‘outer surface’. Hereinafter, for example, the left outsole 10 will be described.

The underside of the outsole 10 of the shoe 1 may be flat, bent to give given functionality, or have a given heel like dress shoes.

As mentioned above, the knee adduction moment is a rotating force through which legs rotate inward to cause the inner sides of knees to be pressed. As shown in FIG. 3, the knee adduction moment generated from the heel portion of the rear foot portion 300 at a standing operation during a user's walking and the knee adduction moment generated from the metatarsal heads of the front foot portion 100 at a jumping operation are different from each other and relatively high.

First Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 in the front foot portion 100 of the outsole 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outsole 10 is designed for a user having bow legs, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1 in the rear foot portion 300 of the outsole 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outsole 10 is designed for a user having bow legs. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, considering that the knee adduction moments at the standing operation and at the jumping operation are different and the outsole heights on the front foot portion 100 and the rear foot portion 300 are different, first, at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal sections of the front foot portion 100 and the rear foot portion 300 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is not formed at 90°, while an angle θin or θout between any one side surface of the inner and outer surfaces and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is being smaller than the angle θout or θin between the other side surface opposite to one side surface and the outside ground of the outsole 10, wherein a maximum value in the angles θin between the inner surface of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is different from a maximum value in the angles θin between the inner surface of the rear foot portion 300 and the outside ground of the outsole 10, and a maximum value in the angles θout between the outer surface of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is different from a maximum value in the angles θout between the outer surface of the rear foot portion 300 and the outside ground of the outsole 10, that is, the inclined angle a of the front foot portion 100 is different from the inclined angle b of the rear foot portion 300, thus decreasing the knee adduction moments according to the characteristics of the front foot portion 100 and the rear foot portion 300 and enhancing the functions of shoes like knee joint-protecting shoes, hiking shoes, walking shoes, and golf shoes.

At this time, the angle θin or θout between the inner or outer surfaces of the longitudinal sections of the front foot portion 100 and the rear foot portion 300 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is desirably inclined in the range of 45° to 120° in the design view thereof.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 in the front foot portion 100 of the outsole 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outsole 10 is designed for a user having bow legs, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1 in the rear foot portion 300 of the outsole 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outsole 10 is designed for a user having bow legs. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, first, a space portion 30 or a low hardness member 31 having lower hardness than the outsole 10 of the shoe 1 is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to one side surface of at least a portion of the longitudinal surface of the front foot portion 100 or the rear foot portion 300 in a direction of one side surface having the small angle θout or θin in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10, thus moving the center of the repulsive force of the outsole against the ground, wherein the inclined angle a′ or b′ of the front foot portion 100 or the rear foot portion 300 is smaller than the inclined angle a or b of the front foot portion 100 or the rear foot portion 300 in the first embodiment of the present invention, while the knee adduction moments are being reduced in the same level as those in the first embodiment of the present invention, thus controlling over-pronation of the rear foot portion 300 in which the user's heel is inclined excessively inward upon standing on the ground due to the inclined angle. The space portion 30 or the low hardness member 31 is formed or located at the bottom or center of the side surface portion of the outsole 10 of the shoe 1.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1 in an outsole according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outsole 10 is designed for a user having bow legs. According to the third embodiment of the present invention, at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is smaller than 90°, while both side surfaces of the longitudinal section of the rear foot portion 300 are being not inclined in the same direction as one side surface having a small angle θout or θin in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10, thus giving no reluctance to the user in the design view thereof, wherein the front foot portion 100 has the inclined angle a, as shown in FIG. 4, thus reducing the knee adduction moment generated upon jumping. The longitudinal view taken along the line A-A of the shoe outsole according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that in FIG. 4. The shoe outsole according to the third embodiment of the present invention is useful for a user who enjoys activities giving lots of load to the front foot portion, such as going up and down stairs, going up and down hills, and climbing mountains.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1 in an outsole according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outsole 10 is designed for a user having bow legs. According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is smaller than 90°, while both side surfaces of the longitudinal section of the rear foot portion 300 are being not inclined in the same direction as one side surface having a small angle θout or θin in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10, thus giving no reluctance to the user in the design view thereof, wherein a space portion 30 or a low hardness member 31 having lower hardness than the outsole 10 of the shoe 1 is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to one side surface of the rear foot portion 300 in the same direction as one side surface having a small angle θout or θin in the angles between the inner and outer surface of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10, thus moving the center of the repulsive force of the outsole against the ground to reduce the knee adduction moment generated upon grounding. The longitudinal view taken along the line A-A of the shoe outsole according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that in FIG. 4. Further, the space portion 30 or the low hardness member 31 is formed or located at the bottom or center of the side surface portion of the outsole 10 of the shoe 1.

Fifth Embodiment

FIGS. 12 and 13 are plan views showing an outsole according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a high gravity member 501 is insertedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the front surface and at least a portion of the outer surface of the front foot portion 100 of the outsole of the shoe 1, while a space portion 502 or a low gravity member 503 is being formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the rear surface and at least a portion of the inner side surface of the rear foot portion 300 of the outsole 10 of the shoe 1, so that when the user's leg stretches to contact the ground during walking, a centrifugal force is generated by the eccentric weight of the outsole 10 and rotates the tibia below the knee outward. Further, the high gravity member 501 and the space portion 502 or the low gravity member 503 are formed on or attached to the bottom, top or intermediate portion of the outsole 10 of the shoe 1, and alternatively, they are formed on or attached to the top or side surface of the upper 20 of the shoe 1.

Sixth Embodiment

FIGS. 14 and 15 are longitudinal views taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1 in an outsole according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the outsole according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outsole 10 is designed for a user having bow legs. According to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, an outward or inward moving member 504 or an outward or inward moving space portion or member 505 from the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole 10 against the ground is fixedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the underside surface of the outsole 10 contacted with the ground or formed integrally with the outsole 10 in such a manner as to be located eccentrically toward the outer surface of the outsole, thus reducing the knee adduction moment generated upon standing. In case of a user having knock-knees, further, the outward or inward moving member 504 from the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole 10 against the ground is fixedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the underside surface of the outsole 10 contacted with the ground or formed integrally with the outsole 10 in such a manner as to be located eccentrically toward the inner surface of the outsole, thus moving the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole 10 against the ground inward and reducing the knee abduction moment generated upon standing. In case of the outsole 10 of a golf shoe, at least a portion of spikes coupled to the outsole 10 as the outward or inward moving member 504 from the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole 10 against the ground are fixedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the underside surface of the outsole 10 contacted with the ground in such a manner as to be located eccentrically toward the outer surface of the outsole.

<Operational Relation>

As mentioned above, FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the generation of knee adduction moment M1 from a general shoe, and the knee adduction moment M1 generated from the general shoe is obtained by the following mathematical expression 1.

M1=d1×F  Mathematical expression 1

In this expression 1, M1 indicates the knee adduction moment generated when a general shoe is worn, d1 a length of a moment arm as a vertical distance between a line of an action of a repulsive force from the ground and the center of a knee, and F a repulsive force against the ground generated upon walking.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the generation of knee adduction moment M2 after the shoe having the outsole according to the present invention is worn, and the knee adduction moment M2 generated from knee joint-protecting shoes, hiking shoes, walking shoes, and golf shoes reducing the knee adduction moment according to the present invention is obtained by the following mathematical expression 2.

M2=d2×F=(d1−e1)×F  Mathematical expression 2

In this expression 2, M2 indicates the knee adduction moment generated when the knee joint-protecting shoes, hiking shoes, walking shoes, and golf shoes reducing the knee adduction moment according to the present invention are worn, d1 a length of a moment arm as a vertical distance between a line of action of a repulsive force from the ground and the center of a knee in the existing general shoe, d2 a length of a moment arm as a vertical distance between a moved line of action of a repulsive force from the ground and the center of a knee, e1 a vertical distance between the line of action of a repulsive force from the ground in the existing general shoe and the moved line of action of a repulsive force from the ground, and F a repulsive force against the ground generated upon walking.

As appreciated from the mathematical expressions 1 and 2, when the shoe 1 having the outsole 10 according to the present invention is worn, the knee adduction moment M2 is proportional to the length d2 of the moment arm shortened through the movement of the line of action of the repulsive force from the ground, so that the knee adduction moment M2 is reduced after the knee joint-protecting shoes, hiking shoes, walking shoes, and golf shoes reducing the knee adduction moment according to the present invention are worn.

Upon wearing the knee joint-protecting shoes, hiking shoes, walking shoes, and golf shoes reducing the knee adduction moment according to the present invention, the knee adduction moments applied to the knee 401 and the ankle 402 of the user are reduced to release or prevent the pain of the knee 401 and the ankle 402, to reduce the impact applied to the knee 401 and the ankle 402 upon climbing mountains, and to allow the knees move inward to maintain stable swing posture.

As described above, the outsole according to the present invention is configured wherein at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal sections of the front foot portion and the rear foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is not formed at 90°, while an angle between any one side surface of the inner and outer surfaces and the outside ground of the outsole is being smaller than the angle between the other side surface opposite to one side surface and the outside ground of the outsole, wherein a maximum value in the angles between the inner surface of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is different from a maximum value in the angles between the inner surface of the rear foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole, and a maximum value in the angles between the outer surface of the front foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole is different from a maximum value in the angles between the outer surface of the rear foot portion and the outside ground of the outsole, so that the adduction moments applied to the knees in correspondence with the characteristics of the knee adduction moments generated differently upon the standing and the jumping are reduced in accordance with the upright walking operation characteristics and the differences between the heights of the front foot portion and the rear foot portion of the outsole, thus efficiently releasing the pain of the knee joints of the user, preventing his or her osteoarthritis, and especially releasing the impact applied to his or her knees upon his or her walking or climbing.

Further, the outsole according to the present invention adjusts his or her golf swing operation to allow him or her to maintain stable swing posture.

In more detail, the outsole according to the present invention moves the center of a repulsive force against the ground outward with respect to the center of the body, thus preventing a force from being collected toward the inside of the knees and suppressing the feet from being pushed toward the outside of the body, so that his or her golf addressing or swing operation connected to back swing, down swing, impact, follow through, and finishing is adjusted to maintain his or her lower body stably.

Further, the outsole according to the present invention is configured wherein the space portion or the low hardness member having lower hardness than the outsole of the shoe is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to one side surface of the inner or outer surface of the rear foot portion, thus reducing the knee adduction moment, and wherein the inclined angle of the front foot portion or the rear foot portion becomes small, thus controlling over-pronation of the rear foot portion in which the user's heel is inclined excessively inward upon standing on the ground due to the inclined angle. The space portion or the low hardness member is formed or located at the bottom or center of the side surface portion of the outsole.

Further, the outsole according to the present invention is configured wherein while no inclined angle is being made, the space portion or the low hardness member having lower hardness than the outsole of the shoe is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to one side surface of the inner or outer surface of the rear foot portion, thus reducing the knee adduction moment and preventing a consumer's reluctance since the rear foot portion of the outsole is not inclined inward or outward. The space portion or the low hardness member is formed or located at the bottom or center of the side surface portion of the outsole.

Furthermore, the outsole according to the present invention is configured wherein the high gravity member is insertedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the front surface and at least a portion of the outer surface of the front foot portion of the outsole or upper of the shoe, while the space portion or the low gravity member is being formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the rear surface and at least a portion of the inner side surface of the rear foot portion of the outsole, so that when the user's leg stretches to stand on the ground, a centrifugal force is generated by the eccentric weight of the outsole to induce the outward rotation of the tibia below the knee. The high gravity member and the space portion or the low gravity member are formed at or attached to the bottom, top or intermediate portion of the outsole of the shoe, and alternatively, they are formed at or attached to the top or side surface of the upper of the shoe.

Additionally, the outsole according to the present invention is configured wherein the outward or inward moving member or the outward or inward moving space portion or low hardness member from the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole against the ground is fixedly or exchangedly attached to or formed integrally with at least a portion of the underside surface of the outsole contacted with the ground in such a manner as to be located eccentrically toward the outer or inner surface of the outsole, thus moving the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole against the ground outward or inward to reduce the knee adduction moment or the knee abduction moment and further having no big difference in outer shape from the general shoe to reduce the consumer's reluctance, so that the outward or inward moving member from the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole against the ground can be simply attached to the underside surface of the outsole of the general shoe, and if the adjustment in the quantity of movement of the center of the underside of the outsole is required, only the outward or inward moving member from the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole against the ground is exchanged, without having any exchange of the whole outsole, thus giving economical advantages to the consumer. Further, in case of the outsole of the golf shoe, at least a portion of spikes coupled to the outsole as the outward or inward moving member from the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole against the ground are fixedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the underside surface of the outsole contacted with the ground in such a manner as to be located eccentrically toward the outer surface of the outsole, thus adjusting the golf swing operation and maintaining stable swing posture.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, the present invention is applicable to sport shoes reducing knee adduction moments.

Claims

1. An outsole 10 of a shoe 1 for decreasing a knee adduction moment, the outsole 10 comprising:

a front foot portion 100 formed on a front portion thereof as a region corresponding to the front portion of a user's foot;

an intermediate foot portion 200 extended from the front foot portion 100; and

a rear foot portion 300 extended from the intermediate foot portion 200, as a region corresponding to the rear portion of the user's foot,

wherein at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal sections of the front foot portion 100 and the rear foot portion 300 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is not formed at 90°, while an angle between any one side surface of the inner and outer surfaces and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is being smaller than the angle between the other side surface opposite to one side surface and the outside ground of the outsole 10, and wherein a maximum value in the angles between the inner surface of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is different from a maximum value in the angles between the inner surface of the rear foot portion 300 and the outside ground of the outsole 10, and a maximum value in the angles between the outer surface of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is different from a maximum value in the angles between the outer surface of the rear foot portion 300 and the outside ground of the outsole 10.

2. The outsole according to claim 1, wherein a space portion 30 or a low hardness member 31 having lower hardness than the outsole 10 of the shoe 1 is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to one side surface of at least a portion of the longitudinal surface of the front foot portion 100 or the rear foot portion 300 in a direction of one side surface having the small angle in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10.

3. The outsole according to claim 1, wherein at least one of angles between the inner and outer surfaces of at least a portion of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is smaller than 90°, an angle between any one surface of the inner and outer surfaces of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is smaller than an angle between the other side surface opposite to one side surface and the outside ground of the outsole 10, and both side surfaces of the longitudinal section of the rear foot portion 300 are not inclined in the same direction as one side surface having the small angle in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10.

4. The outsole according to claim 3, wherein a space portion 30 or a low hardness member 31 having lower hardness than the outsole 10 of the shoe 1 is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to one side surface of at least a portion of the longitudinal surface of the rear foot portion 300 in a direction of one side surface having the small angle in the angles between the inner and outer surfaces of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10.

5. An outsole 10 of a shoe 1 for decreasing a knee adduction moment, the outsole comprising:

a front foot portion 100 formed on a front portion thereof as a region corresponding to the front portion of a user's foot;

an intermediate foot portion 200 extended from the front foot portion 100; and

a rear foot portion 300 extended from the intermediate foot portion 200, as a region corresponding to the rear portion of the user's foot,

wherein a high gravity member 501 is insertedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the front surface and at least a portion of the outer surface of the front foot portion 100 of the outsole 10 or an upper 20 of the shoe 1, and a space portion 502 or a low gravity member 503 is formed on or insertedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the rear surface and at least a portion of the inner surface of the rear foot portion 300 of the outsole 10 of the shoe 1.

6. The outsole according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the inner surface of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is smaller than the angle between the outer surface of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10, so that the outsole is worn for a user having bow legs.

7. The outsole according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the outer surface of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10 is smaller than the angle between the inner surface of the longitudinal section of the front foot portion 100 and the outside ground of the outsole 10, so that the outsole is worn for a user having knock-knees.

8. An outsole 10 of a shoe 1 for decreasing a knee adduction moment or a knee abduction moment, the outsole comprising:

an outward or inward moving member 504 or an outward or inward moving space portion or member 505 from the center of the repulsive force of the underside of the outsole 10 against the ground fixedly or exchangedly attached to at least a portion of the underside surface of the outsole 10 contacted with the ground or formed integrally with the outsole 10 in such a manner as to be located eccentrically toward the outer or inner surface of the outsole 10.