An orthotic support structure or shell may be used with footwear intrinsically or as a removable and transferable device. The footwear may be a sandal assembly including a sole, a strap and an orthotic shell. The strap is attached to the sole and configured to secure the sole against the foot. The orthotic shell is positioned within the sole and formed from a semi-rigid material. The orthotic shell includes a heel portion configured to support a heel region of the foot, and a midfoot portion connected to the heel portion and configured to support an arch region of the foot, the midfoot portion comprising an arched shank having a curved convex shape. The arched shank is configured to deflect under a downward force applied thereon which reactively rotates the heel portion toward the heel region of the foot.

An article of footwear that is adjustable so as to optimize the pressure distribution and pressure equalization on the foot surfaces. The footwear is configured to adjust to a user's anatomy so as to optimize pressure distribution and equalization on the foot, where the footwear is capable of adjusting the pressure distribution on the foot substantially in real time.

A reusable, customizable shoe-insole having malleable support material configured to assume a first arch-support structure and a first metatarsal-support structure responsively to application of foot pressure of a first user and maintain the first arch-support structure and the first metatarsal-support structure during the absence of foot pressure and assume a new arch-support structure and a new metatarsal-support structure responsively to each new application of foot pressure of additional users.

An improved article of footwear is disclosed herein. The article of footwear includes an upper and an internal harness disposed within the upper. The upper has a midfoot region, a forefoot region, a medial side, a lateral side, and an opening configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The harness extends between the midfoot region and the forefoot region, and may include a medial panel and a lateral panel. The medial panel and the lateral panel are coupled to the upper and movably coupled to each other. Moving the lateral panel and the medial panel together applies a compressive force to the foot of a wearer to secure the foot of the wearer in the upper. Consequently, the internal harness prevents the foot of a wearer from shifting or translating in the upper, such as during athletic activity like cutting.

An ankle foot orthotic assembly may have an ankle foot brace configured to be inserted into an interior cavity of a protective foot covering. The ankle foot brace is configured to receive a removable insole and a user's ankle and foot, the bottom portion inwardly extending along a perimeter of the rear heel portion, the internal foot side portion, the external foot side portion, the removable insole having a bottom surface configured to be inserted adjacent to a top portion of the inwardly extending bottom portion. The brace has releasable straps to secure the insole and the user's ankle and foot inside a cavity formed by the brace. The insole is configured with an angular incline from a ball of the foot regain to distal toe region at an angle of between 18 and 30 degrees.

The present invention discloses a weight-bearing structure of high-heel footwear that is coupled to an outsole of high-heeled footwear, or in which a sole cover part becomes an outsole of the high-heeled footwear to linearly contact the ground during a loading response.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a weight-bearing structure of high-heeled footwear, including: a heel part linearly contacting the ground; a strut part extending from the heel part; and a sole cover part extending from the strut part.

An orthotic support structure or shell may be used with footwear intrinsically or as a removable and transferable device. The footwear may be a sandal assembly including a sole, a strap and an orthotic shell. The strap is attached to the sole and configured to secure the sole against the foot. The orthotic shell is positioned within the sole and formed from a semi-rigid material. The orthotic shell includes a heel portion configured to support a heel region of the foot, and a midfoot portion connected to the heel portion and configured to support an arch region of the foot, the midfoot portion comprising an arched shank having a curved convex shape. The arched shank is configured to deflect under a downward force applied thereon which reactively rotates the heel portion toward the heel region of the foot.

An articulated orthotic insert including a first curved member with a tapered edge configured to fit the heel of a foot. An elongated flexible rod is attached to the first curved member at a first end of the elongated flexible rod. A second member is attached to a second end of the elongated flexible rod. The second member has an indented section that accepts the ball of a foot. There are numerous support members attached to the elongated flexible rod in a perpendicular manner. The support members are curved upwards as to support the arch of a foot. The support members are in various lengths and heights to better conform to a foot. The support members are made from a rigid material such that they support the arch of a foot when a foot is placed on the support members.

This document presents a footwear object that covers the foot and ankle of the wearer. The footwear object protects the wearer's feet and ankle while improving blood circulation, and supporting the toes, arches, and ankles of the wearer. The footwear object is manufactured of layered fabrics that are knitted and/or woven from both man-made and natural fibers. The footwear object may have portions providing compression, padding, and grip to provide support and prevent injury to the wearer's feet and ankles.

Provided is a shoe or device for inserting into a shoe, having a shallow channel on a top side of a contoured insole or shoe, specifically under the 1.sup.st metatarsal shaft of the wearer. The shoe also has a rear region or heel cup positioned to underlying a wearer's calcaneal tuberosity, the rear region being shaped to accommodate a planer surface of the wearer's calcaneal tuberosity, an upper surface of said rear region having a raised portion underlying an area of the wearer's calcaneus immediately forward of the wearer's calcaneus tuberosity.