EP0710495A1 - Roller skate - Google Patents

Abstract

The shoe comprises a sole (2) which has a rigid front (5), a flexible central (6), and a rigid rear section (7). The front section mainly supports the contact area of the front, and the rear section mainly supports that of the rear. The front rollers (3) rotate in one direction only, and are blocked in the other direction. The front and rear sole sections have a flat under surface. Front and rear rollers (3,4) are evenly distributed in the sections. The flexible central section is arched upwards. The rear rollers rotate freely below a weight limit, and have increased rolling resistance above that limit.

Description

The invention relates to a biodynamic roller glider with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

From the prior art of DE - A - 28 21 644, from which the invention is based, a roller glider is known which is not only used in sports, but also serves as a therapeutic treatment in the event of muscle or bone malformations and, in particular, postural damage to legs or feet occur. Such postural damage to the feet is due, among other things, to insufficient training of the foot muscles.

In healthy feet, the body weight is distributed to the foot from the hip joints to the knees and down to the upper ankle. A healthy foot, which shows no anatomical deformities, is loaded between 50 and 90% of the total load on the heel bone and between 10 and 50% of the total load on the midfoot and forefoot. When walking, the force that is distributed through the legs to the heel is dynamically distributed on the forefoot. A healthy foot is constantly kept under stress by a biodynamic balance, which is created by the shape of the individual bones of the foot and by the muscle pull.

About 70% of the population has a so-called sagging deformity. The causes of this are known to be congenital weakness of the connective tissue, insufficient foot training, permanent walking on hard ground and permanent walking in sturdy shoes. The deformity of the sinker arises already in infancy and finds its full expression in adults. As shown in Fig. 4, the normal deviation of the rearfoot axis from the vertical is 0 to 6 °, as shown in Fig. 4a. In the case of the kink-flat foot, however, this rearfoot axis deviates from the vertical by more than 6 °, deviations of 10 °, as shown in FIG. 4b, or even up to 20 ° are possible. As a result of the inward tilting rear foot, the longitudinal arch of the foot also lowers, creating a classic flat foot in which almost the entire lower surface of the foot is in contact with the ground when standing.

As a therapeutic measure, the knee-lowering foot is counteracted early in childhood with foot exercises. It refers to

Exercises in the toe and heel walk, gripping exercises and extension exercises in the toe area. This previous kink-flat-foot therapy through physiotherapy exercises usually includes one to several times a week practicing with a physiotherapist and also daily practice at home. However, these exercises have the disadvantage that they cannot be carried out over several years, on the one hand the parents do not have the necessary stamina and on the other hand the children themselves have so little fun doing the exercises that a defensive behavior caused by them makes further practice impossible is made.

Another therapeutic measure to improve the arch of the foot is the provision of customized insoles. These are usually prescribed by the doctor every six months depending on the state of growth of the foot and support the arch of the foot throughout the entire growth phase. However, this therapy is a passive measure and does not promote the muscle growth responsible or jointly responsible for the deformity, on the contrary, it rather creates a rest of the muscles because the arch of the foot is additionally supported by the insoles.

The roller gliders mentioned at the beginning can also be used as a therapeutic measure, since running with roller gliders on the one hand represents training for the leg and foot muscles, and on the other hand enables the children to have an interesting leisure activity, so that such therapy can be maintained over a longer period.

The roller gliders known from the prior art of DE-A-28 21 644, DE-U-87 11 944, DE-A-23 04 853 and DE-A-22 50 201 have rigid soles. They will only insufficiently meet the need to use the foot as a complicated organ for control. Instead, they are essentially controlled from the thigh and lower leg muscles. In particular, they do not allow selective loading of individual foot sections.

A roller glider (DE - B - 1 117 013) is known in the form of a roller skate, in which the bearing of the rollers is inserted directly into the footplate of the shoe, which consists of the sole and heel. The footplate consists of two over a central one Articulated area longitudinally interconnected sections, namely a sole and a heel. Each section has a projecting flexible sliding member, the two sliding members overlap and are connected to one another by a clamping screw, thus forming the joint area. This means that there is a flexible middle sole section in the middle between the sole and heel. The runner moving with this roller glider therefore experiences a rolling motion in the foot that is similar to the usual walking or running.

The previously described, further known roller glider with a flexible middle sole section has not yet been able to meet all the requirements of a therapeutic treatment of the deformity of the sagging foot in the tests carried out.

Finally, it is of course known from the general prior art of roller gliders mentioned above that a braking device with a brake shoe hitting the road can be provided in the rear foot region of the roller glider in order to permit active braking by the user.

The present invention is therefore based on the problem of designing and developing the known roller glider explained at the outset in such a way that when using the roller glider, all foot sections can be loaded individually, so that therapeutic treatment of the deformable deformity is possible.

The object outlined above is achieved in a biodynamic roller glider with the features of the preamble of claim 1 by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

Movements in the forefoot and rearfoot area allow the load on the individual gliding surfaces to be selectively designed. The rolling movement of the roller glider according to the invention can be controlled by the foot muscles. This is a therapeutic effect that is effective in the case of deformity of the knee.

The rollers are arranged in the sole sections in such a way that a sliding surface is created in the area of the forefoot and rearfoot, which in any case is so stable that no equilibrium problems arise. A particularly safe sliding roller is thus possible, so that even children at a young age can use the roller gliders according to the invention can use. The roles are designed in a special way. The front rollers (at least one of them) can only be rotated in one direction, while blocking in the other direction. Although this allows only rolling in the forward direction, pushing off, ie accelerating, is very simple because of the blocking of the rollers, so that the forward movement of a sliding roller is very similar to normal forward walking.

Furthermore, the rear rollers in the rearfoot area can be dynamically provided with a braking effect according to the invention. This is ensured by the fact that the rear rollers have a rolling resistance which is dependent on the weight load, the rear rollers rolling freely below a weight loading threshold and having an increased rolling resistance above this weight loading threshold. This means that if the load on the rear foot is too high, a braking effect occurs and, on the other hand, free roller sliding is possible if the load on the rear foot is less, for example half the total load. Thus, a load on the forefoot is forced while driving, while avoiding putting on the rear foot in the shoe. This strengthens the arch-stabilizing foot muscles. In particular, the flexors (lower leg flexors, foot flexors) are specifically strengthened.

When braking, the forefoot must be raised again in order to put more pressure on the rear castors and thus bring about the braking effect. This strengthens the extensors to a special degree. In addition, the posture when gliding freely corresponds to the posture when alpine skiing and thus also leads to an ideal strengthening of the entire leg and trunk muscles. The roller glider is therefore also an ideal training tool for cross-country skiing.

According to the invention, the weight load threshold is also adjustable in the rear rollers, so that the braking effect can be adjusted depending on the weight and training.

Finally, in the roller glider according to the invention, the use of a low shoe is advantageous, since a considerably greater mobility of the foot is possible. This also serves to train the foot muscles and thus increases the therapeutic possibilities, since the control of the roller glider is even stronger from the foot and not just from the thigh and lower leg muscles. The risk of ankle twisting with this roller glider is low because the rollers in the area of the contact surfaces of the forefoot and the rear foot form sliding surfaces, not just sliding lines, and because the center of gravity is low.

Fig. 1

in einer Seitenansicht ein erfindungsgemäßes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Rollgleiters,

Fig. 2

in einer Ansicht von unten den in Fig. 1 dargestellten Rollgleiter,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung des Bewegungsablaufes der aus drei Abschnitten bestehenden Sohle während der Verwendung des Rollgleiters,

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht von hinten eines rechten Fußes zur Darstellung der Rückfußachse.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the description of individual exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawing. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

a side view of an embodiment of a roller glider according to the invention,

Fig. 2

in a view from below the roller glider shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

1 shows a schematic representation of the movement sequence of the sole consisting of three sections while the roller glider is in use,

Fig. 4

a rear view of a right foot to show the rear foot axis.

1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a biodynamic roller glider which has a shoe 1 with a sole 2. In the forefoot area of this roller glider, front rollers 3 are arranged so that they form a sliding surface. Similarly, rear rollers 4 are arranged in the rear foot region of the sole, which also form a sliding surface. The sole 2 has three sections, namely a starting front sole section 5, a more flexible middle sole section 6 and a rigid rear sole section 7. The terms “rigid” and “flexible” are of course not to be understood absolutely. One can fall back on the definition of sole rigidity in shoes in general. Moreover, it is also clear that the flexible middle sole section is often formed only by a bending strip directly adjoining the front sole section, so that the angular position between the front and rear sole sections is realized on a relatively short piece of the sole. This is also a common technique for sports shoes. In addition, a correspondingly narrow bending strip also frequently occurs on its own, even if the central sole section is wider overall and flexible overall.

Similar to a normal shoe, the front sole section 5 and the rear sole section 7 are therefore movable relative to one another, since the flexible middle sole section 6 enables the front sole section 5 and the rear sole section 7 to be at different angles to one another depending on the load on the shoe .

The different sole sections 5, 6 and 7 of the roller glider are now configured as follows. The front sole section 5 is essentially adapted to the contact surface of the forefoot, so that the front sole section 5 fully supports the forefoot. Likewise, the rear sole section 7 is substantially adapted to the contact surface of the rear foot, so that the rear sole section 7 supports the rear foot. The front sole section 5 forms a flat surface on the underside, so that the front rollers 3 arranged in the front sole section 5 can be arranged such that the front rollers 3 form a sliding surface. Similarly, the rear rollers 4 are arranged flat in the rear sole section 7, which also has a flat surface on the underside. In the illustrated embodiment, the sliding surfaces formed by the rollers 3 and 4 are approximately as large as the respective undersides of the corresponding sole sections 5, 7. However, this need not be the case. In principle, three roles are sufficient for the flat support of the forefoot and hind foot in the forefoot area, which are arranged in a kind of triangle or possibly even just two roles as with a normal roller skate, in the rear foot area two roles or a particularly wide single role, which is also one has a flat effect.

As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the shape of the flexible middle sole section 6 is adapted to the shapes of the front sole section 5 and the rear sole section 7, so that all sole sections 5, 6 and 7 together form a continuous sole 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment the flexible middle sole section 6 is curved upwards so that the middle sole section 6 creates a shape of the entire sole 2 which is adapted to the foot. However, it is also possible to design the middle sole section 6 as a flat section so that the lower surfaces of the front sole section 5, the flexible middle section Sole section 6 and the rear sole section 7 lie essentially in one plane in the unloaded state.

In Fig. 3, the sole 2 having the three sole sections 5, 6 and 7 is shown schematically for different stages of movement during the roll sliding. Fig. 3a shows the sole 2 in the unloaded state or in the state of standing, that is, in a state in which the front sole section 5 and the rear sole section 7 are evenly loaded and thus both have contact with the ground via the rollers, not shown. 3b shows the arrangement of the sole sections 5, 6 and 7 in a state in which only the front sole section 5 is loaded. This condition occurs especially when a push-off to the rear occurs during the roll sliding. The advantageous effect of the flexible middle sole section 6 becomes clear in a special way. Because, like when walking with normal shoes, the rear sole section 7 is raised, while the front sole section 5 is largely in contact with the ground. At the same time, at least one roller 3 in the front sole section 5 is blocked against reverse rotation. This means that roller gliding with the roller glider according to the invention enables a similar sequence of movements as is the case when walking with normal shoes. Finally, the rear sole section 7 has contact with the ground in the arrangement of the sole sections 5, 6 and 7 shown in FIG. 3c, while the front sole section 5 is raised. This attitude is adopted in particular when braking the roller glider, as will be described in detail below.

In the roller glider according to the invention, the movement of the roller gliding is therefore approximated to the movement of walking in a normal shoe. In comparison, with the roller gliders known from the prior art, in which the front rollers can be rotated in both directions, pushing off, that is to say acceleration, was only possible by turning the foot outward, similarly to ice skates for ice hockey players is possible. With the design of the front rollers 3, pushing forward is thus possible in a manner that is possible, for example, with ice skates that are used for figure skating, the runners of which have serrations at the front end that push off forward without twisting allow the feet to the outside.

The rear rollers 4 here have a rolling resistance that is dependent on the weight load. The rear rollers 4 can roll freely below a weight load threshold, but they have an increased rolling resistance above the weight load threshold. This forces an even distribution of the weight load on the forefoot and the rear foot during roller gliding.

As described above, one cause of buckling deformities is that the hind foot is under stressed and the forefoot is under stressed. If the rear rollers 4 are designed in such a way that they have increased rolling resistance above a weight load, which for example corresponds to 50% of the total weight load, and thus brake, a runner is forced to put more pressure on the forefoot and relieve the pressure on the rear foot, to roll forward freely. As already described above, this strengthens the arch-stabilizing foot muscles. A corresponding weight load on the rear foot, on the other hand, can cause a braking operation without, for example, twisting the foot outward and thereby causing the rollers to be dragged over the ground as a brake. In principle, other braking devices can also be implemented, for example the brake pads known from normal roller skates on the rear edge of the rear foot area.

The entire sequence of movements is largely adapted to the sequence of movements when walking in normal shoes. As with normal walking, twisting of the foot towards the outside, whether for pushing off or braking, is avoided. In addition, a correct load on the forefoot and the rear foot is forced by the rolling properties of the rear rollers 4. Therefore, the roller glider according to the invention is particularly suitable for the therapeutic treatment of articular deformities.

In a special embodiment, the distance between the rear rollers 4 and the rear sole section 7 can be changed, the distance being dependent on the weight load. For this purpose, for example, a spring is arranged between the rear rollers 4 and the rear sole section 7, which, depending on the weight load, changes the distance between the rear ones Rollers 4 and the rear sole section 7 allows. As a result, the distance between the rear rollers 4 and the rear sole section 7 above the weight load threshold can be reduced to such an extent that the rear rollers 4 rest on friction surfaces. The friction generated thereby increases the rolling resistance of the rear rollers 4, so that braking occurs. Instead of a spring in the narrower sense, an elastic element, for example a rubber buffer or a buffer made of another elastic material, can also be used at the appropriate point.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the distance between the rear rollers 4 and the rear sole section 7 can be adjusted with the aid of an adjusting screw. The weight loading threshold can thus be set in a simple manner, so that the braking properties of the rear rollers 4 can be set depending on the weight and the training condition of the runner to be treated. In a particularly preferred manner, a weight scale is assigned to this setting of the adjusting screw, which enables a reproducible adjustment of the weight loading threshold.

In the embodiment of a roller glider shown in FIG. 1, the shoe 1 is designed as a low shoe. Because of the low center of gravity, which is caused by the arrangement of the rollers 3 and 4 in the sole 2, and because of the large sliding surfaces caused by the distribution of the rollers 3 and 4, the risk of buckling during roller sliding is greatly reduced, so that a special ankle support is not necessary. When using a low shoe, however, greater mobility of the entire foot is brought about, which in turn accommodates the movement therapy of the foot. Of course, the shoe can also be designed so that it extends beyond the ankle to support the ankle.

Claims (12)

Biodynamic roller glider with a shoe (1), with a sole (2) arranged on the shoe (1), with front rollers (3) arranged in the forefoot area in the sole (2) and forming a sliding surface and with in the rear foot area in the sole (2 ) arranged rear rollers (4) forming a sliding surface,
characterized,
that the sole (2) has a rigid front sole section (5) and a rigid rear sole section (7), between which a flexible middle sole section (6) is arranged,
that the rigid front sole section (5) essentially supports the contact surface of the forefoot and that the rigid rear sole section (7) essentially supports the contact surface of the rear foot,
that the front rollers (3), at least one of the front rollers (3), can only be rotated in one direction and block in the other direction. Roll glider according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the front sole section (5) and the rear sole section (7) form a flat surface on the underside. Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front rollers (3) in the front sole section (5) and the rear rollers (4) in the rear sole section (7) are each arranged distributed over a surface. Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible middle sole section (6) is curved upwards. Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible middle sole section (6) is formed only by a bending strip directly adjoining the front sole section (5). Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower surfaces of the front sole section (5), the flexible middle sole section (6) and the rear sole section (7) in the unloaded state lie essentially in one plane. Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear rollers (4) have a rolling resistance which is dependent on the weight load, and, preferably, that the rear rollers (4) roll freely below a weight loading threshold and have an increased rolling resistance above the weight loading threshold. Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the rear rollers (4) and the rear sole section (7) is variable and, preferably, that the distance between the rear rollers (4) and the rear sole section (7 ) depending on the weight load. Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring or an elastic element is arranged between the rear rollers (4) and the rear sole section (7) which, depending on the weight load, changes the distance between the rear rollers (4 ) and the rear sole section (7). Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that above the weight loading threshold the distance between the rear rollers (4) and the rear sole section (7) is reduced to such an extent that the rear rollers (4) each abut a friction surface. Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the rear rollers (4) and the rear sole section (7) and thus the weight load threshold can be adjusted with the aid of an adjusting screw, and in particular that the adjusting screw is assigned a scale, in particular a weight scale . Roller glider according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoe (1) is designed as a low shoe or that the shoe (1) extends beyond the ankle.

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