Integral Patents (Class 36/176)
  • Patent number: 11412816
    Abstract: A shoe, particularly a high-heeled shoe, containing a convex midfoot support structure formed of a cushioning material that is sized and shaped to have a height (h1) sufficient to contact and to support at least a portion of the midfoot area of the wearer's foot. The midfoot support may be constructed of an elastomeric material with a maximum thickness of between 10 mm and 22 mm, and includes a support platform and side walls. Preferably, a forefoot support may also be provided on the upper surface of the insole in the forefoot portion of the insole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Angela Singleton
  • Patent number: 9770066
    Abstract: A footbed system (10) for footwear comprises an insole mechanism (14), a midsole mechanism (11), wherein the insole mechanism is positioned on the midsole mechanism, and the outsole mechanism (15) is positioned under the midsole mechanism. The insole mechanism comprises a footbed insole (1), a heel pad (2) and a forefoot pad (3). The footbed insole comprises a pad anatomically shaped to correspond to the sole of a human foot, wherein the heel pad is positioned in the hindfoot portion of the footbed insole, and the forefoot pad is positioned in the forefoot portion of the footbed insole. The outsole mechanism comprises an opening (15A) for exposing a natural gait line groove of the midsole mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: James Keenan Grelle, Willem J. L. Van Bakel
  • Patent number: 9107471
    Abstract: A shoe insole, which supports three points on a sole to stabilize a center of gravity, is provided by considering a skeletal structure of a foot and a sequential movement from foot joints to a body. The three points, which are a first metatarsal sesamoid bone, tuberosity of fifth metatarsal bone, and a calcaneal tuberosity, are supported from a sole side, and the three point balance can stabilize a center of gravity, and thereby a stimulus that adjusts body movements derived from a sole to help a body to be back to a right position can be given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 8683717
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Douglas H. Richie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6237256
    Abstract: An article of footwear and insert for an article of footwear are provided with means for stimulating cutaneous pressure sensation from the perimeter of the plantar surface (sole) of the foot. Increasing cutaneous sensation from the perimeter of the plantar foot surface provides the central nervous system of the wearer of the footwear with an increased ability to detect and react to shifts of the body's center of gravity toward the edges of the feet which, if left uncorrected, could result in a loss of balance or a fall. An insole is disclosed which is provided with an elongate member or a series of protrusions which form a narrow ridge in close proximity to the perimeter of the insole, the ridge being adapted to protrude upwardly against the plantar foot surface along at least a portion of the perimeter thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre
    Inventors: Brian E. Maki, Stephen D. Perry, William E. McIlroy
  • Patent number: 5404659
    Abstract: A shoe insole-midsole device configured to fit the profile of the human foot with a distinctive toe end and a distinctive heel. The midfoot section of the insole/midsole device is characterized by an asymmetrical domed structure that is presented to the plantar aspect of the foot at a location found to be the anatomical apex of the foot's arch system. The domed structure displays physical properties such as to catalyze muscle group balancing by utilizing the body's proprioceptive feedback mechanisms. The net result will be a more structurally sound foot capable of more energy efficient and less injury inducing use. In addition to the predominant dome characteristic, the insole/midsole is also typified by a posterior most skiving which reduces impact velocity, thus easing the introduction of the dome characteristic to the plantar aspect of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Tarsatch, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Burke, Roy J. W. Gardiner, Scott R. Kantro
  • Patent number: 5174052
    Abstract: An orthotic device for preventing hyperpronation of a human foot has a deep heel seat to cup the calcaneous and maintain it in approximately 5 degrees of varus, and high medial and lateral flanges which prevent lateral transverse drift of the first and fifth metatarsals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Inventors: Harold D. Schoenhaus, Richard M. Jay