Foot alignment adjuster for pointe shoe

Abstract

A foot alignment adjuster for placement in a pointe shoe includes an adjustment pad having a top surface and a bottom surface and configured to fit in a dance shoe under a dancer's forefoot. The adjustment pad has a front edge shaped to be placed at a front of the dance shoe, a back edge, a first side, and a second side. The front edge defines a first front corner with the first side and a second front corner with the second side and the back edge defines a first back corner with the first side and a second back corner with the second side. A thickness of the adjustment pad may increase from the first side to the second side; and a thickness of the adjustment pad may change from the back edge to the front edge.

1 . A foot alignment adjuster, comprising:
 an adjustment pad having a top surface and a bottom surface and configured to fit in a dance shoe under a dancer's forefoot;   wherein the adjustment pad has a front edge shaped to be placed at a front of the dance shoe, a back edge, a first side, and a second side;   wherein the front edge defines a first front corner with the first side and a second front corner with the second side;   wherein the back edge defines a first back corner with the first side and a second back corner with the second side; and   wherein a thickness of the adjustment pad increases from the first side to the second side.   
     
     
         2 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the first side is a left side and the second side is a right side. 
     
     
         3 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the first side is a right side and the second side is a left side. 
     
     
         4 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface is affixable to the dance shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment pad is removable from the dance shoe. 
     
     
         6 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , further comprising: a covering affixed to at least one of the top surface or the bottom surface, wherein the covering comprises a different material than the adjustment pad. 
     
     
         7 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment pad defines a plurality of regions, each respective region having a thickness different from the other respective regions. 
     
     
         8 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein placement of the adjustment pad under one of the dancer's forefeet in the dance shoe reduces a twist in the dancer's foot when en pointe. 
     
     
         9 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 8 , wherein placing the first side under a medial side of the dancer's forefoot reduces a clockwise twist, and wherein placing the second side under the medial side of the dancer's forefoot reduces a counter-clockwise twist. 
     
     
         10 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 8 , wherein placing the first side under a lateral side of the dancer's forefoot reduces a clockwise twist, and wherein placing the second side under the lateral side of the dancer's forefoot reduces a counter-clockwise twist. 
     
     
         11 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 8 , wherein placing the first side under a lateral side of one of the dancer's forefeet reduces a clockwise twist in the one foot, and wherein placing the first side under a medial side of the other of the dancer's forefeet reduces a counter-clockwise twist in the other foot. 
     
     
         12 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment pad is configured for placement in either a left dance shoe or a right dance shoe in any of the following configurations:
 the first side aligned with a medial side of the right dance shoe and the second side aligned with a lateral side of the right dance shoe;   the first side aligned with a lateral side of the right dance shoe and the second side aligned with a medial side of the right dance shoe;   the first side aligned with a medial side of the left dance shoe and the second side aligned with a lateral side of the left dance shoe; and   the first side aligned with a lateral side of the left dance shoe and the second side aligned with a medial side of the left dance shoe.   
     
     
         13 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the adjustment pad decreases from the back edge to the front edge such that the thickness of the first front corner is less than the thickness of the first back corner. 
     
     
         14 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the adjustment pad increases from the back edge to the front edge such that the thickness of the second back corner is less than the thickness of the second front corner. 
     
     
         15 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the first front corner is less than the thickness of the second front corner. 
     
     
         16 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the first back corner is less than the thickness of the second back corner. 
     
     
         17 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the first back corner is less than the thickness of the second front corner. 
     
     
         18 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the second front corner is less than the thickness of the second back corner. 
     
     
         19 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the front edge is curved. 
     
     
         20 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment pad is coupled to one of a modular insole or a full-length insole. 
     
     
         21 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the adjustment pad changes from the back edge to the front edge 
     
     
         22 . A method of making a foot alignment adjuster, comprising:
 forming an adjustment pad comprising a top surface and a bottom surface and configured to fit in a dance shoe under a dancer's forefoot;   wherein the adjustment pad has a front edge shaped to be placed at a front of the dance shoe, a back edge, a first side, and a second side;   wherein the front edge defines a first front corner with the first side and a second front corner with the second side;   wherein the back edge defines a first back corner with the first side and a second back corner with the second side; and   wherein a thickness of the adjustment pad increases from the first side to the second side.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein forming the adjustment pad comprises one of:
 molding the adjustment pad;   3-D printing the adjustment pad; or   carving the adjustment pad.   
     
     
         24 . A foot alignment adjuster, comprising:
 an adjustment pad having a top surface and a bottom surface and configured to fit in a dance shoe under a dancer's forefoot;   wherein the adjustment pad has a front edge shaped to be placed at a front of the dance shoe, a back edge, a first side and a second side; and   wherein a density of the adjustment pad decreases from the first side to the second side.   
     
     
         25 . The foot alignment adjuster of  claim 24 , wherein a density of the adjustment pad increases from the back edge to the front edge.