Abstract: A construction unit (10) which is suitable for use in the fabrication of a stair stringer is provided. In one embodiment, the unit has three side members (12, 14, 16) which form a right triangle. The side member (16) forming the hypotenuse of the right triangle has a flat surface for locating the unit (10) against a flat support surface. The side members (12, 14) forming the other two sides of the right triangle are provided with channels (22) extending along their lengths, each for receiving the edge of a stair tread (28) or stair riser (30) forming sheet therein.

Abstract: A footwear device (2000) comprises a rigid base (2100) for supporting the foot (2001) of a user thereon, a medial forefoot counter (2201) associated with the rigid base (2100) for contact with the foot (2001) of a user medial to the medial aspect of the head of the first metatarsal, a heel counter (2300) on the rigid base (2100) for contact with the foot (2001) posterior to the posterior aspect of the heel and a forefoot/midfoot compression member (2400) for exerting a downwardly and rearwardly directed force on the dorsum of the foot (2001). The medial forefoot counter (2201), the heel counter (2300) and the forefoot/midfoot compression member (2400) cooperate with each other to be in substantially continuous contact with the user's foot (2001) in the above-mentioned areas, while the remainder of the foot is substantially unconstrained to accommodate the changing architecture of the foot (2001) when moving between bipedal and monopedal stances.