Footwear with protuberances and structures thereof

Abstract

Footwear including a vamp and an inner sole that together define a volume of treatment (VOTf), and an outsole coupled to at least one protuberance, the vamp and inner sole including a point of contact (POC) with a surface, when in use, wherein the dimensions of the VOTf are defined by the location of the POC in 3D space relative to the outsole and / or insole and / or any selected point within the VOTf. Also disclosed are methods and computer program product program code for manufacturing the footwear.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 964,796, filed January 23, 2020, entitled "FOOTWEAR WITH PROTRUBENCES AND CONSTRUCTION THEREOF," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to footwear, and more particularly to footwear having ridges and constructions thereof. [Background technology]

[0003] Proprioception refers to the ability to know where body parts are located in space and to recognize the movement of body parts (such as fingers and toes, feet and hands, legs and arms, etc.). Kinesthetic sensation is a related term and refers to the senses by which position, weight, muscle tension, and movement are perceived. In some medical literature, proprioception refers to the conscious and unconscious assessment of joint position, while kinesthetic sensation refers to the sense of joint velocity and acceleration. Proprioception is often used synonymously with kinesthetic sensation, and the terms are used interchangeably herein.

[0004] Existing proprioceptive and kinesthetic training devices include inclined boards or footwear with single or double protrusions protruding from the underside of the footwear or board. Typically, in double-protrusion devices, one of the protrusions is positioned further back than the other. The extra protrusions can enhance walking potential and accelerate and improve the results of proprioceptive and kinesthetic treatment plans.

[0005] However, to achieve effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training, the transmission of desired sensory input from the foot (e.g., sole of the foot) to the brain, and more specifically to the cerebellum, can be misdirected by interfering factors such as free movement of the foot against bumps, e.g., foot sliding inside the footwear, foot tilt, and / or undesirable pressure vectors at unrelated locations on the foot due to footwear design / construction and / or other factors. The foregoing examples of the related art and their associated limitations are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification and studying the drawings.

[0006] Overview of the embodiments of the present invention The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools, and methods that are intended to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, footwear is provided that includes a vamp and an inner sole that together define a treatment volume (VOTf), and an outsole coupled to at least one protuberance, the vamp and inner sole including a point of contact with a surface (POC) when the footwear is in use, and the dimension of the VOTf is defined by a position of the POC in 3D space relative to the outsole and / or insole and / or any selected point within the VOTf. In some embodiments, the position of the POC in 3D space includes at least a distance of the POC from a surface of the outsole. In some embodiments, at least one protuberance is movable. In some embodiments, a point aligned with a maximum range of movement of the POC on a plane generally parallel to the surface of the outsole defines a maximum range of movement zone of the POC. In some embodiments, the maximum range of movement plane, together with a maximum range of a plurality of distances of the POC from the surface of the outsole, defines a maximum treatment volume (VOTp) of the protuberance. It should be understood that the term POC as used herein may refer to the point on the outer surface of the ridge that is located the longest orthogonal distance from the surface of the outsole to which the ridge is connected, or any point on the surface of the ridge that contacts the surface when the footwear is in use.

[0008] According to some embodiments, the maximum range of motion zone of the POC includes one or more therapeutic effect zones where the POC produces effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training. In some embodiments, the effect zones vary in level of therapeutic effect. In some embodiments, the zones of effect, together with the maximum range of distances of the POC from the surface of the outsole, define the effective therapeutic volume of the prominence (effective VOTp). In some embodiments, the dimension of VOTf defined by effective VOTp provides the effective VOTf. In some embodiments, the VOTf defines a last for the footwear.

[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating two-ridge coupled footwear, the method including: selecting anterior and posterior ridges based on one or more parameters of a required treatment; determining an effective VOTp for each of the selected ridges; selecting a desired orthotic footwear design and identifying points that collectively define a desired VOTf for the footwear; transforming the raw (X,Y) values ​​to generate new effective (X,Y) values ​​for the effective footwear VOTf for each of the selected ridges based on the determined effective VOTp; and generating (Z) values ​​corresponding to the generated new effective (X,Y) values.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the effective (X,Y) values ​​and the generated corresponding (Z) values ​​define effective VOTf dimensions. In some embodiments, a last is formed for footwear with the effective VOTf. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions embodied thereon, the program instructions being executable by at least one hardware processor to generate a VOTf for orthotic footwear based on a VOTp of at least one corresponding bump, the computer program product program code being executable to: receive (X,Y,Z) values ​​of effective VOTp for a desired bump of the orthotic footwear; receive raw (X,Y) values ​​of points defining a desired VOTf or a portion of the desired VOTf for the orthotic footwear; generate new effective (X,Y) values ​​of the effective VOTf or the portion of the effective VOTf for the orthotic footwear based on the (X,Y,Z) values ​​of the effective VOTp; generate a (Z) value or a portion of the effective VOTf for the orthotic footwear that corresponds to the generated new effective (X,Y) value; and combine the generated (X,Y) and (Z) values ​​to generate the effective VOTf or the portion of the effective VOTf for the orthotic footwear.

[0011] According to some embodiments, the computer program product program code is further executable to receive raw (X,Y) values ​​of the desired VOTf or a portion of the desired VOTf for the desired orthotic footwear in the form of a point cloud. In some embodiments, the computer program product program code is further executable to execute a point cloud thinning algorithm to retain only significant points. In some embodiments, the computer program product program code is further executable to execute a nearest neighbor (kNN) algorithm to generate new effective (X,Y) values ​​or a portion of the effective VOTf for the orthotic footwear based on the (X,Y,Z) values ​​of the effective VOTp. In some embodiments, the computer program product program code is further executable to cluster the generated new effective (X,Y) values ​​of the effective VOTf. In some embodiments, the computer program product program code is further executable to combine the generated new effective (X,Y) values ​​and (Z) values ​​and generate a 3D file for generating a shoe last corresponding to the effective VOTf of the orthotic footwear based on the (X,Y,Z) values ​​of the effective VOTp.

[0012] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

[0013] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the referenced drawings. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. The figures are listed below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of orthopedic footwear for proprioceptive and kinesthetic training of gait / posture, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective cross-sectional view of the VOTf of orthotic footwear as reflected by a shoe last for the orthotic footwear, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of an outsole of orthopedic footwear having coupled protuberances according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a map of a POC conversion zone, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 5A] 5A-5C are graphical representations of effective therapeutic pressure applied to the foot at a location above the ridge, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 5B] 5A-5C are graphical representations of effective therapeutic pressure applied to the foot at a location above the ridge, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1A-1C are simplified perspective views of exemplary zones of effective pressure applied to a POC, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart of a method for generating VOTp-based orthotic footwear and / or orthotic footwear lasts, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 8A] 1 is a flowchart of a method of operation of an orthotic footwear VOTf generator, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 8B] 8B is an example of a script for performing the method of FIG. 8A according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of an effective VOTp generated by a VOTf generator according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a simplified side view of an effective VOTp generated by a VOTf generator for a forward bump, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a simplified perspective view of an effective VOTp generated by a VOTf generator for a rear bump, according to some embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In some embodiments, a gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training device in the form of orthotic footwear is provided that includes two bulbous protrusions, also called ridges, protruding from the underside of the footwear. One of the ridges is positioned more posteriorly than the other. In some embodiments, one or both ridges are fixed in position, and in some embodiments, one or both ridges are movable relative to the outsole of the footwear.

[0016] As discussed above, in order to achieve effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training, the transmission of desired sensory input from the foot (e.g., sole of the foot) to the brain, and more specifically to the cerebellum, can be misdirected by interfering factors such as free movement of the foot over bumps, e.g., foot sliding inside the footwear, foot tilt and / or undesirable pressure vectors at unrelated locations on the foot due to footwear design / construction and / or other factors.

[0017] Therefore, the structure of the footwear itself, which is at least in part the foot-accommodating part of the corrective footwear, has a qualitative and quantitative influence on the effectiveness of proprioceptive and kinesthetic training of gait / posture and needs to be taken into account when planning corrective footwear.

[0018] Since the proprioceptive and kinesthetic training of gait / posture derives from the two ridges protruding from the underside of the orthotic footwear, the construction of such orthotic footwear must be directly and closely related to the effective therapeutic pressure exerted by the ridges generated by both the geometric shape, and the location of the ridges relative to the footwear.

[0019] While footwear is typically composed of many elements, for clarity of description, this disclosure will refer to footwear comprising a sole and a vamp. The outer portion or surface of the sole to which the ridges are coupled is referred to herein as the outsole. The inner portion or surface of the sole that directly contacts a foot accommodated in the footwear is referred to herein as the insole. The inner surface of the footwear's vamp, combined with the insole, defines the foot accommodation therapeutic volume (VOTf) of the footwear. The vamp may completely surround the foot, for example, to form a shoe, or may partially surround the foot, for example, to form a sandal.

[0020] The VOTf may be defined by the combination of the medial portion of the footwear vamp and the insole of the footwear, and / or the exterior surface of the last from which the footwear is constructed, which serves as a template for large-scale footwear manufacturing. As used herein, the terms "last," "footwear treatment volume (VOTf)," and / or "inner surface of the vamp and insole," and their dimensions, are considered to be identical and are used interchangeably throughout this disclosure.

[0021] In some embodiments, the range of distances (d) (e.g., heights) between the point of contact (POC) and the surface (e.g., floor) measured perpendicularly from the surface of the outsole, combined with the area of ​​the two primary transformation zones defined by the transformation zones of the anterior and posterior ridge relative to the insole, creates a volume referred to herein as the effective therapeutic volume of the ridge (effective VOTp).

[0022] As described elsewhere herein, orthopedic footwear includes a protuberance coupled to the outsole of the footwear, and a vamp and insole positioned on the protuberance to define a foot-accommodating VOTf. This configuration, when in use, establishes a point of contact (POC) of the protuberance with a surface (e.g., floor) associated with the foot accommodated in the VOTf, and transmits desired sensory input from the foot (e.g., sole of the foot) to the brain, more specifically to the cerebellum, to achieve effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training. However, under certain circumstances, the sensory input from the foot (e.g., sole of the foot) to the brain may be misdirected by interfering factors, such as free movement of the foot against the protuberance. Some examples include foot sliding within the foot resulting from the inclination of the foot and / or footwear design and / or construction and / or other factors, foot placement at least partially outside the effective VOTp of the foot, undesirable pressure vectors to unrelated positions of the foot, and / or undesirable pressure vectors of the foot resulting from the inclination and / or construction of the foot design and / or footwear and / or other factors. It should be understood that the term POC as used herein may refer to the point on the outer surface of the protuberance located the longest orthogonal distance from the surface of the outsole to which the protuberance is connected, or any point in contact with a surface on the surface of the protuberance when the footwear is in use.

[0023] To minimize such interference, the VOTf can be altered. However, altering the VOTf may result in new types of interference, such as pain-induced pressure, occurring in the area of ​​the foot accommodated by the VOTf. The reverse situation may also occur, where the VOTf is altered to correct interference, such as pain-induced pressure, in the area of ​​the foot accommodated by the VOTf. However, these changes may result in a change in the relative position of the foot to the POC, resulting in distortion of sensory input from the foot (e.g., sole) to the brain, reducing the effectiveness of proprioceptive and kinesthetic training of gait / posture.

[0024] Table 1 below summarizes examples of such interrelated causal relationships between VOTf / last adjustments and their effects on interfering factors or effects of gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training.

[0025] According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided footwear including a vamp and an innersole that together define a therapeutic volume (VOTf), and an outsole coupled to at least one protuberance including a point of contact with a surface (POC), wherein the dimensions of the VOTf are defined by the position of the POC in 3D space relative to the outsole and / or insole and / or corresponding VOTf. In some embodiments, the position of the POC in 3D space includes the distance of the POC from the surface of the outsole and / or insole and / or any selected point within the corresponding VOTf. In some embodiments, the position of the POC in 3D space includes the position of the POC on a plain that is parallel to and spaced apart from the surface of the outsole and / or insole. In some embodiments, the protuberance contacts the surface (e.g., a floor) via multiple POCs that define the surface. [Table 1]

[0026] According to aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing footwear including an outsole coupled to at least one protuberance including a vamp and an innersole that together define a therapeutic volume (VOTf), and a point of contact (POC) with a surface, e.g., a floor, wherein the dimension of the VOTf is defined by the location of the POC in 3D space relative to the outsole and / or insole and / or corresponding VOTf. In some embodiments, the method includes selecting anterior and posterior protuberances based on one or more parameters and determining an effective VOTp for each of the selected protuberances. As used herein, the term "effective" (e.g., effective VOTp, effective VOTf, effective (X,Y) value, etc.) means generating, or at least contributing to the generation of, effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training.

[0027] In some embodiments, the method further includes selecting a desired orthotic footwear design and identifying raw (X,Y) points that collectively define a desired VOTf for the footwear. Inputting the (X,Y) values ​​of the identified points of the desired orthotic footwear VOTf into a VOTf generator, converting the input (X,Y) values ​​into new effective (X,Y) values ​​corresponding to an effective footwear VOTf, and generating (Z) values ​​corresponding to the new effective (X,Y) values. Using the generated (Z) values ​​in concert with the new effective (X,Y) values, and generating orthotic footwear and / or orthotic footwear lasts for effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training.

[0028] According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, a VOTf generator is provided in the form of a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code embodied thereon, the program code being executable by at least one hardware processor to generate a VOTf based on the VOTf of a corresponding bump. In some embodiments, the program code is executable to determine an effective VOTp. In some embodiments, the VOTp is defined by the bump geometry and dimensions and an effective VOTp lookup table. In some embodiments, the program code is further executable to design a desired orthotic footwear VOTf and generate a raw (X,Y) value point cloud that defines the desired VOTf. The program code is further executable to thin the raw (X,Y) point cloud and retain only significant points.

[0029] In some embodiments, the program code is executable to further execute a nearest neighbor algorithm to convert the raw (X,Y) values ​​for the valid footwear VOTf to new (X,Y) values ​​by generating new (X,Y) values ​​that are within the valid VOTf domain. In some embodiments, and optionally after this step, the results are clustered. Finally, in some embodiments, the orthotic footwear VOTf generator program code is executable to execute a root solver to generate (Z) values ​​that correspond to the new (X,Y) values ​​of the point clusters, ensuring a valid orthotic footwear VOTf properly positioned on and within the generated effective VOTf.

[0030] The orthotic footwear VOTf generator is configured to generate the VOTp of the posterior protuberance 108 together with the orthotic footwear VOTp, VOTp, and a corresponding portion of the orthotic footwear VOTf, e.g., a posterior portion of the orthotic footwear, e.g., VOTf3 and / or VOTf4, or the VOTp of both the anterior and posterior protuberances 106 / 108 together with the complete VOTf of the orthotic footwear.

[0031] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 , a simplified perspective view of orthotic footwear for proprioceptive and kinesthetic training of gait / posture according to some embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 2, a simplified perspective view of the VOTf of the orthotic footwear reflected by a shoe last for the orthotic footwear. As shown in FIG. 1 , orthotic footwear 100 includes a vamp 102 and a sole 104, as well as two protuberances 106 and 108 coupled to an outsole 302 ( FIG. 3 ) of orthotic footwear 100. In some embodiments, each of protuberances 106 and 108 includes a protuberance point of contact (POC) 110 with a surface (e.g., the floor). In some embodiments, each of protuberances 106 and 108 includes a cluster of contact points that define the protuberance's contact surface with the surface (e.g., the floor). This may occur in deformable protuberances, for example, upon deformation of the protuberance under pressure applied by the user's weight. However, for ease of explanation, from this point on, reference will be made to only a single point of contact (POC) 110. In some embodiments, the vamp 102 and the insole portion of the sole 104 define a therapeutic volume (VOTf) of the footwear shown in FIG. 2 by the last 200.

[0032] 2, the orthotic footwear VOTf is represented by a shoe last 200 including a vamp portion 202 that defines a vamp of the orthotic footwear and an insole portion 204 that defines an insole of the orthotic footwear. In some embodiments, the VOTf represented by the shoe last 200 can be divided into portions that are divided by cross sections defined by, for example, one or more of the ball girth (206), the waist girth (208), and / or the short heel girth (210), defining, for example, VOTf1 (the toe spring portion), VOTf4 (the heel region at the rear end of the short heel girth (210)), VOTf2 (between the ball girth (206) and the waist girth (208)), and VOTf3 (between the waist girth (208) and the short heel girth (210)).

[0033] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a simplified illustration of an orthopedic footwear outsole having coupled bumps, according to some embodiments of the present invention, as viewed from the direction indicated in FIG. 1 by arrow 150. In some embodiments, as described in more detail elsewhere herein, the bumps 106 / 108 are movable relative to the surface of the outsole 302. The bumps 106 / 108 may be translatable in one or more directions and / or rotatable about a center of rotation or eccentric axis 304.

[0034] FIG. 4, a map of POC transformation zones according to some embodiments of the present invention, illustrates a map of POC zones of transformation of the protuberances 106 / 108 POC relative to the insole represented by the last outline 402. The zones of transformation define regions where one or more of the protuberances 106 / 108 generate effective perturbations that generate sensory input from the foot (e.g., the sole of the foot) to the brain, more specifically the cerebellum, to achieve effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training. Two primary transformation zones 406 and 408 represent the transformation zones of the corresponding protuberances 106 and 108. The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 illustrates four zones of POC transformation 404-1, 404-2, 404-3, and 404-4, which represent different levels of effective perturbation (i.e., therapeutic) generation. For example, the level of perturbation may increase incrementally or gradually from zone 404-4 to zone 404-1.

[0035] Figures 5A and 5B, collectively referred to as Figure 5, are graphic representations of effective treatment zones according to some embodiments of the present invention. The effective treatment zones define regions where protuberances POC should be placed to generate effective perturbations that generate sensory input from the foot (e.g., the sole of the foot) to the brain, more specifically the cerebellum, to achieve effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training. Figure 5A represents an effective treatment zone for a posterior portion of the VOTf (e.g., Figure 2, VOTf3) of orthotic footwear with a directly positioned protuberance (e.g., Figure 1, protuberance 108), as represented by the primary protuberance transformation zone 408 in Figure 4. Figure 5B represents an effective treatment zone for a front portion of the VOTf (e.g., Figure 2, VOTf1 and / or VOTf2) of orthotic footwear with a directly positioned protuberance (e.g., Figure 1, protuberance 106), as represented by the primary protuberance transformation zone 406 in Figure 4.

[0036] In FIG. 5, the level of treatment zone effect is represented by darkened columns perpendicular to the insole represented by last outline 402 along zones 404-1 through 404-4 and extending from a baseline 550 at the surface of the insole or last outline 402. As shown in FIG. 5, the treatment effect is represented by the length and tone of the columns, which increase as the POC moves from zone 404-4 toward zone 404-1. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the treatment effect appears to increase symmetrically from the lateral zone to the medial, central zone. However, this need not necessarily be the case. In some embodiments, the zone of treatment effect may appear asymmetric, depending on the dimensions and geometry of the protuberances.

[0037] 6 is a simplified perspective view of exemplary zones of effective pressure applied to a POC, according to some embodiments of the present invention. As described elsewhere herein, in some embodiments, the POC of a protuberance 106 / 108 is translatable across the surface of the outsole 302 and relative to the insole, represented by the last outline 402, where the protuberance generates an effective perturbation to the foot. In some embodiments, the protuberances 106 / 108 may each have a geometric shape that defines a different distance of its corresponding POC, measured perpendicularly from the surface of the outsole 302. The combination of the range (e.g., height) of the distance (d) of the POC, measured perpendicularly from the surface of the outsole 302 and / or insole 204, and the area of ​​the two primary transformation zones 406 and 408 defined by the transformation zone of the protuberance 106 / 108 relative to the outsole 302 and / or insole 204, represented by the last outline 402, generates a volume referred to herein as the effective therapeutic volume (effective VOTp) 604 / 614 of the protuberance. The areas of the primary transformation zones 406 and 408 are defined by corresponding minor axes 606 / 616 and major axes 608 / 618.

[0038] In some embodiments, the dimensions of the anterior ridge 106VOTp 604 are the same as the dimensions of the posterior ridge 108VOTp 614. In some embodiments, the dimensions of the anterior ridge 106VOTp 604 are different from the dimensions of the posterior ridge 108VOTp 614. In some embodiments, the geometric shape of the VOTp is approximately, but not necessarily, ellipsoidal. The dimensions of the VOTp are measured by their major axis, e.g., axis 608 / 618 in FIG. 6, their minor axis, e.g., axis 606 / 616 in FIG. 6, and, when present, one or more radii (not shown).

[0039] For example, for the anterior VOTp 604, the length of the major axis 608 may be between 75 and 175 mm, and in some embodiments, between 150 and 170 mm, between 110 and 120 mm, or between 80 and 85 mm.

[0040] For example, for the anterior VOTp 604, the length of the minor axis 606 may be between 20 and 120 mm, and in some embodiments, between 100 and 110 mm, between 50 and 55 mm, or between 20 and 25 mm.

[0041] For the posterior VOTp 614, the length of the major axis 618 can be between 55 and 140 mm, and in some embodiments, between 130 and 140 mm, between 80 and 90 mm, or between 50 and 60 mm.

[0042] For example, for the posterior VOTp 614, the length of the minor axis 616 can be between 20 and 120 mm, and in some embodiments, between 100 and 110 mm, between 50 and 55 mm, or between 20 and 25 mm. For example, the end radius for both VOTp 604 / 614 can be between 12 and 53 mm, between 50 and 55 mm, between 20 and 30 mm, or between 10 and 15 mm. For example, the distance (d) for both VOTp 604 / 614 can be between 25 and 60 mm, and in some embodiments, between 50 and 60 mm, between 35 and 45 mm, or between 25 and 35 mm.

[0043] As explained in detail elsewhere herein, the effectiveness of treatment depends not only on the 3D spatial position of the POC relative to the outsole and / or insole and / or VOTf, but also on the 3D spatial position of the POC relative to the foot contained in the orthotic footwear VOTf. Furthermore, it has been found that simple restraint of the foot inside the footwear is not sufficient to ensure optimal and effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training, because the signals generated by the POC position can be misinterpreted by interfering factors such as free movement of the foot against the protuberances, e.g., foot sliding inside the footwear, foot tilt, and / or undesirable pressure vectors at unrelated locations of the foot due to footwear design / construction and / or other factors.

[0044] Because the dimensions of the orthotic footwear VOTf are directly dependent upon and interrelated to the potential location of the POC in 3D space and its relationship to the orthotic footwear outsole and / or insole, altering the dimensions of the footwear to correct such interference requires consideration of the location of the POC in 3D space and relative to the orthotic footwear insole. When designing footwear associated with a vamp, care must be taken to ensure that the VOTf defined by the inner surface of the vamp and the insole positions the foot accommodated by the VOTf over the effective zone of the vamp to provide the user with effective gait / posture proprioceptive and kinesthetic training.

[0045] Thus, in accordance with aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided footwear including a vamp and an innersole that together define a footwear volume of treatment (VOTf), and an outsole coupled to at least one protuberance that includes a point of contact with a surface (POC), wherein a dimension of the VOTf is defined by a position of the POC in 3D space relative to any selected point within the insole and / or outsole and / or corresponding VOTf. In some embodiments, the position of the POC in 3D space includes a distance of the POC from a surface of the outsole and / or insole measured perpendicular to the surface of the outsole 302. In some embodiments, the position of the POC in 3D space includes a position of the POC on a plain that is parallel to and spaced apart from the surface of the outsole.

[0046] Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a flowchart of a method for generating VOTp-based orthotic footwear and / or an orthotic footwear last, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Step 702 may include selecting anterior protuberances 106 and posterior protuberances 108 based on one or more parameters of the required treatment and determining an effective VOTp for each of the selected protuberances, e.g., via a look-up table. At step 704, a desired orthotic footwear design is selected and points that collectively define a desired VOTf for the footwear are identified. At 706, the raw (X,Y) values ​​of the identified points of the orthotic footwear VOTf are input into a VOTf generator, such as the VOT generator described in FIG. 8B. At 708, the raw (X,Y) values ​​are converted to new effective (X,Y) values ​​for the effective footwear VOTf, e.g., therapeutic generation, by generating new effective (X,Y) values ​​that are within the effective VOTf domain based on the effective VOTp determined for each of the selected bumps, and at 710, (Z) values ​​are generated that correspond to the generated new effective (X,Y) values.

[0047] Through the process of calculating (Z) values ​​(steps 706 and 708), the VOTf generator (e.g., of FIG. 8B) generates only valid (X,Y) values, i.e., (Z) values ​​that correspond to (X,Y) values ​​that lie within the VOTf dimensions defined by the valid VOTf. In step 712, the VOTf dimensions defined by the valid (X,Y) values ​​and for which corresponding (Z) values ​​were generated are used to generate (e.g., by 3D printing) orthotic footwear and / or a shoe last for the orthotic footwear.

[0048] Reference is now made to Figures 8A and 8B. Figure 8A is a flowchart of a method of operation of an orthotic footwear VOTf generator, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Figure 8B is an example of a script that performs some of the steps of the method of Figure 8A, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0049] According to some embodiments, a method of operating an orthotic footwear VOTf generator includes, in step 802, defining an effective VOTp. In step 804, a desired orthotic footwear VOTf is designed and a raw (X,Y) value point cloud defining the desired VOTf is generated. Because the number of points in the point cloud can be enormous (e.g., 1500 or more points), embodiments of the method may include, in step 806, thinning the point cloud and retaining only significant points. For example, the minimum number of points that still define the volume of the desired orthotic footwear VOTf, e.g., points on the outer surface of the volume. A nearest neighbor algorithm is then performed in step 808 to convert the raw (X,Y) values ​​into new effective (X,Y) values ​​for the effective footwear VOTf by generating new effective (X,Y) values ​​within the effective VOTf domain. In some embodiments, this optionally follows in step 810 by clustering the results (e.g., as described in FIG. 8B after the title "Cluster NN," where two clusters are expected). Finally, the corrective footwear VOTf generator includes, in step 812, running a root solver and, in step 814, generating (Z) values ​​corresponding to valid (X,Y) values ​​of point clusters that ensure a valid corrective footwear VOTf located on and within one or more valid VOTp zones (e.g., Z_values ​​are calculated as seen in FIG. 8B under the heading "Rough Approximation").

[0050] The orthotic footwear VOTf generator is configured to generate the VOTp of the posterior protuberance 108 together with the orthotic footwear VOTp, VOTp, and a corresponding portion of the orthotic footwear VOTf, e.g., a posterior portion of the orthotic footwear, e.g., VOTf3 and / or VOTf4, or the VOTp of both the anterior and posterior protuberances 106 / 108 together with the complete VOTf of the orthotic footwear.

[0051] According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a VOT generator in the form of a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code embodied thereon, the program code being executable by at least one hardware processor to generate a VOTf for orthotic footwear based on a VOTp of at least one corresponding bump.

[0052] In some embodiments, the computer program product program code is executable by at least one hardware processor to receive (X,Y,Z) values ​​of effective VOTp of the desired orthotic footwear protuberance, receive raw (X,Y) values ​​of the desired VOTf or portion of the desired VOTf of the orthotic footwear, generate new effective (X,Y) values ​​of the effective VOTf or portion of the effective VOTf of the orthotic footwear based on the (X,Y,Z) values ​​of effective VOTp, execute a root solver to generate a (Z) value of the effective VOTf or portion of the effective VOTf of the orthotic footwear that corresponds to the generated new effective (X,Y) values, and combine the generated (X,Y) and (Z) values ​​to generate the effective VOTf or portion of the effective VOTf of the orthotic footwear.

[0053] In some embodiments, the program code is further executable by a hardware processor to receive raw (X,Y) values ​​of the desired VOTf or a portion of the desired VOTf for the desired orthotic footwear in the form of a point cloud. In some embodiments, the program code is further executable by at least one hardware processor to perform a point cloud thinning algorithm and retain only significant points. In some embodiments, the program code is further executable to perform a kNN algorithm to generate new effective (X,Y) values ​​of the effective VOTf or a portion of the effective VOTf for the orthotic footwear based on the (X,Y,Z) values ​​of the effective VOTp.

[0054] In some embodiments, optionally, the program code is further executable by a hardware processor to cluster the generated new effective (X,Y) values ​​of the effective VOTf. In some embodiments, the program code is further executable by at least one hardware processor to combine the generated new effective (X,Y) and (Z) values ​​and generate a 3D file for generation of a shoe last corresponding to the effective VOTf of the orthotic footwear based on the (X,Y,Z) values ​​of the effective VOTf.

[0055] FIG. 9 is a simplified perspective view of an effective VOTp 900 generated by a VOTf generator according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a simplified side view of an effective VOTp 900 generated by a VOTf generator according to some embodiments of the present invention for a front protuberance, such as protuberance 106 and front portion 902 of a valid orthotic footwear VOTf (e.g., VOTf1 and VOTf2 combined). The effective front portion 902 of the valid orthotic footwear VOTf is generated based on the dimensional values ​​of the effective VOTp 1000. FIG. 11 shows a simplified perspective view of an effective VOTp 900 generated by a VOTf generator according to some embodiments of the present invention for a rear protuberance, such as protuberance 108 and rear portion 904 of a valid orthotic footwear VOTf (e.g., VOTf3 and VOTf4 combined). The effective front portion 904 of the valid orthotic footwear VOTf is generated based on the dimensional values ​​of the effective VOTp 1100.

[0056] Any one of the generated effective VOTf or VOTf portions 902 and / or 904 may be used to print or manufacture a shoe last for the orthotic footwear and / or the orthotic footwear (vamp and insole) itself.

[0057] Throughout this application, various embodiments of the present invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to specifically disclose all possible subranges as well as individual values ​​within that range. For example, the description of a range such as 1 to 6 should be considered to specifically disclose subranges such as 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 6, 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

[0058] Whenever a numerical range is given herein, it is meant to include any recited number (fractional or integer) within the stated range. The phrases "ranging between" a first denoted number and a second denoted number and "ranging between" a first denoted number and a second denoted number are used interchangeably herein and are meant to include the first and second denoted numbers and all fractional and integer numbers therebetween.

[0059] In the description and claims of this application, the words "comprise," "include," and "have," and each of their forms, do not necessarily limit the members in a list with which the word may be associated. Furthermore, in the event of a conflict between this application and any document incorporated by reference, it is hereby intended that the present application shall control.

[0060] Disclosed herein are methods and computer program products that can automatically (i.e., without human intervention) construct a list of relevant claims and supporting evidence given a topic under consideration (TUC). Thus, for example, one party can extract persuasive arguments in support of their position, and another party can prepare objections that may be raised while discussing the TUC.

[0061] The present invention may be a system, a method, and / or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer-readable storage medium (or media) having computer-readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to perform aspects of the present invention.

[0062] A computer-readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can hold and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer-readable storage medium can be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of computer-readable storage media includes the following: portable computer diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), static random access memory (SRAM), portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disks (DVD), memory sticks, floppy disks, punch cards or mechanically encoded devices such as raised structures in grooves with instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. As used herein, computer-readable storage media should not be construed as being, per se, transitory signals, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission medium (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted over a wire.

[0063] The computer-readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded from a computer-readable storage medium to each computing / processing device or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and / or a wireless network. The network may include copper transmission cables, optical transmission fiber, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and / or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing / processing device receives the computer-readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer-readable program instructions for storage in a computer-readable storage medium within the respective computing / processing device.

[0064] The computer-readable program instructions for carrying out the operations of the present invention may be either assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk, C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The computer-readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, a programmable logic circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a programmable logic array (PLA) may execute computer-readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer-readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry to perform aspects of the present invention.

[0065] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-readable program instructions.

[0066] These computer-readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram blocks. These computer-readable program instructions may also be stored on a computer-readable storage medium that causes a computer, programmable data processing apparatus, and / or other device to function in a particular manner, such that the computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture containing instructions that implement aspects of the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram blocks.

[0067] Computer-readable program instructions can also be loaded into a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to generate a computer-implemented process such that a series of operational steps executed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block(s).

[0068] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, including one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending on the functionality involved. It should also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and / or flowchart diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowchart diagrams, may be implemented by a special-purpose hardware-based system that performs the specified functions or actions or executes a combination of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0069] The description of various embodiments of the present invention is presented for illustrative purposes, but is not intended to be exhaustive and is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terms used herein were selected to best express the principles of the embodiments, practical applications or technical improvements to technology found in the market, or to enable those skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. 1. A method for producing footwear joined to two protuberances, comprising: selecting the ridges to include a front ridge and a rear ridge, each of the ridges configured to be coupled to an outsole of the footwear to provide a point of contact (POC) with a floor surface when the footwear is in use, the POC being an orthogonal distance from a surface of the outsole; determining an effective treatment volume (VOTp) for each of the selected protuberances, the effective VOTp representing a plurality of distances of the POC from the surface of the outsole defined by a maximum range of movement of each protuberance; selecting a desired orthotic footwear design and identifying points defining an interior volume of the desired footwear (VOTf) defined by a vamp and inner sole of the desired footwear, each of the identified points being defined by raw (X, Y) values; For each of the selected bumps, transforming the raw (X,Y) values ​​to generate new effective (X,Y) values ​​for an effective footwear VOTf for each of the selected bumps based on the determined effective VOTp; A method comprising:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effective (X, Y) values ​​define the effective VOTf dimensions.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising forming a last for the footwear according to the effective VOTf.

4. 1. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions embodied thereon, the program instructions being executable by at least one hardware processor to generate an internal volume of contact (VOTf) for orthotic footwear based on a VOTp of at least one corresponding protuberance, the at least one protuberance being configured to be coupled to an outsole of the footwear to provide a point of contact (POC) with a floor surface when the footwear is in use, the POC being spaced orthogonally from a surface of the outsole, the effective VOTp representing a plurality of distances of the POC from the surface of the outsole defined by a maximum range of movement of the at least one protuberance, the computer program product program code comprising: receiving (X, Y, Z) values ​​of an effective VOTp of a desired orthotic prominence; receiving raw (X, Y) values ​​of points defining a desired VOTf or a portion of the desired VOTf of the orthotic footwear; generating a new effective (X, Y) value of the effective VOTf or a portion of the effective VOTf of the orthopedic footwear based on the (X, Y, Z) value of the effective VOTp; generating a (Z) value of the effective VOTf or a portion of the effective VOTf of the orthopedic footwear that corresponds to the generated new effective (X, Y) value; and generating an effective VOTf or a portion of an effective VOTf of the orthopedic footwear based on the generated (X, Y) and (Z) values.

5. 5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the computer program product program code is further executable to receive the raw (X,Y) values ​​of the desired VOTf or a portion of the desired VOTf of the desired orthotic footwear in the form of a point cloud.

6. 5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the computer program product program code is further executable to perform a point cloud thinning algorithm and retain only significant points.

7. 7. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the computer program product program code is further executable to execute a nearest neighbor (kNN) algorithm to generate the new effective (X,Y) value of the effective VOTf of the orthotic footwear or a portion of the effective VOTf based on the (X,Y,Z) value of the effective VOTp.

8. 8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer program product program code is further executable to cluster the generated new effective (X, Y) values ​​of the effective VOTf.

9. 5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the computer program product program code is further executable to combine the generated new effective (X, Y) and (Z) values ​​and generate a 3D file for generating a shoe last corresponding to the effective VOTf of the orthotic footwear based on the (X, Y, Z) values ​​of the effective VOTp.

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