Joint protective shoe construction

• US 20020139011A1
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JKM Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kerrigan D. Casey
• Inventors: Kerrigan, D. Casey
• Granted Patent: US 6,725,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/144
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/143 situated under the lateral arch, i.e. the cuboid bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/22 with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like

Abstract

A joint protective shoe construction for preventing knee and hip osteoarthritis is provided. The shoe construction includes a midsole or insole having a body with medial and lateral sides. The height of the lateral side of the body is greater than the height of the medial side, thereby forming a lateral wedge. A cantilevered arch support is also provided for transferring forces from the weight of the body to the lateral side of the shoe and foot. The arch support is adapted to support the medial side of an arch of a wearer'"'"'s foot at a height above the ground. The lateral wedge and/or the arch support significantly reduce the knee and hip torques during walking, running, standing, or other weight bearing activities including athletic endeavors.

Claims

1. A midsole for use in a shoe, comprising:

a body having a medial side and a lateral side, wherein at least a portion of the lateral side has a height that is greater than a height of the medial side; and

an arch support disposed on the body and adapted to support the medial side of a wearer'"'"'s foot.

2. The midsole of claim 1, wherein the body includes a toe portion, a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion, the height of the lateral side being greater than the height of the medial side at the heel and forefoot portions of the body.

3. The midsole of claim 2, wherein the height of the lateral side is substantially the same as the height of the medial side at the toe and midfoot portions of the body.

4. The midsole of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a top layer and a bottom layer.

5. The midsole of claim 4, wherein the top layer is compressible and the bottom layer is semi-compressible.

6. The midsole of claim 5, wherein the height of the lateral side of the bottom layer is greater than the height of the medial side of the bottom layer.

7. The midsole of claim 6, wherein the height of the medial side of the top layer is greater than the height of the lateral side of the top layer.

8. The midsole of claim 3, wherein the arch support includes a medial side and a lateral side, the arch support being cantilevered such that the lateral side is anchored laterally and the medial side is floating.

9. The midsole of claim 8, wherein the arch support is mated to the lateral side of the body at the midfoot, heel, and/or forefoot portions.

10. The midsole of claim 9, wherein the arch support is semi-rigid.

11. The midsole of claim 3, further comprising a lateral flare extending from the lateral side of the body at the forefoot and heel portions.

12. The midsole of claim 3, wherein the heel portion of the body further includes a beveled edge extending between the medial and lateral sides thereof.

13. The midsole of claim 3, wherein the height from the medial side to the lateral side defines a slope having an incline of between about 2°

and 12°

.

14. The midsole of claim 2, wherein the midsole supports the heel and forefoot portions at substantially the same height.

15. The midsole of claim 7, wherein the height of the lateral side of the body is greater than the height of the medial side of the body upon the application of a compressive force upon the midsole.

17. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the body includes a toe portion, a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion, the height of the lateral side being greater than the height of the medial side at the heel and forefoot portions of the body.

18. The shoe of claim 17, wherein the height of the lateral side is substantially the same as the height of the medial side at the toe and midfoot portions of the body.

19. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the body comprises a top layer and a bottom layer.

20. The shoe of claim 19, wherein the top layer is compressible and the bottom layer is semi-compressible.

21. The shoe of claim 20, wherein the height of the lateral side of the bottom layer is greater than the height of the medial side of the first layer.

22. The shoe of claim 21, wherein the height of the medial side of the top layer is higher than the height of the lateral side of the top layer.

23. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the arch support is mated to the lateral side of the body at the heel, midfoot, and/or forefoot portion.

24. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the arch support is mated to the upper.

25. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the arch support is integral with the upper.

26. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the arch support is semi-rigid.

27. The shoe of claim 16, further comprising a cushioned arch insert disposed between the cantilevered arch and the outer sole.

28. The shoe of claim 18, further comprising a lateral flare extending from the lateral side of the body at the forefoot and heel portions.

29. The shoe of claim 28, wherein the heel portion of the body further includes a beveled edge extending between the medial and lateral sides.

30. The shoe of claim 29, further comprising a beveled cushion insert disposed between the beveled edge of the heel and the outer sole.

31. The shoe of claim 18, wherein the height from the medial side to the lateral side defines a slope having an incline of between about 2°

and 12°

.

32. The shoe of claim 18, further comprising a sock liner mated to the upper.

33. The shoe of claim 18, wherein the midsole supports the heel and forefoot portions at substantially the same height.

36. The arch support of claim 35, wherein the lateral side of the arch support is secured to a footwear structure.

37. The arch support of claim 36, wherein the footwear structure is selected from the group consisting of a midsole, an upper, an insole, an outer sole, and combinations thereof.

16. A shoe for supporting a wearer'"'"'s foot, comprising:

an outer sole;

a midsole having an upper surface and a lower surface that is mated to the outer sole, the midsole comprising

a body having a medial side and a lateral side, wherein at least a portion of the lateral side has a height that is greater than a height of the medial side, and

a cantilevered arch support disposed on the body and having an upwardly extending portion adapted to conform to an arch of a wearer'"'"'s foot; and

an upper mated to the upper surface of the midsole along a peripheral portion of the midsole.

34. An insole insert for use in a shoe, comprising:

a semi-rigid body having a medial side, a lateral side, a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion, wherein the lateral side has a height greater than a height of the medial side at the heel and forefoot portions; and

a cantilevered arch support disposed on the semi-rigid body and having an upwardly extending portion adapted to conform to an arch of a wearer'"'"'s foot,

the insole being effective to transfer forces generated by weight bearing activities to the lateral side of the wearer'"'"'s foot.

35. A cantilevered arch support for use in a shoe, comprising:

a semi-rigid body having a medial side and a lateral side; and

an upwardly extending member formed on the medial side of the body adapted to support the medial side of a wearer'"'"'s foot at a height above the ground,

the arch support being effective to transfer laterally forces generated by weight bearing activities.

38. A midsole for use in a shoe, comprising:

a body having a medial side, a lateral side, a toe portion, a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion, wherein the lateral side has a height that is greater than a height of the medial side at the heel and forefoot portions, such that the body is effective to transfer laterally forces generated by weight bearing activities.