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Orthotic insert and method of making of the same

  • US 5,184,409 A
  • Filed: 06/14/1991
  • Issued: 02/09/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A substantially unitary orthotic adapted to be placed in an article of footwear for use with a foot as said foot goes through a gait cycle, said orthotic having a longitudinal center axis parallel to a lengthwise portion of said foot, a front portion, a rear portion, and two side portions, said orthotic comprising:

  • a. an upper blank portion configured to extend laterally across a plantar area of said foot and to extend longitudinally from a heel portion of said foot to at least a metatarsal head area of said foot;

    b. said blank portion having a longitudinally extending zone of disparate resiliency relative to first and second side areas of said blank which are adjacent to first and second sides of said zone of disparate resiliency, said zone of disparate resiliency extending longitudinally from a rearward end configured to be located beneath said heel portion of said foot to a forward end configured to be located approximately beneath said metatarsal head area of said foot;

    b. said longitudinally extending zone of disparate resiliency being configured to deform under said foot to a greater extent than said first and second side areas as said foot begins to bear weight following heel strike, so that as said foot transitions from heel strike to mid-gait and a center of pressure under said foot transitions from said heel portion of said foot to said metatarsal head area, said zone of disparate resiliency deforms downwardly relative to said side areas so that said orthotic flexes about said longitudinal axis, and said side areas cradle said foot generally along said longitudinal axis and urge said foot into a predetermined neutral position so as to assist said foot in progressing from a mobile adaptor to a rigid lever for a subsequent propulsion phase of said gait cycle.

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