Motion control insole with muscle strengthening component

Abstract

The present invention relates to an insole, midsole or unified outsole-midsole-insole device for use with an article of footwear, displaying significant improvement over conventional similar insole type products through its ability to offer to the wearer an adjustable biofeedback component for the rehabilitation and strengthening of the foot's muscles, as well as an adjustable motion control component for the purpose of controlling the pronation and arch deflection of the human foot during gait. Through this means wearers of the device gradually strengthen their foot while simultaneously decreasing their dependence on secondary motion control structures.

1 ) An insole or midsole or integrated unit sole for use with an article of footwear which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rising upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein;
 said raised area has a highest portion taking the form of a generally triangular plateau positioned in the region of the planter aspect of the anterior most portion of the medial tubercle of the talus, the navicular, the 1 st  cuneiform and the medial most aspect of the cuboid and wherein;   said raised area has two or more openings designed to receive inserts and the openings are arranged such that the medial most opening and corresponding insert is positioned plantar to the foot and in the region of the posterior most aspect of the 1 st  metatarsal, the navicular, and the anterior most aspect of the talus and the lateral most opening and corresponding insert is positioned plantar to the foot and in the region of the lateral portion of the navicular interfacing in the region of the muscle belly of the digitorum brevis and the flexor hallicus longus muscles.   
     
     
         2 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 1  wherein;
 said plateau sits at a height which is not less than 2.5% of the total foot length and not greater than 7.5% of the total foot. 
 
     
     
         3 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 1  wherein;
 said raised area has outwardly directing surfaces tapering downwardly and outwardly from the triangular plateau in all directions so as to terminate as they merge with the top layer of the invention and said surfaces extend medially such that they do not extend past a boundary defined by the position of the medial most aspect of the navicular, and extend in the anterior direction such that they do not extend past the distal two-thirds of the 2 nd  metatarsal, and extend laterally such that they do not extend past the lateral most aspect of the cuboid, and extend in the posterior direction such that they do not extend past the medial tubercle of the calcaneus. 
 
     
     
         4 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 1  wherein;
 the triangular plateau has it's longest side positioned to be align able with the medial most aspect of the foot, plantar to the region of the medial arch and running parallel with the long axis of the 1 st  metatarsal and wherein; 
 the triangular plateau has its vertex positioned in the region of the medial aspect of the navicular and not extending laterally past the lateral most aspect of the 2nd metatarsal. 
 
     
     
         5 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 1  wherein;
 said raised area has a characteristic ridge extending from the triangular plateau forward in the anterior direction, align able and parallel to the 2 nd  metatarsal of the foot and aligned such that said ridge does not deviate in the medial or lateral direction more than 12 degrees from the centerline of the 2 nd  metatarsal. 
 
     
     
         6 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 1  wherein;
 the raised area has a noticeable non-symmetric elongation of its posterior and medial region extending rearward and downward from said triangular plateau. Said elongation rises in an posterior-to-anterior and lateral-to-medial direction so as to create a region of gradually increasing density relative to the corresponding region on the lateral aspect of said device, in the region of the lateral tubercle of the calcaneus, in such a manner as to introduce an inclined plane or wedge effect to the medial and anterior aspect of the calcaneus for the purpose of reducing the eversion of the calcaneus during the weight bearing phase of gait which is characteristic of excess pronation and; 
 
     
     
         7 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 1  wherein;
 said inserts to be applied to said openings are of varying compressive properties enabling varying deflection and support to the medial and lateral aspects of said triangular plateau. 
 
     
     
         8 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 1  wherein;
 said raised area has noticeable accommodation areas in the regions posterior to the sesamoids and the head of the first metatarsal on the medial boundary of the foot, and the region posterior of the fifth metatarsal head on the lateral boundary of the foot. Said medial accommodation areas and said lateral accommodation area are positioned such that on a horizontal plane they lay inferior to the balance of the raised area of the insole or midsole surface engaging the plantar aspect of the foot. 
 
     
     
         9 ) An insole or midsole or integrated unit sole for use with an article of footwear which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rising upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein;
 said raised area has a highest portion taking the form of a generally triangular plateau having it's longest side positioned to be align able with the medial most aspect of the foot, plantar to the region of the medial arch and running parallel with the long axis of the 1 st  metatarsal and having its vertex positioned in the region of the medial aspect of the navicular and not extending laterally past the lateral most aspect of the 2nd metatarsal, and wherein;   said raised area has a characteristic ridge extending from the triangular plateau forward in the anterior direction, align able and parallel to the 2 nd  metatarsal of the foot and aligned such that said ridge does not deviate in the medial or lateral direction more than 12 degrees from the centerline of the 2 nd  metatarsal.   
     
     
         10 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 9  wherein:
 said triangular plateau sits at a height which is not less than 2.5% of the total foot length and not greater than 7.5% of the total foot. 
 
     
     
         11 ). A device as disclosed in  claim 9  wherein;
 the triangular plateau has it's longest side positioned to be align able with the medial most aspect of the foot, plantar to the region of the medial arch and running parallel with the long axis of the 1 st  metatarsal and wherein; 
 the triangular plateau has its vertex positioned in the region of the medial aspect of the navicular and not extending laterally past the lateral most aspect of the 2nd metatarsal. 
 
     
     
         12 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 9  wherein:
 the raised area has a noticeable non-symmetric elongation of its posterior and medial region extending rearward and downward from said triangular plateau. Said elongation rises in an posterior-to-anterior and lateral-to-medial direction so as to create a region of gradually increasing density relative to the corresponding region on the lateral aspect of said device, in the region of the lateral tubercle of the calcaneus, in such a manner as to introduce an inclined plane or wedge effect to the medial and anterior aspect of the calcaneus for the purpose of reducing the eversion of the calcaneus during the weight bearing phase of gait which is characteristic of excess pronation and; 
 
     
     
         13 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 9  wherein:
 said raised area has two or more openings designed to receive inserts and the openings are arranged such that the medial most opening and corresponding insert is positioned plantar to the foot and in the region of the posterior most aspect of the 1 st  metatarsal, the navicular, and the anterior most aspect of the talus and the lateral most opening and corresponding insert is positioned plantar to the foot and in the region of the lateral portion of the navicular interfacing in the region of the muscle belly of the digitorum brevis and the flexor hallicus longus muscles, and; said inserts to be applied to said openings are of varying compressive properties enabling varying deflection and support to the medial and lateral aspects of said triangular plateau. 
 
     
     
         14 ). A device as disclosed in  claim 9  wherein:
 said raised area has noticeable accommodation areas in the regions posterior to the sesamoids and the head of the first metatarsal on the medial boundary of the foot, and the region posterior of the fifth metatarsal head on the lateral boundary of the foot. Said medial accommodation areas and said lateral accommodation area are positioned such that on a horizontal plane they lay inferior to the balance of the raised area of the insole or midsole surface engaging the plantar aspect of the foot. 
 
     
     
         15 ) An insole or midsole or integrated unit sole for use with an article of footwear which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rising upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein;
 said raised area has a highest portion taking the form of a generally triangular plateau positioned in the region of the planter aspect of the anterior most portion of the medial tubercle of the talus, the navicular, the 1 st  cuneiform and the medial most aspect of the cuboid and wherein;   said raised area has outwardly directing surfaces tapering downwardly and outwardly from the triangular plateau in all directions so as to terminate as they merge with the top layer of the invention and said surfaces extend medially such that they do not extend past a boundary defined by the position of the medial most aspect of the navicular, and extend in the anterior direction such that they do not extend past the distal two-thirds of the 2 nd  metatarsal, and extend laterally such that they do not extend past the lateral most aspect of the cuboid, and extend in the posterior direction such that they do not extend past the medial tubercle of the calcaneus, and wherein:   said raised area has a noticeable non-symmetric elongation of its posterior and medial region extending rearward and downward from said triangular plateau. Said elongation rises in an posterior-to-anterior and lateral-to-medial direction so as to create a region of gradually increasing density relative to the corresponding region on the lateral aspect of said device, in the region of the lateral tubercle of the calcaneus, in such a manner as to introduce an inclined plane or wedge effect to the medial and anterior aspect of the calcaneus for the purpose of reducing the eversion of the calcaneus during the weight bearing phase of gait which is characteristic of excess pronation and;   
     
     
         16 ) A Device as disclosed in  claim 15  wherein:
 said raised area has two or more openings designed to receive inserts and the openings are arranged such that the medial most opening and corresponding insert is positioned plantar to the foot and in the region of the posterior most aspect of the 1 st  metatarsal, the navicular, and the anterior most aspect of the talus and the lateral most opening and corresponding insert is positioned plantar to the foot and in the region of the lateral portion of the navicular interfacing in the region of the muscle belly of the digitorum brevis and the flexor hallicus longus muscles, and; said inserts to be applied to said openings are of varying compressive properties enabling varying deflection and support to the medial and lateral aspects of said triangular plateau. 
 
     
     
         17 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 15  wherein;
 said triangular plateau has it's longest side positioned to be align able with the medial most aspect of the foot, plantar to the region of the medial arch and running parallel with the long axis of the 1 st  metatarsal and wherein; 
 the triangular plateau has its vertex positioned in the region of the medial aspect of the navicular and not extending laterally past the lateral most aspect of the 2nd metatarsal. 
 
     
     
         18 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 15  wherein;
 said triangular plateau sits at a height which is not less than 2.5% of the total foot length and not greater than 7.5% of the total foot. 
 
     
     
         19 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 13  wherein;
 said raised area has a characteristic ridge extending from the triangular plateau forward in the anterior direction, align able and parallel to the 2 nd  metatarsal of the foot and aligned such that said ridge does not deviate in the medial or lateral direction more than 12 degrees from the centerline of the 2 nd  metatarsal. 
 
     
     
         20 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 15  wherein;
 said raised area has noticeable accommodation areas in the regions posterior to the sesamoids and the head of the first metatarsal on the medial boundary of the foot, and the region posterior of the fifth metatarsal head on the lateral boundary of the foot. Said medial accommodation areas and said lateral accommodation area are positioned such that on a horizontal plane they lay inferior to the balance of the raised area of the insole or midsole surface engaging the plantar aspect of the foot.