Footwear with two-plate system

Abstract

The present invention relates to footwear which has improved shock absorbency due to cushioning within a two-plate system. The orthotic or upper plate and bottom plate are separated by cushioning. The orthotic plate preferably provides rigid support between heel and metatarsal region. The bottom plate may utilize multiple rigid segments whereby the toe region is flexible. The bottom plate may also have gripping elements which are permanently or removeably attachable to the plate to compensate for wear, or for a change in activities. The cushioning between the upper and bottom plates distributes force produced at individual points on the bottom plate over the entire upper plate, thereby eliminating pressure points on the foot.

1 . Footwear comprising:
 an upper;   a rigid orthotic plate secured with respect to said upper;   padding having a top side and a bottom side, wherein said top side is positioned adjacent a lower surface of said rigid orthotic plate;   a bottom plate comprising a rigid front portion and a rigid rear portion, said rigid front portion and said rigid rear portion being connected by a flexible portion in said metatarsal region of said footwear whereby said rigid front portion is bendable with respect to said rigid rear portion, said padding being positioned between said rigid orthotic plate and said bottom plate such that said bottom side of said padding is positioned adjacent an upper surface of said bottom plate, said padding forming a shock absorbing layer thereby preventing contact between said rigid orthotic plate and said bottom plate.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said rigid orthotic plate extends from a metatarsal region of said footwear to a heel area of said footwear, and a front section associated with said rigid orthotic plate that is bendable with respect to said rigid orthotic plate at said metatarsal region of said footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising said front section being secured to said rigid orthotic plate such that said front section is movable with respect to said rigid orthotic plate. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear of  claim 3 , wherein said padding forms said front section. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein only said padding is positioned between said rigid orthotic plate and said bottom plate. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a smaller maximum thickness than a maximum thickness of said rigid orthotic plate. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said rigid orthotic plate comprises an arched portion between said heel area and said metatarsal region of said footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of said rigid orthotic plate is substantially flat from said metatarsal region to said heel area of said footwear. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of gripping members extending from said lower side of a bottom plate without extending into said padding, said shock absorbing layer formed by padding isolating and preventing contact between said rigid orthotic plate and said gripping members. 
     
     
         10 . A method for making footwear comprising:
 utilizing an orthotic plate that is rigid from a heel of said footwear to a metatarsal region of said footwear,   providing a toe section extending from said metatarsal region to a toe end of said footwear for use with said orthotic plate, said toe section being bendable with respect to said orthotic plate at said metatarsal region;   securing said orthotic plate with respect to an upper;   securing said orthotic plate with respect to a top side of padding; and   attaching a bottom plate with a first rigid section and a second section to said footwear, said first rigid section extending between said heel and said metatarsal region of said footwear, said second section extending between said metatarsal region of said footwear and a toe region, said second section being moveable with respect to said first rigid section;   utilizing said padding between said orthotic plate and said bottom plate, said padding forming a shock absorbing layer to isolate said orthotic plate from said bottom plate thereby preventing contact between said orthotic plate and said bottom plate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising securing said first rigid section to said second section with a flexible portion to permit movement of said first rigid section with respect to said second rigid section. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing that said toe section is supported by said padding. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising utilizing only said padding between said orthotic plate and said bottom plate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , forming said orthotic plate with a raised arch section. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising securing a plurality of gripping members to extend from said lower side of said bottom plate such that mountings for said gripping members do not extend into said padding, whereby said shock absorbing layer formed by said padding isolates and prevents contact between said orthotic plate and said gripping members. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising utilizing a rigid said second section. 
     
     
         17 . A method for making footwear comprising:
 utilizing a first plate that is rigid from a heel of said footwear to a metatarsal region of said footwear;   securing said first plate with respect to an upper;   positioning padding below said first plate;   securing a bottom plate of said footwear to said padding so that said padding is between said first plate and said bottom plate, said padding forming a shock absorbing layer to isolate said first plate from said bottom plate thereby preventing contact between said first plate and said bottom plate; and   providing that said bottom plate is formed as a first section and a second section, said first section extends between a heel of said footwear and a metatarsal region of said footwear, said second section extends between said metatarsal region and a toe of said footwear;   providing that said first section of said bottom plate is rigid; and   flexibly joining said second section to said first section at said metatarsal region of said footwear, whereby said first section and said second section bend with respect to each other to allow a toe region between said metatarsal region of said footwear and said toe end of said footwear to bend starting from said metatarsal region.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a toe region extending from said first plate is flexible at said metatarsal region of said footwear. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said second section is rigid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein only said padding is between said first plate and said bottom plate.