Foot Orthotic

Abstract

A foot orthotic for use as an insole in footwear is made solely from a copper-containing material.

1 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), for use as an insole in footwear, said foot orthotic being anatomically-shaped to the planar region of a foot, wherein the foot orthotic ( 100 )
 (i) is made solely from a copper-contained material which is an alloy of copper or pure copper;   (ii) is a three-quarter length orthotic extending from a heel of the foot to end before the metatarsal heads of a foot;   (iii) comprises a cup-shaped heel portion ( 1 ) to receive the heel; and   (iv) a peripheral edge of the foot orthotic is bevelled.   
     
     
         2 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an edge ( 11 ) of the foot orthotic is up-turned relative to an underside of the foot orthotic, to provide increased resilience. 
     
     
         3 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the foot orthotic is of uniform thickness. 
     
     
         4 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the foot orthotic is made from a material of thickness from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the thickness is 1.0 mm or 1.2 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the foot orthotic is made by a process of stamping and pressing a blank of copper-containing material to achieve the desired anatomical shape. 
     
     
         7 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the blank of copper-containing material has been rolled. 
     
     
         8 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the blank of copper-containing material has been passed through a machine press. 
     
     
         9 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising an adhesive pad on an underside thereof, so as to reduce movement of the foot orthotic within a piece of footwear. 
     
     
         10 . A foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the copper-containing material is an alloy of copper and/or contains from 30% to around 100% copper, preferably from 50% to 80% to around 100% copper, or, most preferably 99.9% copper. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a foot orthotic ( 100 ), as defined in  claim 1 , comprising providing a blank of copper-containing material by stamping and pressing the so-produced blank to achieve the shape and configuration defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A method of making a foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein pressing of the blank or copper-containing material is achieved using rolling or a machine press. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a foot orthotic ( 100 ), as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the foot orthotic is polished to provide smoother edges.