Foot support system and use in shoe lasts

Abstract

A foot support system 60 for supporting a hyperpronating foot 20 both dynamically while the foot 20 is in motion and statically is disclosed. The foot support system 60 is a bed upon which the foot 20 rests which includes an inner edge 62 and an outer edge 64 . The foot support system 60 is positioned underneath the medial column of the forefoot of foot 20 . The foot support system 60 laterally decreases in thickness from the inner edge 62 to the outer edge 64 . The inner edge 62 is positioned along the medial side of the foot 20 , and the outer edge 64 is positioned longitudinally in a zone adjacent to a lateral margin of the hallux 48 , the proximal phalanx 46 , and the first metatarsal 36 and a medial margin of the phalanges 47 of the second toe and the second metatarsal 38.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A foot support system on which a foot rests, the foot having a forefoot, a rearfoot, a sole, a medial side, a first toe, a first metatarsal, a second toe, a second metatarsal, an intermediate cuneiform, a navicular and a heel, the forefoot having a distal end and a proximate end, the heel having a plantar portion, the rearfoot including the plantar portion of the heel, the first toe and first metatarsal each having a lateral margin and the second toe and second metatarsal each having a medial margin, said foot support system comprising: 
 an elongate bed for supporting the foot;    said elongate bed having an inner edge extending along the contour of the sole on the medial side of the forefoot and an outer edge extending longitudinally in a zone adjacent to the lateral margin of the first toe and first metatarsal and the medial margin of the second toe and second metatarsal; and    said elongate bed decreasing in thickness from the inner edge to the outer edge.    
     
     
         2 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , wherein said elongate bed extends from the distal end to the proximate end of the forefoot.  
     
     
         3 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , wherein said elongate bed extends forwardly to an anterior end of the first toe and backwardly between an anterior end of the navicular and an anterior end of the plantar portion of the heel.  
     
     
         4 . The foot support system of    claim 3   , wherein said foot support system is an orthotic.  
     
     
         5 . The foot support system of    claim 3   , wherein said foot support system is integrated in a shoe bed of a shoe.  
     
     
         6 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , further comprising a plate having a uniform thickness and shaped such that it follows the contour of the sole of the foot.  
     
     
         7 . The foot support system of    claim 6   , wherein said plate is positioned underneath said elongate bed.  
     
     
         8 . The foot support system of    claim 6   , wherein said plate is position on top of said elongate bed.  
     
     
         9 . The foot support system of    claim 6   , wherein said plate and said elongate bed are an integrated unit.  
     
     
         10 . The foot support system of    claim 9   , wherein said foot support system is an insole for a shoe.  
     
     
         11 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , wherein said elongate bed linearly decreases in thickness from the inner edge to the outer edge.  
     
     
         12 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , wherein said elongate bed decreases in thickness according to a concave slope line.  
     
     
         13 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , wherein said elongate bed decreases in thickness according to a convex slope line.  
     
     
         14 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , wherein said elongate bed decreases in thickness according to a stepped slope line.  
     
     
         15 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , wherein said elongate bed tapers, further decreasing in thickness, as said elongate bed extends forward to the first toe.  
     
     
         16 . The foot support system of    claim 15   , wherein said elongate bed tapers, further decreasing in thickness, as said elongate bed extends backward between the navicular and the plantar portion of the heel.  
     
     
         17 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , wherein said elongate bed does not significantly elevate the second toe, the second metatarsal and the intermediate cuneiform.  
     
     
         18 . The foot support system of    claim 1   , wherein said outer edge extends longitudinally along the lateral margin of the first toe and first metatarsal.  
     
     
         19 . A last for making a shoe having a shoe bed which incorporates a foot support system, the last similarly shaped in the form of a foot, the foot having a forefoot, a rearfoot, a sole, a medial side, a medial column, a first toe, a first metatarsal, a second toe, a second metatarsal, and a heel, the heel having a plantar portion, the rearfoot including the plantar portion of the heel, the first toe and first metatarsal each having a lateral margin and the second toe and second metatarsal each having a medial margin, said last comprising: 
 a bottom surface corresponding to the sole of the foot,    said bottom surface having an elongate inner edge portion in the forefoot of the last, said elongate inner edge portion extending downwardly from the medial side of the last to a longitudinal position in a zone adjacent to the lateral margin of the first toe and first metatarsal and the medial margin of the second toe and second metatarsal, wherein said elongate inner edge portion of the bottom surface meets the remainder of the bottom surface to thereby form an upwardly extending cavity that in a shoe made from the last forms a foot support system for supporting the medial column of the foot.    
     
     
         20 . The last of    claim 19   , further comprising an upper forefoot surface extending upwardly from said longitudinal position to the medial side of the last in similar proportion to the underlying downwardly extending elongate inner edge portion of the bottom surface, in order to make room in the shoe made from said last for the medial column of the foot.  
     
     
         21 . A method for supporting a hyperpronating foot, the foot having a forefoot, a rearfoot, a sole, a medial side, a first toe, a first metatarsal, a second toe, a second metatarsal, a navicular and a heel, the forefoot having a distal end and a proximate end, the heel having a plantar portion, the rearfoot including the plantar portion of the heel, the first toe and first metatarsal each having a lateral margin and the second toe and second metatarsal each having a medial margin, said method comprising: 
 providing a support for the sole of the foot along the medial side of the forefoot; and    providing a gradually decreasing support for the sole of the foot from the medial side of the forefoot to a longitudinal position in a zone adjacent to the lateral margin of the first toe and first metatarsal and the medial margin of the second toe and second metatarsal, said first and second set of forces applied in combination.    
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 21   , wherein said first and second set of forces, in combination, extend from the first toe to a position anterior to the plantar portion of the heel.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 21   , wherein said first and second set of forces in combination gradually decrease toward the distal end of the forefoot.  
     
     
         24 . The method of    claim 21   , wherein said first and second set of forces in combination gradually decrease toward the proximate end of the forefoot.