Anatomical Shoe Insert for High Heel Pressure Redistribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-heeled shoes are extremely uncomfortable, causing foot pain and ankle instability due to the inclined plane design that presses the foot forward, leading to pressure on the ball and toe areas, and existing comfort improvements often require modifications to the shoe last or affect the fit and style.
Innovation Solution
A flexible device with ellipsoid depressions to accommodate the calcaneal tuberosity and raised areas under the metatarsals, which can be integrated into the shoe during manufacturing or applied post-manufacture, shifting weight towards the heel and reducing pressure on the toes, without altering the shoe's fit or style.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If conventional high-heeled shoe design with inclined plane is used, then heel height and style are achieved, but foot comfort and ankle stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific anatomical contours in the insole board and sock liner at key locations (heel counter, arch support, metatarsal area) rather than uniformly modifying the entire shoe structure. The heel counter is cupped to fit the calcaneal tuberosity, the arch support matches the longitudinal arch contour, and metatarsal pads are positioned at specific pressure points, allowing the shoe to maintain its high-heel shape while providing localized comfort and stability where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary device consisting of the contoured insole board and sock liner assembly that mediates between the rigid high-heel structure and the human foot. This intermediary layer with its anatomical contours and cushioning materials translates the rigid inclined plane into a more foot-friendly interface, distributing pressure and providing support without requiring modification to the shoe's external high-heel design.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If shoe last modifications are made to improve comfort, then foot comfort improves, but manufacturing complexity and quality control issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comfort-providing elements into separate, modular components (insole board with heel counter and arch support, sock liner with metatarsal pads) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for comfort while maintaining standard shoe manufacturing processes for the upper and sole, avoiding the need to modify the entire shoe last and reducing quality control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The comfort features are built into the insole board and sock liner during their preliminary manufacturing stages rather than requiring post-assembly modifications to the shoe. The heel counter is cupped during insole board formation, the arch support is contoured during sock liner manufacturing, and metatarsal pads are pre-positioned, allowing these comfort elements to be integrated into standard production workflows without adding significant complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If thick sock liners are used to improve comfort, then foot comfort improves, but shoe fit and style are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin but anatomically contoured sock liner that provides comfort through precise shaping rather than thickness. The sock liner is formed with a contoured upper surface that matches the longitudinal arch of the foot and includes metatarsal pads at specific locations, providing support and comfort while remaining thin enough not to affect the shoe's external fit and style.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using a uniformly thick sock liner, the patent applies cushioning and support locally where needed through anatomical contouring. The heel counter provides localized heel support, the arch support targets the longitudinal arch, and metatarsal pads are positioned at specific pressure points, providing maximum comfort with minimal overall thickness that preserves shoe fit and style.
Data Source
Figure 1~1A
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provided is a device for insertion into a high heel shoe, having a rear region positioned to underlying a wearer's calcaneal tuberosity, the rear region being shaped to accommodate a planer surface of the wearer's calcaneal tuberosity, an upper surface of said rear region having a raised portion underlying an area of the wearer's calcaneus immediately forward of the wearer's calcaneus tuberosity; and a forward region positioned to underlie at least a portion of the shafts of the wearer's metatarsals, the second upper surface of said forward region having a raised portion which gradually rises to an apex position to underlie the shafts of the wearer's second and third metatarsals.