Abstract: An arch support (1) for a sports shoe, in particular a mountaineering or hiking boot, having an anatomically shaped body (2) made of plastic material, and a reinforcing insert (3) embedded in the body (2); the insert (3) has a longitudinally ribbed structure, a main portion (10) extending along the sole of the foot and wide enough to impart a high degree of torsional rigidity to the arch support, and a narrow front appendix (11) extending from the main portion (10) and connected to the main portion substantially at the metatarsus.

Abstract: A method for producing a custom insole for a foot of a user, the method including the steps of providing a preformed insole precursor, the precursor being constructed of a solid material which is storable in an undeformed state and which is compressible to a deformed configuration under pressure substantially at room temperature and which retains the deformed configuration after removal of the pressure, and pressing the foot on the insole precursor, thereby compressing the insole precursor and forming an insole with a configuration in accordance with the configuration of the foot.

Abstract: A structural chassis includes a structural chassis and a foam chassis or sock liner sandwiched together to form an assembly that can be inserted into and substantially occupy a footbed of a shoe upper. Discrete sole elements are attached to a bottom side of the upper so as to expose certain portions of the bottom side therebetween. This absence of outsole material in those areas makes the upper collapsible about those areas since the outsole provides no support in those areas. Instead, the structure is provided by the chassis of the chassis, which is customized to the user's foot by placing one or more notches in strategic locations along the chassis where the foot naturally flexes. One such notch is located on the chassis in a position that allows the chassis to flex about a forward push-off axis of the foot that runs through the first and second MTP joints.

Abstract: A blank construction for a foot orthotic is formed of a first section and a second section smaller than the first section and which is joined to the first section. The first section has a shape generally the same as a bottom inside surface of a shoe. The blank construction is heat softened at a temperature between about 65.degree. C. and about 85.degree. C. at a pressure up to about 5 psig.

Abstract: A golf orthotic for stabilizing a foot of a patient against both supination and pronation includes a main body portion configured to conform to a substantial portion of the plantar aspect of the patient's fool, including the heel and arch, and generally forward to the metatarsal heads. The main portion is provided with medial and lateral flanges terminating respectively beneath the medial malleolus and lateral malleolus. The device also includes a heel stabilization bar with a substantially flat lower surface and an upper surface which is contoured to match the lower surface of the main portion in the heel region, and which is secured thereto. The heel stabilization bar is shaped for easy insertion into the patient's shoe. The flanges are shaped to conform to the patient's foot, and preferably slope up fairly steeply from the main body portion.

Abstract: A protective boot for patients with arterial disease has an insole formed with a heat activated material to from a permanent impression of the bottom of the patient's foot.

Abstract: Shoes are provided with soles and/or upper portions which conform to the configuration of the user's feet by the use of vacuum formable bladders in the sole of the shoes and/or in the sides of the upper portions of the shoes. The bladders are filled with material, such as small resilient or interlocking particles, which retains a configuration conforming to the shape of the feet under reduced pressure conditions. A vacuum pump is provided, and it may be located in the heel area of the shoe to be actuated by walking or running to evacuate air from the bladders. The shoe may be removed, and the vacuum formable bladders will retain their shape as long as the vacuum is maintained.

Abstract: A method of producing a custom-fitting article such as a custom-fitting footbed (for example, a removable insole), a custom-fitting hand grip, a custom-fitting body pad, and a custom-fitting orthopedic cast. A member for producing same and a composition for use in connection therewith are also provided. A member, such as a gel pad or gel-filled envelope, is provided which comprises a body of formable material having a minimum setting temperature greater than 130.degree. F. and being setable by heating for a period not exceeding 30 minutes and subsequent cooling. The member is conformed by biasing it against a body part of a person or mammal with sufficient pressure to conform the member to the shape of the body part. The member is then heated for a period not exceeding 30 minutes and thereafter cooled so that the formable material is set and the member remains flexible while resiliently retaining an impression of the body part.

Abstract: Polymer matrix composite materials containing a thermoplastic composite core bonded integrally with a fabric layer are provided. The fabric layer has a greater elasticity than the core, so that the fabric layer can conform smoothly to the core during thermoforming. This improvement has been demonstrated to improve aesthetic appearance and nearly eliminate wrinkling and distortion of the fabric layer when compared to conventional composite materials.

Abstract: Shoes are provided with soles and upper portions which conform to the configuration of the user's feet by the use of vacuum formable bladders in the sole of the shoes and/or in the sides of the upper portions of the shoes. The bladders are filled with material, such as small spherical particles, which retains a configuration conforming to the shape of the feet under reduced pressure conditions. A vacuum pump is provided, and it may be located in the heel area of the shoe to be actuated by walking or running to evacuate air from the bladders.

Abstract: Orthopedic splint materials made with thermoplastic polyester, particularly poly (epsilon-caprolactone) with a molecular weight of over 5,000 and melting between 50.degree. C. and 100.degree. C. have improved properties when subjected to gamma radiation in the range from 0.5 to 30 megarads.

Abstract: A therapeutic arch support is described, more particularly intended for therapy of disorders of the circulation of the foot, for the treatment of venous insufficiency within the area of the leg or for bedding load-sensitive feet, especially for bedding the feet of diabetics suffering from foot detects. The arch support has a multi-layer construction with a highly resilient elastomer core layer standardized so as to be as soft as possible and a thin, top-side covering layer in the form of a smooth fibrous structure. On the side of the sole, a separate supporting layer of flexible, machinable and compression-resistant material may be provided.

Abstract: A foot supporting orthotic having parallel, separately flexing rays extending forwardly from an arch region which in use underlies the arch of a wearer's foot. The rays are bowed by spring-like elastomers and facilitate the shock absorbing and adaptation stages of walking.

Abstract: Custom molded foot beds position the feet in balanced positions. A balanced foot position represents a referenced neutral foot position compensated for an individual's particular lower body anatomy. The foot beds and the apparatus and method for making the foot beds produce a balanced position by applying forces to the foot. First forces move the foot toward the referenced neutral position by a first foam block located under the forefoot lateral column. A composite foam block produces a rolling force in the rear foot to move the subtalar joint toward alignment. Other forces provide anatomical compensation including forces that elevate the heel and cup fatty tissue around the heel. Other forces support the remainder of the foot in this balanced position.

Abstract: An odor adsorbing contoured laminate for footwear comprising an upper-most layer of perforated thermoplastic foam (20), a second layer of air permeable, water repellent textile fabric (22), a third layer of odor adsorbent material (24), a fourth partial layer of contoured solid thermoplastic (30), and a fifth bottom layer of odor adsorbent material (26).

Abstract: A conformable device (20) containing a conformable material (41) substantially comprising fluid matter which forms a resilient material substantially comprising solid matter after a working time is used in an article of footwear (44) in order to enhance conformance, comfort, fit, stability, cushioning and shock-absorption. The conformable material (41) is contained within a chamber (51) of suitable configurations. In addition, a foam material (66) of select shape generally conforming to a portion of the wearer's anatomy can be used in cooperation with the conformable material (41), as well as a void (40) containing a gas. The invention permits accommodation to a wide range of anatomical features and characteristics found amongst a large percentage of the general public and application within numerous types of footwear (44).

Abstract: A process for creating a foot support, and the support created thereby. The foot support transfers the force of walking uniformly over the surface of the foot from the points of metatarsal contact through the arch to the heel. A mold prepared to match the foot in relaxed configuration is used to cast a positive impression representing the relaxed surface of the bottom of the foot. The positive impression is leveled horizontally by a level across the high points, or contact points on the bottom of the foot. A casting is made, matching this horizontal level; when cured the casting forms the insert of the invention.

Abstract: A driver circuit for first and second coils includes first and second selector switches coupled in series between first terminals of the coils and a first common junction, first and second diodes coupled in series between second terminals of the first and second coils, respectively, and a second common junction and a source of first potential coupled to the first common junction. A modulation switch is coupled between the second common junction and a source of second potential. The selector switches and modulation switches are operated to cause currents of controlled magnitude to flow through the coils. The circuit has improved fault immunity whereby at least one coil can be energized even when another coil has been subjected to a chassis ground fault.