Shoe Insole or Midsole with a Tri-Dome Configuration for Foot Rehabilitation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device to be integrated into an article of footwear, normally as, but not limited to, a shoe innersole or shoe midsole, to interact with the plantar surface of the wearer's foot, in the region of the foot's main first layer intrinsic muscles. The present invention produces benefits to address gait related issues associated with weakened foot structure and faulty gait biomechanics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) An insole or midsole or integrated unit sole, for use with an article of footwear, which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rises upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein;
 said raised area is characterized by the presence of 3 elongated domes running generally parallel to the long axis of the device and wherein the orientation and positioning of the domes creates an arrangement possessing a medial most dome, a central dome and a lateral most dome.   
     
     
         2 ) An insole or midsole or integrated unit sole, for use with an article of footwear, which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rises upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein;
 said raised area is characterized by the presence of 3 elongated domes running generally parallel to the long axis of the device and wherein the orientation and positioning of the domes creates an arrangement possessing a medial most dome, a central dome and a lateral most dome and wherein said device has a characteristic upwardly directed dome on raising upward from the surface of the device and is positioned to be aligned with the calcaneus of the human foot.   
     
     
         3 ) An insole or midsole or integrated unit sole, for use with an article of footwear, which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rises upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein;
 said raised area is characterized by the presence of 3 elongated domes running generally parallel to the long axis of the device and wherein the orientation and positioning of the domes creates an arrangement possessing a medial most dome, a central dome and a lateral most dome and wherein:   said medial dome is specifically positioned to be aligned generally with the medial arch of the human foot, and wherein;   said lateral dome is specifically positioned to be aligned generally with the lateral arch of the human foot, and wherein;   said central dome is specifically positioned to be aligned and positioned parallel with the 3 rd  ray of the human foot.   
     
     
         4 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 1  wherein;
 said medial most dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 1% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 4% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 said central dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 1% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 5% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 said lateral dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 0.5% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 3% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 
     
     
         5 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 2  wherein;
 said medial most dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 1% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 4% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 said central dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 1% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 5% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 said lateral dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 0.5% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 3% of the length of the device. 
 
     
     
         6 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 3  wherein;
 said medial most dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 1% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 4% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 said central dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 1% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 5% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 said lateral dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 0.5% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 3% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 
     
     
         7 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 3  wherein;
 said medial most dome is specifically positioned to be aligned with the Abductor Hallucis Brevis muscle of the user's foot and said medial most dome introduces an upwardly directed pressure onto the Abductor Hallucis Brevis muscle, and wherein; 
 said central dome is specifically positioned to be aligned with the Flexor Digitorum Brevis muscle of the user's foot and wherein; 
 said lateral most dome introduces an upwardly directed pressure onto the Abductor Digiti Minimi muscle. 
 
     
     
         8 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 7  wherein;
 said medial most dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 1% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 4% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 said central dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 1% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 5% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 said lateral dome when measured from the top surface of the device has a minimum height equivalent to 0.5% of the length of the device and has a maximum height equivalent to 3% of the length of the device, and wherein: 
 
     
     
         9 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 1  wherein said insole or midsole or integrated unit sole, for use with an article of footwear, which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rises upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein said raised area is designed with openings or cavities to receive inserts corresponding in size and shape to the 3 domes for the purpose of allowing interchange ability. 
     
     
         10 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 2  wherein said insole or midsole or integrated unit sole, for use with an article of footwear, which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rises upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein said raised area is designed with openings or cavities to receive inserts corresponding in size and shape to the 3 domes for the purpose of allowing interchange ability. 
     
     
         11 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 3  wherein said insole or midsole or integrated unit sole, for use with an article of footwear, which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rises upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein said raised area is designed with openings, or cavities, to receive inserts corresponding in size and shape to the domes for the purpose of allowing interchange ability. 
     
     
         12 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 2  and wherein:
 said device has a characteristic upwardly directed dome on raising upward from the surface of the device and is positioned to be aligned with the calcaneus of the human foot and wherein; 
 said upwardly directed dome may possess depressions, recesses or cavities. 
 
     
     
         13 ) A device as disclosed in  claim 3  wherein said insole or midsole or integrated unit sole, for use with an article of footwear, which has a characteristic raised area wherein said raised area sits plantar to the foot and rises upwardly from the invention, to interface with the plantar aspect of the foot, and wherein said raised area is designed with cavities or recesses, to receive inserts corresponding in size and shape to the domes for the purpose of allowing interchange ability, and wherein
 said cavities or recesses may be located on the bottom surface of the device, 
 or wherein said cavities may be located on the top surface of the device.