FOREFOOT WEDGE INSERT FOR FOOTWEAR

• US 20100263231A1
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marie Smirman
• Original Assignee: Marie Smirman
• Inventors: SMIRMAN, MARIE
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/43
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1641 characterised by the sole skates with special foot-plates for the boot A63C1/22; characterised by the attachment of the skate A43B5/1633 takes precedence; skates rigidly mounted to the sole of the boot A63C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/14 with foot-supporting parts
• 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 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/08 having multilayered parts

Abstract

A forefoot wedge insert, and methods for forming same, are described for a piece of footwear, such as but not limited to ice skating boots, or a shoe, such as but not limited to exercise, therapeutic, or physiological footwear, for correcting a pronation and/or supination condition wherein the insert permits the subtalar joint of the affected foot to be placed and/or maintained in a neutral position. In this manner, the insert can provide the corrected foot with adequate balance relative to the skate blade during typical ice skating maneuvers. Also described is a skating boot, or shoe, having an adjustable toe cap portion that is selectively operable to be raised up to accommodate the uplifted forefoot portion of the wearer when the forefoot wedge insert is being used.

Claims

1. A substantially wedge-shaped insert for placement on a forefoot area in a piece of footwear, wherein the insert includes a first side portion and a substantially planar top portion, wherein the top portion gradually tapers towards a second side portion spaced and opposed from the first side portion, and wherein the top portion gradually tapers towards a rear portion of the insert.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the piece of footwear is selected from the group consisting of shoes, boots, and combinations thereof.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the piece of footwear is selected from the group consisting of figure skating boots, hockey boots, and combinations thereof.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert is selectively operable to position or maintain a foot in a subtalar neutral position.

5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert is selectively operable to position or maintain a pronating foot in a subtalar neutral position.

6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the insert is selectively operable to position or maintain a supinating foot in a subtalar neutral position.

7. A method for manufacturing an insert for correcting pronation or supination of a foot in a piece of footwear, comprising:

determining a varus or valgus angle of a forefoot portion of the foot;

determining a varus or valgus angle of a rearfoot portion of the foot;

determining a total wedge angle according to the following formula;

total wedge angle=forefoot angle (+varus or −

valgus)+rearfoot angle (+varus or −

valgus); and

forming the insert, wherein the insert includes a first side portion, a bottom portion and a substantially planar top portion, wherein the top portion gradually tapers towards a second side portion spaced and opposed from the first side portion, and wherein the top portion gradually tapers towards a rear portion of the insert;

wherein a vertex formed by the intersection of the bottom portion and the top portion has an angle substantially corresponding to the total wedge angle.

8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the insert is substantially wedge-shaped.

9. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the insert is placed on a forefoot area in the piece of footwear,

10. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the piece of footwear is selected from the group consisting of shoes, boots, and combinations thereof.

11. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the piece of footwear is selected from the group consisting of figure skating boots, hockey boots, and combinations thereof.

12. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the insert is selectively operable to position or maintain a foot in a subtalar neutral position.

13. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the insert is selectively operable to position or maintain a pronating foot in a subtalar neutral position.

14. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the insert is selectively operable to position or maintain a supinating foot in a subtalar neutral position.

15. A footwear system for correcting pronation or supination of a foot, comprising:

a piece of footwear;

a substantially wedge-shaped insert for placement on a forefoot area in the piece of footwear, wherein the insert includes a first side portion and a substantially planar top portion, wherein the top portion gradually tapers towards a second side portion spaced and opposed from the first side portion, and wherein the top portion gradually tapers towards a rear portion of the insert; and

a toe cap portion of the piece of footwear, wherein the toe cap portion is selectively operable to be raised upwardly so as to accommodate the foot when it is positioned on the insert.

16. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the insert is substantially wedge-shaped.

17. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the insert is placed on a forefoot area in the piece of footwear,

18. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the piece of footwear is selected from the group consisting of shoes, boots, and combinations thereof.

19. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the piece of footwear is selected from the group consisting of figure skating boots, hockey boots, and combinations thereof.

20. The invention according to claim 15, wherein the insert is selectively operable to position or maintain a pronating or supinating foot in a subtalar neutral position.