Sole unit with adjustable arch

Abstract

The inventive subject matter provides an adjustable midsole that can be contained within sole units for shoes generally and particularly within thin profile sole units. An adjustment of the midsole results in a change in the profile of a predetermined portion of the foot-supporting surface of a shoe to help accommodate the foot morphology of a particular wearer or to provide performance enhancements.

1 . A sole unit having a support system contained therein for adjusting a foot-supporting surface shape of the sole unit, the support system comprising:
 a support plate mounted within the sole unit;   a base plate secured to the sole unit extending over an area generally below the support plate;   an adjustment mechanism positioned between the base plate and support plate, the adjustment mechanism coupled to the support plate and comprising an elevating member that is slideably disposed on a path under the support plate that is transverse to an axis of the support plate; and   wherein the adjustment of the adjustment mechanism causes the elevating member to engage the support plate and change its height, which change in height results in a change to the foot-supporting surface shape of the sole unit.   
     
     
         2 . The sole unit of  claim 1  wherein the support plate is disposed in a rearfoot, midfoot, or forefoot portion of the sole unit and independently adjusts the portion relative to another portion. 
     
     
         3 . The sole unit of  claim 1  wherein the support plate is disposed in an area of the sole unit corresponding to an arch of a foot. 
     
     
         4 . A shoe with a sole unit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . An adjustable arch support for a shoe comprising:
 an arch support plate extending from an outer edge on the medial side of the shoe to a central portion of the shoe and the arch support plate curving gradually to form an arch fit complementary to the arch of a foot;   a base plate secured to the shoe extending over an area generally below the arch support plate;   an adjustment mechanism positioned between the base plate and arch support plate, the adjustment mechanism comprising
 an adjustment screw; 
 a threaded member interacting with the adjustment screw; 
 an elevating member adapted to interact freely with the threaded member and coupled to the arch support plate; and 
   wherein rotation of the adjustment screw repositions the threaded member so that the elevating member and the associated arch support plate are repositioned and the height of the arch support plate is adjusted.   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the support plate comprises a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the support plate comprises a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the adjustment screw is operatively positioned along a transverse axis of the shoe between the arch support plate and base plate so that the height and curvature of the arch support plate are adjusted when the screw is rotated. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a guide channel guiding the screw in a path under the support plate that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the support plate. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of ridges sloping down from an outer edge on the medial side of the base plate towards a central portion of the shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the base plate comprises a guide channel formed by ridges sloping from a medial side of the base plate to a central portion of the shoe and adapted for guiding the threaded member and elevating member. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the threaded member and the elevating member have a surface with complementary shapes configured to engage and adjust the height of the arch support plate. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the elevating member has a wedge shape with a side that is sloped complementary to a sloped side of the threaded member so that repositioning the sloped sides relative to each other adjusts the height and curvature of the arch support plate relative to the base plate. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the arch support plate comprises engageable elements adapted to slideably engage complementary engageable elements on the base plate so that the arch support is freely moveable relative to the base plate. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable arch support of  claim 5  wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of slots freely engaging corresponding tabs on the arch support plate, and the arch support plate configured to slide relative to the base plate. 
     
     
         16 . A sole unit with an adjustable arch, comprising:
 an outsole;   a footbed mounted to or otherwise integrated with the outsole;   an adjustable arch support mounted between the outsole and the footbed at a location corresponding to the arch of a foot, the adjustable arch support comprising:
 a support plate mounted within the sole unit; 
 a base plate secured to the sole unit extending over an area generally below the support plate; 
 an adjustment mechanism positioned between the base plate and support plate, the adjustment mechanism coupled to the support plate and comprising an elevating member that is slideably disposed on a path under the support plate that is transverse to an axis of the support plate; and 
 wherein the adjustment of the adjustment mechanism causes the elevating member to engage the support plate and change its height, which change in height results in a change to the foot-supporting surface shape of the sole unit. 
   
     
     
         17 . The sole unit of  claim 16  further comprising a midsole located between the outsole and the footbed, and the midsole shaped to accommodate an adjustable arch support. 
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising:
 footwear having a sole unit as claimed in  claim 1 ; and   a key adapted to adjust the adjustment mechanism of the support system.   
     
     
         19 . A method for making a sole unit having a support system contained therein for adjusting a foot-supporting surface shape of the sole unit comprising:
 mounting a support plate within the sole unit;   securing a base plate to the sole unit extending over an area generally below the support plate;   positioning an adjustment mechanism between the base plate and support plate, the adjustment mechanism coupled to the support plate and comprising an elevating member that is slideably disposed on a path under the support plate that is transverse to an axis of the support plate; and   wherein the adjustment of the adjustment mechanism causes the elevating member to engage the support plate and change its height, which change in height results in a change to the foot-supporting surface shape of the sole unit.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the support system is disposed in a rearfoot, midfoot, or forefoot portion of the sole unit and independently adjusts the portion relative to another portion. 
     
     
         21 . A method for making an adjustable arch support for a shoe comprising:
 providing an arch support plate extending from an outer edge on the medial side of the shoe to a central portion of the shoe and the arch support plate curving gradually to form an arch fit complementary to the arch of a foot;   securing a base plate to the shoe extending over an area generally below the arch support plate;   positioning an adjustment mechanism between the base plate and arch support plate, the adjustment mechanism comprising
 an adjustment screw; 
 a threaded member interacting with the adjustment screw; 
 an elevating member adapted to interact freely with the threaded member and coupled to the arch support plate; and 
   wherein rotation of the adjustment screw repositions the threaded member so that the elevating member and the associated arch support plate are repositioned and the height of the arch support plate is adjusted.