Orthotic Insole with Angled Top Surface Portions for Foot Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing orthotic insoles, both custom-made and prefabricated, fail to effectively address a wide range of foot ailments due to variability in design and fitting, with custom insoles being time-consuming and iterative, and prefabricated insoles lacking the necessary degree of relief for individual foot corrections.

Innovation Solution

An orthotic insole design featuring a top surface with angled portions to align with anatomical structures, including a heel portion, calcaneal inclination, midfoot, and metatarsal areas, along with a tongue member and arch alignment member, manufactured using 3D printing based on virtual models to provide standardized support for misaligned feet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If custom-made orthotic insoles are manufactured to conform to the user's foot using traditional methods, then the insole provides personalized comfort and support, but the manufacturing process is time-consuming and iterative

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoot conformity precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and pre-configures the insole geometry based on standardized anatomical data and biomechanical principles before manufacturing. The insole design incorporates predetermined corrective geometries for common foot conditions, eliminating the need for iterative adjustments during or after manufacturing. This preliminary preparation of design parameters significantly reduces manufacturing time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses 3D scanning and digital modeling to capture precise foot parameters, then applies algorithmic transformations to generate optimized insole geometries. By changing from traditional manual measurement and molding to digital parameter-based design, the system achieves high precision quickly and consistently across different users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If prefabricated orthotic insoles are standardized for general public use, then manufacturing time is reduced, but they lack the necessary degree of relief for individual foot corrections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing speedVSAvoidindividual foot correction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal insole platform that can address multiple foot conditions through standardized anatomical support structures. The design incorporates multi-functional elements that provide arch support, heel cushioning, metatarsal protection, and pronation control simultaneously, making it adaptable to various foot types and conditions while maintaining standardized manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The insole features locally optimized geometries in different zones: enhanced arch support in the midfoot region, cushioned heel cups in the rearfoot, and metatarsal pads in the forefoot. Each zone is designed with specific corrective properties tailored to local anatomical requirements, allowing standardized production to deliver personalized correction effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If custom orthotics are modified with custom geometric modifications to offer user-specific solutions, then individual correction effectiveness is improved, but the process becomes more complex and variable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrection effectivenessVSAvoidgeometric modification complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insole is divided into distinct functional zones (heel portion, midfoot portion, forefoot portion) with specific geometric characteristics in each segment. This segmentation allows complex corrective geometries to be broken down into manageable, standardized components that can be manufactured consistently while maintaining overall correction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs curved and contoured surfaces throughout the insole design, including arched support structures and rounded transition zones. These organic geometries naturally conform to foot anatomy and provide distributed pressure relief, achieving effective correction without sharp edges or complex angular modifications that would increase manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20230284734A1An innovative soothing orthotic insole with a new natural human corrective alignment geometry to improve foot and body alignment using an in-depth biomechanics analysis and state of the art 3D modelling, representing a new standard of care and quality

Publication Date: 2023.09.14 AUDETTE ANDRÉ

AI summary

An orthotic insole and a method for manufacturing the same, the orthotic insole comprising: an insole body receivable in a footwear, the insole body having a front body end, a rear body end opposite the front body end, a top body surface for receiving a foot of the user and a bottom surface configured to be received on an insole of the footwear, the top insole surface including a plurality of top surface portions, each top surface portion being substantially angled relative to an adjacent top surface portion, the top surface being substantially untwisted along its length between the front and rear body ends such that the top surface remains leveled in a widthwise direction as the top body surface extends from the front body end to the rear body end.