Abstract: Footwear for covering a foot of a wearer includes an outsole configured for supporting the foot of the wearer, an upper secured to the outsole and configured for covering the foot of the wearer, an insole located above the outsole within the upper, a midsole located above the outsole and below the insole and first and second laterally adjacent shanks located above the outsole and below the insole. The first shank angles forward and outward from the heel portion to a lateral side of the middle portion and the second shank angles forward and outward from the heel portion to a medial side of the middle portion to form an acute angle therebetween and provide balance and torsional stability for sides of the wearer's foot.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices related to an adjustable arch support system. The adjustable arch support system enables selective adjustment of a component useful in supporting the arch. The system may comprise an insole, an outer shell positioned within the insole, and an inner shell positioned below the outer shell. The inner shell is attached to an adjustment system that controls an area of contact between the inner shell and the outer shell, where the adjustment system includes a gear and track system.

Abstract: Footwear for covering a foot of a wearer includes an outsole configured for supporting the foot of the wearer, an upper secured to the outsole and configured for covering the foot of the wearer, an insole located above the outsole within the upper, a midsole located above the outsole and below the insole and first and second laterally adjacent shanks located above the outsole and below the insole. The first shank angles forward and outward from the heel portion to a lateral side of the middle portion and the second shank angles forward and outward from the heel portion to a medial side of the middle portion to form an acute angle therebetween and provide balance and torsional stability for sides of the wearer's foot.

Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper and a sole assembly configured to provide broad base structural support and stability to a wearer's foot to promote pain prevention in the wearer. The footwear can include a midsole including a stability bridge that enhances torsional rigidity in an arch region, a bifurcated rigid central shank disposed in the arch region under the stability bridge that is visible to a viewer of the footwear and an outsole disposed below the midsole and the bifurcated central shank. The outsole can include a ladder tread section, disposed below the bifurcated central shank, that less than 5 mm above a lowermost surface of the remainder of the outsole so that the outsole includes a substantially flat ground contacting surface to promote stability. The outsole also can include an upwardly curved rearmost heel strike tread, and heel and/or forefoot impact absorption comfort pods in associated midsole voids.

Abstract: An orthotic support structure or shell may be used with footwear intrinsically or as a removable and transferable device. The footwear may be a sandal assembly including a sole, a strap and an orthotic shell. The strap is attached to the sole and configured to secure the sole against the foot. The orthotic shell is positioned within the sole and formed from a semi-rigid material. The orthotic shell includes a heel portion configured to support a heel region of the foot, and a midfoot portion connected to the heel portion and configured to support an arch region of the foot, the midfoot portion comprising an arched shank having a curved convex shape. The arched shank is configured to deflect under a downward force applied thereon which reactively rotates the heel portion toward the heel region of the foot.

Abstract: Footwear for covering a foot of a wearer includes an outsole configured for supporting the foot of the wearer, an upper secured to the outsole and configured for covering the foot of the wearer, an insole located above the outsole within the upper, and first and second laterally adjacent shanks located above the outsole and below the insole. The first and second shanks angle outward from near a lateral center of the heel portion of the outsole toward lateral and medial sides of the middle portion of the outsole so that front ends of the first and second shanks are located at a position to be under outer balls of the wearer's foot to provide balance and torsional stability for sides of the wearer's foot.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot region, and a stiffness enhancing assembly disposed in the forefoot region of the sole plate. The stiffness enhancing assembly further comprises a compression member disposed at a foot-facing side of the sole plate, and a tensile member disposed at an opposite side of the sole plate from the compression member. The tensile member is spaced apart from the compression member by a first distance in a first portion of a flexion range during dorsiflexion of the sole structure, and interferes with the compression member during a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic insole comprising a curve support for the metatarsus. Provided in the region of the greatest height of the curve support on the underside of the insole are a plurality of longitudinally extending stiffening ribs as well as grooves, said grooves extending from the toe region in the direction of the heel as far as the metatarsal region and so curving round in the metatarsal region to the lateral side of the insole and terminating in said region that extending between the grooves are spring strips issuing from each of the toes, wherein material can be removed from the spring strips and stiffening ribs in order individually to adapt the thickness thereof.

Abstract: An orthotic device comprising a generally foot shaped body including depressable relief segments that underlie the metatarsal-phalangeal aspect of the foot and, optionally, the heel of the foot. The relief segments are provided by relieved areas cut or otherwise provided in the indicated areas of the orthotic device in such a way as to interdigitate within the device to define resilient segments that are depressed by the application of the weight of a user thereto and return to their original configuration upon removal of some or all that weight.

Abstract: An insole for use with footwear includes a first layer including a heel portion of a first thickness, a mid portion connected to a front section of the heel portion and having a substantially constant thickness which is much less than the first thickness, and having an upward curvature, an upper surface extending along the mid and heel portions and on which a person stands, and a lower surface extending along the mid and heel portions, the lower surface including a shallow recess in the mid portion, the first layer being made of a material of a first hardness; and a flexible and resilient, thin arch spring insert of a substantially constant thickness secured in the recess and following the curvature of the mid portion, the arch spring insert being made of a material of a second hardness which is greater than the first hardness.

Abstract: An insole assembly for footwear includes a cushioning member and an underlying resilient support member. The cushioning member has an undersurface with a first region beneath a wearer's heel and a second region extending beneath a wearer's arch. The resilient support member has a body and at least one resilient cantilevered arm with a first end attached to the body and a second end extending beneath the second region of the cushioning member. The cantilevered arm defines an arch support surface in supporting engagement with the undersurface of the cushioning member.

Abstract: A midsole system for a running shoe or foot prosthesis have a sole spring, a heel spring and/or a forefoot spring stores energy of foot impact and releases it during the running cycle. A preferred embodiment provides bending beam sole systems for shoes or foot prostheses comprising a bending beam heel spring, a bending beam forefoot spring, a two coupled spring sole system, and a three coupled spring sole system. The sole systems of this invention maximize stability, cushioning, and walking or running economy.

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 device for producing electrically conductive connections between one of a plurality of conductive members with direct contact by crimping. A driven tool head, preferably electrically or pneumatically, has a crimping head with two jaws. The crimping head is supported on a carrier body or is disposed in a housing. A switching or control device, as well as a switch which is actuated by a member can be inserted into the tool head. The switch is supported by the carrier or the housing and is positioned in front of the tool head, with respect to the direction of movement of a member. Such member can be inserted into the tool head and can operate the switch.