In at least some embodiments, an orthotic footbed assembly includes a three-dimensional footbed that closely approximates a size and configuration of a particular foot and at least one orthotic feature additively coupled to the three-dimensional footbed. In at least some other embodiments, a method of making the orthotic footbed assembly includes direct printing of orthotic features onto a 3-D footbed. Another method includes indirect printing of orthotic features and applying these features onto to a 3-D footbed. And yet another method includes direct printing of orthotic features onto a 2-D blank footbed and then conducting a three-dimensional forming operation to make the orthotic footbed assembly.

The present invention is intended for use in the high/superhigh-heel shoes. The support surface (6) of the suggested high-heel shoe comprises a practically horizontal portion (7), the distance of which to the lowest point of the support surface is at least 5 mm. This portion is located in the zone of the maximum distance of the external part of a foot from the longitudinal axis (12) of a foot passing between the second and the third toes through the most remote from them point (A) of a heel. Such shape of the foot bearing surface of the suggested shoe improves wearing comfort of the high/superhigh-heel shoes.

A high heel shoe has an insole, an outsole, and a shank embedded between the insole and outsole, the shank comprising a heel portion with a depression to accommodate a user's heel, and a lateral ridge element in front of the heel portion that exerts pressure against the forward movement of a user's heel when worn. The shank further comprises a front portion sloping downward from the lateral ridge along the arch of the insole, which optionally is padded.

Variable-density soles for articles of footwear and methods for constructing said soles are provided herein. In one embodiment, a variable-density sole for a footwear article comprises a first layer comprising a first density coupled to a bottom surface of an upper of the article of footwear; and a second layer comprising a second density greater than the density of the first layer, wherein the first layer is physically coupled to the second layer forming an interface between the layers. In this way, comfort of the article of footwear may be increased while decreasing the weight of the article of footwear. Further, forming the variable-density sole includes directly molding the first layer to a strobel board, stitching the strobel board to an upper, and injecting the second layer to the upper with the strobel board and the first layer. In this way, the production of a footwear article is simplified.

A cushioning and impact absorbing pad with a surface layer of thickness t, and an elastomeric sub-surface-structure of height h. The sub-surface structure comprises an array of elastomeric columns wherein each column has a frustoconical column wall surrounding a central void. The frustoconical column walls have a zone that is a more compressible, relatively collapsible zone in a region at an end of the column opposite the surface layer and a zone that is a relatively less compressible zone in a region at the end of the column abutting the surface layer. Column walls are tapered with draft angles in the range of greater than 6 degrees and less than 10 degrees.

The application provides for a vibrating foot massager that resembles a common shoe. This vibrating foot massager has a number of vibrating motors which can be placed in a variety of combinations within the sole of the shoe. Preferably, the vibrating foot massager will be equipped with a power source so the entire device will be portable. This will enable a user to enjoy the benefits of receiving a foot massage while on the go. The vibrating foot massager is also equipped with a power switch such that when the motors are not in use, the device operates as a functional shoe.

A pneumatic insole includes airbags, channels, two arch-related chambers, a push-type inlet valve, an inlet channel, a check valve, a recessed portion, a push-type adjustment valve, and an outlet channel. The channels interconnect the airbags. The push-type inlet valve is located in the first arch-related chamber. The inlet channel connects the first arch-related chamber to a leading one of the airbags. The check valve is arranged between the inlet channel and the inlet airbag. The recessed portion is located between the arch-related chambers. The push-type adjustment valve is located in the recessed portion and formed with an upper face that extends lower than that of the first and second arch-related chambers. The outlet channel connects the push-type adjustment valve to another one of the airbags.

An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

A footwear insole system for use with an article of footwear including a base insole component and an upper insole component. The base insole includes a chassis and first and a second shock absorbing inserts. The upper insole includes a spacer panel, first and a second gel insert members, and a fabric sheet layer. The insole system may be permanently secured to an article of footwear or the insole system may be replaceable or interchangeable for installation and removal to and from an article of footwear by a user.