Abstract: A shoe sole includes a rotatable pivot assembly to allow easy pivoting of a ball region of a shoe. The shoe sole includes a pivot cavity defined by an upper plate support surface and a lower plate support surface having an aperture therein. A rotatable pivot assembly includes a pivot plate and a sole element attached thereto. The pivot plate is pivotally constrained within the pivot cavity and the sole element extends through the aperture in the pivot cavity to define an exterior contact surface. Preferably contacting surfaces of the pivot plate and upper plate support surface are formed of a low coefficient of friction material to allow easy rotation of the pivot plate within the cavity. Because the assembly can be made thin with minimal parts, it results in a structure that substantially retains the look, feel and balance of a normal shoe while being able to achieve improved pivot action.

Abstract: A high-top shoe having an integrated internal ankle brace allows substantial forward and rearward movement of an ankle while substantially constraining side-to-side motion of the ankle. The ankle brace includes a semi-rigid orthotic plate shaped to receive a wearer's ankle thereon and a rear support portion. A longitudinally extending blade element is fixedly attached to the rear support portion at a proximal end thereof and substantially fixed relative to a leg of the wearer by at least one support member at a distal end thereof. The support member may be the shoe upper itself, or a separate element. The blade element has an axial length, a thickness T and a width W. The ratio of T to W is selected so that the distal end is free to flex about the proximal end in the fore/aft direction and the blade element is substantially constrained from flexure in the width direction.

Abstract: A shoe sole includes a rotatable pivot assembly to allow easy pivoting of a ball region of a shoe. The shoe sole includes a pivot cavity defined by an upper plate support surface and a lower plate support surface having an aperture therein. A rotatable pivot assembly includes a pivot plate and a sole element attached thereto. The pivot plate is pivotally constrained within the pivot cavity and the sole element extends through the aperture in the pivot cavity to define an exterior contact surface. Preferably contacting surfaces of the pivot plate and upper plate support surface are formed of a low coefficient of friction material to allow easy rotation of the pivot plate within the cavity. Because the assembly can be made thin with minimal parts, it results in a structure that substantially retains the look, feel and balance of a normal shoe while being able to achieve improved pivot action.

Abstract: A high-top shoe having an integrated internal ankle brace allows substantial forward and rearward movement of an ankle while substantially limiting side-to-side motion of the ankle. The ankle brace includes a semi-rigid orthotic plate shaped to receive a wearer's ankle thereon and having a rear support portion. A longitudinally extending blade element is fixedly attached to the rear support portion at a proximal end thereof and substantially fixed relative to a leg of the wearer by at least one support member at a distal end thereof. The support member may be the shoe upper itself, or a separate element. The blade element has an axial length, a thickness T extending in a fore/aft direction of the orthotic plate corresponding to a fore/aft direction of a wearer's foot, and a width W. The axial length extends beyond the wearer's ankle, but should not extend beyond the shoe upper, such that the internal ankle brace is not exposed.

Abstract: An ankle brace and shoe therefor allows substantial forward and rearward movement of an ankle while substantially limiting side-to-side motion of the ankle. The ankle brace includes a semi-rigid orthotic plate shaped to receive a wearer's ankle thereon and having a rear support portion. At least one axial slip support bracket having an opening therethrough is fixedly provided on the rear support portion. A longitudinally extending blade element is slidably attachable to the at least one axial slip support bracket at a proximal end thereof and substantially fixed relative to a leg of the wearer by at least one support member at a distal end thereof. The blade element has an axial length, a thickness T extending in a fore/aft direction of the orthotic plate corresponding to a fore/aft direction of a wearer's foot, and a width W.