Abstract: A sole for an athletic shoe, such as a cleated soccer or football shoe, comprises a thin, unitary member formed of flexible material. The member has a contour or configuration which renders the flexible material substantially rigid at the arch and heel portions of the sole. This provides substantial support to the arch of the foot. Cleats may extend from the toe and heel portions of the lower surface of the sole member.

Abstract: A sandal is provided with an inside arch and ankle stabilizing flange which forms an integral part of a one-piece molded bottom without a separate inner sole. The flange is smoothly curved and extends upward along the arch side for a longitudinal length from a point adjacent the side of the ankle stabilizes the ankle joint by preventing it from rolling inward toward the walking surface thereby providing an unusually high degree of security for an open shoe. The footbed of the molded bottom conforms to the plantar surface of the normal foot while walking or at rest. Both the bottom footbed and the upper pattern including the inner longitudinal arch flange are designed to allow for the anatomical and functional differences between the inside and outside longitudinal arch areas of the normal foot, and act to discourage the tipping of the ankle toward the inside of the foot, resulting in pronation.

Abstract: A one piece resilient and compressible pad having a generally oblong shape has a flat bottom surface with a rounded rear end, generally parallel longitudinal sides, a substantially straight forward end and rounded corners connecting the forward end to the longitudinal sides. The top surface of the pad is contoured with the forward end of the pad having a flat portion of maximum thickness and its heel end having a flat portion of lesser thickness. A sloping portion is provided between the two flat portions. The dimensions of the pad are selected so that when placed in a shoe with the heel end closely approaching the inside rear of the shoe, the flat portion of maximum thickness will underlie and protect the metatarsal and longitudinal arches.

Abstract: An insert for use in ice skates and the like which includes a blank having a top layer with an upper surface provided with a contour substantially complemental to the plantar surface of a person's foot, the top layer formed from a suitable material to resist abrasion, and absorb perspiration. The top layer is bonded to an intermediate layer formed of resilient material, a bottom portion of the intermediate surface affixed to a lower surface having a bottom layer provided with an alignment device for registry with the center line of a skate whereby deformation of the blank occurs along its longitudinal axis thereof, directly above the skate blade, the deformation of the blank causing a cradling and supporting effect upon the foot disposed within the skate so as to provide not only better centering over the skate blade, but also an improved load transmission from the foot through the leg resulting in overall better balance and skate edge control.

Abstract: A shoe or shoe insert is described which provides increased support to specific areas of the foot during the first and second trimesters and third trimester of pregnancy to compensate for changes in body weight and center of gravity which occurs as the term of pregnancy advances. A pad, which can be a shoe insole, is provided with these specific areas of support.

Abstract: A running shoe having an outer sole and a midsole. The midsole comprises a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion all formed of a resilient material having a first durometer sufficiently low to provide good cushioning and impact absorption. Rear foot stabilization means in the form of a mass of resilient material is located and confined within the midsole adjacent the medial side of the heel portion. The durometer of the stabilization means is higher than the durometer of the midsole to provide resistance to compression at the medial side of the heel portion, thereby lessening the tendency of the shoe to overpronation. In one embodiment, the stabilization means comprises plural plugs confined fully within the midsole. In another embodiment, the stabilization means extend through the outsole and into the insole.

Abstract: An improved running shoe includes several means for stabilizing pronation and for promoting and maintaining favorable positioning of the foot while running or jogging. The bottom of the sole has cleats which resist inward rotation of the shoe during certain phases of weight bearing. The sole provides basic support through a wide shank, rigid longitudinal shank reinforcement and relative incompressibility in the medial arch region. The central part of the foot is contained and directly supported by a strong lateral counter and an insert which cooperates with the foregoing elements. A primary purpose of the invention is to provide stable support for the rear half of the first metatarsal bone in a practical and novel manner.

Abstract: A separable fastener device adapted for use in securing a removable foot support device to an internal portion of a shoe. The separable fastener device is comprised of two engaging elements. Each engaging element has a flexible planar base sheet of resilient material wherein one side of each sheet has a pressure responsive adhesive whereby one engaging element is attached to the removable foot support device and the other engaging element is attached to an internal portion of the shoe. Each of the engaging elements has a remaining side providing releasably interengageable mating surfaces in which one engaging element has a surface comprising flexible resilient hook members and the other engaging element has a surface comprising a loosely arranged mat of interlocking hair-like threads. These releasably interengageable mating surfaces engage when the foot support device is positioned in the shoe thereby preventing slippage of the foot support device.

Abstract: Removable, adjustable, foot-supporting and foot-positioning, orthopedic inserts for selectively and correctly supporting and positioning bottom regions of the foot, which are constructed and designed for use in athletic or sports footwear, including shoes and boots, whereby the foot is selectively and correctly supported and positioned in the footwear, and the leg, in turn, is selectively and correctly supported and positioned relative to the footwear.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a new and improved running shoe in which the structure and anatomy of the shoe, including the upper and the thermoplastic rubber unit bottom to which it is secured is balanced and synchronized with the complex action of the wearer's foot in order to tend to optimize the functioning of the multitudinous bones and muscles of the foot and leg during running movements, in general, and during the mid-stance period of the running gait in particular. The unit bottom of the new running shoe has a specially configured and contoured plantar surface having a narrow throat portion with specially shaped integral medial and lateral pad portions disposed therein intermediately of the anterior and posterior portions thereof. The dorsal surface of the new unit sole is generally contoured to conform faithfully to the anatomy of the plantar portion of the wearer's foot when the foot is in its neutral position.

Abstract: An orthotic insert formed of a resilient molded flexible plastic support member, a thin layer of vinyl applied to the upper surface, and a spongy resilient heel post mounted on the lower surface in the heel region. The insert extends from beneath the heel to a location proximal of the heel of the metatarsal joints of a user's foot. The insert is flexible enough to accommodate variations in individual feet without the need for custom fitting, yet resists flex sufficiently to beneficially limit excessive foot pronation and thereby minimize injuries associated therewith.

Abstract: A safety wrapper and strap protector encompassing the middle of the foot of a person with a trailing strap which is placed over the bottom and back of the heel when the heel is slightly elevated, extending upwardly on the back of the leg and adhesively secured thereto above the ankle to prevent injury to achilles tendon, the posterior ankle joint capsule and other structures at the posterior portion of the ankle and subtaler joint during running and gymnastic exercises.

Abstract: A shoe which includes a metatarsal arch support comprising a heel portion; a medial portion extending from the heel portion; and a metatarsal portion extending from the medial portion and terminating in a round metatarsal edge; which support increases in width from the medial portion to the metatarsal edge; the medial portion having a curved transverse cross-sectional shape; and the metatarsal portion having a crescent transverse cross-sectional shape which flattens by way of a wedge-shape into the round metatarsal edge; the metatarsal edge being adapted to be substantially below the joints of the five metatarsal bones to the proximal phalanges.

Abstract: An orthopedic canvas shoe containing a supporting arch and having a continuous flexible sole wherein the sole is formed such that the inside heel and arch portions of the sole are slightly elevated with respect to the remainder of the sole. The arch of the shoe is positioned such that the highest portion of the arch fits directly beneath the navicular bone of the foot. The arch is further supported and the foot held in proper position by extending the sole forwardly from the heel to the widest portion of the shoe supporting the ball of the foot in a straight line.Orthopedic soles having the same medial heel and arch elevations and having a filled in arch portion are adapted to be adhesively connected to any conventional upper to form an orthopedic shoe and thereby provide a method to correct and/or prevent the pronation of feet.

Abstract: A footwear is provided with pressure projections adapted to pressure-stimulate effective spots of a foot and provide simulated finger-pressure treatment. Each of the pressure projections has a magnet for applying magnetism to the effective spots. The effective spots of the foot are therefore subjected to the multiple stimulating effects obtained by the pressure stimulation due to the pressure projections and the magnetic stimulation due to the magnets.

Abstract: An orthopedic canvas shoe containing a supporting arch and having a continuous flexible sole wherein the sole is formed such that the inside heel and arch portions of the sole are slightly elevated with respect to the remainder of the sole. The arch of the shoe is positioned such that the highest portion of the arch fits directly beneath the navicular bone of the foot. The arch is further supported and the foot held in proper position by extending the sole forwardly from the heel to the widest portion of the shoe supporting the ball of the foot in a straight line.

Abstract: An insole and outsole construction is provided which is particularly applicable to athletic shoes, but which has general utility in a wide variety of boots and shoes. The insole construction includes three pads formed on its upper surface for engaging the bottom of the foot and which will be designated herein as the tri-plane heel pad, the lateral heel pad and the buttress pad. The outsole construction includes the provision of inserts of relatively dense material directly under the lateral and tri-plane pads. The pads and inserts cooperate to provide adequate stability, particularly to the foot and ankle during violent movements thereof; and to minimize movement of the foot within the shoe, thereby to cut down to a large extent generation of frictional heat. The insole pads also serve to minimize foot elongation and thereby decrease movement of the forefoot and thereby prevent injury to the toes.

Abstract: A shoe construction is described for improving the posture of the wearer, as well as reducing the wear on the rearward edge of the heel, without substantially changing the exterior appearance from conventional shoes. This is accomplished by hollowing out a portion of the top of the sole portion, particularly in the heel region, so that the sole of the wearer is inclined upwardly toward the toe portion of the sole at an angle of about 2.degree.-10.degree.. The shoe upper is substantially conventional; however, to comfortably accommodate the ankle of the wearer, due to the lowered heel, the rearward edge of the shoe upper is lowered an equivalent amount. The development is illustrated for shoes having a separate heel portion as well as for wedge-type shoes.