Orthotic Wedge Shoe for Foot Misalignment Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shoes fail to address individual-specific misalignments of the knee, ankle, and foot, leading to constant muscular compensation, reduced endurance, and increased risk of overuse injuries and chronic pain.
Innovation Solution
A shoe design featuring a base member with an adjustable orthotic wedge that can be customized to correct misalignment by determining the user's specific orthotic angle, using a range of angles from 0.5 to 16 degrees, and securing the wedge within the shoe to align the foot, ankle, and knee.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If shoes are designed with fixed alignment features, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but individual-specific misalignment correction is ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe is divided into modular components: a base member, an intermediate member with hinge connection, and a removable orthotic wedge. This segmentation allows the alignment correction mechanism to be adjusted independently while keeping the overall shoe structure simple and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe incorporates adjustable and removable elements (orthotic wedge, intermediate member) that allow the alignment features to be dynamically modified according to individual user needs, transitioning from static fixed alignment to dynamic customizable alignment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If shoes provide generic alignment support, then device complexity is minimized, but individual misalignment correction effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe allows dynamic adjustment of alignment through removable orthotic wedges and an intermediate member that can be positioned at different angles, enabling the same shoe to adapt to various individual alignment requirements without requiring completely different shoe designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment correction is achieved by changing geometric parameters (angles, positions) of removable components rather than redesigning the entire shoe structure, allowing versatile adaptation through parameter modification.
3Use of energy by moving object
If no orthotic correction is provided, then shoe simplicity is maintained, but misalignment causes increased energy expenditure and reduced endurance
Solution Approach 1:
The orthotic correction function is extracted as a separate, removable wedge component rather than being integrated into the permanent shoe structure. This allows the energy correction benefit to be provided while maintaining the option to remove the correction element if not needed.
4Ease of operation
If fixed alignment features are built into shoes, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but individual-specific alignment needs cannot be addressed
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the alignment correction into removable orthotic wedges and an intermediate member, the shoe can be manufactured in a standardized base configuration while allowing individual alignment adjustments through simple component addition or removal, rather than requiring complex custom manufacturing for each user.
Data Source
AI summary
Orthotic shoes and methods for making orthotic shoes and components of the same are disclosed, including a method comprising forming an opening between an upper portion and a lower portion of a base member of a shoe, the opening extending along a side of the intermediate member; positioning an orthotic wedge having a predetermined orthotic angle within the opening of the base member; and securing the orthotic wedge to the upper portion and the lower portion. The method may further include determining or receiving the orthotic angle and forming or selecting the orthotic wedge based on the orthotic angle.