BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The present disclosure relates to an orthotic insert assembly for an article of footwear. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an adjustable orthotic insert assembly including a plurality of adjustors that are individually positionable to conform to the topography of a particular human foot.
One aspect of the present disclosure is an orthotic insert assembly including a base, a plurality of flexible layers positioned over the base, and a plurality of adjustors configured to be positionable between a lowered position and a raised position. The adjustors may be configured to extend through apertures in the base and through an outer sole of an article of footwear allowing for adjustment from outside the article of footwear. The adjustors may be configured as a T-nut having a body, a threaded aperture, and a flange extending outwardly from the threaded aperture. The adjustor may be configured to cooperate with an adjustment screw for raising or lowering each adjustor.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is an orthotic insert assembly incorporated into an article of footwear, wherein the orthotic insert assembly is positioned between an outer sole and an inner sole.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is an orthotic insert assembly wherein the adjustors are configured as a bladder having an envelope defining a chamber. A valve is provided in fluid communication with the chamber and configured to control fluid flow into and out of the chamber. A fluid, such as a gas, liquid, or gel may be introduced into the chamber to increase the height of the adjustor. The orthotic insert assembly may be incorporated into an article of footwear having an outer sole including a plurality of recesses disposed in the outer sole to receive the adjustors. The outer sole may also include a port extending from each recess to a sidewall of the outer sole configured to allow access to the valve by a probe for inflating and deflating the adjustors.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is an orthotic insert assembly having a plurality of adjustors arranged in a serpentine configuration within recesses formed in an outer sole for an article of footwear.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is an orthotic insert assembly having a plurality of adjustors arranged as planar geometric shapes.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is an orthotic insert assembly having a plurality of adjustors configured as a scissors-jack mechanism including a base, a lower leg assembly pivotally coupled to the base, a lift platform, an upper leg assembly pivotally coupled to the lift plat form, wherein the lower leg assembly is pivotally coupled to the upper leg assembly at a first and second pivots. The adjustor also includes a busing pivotally coupled at the first pivot and a nut pivotally coupled at the second pivot. The nut includes a threaded bore configured to receive a threaded rod. The bushing includes a smooth bore through which the threaded rod is journaled. The threaded rod is configured to engage the nut such that rotation of the threaded rod in a first direction raises the lift platform and rotation of the threaded rod in a second direction lowers the lift platform.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as a non-limiting example only, in which:
FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the orthotic insert assembly of the present disclosure;
FIG. 1B is a top perspective view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1C is a side view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1D is a top view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of the embodiment of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 1A incorporated into a sole for an article of footwear;
FIG. 2B is a top perspective view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 2A with the inner sole removed;
FIG. 2C is another top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2D is a top view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 2B;
FIG. 2E is a rear elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 2D looking in direction 2E-2E;
FIG. 2F is a side elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 2D looking in direction 2F-2F;
FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the orthotic insert assembly of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3B is a top perspective view of an outer sole for an article of footwear for use with the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3C is a top view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3D is a rear elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 3C looking in direction 3D-3D;
FIG. 3E is side elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 3C looking in direction 3E-3E, showing the adjustors in a lowered configuration;
FIG. 3F is the side elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 3E showing the adjustors in a raised configuration;
FIG. 3G is a detailed view of an adjustor of FIGS. 3A-3F;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are top perspective views of a third embodiment of the orthotic insert assembly of the present disclosure, wherein FIG. 4A shows adjustors in a lowered configuration, and FIG. 4B shows adjustors in a raised configuration;
FIG. 4C is a top view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 4D is a rear elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 4C looking in direction 4D-4D;
FIG. 4E is side elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 4C looking in direction 4E-4E, showing the adjustors in a lowered configuration;
FIG. 4F is the side elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 4E showing the adjustors in a raised configuration;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are top perspective views of a fourth embodiment of the orthotic insert assembly of the present disclosure, wherein FIG. 5A shows adjustors in a lowered configuration, and FIG. 5B shows adjustors in a raised configuration;
FIG. 5C is a top view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5D is a rear elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 5C looking in direction 5D-5D;
FIG. 5E is side elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 5C looking in direction 5E-5E, showing the adjustors in a lowered configuration;
FIG. 5F is the side elevation view of the orthotic insert assembly of FIG. 5E showing the adjustors in a raised configuration; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an adjustor for the orthotic insert assembly of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present disclosure is directed to an orthotic insert assembly for an article of footwear. An exemplary embodiment of the orthotic insert assembly 10 of the present disclosure includes a base 12, a number of flexible layers 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d, and a number of adjustors 16, as shown in FIGS. 1A-D. As shown in FIG. 1A, the flexible layers are configured to correspond to anatomical regions of the plantar (or lower) surface of a human foot. For example, the exemplary embodiment includes a lateral midfoot flexible layer 14a, a medial midfoot flexible layer 14b, a medial hindfoot flexible layer 14c, and a heel flexible layer 14d.
In this embodiment, the adjustors 16 are formed as T-nuts having a body portion 18, which includes a threaded aperture 20 configured for cooperation with an adjustment screw (not shown) and a flange portion 22 extending outwardly about the threaded aperture 20. For each adjustor 16, base 12 includes an adjustor aperture 24 configured to receive the body portion 18 so that the body portion 18 extends through the base 12 with the flange portion 22 disposed between the base 12 and the flexible layers 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d, as shown in FIG. 1C. Further, body portion 18 is configured to extend through an outer sole (not shown) for an article of footwear such that an adjustment screw (not shown) accessible from outside of the article of footwear cooperates with the threaded aperture 20 to adjust the position of the flange portion 22 relative to the base 12. This allows for discrete portions of the flexible layers 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d to be raised and/or lowered to a specific distance based upon the topography of a particular human foot, for which the orthotic insert assembly is to be fitted.
Referring the FIG. 1B, the orthotic insert assembly 10 may also include a binder 26 to fix flexible layers 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d relative to each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, a first binder is provided to fix lateral midfoot flexible layer 14a relative to a medial midfoot layer flexible layer 14b. Further, a second binder is provided to fix medial midfoot flexible layer 14b relative to medial hindfoot flexible layer 14c. Also, a third binder is provided to fix medial hindfoot flexible layer 14c relative to heel flexible layer 14d. Finally, a fourth binder is provided to fix medial hindfoot flexible layer 14c relative to the base 12. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, binders 26 are affixed to portions of adjacent flexible layers, thereby reducing the likelihood that the flexible layers will become misaligned while allowing some relative movement between adjacent flexible layers.
Referring to FIG. 1D, in the present embodiment, a portion of the lateral midfoot flexible layer 14a is disposed over a portion of the midfoot flexible layer 14b and a portion of the medial hindfoot flexible layer 14c. A portion of the medial midfoot flexible layer 14b is disposed over a portion of the medial hindfoot flexible layer 14c. Finally, a portion of the heel flexible layer 14d is disposed over a portion of the medial hindfoot flexible layer 14c. The configuration of the flexible layers relative to each other is presented as an example only, and other configurations of flexible layers may be equally acceptable without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
The orthotic insert assembly 10 may be incorporated into a sole for an article of footwear as shown in FIGS. 2A-2F. A sole 30 for an article of footwear includes an outer sole 32 and an inner sole 34. In this example, the orthotic insert assembly 10 of the present disclosure is placed between the outer sole 32 and the inner sole 34, as shown in FIGS. 2E and 2F. As previously described, the adjustors 16 may be individually configured to a particular human foot topography.
Another embodiment of the orthotic insert assembly 110 of the present disclosure includes a base 112, a number of flexible layers 114a, 114b, 114c, and 114d, binders 126, and a number of adjustors 116, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3F. In this exemplary embodiment, the adjustors 116 are configured as a bladder having an envelope 140 that may be flexible and/or expandable, defining a chamber 142, as shown in FIG. 3G. Adjustor 116 further includes a valve 144 in fluid communication with chamber 142. Valve 144 is configured to control fluid flow into and out of chamber 142.
For example, in this embodiment, a fluid such as a gas, a liquid, or a gel may be introduced into the chamber 142 of adjustor 116. The adjustor 116 is configured as a cylinder such that when a fluid is introduced into chamber 142, the adjustor increases in vertical height. When a desired amount of fluid is introduced into chamber 142 and the adjustor 116 is at a desired a desired height, valve 144 is closed to retain the fluid within the chamber 142. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is envisioned that air is the fluid introduced into the chamber 142 to vary the height of the adjustors 116, however, other gases may also be used such as nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, etc. Further, a liquid or gel, such as water, oil, glycerin, etc. may be used as the fluid, depending on desired characteristics for a particular application.
Referring to FIGS. 3C-3F, in this exemplary embodiment, the orthotic insert assembly 110 may be incorporated into an article of footwear having an outer sole 132 and an inner sole 134. The adjustors 116 are disposed within recesses 148 within outer sole 132 as shown in FIG. 3B. A port 146 is disposed within the outer sole 132 that allows access to each valve 144 for introduction of fluid into the chamber 142 of adjustors 116. In the present embodiment, ports 146 are configured to extend horizontally from each recess 148 to a side wall of outer sole 132 thereby allowing access to valve 144, as shown in FIG. 3C.
The height of the adjustors 116 may be varied by the introduction of fluid through valve 114 causing the envelope 140 to expand from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration, as shown in FIG. 3G. When incorporated into an article of footwear having an outer sole 132 and an inner sole 134, the orthotic insert assembly may be placed between the outer sole 132 and the inner sole 134 so that upon inflation or deflation of the adjustors 116, inner sole 134 is moved vertically relative to the outer sole 132 as shown in FIGS. 3E and 3F. In the exemplary embodiment, the adjustors 116 may be inflated by inserting a probe, such as a needle coupled to a syringe, through valve 114 into chamber 142 and introducing a fluid, such as air, into chamber 142 until the envelope 140 is at a desired height. Although as shown in FIGS. 3E and 3F all of the adjustors 116 as shown inflated to the same height, it should be understood that one aspect of the present disclosure is that individual adjustors may be configured to different heights to provide a custom fit for a particular individual.
Another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIGS. 4A-4F. In this embodiment, an orthotic insert assembly 210 includes adjustors 216a-i disposed within recesses 248 of an outer sole 232 of an article of footwear. The adjustors 216a-i are shown as being configured in a serpentine arrangement. For example referring to FIG. 4C, outer sole 232 may include recesses 248 configured to receive serpentine adjustors 216a-i. In this exemplary embodiment, lateral serpentine adjustors 216a, 216b, 216c, are provided at a location in outer sole 232 corresponding to an outer midfoot region of a human foot. Additionally, medial serpentine adjustors 216d, 216e, 216f, are provided at a location in outer sole 232 corresponding to an inner midfoot region of a human foot including the arch region of the foot. Also, lateral and medial posterior adjustors 216g, 216h (respectively) are provided in the outer sole 232 corresponding to the heel region of the human foot. Also, this embodiment includes an interior adjustor 216i in a central portion of the outer sole 232.
The adjustors 216a-i may be varied in height from a lowered position as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4E to a raised position as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4F. As previously described, a port 246 may be disposed within the outer sole 232 that allows for introduction of fluid into the adjustors 216a-i. In the exemplary embodiment, the ports 246 extend horizontally from recesses 248 through a side wall of the outer sole 232, as shown in FIG. 4C. As previously described, a fluid such as a gas, liquid, or gel may be introduced into each adjustor 216a-i to increase the vertical height of the adjustor, and consequently, the overlying portions of flexible panels 214a, 214b, 214c, and 214d.
As shown in FIG. 2E, the orthotic insert assembly 210 includes a base 212, a lateral midfoot flexible layer 214a, a medial midfoot flexible layer 214b, a medial hindfoot flexible layer 214c, and a heel flexible layer 214d, and is disposed between an outer sole 232 and an inner sole 234 for an article of footwear. Introducing a fluid into the adjustors 216a-i increases the height of the adjustors 216a-i as shown in FIG. 4F. Although the adjustors 216a-i are shown as fully inflated in FIG. 4F, it should be understood that each adjustor may be individually configured to a particular human foot topography.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the adjustors may be configured in planar geometric shapes corresponding to topography of a human foot. Referring to FIGS. 5A-5F, this exemplary embodiment of the orthotic insert assembly 310 includes a base 312, a number of flexible layers 314a, 314b, 314c, 314d, and a number of adjustors 316a, 316b, 316c. As shown in FIG. C, flexible layers include a lateral midfoot flexible layer 314a, a medial midfoot flexible layer 314b, a medial hindfoot flexible layer 314c, and a heel flexible layer 314d. Flexible layers 314a, 314b, 314c, and 314d, are disposed between an outer sole 332 and an inner sole 334 for an article of footwear, as shown in FIGS. 5E and 5F. Referring again to FIG. 5B, one or more binders 326 may be provided to fix flexible layers 314a, 314b, 314c, and 314d relative to each other. This embodiment includes a central adjustor 316a corresponding to a central region of a human foot. This embodiment also includes an arch adjustor 316b corresponding to the arch region of a human foot. Additionally, this embodiment also includes a lateral posterior adjustor 316c positioned just in front of the region corresponding to a human heel.
As previously described, adjustors 316a, 316b, and 316c are configured to vary in height by introduction of a fluid into the adjustors. Referring again to FIG. 5C, in this embodiment, the adjustors 316a, 316b, 316c are positioned above flexible layers 314a, 314b, 314c, 314d. As shown in FIG. 5E, the orthotic insert assembly 301 includes a base 312, a lateral midfoot flexible layer 314a, a medial midfoot flexible layer 314b, a medial hindfoot flexible layer 314c, and a heel flexible layer 314d, and is disposed between an outer sole 332 and an inner sole 334 for an article of footwear. Introducing a fluid into the adjustors 316a, 316b, 316c increases the height of the adjustors 316a, 316b, 316c as shown in FIG. 5F. Although the adjustors 316a-c are shown as fully inflated in FIG. 5F, it should be understood that each adjustor may be individually configured to a particular human foot topography.
The orthotic insert assembly of the present disclosure may include an adjustor configured as a scissors jack type assembly. Referring to FIG. 6, an adjustor 416 may be configured as a scissors jack type assembly for disposition in a recess of an outer sole (not shown) of an article of footwear. This embodiment of adjustor 416 includes an adjustor base 462 and a pair of lower leg assemblies 464 pivotally coupled to the base 462. Adjustor 416 also includes a lift platform 466 pivotally and a pair of upper leg assemblies 468 pivotally coupled to the lift platform 468. The lower leg assemblies 464 are pivotally coupled to the upper leg assemblies 468 at pivots 470, 472. A bushing 474 is also pivotally coupled to the lower leg assemblies 464 and the upper leg assemblies 468 at pivot 470. The bushing includes a smooth bore (not shown) through which threaded rod is journaled. A nut 476 is pivotally coupled to the lower leg assemblies 464 and the upper leg assemblies 468 at pivot 472. Nut 476 include a threaded bore (not shown) configured to receive a threaded rod 478. One end of threaded rod 474 includes an actuator 480 configured to be coupled to a driver to rotate threaded rod 478. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the actuator 480 includes a hexagonal socket 482 configured to receive a hex key or an allen wrench or other driver to rotate threaded rod 478.
When the adjustor 416 is in a lowered configuration, a hex key is inserted into hexagonal socket 482 and the threaded rod 478 is rotated in a first direction. As the threaded rod 478 rotates, the nut 476 engages the treads drawing pivot points 470 and 472 together forcing the lift platform 466 upwardly. Threaded rod 478 is rotated until the lift platform 466 is at the desired position. Likewise, if the threaded rod 478 is rotated in the opposite direction, the nut 476 engages the threads drawing pivot points 470, 472 apart, thereby lowering the lift platform 466.
Although not shown, the adjustor 416 embodiment presently described may be placed within a recess in an outer sole for an article of footwear as previously described herein. The outer sole may include a port generally extending from the recess to a sidewall of the outer sole, wherein the adjustor 416 is oriented such that a driver may be inserted into the port to engage the actuator 480 to raise and lower the adjustor.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
