EP2305057A1 - Walker base - Google Patents

Abstract

The base has a middle sole (10) extending over a heeling area (12), a middle foot area (14) and ball-and toe area (16) and comprising a reinforcement element (28) and a damping layer (56) i.e. damping body. A heel soft part (20) is arranged in a recess (18) of the middle sole. The reinforcement element comprises a bridge (32) that protrudes against an outsole (26) from a planar part (30) into the middle foot area. The bridge and the planar part limit a tunnel (34) that runs transverse to a running direction. Front and rear ends of the bridge are fixedly connected with the planar part.

Description

The present invention relates to a device base with the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

A footer floor of this kind for footwear is known under the name Masai Barefoot Technology, MBT for short, and also under the label Swiss Masai. Characteristic of the MBT is a kovex rounded in the direction of the sole shape with an inserted soft heel part, the so-called "Masai sensor". Due to the deliberately soft and destabilizing construction of the walker bottom of the MBT walker, the foot loses its support and support characteristic of physiological locomotion. This affects the retention and support muscles because the body has to be actively kept in balance. Due to the constant need for minimal balancing movements and straining of the foot muscles in search of a secure footing, the wearing of MBT shoes completes a kind of permanent coordination training and additionally requires parts of the skeletal musculature. In particular, neglected muscles are trained to improve posture and gait, and the body is toned and shaped. Furthermore, wearing MBT shoes can help with back, hip, leg and foot discomfort, joint, muscle, ligament and tendon injuries, as well as relieve hip and knee joints. However, the known device floors of MBT shoes have a considerable thickness.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighter, generic Gehgerätboden lesser thickness, which further has the known properties of the MBT-Gehgeräteböden.

This object is achieved with a device base, which has the features of claim 1. A reinforcing element of a midsole has a surface part which extends continuously over a midfoot region and from this on the one hand into a heel region and on the other hand into a bale and toe region. The object of this reinforcing element is to reinforce the midsole, at least in the midfoot and heel area, with respect to the stresses during standing and walking, at least approximately rigidly. The reinforcing element is provided with a bridge which projects in the midfoot region from the surface part in the direction towards an outsole and defines, together with the surface part, a tunnel which runs transversely to the running direction. This bridge is firmly connected at both ends with the surface part. On the one hand, this leads to a high rigidity of the reinforcing element and, on the other hand, to a weight saving compared to known walking gear bottoms since the volume of the tunnel does not have to be filled with material.

The reinforcing element preferably extends to at least approximately the rear end of the recess and thus approximately to the rear end of the Gehgerätbodens and thus stiffened the midsole in its section located above the recess.

Due to the possible lower height of the walker floor, this is also suitable for walkers, which are intended for sports purposes.

Most preferably, the tunnel extends uninterruptedly through the walking device floor.

In a further preferred embodiment of the Gehgerätbodens the surface part also extends over the entire width of the Gehgerätbodens and this preferably from the rear end of the walker to the front end. Preferably, this surface part has passages, for example formed by recesses at the rear and at the front end, in order to be able to firmly connect the parts of the device floor arranged below the reinforcement element with a footbed layer possibly arranged above the latter.

In a particularly preferred manner, the tunnel, viewed in side view, has an at least approximately triangular cross section. It is possible to make the surface part in its thickness, in the region of the bridge, thinner than the bridge itself and the sections of the surface part adjoining the bridge on both sides.

The surface part is formed approximately flat or has an elongated S-shape, which is preferably convex in the toe and ball area and in the metatarsus area in the direction towards bottom and concave in the heel area in the direction towards bottom. This concave shape is preferably also taken over by that section or leg of the bridge, which faces the recess and thus the soft heel part. The seen in the direction of it in the direction towards the front subsequent section or leg The bridge is preferably rectilinear and extends obliquely forward and upward to the surface part.

Further particularly preferred embodiments of the inventive device base are specified in the further dependent claims.

Fig. 1

in Seitenansicht einen erfindungsgemässen Gehgeräteboden;

Fig. 2

in Draufsicht den Gehgeräteboden gemäss Fig. 1, wobei zum besseren Erkennen eines Verstärkungselements eine oberhalb diesem angeordnete Fussbettschicht als durchsichtig angenommen ist;

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt durch den Gehgeräteboden gemäss den Fig. 1 und 2 entlang der Schnittlinie III-III der Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

einen ersten Querschnitt durch den Gehgeräteboden entlang der Linie IV-IV der Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

einen zweiten Querschnitt durch den Gehgeräteboden entlang der Linie V-V der Fig. 3;

Fig. 6

einen dritten Querschnitt durch den Gehgeräteboden entlang der Linie VI-VI der Fig. 3;

Fig. 7

einen vierten Querschnitt durch den Gehgeräteboden entlang der Linie VII-VII der Fig. 3;

Fig. 8

einen fünften Querschnitt durch den Gehgeräteboden entlang der Linie VIII-VIII der Fig. 3; und

Fig. 9

In einer perspektivischen Explosionszeichnung den Gehgeräteboden gemäss den Fig. 1 bis 8.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. It shows purely schematically:

Fig. 1

in side view an inventive Gehgeräteboden;

Fig. 2

in plan view the Gehgerätboden according Fig. 1 , wherein for better recognition of a reinforcing element, a footbed layer arranged above this is assumed to be transparent;

Fig. 3

a longitudinal section through the Gehgerätboden according to the Fig. 1 and 2 along the section line III-III of Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

a first cross section through the Gehgerätboden along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 5

a second cross section through the Gehgerätboden along the line VV of Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 6

a third cross section through the Gehgerätboden along the line VI-VI of Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 7

a fourth cross section through the Gehgerätboden along the line VII-VII of Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 8

a fifth cross section through the Gehgerätboden along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 3 ; and

Fig. 9

In a perspective exploded view of the device floor according to the Fig. 1 to 8 ,

The embodiment shown in the figures of an inventive Gehgerätebodens has a midsole 10 which extends continuously from the rear end of the walker bottom over a heel area 12, a midfoot area 14 and a ball and toe area 16 to the front end of the Gehgerätbodens. Each of these areas covers approximately one third of the length of the walker floor.

The midsole 10 has a recess 18 in which a soft heel part 20 is arranged. In a preferred manner, as can be seen from the drawing, the recess 18 is arcuately concave in the downward direction and extends from a rear end portion 22 of the heel region 12, toward the front, into the midfoot region 14 and preferably ends therein in the rear half of the midfoot region 14 seen in the running direction, for example at the border from the rear to the middle third.

When in the direction L front end of the recess 18, the midsole 10 forms a tilting edge 24 which transversely to the running direction L runs. The towards the bottom, against the ground facing surface of both the heel piece 20 and the midsole 10 from the tilting edge 24 to the front end of the walker bottom, have a convex in the direction L rounded shape; this shape is preferably convexly continuous. The bending radius is preferably the smallest in the heel region 12 and the largest in the midfoot region 14; this except at the top of the walker floor.

An outsole 26 is disposed on the underside of the midsole 10 and the heel piece 20 and fixedly connected thereto, for example, by gluing. This outsole 26, preferably made of an abrasion-resistant rubber-elastic material, is also held by the midsole 16 and the soft heel part 20 in said convex shape. However, in the standing and walking load, the soft-elastic heel piece 20 compresses to about half of its thickness, whereas the midsole 10 retains its shape virtually unchanged.

The in the example shown, the recess 18 completely filling heel soft part 20, and thus the recess 18 itself tapers to its front end in a wedge shape up to the tilting edge 24.

So that the midsole 10 is at least approximately rigid under load when walking and standing, it has a reinforcing element 28. This is provided with a surface portion 30 which extends over the midfoot region 14 and of this one hand in the heel region 12 and on the other hand in the bale and Toe area 16 in, seen in side view, extending steadily. This surface portion 30 may be formed approximately flat or, seen in side view, have a strongly elongated S-shape; it has no larger, preferably no steps.

From the surface portion 30 is in the midfoot region 14 in the direction towards the outsole 26 toward a bridge 32 before, whose front and rear end is firmly connected to the surface portion 30. Preferably, the surface portion 30 and the bridge 32 are integrally formed, for example by injection molding.

The bridge 32 and the surface part 30 delimit a tunnel 34, which extends in a preferred manner, as shown in the embodiment, continuously from an outside 36 of the walker bottom to an inner side 38 of the walker bottom. The rigidly formed tunnel 34 is open on both sides against the environment, but it could also be closed on one or both sides by means of a foil-like wall. The inner side 38 is the side which faces the other base of a pair of gantries while the outer side 36 faces away from the other gantry base.

Preferably, the tunnel 34 has approximately the cross section of an obtuse triangle, wherein the base is formed by the surface portion 30. The approximately in front, seen in the direction L, at the middle of the walker bottom beginning front leg 40 of the bridge 32 is preferably flat and extends from the surface portion 30 toward the rear with a slope for example, about 30 ° to above the tilting edge 24. Here, the rear leg 42 connects to the front. It extends with a downwardly concave shape, seen in side view, with a slope to about the rear end of the midfoot region 14 or slightly into the heel region 12, where it merges with the surface portion 30. In the region of the tunnel 34, the surface portion 30 is thinner in thickness than the two legs 40 and 42; he is in this area when standing and walking mainly burdened train.

In order subsequently to increase the bending stiffness of the surface part 30 to the tunnel 34, this is on the one hand in the heel area and on the other hand in the midfoot area to the bale and toe area 16 with two extending in the direction of L, in the direction downwards against the outsole projecting reinforcing ribs 44 provided, as this particular the FIGS. 5 and 8 is removable. Of course, a different number of reinforcing ribs may be provided or such may also be arranged on the top or replaced by beads.

As this particular from the Fig. 2 As can be seen, the surface portion 30 of the reinforcing element 28, extends over the entire length of the Gehgerätbodens from the outside 36 to the inside 38 therethrough. It can be provided with passages in order to be able to directly connect a footbed layer 46 provided above the reinforcing element 28 to the layers of the base of the hearing aid underneath the reinforcing element 28. In the illustrated embodiment, these passages are by against backwards or towards the front open cutouts 48 at rear or front end of the Gehgerätbodens formed in the surface portion 30. Incidentally, the reinforcing element 28 preferably extends from the rear end to the front end of the walker bottom.

How this in particular the Fig. 3 can be removed, takes the thickness of the surface portion 30 ago from the tunnel 34 ago against the rear, free end continuously. However, the material of the reinforcing member 28 and its construction is chosen so that it, compared to the load during walking and standing, in the midfoot region 14 and in particular above the recess 18 remains virtually rigid, even if the soft heel part 20 is strongly compressed.

The surface part 30 is designed to be of a similar bending stiffness from the tunnel 34 in the direction towards the front, preferably to at least the front end of the midfoot region 14, preferably into the rear part of the ball and toe area. The reinforcing element 28 reinforces the midsole 10 such that it forms a rocker pivoting about the tilting edge 24 when walking.

For the sake of completeness it should be mentioned how this in particular the 6 and 7 can be removed that the cross section of the tunnel 34 seen over its length, preferably remains approximately constant and is continuously only slightly smaller towards the shoe center. Further, for the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that the reinforcing element 28 has a circumferential bead 50 on the circumference, especially in the direction towards the top. This also serves to stiffen the reinforcing element 28 and allows a stable connection with the footbed layer 46.

The footbed layer 46 also has, as in particular the Fig. 3 to 8 can be removed, a circumferential upstanding Fußbettwulst 52, which in particular a stable connection with a in the Fig. 1 dashed lines indicated, well-known upper shoe 54 is used.

Between the reinforcing element 28 and the outsole 26 is a damping layer 56, which is formed in the present case as a damping body and, in the direction L, continuously from the front end of the Gehgerätbodens to the tilting edge 24 formed by it and out of this with a tongue 58th or a flap in the direction of the heel region 12 extends. The damping layer 56 thus abuts against the reinforcing element 28 and is firmly connected to it, for example by gluing or injection molding using affine materials, which also applies to the tongue 58, which seen in the direction L to about in the middle of the rear leg 42nd extends. In the direction transverse to the running direction L, the damping layer 56 extends from the outside 36 to the inside 38. It has its greatest thickness at the front end of the bridge 32; it is there for example 1 to 2 cm, in particular about 1.5 cm. The thickness of the damping layer 56 decreases continuously from here to the front end of the device bottom.

On the heel-soft part 20 side facing both the tongue 58 and the reinforcing element 28 is covered by means of an intermediate layer 60. This touches with its front end in the direction of the tilting edge 24, and with its rear end, in the rear end portion 22 of the heel portion 12, the outsole 26 and thus forms the boundary of the recess 18, in which the soft heel part 20 is arranged. It is made thin, for example, it has a thickness of about 1 mm, and covers the tongue 58 in the manner of a film. For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that the intermediate layer 60 extends uninterruptedly from the outside 36 to the inside 38. In the embodiment shown, the heel piece 20 has, seen in side view, a cross-section in the shape of a convex-convex lens and completely fills the limited by the recess 18 and the outsole 26 space. Its largest thickness is preferably between about 1.5 to 2.5 cm, in particular about 2 cm.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the soft heel part consists of an open-pored polyurethane elastomer foam (PU), its end faces on the outside 36 and inside 38 being able to be coated with a deformable skin. The density may be, for example, between about 0.24 and 0.3 mg per mm ³ . Its modulus of elasticity may be, for example, 0.4 to 0.5 N / mm ² , measured with a plunger of 20 mm diameter and a load of 100 N. The hardness may, for example, be about 30 Shore-C. However, the hardness can be smaller or slightly larger. The soft heel part is soft elastic relative to the other parts of the walker bottom.

The damping layer 56 or the preferably homogeneous damping body forming it can for example be made from an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), for example by casting or injection molding. Its hardness is, for example, in the order of 55 Shore-C. The hardness of the damping layer 56 is thus about twice as large as that of the soft heel part 20; this Ratio, however, may be slightly lower, but also greater. The modulus of elasticity of the damping layer 56 can be, for example, between 0.7 and 1.2 N / mm ² . The ratio of the modulus of elasticity of the soft heel part 20 to the damping layer 56 is thus about 1: 1.5 to 1: 3. However, this ratio can also be chosen larger.

The reinforcing element 28 is preferably produced by injection molding and consists for example of glass fiber reinforced polyurethane elastomer (TPU). Its hardness is preferably about 70 to about 100 Shore-A. The modulus of elasticity in the heel region is preferably greater than 10 N / mm ² , measured with a punch of 20 mm diameter and a load of 1000 N. The bending moment of the reinforcing element 28 in the heel region is, for example, about 4'500-6'000 N. / mm ² ; however, it can also be higher or lower. Especially in the front region of the ball and toe region 16, the bending moment is preferably smaller.

For example, the intermediate layer 60 is also made of TPU and has a hardness of between about 70 and 90 Shore-A. It is also preferably produced by injection molding.

The footbed layer 46 is preferably made of the same material as the cushioning layer 56 and is preferably also made by casting or injection molding.

All components of the device base are firmly connected in their contact surfaces. The choice of material and the design of the damping layer 56 with the tongue 58 and the intermediate layer 60 allows a Particularly good, crack-resistant connection of the damping layer 56 with the soft heel part 20th

It is possible that further layers are present between the components of the device base described above and those described above.

In the illustrated embodiment, the soft heel part 20 is formed as a continuous soft heel part body. However, it is also possible to form the soft heel part 20 by means of individual supports or webs, which extend from the outsole 26 to the intermediate layer 60. Thus, it is conceivable to manufacture these supports from the same material as the damping layer 56. In this case, preferably, the intermediate layer 60 is integrally formed with the cushion layer 56 of the same material.

Upon landing on the ground with the heel region 12, the heel piece 20 is compressed, preferably to about half of its thickness, whereas the midsole 10 retains its shape virtually unchanged. Beats are strongly damped. The balance must be actively sought. In the rolling movement, the tilting edge 24 is overcome, the midsole 10 practically makes a rocker movement about the tilting edge 24. Subsequently, the further rolling movement on the damping layer 56 without this changes their shape significantly. Even when standing, the balance must be actively sought.

Claims (15)

An apparatus base with a midsole (10) extending over a heel area (12), a midfoot area (14) and a ball and toe area (16), a heel piece (20) arranged in a recess (18) of the midsole (10) Outsole (26) held by the midsole (10) and the heel piece (20) in unloaded condition in a convexly rounded shape in the running direction (L), a reinforcing element (28) of the midsole (10), which seen in side view, continuously over the midfoot region (14) and of this one hand in the heel region (12) and on the other hand in the ball and toe area (16) extending into surface part (30) and such a stability that they in the metatarsal area ( 14) and in the heel area (12) - with respect to the loads and deformation of the heel piece (20) when standing and walking - at least approximately bending stiff, and one between the reinforcing element (28) and the outsole (26) arranged damping layer (56) of the midsole (10), characterized in that the reinforcing element (28) in the midfoot region (14) from the surface part (30) in the direction of the outsole (26) projecting bridge (32), which together with the surface part (30) transverse to the running direction (L) extending tunnel (34) is limited and connected with its front and its rear end fixed to the surface part (30). Device floor according to claim 1, characterized in that the tunnel (34) extends from an outer side (36) of the walker floor continuously to an inner side (38) of the Gehgerätbodens. Device floor according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface part (30), at least approximately over the entire length of the Gehgerätbodens, and the tunnel (34) extending from an outer side (36) of the Gehgerätbodens continuously to an inner side (38) of the Gehgerätbodens. Device floor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tunnel (34), seen in side view, has an at least approximately triangular cross-section. Device floor according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the recess (18) and the soft heel part (20) from a rear end portion (22) of the heel region (12) into the midfoot region (14), preferably into a central portion of the metatarsal region (14). Device floor according to claim 5, characterized in that the soft heel part (20) tapers towards its front end lying in the midfoot area (14) or in the middle section of the midfoot area (14), and the cushioning layer (56) at the front end of the heel area part (56). 20) forms a transversely to the running direction (L) extending tilting edge (24). Device floor according to claim 6, characterized in that the soft heel part (20) is formed by a soft-elastic soft tissue body, which, seen in side view, has a convex-convex lenticular cross-section and preferably extends continuously over the entire width of the walker bottom. Device floor according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the tilting edge (24) is located at least approximately at the narrowest point between the bridge (32) and the outsole (26). Device floor according to claim 8, characterized in that the damping layer (56) has a tongue (58) which extends on the heel piece (20) facing side of the bridge (32) along this in the direction towards the heel area (12). Device floor according to claim 9, characterized in that between the heel piece (20) and the reinforcing element (28) an intermediate layer (60) is arranged, which overlaps the tongue (58). Device floor according to claim 10, characterized in that the intermediate layer (60) rests on the one hand on the reinforcing element (28) and on the other hand on the heel piece (20) and is firmly connected thereto. Device floor according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the intermediate layer (60) extends over the entire width of the reinforcing element (28). extends and, seen in the running direction (L), with its front end and its rear end at least approximately to, preferably extends to the outsole (26). Device floor according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the midsole (10) above the reinforcing element (28) has a footbed layer (46) which is preferably made of the same material as the cushioning layer (56). Device floor according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the heel piece (20) has a maximum thickness of between about 1.5 cm and about 2.5 cm and in the load about half of which is compressible, and the damping layer (56 ) has a maximum thickness between about 1 cm and about 2 cm and approximately maintains its shape under load. Device floor according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the soft heel part (20) is made of foamed polyurethane (PU), the reinforcing element (28) is made of preferably fiber-reinforced, and optionally the intermediate layer (60) is made of thermoplastic urethane-based elastomer (TPU). and the cushioning layer (56) are made of ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA).

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