FOOT SUPPORT

Abstract

A foot support includes a base material having an area approximately a size of a foot, a deepened heel cup in an upper portion of a heel portion of the base material, a heel skive in a lower portion of the base material in a heel portion of the base material, and a top cover configured to cover substantially all of an upper surface of the base material. The heel skive is configured to add additional stability to the mid-tarsal and sub-talor joints by inverting them.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to foot support articles. Specifically, the present invention is an improved foot support for use in a shoe or sneaker.

2. Description of the Related Art

Presently, inserts are available for inclusion in athletic shoes. However, the design of these supports does not necessarily take into account podiatry, the biomechanics of the human gait, and the foot and ankle function. Accordingly, discomfort and injury are still common when using these inserts. Accordingly, a foot support that is designed taking into account all of the above factors to increase foot comfort and decrease the potential for injury, especially lateral inversion ankle sprains and plantar fasciitis that may occur while playing basketball, is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly includes a foot support including a base material having an area approximately a size of a foot, a deepened heel cup in an upper portion of a heel portion of the base material, a heel skive in a lower portion of the base material in a heel portion of the base material, and a top cover configured to cover substantially all of an upper surface of the base material. The heel skive is configured to add additional stability to the mid-tarsal and sub-talor joints by inverting them. The invention may also include a “wedge.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a foot support according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a foot support according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a foot support according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a foot support according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a foot support according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a foot support according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a foot support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the bottom of a foot support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top view of a foot support according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the bottom of a foot support according to the third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of a foot support according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a base material 13 extends approximately the area of a foot. The foot support 10 includes a depended heel cup 12 in the upper part of the heel portion of base material 13. In one embodiment, the deepened heel cup is 10 to 16 mm deep. The deepened heel cup increases the stability of the foot in the shoe, decreases excessive movement of the foot in the shoe, decreases the injury potential to the foot, and increases the comfort to the user.

FIG. 1 also shows top cover 19 of foot support 10 covering substantially the entire upper surface of base material 13. Top cover 19 decreases shear forces between the foot and the shoe. Further, top cover 19 decreases the friction forces at the foot-shoe interface, resulting in a decreased tendency for blisters and/or pain. In one embodiment, top cover 19 is a sport specific “Neolon” thin (yet cushioned) top-cover.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, foot support 10 also includes heel skive 14 and wedge 16. In one embodiment, heel skive 14 is between 2 and 3 mm thick. Heel skive 14 is located at the lower portion of the heel potion of the base material 13. Heel skive 14 adds additional stability to the mid-tarsal and sub-talor joints by inverting them. This decreases pronation (excessive movement of the foot) which increases stability of the foot and the user's comfort. Heel skive 14 also decreases the injury potential to the foot.

Wedge 16 is located on the lower surface of base material 13, at a location approximately below the ball of the foot. Wedge 16 slightly everts (tilts) the midfoot and the forefoot towards the toe, causing a significant increase in stability of the lateral foot-ankle complex. In one embodiment, wedge 16 forms an angle of between 2 and 3 degrees between the top and bottom surfaces of the wedge 16. Wedge 16 provides a significant advantage regarding injury prevention, especially with respect to the most common lateral inversion ankle sprains. Wedge 16 decreases the distance from the origin to insertion of specific ligaments (the anterior talo fibular and calcaneal fibular) and tendons (peroneus brevis, longus, and tertius), which contributes to its injury prevention benefits. Accordingly, if basketball players are using sneakers equipped with the present invention, an extremely common injury in basketball, inversion lateral ankle-sprains, will be decreased. Thus, this embodiment may, for example, be used in athletic shoes for basketball, but can be used in other footwear as well.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. Foot support 20 includes a base material 23 with a deepened heel cup 22 similar to that included in the first embodiment. Foot support 20 also includes a top cover 29 similar to that included in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, foot support 20 includes a heel skive 24 similar to the heel skive 14 of the first embodiment. Also included is an approximate ⅛ inch heel lift 28, which offloads the heel and decreases very common pediatric soccer injuries to the heel, calcaneal apophysitis and Severs disease. This embodiment may be used, for example, in soccer shoes.

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention. Foot support 30 includes a base material 33 with a deepened heel cup 32 similar to that included in the first embodiment. Foot support 40 also includes a top cover 39 similar to that included in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 11, foot support 30 also includes a heel skive 34 similar to the heel skive 14 of the first embodiment. This embodiment may be used, for example, in bowling, golf, and tennis shoes. An embodiment used in tennis shoes may include a material with a lower durometer value to allow greater flexibility of the foot support, in comparison to a foot support for golf or bowling shoes.

Each of the above embodiments may be made of a very thin, semi-rigid EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate). A deepened heel cup in a semi-rigid material in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention provides greater control of the foot as opposed to flexible, shallow shoe inserts. However, other materials may be used and still be within the scope of the appended claims.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A foot support for supporting a foot comprising:

a base material having an area approximately a size of the foot;

a deepened heel cup in an upper portion of a heel portion of the base material;

a heel skive in a lower portion of the base material in a heel portion of the base material, the heel skive configured to add additional stability to the mid-tarsal and sub-talor joints by inverting them; and

a top cover configured to cover substantially all of an upper surface of the base material.

2. The foot support recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a wedge located on the lower surface of base material at a location approximately below a ball of the foot.

3. The foot support recited in claim 2, wherein an upper surface of the wedge forms an angle of between 2 and 3 degrees with a bottom surface of the wedge.

4. The foot support recited in claim 1, wherein the base material is made of semi-rigid ethyl vinyl acetate.

5. The foot support recited in claim 1, wherein the top cover is made of Neolon.

6. The foot support recited in claim 1, wherein the deepened heel cup is between 10 and 16 mm deep.

7. The foot support recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a heel lift in the lower surface of the base material located below the heel portion of the base material.

8. The foot support recited in claim 7, wherein the heel lift is approximately ⅛ inch thick.

9. A method for supporting a foot:

providing a base material having an area approximately a size of the foot;

providing a deepened heel cup in an upper portion of a heel portion of the base material;

providing a heel skive in a lower portion of the base material in a heel portion of the base material, the heel skive adding additional stability to the mid-tarsal and sub-talor joints by inverting them; and

providing a top cover covering substantially all of an upper surface of the base material.

10. The method recited in claim 9, further comprising:

providing a wedge located on the lower surface of base material at a location approximately below a ball of the foot.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the providing a wedge includes providing a wedge with an upper surface forming an angle of between 2 and 3 degrees with a bottom surface of the wedge.

12. The foot support recited in claim 9, wherein providing a base material includes providing a base material made of semi-rigid ethyl vinyl acetate.

13. The foot support recited in claim 9, wherein the providing a top cover includes providing a top cover made of Neolon.

14. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the providing a deepened hell cup includes providing a deepened heel cup between 10 and 16 mm deep.

15. The method recited in claim 9, further comprising:

providing a heel lift in the lower surface of the base material located below the heel portion of the base material.

16. The method recited in claim 15, wherein the providing a heel lift includes providing a heel lift approximately ⅛ inch thick.