Patent ID: 6173511
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
An orthosis for engagement inside a footwear and for conformingly fitting against the plantar portion of a person's foot for compensating podiatric deficiencies, said orthosis being formed of a monolithic semi-rigid resilient shell defining inner and outer lateral sides and having:an arched intermediate portion for complementary vertical resilient spring-back engagement against the foot arch plantar portion;a rear end portion comprising spaced-apart inner and outer rearwardly-extending resiliently deformable arms for partial resting abutment of said heel onto said arms, said arms defining at their rear end portions a rearwardly-opened notch therebetween for enabling partial engagement of the heel in said notch, said inner and outer arms respectively forming upwardly arcuate inner and outer flanges opposite said notch, for complementary engagement partly around the heel portion of the foot;a front end portion integrally frontwardly extending from said intermediate portion and for complementary engagement near the anterior metatarsal plantar region of the foot, said front end portion having a sinuous front edge comprising a number of frontwardly-facing arcuate concavities each for registering engagement thereagainst by a corresponding one of the metatarsal anterior portions of that person's foot, allowing distinct metatarsal support and articulate positional self-adjustment of said orthosis inside the footwear in addition to helping to prevent plantar lesions;wherein positional self-adjustment of the orthosis inside the footwear is further accomplished during gait by the load of the person being applied on his heel and against said orthosis arms, which are yieldingly resiliently moved apart and pressed against the shoe inner walls, and wherein said flanges form a laterally supporting heel seat to promote stabilization and positional self-adjustment of said orthosis and positive foot support while said notch allows a thinner orthosis rear portion configuration.