Flexible orthotic device

Abstract

An orthotic device which provides functional support for the foot. It comprises a substantially rigid moulded sheet of resiliently deformable plastics material which provides continuous contact with the arch of the foot whether the foot is flat or pointed. The plastics material is preferably embedded between a shock absorbent layer and a covering layer.

1 . An orthotic device which comprises a substantially rigid moulded sheet of resiliently deformable plastics material which provides continuous contact with the arch of the foot whether the foot is flat or pointed, after it has initially been moulded to substantially conform with the shape of the arch of the foot, wherein said orthotic device does not provide support for the arch of the foot.  
     
     
         2 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plastics material has a shape memory property which permits it to be flattened out under applied pressure and to return to its original memorized arched configuration once the applied pressure has been removed.  
     
     
         3 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 1 , which is designed to fit the template of the footwear it is to be used with.  
     
     
         4 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 1 , and including a shock absorbent layer and a covering layer, wherein the covering layer is intended to be adjacent to the bottom of the foot, the absorbent layer is intended to face the sole of the footwear, and the orthotic device is sandwiched between the layers.  
     
     
         5 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein there are multiple shock absorbent layers.  
     
     
         6 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein there are multiple covering layers.  
     
     
         7 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , which only extends to the arch region of the foot.  
     
     
         8 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , which extends the entire length of the foot.  
     
     
         9 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the shock absorbent layer is a foamed plastics material.  
     
     
         10 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the foamed plastic material is a microcellular urethane foamed material.  
     
     
         11 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the layer of microcellular urethane foamed material has a smooth outer surface which contacts the footwear and a roughened inner surface which connectively joins with the orthotic device.  
     
     
         12 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , which is laminated to the shock absorbent layer and the covering layer.  
     
     
         13 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , which is adhered to the shock absorbent layer and the covering layer.  
     
     
         14 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the covering layer is leather.  
     
     
         15 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the shock absorbent layer is dimensioned to match the full last of the footwear.  
     
     
         16 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , which has the same width as the last of the footwear and has a length which is commensurate with the length of the inner longitudinal arch of the foot.  
     
     
         17 . An orthotic device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the covering later is dimensioned to match the dimensions of the last of the footwear.  
     
     
         18 . An orthotic device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.