Abstract: A support arranged for disposition within a shoe, boot or sandal, to raise the arch of the foot by everting the forefoot and inverting the rearfoot, thereby locking the midtarsal joint. The support basically comprises a base portion and a wedge portion. The base portion has an upper surface on which the wedge portion is disposed. The wedge portion includes a medial side edge and a lateral side edge and extends from the base of all five metatarsals of the person's foot to the heads of all five metatarsals. The wedge portion tapers in thickness from at least the midline of the wedge portion to the medial side edge. The wedge portion includes an anterior portion that is tapered to the sulcus section of the wearer's foot.

Abstract: A support arranged for disposition within a shoe, boot or sandal, to raise the arch of the foot by everting the forefoot and inverting the rearfoot, thereby locking the midtarsal joint. The support basically comprises a base portion and a wedge portion. The base portion has an upper surface on which the wedge portion is disposed. The wedge portion includes a medial side edge and a lateral side edge and extends from the base of all five metatarsals of the person's foot to the heads of all five metatarsals. The wedge portion tapers in thickness from at least the midline of the wedge portion to the medial side edge. The wedge portion includes an anterior portion that is tapered to the sulcus section of the wearer's foot.

Abstract: An ankle brace having a lateral upright limb member and a medial upright limb member to which a footplate/stirrup is pivotably secured. The brace includes a medial sling mechanism including a medial lifting strap secured to the stirrup at the location of the medial arch and arranged to be extended over the wearer's foot for releasable connection to the lateral upright. A lateral sling mechanism is also provided. The lateral sling mechanism includes a lateral lifting strap secured to the stirrup at the location of the lateral arch and slightly posteriorly of the medial sling strap. The lateral lifting strap is arranged to be extended over the wearer's foot to releasable connection to the medial upright. The footplate/stirrup includes a pair or recesses into which portions of respective ones of the lifting straps extend and a cushion pad covering the recesses.

Abstract: A shoe last and method for forming a shoe which is particularly constructed to be worn with and matingly interface with a wearer's custom-shaped sock. The shoe last includes a body having a backpart and a forepart connected to the backpart and extending forwardly therefrom. The last has a last bottom portion for abuttingly contacting and interfacing with a sole of a shoe. The last bottom portion has a bottom shape corresponding to the bottom shape of a custom-shaped sock when positioned on the foot of a wearer. The sole of a shoe formed from the last has a custom-contoured shape corresponding to and substantially mating with an overlying custom-shaped sock when positioned therein.

Abstract: A shoe last and method for forming a shoe which is particularly constructed to be worn with and matingly interface with a wearer's custom-shaped sock. The shoe last includes a body having a backpart and a forepart connected to the backpart and extending forwardly therefrom. The last has a last bottom portion for abuttingly contacting and interfacing with a sole of a shoe. The last bottom portion has a bottom shape corresponding to the bottom shape of a custom-shaped sock when positioned on the foot of a wearer. The sole of a shoe formed from the last has a custom-contoured shape corresponding to and substantially mating with an overlying custom-shaped sock when positioned therein.

Abstract: A footwear system for providing enhanced protection and comfort to the foot of a wearer by reducing impact and shearing forces normally received by the foot. The footwear system has a knit sock and a shoe. The knit sock overlies and contacts the shoe and includes a ball portion, a heel portion, and an arch portion disposed between the ball and heel portions. Each of the ball and heel portions is formed of thicker knit fabric than the arch portion thereby providing a greater amount of protection and cushioning to the ball and heel of the foot of the wearer than to the arch portion. The shoe includes a sole having a ball portion, a heel portion, and a raised arch portion for contacting and interfacing with the respective overlying portions of the sock.

Abstract: A footwear system for providing enhanced protection and comfort to the foot of a wearer by reducing impact and shearing forces normally received by the foot. The footwear system has a knit sock and a shoe. The knit sock overlies and contacts the shoe and includes a ball portion, a heel portion, and an arch portion disposed between the ball and heel portions. Each of the ball and heel portions is formed of thicker knit fabric than the arch portion thereby providing a greater amount of protection and cushioning to the ball and heel of the foot of the wearer than to the arch portion. The shoe includes a sole having a ball portion, a heel portion, and a raised arch portion for contacting and interfacing with the respective overlying portions of the sock.