Arch support with a patterned surface

Abstract

An arch support orthotic device comprises an upper surface facing a wearer's foot, and a lower surface facing a footwear, wherein the upper surface is formed of a deformable semi-rigid material responding flexibly to a weight of the wearer, and wherein the lower surface comprises an arch support section facing an inner sole surface of the footwear including a plurality of support structures that performs an arch supporting function, controls a deformability of the orthotic device so as to reduce loss of the arch supporting function when worn by the wearer, and prevents substantial deformation against the inner sole surface of the footwear.

1 . An arch support orthotic device comprising:
 an upper surface facing a wearer's foot; and   a lower surface facing a footwear;   wherein the upper surface is formed of a deformable semi-rigid material responding flexibly to a weight of the wearer;   wherein the lower surface comprises an arch support section facing an inner sole surface of the footwear and including a plurality of support structures that are interconnected along the lower surface; and   wherein vertical lengths of the support structures increase from a center surface of the footwear towards the inner sole surface of the footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support structures are substantially periodically interconnected in at least one direction. 
     
     
         3 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support structures are substantially periodically interconnected in at least two directions. 
     
     
         4 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of support structures are substantially square. 
     
     
         5 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of support structures have a substantially honeycomb shape. 
     
     
         6 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface is contoured to substantially conform to a shape of an arch of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         7 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the arch support orthotic device is insertable into the footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the arch support orthotic device is smaller than a length of the inner sole surface of the footwear. 
     
     
         9 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the lower surface is coated with an adhesive to prevent the arch support orthotic device from slipping against the inner sole surface of the footwear. 
     
     
         10 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 9 , wherein the arch support orthotic device is detachable, reusable, and washable. 
     
     
         11 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical lengths of the support structures are 0.28 to 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the support structures is 0.055 to 0.125 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable semi-rigid material includes polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, subortholon, or the like. 
     
     
         14 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heel section; and   a toe section;   wherein the heel section and the toe section are attached to the arch support section at respective ends thereof.   
     
     
         15 . An arch support orthotic device comprising:
 an upper surface facing a wearer's foot; and   a lower surface facing a footwear, the lower surface including a plurality of means for providing an arch support for a wearer's foot,   wherein the means for supporting are laterally interconnected with one another in at least one direction to reduce loss of an arch support.   
     
     
         16 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a means for preventing slipping of the orthotic device against a surface of a footwear.   
     
     
         17 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 15 , wherein the means for supporting are laterally interconnected with one another in at least two directions. 
     
     
         18 . The arch support orthotic device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a means for preventing slipping of the orthotic device against an inner sole surface of a footwear.