Multi-component footbeds

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supplying a customer with a footbed. A kiosk provides measurements of a consumer's feet with a self-guided display by using both pressure measurements and scanning of the feet. The measurement information is converted to identify which of the preselected and stocked components proximate the kiosk can be combined to provide an appropriate footbed for the consumer.

1 . A footbed for an individual's foot characterized by forefoot, rear foot, lateral and medial column, arch and metatarsal head areas, said footbed comprising:
 A) an insole for underlying the forefoot and rear foot areas and portions of the lateral column area between the forefoot and rear foot areas, said insole base having at least one vacuity substantially coextensive with the areas underlying the arch and metatarsal head areas and portions of the medial column area,   B) an arch support insert including a metatarsal pad, and   C) means for attaching said arch support insert to said insole base to span said at least one vacuity for providing support for the metatarsal head and arch areas of the foot, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . A footbed as recited in  claim 1  wherein said attachment means includes hook and loop material attached to the underside of said insole base adjacent said vacuity and to the periphery of said metatarsal pad insert and the ends of said arch support insert. 
     
     
         3 . A footbed as recited in  claim 1  wherein said attachment means includes complementary hook and loop strips, one of said hook and loop strips being attached to the underside of said insole member adjacent said vacuity and the other of said hook and loop strips being attached to each of said metatarsal pad and arch support inserts. 
     
     
         4 . A footbed as recited in  claim 1  wherein said arch support insert includes:
 i) a curved flexible upper portion that forms an arch for accommodating the individual's medial arch, 
 ii) a flat stiff lower portion attached to the ends of said upper portion thereby to stabilize said upper portion, said lower portion being attached to ends of said upper portion and extending beyond the end of said upper portion, and 
 iii) said portions of said lower portion extending beyond said upper portion including an element of said attachment means. 
 
     
     
         5 . A footbed as recited in  claim 1  wherein one of said at least one vacuities is coextensive with the position of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metatarsals. 
     
     
         6 . A footbed as recited in  claim 1  wherein said insole base includes an integral web that divides the at least one vacuity into a metatarsal vacuity for alignment with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th metatarsals and an arch vacuity for alignment with arch. 
     
     
         7 . A footbed as recited in  claim 6  wherein said attachment means includes means on said insole bases adjacent said arch vacuity and complementary second attachment means on said arch support. 
     
     
         8 . A footbed as recited in  claim 7  wherein said attachment means comprises hook and loop materials, said first attachment means comprising one of said materials and said second attachment means comprising the other of said materials. 
     
     
         9 . A footbed as recited in  claim 7  wherein said attachment means comprises hook and loop materials, said first and second attachment means being constituted by said loop and hook materials respectively. 
     
     
         10 . A footbed as recited in  claim 7  wherein each of arch support inserts in integrally molded and includes:
 i) a curved resilient arch supporting portion having a height for accommodating the individual's medial arch, and 
 ii) a base that conforms substantially to the bottom of said insole base, that overlies said metatarsal vacuity and that supports said arch supporting portion in said arch vacuity thereby to stabilize said arch supporting portion, said base carrying the second of said hook and loop materials. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method for enabling a consumer at a store to obtain a footbed with characteristics that are adapted for the consumer's feet, said method comprising the steps of:
 A) establishing an inventory of footbed components organized into a plurality of groups, each with at least one subgroup, the components in each subgroup and having certain characteristics,   B) providing a measurement system that guides the consumer through the steps of:
 i) entering personal information into the system, 
 ii) generating a pressure map of the consumer's feet, 
 iii) generating a topographical map for each of the consumer's feet, and 
 iv) generating a list of one component from each subgroup for each foot, and 
   C) gathering from the inventory each component on the list for assembly by the consumer into footbeds for the consumer's feet.