Weight adjustable calibrated orthotics

Abstract

A weight adjustable orthotic insert system includes an orthotic insert and a weight adjusting leaf. The orthotic insert corrects joint misalignment of a user based on a weight plus any additional load, foot flexibility or activity level (e.g., momentum) of the user. The weight adjusting leaf may be attached to the orthotic insert when the user is carrying a payload over a distance (e.g., a heavy pack or body armor) so that the orthotic insert provides the proper degree of correction given the increased weight instead of being collapsed by the additional weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weight adjustable orthotic insert system comprising:
 an orthotic insert having an arch support portion configured to engage an arch of a foot of a user; and   a weight adjusting leaf configured to releasably attach to the orthotic insert.   
     
     
         2 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 1 , wherein the weight adjusting leaf is configured to releasably attach to the orthotic insert such that the weight adjusting leaf contacts the arch support portion of the orthotic insert. 
     
     
         3 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 1 , wherein the orthotic insert is a dynamic orthotic insert. 
     
     
         4 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 1 , wherein the orthotic insert substantially fully corrects the arch of the foot of the user when the user is in the standing position. 
     
     
         5 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of weight adjusting leaves wherein the weight adjusting leaf is one of the plurality of weight adjusting leaves, and wherein each weight adjusting leaf of the plurality of weight adjusting leaves has a different spring rate. 
     
     
         6 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 1 , wherein the arch support portion of the orthotic insert has a predetermined spring rate selected as a function of at least one of a weight of the user, an additional load of the user, a foot flexibility measure of the foot of the user, or an activity level of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the orthotic insert comprises a first portion of a hook and loop fastener system;   the weight adjusting leaf comprises a second portion of the hook and loop fastener system;   the first portion of the hook and loop fastener system is attached to a bottom of the orthotic insert; and   the second portion of the hook and loop fastener system is attached to a top of the weight adjusting leaf.   
     
     
         8 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 1 , wherein the orthotic insert comprises:
 a footbed cushion configured to extend from the heel of the user to toes of the user such that the whole foot of the user rests on the cushion when the user stands on the orthotic insert;   a resilient support forming the arch support portion of the orthotic insert, wherein:
 the resilient support is configured to align at least one joint of the user when the user stands on the orthotic insert; 
 the resilient support extends from under the heel of the user through the arch of the user; and 
 a top of the resilient support is attached to a bottom of the footbed cushion; and 
   a first portion of a hook and loop fastener system affixed to a bottom of the resilient support at the arch support portion of the orthotic insert.   
     
     
         9 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 1 , wherein the weight adjusting leaf is resilient and has a predetermined spring rate selected to account for a 100 pound increase in a weight of the user. 
     
     
         10 . A weight adjustable orthotic insert system comprising:
 a right orthotic insert having an arch support portion configured to engage an arch of a right foot of a user;   a first weight adjusting leaf configured to releasably attach to the right orthotic insert;   a left orthotic insert having an arch support portion configured to engage an arch of a left foot of the user; and   a second weight adjusting leaf configured to releasably attach to the left orthotic insert.   
     
     
         11 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first weight adjusting leaf is configured to releasably attach to the right orthotic insert such that the first weight adjusting leaf contacts the arch support portion of the right orthotic insert; and   the second weight adjusting leaf is configured to releasably attach to the left orthotic insert such that the second weight adjusting leaf contacts the arch support portion of the left orthotic insert.   
     
     
         12 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 10 , wherein the left orthotic insert is a dynamic orthotic insert, and the right orthotic insert is a dynamic orthotic insert. 
     
     
         13 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the right orthotic insert substantially fully corrects the arch of the right foot of the user when the user is in the standing position; and   the left orthotic insert substantially fully corrects the arch of the left foot of the user when the user is in the standing position.   
     
     
         14 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of weight adjusting leaves wherein:
 the first weight adjusting leaf is one of the plurality of first weight adjusting leaves, and wherein each first weight adjusting leaf of the plurality of first weight adjusting leaves has a different spring rate; and   the second weight adjusting leaf is one of the plurality of second weight adjusting leaves, and wherein each second weight adjusting leaf of the plurality of second weight adjusting leaves has a different spring rate.   
     
     
         15 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the arch support portion of the right orthotic insert has a predetermined spring rate selected as a function of at least one of a weight of the user, an additional load of the user, a foot flexibility measure of the right foot of the user, or an activity level of the user;   the arch support portion of the left orthotic insert has a predetermined spring rate selected as a function of at least one of a weight of the user, an additional load of the user, a foot flexibility measure of the left foot of the user, or an activity level of the user; and   the predetermined spring rate of the right orthotic insert is different from the predetermined spring rate of the left orthotic insert.   
     
     
         16 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the right orthotic insert comprises a first portion of a first hook and loop fastener system;   the first weight adjusting leaf comprises a second portion of the first hook and loop fastener system;   the first portion of the first hook and loop fastener system is attached to a bottom of the right orthotic insert;   the second portion of the first hook and loop fastener system is attached to a top of the first weight adjusting leaf;   the left orthotic insert comprises a first portion of a second hook and loop fastener system;   the second weight adjusting leaf comprises a second portion of the second hook and loop fastener system;   the first portion of the second hook and loop fastener system is attached to a bottom of the left orthotic insert; and   the second portion of the second hook and loop fastener system is attached to a top of the second weight adjusting leaf.   
     
     
         17 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the right orthotic insert comprises:
 a footbed cushion configured to extend from the heel of the user to toes of the user such that the whole foot of the user rests on the cushion when the user stands on the right orthotic insert; 
 a resilient support forming the arch support portion of the right orthotic insert, wherein:
 the resilient support is configured to align at least one joint of the user when the user stands on the right orthotic insert; 
 the resilient support extends from under the heel of the user through the arch of the user; and 
 a top of the resilient support is attached to a bottom of the footbed cushion; and 
 
   a first portion of a first hook and loop fastener system affixed to a bottom of the resilient support at the arch support portion of the right orthotic insert; and the left orthotic insert comprises:
 a footbed cushion configured to extend from the heel of the user to toes of the user such that the whole left foot of the user rests on the cushion when the user stands on the left orthotic insert; 
 a resilient support forming the arch support portion of the left orthotic insert, wherein:
 the resilient support is configured to align at least one joint of the user when the user stands on the left orthotic insert; 
 the resilient support extends from under the heel of the user through the arch of the user; and 
 a top of the resilient support is attached to a bottom of the footbed cushion; and 
 
 a first portion of a second first hook and loop fastener system affixed to a bottom of the resilient support at the arch support portion of the left orthotic insert. 
   
     
     
         18 . The weight adjustable orthotic insert system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first weight adjusting leaf is resilient and has a predetermined spring rate selected to account for a 50 pound increase in a weight of the user; and   the second weight adjusting leaf is resilient and has a predetermined spring rate selected to account for the 100 pound increase in a weight of the user.   
     
     
         19 . A weight adjustable orthotic insert system comprising:
 a weight adjusting leaf configured to releasably attach to an orthotic insert at an arch support portion of the orthotic insert.