Prior Art
The following patents are representative and illustrate the development of the prior art in the field of insoles.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,139,971 to Pava shows an arch support of sponge rubber which is curved to the shape of the foot and has radially spaced ridges under its central region.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,774 discloses a novel sandal which is claimed to improve the health of the body and feet having projections provided on the upper and lower surface to stimulate the sole of the foot to facilitate circulation during walking.
Other later patents show massaging insoles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,310 shows a podiatric device molded to the contour of the planar surface of the foot having a plurality of uniformly distributed rigid studs extending upwardly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,054 shows footwear having pressure projections which are positioned to pressure or stimulate effective spots of the foot. The pressure projections each have a magnet for applying a magnetic field to the areas.
A number of patents relating to footwear and specifically massaging type insoles, position massaging cushions or protuberances in areas corresponding to the reflex zones of the foot. U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,831 discloses footwear with an inner sole having upwardly projecting support platforms with foot stimulating dome-shaped bumps on areas not occupied by the platforms. The patentee claims an accupressure application occurs when walking that is capable of effectively massaging the soles of the feet to stimulate appropriate meridians to enhance and normalize circulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,655 shows an insole having on its upper surface in the region of the foot's reflex zones, flat and somewhat lenticular resilient massaging cushions made of latex rubber which correspond in contour and extent to the respective reflex zone to be stimulated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,647 issued to Sandor Turucz shows shoe insoles having convex protuberances extending from the base of the insoles for providing a rhythmic pressure and massaging action on the soles of the feet during walking. The base is a resilient or spongy material and the protuberances are somewhat more firm so that during walking the protuberances will sink into the base and extend from the base on the lifting portion of the walking gait. The protuberances have geometric forms and are disposed on the base so as to massage certain zones of the soles of the wearer's feet to simulate an accupressure massage. The present invention particularly represents an improvement to the Turucz-type insole.
Thus, while insoles designed to apply massaging in accordance with the ancient technique of reflexology are well known, there nevertheless exists a need for an improved insole of the type which will provide the massage in accordance with reflexology or accupressure techniques if desired by the user and may also be used as a conventional cushioning insole providing good air circulation.
Reflexology or accupressure is an ancient technique involving massaging of strategic points on the soles of the feet. An essential or underlying principle of reflexology is that various organs or muscles of the body are connected by a network of nerves to certain spots or zones on the sole of the feet. Massage applied to these spots or areas promotes circulation of blood flow to the target organ. Additionally, it is theorized that there are channels of energy flowing through the body and that this energy terminates at these strategic spots in the feet.
Accordingly, it is believed that massaging these various strategic zones of the foot results in a revitalization of energy of the person and reflex theory suggests that massaging action unobstructs the flow of energy through these energy channels or passageways. Whether or not one accepts reflexology theory, it is known that massage applied to specific locations of the feet does result in relaxation of the body and that cushioning insoles placed in footwear will reduce fatigue, increase comfort and give the wearer greater endurance.