Footwear, footwear inserts and socks for reducing contact forces

Abstract

Footwear, footwear inserts and socks that include a cavity adapted to receive a portion of an individual's heel foot to reduce contact forces. The cavity can be adapted to contain a liquid, a solid or two layers of material in which the stiffness of the layers differ.

1 . Footwear for reducing contact forces, comprising:
 an outsole unit having an outsole upper side; and   an insole unit having an insole lower side secured to the outsole upper side and an insole upper side comprising a cavity wherein the cavity is adapted to receive a portion of an individual's heel.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear of  claim 1  wherein the insole unit and outsole unit are configured as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is configured to contain a liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid is configured to support a portion of an individual's heel. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity is configured to contain a solid. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the solid is configured to support a portion of an individual's heel. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity contains a first layer and a second layer wherein the first layer is disposed above the second layer and the stiffness of the first layer and the second layer differ. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity contains means for supporting a portion of an individual's heel. 
     
     
         9 . A footwear insert for reducing contact forces, comprising:
 an insole unit adapted to be inserted into footwear wherein the insole comprises a cavity adapted to receive an individual's heel.   
     
     
         10 . The footwear insert of  claim 9 , wherein the cavity is configured to contain a liquid. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear insert of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid is configured to support a portion of an individual's heel. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear insert of  claim 9 , wherein the cavity is configured to contain a solid. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear insert of  claim 12 , wherein the solid is configured to support a portion of an individual's heel. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear insert of  claim 9 , wherein the cavity contains a first layer and a second layer wherein the first layer is disposed above the second layer and the stiffness of the first layer and the second layer differ. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear insert of  claim 9 , wherein the cavity contains means for supporting a portion of an individual's heel. 
     
     
         16 . A sock for reducing contact forces, comprising an insole unit wherein the insole unit comprises a cavity adapted to receive an individual's heel. 
     
     
         17 . The sock of  claim 16 , wherein the cavity is configured to contain a liquid. 
     
     
         18 . The sock of  claim 16 , wherein the cavity is configured to contain a solid. 
     
     
         19 . The sock of  claim 16 , wherein the cavity contains a first layer and a second layer wherein the first layer is disposed above the second layer and the stiffness of the first layer and the second layer differ. 
     
     
         20 . The sock of  claim 19 , wherein the32cavity contains means for supporting a portion of an individual's heel.