DE29616911U1 - Individually adjustable reflex massage sole - Google Patents

Description

Eva Jung 27 September 1996

T24312 A/Le/gm

&iacgr;&ogr; Individually adjustable reflex massage sole

The invention relates to an insole for a shoe, which is designed as a reflex massage sole with raised areas that stimulate reflex points/reflex zones on the soles of the feet, a shoe with such an insole and massage modules that can be attached to desired locations on the insole of a shoe for individual adaptation to desired reflex points/reflex zones.

It is known and medically proven that targeted stimulation of certain reflex points/reflex zones on the soles of the feet can lead to a noticeable improvement in physical and mental well-being. The reflex points/reflex zones on the soles of a person's feet have a direct and specific influence on various parts of the body and organs. For this reason, insoles for shoes have been developed which have a certain number of elastically formed elevations arranged in a certain way, which are intended to act on the reflex points/reflex zones mentioned when walking. One such known system is the reflex zone system with five such elevation areas according to Dr. Mauch, which is described in DE 90 02 962.3 Ul.

The insoles of a shoe are provided with stimulating elevations, the latter being an integral part of the insole of the shoe.

The disadvantage of the known systems is, among other things, that the raised areas, which are supposed to act on the reflex points/reflex zones, are fixed at certain locations according to medical findings and, as a result, a massage of the reflex points/reflex zones is only possible at specified locations.

Furthermore, since the raised areas are an integral part of the insole, it is not possible to adjust them to specific degrees of hardness without replacing the entire insole. The well-known reflex massage soles therefore do not allow the raised areas to be individually adjusted in terms of their arrangement on the insole and their adaptability to a desired degree of hardness.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an insole for a shoe, which is designed as a reflex massage sole and is individually adaptable with regard to the arrangement and hardness of the raised areas that effect the reflex massage, a shoe with such an insole and variable raised areas, without the insole itself having to be replaced for individual adaptability.

This object is achieved by an insole with the features according to claim 1, by a shoe with the features according to claim 10 and by a massage module with the features according to claim 11. Appropriate further developments are defined by the respective dependent claims.

According to the invention, the insole for a shoe is designed as a reflex massage sole which has raised areas with which reflex points/reflex zones on the soles of the feet are exercised when the shoe is worn. The raised areas are formed by massage modules, whereby

These massage modules can be attached to any desired location in the insole for individual adaptability, preferably detachably. A significant advantage of the insole according to the invention or of the shoe with the insole according to the invention is that the massage modules that can be attached to the insole can be adjusted absolutely individually to each reflex point/each reflex zone on the sole of a person's foot and can therefore be used for massage on the insole that serves as the support sole in various shapes and materials at all locations corresponding to the reflex points on the sole of the person's foot. This allows both medical aspects with regard to the targeted stimulation of individual organs or body parts as well as individual perception and aesthetic aspects with regard to the shape and color of the massage modules to be taken into account.

This modular massage technique, which can be tailored to each individual user, enables targeted stimulation to be applied, which can affect the entire body or just individual body parts or organs, even with varying degrees of strength depending on the material used. A user of such a reflex massage sole is therefore not bound to a specific number or arrangement of such raised areas. It is therefore also possible to choose a different, individually adjustable level of hardness for each individual raised area.

According to a preferred embodiment, the massage modules have a surface that corresponds to the inner surface of the insole and is adjacent to it, as well as a surface facing the sole of the foot that defines the raised area. The surface defining the raised area can be relatively small in order to create reflex points on the

to stimulate the sole of the foot, or can be designed as a surface elevation representing a specific area, which serves to stimulate reflex zones on the sole of the foot.

s Preferably, the surface of the elevations itself has a profile in the form of profiling depressions and/or profiling elevations. This profiling of the surface of the elevation areas of the massage modules can increase the massage effect and thus also improve the wearing properties.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the massage modules are provided with needle-like plugs, by means of which they can be inserted into the insole. If the insole of a shoe is made of a more or less elastic material, it is thus possible to provide a reflex massage sole even if the insole is firmly attached to the shoe, as a "retrofit".

Preferably, however, the insole is designed as an insole that can be removed from the shoe and has a large number of holes, which are preferably arranged as a hole grid in order to be able to detachably attach the massage modules to the insole. The holes in the insole then serve to accommodate corresponding fastening elements for the massage modules. This means that massage modules can be attached to any hole provided in the insole. The smaller the hole diameter, the greater the individual adaptability. Depending on the size of the massage modules, these can preferably be designed so that they are either attached in a single hole or, if they are intended to stimulate reflex zones and therefore have a larger surface area, they are attached in several holes in the insole.

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According to a further preferred embodiment, the massage modules can be attached to the insole by means of a counterpart attached thereto that cooperates with it to secure them. This counterpart is then located on the underside of the insole, and the actual massage module is attached to the counterpart in a manner known per se using a web-like plug through one or more holes in the insole. The counterpart and massage module or its web-like plug are preferably designed as a plug connection, button connection, screw connection and the like.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the massage modules are designed as one piece and have an approximately H-shaped cross-section. The two side legs are then connected to one another by the web-like plug, with one side of the "H" forming the raised area representing the actual massage module, while the opposite leg of the "H" rests on the underside of the insole as a counterpart after being inserted into a corresponding hole in the insole and thus holds the massage module in the desired location. The massage modules are preferably made of elastic material, with

:o different degrees of hardness can be inserted at different points on the insole.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the massage module has a mechanism for height adjustment. With such a

:5 Height adjustment makes it possible, on the one hand, to intensify the massage effect at specific reflex points/reflex zones, and, on the other hand, to vary the degree of hardness of the massage modules. Such a height-adjustable mechanism can be achieved, for example, in a known manner using a screw connection between the massage module and the counterpart.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the insole is firmly connected to the inner shoe and designed as an insole.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a shoe has an insole with the features described above.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a massage module is created for an inner sole of a shoe, in particular for an insole that can be removed from the shoe, which is designed in such a way that it can be fastened, preferably detachably, to desired locations on the insole, so that, with regard to individual adaptability, the massage module or several massage modules can be fastened to such locations on the insole through which desired reflex points/reflex zones on the sole of the foot can be stimulated.

The main advantage of such a massage module for an insole of a shoe is that different shapes and sizes as well as different materials with different degrees of hardness can be detachably attached to a conventional insole, to an insole attached to the shoe and to an insole with a corresponding hole pattern, depending on individual needs and sensations. In addition, aesthetic requirements can be taken into account to a large extent by designing the massage module according to the invention in different colors and shapes such as flower shapes, star shapes, circles, oval shapes, triangles, rectangles, squares, polygons, etc. In addition, it is preferably possible to identify certain degrees of hardness of the massage module using defined colors.

According to a preferred embodiment, the massage modules are made of elastic material in one piece so that they can be inserted into the insole

can be inserted and secured in the holes provided there by inserting a part of the massage module through the respective hole in the insole, which is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole, so that the massage module with this part protrudes beyond the edge of the hole after fastening.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the massage module is constructed in two parts and has a part which represents the actual massage module and a counterpart into which the massage module

&iacgr;&ogr; with a bridge or bridge-like plug attached to it, can be pushed through the insole or through a hole formed in the insole and fastened to the counterpart. The connection is preferably a plug connection or a screw connection. The advantage of such a plug connection or screw connection is, among other things,

in that one type of counterpart can be used to attach several different massage modules. The massage modules then simply need to be pulled or unscrewed from the counterpart and replaced with another massage module, which further increases the exchangeability of the massage modules.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the massage modules are designed to be height-adjustable. A height adjustment mechanism in the massage module makes it possible to increase both the height of the massage module and thus its stimulating effect on desired reflex points/reflex zones as well as the degree of hardness.

The preferred materials for the massage modules are latex, rubber, tercoiite, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, cork, wood or metal or any combination thereof.

Another advantage of the massage modules is that they can be attached to any insole. The insole, which serves as a support sole, can of course be adapted to all special and common last shapes and sole shapes and can therefore also be made from special or common materials and used for men's shoes, women's shoes and children's shoes.

In principle, it is also possible to design the massage modules so that they are fixed after they have been attached to the insole.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the invention will now be explained in more detail using the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an insole with a plurality of holes arranged in a grid;

Fig. 2 shows an insole according to Fig. 1, but with larger holes;

Fig. 3 shows massage modules attached to the insole;

Fig. 4 a) to c)
shows various embodiments of massage modules; and

Fig. 5 shows the head of a massage module with profiling recesses.

Fig. 1 shows an insole 1 with a large number of holes 2 arranged throughout its entire area. The holes 2 are arranged in a grid pattern

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arranged in the insole 1 so that they are the same distance apart from one another and have the same diameter. A relatively fine grid makes it possible to arrange the massage modules 3 (see Fig. 3 to 5) at almost any point on the insole 1. The massage modules 3 are inserted with their webs 5 through a corresponding hole 2, whereby, in conjunction with a corresponding counterpart 6, the massage module 3 is held at the desired point on the insole 1 in order to stimulate the desired reflex zone or the desired reflex point.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of an insole 1 with holes 2 arranged equally in a grid. The holes are arranged equally spaced throughout the entire area of the insole 1 and each have the same diameter. A coarser grid, i.e.

If holes are either larger in diameter or have a larger hole spacing, the massage modules can be adjusted to a lesser degree than in Fig. 1, but the insole 2, which acts as a support sole for the massage modules, has greater stability and therefore strength. On the other hand, such a sole is better suited for massage modules of larger dimensions, which are intended in particular for stimulating reflex zones.

Fig. 3 shows an insole 1 in which five massage modules 3 are arranged at defined locations. In contrast to the embodiments according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the insole 1 does not have a hole pattern, so that massage modules 3 are used which are pressed through or into the insole using a needle, for example, to fix the position and attach it. The massage modules 3 themselves have profiling recesses 7 on their side facing the reflex points/reflex zones. These profiling recesses

7 are arranged in a circle on the surface of the massage modules and serve to increase the stimulating effect for the respective reflex points/reflex zones.

in Fig. 4, three different embodiments of massage modules 3 are shown, each in a side view. Fig. 4 a) shows a one-piece massage module 3 with a head 4, which represents the raised area of the massage module 3 on the surface of the insole 1 facing the sole of the foot. This head 4 is connected to a counterpart 6 via a web 5. After the massage module 3 has been mounted on the insole 1, the counterpart 6 is located on the side facing away from the sole of the foot. In such an embodiment of a massage module 3 according to Fig. 4 a), the holes 2 in the insole 1 are smaller in diameter than the maximum diameter of the head 4. Since the

If the massage module 3 is preferably made of elastic material, the head 4 can be pushed through a hole so that the web 5 holds the massage module 3 in the insole 1 and the head 4 of the massage module 3 clings to the surface of the insole 1, which faces the sole of the foot.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4 b), the massage module 3 is also constructed in one piece and also has a head 4, which represents the actual raised area that stimulates the reflex points/reflex zones of the soles of the feet. On the underside of the head 4, which rests on the surface of the insole 1 facing the sole of the foot, a thorn-like needle 5 is attached, which also serves as a bridge for the massage module 3. With a massage module 3 constructed in this way, it is possible to press it directly into an insole 1 or inner sole or through corresponding holes 2 in the insole.

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so that the thorn-like needle 5 can be inserted into a counterpart 6, which is located beneath the insole.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4 c), a web 5 with an external thread is attached to the underside of the head 4, which can either be inserted through a hole 2 in the insole 1 and screwed into a counterpart 6 provided with an internal thread or which can be screwed directly into a hole 2 provided with an internal thread in the insole 1.

Fig. 5 shows the top view of a head 4 of a massage module 3, in which profiling recesses 7 are arranged in a circle.

In Fig. 4 and 5, the head of the massage module is shown schematically as a half-lens shape. Depending on requirements, it is of course also possible for the surface of the massage module 3, which faces the sole of the foot, to be essentially flat and only rounded at the edges, which form the transition to the actual insole.

Other surface shapes, such as more pointed ones, which serve to stimulate reflex points on the sole of the foot more strongly, are also possible.

Claims (18)

Eva Jung 27 September 1996 T24312 A/Le/gm CLAIMS 1. Insole for a shoe, which is designed as a reflex massage sole with reflex points/reflex zones on the soles of the feet that stimulate raised areas, characterized in that is the elevation areas are formed by massage modules (3) and these can be attached to any desired part of the insole for individual adjustment. 2. Insole according to claim 1, characterized in that the raised areas can be detachably fastened. 3. Insole according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the massage modules (3) have a surface corresponding to the inner surface of the insole and lying against it and a surface facing the sole of the foot, defining the raised area. 4. Insole according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the surface has profiling depressions and/or profiling elevations (7). 5. insole according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the massage modules (3) are provided with thorn-like needles (5) with which they can be inserted into the insole. 6. Insole according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insole is designed as an insole (1) that can be removed from the shoe and has a plurality of holes (2) for attaching the massage modules (3). &iacgr;&ogr; 7. Insole according to claim 6, characterized in that the massage modules (3) can be fastened to the insole (1) by means of a counterpart (6) attached thereto and cooperating therewith for fastening them. is 8. Insole according to claim 7, characterized in that the massage modules (3) are formed in one piece from an elastic material and can be inserted into the holes (2) of the insole (1). 9. Insole according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the massage modules (3) are height-adjustable. 10. Insole according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insole is attached to an insole of the shoe. 11. Shoe with an insole with the features according to one of claims 1 to 10. 12. Massage module (3) for an inner sole of a shoe, in particular for an insole (1) that can be removed from the shoe, characterized in that it can be used at desired locations on the insole (1) for individual &igr; ' can be attached to desired reflex points/reflex zones on the sole of the foot due to its adaptability. 13. Massage module (3) according to claim 12, characterized in that it is detachably attachable. 14. Massage module according to claim 12 or 13, which is formed in one piece from an elastic material and can be inserted into holes (2) provided in the insole (1). 15. Massage module according to claim 12 or 13, which is designed in two parts and can be attached to the insole (1) by means of a counterpart (6). 16. Massage module according to claim 15, which can be plugged or screwed to the insole (1) by means of the counterpart (6). 17. Massage module according to one of claims 13 to 16, which is height-adjustable. 18. Massage module according to one of claims 12 to 17, which consists of latex material, rubber, tercolite, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, cork, wood or metal or a combination thereof.