Footwear

• US 6,442,875 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michel Joubert, Patrice Roy
• Original Assignee: Michel Joubert, Patrice Roy
• Inventors: Joubert, Michel, Roy, Patrice
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US09/528,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20020083622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 36/89, 36/93, 36/71, 361/176, 361/15, 36/92, 36/94, 36/95
• US Class Current: 36/115
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/02 wedge-like or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/023 wedge-like A43B17/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0405 Linings, paddings or insertions; Inner boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1415 characterised by the location under the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1445 situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/145 situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1495 with arch-supports of the bracelet type
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders

Abstract

A boot comprising a sole with an upper which includes an asymmetrical medial and lateral quarter. Strategically located pads are provided on the inner of the upper on opposite sides of the metatarsal in the vamp area and around the ankle. Flexible compressible inserts are provided in the medial dorsal area and in the posterior lateral area, providing compression and extension in the sagittal plane. A scewered lacing arrangement is provided with the lower segment of the lacing extending with the median axis of the lacing approximately at the fourth metatarsal bone and the upper segment of the lacing being provided in the anterior area of the ankle. A light-weight tongue follows the contours of the gap formed by the lacing and is connected to the lateral quarter of the upper along the side thereof and at the front is anchored to a toe box which has a rear edge forming a parabolic outline coincident with the joints between the metatarsus and the phalanges. A footbed is provided which has a deep heel cavity, a pronounced parabolic arch and a cuboid bump.

Claims

1. In a footwear having a sole, an upper, including a medial quarter and a lateral quarter, the improvement including a plurality of pads internally of the upper, wherein the pads include at least a medial metatarsal pad between a base and a head of the first metatarsal bone of a foot, a lateral metatarsal pad between the fourth, fifth metatarsal and a head of said metatatarsals of said foot, a medial malleolal pad having a vertical component between an Achilles tendon and the ankle and a horizontal component below an ankle just above the cuboid, a lateral malleolal pad having a vertical component between the Achilles tendon and the ankle, and a horizontal component just below the ankle and just above the cuboid wherein the median malleolal and lateral malleolal pads are asymmetrically located, the said pads being located for the-purpose of blocking the subtalar joint limiting the pronation about the axis of said subtalar joint to provide a rigid lever of the foot and ankle complex.

2. A boot as defined in claim 1, wherein the medial metatarsal pad and the lateral metatarsal pad have a quadrilateral outline with a convexly curved dome surface.

3. A boot as defined in claim 1, wherein a vamp pad is included and has a crescent outline and a convex surface facing the dorsal portion of the foot.

4. A boot as defined in claim 1, wherein the medial and lateral malleolar pads are somewhat J-shaped and include the horizontal component and the vertical component.

5. A boot as defined in claim 4, wherein the medial and lateral malleolar pads are J-shaped and have an upper horizontal portion which extends over the ankle to further block the foot in the boot and prevent movement of the foot relative to the boot when the foot is being lifted.

6. A boot as defined in claim 1, wherein a footbed is provided within the boot, wherein the footbed includes a pronounced parabolic arch with an apex of the arch in the cuneiform medial and a cuboid bump is provided on the top surface of the footbed in the lateral portion thereof, and coincident with the cuboid of the foot.