Customizable Component Insole System

Abstract

This invention provides for individualized adjustment to a user's specific needs through the use of multiple variable size, thickness and rigidity components that can be placed or integrated into an insole. The current invention is an insole that incorporates, but is not limited to: (1) a base layer with various depressions, (2) a metatarsal dome, (3) a first metatarsal head pad, (2) a forefoot wedge to create a pronation moment around the midfoot joint, (3) a heel cushion, (4) a heel lift to raise the heel area of the foot, (5) a rearfoot wedge to increase the supination moments around the subtalar joint, and (6) an arch support of a specific stiffness or with varying stiffness.

Having described the invention, we claim: 
     
         1 . An insole having a top side for contacting a user's foot and a bottom side for contacting the inside of a user's shoe, comprising:
 a. a base having a base top surface, a base bottom surface, a heel end, a toe end, a medial border located proximate to an inside medial edge of the base and a lateral border located proximate to an outside lateral edge of the base, said base bottom side having:
 i. a first metatarsal head pad area extending from the medial border to a position under the first metatarsal, 
 ii. a forefoot wedge area that extends from said first metatarsal head pad area to the lateral border along the second through fifth metatarsals, 
 iii. a heel area that extends from about the cuboid of the foot to said heel end, and, 
 iv. an arch support area that extends longitudinally under the arch of the foot on the medial side of the base, 
   b. an interchangeable arch support positioned under the arch support area, said interchangeable arch support being made of variable strength material to provide variable strength arch support that extends upwardly along the medial border and under the arch of the foot,   c. a first metatarsal head pad positioned in the first metatarsal head pad area,   d. a forefoot wedge pad located in the forefoot wedge area, and   e. a heel pad cushion located in the heel area, said heel pad cushion is used with a supplementary pad cushion positioned in the heel area with the heel pad cushion.   
     
     
         2 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein said supplementary pad cushion is a heel lift pad cushion. 
     
     
         3 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein said supplementary pad cushion is a rearfoot wedge pad cushion. 
     
     
         4 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein said arch support is a rigid support. 
     
     
         5 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein said arch support is a flexible support. 
     
     
         6 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein said forefoot wedge pad tapers from a thicker lateral edge to a thinner medial edge. 
     
     
         7 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein said heel lift tapers from a thicker proximal edge to a thinner distal edge. 
     
     
         8 . The insole of  claim 1 , wherein said rearfoot wedge tapers from a thicker medial edge to a thinner lateral edge. 
     
     
         9 . An insole having a top side for contacting a user's foot and a bottom side for contacting the inside of a user's shoe, comprising:
 a. a base having a base top surface, a base bottom surface, a heel end, a toe end, a medial border located proximate to an inside medial edge of the base and a lateral border located proximate to an outside lateral edge of the base, said base bottom side having:
 i. a first metatarsal head pad area extending from the medial border to a position under the first metatarsal, 
 ii. a forefoot wedge area that extends from said first metatarsal head pad area to the lateral border along the second through fifth metatarsals, 
 iii. a heel area that extends from about the cuboid of the foot to said heel end, and, 
 iv. an arch support area that extends longitudinally under the arch of the foot on the medial side of the base, 
   b. an interchangeable arch support positioned under the arch support area that possesses variable rigid strength and based one which of one or more interchangeable arch supports are placed in the arch support area to provide variable support in the arch area that extends upwardly along the medial border and under the arch of the foot, and   c. a heel pad cushion located in the heel area.   
     
     
         10 . The insole of  claim 9 , wherein said arch support has a variable strength rigid material to provide a variable strength arch support. 
     
     
         11 . The insole of  claim 10 , wherein said arch support is a rigid support. 
     
     
         12 . The insole of  claim 10 , wherein said arch support is a flexible support. 
     
     
         13 . The insole of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first metatarsal head pad positioned in the first metatarsal head pad area.   
     
     
         14 . The insole of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a forefoot wedge pad located in the forefoot wedge area   
     
     
         15 . The insole of  claim 14 , wherein said forefoot wedge pad tapers from a thicker lateral edge to a thinner medial edge. 
     
     
         16 . The insole of  claim 9 , wherein said heel pad cushion is used with a heel lift pad cushion, respectively positioned in the heel area with the heel pad cushion. 
     
     
         17 . The insole of  claim 16 , wherein said heel lift tapers from a thicker proximal edge to a thinner distal edge. 
     
     
         18 . The insole of  claim 9 , wherein said heel pad cushion is used with a rearfoot wedge pad cushion, respectively positioned in the heel area with the heel pad cushion. 
     
     
         19 . The insole of  claim 18 , wherein said rearfoot wedge tapers from a thicker medial edge to a thinner lateral edge. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making an insole having a top side for contacting a user's foot and a bottom side for contacting the inside of a user's shoe, comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a base having a base top surface, a base bottom surface, a heel end, a toe end, a medial border located proximate to an inside medial edge of the base and a lateral border located proximate to an outside lateral edge of the base, said base bottom side having:
 i. a first metatarsal head pad area extending from the medial border to a position under the first metatarsal, 
 ii. a forefoot wedge area that extends from said first metatarsal head pad area to the lateral border along the second through fifth metatarsals, 
 iii. a heel area that extends from about the cuboid of the foot to said heel end, and, 
 iv. an arch support area that extends longitudinally under the arch of the foot on the medial side of the base, 
   b. attaching a variable strength arch support to the base under the arch support area, said arch support being interchangeable with one or more variable strength arch support materials to provide variable strength arch support that extends upwardly along the medial border and under the arch of the foot,   c. attaching a first metatarsal head pad to the base positioned in the first metatarsal head pad area,   d. attaching a forefoot wedge pad to the base located in the forefoot wedge area,   e. attaching a heel pad cushion to the base located in the heel area, and   f. attaching a supplementary pad cushion to the base and heel pad cushion, respectively positioned in the heel area with the heel pad cushion.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said supplementary pad cushion is a heel lift pad cushion. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said supplementary pad cushion is a rearfoot wedge pad cushion. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said arch support is a rigid support. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said arch support is a flexible support. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said forefoot wedge pad tapers from a thicker lateral edge to a thinner medial edge. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said heel lift tapers from a thicker proximal edge to a thinner distal edge. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said rearfoot wedge tapers from a thicker medial edge to a thinner lateral edge.