Digital manipulation device and method

Abstract

Footwear that includes an interdigital boss that is positioned on the footwear and extends upward from a sole of the footwear in a configuration and orientation that is more anatomically correct than an improperly positioned digit of a wearer of the footwear so as to provide corrective forces on the wearer's foot that prevent bunions from forming on the wearer's foot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Footwear comprising:
 a sole including a back portion, a front portion and a middle portion; and   an interdigital boss mounted to the front portion of the sole, said boss including a base portion in contact with the front portion and a fin-shaped portion extending from a top surface of the sole and being configured to be positioned relative to a foot of a wearer of the footwear so as to provide corrective forces on the wearer's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the interdigital boss is an integrated single piece member. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear according to  claim 2  wherein the base portion has a general tapered shape from the top surface to the boss and the boss has a general tapered shape from side-to-side and front-to-back. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear according to  claim 2  wherein the interdigital boss module is a plastic member. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the base portion is secured to the top surface of the sole. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the base portion is positioned within a cut-out opening in the sole. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear according to  claim 6  wherein the base portion has a flat top surface that is flush with the top surface of the sole. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear according to  claim 6  wherein the boss further includes a flange secured to a bottom surface of the base portion and being mounted to a bottom surface of the sole. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the boss includes a straight front edge and a curve back edge. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the base portion and the boss include an indentation on a medial side of the footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the boss is angled relative to the base portion and a medial-lateral orientation of the footwear. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the footwear is a sandal, shoe or boot. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear according to  claim 1  where the footwear is a sandal and the boss is part of a latchet of the sandal. 
     
     
         14 . Footwear comprising:
 a sole including a back portion, a front portion and a middle portion; and   an interdigital boss mounted to the front portion of the sole, said boss including a base portion in contact with the front portion and a fin-shaped portion extending from a top surface of the sole and being configured to be positioned relative to a foot of a wearer of the footwear so as to provide corrective forces on the wearer's foot that prevents the formation of bunions, wherein the base portion has a general tapered shape from the top surface to the boss and the fin-shaped portion has a general tapered shape from side-to-side and front-to-back, and wherein the fin-shaped portion is angled relative to the base portion and a medial-lateral orientation of the footwear.   
     
     
         15 . The footwear according to  claim 14  wherein the base portion is secured to the top surface of the sole. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear according to  claim 14  wherein the base portion is positioned within a cut-out opening in the sole. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear according to  claim 16  wherein the base portion has a flat top surface that is flush with the top surface of the sole. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear according to  claim 16  wherein the boss further includes a flange secured to a bottom surface of the base portion and being mounted to a bottom surface of the sole. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear according to  claim 14  wherein the base portion and the fin-shaped portion include an indentation on a medial side of the footwear. 
     
     
         20 . Footwear comprising:
 a sole including a back portion, a front portion and a middle portion; and   a single plastic piece interdigital boss mounted to the front portion of the sole, said boss including a base portion in contact with the front portion and a fin-shaped portion extending from a top surface of the sole and being configured to be positioned relative to a foot of a wearer of the footwear so as to provide corrective forces on the wearer's foot, which prevents bunions from forming or advancing on the wearer's foot, wherein the base portion has a general tapered shape from the top surface to the fin-shaped portion and the fin-shaped portion has a general tapered shape from side-to-side and front-to-back, and wherein the base portion is positioned within a cut-out opening in the sole.