Provided are a hybrid insole with a multi-shock absorbing pad and a method for fabricating the hybrid insole. The hybrid insole includes an insole body including at least one sheet layer that is formed of an elastic material and has a shape of a human sole; a first absorbing pad means including first to fourth absorbing pad portions attached to the insole body corresponding to a metatarsal region, a tarsal bone region, and a calcaneus region of the human foot, and first to third connecting portions selectively connecting the first to fourth absorbing pad portions; and a second absorbing pad means including a fifth absorbing pad portion attached to the insole body corresponding to the metatarsal region and a phalange region of the human foot.

The hybrid insole is configured such that absorbing pads of different structures are disposed to correspond to the bone structure for each region of the foot and the shape of an arch, thus distributing and absorbing the weight load of the human body.

The present invention is directed to an adjustable footwear system to provide varying degrees of tightness in different areas of the footwear before and after the footwear is received on the foot. An extensor system is activated to open or close a cavity of the footwear between the upper and an insole. The extensor system can provide loosen the footwear to the foot.

A method of making an orthotic is disclosed. The method includes the steps of taking measurements relating to a foot and then creating a digital representation of an orthotic on a display device based on said measurements. This digital representation of the orthotic having a heel portion for supporting a heel of a person and a distal portion located in front of the heel portion which can be divided into first and second distal portions. The thickness of the digital representation of the first and second distal portions is then varied such that one of the distal portions is thicker than the other. Finally, an additive manufacturing technique, using a substantially uniform material or materials, is used to create a physical version of the digital representation of the orthotic.

A pressure unloading device for unloading pressure on a pathological prominence of the foot includes a securement and a spacer. The securement wraps around a portion of a foot and secures a spacer to a region of the foot proximate to a pathological prominence in order to unload pressure on the prominence. Pressure unloading devices can further include footwear, such as a shoe or other footwear or footwear liner having voids and/or spacers.

The present invention relates to a composite sports article. The composite sports article includes: a first component and a second component which was produced by means of an additive manufacturing technique. The first component and the second component are bonded to each other by a first bonding agent and there is a form-fitted bond between the first bonding agent and the second component and/or the first component and the second component are bonded to each other in a form-fitted manner via a first bonding agent.

A shoe extension for gait modification includes a vamp section, a base section, an attachment strap, and a restraining mechanism. The vamp section is connected to a top surface of the base section forming a receiving slot. A toe box of a shoe worn on a healthy limb is slidably positioned into the receiving slot such that the base section is positioned along an outsole of the shoe. The attachment strap is utilized to establish a connection with the shoe. By increasing an overall length of the footwear worn on the healthy limb, a speed of motion of the healthy limb may be reduced in order to increase weight bearing on the unhealthy limb. The restraining mechanism, which is preferably integrated into a bottom surface of the base section, may also be used to reduce the speed of motion of the healthy limb.

The present invention relates to a composite sports article. The composite sports article includes: a first component and a second component which was produced by means of an additive manufacturing technique. The first component and the second component are bonded to each other by a first bonding agent and there is a form-fitted bond between the first bonding agent and the second component and/or the first component and the second component are bonded to each other in a form-fitted manner via a first bonding agent.

Dual-layer insole apparatuses for diabetic foot lesion prevention and related methods are provided. Some insole apparatuses have a body defining a plurality of cavities configured to be coupled to a fluid source. The fluid source can deliver fluid to vary internal pressures of the cavities. The body further defines an insole-shaped structure.

An interchangeable bootie system includes an article of footwear and a plurality of interchangeable booties. Each bootie includes a support system configured to provide targeted support to different regions of the foot. This allows a user to select a bootie that provides the desired type of support for an athletic activity. An interchangeable bootie system with midsole portions having different types of cushioning systems is also disclosed. This allows a user to select a bootie with the desired type of support and the desired type of cushioning for an athletic activity. An interchangeable bootie and midsole insert system is also disclosed. Each midsole insert fits inside a bootie and includes a cushioning system configured to provide targeted cushioning to different regions of the foot. This allows a user to select a desired type of cushioning for an athletic activity.

A shoe sole includes a shock absorber that buckles when the shock absorber receives compressive force applied in a normal direction to a ground contact surface. When a load is applied to the shoe sole, the shock absorber starts to buckle in a state in which a stress occurring in the shock absorber is within a range from 0.15 MPa to 0.80 MPa and a strain of the shock absorber is within a range from 10% to 60%. When a time point at which a strain energy density of the shock absorber reaches 0.157 J/cm.sup.3 is defined as a specific time point, a maximum value of the stress occurring in the shock absorber until the specific time point is 0.80 MPa or less, and a tangential elastic modulus of the shock absorber at the specific time point is 5.00 MPa or less.