507 results about "Foot arch" patented technology

An article of footwear includes a woven region. A fit adjustment system includes a lace strap superimposed with strands of material forming the woven region. The lace strap is routed around the shoe and forms opposing pairs of lace holding elements such as lace loops. More specifically, the lace strap extends downwardly from a lace holding element on a first side of the upper, across and underneath the footbed, around the heel region, back across and underneath the footbed, and upwardly to form a lace holding element on the second side. By the routing of the lace strap, the lace strap is integrated with the heel and arch portions of the shoe. A shoe lace is routed through the lace holding elements and may be adjusted to affect the fit of the upper to a foot of a user.

A shoe includes a shoe upper made of flexible material, the shoe upper including a toe region, a heel region, a foot opening at the heel region, and an arch region extending between the toe region and the heel region. A split sole is secured to a bottom of the shoe upper, the split sole including a front sole under the toe region of the shoe upper and a rear sole under the heel region of the shoe upper, the front and rear soles being spaced from one another for defining a gap between the front and rear soles that extends along the bottom of the shoe upper. The dance shoe also includes an elastic material attached to the bottom of the shoe upper and covering the gap between the front and rear soles, whereby the elastic material covers an underside of the dance shoe, and at least one support band attached to the shoe upper and being connected with the elastic material for supporting the elastic material and for minimizing wrinkling, puckering, pinching and sagging of the elastic material in the arch region of the shoe upper.

An ankle joint and a subtalar joint provided in a hindfoot permit closed kinetic chain motion of the foot. The ankle and subtalar joints are preferably formed integrally with the hindfoot by respective struts of resilient material of the hindfoot. An arch in the midfoot creates frontal and sagittal plane motion capabilities. The forefoot includes at least one expansion joint hole extending therethrough between dorsal and plantar surfaces. An expansion joint extends forward from the hole to the anterior edge of the forefoot to form plural expansion struts that create improved biplanar motion capability of the forefoot. Concavities and convexities on the surface of the hindfoot, midfoot and forefoot encourage desired motions and motion directions so that the foot functions and feels like a normal foot to the amputee.

A footbed for insertion into a shoe. The footbed includes an insole with a heel area, a metatarsal area and an arch area between the heel area and the metatarsal area. The insole also includes a lateral side and a medial side. A support is attached to the insole and extends between the arch area and the heel area of the insole. The support extends from the lateral side to the medial side of the insole to reduce pronation in a foot that is supported by the footbed.

A sock used in pilates includes a medial support about an arch portion of the sock, a side support member extending longitudinally along a lateral edge, a metacarpal support member, a reinforcement member extending from a heel portion to the metacarpal support member, and a plurality of raised bumps strategically located on a lower surface to provide tactile response to weight shift and pressure due to posture that can be used to correct or adjust posture during pilates exercises.

An insole and arch support system which may be secured to the interior of a shoe and includes a set of arch support members. Each arch support member of the system is provided with a different density to provide varying levels of hardness and stability to the arch of the foot of the individual user, and may be secured to the insole at adjustable locations. An appropriate arch support member and insole member are secured together and inserted into the shoe, with the arch support member positioned at the desired location relative to the arch of the foot. The shoe is then worn in the normal manner.

The present invention is generally directed to a sole for an article of footwear. The sole generally defining a heel region, a forefoot region and an arch region that is disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole has a foot support extending from the heel region to the forefoot region, with a shank plate coupled to a lower surface of the foot support. The sole further includes a lateral heel piece and a medial heel piece, such that at least one of the medial or lateral heel pieces includes a plurality of tubes. A heel outsole is coupled to at least one of said medial or lateral heel pieces.

A shoe is provided with an outsole that contacts the ground, an insole upon which a foot rests, and a midsole located between the outsole and the insole. The midsole cushions the wearer's foot by providing a loose fill material in a front compartment on which the toes and ball of the foot of the wearer rest and a heel compartment on which the heel of the wearer rests. The front compartment is divided into at least two sub compartments to keep the loose fill evenly distributed. The front compartment and the heel compartment are separated by an arch support section of the midsole, which provides relatively rigid support for the arch of the wearer's foot.

A removable insole for insertion into footwear, includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and an arch portion connecting together the forefoot and heel portions. At least one of the forefoot portion, heel portion and arch portion is formed by a lower layer of a resilient material which provides a cushioning function, and an upper layer positioned and secured on top of the lower layer and formed of a material having a Shore “000” hardness of less than about 45, and a tear strength greater than about 6.3 lb / in.

A sole assembly for an article of footwear having a midsole defining a sidewall channel in the forefoot and a sidewall channel in the heel. The forefoot and heel channels terminate at the arch. The sole assembly includes a plate disposed below the midsole. The plate may include an arch portion, forefoot legs extending along the medial and lateral sides of the forefoot and heel legs extending along the medial and lateral sides of the heel. The medial forefoot leg may extend almost the full length of the forefoot. The lateral forefoot leg may extend about half-way through the forefoot. The lateral heel leg may extend almost the full length of the heel. The medial heel leg may extend about half-way through the heel. The sole assembly may include an outsole with slots in the heel and forefoot. The slots may terminate short of the peripheral edge.

A prosthetic foot device includes an elongated upper forefoot portion, an ankle portion, and a lower footplate. The forefoot portion can extend rearwardly through an upper attachment section, downwardly through an ankle section, forwardly through an arch section, and to a toe section. The ankle portion can attach to the forefoot portion, and can extend rearwardly through an upper attachment section, downwardly through an ankle section, forwardly under the ankle section of the forefoot portion, and rearwardly to a heel section, in a substantial s-shaped profile. The lower footplate can attach to the ankle or forefoot portion, and can extend through a heel section, an arch section, and to a toe section. The upper forefoot, the ankle portion, and the lower footplate each being flexible to store energy and resilient to return energy.

An orthopedic walking boot promotes rapid healing of diabetic foot ulcerations by lowering the maximum peak pressure imposed upon the foot. The walker has a hard unyielding shell which is designed for walking. The shell closely and rigidly supports a mid-sole in a foot-shaped bed. The mid-sole has a foot-shaped cavity with rounded sides adapted to form resilient support for the heel, arch and sides of a foot in addition to the bottom of a foot. A conformable inner-sole is adapted to fit over the foot-shaped cavity in the mid-sole and be compressed in response to foot pressure between the sides and bottom of the foot and the sides and bottom of the foot-shaped cavity in the mid-sole thereby compensating for small differences between the shape of the foot and the shape of the cavity. Weight applied to the foot is transferred to the walking shell by contact between the sides of the foot, arch, and heel and the arch, heel and sides of the foot-shaped cavity as well as the bottom of the cavity thereby decreasing the peak or maximum unit pressure on the plantar surface of the foot. A breathable bootie which wraps the foot and lower leg in a protective “cocoon” is preferably secured to the upper surface of the insole thereby preventing foreign materials from entering the foot cavity.

An orthopedic walking boot promotes rapid healing of diabetic foot ulcerations by lowering the maximum peak pressure imposed upon the foot. The walker has a hard unyielding shell which is designed for walking. The shell closely and rigidly supports a mid-sole in a foot-shaped bed. The mid-sole has a foot-shaped cavity with rounded sides adapted to form resilient support for the heel, arch and sides of a foot in addition to the bottom of a foot. A conformable inner-sole is adapted to fit over the foot-shaped cavity in the mid-sole and be compressed in response to foot pressure between the sides and bottom of the foot and the sides and bottom of the foot-shaped cavity in the mid-sole thereby compensating for small differences between the shape of the foot and the shape of the cavity. Weight applied to the foot is transferred to the walking shell by contact between the sides of the foot, arch, and heel and the arch, heel and sides of the foot-shaped cavity as well as the bottom of the cavity thereby decreasing the peak or maximum unit pressure on the plantar surface of the foot. A breathable bootie which wraps the foot and lower leg in a protective “cocoon” is preferably secured to the upper surface of the insole thereby preventing foreign materials from entering the foot cavity.

A lacing system includes a lace loop attached to a strap. The lace loop is threaded through eyelets of a sneaker, in such a manner that, a single pull on the strap, causes the lace segments to move through the eyelets of the sneaker opening, so that the entire length of the opening contracts simultaneously. This pull lifts the entire arch area, thus providing better support. The lace segments converge at the strap, near the ankle, thus providing better support at the ankle. Additional lace segments could be disposed above the arch to provide better arch support. A strap or fastening member may attach to the sneaker by either a ratchet buckle, clasp, hook, snap, or a hook-and-loop fastener. The sneaker opens to it's maximum width, automatically when the user steps out.

A prosthetic foot device includes an elongated upper forefoot portion and a shock absorbing ankle portion. The forefoot portion can extend from an upper attachment section, downwardly through an ankle section, forwardly through an arch section, and to a toe section. The ankle portions can include at least two substantially straight sections including a first section extending downwardly and forwardly under the ankle section of the forefoot portion, and a second section extending downwardly and rearwardly to a heel section positioned at a heel location of a natural heel.

A sock used in pilates includes a medial support about an arch portion of the sock, a side support member extending longitudinally along a lateral edge, a metacarpal support member, a reinforcement member extending from a heel portion to the metacarpal support member, and a plurality of raised bumps strategically located on a lower surface to provide tactile response to weight shift and pressure due to posture that can be used to correct or adjust posture during pilates exercises.

A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed thicker protective pieces in ball and toe areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and toe portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. The foot cover may be used alone, whereby the toe and heel portions of the foot are exposed, or in combination with a dance shoe providing a stretchable sole running from the arch portion to the toe portion of the foot.

A sole assembly including an outsole and a midsole that balances proprioception, flexibility, protection and running efficiency. The midsole can define a flexibility void in the arch region of the assembly. The outsole can include ground contacting wearing tread extending through the arch region adjacent the flexibility void, with the outsole minimized adjacent the flexibility void to enhance flexibility, along with the flexibility void, in the arch region. The sole assembly can include a 4 mm to 8 mm or other heel to toe drop to accommodate a variety of running and other activities. The sole assembly can be outfitted with shock pods of denser, more rigid material than the midsole to dissipate forces from the wearer to the midsole over a larger area. The midsole can include a non-supportive upwardly extending portion in the arch to provide a wearer with the false perception that the arch is supported to reduce fatigue.

A removable insole for insertion into footwear, includes a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and an arch portion connecting together the forefoot and heel portions. At least one of the forefoot portion, heel portion and arch portion is formed by a lower layer of a resilient material which provides a cushioning function, and an upper layer positioned and secured on top of the lower layer and formed of a material having a Shore “000” hardness of less than about 45, and a tear strength greater than about 6.3 lb / in.

A skate boot or other piece of footwear is provided with a flexible midfoot section that is not rigidly connected to either a sole and / or base of the boot, in order to adjustably tighten around the bottom, sides, and / or top of the wearer's midfoot to provide arch support and uniform snugness. The midfoot section is in a “hammock” type arrangement while the bail and heel portions of the wearer's foot rests on the footbed over the respective sole portions.

An ankle control system, having a form-fitting sock, a semi-rigid support member, a lever motion stabilizing strap, a stirrup strap, and collar. The form-fitting sock has opposing medial and lateral sides, a foot portion having an arch portion, and an ankle portion having a vertical Achilles tendon portion. The semi-rigid support member is connected to the sock and has at least one slot providing flexibility to contour over an ankle as pressure is exerted on the support member. The lever motion stabilizing strap acts as a lasso to restrict inversion, eversion, and plantar flexion / inversion through the lever action of the foot with respect to the ankle. The stirrup strap is adjustably attachable to the sock.

A healthy insole is disclosed, which includes a first soft elastic member including a front metatarsal section, a mid foot section, and a rear heel section, and formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of an inner bottom surface of a shoe; a hard elastic member disposed at a bottom of the mid foot section and the rear heel section of the first soft elastic member, wherein a first through hole and a second through hole are respectively disposed in an arch portion of the mid foot section and the rear heel section, and a plurality of first recesses are disposed on the surface of the hard elastic member, and an arch elastic part is disposed in the first through hole; and a second soft elastic member disposed in the second through hole of the hard elastic member, wherein a plurality of second recesses are disposed on the surface of the second soft elastic member.

There is provided a foot support conforming to a user's foot. The foot support includes a supportive member defining a front portion, a rear portion and an arch portion for engagement against the foot plantar arch. The rear portion has a concave periphery formed for partial resting abutment of the person's heel. The supportive member is fabricated from thermoplastic material formed to shape in a custom application. Preferred materials are thermoplastic materials providing easily formable shapes that soften or react at a low temperature between and are capable of being molded and shaped with hand pressure to the bottom of the foot while the foot is in a non-weight bearing position. Subsequently the thermoplastic material hardens retaining the molded shape. In a second embodiment, a footbed assembly having a cushioning top layer overlaying the upper surface of the molded supportive member is provided. The invention also contemplates a method for custom forming the supportive member.

A prosthetic foot includes a foot member, a heel member operatively coupled to the foot member. At least one of the heel member and foot member define an arch portion that faces a support surface that the prosthetic foot contacts during use. An insole member contacts said arch portion, the insole member configured to facilitate a rollover of the prosthetic foot in at least one of a lateral-medial and a medial-lateral direction during ambulation.