U.S. patent number RE33,648 [Application Number 07/039,002] was granted by the patent office on 1991-07-30 for variably adjustable shoe inserts.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Northwest Podiatric Laboratories, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dennis N. Brown.
United States Patent |
RE33,648 |
Brown |
July 30, 1991 |
Variably adjustable shoe inserts
Abstract
An insert for a shoe, boot, or the like which is capable of
plural adjustments so as to adapt the insert to the unique physical
conformation of the wearer's foot, to hold the foot in a neutral
axis position substantially at all times, to return a foot into the
neutral axis mode automatically, and to provide a wide range of
support, resiliency, and angulation based on the needs of the user.
The device as set forth lends itself to modification for various
sports where lateral motion is of primary importance, shock
absorption and longitudinal extension of the foot is of paramount
importance, or for geriatric patients whereby a single insert and
the modifying devices associated therewith address the vast
spectrum of orthotic needs.
Inventors: |
Brown; Dennis N. (Custer,
WA) |
Assignee: |
Northwest Podiatric Laboratories,
Inc. (Blaine, WA)
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Family
ID: |
26715722 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/039,002 |
Filed: |
April 15, 1987 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
431291 |
Sep 30, 1982 |
04510700 |
Apr 16, 1985 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/44; 36/92;
36/28; 36/154 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B
13/12 (20130101); A43B 23/17 (20130101); A43B
13/026 (20130101); A43B 7/142 (20130101); A43B
7/22 (20130101); A43B 7/144 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43B
7/14 (20060101); A43B 7/22 (20060101); A43B
13/12 (20060101); A43B 13/02 (20060101); A43B
23/17 (20060101); A43B 23/00 (20060101); A43B
013/38 (); A43B 013/40 () |
Field of
Search: |
;36/28,44,43,91,92,88
;128/584,585,595,614,615,8D,583,587,622 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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569571 |
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Aug 1958 |
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BE |
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461852 |
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Mar 1926 |
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DE |
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1509112 |
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Jan 1968 |
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FR |
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508720 |
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Jan 1955 |
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IT |
|
Primary Examiner: Meyers; Steven N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hughes & Multer
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An orthotic appliance adapted to be placed as an insert within
or form a part of a boot, shoe, or the like comprising in
combination:
an initial blank having an upper surface that generally follows the
contour of the plantar surface of a foot,
a bottom surface of said blank having a zone of disparate
resiliency relative to areas adjacent said zone,
cap means underlying said bottom surface,
and means for interfitting said cap to said blank wherein said
interfitting means comprises a peripheral wall extending up from
said cap engaging side walls of said blank, said side walls
including a stepped in shelf portion complemental to the thickness
of said peripheral wall so that the outer side edges of said
appliance is substantially smooth.
2. An orthotic appliance adapted to be placed as an insert within
or form a part of a boot, shoe, or the like comprising in
combination:
an initial blank having an upper surface that generally follows the
contour of the plantar surface of a foot,
a bottom surface of said blank having a zone of disparate
resiliency relative to areas adjacent said zone,
cap means underlying said bottom surface,
and means for interfitting said cap to said blank wherein said
interfitting means comprises protuberances extending down from said
bottom surface of said blank and aligned to register with openings
in said cap wherein said interfitting means further comprises a
peripheral wall extending up from said cap engaging side walls of
said blank, said side walls including a stepped in shelf portion
complemental to the thickness of said peripheral wall so that the
outer side edges of said appliance is substantially smooth.
3. The device of claim 1 or 2 wherein said peripheral wall has an
undulating top edge and said shelf has a contour complemental
thereto.
4. The device of claim 1 or 2 wherein said cap terminates adjacent
a metatarsal area of the foot and a leading edge thereof includes
means for reducing pressure along the metatarsal aspect including
longitudinally extending slot means.
5. The device of claim 1 or 2 wherein a cork-resin layer is
interposed between said cap and said blank, said layer provided
with a further zone of disparate resiliency and means for deforming
said layer to bond said cap to said blank under controlled
deformation of said layer.
6. The device of claim 1 or 2 including resilient fingers adapted
to reside in apertures on said cap to alter the contour of said
appliance.
7. The device of claim 1 or 2 including plugs of shock absorbant
material attached to a bottom of the insert to vary the resilience
thereof. .Iadd.
8. An orthotic insert having a lengthwise axis and adapted to be
positioned in a boot, shoe or the like, comprising:
a. a blank made from a relatively resilient and yielding material,
and having an upper surface shaped to conform to a plantar surface
of a foot and a bottom surface, said blank having upwardly
extending side portions to engage at least lower side portions of a
rear portion of the foot;
b. a cap made of a relatively rigid material and positioned below
said blank, said cap having upwardly extending side portions to be
positioned adjacent to, and laterally outwardly of, the side
portions of the blank;
c. said blank and said cap having interengaging means arranged to
limit relative movement between said cap and said blank so as to
maintain said cap and said blank in proper alignment; and
d. said blank having adjacent to its lower surface a lower recess
extending along said lengthwise axis at least at a rear portion of
the blank, with lower side portions of the rear portion of the
blank engaging the cap, said recess being arranged in a manner that
a downward force exerted by the rear of the foot centrally on the
rear portion of the blank causes the side portions of the blank to
move inwardly to grip the lower side portions of the rear portion
of the foot in a manner to provide controlled support for the rear
portion of the foot as weight is transferred from the rear portion
of the foot and through a mid-foot portion of the foot. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein said cap terminates adjacent a
metatarsal area of the foot and a leading edge thereof includes
means for reducing pressure along the metatarsal aspect including
longitudinally extending slot means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The device
of claim 8 wherein a cork-resin layer is interposed between said
cap and said blank, said layer being provided with means for
deforming said layer to bond said cap to said blank under
controlled deformation of said layer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The
device of claim 8 including resilient fingers adapted to reside in
apertures on said cap to alter the contour of said appliance.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.12. The device of claim 8 including plugs of shock absorbant
material attached to a bottom of the insert to vary the resilience
thereof. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to orthotic appliances and
constitutes further developments since our pending application Ser.
No. 324,820, filed Nov. 25, 1981 which is incorporated herewith by
reference.
Fairly recently, greater attempts have been made to provide
footwear which is anatomically correct so as to not only increase
the comfort of the wearer, but also to minimize fatigue and
injuries. This requires an analysis of the typical human gait. When
one is moving substantially in a single linear direction, the gait
consists of three distinct phases. First, the heel strike phase
occurs during which the foot is essentially a "mobile adapter"
ready to conform to the topographical contours encountered. Some of
the impact forces are dissipated through the ankle and leg bones to
the upper torso, while other impact forces are translated into the
foot. The proper dissipation and translation of these forces during
the heel strike phase produce a natural shock absorption mechanism.
Second, the transition or mid gait phase transforms the mobile
adapter into a rigid lever whereby the mid-tarsal joint becomes
locked preparing the foot for translation of the accumulated and
developing forces in a stable manner throughout the foot during the
remainder of said cycle and the ensuing final phase called toe
roll. This is the final propulsive said translatory phase of gait.
After the toe leaves the ground the swing phase of the next step
begins. The critical phase is the mid-gait or transition phase
where the foot is transformed from a "mobile-adapter" to a "rigid
lever". The optimum configuration for the ankle and tarsal joint at
this point is to have the sub-talar joint in a neutral position as
the mid-tarsal joint becomes locked and the foot becomes a "rigid
lever". This allows the impact load to be properly dissipated and
translated. While podiatrists have long been aware of the need to
maintain the foot's proper orientation relative to the leg to
provide a "rigid lever" and accordingly have prescribed orthoses
for that purpose, the general populace rarely avails themselves of
these services until after a certain amount of discomfort and/or
damage has been done.
The following citations reflect the state of the art of which
applicant is aware in so far as these patents appear to be germane
to the patent process:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,669,814 Ritchey
U.S. Pat. No. 2,680,919 Riggs
U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,801 Zente
French No. 1,240,066 Strasbach
British No. 465,940 King.
Advertisment from Runner's World-July 1982-Saucony.
Of these, the patent to Ritchey appears to be of great interest
since he teaches the use of an orthopedic device suitably
positioned within a shoe or the like, in which the upper surface
thereof has a complex contour addressed to the peculiarities of a
given foot. The instant invention can be contrasted over this prior
art by noting the contrasting ease with which the apparatus
according to the instant application can be initially fitted to a
person, or successively fitted as a function of time, while
providing immediate relief.
Similarly, the patent to Riggs teaches the use of an insole type
appliance having a compound contour like the Ritchey invention
configured in such a manner as to provide foot relief based on
Riggs' perception of a universal foot disorder.
Similarly, the Zente patent teaches the use of a liquid filled
orthopedic apparatus composed of a plurality of discrete internal
liquid filled ampules which are strategically placed between upper
and lower laminae and sealed in place to provide separate support
for various parts of the foot.
The publication from the July 1982 edition of Runner's World
provides a substantially horseshoe shaped plastic insert preferably
formed of hytril adapted to be placed in a rear foot area of the
shoe between a mid-sole and an upper. This device is predicated on
the assumption that heel strike is initiated on the outside area of
the foot initially, and accordingly attempts to distribute the load
more evenly around the heel area presumably due to the intrinsic
shock absorbtion properties attendant with the use of hytril. As
exemplified in other prior art devices discussed supra, the
associated insert defined in this citation is based on a
predisposed conception of a generic foot malady, and a single
insert is provided in an attempt to rectify a perception of a
universal foot disorder.
The instant application is distinguished over these citations in
that a plurality of instrumentalities are provided which are
adapted to be selectively utilized by the wearer so that mixing and
matching of orthotics defined by the instant application
encompasses a broader spectrum of foot disorders than would
otherwise be available in accordance with the prior art. Moreover,
the device according to the instant application is distinguished
over the known prior art in that a contour on the top surface of
the insert is adapted to coact with the plantar surface of a
person's foot in an especially beneficial way so that elogation of
the foot along the longitudinal axis is provided for by associated
distortion of the orthotic appliance with concomitant deformation
of the appliance that urges the foot to transmit forces in a
uniform manner free of unwanted torsions and or torsional forces
and accordingly applies flexibility and variations to selectively
engage a wide spectrum of foot problems.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention is directed to and is characterized by an
orthotic appliance adapted to be placed within a shoe, boot, or the
like which is formed from initially two components. An upper blank
having a top contour which generally following the configuration of
the plantar surface of a person's foot. This contour is formed in
such a way so that conformation of the wearer's foot tends to
assume a neutral sub-talar joint and al locked mid-tarsal joint.
The bottom portion of this blank has a longitudinally extending
zone of lesser resilience along a center portion thereof from the
calcaneal area of a person's foot up to a metatarsal area along
with marginal portions on either side of this zone defining a
plurality of downwardly extending protuberances adapted to coact
with an underlying cap associated thereto by the protuberances.
Together an interlocking instrumentality is provided the
combination of which encourages a controlled appliance deformation.
More specifically, the cap is adapted to be formed from one of a
group of materials characterized in having an elastic resilient
memory causing the device when unstressed to return to an initial
state and when stressed is caused to distort in a dictated
regulated manner to urge the foot to maintain an aspect defined as
a neutral relationship beteen the sub-talar joint and the
mid-tarsal joint. The cap also defines an area along a leading edge
thereof adapted to be manipulated operatively in such a manner that
the metatarsal area of a person can be operatively modified and
conditioned so as to provide relief of pressure along the
metatarsal area of the foot or any where else along the lateral
aspect of the foot. By providing a uniform force distribution and
force dissipation throughout the bone structure of the foot as it
relates to the leg, the minimization of unwanted torsion and/or
torsional forces allays an unwanted force component which can be
felt and made manifest in the knee, hip and small of the back
according to prior art techniques.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an
orthotic insert that is to be disposed within a shoe, boot, or the
like whose contour and angulation is adapted to support the foot
properly and encourage correction relative to the associated foot
bones particularly the sub-talar joint and the mid-tarsal joint to
encourage beneficial force dissipation and distribution to obtain
bio-mechanical advantage in the anatomy of a person's foot and
leg.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of the
character described above which is relatively inexpensive to
manufacture, extremely durable in construction, safe to use, and
lends itself to mass production techniques.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a device of
the character described above in which plural adjustments can be
effected in order to address a wide spectrum of orthopedic
problems.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a device
of the character described above which is so configured as to lend
itself by adaptation to a plurality of specific needs (walking,
running, basketball, racquet ball, etc.) specifically by the plural
alterations that are indigenous.
A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the
character described above which encourages a proper orientation of
the foot and its associated bones relative to the leg in such a
manner that the weight distribution is substantially uniform along
the longitudinal axis of the foot based upon the individual foot
components' weight bearing ability.
A further object of this invention is to provide a device which
assists in orientating the sub-talar joint so as to be more aligned
toward a neutral position and the mid-tarsal joint in a more
functional position, that is locked.
These and other objects will be manifest when considering the
following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the
appended drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus according to one form of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a second form of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of that which is shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further form of the invention in
a preferred embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance with
the instant application shown in perspective.
FIG. 9 is a side view partially exploded in a preferred embodiment
according to the instant application.
FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of that which is shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 11--11 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 12 is a 3/4 persepctive view of the embodiment shown in FIGS.
8, 9 and 10 according to one form.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings now, wherein like reference numerals
refer to like parts throughout the various drawing figures,
reference numeral 10 is directed to an orthotic insert according to
one form of the present invention.
As shown especially well in FIGS. 1-3, the insert 10 is defined by
a two component system that includes a full length blank B and a
cap C which extends from the metatarsal area 8 rearwardly to a heel
area 6.
The full length blank B has a top surface 1 formed from an abrasion
resistant padded material such as synthetic fabric, nylon, dacron,
felt, cloth or the like and a resilient underlying substrate 2
formed from rubber or its equivalent which padded material and
rubber substrate are interconnected by means of adhesion or fusion.
The lowermost portion of the full length blank defines a bottom
layer 3 formed from a foamed material such as Freelen.TM.,
Plastizote.TM., or any other opened or closed celled foam
characterized as being relatively resilient, having sufficient
memory to return to its original state when unstressed, and capable
of moderate shock absorption properties and loads.
The cap C is formed from a material which is comparatively rigid
when contrasted with the upper full length blank B, and may formed
from polyethylene, polypropylene (with or without diluents such as
talc), epoxy and fiberglass, or graphite fibers combined with a
resin, or polyurethane fibers bound in a resin, all of the above
preferred constituents of the cap being characterized in having a
predetermined and programmable resistance to deformation and
torsion in such a manner that when distorted, fibers associated
therewith (or the plastic as poured) reacts to deformation in a
desired manner to be defined hereinafter.
The cap C is provided with a plurality of apertures running along
medial and lateral marginal portions adapted to receive therewithin
plugs 7 formed from any of the family of rubbers such a sorbothane,
characterized in having a density and a resilience somewhat greater
than that which defines the full length blank. The holes 11 in the
cap allow the frictional insertion of the plugs 7 therewithin and
are frictionally engaged in associated recesses formed in the full
length blank B as is shown in FIG. 3. The longitudinal extent of
the full length blank B includes a recess 9 running substantially
from the calcaneal or heel area of the foot forward up to the
metatarsal area of the foot so that elongation of the foot in the
gait cycle provides deformation of the cap and blank to provide a
zone within which the blank can be accommodated so as to provide
controlled deformation of the full length blank. Concurrently, the
cap is allowed to curve along the longitudinal extent so that
medial and lateral edge portions 4 roll inwardly providing a
controlled support for the heel which generates a preferred
constraint and control on the foot, the blank and cap having a
sufficient degree of programmed deformation to urge the sub-talar
and mid-tarsal joint to become relatively oriented in a neutral
axis position. The deformation of the insert is shown by the arrows
A in FIG. 3.
FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 11 show a second form of the invention wherein
like reference numerals refer to like parts. The second embodiment
20 includes an elongate blank B' which has in underlying
relationship a 3/4 length cap C' as before. In this example, a
further appliance 12 is provided of 3/4 length or substantially the
same dimension longitudinally as the cap, and is adapted to be
disposed between the cap and the elongate blank. The medial layer
12 is formed from a cork resin mixture characterized as in its
ability to expand substantially 2 to 3 times its original volume
when heated and is of substantially U-shaped configuration defining
the elongate longitudinal recess 9 as shown. The top surface of the
cork resin layer 12 has a contour complemental to the bottom
surface of the full length blank so that there is natural registry
therebetween. A characteristic of the cork resin composition is
that upon heating it will deform under pressure (as by one's foot
in a wearing situation) to fill an associated void, and therefore
the cap formed of the material set forth for the first embodiment
will define the finished bottom configuration of the cork resin
layer 12 as will now be defined.
A plurality of apertures 11 are provided on the medial and lateral
segments of the cap, and a peripheral upwardly extending lip 4 is
similarly provided with apertures 13 so that upon deformation of
the cork resin layer 12, the apertures 11 and 13 are filled as
suggested in FIG. 11. An intrinsic property of the cork resin and
the bottom strata 3 of the full length blank B' is that natural
adhesion is known to exist between the two layers when the cork
resin is suitably heated so that a bond along their interface has
been effected. As shown in FIG. 11, one or more resilient plugs 7
can be inserted into the apertures 11 as shown so as to control and
determine the angulation of a person's foot during the fitting
procedure. The plug 7 extends within the cork resin to varied
degrees depending upon the pressures associated therewith, and the
cork resin when suitably pressured will extend into the holes 11,
13 so that a custom orthotic appliance has been provided. As shown
in FIG. 7, the full length blank is provided along the medial,
lateral and heel aspect with a side wall 14 adapted to be
dimensioned in accordance with the width and height of the
corresponding walls 4 of the cap so that upon assembly, a flush
peripheral wall is provided. To this end, the side edge 14 defines,
with the shelf 15 and an upper rim 16 off set from the wall 14 a
periphery so that the thickness of the cap 17 is substantially the
same as the shelf dimension 15 for nesting engagement. Of course
some migration of the cork resin will occur between the inner wall
of the cap 4 and the marginal peripheral portion 14 so that a
bonding has been effected there as well. FIG. 11 shows the tapering
nature of the cork resin as it extends up around the heel area. An
added benefit of this technique is that the additional resilience
of the cork resin has been provided, but the layer is of such a
thickness that deterioration of the cork resin is not a
consideration due to its laminated support and strength derived
from not only the cap but the full length blank. Multiple
orthopedic adjustments are therefore possible by use of the heated,
deformable cork resin layer.
The remaining drawing figures reflect a current soon to be
commercial embodiment demonstrative of further developments in this
art. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12, an orthotic
insert 30 is provided having a full length upper blank B" formed of
the materials 1, 2, 3 set forth hereinabove, which include a
compound contour substantially conforming to the plantar surface of
a person's foot and conformation to this contour tends to promote a
neutral sub-talar joint and a locked mid-tarsal joint, and includes
side walls 14 along a rear, lateral, and medial portions of a
person's foot extending upwardly and including the shelf 15 and
upper thickened area 16 adapted to complementally receive the cap
C" and the width 17 of the peripheral walls 4 as shown in FIG. 12
for example. The topmost edge 31 of the insert has been beveled and
feathered to a fine edge 31 as shown.
The cap C" includes a metatarsal head area 8 provided with a
plurality of longitudinally extending slots 33, each slot
terminating in a aperture 34. Thus, the leading edge of the cap and
the associated slot define areas of separate resilience and
flexibility which allow removal of any tab defined by the area
between two adjacent grooves 33 so that a respective adjacent
metatarsal area is at a higher elevation than the tab 39 which has
been removed. Thus, pressure can be released from certain
metatarsal areas to the benefit of people experiencing metatarsal
discomfort, commonly geriatic patients. In addition, the slots 33
terminating in aperture 34 can also define areas for insertion
therein of resilient fingers, particularly within the apertures 34
to provide an associated topographical disparity for additional
pressure release.
The cap main surface 5 includes the normal apertures 11 and,
running along a medial, lateral and calcaneal aspect of the bottom
surface thereof a plurality of apertures 32 are similarly provided
adapted to receive resilient fingers for similar associated
purposes and benefits. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 12, the
marginal wall 4 includes a curved top edge 17 that includes a rear
wall 6 of substantially uniform height, but as the wall extends
forwardly, each side is provided with one downwardly extending
undulation each respectively off set from the other in a plane
transverse to the longitudinal axis, and thereafter an upwardly
curved segment ultimately tapering downwardly to the flat area of
the insert proximate to the metatarsal head area. A complemental
contour on the peripheral wall 14 of the full length blank is also
defined so that a interlocking is provided by the nesting
interengagement of the shelf 15 with the top edge 17 and the
undulations serve to not only assure registry of the blank and its
cap, but also to encourage deformation of the two relative to foot
pressure in a predetermined manner. It is to be noted that the
medial marginal side wall has greater length and corresponds to and
underlies the arch support so that the upwardly extending portion
forward of the undulation on the medial side thereof underlies and
causes additional beneficial support of the arch member, a
consideration not necessary on the lateral aspect of the foot on
its associated opposite site. As can be derived from a section of
FIG. 8, the bottom face of the blank B" is provided with a
plurality of substantially circular protuberances 35 having a
planar bottom face adapted to nest within the apertures 11 so that
the height of the protuberances causes a cap-protuberance bottom
surface of substantially flush configuration. Though not limited in
concept to this specific embodiment, an annular ring 36 can be
provided along a bottom portion of the cap as shown in FIG. 8
adapted to be fixed by adhesion for frictional engagement of the
protuberance so as to provide requisite angulation if so
desired.
The recess 9 shown in FIG. 8 provides for areas of increased
thickness 38 proximate thereto and adjacent each of the
protuberances, so as to provide medial and lateral shelves on
either side of the recess 9. The thickness 37 of the recess 9 is
shown in FIG. 8. Also, it is to be appreciated that the recess is
of narrowest width proximate the calcaneal or heel area and flares
outwardly as it proceeds forward to the metatarsal area of the
foot. The area adjacent the arch defines a leading edge of the
recess, and the lateral aspect is feathered rearwardly relative
thereto so as to encourage a controlled deformation of the recess
in combination with the arch support and other structure.
Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it
should be understood that numerous structural modifications and
adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of
the invention.
* * * * *