Disclosed embodiments relate to a footwear system. The footwear system includes a shoe, a first insole, and a second insole. The first insole is a fitting insole having a first volume. It is positioned within the shoe during a fitting of a potential wearer of the shoe. The fitting insole is removed after the fitting is completed. The second insole has a volume substantially similar to the first volume. The second insole adapted for positioning within the shoe if the first insole demonstrates an appropriate fit. The second insole is self-customizable and further adapted to conform to the imprint of the sole of the potential wearer.

A method of manufacturing footwear and an article of footwear having a tapered heel in part defining an impact point associated with a padded impact zone which first strikes a surface upon a foot plant and a plate embedded within a sole of the article such that the plate supports the heel of the sole from flexing or collapsing. The impact point is part of an impact area (F) positioned adjacent an ankle pivot axis of the wearer's ankle, and in one aspect is positioned at or slightly posterior the ankle pivot axis. In one aspect the method includes configuring a sole of the footwear based on an ankle pivot characteristic or balance pivot characteristic of a wearer in a custom manufacture or based on the same of a typical or an ordinary wearer in a non-custom manufacture.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for generating orthotic device models using simulated patient anatomy. In one implementation, a method comprises receiving images of a body part of a patient; deriving physical measurements from the images; generating anatomy model data of the body part using the physical measurements; and generating orthotic model data based on the anatomy model data, the orthotic model data being representative of an orthotic device.

A shoe is constituted of an upper, a sole, and a shell in which the upper and the sole are inserted. A shoe making assistance apparatus that assists making of a shoe includes an input device that accepts foot form data, a processor that selects at least one type of a shell model from among a plurality of types of shell models different in shape based on the foot form data accepted by the input device, and an output device that provides output of the shell model selected by the processor.

A detecting apparatus for curved surface of sole and distribution of pressure thereon, that includes a housing, a top plate enclosed at an opening of the housing, a detecting mechanism capable of vertical reciprocating movement and contacting the curved surface of sole, a detecting circuit collecting the vertical movement data of the detecting mechanism and transferring the vertical movement data to a data processing system, and the data processing system receiving and analyzing the data as well as re-constructing the profile of sole. The detection and reconstruction for 3D surface of the sole and pressure distribution thereon can be achieved by emitting and receiving an infrared ray, with high precision, strong anti-jamming ability, low power consumption and low cost.

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 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 method of manufacturing a custom order shoe includes steps of a last making step for producing a last based on the customer's foot data, a shoe upper knitting and shaping step for sewing an upper fabric by three-dimensional shaped knitting and keeping the shape of an upper part in a state where the last is inserted, and a shoe completing step for selectively attaching an insole and an outsole to the upper part.

A data generating apparatus includes: an input unit that receives foot shape data; a processor that computes shoe last data from the foot shape data received by the input unit; and an output unit that outputs the shoe last data computed by the processor. The processor further computes processing data for processing a member that forms an upper of a shoe, based on the computed shoe last data. The output unit further outputs the processing data computed by the processor.

A body measuring device configured to determine size and shape of a body portion of a user. The body measuring device incorporates a measuring sensor for measuring a physical change amount based upon a change in electrical characteristics wherein the measuring sensor is characterized by including at least either a pressure-type measuring sensor for measuring a pressure applied from the body of the user or an expansion-type measuring sensor for measuring a degree of expansion of a base member caused by the body shape of the user. This body measuring device configuration determines size and shape without a user needing to undertake any self-measurements.