ARCH SUPPORT INSOLE WITH STIMULATION TEXTURE

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to inserts for footwear and, more specifically, insoles providing arch support.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Conventional insoles and orthotics designed to provide arch support are generally used by people with pronated or supinated feet to place their feet in a more neutral or biomechanically correct position. These devices work by physically filling the natural arch of the foot to support the instep or medial longitudinal arch of the foot to control and support foot function. Positioning the feet correctly can result in proper alignment of the ankles, knees, hips, and spine. Proper alignment of the body can improve balance and reduce pain. However, prolonged use of insoles or orthotics for arch support can reduce overall foot health. With the foot constantly in a supported state the muscles of the foot can atrophy. Reduced muscle tone in the feet can exacerbate existing problems the arch support devices are being used to address and may lead to new problems developing.

Other, non-orthotic insoles have been used to improve balance of users. These insoles avoid the reduction in muscle tone cause by prolonged orthotic usage. However, they may not provide support and joint alignment where necessary. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/311,521 (hereinafter “the '521 application”), filed May 3, 2023, which published ad U.S. Patent Publication No. 2023/0355471, is related to a somatosensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface configured to increases proprioception in the user and positively affect balance and posture. The '521 application discloses that the somatosensation and proprioceptor stimulation surface may take the form of an insole for wear in the user's shoes to achieve improved balance and posture.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates generally to insoles that provides arch support and stimulate muscles in the feet. The stimulation of muscles by the insoles may reduce arch support related muscle atrophy.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, an insole has a superior surface and an inferior surface opposite the superior surface. The insole includes a heel portion, an arch portion, and a mechanoreception stimulation texture. The arch support portion extends from the heel portion and is configured to support an arch of a foot of a user. The mechanoreception stimulation texture is disposed on the superior surface of the insole. The mechanoreception stimulation texture is configured to stimulate the foot of the user. The mechanoreception stimulation texture has a plurality of protuberances. Each protuberance extends vertically from the superior surface.

In aspects, each protuberance has a base in physical communication with the superior surface and an apex positioned opposite the base. Each protuberance may define a central axis extending between the base and the apes. The central axis of each protuberance may be angled relative to the superior surface such that each respective protuberance extends vertically from the superior surface. The angle between the central axis of a respective protuberance and the superior surface may be less than or equal to 90 degrees.

In some aspects, the arch support portion is contoured to match the arch of the foot of the user. The insole may have a medial edge and a lateral edge opposite the lateral edge. The arch support portion may be contoured such that a peak of the arch support portion may be disposed along the medial edge of the insole and the superior surface slopes away from the peak towards the lateral edge. The arch support portion may have a rise defined between the peak and the inferior surface. The rise may between 20 millimeters and 45 millimeters.

In certain aspects, the heel portion defines a cradle. The cradle may be configured to receive a heel of the foot of the user to align the foot relative to the arch support portion.

In particular aspects, each protuberance has a height between 0.5 millimeters and 2 millimeters. The mechanoreception stimulation texture may cover the entire superior surface of the insole. The plurality of protuberances may be uniformly distributed on the superior surface.

In aspects, the sole is made of silicone. The insole may be formed as a monolithic construction.

In some aspects, the insole is part of an insole kit. The insole kit may include a first insole and a second insole. The first insole may be configured to receive a left foot. The second insole may be configured to receive a right foot.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, an insole insertable into a piece of footwear includes, a body having a superior surface and an inferior surface opposite the superior surface. The body is configured to provide support for an arch of a foot of a user. The superior surface of the body includes a mechanoreception stimulation texture configured to mechanoreceptively stimulate the foot of the user.

In aspects, the mechanoreception stimulation texture has a plurality of protuberances extending vertically from the superior surface. The body may be configured to support the arch of the foot of the user in a biomechanically correct position. The mechanoreception stimulation texture may be configured to maintain muscle tone in the foot of the user. The mechanoreception stimulation texture may be configured to improve proprioception of the foot.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of maintaining muscle tone in a foot of a user includes inserting an insole into a piece of footwear and wearing the piece of footwear. The insole inserted into the piece of footwear has an arch support portion and mechanoreceptive stimulation texture. The arch support portion is configured to support an arch of the foot of the user. The mechanoreceptive stimulation texture is configured to maintain muscle tone of the foot of the user.

In aspects, the method includes trimming the insole to improve fit of the insole within the piece of footwear.

Further, to the extent consistent, any of the embodiments or aspects described herein may be used in conjunction with any or all of the other embodiments or aspects described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insole in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the insole of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is side view of the medial side of the insole of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the lateral side of the insole of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is detail view of the mechanoreceptive stimulation texture of the insole taken from the section shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an insole kit in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another insole provided in accordance with the present disclosure including a heal portion and an arch portion;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the insole of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of maintaining muscle tone in a foot a user in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to example embodiments thereof with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. These example embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Features from one embodiment or aspect can be combined with features from any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. For example, any individual or collective features of method aspects or embodiments can be applied to apparatus, product, or component aspects or embodiments and vice versa. The disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “the,” and the like include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, while reference may be made herein to quantitative measures, values, geometric relationships or the like, unless otherwise stated, any one or more if not all of these may be absolute or approximate to account for acceptable variations that may occur, such as those due to manufacturing or engineering tolerances or the like.

As used herein, the term “mechanoreceptive stimulation” refers to activation of neurons within the dermis layer of skin of a user that sense mechanical pressure. The term “macro-circulation” refers to circulation of blood through the relatively large blood vessels of the circulatory system such as arteries and veins and the term “micro-circulation” refers to circulation of blood through the smallest blood vessels of the circulatory system such as arterioles, capillaries, or venules. The term “proprioception” refers to the sense of self movement, force, or body position.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an insole 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The insole 10 includes a mechanoreceptive stimulation texture 20 and an arch support portion 40. The mechanoreceptive stimulation texture 20 stimulates nerves within the foot of a user to active muscles of the foot. The arch support portion 40 supports the arch of the foot of the user to place the foot in a biomechanically correct position. Activation of muscles of the foot by the mechanoreceptive stimulation texture 20 may maintain muscle tone of the foot. Activation of muscles of the foot may resist or counteract muscle atrophy which may be attributable to prolonged arch support. The insole 10 is insertable into a piece of footwear, e.g., a shoe, boot, sandal, or slipper, to provide support and stimulation to the foot of a user.

With additional reference to FIG. 2, the insole 10 has a body 12 having a heel portion 30, the arch support portion 40, and a toe portion 50. The body 12 has a first side or a superior surface 13, a second side or an inferior surface 14, a third side or an anterior end 15, a fourth side or a posterior end 16, a fifth side or a medial edge 17, and a sixth side or a lateral edge 18. The arch support portion 40 and the heel portion 30 are positioned adjacent one another with the heel portion 30 positioned posteriorly to the arch support portion 40. The heel portion 30 has a flange 32 about the perimeter of the body 12. The flange 32 defines a cradle 34 such that the superior surface 13 is concave in the heel portion 30. The cradle 34 receives the heel of the user therein and may properly align the foot of the user relative the insole 10. Proper alignment of the foot relative to the insole 10 may allow the arch support portion 40 to support the foot in a biomechanically correct position. On the inferior surface 14 of the body 12 the heel portion 30 has a rear segment 36 that is flat or planar. The rear segment 36 (FIG. 3) may uniformly contact the interior of a piece of footwear across the width of the insole 10, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the insole 10.

With additional reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the arch support portion 40 extends anteriorly from the heel portion 30. The arch support portion 40 supports the arch of the foot such that the foot is in a biomechanically correct position. The arch support portion 40 may correct pronation of the foot (flat feet) or supination of the foot (high arches). The arch support portion 40 is contoured to match the arch of the foot of a user. The arch support portion 40 is contoured such that a peak 42 is positioned along the medial edge 17 and the superior surface 13 of the body 12 slopes away from the peak 42 towards the lateral edge 18. The arch support portion 40 may have a rise R in range of 20 millimeters to 45 millimeters, e.g., 30 millimeters. The rise R is the perpendicular distance measured from the peak 42 to the inferior surface 14. The inferior surface 14 may slope away from the peak 42 such that the arch support portion 40 may define an arch pocket 44. The inferior surface 14 of the body 12 along the arch support portion 40 may include a middle segment 46 that is flat. When the insole 10 is inserted into a piece of footwear, the arch support portion 40 may non-uniformly contact the interior of the piece of footwear across the width of the insole 10, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the insole 10. For example, the arch pocket 44 may not contact the interior of the piece of footwear and the middle segment 46 may contact the interior of the piece of footwear.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the toe portion 50 extends from the arch support portion 40 towards the anterior end 15. In some embodiments, the toe portion 50 is omitted and the insole 10 only has the heel portion 30 and the arch support portion 40. Inclusion of the toe portion 50 may increase the mechanoreceptive stimulation received by the foot. The superior surface 13 and the inferior surface 14 along the toe portion 50 are substantially planar. The inferior surface 14 along the toe portion 50 may uniformly contact the interior of the of a piece of footwear across the width of the insole 10, transverse to longitudinal axis of the insole 10. The inferior surface 14 may be substantially flat or planar along rear segment 36, the middle segment 46, and the inferior surface 14 of the toe portion 50. In some embodiments, the toe portion 50 includes trim markings to aid a user in removing excess material from the toe portion 50. Removal of excess material from the toe portion 50 may improve the fit and insertion of the insole 10 within a piece footwear. In certain embodiments the entire toe portion 50 may be trimmed from the insole 10 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In other embodiments, the insole 10 may be formed without a toe portion 50.

The mechanoreceptive stimulation texture 20 is disposed on the superior surface 13 of body 12. The mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 has a plurality of protuberances 22 protruding upwardly from the superior surface 13. When a user stands on the insole 10, the protuberances 22 mechanoreceptively stimulate the foot of the user. The mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 may stimulate nerves in the foot of the user to increase activation of the muscles of the foot. Increased muscle activation may strengthen foot muscles or may inhibit muscle atrophy. Additionally or alternatively, stimulation by the mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 may improve proprioception of the foot. Increased muscle activation and improved proprioception may improve the balance of the user. In some embodiments, the mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 may increase micro-circulation within the foot of the user. The protuberances 22 may mechanoreceptively stimulate the foot of the user and increase micro-circulation through texture, skin stretching, or pressure. For example, each protuberance 22 may have an apex 26 (FIG. 5) and that acts as a pressure point on the foot of the user. In some embodiments, a valley is defined between adjacent protuberances 22 to receive the skin of the foot and stretch the skin. The smallest blood vessels of the circulatory system may have little to no smooth muscle surrounding the vessels to circulate blood. The mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 may assist circulation of blood through these smallest blood vessels. To maximize mechanoreceptive stimulation a user may stand on the mechanoreceptive stimulation texture 20 barefoot or with a thin sock or foot covering. The mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 may be made of a medical grade silicone safe for contact with human skin, e.g., USP Class VI silicone. The insole 10 may be made a of a silicone with a durometer in a range of Shore 50A to Shore 90a, e.g., Shore 70A. In some embodiments, the insole 10 may have a durometer in a range of Shore 30C to Shore 90C, e.g., Shore 50C or 65C. In particular embodiments, the mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 is made of a rubber ethylene vinylene acetate (RBEVA) material. The material of the insole 10 may allow the entire insole 10 to be washed or cleaned. For example, the insole 10 may be cleaned in a conventional dishwasher.

With particular reference to FIG. 5, each protuberance 22 may have a pyramidal profile. In some embodiments, the protuberances 22 have a base 24. The base 24 can be in physical communication with the superior surface 13. The base 24 may be a square base or a triangular base. In certain embodiments, the protuberances 22 are conical and have a circular base. The protuberances 22 may be frustopyramidal or frustoconical with the apex 26 formed as a flat surface. The protuberances 22 may have a height H in the range of 0.5 millimeters to 2 millimeters, e.g., 1.5 millimeters. The base 24 of the protuberances 22 may have a length L in the range of 0.5 millimeters to 4 millimeters, e.g., 2.5 millimeters. The base 24 of the protuberances 22 may be in contact with one another or spaced apart a distance D in the range of 0.25 millimeters to 2 millimeters, e.g., 1 millimeter. The apex 26 of the protuberances 22 may be spaced apart from an adjacent apex 26 a width W in range of 0.5 millimeters to 5 millimeters, e.g., 3.5 millimeters.

The plurality of protuberances 22 may be uniformly distributed on the superior surface 13 with each protuberance 22 spaced equidistant from the adjacent protuberances 22. The heel portion 30, the arch support portion 40, and the toe portion 50 may have the same number of protuberances 22 per square centimeter. In some embodiments, the plurality of protuberances 22 may be non-uniformly distributed on the superior surface 13. For example, the protuberances 22 located on the arch support portion 40 may be closer or further from each other compared to the protuberances 22 located on the heel portion 30 or the toe portion 50. The heel portion 30, the arch support portion 40, or the toe portion 50 may have a different number of protuberances 22 per square centimeter. For example, the toes of the foot include a greater concentration of mechanoreceptors than other parts of the foot, as such it may be desirable to include a greater concentration of protuberances 22 in the toe portion 50 compared to the arch support portion 50 or the heel portion 30. The mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 may cover only a portion of the superior surface 13 or may cover the entirety of the superior surface 13.

The protuberances 22 may protrude from the superior surface 13 vertically. Each protuberance may have a central axis C defined as extending between the apex 26 and the base 24 of the respective protuberance 22. For example, the central axis C of a protuberance 22 located on the toe portion 50 may be perpendicular to the superior surface 13 and the central axis C of a protuberance 22 located on the arch support portion 40 may be askew from perpendicular to the superior surface 13 to maintain verticality of the protuberance 22. The central axis C may define an angle with the superior surface 13 less than or equal to 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the protuberances may protrude from the superior surface 13 such that the central axis C of each protuberance 22 is perpendicular the to the superior surface 13. In such embodiments, a protuberance 22 located on the toe portion 50 may have a central axis C that is vertical and a protuberance 22 located on the arch support portion 40 may have a central axis C that is askew from vertical to maintain perpendicularity with the superior surface.

The insole 10 may be of a monolithic construction. In such embodiments, the body 12 and the mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 are formed together as a monolithic body. Forming the insole 10 as a monolithic construction may provide several benefits over assembling the from separate components. For example, monolithic construction may prevent relative motion, e.g., slipping, between separate components during use. Additionally or alternatively, wearers do not need to buy two separate pairs of insoles, an arch support insole and a textured insole which may make the insole less expensive and may make the insole easier to use. In certain embodiments, the mechanoreception stimulation texture 20 may be adhered or otherwise bonded to the superior surface 13 of the body 12. The insole 10 may be trimmable to remove excess material and improve fit of the insole 10 into a piece of footwear. The heel portion 30, the arch support portion 40, or the toe portion 50 may be trimmed. In some embodiments, only the toe portion 50 is trimmable.

Referring to FIG. 6, an insole kit 100 is shown in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The insole kit 100 includes a left insole 10a and a right insole 10b. The left insole 10a and the right insole 10b may be distinguished by the arch support portion 40. The arch support portion 40 of both the left insole 10a and the right insole 10b are positioned along a respective medial edge 17. As such, the arch support portion 40 of the left insole 10a and the arch support portion 40 of the right insole 10b oppose one another when the left insole 10a and the right insole 10b are adjacent each other with the respective anterior ends 15 oriented in the same direction.

Referring to FIG. 9, a method 1000 of maintaining muscle tone of a foot of a user with reference to the insole 10 of FIGS. 1-8 is described. In embodiments, the insole 10 is trimmed to improve the fit of the insole 10 within the piece of footwear (Step 1100). The heel portion 30, the arch support portion 40, or the toe portion 50 may be trimmed. The insole may be trimmed with conventional scissors. The insole 10 is inserted into a piece of footwear (Step 1200). The insole 10 may be configured as the left insole 10a or the right insole 10b for insertion into a left piece of footwear or a right piece of footwear, respectively. With the insole 10 is inserted into the piece of footwear, the piece of footwear may be worn by the user (Step 1300). During use, the insole 10 may provide the user arch support and inhibit or resist arch support related muscle atrophy. The arch support portion 40 of the insole 10 may place and support the foot in a biomechanically correct position. The mechanoreceptive stimulation texture 20 may activate muscles of the foot to maintain muscle tone of the foot. Wearing the insoles 10 may improve balance, proprioception, or micro-circulation.

Although the method steps are described in a specific order, it should be understood that other steps may be performed in between described steps, described steps may be adjusted so that they occur at slightly different times, or the described steps may occur in any order unless otherwise specified.

While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Any combination of the above embodiments is also envisioned and is within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope of the claims appended hereto.