Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments

Abstract

This invention relates generally to footwear such as a shoe, including an athletic shoe, with a shoe sole, including at least one orthotic section formed at least in part by midsole material. The insertable midsole orthotic is removably inserted within the shoe upper, the sides of which hold it in position. The shoe sole includes a concavely rounded side or underneath portion, which may be formed in part by the insertable midsole orthotic. The insertable midsole orthotic may extend the length of the shoe sole or may form only a part of the shoe sole and can incorporate cushioning or structural compartments or components. The insertable midsole orthotic provides the capability to permit replacement of midsole material which has degraded or has worn out in order to maintain optimal characteristics of the shoe sole. Also, the insertable midsole orthotic allows customization for the individual wearer to provide tailored cushioning or support characteristics for the purpose of orthopedic, podiatric, corrective, prescriptive, therapeutic and/or prosthetic purposes. The shoe sole can also include at least one compartment containing a fluid, a flow regulator, a pressure sensor to monitor the compartment pressure, and a control system such as a computer processor, capable of automatically adjusting the pressure in the compartment(s) in response to the impact of the shoe sole with the ground surface.

1 . A shoe comprising: 
 a shoe upper and a shoe sole including a least a bottom sole;    at least a portion of said shoe sole being formed by an insertable midsole orthotic;    at least a portion of the sides of said shoe upper being attached directly to the bottom sole such that the shoe upper envelopes, on the outside, at least the insertable midsole orthotic of said shoe sole; and    at least a part of an inner and an outer surface of the shoe sole being concavely rounded relative to an intended wearer's foot location inside the shoe, as viewed in a frontal plane cross section when the shoe sole is in an upright, unloaded condition.    
     
     
         2 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said insertable midsole orthotic is removable from the shoe and insertable into said shoe upper through an opening in the shoe upper provided for entry and exit of an intended wearer's foot into and out of said shoe.  
     
     
         3 . A shoe sole for a shoe or other footwear, such as an athletic shoe or street shoe, comprising: 
 at least a bottom sole, a midsole, an inner surface and an outer surface;    at least a part of said outer surface having a convexly rounded shape, as seen in a frontal plane cross-section from outside the shoe sole when the shoe sole is in an upright, unloaded condition; and    wherein said midsole includes an insertable midsole orthotic which is removable from said shoe sole and which forms at least a portion of said convexly rounded part of said outer surface.    
     
     
         4 . A shoe sole as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said insertable midsole orthotic of said midsole is releasably secured to at least one of said shoe sole or a shoe of which said shoe sole forms a part, by a releasable securing structure selected from the group consisting of mechanical fasteners, a snap fit, adhesives, interlocking surfaces, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A shoe sole as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the shoe sole further comprises at least one compartment containing a fluid, a flow regulator, a pressure sensor to monitor the compartment pressure, and a control system in communication with said compartment and said flow regulator, said control system is capable of automatically adjusting the pressure in said compartment based on sensing of a predetermined pressure is said compartment resulting from impact of the shoe sole with the ground surface.  
     
     
         6 . A shoe sole as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said control system is a computer processor in electrical communication with said flow regulator and said sensor and wherein said computer processor receives and stores pressure data from said sensor and computes said predetermined pressure.  
     
     
         7 . A shoe sole as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said orthotic section is capable of being permanently affixed in said shoe sole.  
     
     
         8 . A shoe sole as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said shoe sole comprises at least two compartments and a duct communicating between said at least two compartments.  
     
     
         9 . A shoe sole as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said shoe sole comprises at least two compartments and a duct communicating between said at least two compartments.  
     
     
         10 . A shoe sole as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said shoe sole comprises at least two compartments and a duct communicating between said at least two compartments.  
     
     
         11 . An orthotic inner shoe which comprises: 
 an insertable midsole orthotic sized to fit inside and form part of the sole of a shoe designed to receive and retain said insertable midsole orthotic;    a secondary outer sole on at least a portion of the outer surface of the insertable midsole orthotic to provide traction or wear resistance when said orthotic inner shoe is worn without the shoe designed to receive and retain said insertable midsole orthotic; and    a device associated with the insertable midsole orthotic for retaining the orthotic inner shoe on an intended wearer's foot when worn without the shoe designed to receive and retain the insertable midsole orthotic.    
     
     
         12 . The orthotic inner shoe as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the device for retaining the orthotic inner shoe on an intended wearer's foot comprises an integral secondary upper.  
     
     
         13 . The orthotic inner shoe as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the upper portion of the insertable midsole orthotic provides the corrective orthotic effect and the upper portion of the insertable midsole orthotic comprises less than half of the thickness of the sole of the insertable midsole orthotic.  
     
     
         14 . The orthotic inner shoe as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising at least one computer controlled compartment, and wherein the computer control for the computer controlled compartment is located in the upper portion of the insertable midsole orthotic and the upper portion of the insertable midsole orthotic comprises less than half of the thickness of the sole of the insertable midsole orthotic.