Abstract: An apparatus for internally expanding an article of footwear. A hand-operated pressure assembly is provided, in which a knob is manually rotated in order to transversely extend first and second piston members. Hemispherical bearing surfaces on the ends of the piston members are received in corresponding receptacles formed in the legs of a hinged spreader assembly; as the pistons extend outwardly, the spreader assembly is forced against and stretches a selected interior portion of the article of footwear. Cupped overlay members are provided for detachable mounting to the legs of the spreader assembly so as to permit selective adjustment of its width to match that of the particular shoe or boot on which the work is being performed. Preferably, the hydraulic fluid which is used in the pressure assembly is ordinary tap water, so that leakage does not represent a hazard in a retail environment.

Abstract: A relatively rigid cap is made of a material which is deformable at moderately elevated temperatures. A flexible blank contoured to fit a person's foot is placed against the cap which is at the elevated temperature, and these two are placed against the plantar surface of the foot. A plastic bag is placed around the cap, the blank and the foot, and a blank is applied to conform the cap and the blank to the person's foot so as to make a custom fit orthotic. Upon cooling, the cap remains properly contoured relative to the plantar surface of the foot.

Abstract: An orthotic appliance adapted to be placed in an article of footwear, the orthotic including a first upper, relatively flexible blank portion and an underlying, relatively rigid cap portion. The blank portion has a longitudinally-extending zone of disparate resiliency relative to first and second side areas of the blank; the zone of disparate resiliency deforms downwardly raeltive to the side areas as the foot begins to bear weight, so that the side areas cradle the foot and urge it into a neutral position as the foot transitions from heel strike to mid-gait. A relatively resilient pad portion and a moldable insert are positioned intermediate the blank and cap portions. The zone of disparate resiliency may be formed by a recess in the bottom side of the blank, and the pad may be complementally formed to fit into this and so modify the zone of disparate resiliency.

Abstract: A relatively rigid cap is made of a material which is deformable at moderately elevated temperatures. A flexible blank contoured to fit a person's foot is placed against the cap which is at the elevated temperature, and these two are placed against the plantar surface of the foot. A plastic bag is placed around the cap, the blank and the foot, and a blank is applied to conform the cap and the blank to the person's foot so as to make a custom fit orthotic. Upon cooling, the cap remains properly contoured relative to the plantar surface of the foot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthotic and a boot and orthotic assembly. The orthotic insert is adapted to be removably positioned in the boot and comprises a foot portion and an ankle portion. The foot and ankle portions referrably have a releasable interconnection.The orthotic and the boot have releasable interconnecting means by which the orthotic insert can be releasably secured to the boot to restrain upward movement of the orthotic ankle portion relative to the ankle portion of the boot.

Abstract: A relatively rigid cap is made of a material which is deformable at moderately elevated temperatures. A flexible blank contoured to fit a person's foot is placed against the cap which is at the elevated temperature, and these two are placed against the plantar surface of the foot. A plastic bag is placed around the cap, the blank and the foot, and a blank is applied to conform the cap and the blank to the person's foot so as to make a custom fit orthotic. Upon cooling, the cap remains properly contoured relative to the plantar surface of the foot.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an insert for a shoe, boot, or the like which is capable of plural adjustments so as to adapt the insert to the unique physical conformation of the wearer's foot, to hold the foot in a neutral axis position substantially at all times, to return a foot into the neutral axis mode automatically, and to provide a wide range of support, resiliency, and angulation based on the needs of the user. The device as set forth lends itself to modification for various sports where lateral motion is of primary importance, shock absorption and longitudinal extension of the foot is of paramount importance, or for geriatric patients whereby a single insert and the modifying devices associated therewith address the vast spectrum of orthotic needs.

Abstract: A skate boot assembly comprising a main skate boot member, a bladder positioned within the boot member, and an orthotic insert positioned within the bladder. The orthotic insert is formed with two downwardly extending protrusions which fit in recesses formed in a sole portion of the bladder. The bladder in turn has downwardly protruding members that define its recesses and also fit into matching recesses formed in the sole of the boot member. This arrangement properly aligns the foot with the skate blade and with the longitudinal axis of the boot assembly. Further, the bladder is formed with properly positioned relief areas to alleviate unwanted foot pressure in certain areas, and also engages the upper heel portion of the foot to properly maintain the foot in the boot assembly. Other protrusion and recess means are provided between the bladder and the boot member so as to properly position the same relative to each other.

Abstract: A relatively rigid cap is made of a material which is deformable at moderately elevated temperatures. A flexible blank contoured to fit a person's foot is placed against the cap which is at the elevated temperature, and these two are placed against the plantar surface of the foot. A plastic bag is placed around the cap, the blank and the foot, and a blank is applied to conform the cap and the blank to the person's foot so as to make a custom fit orthotic. Upon cooling, the cap remains properly contoured relative to the plantar surface of the foot.

Abstract: An orthotic insert for use in various types of foot gear consisting of a first blank and a second blank fused together. The first blank is a flexible pad generally contoured to the bottom of a person's foot and the second blank is more rigid and contoured to the calcaneal and arch regions of a specific individual's foot. In combination the first and second blank form an orthotic insert which offers support to and is resiliently deformable in the heel area and flexible in the toe area thus emulating the requirement of the human gait cycle.

Abstract: An insert for a shoe, boot, or the like which is capable of plural adjustments so as to adapt the insert to the unique physical conformation of the wearer's foot, to hold the foot in a neutral axis position substantially at all times, to return a foot into the neutral axis mode automatically, and to provide a wide range of support, resiliency, and angulation based on the needs of the user. The device as set forth lends itself to modification for various sports where lateral motion is of primary importance, shock absorption and longitudinal extension of the foot is of paramount importance, or for geriatric patients whereby a single insert and the modifying devices associated therewith address the vast spectrum of orthotic needs.