Support system for footwear providing support at or below the sustentaculum tali

• US 9,060,565 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Protalus, LLC
• Original Assignee: Align Footwear, LLC
• Inventors: Kosta, Cheryl Sherwood
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US13/458,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20120266495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 36/89, 36/91, 361/08, 36/68, 361/40, 361/74, 361/48, 361/49, 36/76.R, 36/76.C, 36/585, 36/76.HH, 36/69, 361/80, 361/50, 36142-144, 36155-157, 36166-177, 361/07
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/14 with foot-supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1495 with arch-supports of the bracelet type
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/16 with elevated heel parts inside
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation

Abstract

A foot has a medial side, a lateral side, a sustentaculum tali, a lateral calcaneus, a fifth metatarsal ray and a forefoot. The support system for a foot comprises of the following. A first portion configured to support an underside portion of the sustentaculum tali at or below the sustentaculum tali on the medial side of the foot to provide a force on the sustentaculum tali. A second portion configured to support the lateral calcaneus on the lateral side of the foot. A third portion configured to support the fifth metatarsal ray on the lateral side of the foot.

Claims

1. A support system for a foot, the foot having a medial side, a lateral side, a sustentaculum tali, a lateral calcaneus, a heel, a fifth metatarsal ray and a forefoot, an upper portion of the foot being connected to an ankle bone, the support system comprising:

a generally planar base having a first end proximate the heel of the foot and an opposing second end proximate the forefoot of the foot, a longitudinal axis of the base extending from the first end to the opposing second end;

a first projection extending upwardly from the base, the first projection having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the first projection being closer to the first end of the base than the second end of the first projection as measured along the longitudinal axis, the first projection supporting the sustentaculum tali on the medial side of the foot, the first projection providing an upward and outward force on the sustentaculum tali, the first projection not supporting the longitudinal arch;

a second projection extending upwardly from the base, the second projection supporting the lateral calcaneus on the lateral side of the foot; and

a third projection extending upwardly from the base, the third projection having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the third projection being closer to the first end of the base than the second end of the third projection as measured along the longitudinal axis, the third projection supporting the fifth metatarsal ray on the lateral side of the foot,

wherein the base, the first projection, the second projection and the third projection combine to form a first support,

wherein the first and second projections, in combination with the base, define an approximated U-shape with inwardly arching sidewalls,

wherein the first projection does not extend upwardly to the ankle bone when the foot is placed on the base and the foot is not rotated, and

wherein the second end of the first projection is spaced-apart from the first end of the first end of the third projection as measured along the longitudinal axis.

2. The support system of claim 1, further comprising a second support including a first portion, in use and in combination with the first projection of the first support, providing a force to an underside portion of the sustentaculum tali on the medial side of the foot to provide an upward and outward force on the sustentaculum tali.

3. The support system of claim 2, wherein the second support further includes a base;

and wherein the first portion of the second support is a first projection.

4. The support system of claim 3, wherein the first projection of the second support extends upwardly from the base thereof and has a distal end which arches inwardly.

5. The support system of claim 3, wherein the base of the second support overlies the base of the first support.

6. The support system of claim 3, further comprising a shoe upper coupled to at least one of the first and second supports.

7. The support system of claim 6, wherein the shoe upper is coupled to the second support.

8. The support system of claim 6, wherein the first projection of the first support has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the first projection of the second support has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and wherein the interior of the first projection of the first support is coupled to the exterior of the first projection of the second support.

9. The support system of claim 8, wherein the second support is fixedly coupled to the first support.

16. The support system of claim 1, wherein the first projection extends upwardly from the base less than three inches when the foot is placed on the base and the foot is not rotated.

17. The support system of claim 1, further comprising at least one convex groove or ridge on an exterior surface of at least a portion of the support system, the at least one groove or ridge providing directional and functional stiffness and reinforcement.

18. The support system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second end of the base extends in a straight line.

10. A support system for a foot, the foot having a medial side, a lateral side, a sustentaculum tali, a lateral calcaneus, a fifth metatarsal ray and a forefoot, the support system comprising:

a first support having;

a first portion supporting the sustentaculum tali on the medial side of the foot, the first portion providing an upward and outward force on the sustentaculum tali;

a second portion supporting the lateral calcaneus on the lateral side of the foot;

a third portion supporting the fifth metatarsal ray on the lateral side of the foot; and

a base, the first, second and third portions being first, second and third projections attached to the base, the first, second and third projections extend, in use, upwardly from the base, the first and second projections defining an approximated U-shape with inwardly arching sidewalls, the first projection of the first support having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a second support removably coupled to the first support, the second support having;

a first portion, in use and in combination with the first portion of the first support, providing a force to an underside portion of the sustentaculum tali on the medial side of the foot to provide an upward and outward force on the sustentaculum tali; and

a base, wherein the first portion of the second support is a first projection, the first projection of the second support having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the first projection of the first support being coupled to the exterior surface of the first projection of the second support;

a shoe upper coupled to at least one of the first and second supports.

11. The support system of claim 10, further comprising a first fastener on the interior surface of the first projection of the first support and a second fastener on the exterior surface of the first projection of the second support removably coupling the second support to the first support.

12. The support system of claim 11, wherein the shoe upper has a medial side and a lateral side, and further includes a hole disposed on the medial side of the shoe upper.

13. The support system of claim 12, wherein the first fastener is engages the second fastener through the hole in the shoe upper.

14. The support system of claim 13, wherein the first and second fasteners are corresponding hook and loop fasteners.

15. The support system of claim 11, wherein the shoe upper has a medial side and a lateral side, and further includes an adjustable fastener disposed on the medial side of the shoe upper and connectable to the first support for adjusting the fit of the support system.

19. A support system for a foot, the foot having a medial side, a lateral side, a sustentaculum tali, a lateral calcaneus, a heel, a fifth metatarsal ray and a forefoot, an upper portion of the foot being connected to an ankle bone, the support system comprising:

a first support comprising;

a generally planar base having a first end proximate the heel of the foot and an opposing second end proximate the forefoot of the foot, a longitudinal axis of the base extending from the first end to the opposing second end;

a first projection extending upwardly from the base, the first projection having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the first projection being closer to the first end of the base than the second end of the first projection as measured along the longitudinal axis, the first projection supporting the sustentaculum tali on the medial side of the foot, the first projection providing an upward and outward force on the sustentaculum tali, the first projection not supporting the longitudinal arch;

a second projection extending upwardly from the base, the second projection supporting the lateral calcaneus on the lateral side of the foot; and

a third projection extending upwardly from the base, the third projection having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the third projection being closer to the first end of the base than the second end of the third projection as measured along the longitudinal axis, the third projection supporting the fifth metatarsal ray on the lateral side of the foot,

wherein the base, the first projection, the second projection and the third projection combine to form a first support,

wherein the first and second projections, in combination with the base, define an approximated U-shape with inwardly arching sidewalls,

wherein the first projection does not extend upwardly to the ankle bone when the foot is placed on the base and the foot is not rotated, and

wherein the second end of the first projection is spaced-apart from the first end of the first end of the third projection as measured along the longitudinal axis; and

a second support comprising;

a first portion, in use and in combination with the first projection of the first support, providing a force to an underside portion of the sustentaculum tali on the medial side of the foot to provide an upward and outward force on the sustentaculum tali.