Orthotic shoe insert for high-heeled shoes

Abstract

An orthotic insert for a high-heeled shoe may have an asymmetrical heel cup including a depressed central region configured for a heel of a wearer. Features including an elevated medial-side surface along a medial side upper surface declining toward the central region, and a generally longitudinal lateral-side elevation along an upper lateral edge of the heel cup may be configured to provide a predetermined supported calcaneal angle for a wearer, wherein the angle is offset from vertical. An anterior retention structure configured as a rounded hump extending across an anterior region of the heel cup, generally transverse to the elevated medial-side surface, with a middle portion of the rounded hump curved laterally away from a center of the heel cup may be included to prevent anterior calcaneal movement relative to the heel cup.

1 . An orthotic insert for a high-heeled shoe, the insert comprising:
 an asymmetrical heel cup including
 a depressed central region configured for a heel of a wearer; 
 an elevated medial-side surface along a medial side upper surface declining toward the central region; 
 a generally longitudinal lateral-side elevation along an upper lateral edge of the heel cup, wherein the elevated medial-side surface and the lateral side elevation are configured to provide a predetermined supported calcaneal angle for a wearer, wherein the angle is offset from vertical; and 
 an anterior retention structure configured as a rounded hump extending across an anterior region of the heel cup, generally transverse to the elevated medial-side surface, with a middle portion of the rounded hump curved laterally away from a center of the heel cup, the anterior retention structure configured prevent anterior calcaneal movement relative to the heel cup. 
   
     
     
         2 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive configured for securing the insert to a shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , further comprising a shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The orthotic insert of  claim 3 , wherein the shoe is a high-heeled shoe having an elevated heel height of at least two inches. 
     
     
         5 . The orthotic insert of  claim 3 , wherein the insert is installed into the shoe during manufacture. 
     
     
         6 . The orthotic insert of  claim 3 , wherein the insert is configured to be installed into a pre-existing shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined supported calcaneal angle for a wearer is about one to about five degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined supported calcaneal angle for a wearer is about two degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , wherein the depressed central region comprises an open void. 
     
     
         10 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , further comprising an open posterior portion of the heel cup configured to minimize visibility of the insert from a posterior view. 
     
     
         11 . The orthotic insert of  claim 1 , further comprising an arch support extending anteriorly from the heel cup, the arch support comprising:
 a larger raised medial-side longitudinal arch portion that includes an upper contour configured to support an arch of a wearer's foot defined by medial tarsals and metatarsals;   a smaller narrow longitudinal raised arch portion that runs longitudinally along and defines a lateral-side edge of the insert, configured to support a lateral-side bottom-to-side portion of a wearer's foot between the heel and pinky toe; and   a generally triangular rounded metatarsal support including a raised surface,   wherein a first side defining a base of the generally triangular rounded metatarsal support is configured to align along a line between the medial side of the second metatarsal and the lateral side of the third metatarsal portions defining a ball of a wearer's foot,   wherein the raised surface is configured to be highest between the second and third metatarsals, tapering laterally to a lower height across the base toward the lateral edge of the fourth metatarsal and tapering medially to a lower height across the base toward the medial edge of the second metatarsal; and   wherein a rounded point of the generally triangular rounded metatarsal support opposite the base is configured to taper to a terminus near a posterior end of, and between, the second and third metatarsals.   
     
     
         12 . An orthotic insert configured for installation into a high-heeled shoe, the insert comprising:
 a heel cup including
 a concave central region configured for a heel of a wearer; 
 an elevated medial-side surface inclining to a medial side upper surface from the central region; 
 a generally longitudinal lateral-side lip defining an upper lateral edge of the heel cup, wherein the elevated medial-side surface and the lateral side elevation are configured to support a heel pad of a wearer and to provide a predetermined supported calcaneal angle for a wearer of about one to about five degrees relative to vertical; and 
 a generally crescent-shaped anterior retention structure configured as a rounded hump curved around an anterior region of the heel cup between the elevated medial-side surface and lateral-side lip, the anterior retention structure configured to further support a wearer heel pad and to prevent anterior calcaneal movement relative to the central region. 
   
     
     
         13 . The orthotic insert of  claim 12 , further comprising an open posterior portion of the heel cup configured to minimize visibility of the insert from a posterior view. 
     
     
         14 . The orthotic insert of  claim 12 , further comprising an adhesive configured for securing the insert to a shoe. 
     
     
         15 . The orthotic insert of  claim 12 , further comprising a shoe. 
     
     
         16 . The orthotic insert of  claim 15 , wherein the shoe is a high-heeled shoe having an elevated heel height of at least two inches. 
     
     
         17 . The orthotic insert of  claim 15 , wherein the insert is installed into the shoe during manufacture. 
     
     
         18 . An insole for a high-heeled shoe, comprising:
 an insole insert including a heel cup with medial, lateral, and posterior raised portions surrounding a central region;   a curved bump along an anterior portion of the central region;   a medial support configured to extend along a length of a wearer's longitudinal arch;   a lateral lip configured to extend along the lateral border of the tarsals and fifth metatarsal of a wearer's foot; and   a metatarsal pad configured to underlie the second, third, and fourth metatarsals of a wearer's foot.   
     
     
         19 . The insole of  claim 18 , comprising a semi-rigid material construction. 
     
     
         20 . The insole of  claim 18 , further comprising a high-heeled shoe.