FOOTWEAR ORTHOSIS

• US 20090133292A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salvatelli S.R.L
• Original Assignee: Salvatelli S.R.L
• Inventors: Tulipani, Massimo, Salvatelli, Franco
• Granted Patent: US 8,230,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/110
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0045 made at least partially of deodorant means
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/145 Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/146 Concave end portions, e.g. with a cavity or cut-out portion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/16 Pieced soles with several layers of different material A43B13/12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1464 with adjustable pads to allow custom fit
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/147 for sick or disabled persons, e.g. persons having osteoarthritis or diabetes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/30 Protecting the ball-joint against pressure while standing

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method of orthopedic footwear for post-surgical or diabetic patients or for sanitary use. The footwear has an ambidextrous bottom sole. In a higher part thereof, there is a groove of at least 10 mm, in which an off-loading plantar insoles or medicine or bandages can be inserted. These have been built-in the bottom sole using an ortho-dynamic concept which allows the patient a controlled deambulation. To that end, the present invention prevents sheer force on the plantar part of the bottom sole and the foot and in particular on the metatarsal and/or tarsal part of the foot.

Claims

1. Orthopedic footwear for post-surgical or diabetic patients or for sanitary use, the footwear comprising:

an ambidextrous bottom sole with a groove, said groove being positioned in an upper part of the bottom sole and being at least 10 mm in length; and

an off-load plantar insole housed in said groove; and

wherein the bottom sole inclines from a front part to a back part back and forth, the front and back parts being convex with a minimum inclination, in relation to the ground underneath, the parts being convex at an inclination of 20° and

having a point of contact, off-centered on the Chopart line limited to 8-12 mm, the bottom sole avoiding complete and continuous contact with the surface underneath so as to prevent a sheer force in a deambulation phase and in particular on portions of the bottom sole corresponding to the metatarsal, tarsal and central areas.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the bottom sole comprises a deambulation ramp at 70°

in a landing phase of the back part, at 90°

when off-centered on the Chopart line, and at 110°

in a take-off phase.

3. The footwear according to claim 2, wherein said deambulation ramp inclines from 70°

on the back part, to 90°

on a central part and then increasing to 110°

on the front part.

4. The footwear according to claim 1, said off-load plantar insole is rigid, molded, light and deformable, avoiding flexing and torsion and consequently any unwanted weight on a plantar part of the bottom sole.

5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein the rigid plantar insole is characterized by a particular shape, providing a flat surface in contact with said bottom sole, following a shape of the bottom sole without affecting the step of inclining back and forth.

6. The footwear according to claim 2, wherein said off-load plantar insole is comprised of a modular series of two or more multi-layer plantar insoles with mechanical and shock-absorbent characteristics, being comprised of washable and disinfectable materials.

7. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said off-load plantar insole is comprised of at least two multi-layer plantar insoles, each multilayer plantar insole being comprised of three modular and interchangeable elements with variable hardness and elasticity.

8. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said bottom sole has two or more variants or four or more lengths.

9. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said upper part of the bottom sole comprises two external upper side parts, two inserts in semi-rigid material with a eyelet, and a strip, said eyelet placed in a middle of each insert, said strip being inserted into said eyelet, said upper part further comprising a disposable sealing means, locking said strip.

10. A method of using orthopedic footwear according to claim 1, for post-surgical or diabetic patients or for sanitary use, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting an ambidextrous bottom sole with a groove, said groove being positioned in an upper part of the bottom sole and being at least 10 mm in length;

housing an off-load plantar insole or medicine in said groove; and

inclining the bottom sole from a front part to a back part back and forth, the front and back parts being convex with a minimum inclination, in relation to the ground underneath, the parts being convex at an inclination of 20° and

having a point of contact, off-centered on the Chopart line limited to 8-12 mm, the bottom sole avoiding complete and continuous contact with the surface underneath so as to prevent a sheer force in a deambulation phase and in particular on portions of the bottom sole corresponding to the metatarsal, tarsal and central areas.

11. The method of using orthopedic footwear according to claim 10, said step of inclining the bottom sole comprises inclining a deambulation ramp at 70°

in a landing phase of the back part, inclining the deambulation ramp at 90°

when off-centered on the Chopart line, and inclining the deambulation ramp at 110°

in a take-off phase.

12. The method of using orthopedic footwear according to claim 11, wherein said deambulation ramp inclines from 70°

on the back part, to 90°

on a central part and then increasing to 110°

on the front part.

13. The method of using orthopedic footwear according to claim 10, said off-load plantar insole is rigid, molded, light and deformable, avoiding flexing and torsion and consequently any unwanted weight on a plantar part of the bottom sole.

14. The method of using orthopedic footwear according to claim 13, wherein the rigid plantar insole is characterized by a particular shape or nature, providing a flat surface in contact with said bottom sole and a surface, following a shape of the bottom sole without affecting the step of inclining back and forth.

15. The method of using orthopedic footwear according to claim 11, wherein said off-load plantar insole is comprised of a modular series of two or more multi-layer plantar insoles with mechanical and shock-absorbent characteristics, being comprised of washable and disinfectable materials.

16. The method of using orthopedic footwear according to claim 10, wherein said off-load plantar insole is comprised of at least two multi-layer plantar insoles, each multilayer plantar insole being comprised of three modular and interchangeable elements with variable hardness and elasticity.

17. The method of using orthopedic footwear according to claim 10, wherein said bottom sole has two or more variants or four or more lengths.

18. The method of using orthopedic footwear according to claim 10, wherein said upper part of the bottom sole comprises two external upper side parts, two inserts in semi-rigid material with a eyelet, and a strip, said eyelet placed in a middle of each insert, said strip being inserted into said eyelet, said upper part further comprising a disposable sealing means, locking said strip.