A women's ballet flat shoe includes: an upper, a midsole physically connected to the upper, and an insole physically connected to the midsole, the midsole comprising a heel cup, the heel cup thereby being integrated into the shoe, the heel cup configured to comfortably and securely grip a user's heel, wherein the heel cup comprises a first heel cup region having a lower hardness, the first heel cup region configured comfortably to hold the user's heel, wherein the heel cup further comprises a second heel cup region configured to contact the shoe's outsole, the heel cup further comprising a second heel cup region having a higher hardness.

Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

A tunable rigidity insole with interchangeable stiffeners includes an arch pad main body and three rigid stiffeners. The arch pad main body includes a set of first to third engaging holes, and at least one or two of these three rigid stiffeners will be selected to assemble into the engaging holes on the arch pad main body. The three rigid stiffeners provide supports to lateral longitudinal, central and medial longitudinal arch portions respectively. The first, second and third rigid stiffeners have at least two engagement members for each stiffener, and the engagement members have engagement extensions with a partial length component toward another engagement extensions at the end of stiffeners thereof respectively. The engagement members engage with the arch pad main body corresponding to the engaging holes respectively. By selecting and assembling different stiffeners, the present invention can have different rigidities of arch supports to match with various foot biomechanics and gait types in order to provide different arch supports thereto properly.

A tunable rigidity insole with interchangeable stiffeners includes an arch pad main body and three rigid stiffeners. The arch pad main body includes a set of first to third engaging holes, and at least one or two of these three rigid stiffeners will be selected to assemble into the engaging holes on the arch pad main body. The three rigid stiffeners provide supports to lateral longitudinal, central and medial longitudinal arch portions respectively. The first, second and third rigid stiffeners have at least two engagement members for each stiffener, and the engagement members have engagement extensions with a partial length component toward another engagement extensions at the end of stiffeners thereof respectively. The engagement members engage with the arch pad main body corresponding to the engaging holes respectively. By selecting and assembling different stiffeners, the present invention can have different rigidities of arch supports to match with various foot biomechanics and gait types in order to provide different arch supports thereto properly.

Orthopaedic foot bed for a shoe with a foot support surface, wherein the foot support surface is formed by a plane base surface. The foot bed has a multiplicity of knobs which are distributed in a predefined manner and by which the stimulation points in the sole are stimulated in a targeted manner, as a result of which the neurological, biotensegrity and liquid-dynamic system of the human body can in turn be improved. Through the improvement thereby achieved, it is possible to address and improve certain aspects of human health, which in particular include the gait pattern and posture of the human body. Moreover, by means of the invention, the transport of the lymphatic and venous liquids (“heart of feet function” of the sole) can be excited and intensified.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for predicting biomechanical response to wedged insoles. In accordance with one aspect, a method for predicting a biomechanical response to a wedged insole is provided. In a further aspect, a system for predicting a biomechanical response to wedged insole is provided.

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 method and wearable system and for enhancing human balance and gait and preventing foot injury through neurological stimulation of the foot and the ankle. Subthreshold stimulation for neurosensory enhancement is provided via electrodes or vibrational actuators, or combination thereof, disposed in or on a wearable a platform, such as an insole, sock shoe, removable shoe insert, or applied without the support of a platform, to the skin surface of an individual. Suprathreshold stimulation for therapeutic purposes, such as improving blood flow, is also provided by the vibrational actuators. The actuators and electrodes are driven by bias signals generated by a bias signal generator that is coupled to a controller. The signal generator under the control of the controller is adapted to generate a non-deterministic random signal, a repetitive pattern or series of patterns. The controller optionally includes a communication port for interfacing with an external computer for purposes of optimizing and programming the controller. The wearable system is powered by a power source.

A pair of shoes that includes a left foot shoe and a right foot shoe. Each of the shoes include an upper shoe portion and a sole coupled to the upper shoe portion. The sole provides an athletic positioning of a left big toe area of the left shoe at a lower position than a left heel area of the left shoe and at a lower position than an outer small toe area of the left shoe and wherein, from an inner edge to an outer edge of the left shoe, the left heel area has substantially no slope.