Flexible midfoot orthotic shoe insert

Abstract

A preformed orthotic is provided. The orthotic may include a lateral contour zone disposed on the lateral side of the orthotic which slopes upwardly in a medial direction at an angle of about one to fifteen degrees, a medial contour zone adjacent the lateral contour zone which slopes upwardly in a medial direction at an angle of about fifteen to forty degrees, and a medial wing disposed adjacent the medial contour zone which extends upwardly from the medial contour zone at an angle of about twenty-five to seventy-five degrees. An orthotic contoured support area may primarily cover the midfoot and may only extend slightly into the heel and forefoot. The orthotic may be constructed from a flexible material which allows the orthotic to form to the shape of the shoe it is placed in. The medial wing may utilize the medial wall of the shoe to increase arch support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A preformed orthotic for disposition between a shoe and a foot of a user, the orthotic comprising:
 a proximal edge disposed adjacent a heel of a foot of a user;   a distal edge disposed adjacent a metatarsal head area of the foot;   a lateral edge disposed adjacent a lateral side of the foot;   a medial edge disposed adjacent a medial side of the foot;   wherein the orthotic insert defines a functional support surface which extends between the heel and the metatarsal head area and which does not substantially extend beneath the heel or beneath the metatarsal head area;   a lateral contour zone disposed on a lateral side of the orthotic insert;
 wherein the lateral contour zone has a thickness adjacent a medial-lateral center line of the orthotic insert which is between about three and thirty percent of a proximal-distal length of the orthotic insert; 
 wherein the lateral contour zone tapers towards the proximal edge and the distal edge to a reduced thickness; and 
 wherein an upper surface of the lateral contour zone slopes upwardly in a medial direction from the lateral edge at an angle of between about one and fifteen degrees; and 
   a medial contour zone disposed adjacent the lateral contour zone and extending towards a medial side of the orthotic insert;
 wherein the medial contour zone has a thickness which is between about three and thirty percent of the proximal-distal length of the orthotic insert; and 
 wherein an upper surface of the medial contour zone slopes upwardly in a medial direction at an angle of between about fifteen and forty degrees. 
   
     
     
         2 . The orthotic of  claim 1 , further comprising a medial wing disposed adjacent the medial contour zone and extending towards the medial side, and wherein an upper surface of the medial wing extends upwardly from the medial contour zone at an angle of between twenty five and seventy five degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The orthotic of  claim 2 , wherein the orthotic insert is generally hollow beneath the medial contour zone and the medial wing. 
     
     
         4 . The orthotic of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral contour zone has a width which is between about one third and one half of a width of the orthotic insert and wherein the medial contour zone has a width which is between one fourth and two thirds of the width of the orthotic insert. 
     
     
         5 . The orthotic of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the lateral contour zone is essentially flat, and wherein the bottom surface of the medial contour zone is concave such that when the orthotic insert is placed on a flat surface, a bottom surface of the medial contour zone is spaced above the flat surface. 
     
     
         6 . The orthotic of  claim 5 , wherein the medial contour zone has a thickness which is between about three and twenty-eight percent of the proximal-distal length of the insert. 
     
     
         7 . The orthotic of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral contour zone and the medial contour zone extend between the proximal edge and the distal edge. 
     
     
         8 . A preformed orthotic for disposition between a shoe and a foot of a user, the orthotic comprising:
 a proximal edge disposed adjacent a heel of a foot of a user;   a distal edge disposed adjacent a metatarsal head area of the foot;   a lateral edge disposed adjacent a lateral side of the foot;   a medial edge disposed adjacent a medial side of the foot;   a lateral contour zone disposed on a lateral side of the orthotic insert;
 wherein an upper surface of the lateral contour zone slopes upwardly in a medial direction from the lateral edge at an angle of between about one and about fifteen degrees; 
   a medial contour zone disposed adjacent the lateral contour zone and extending towards the medial side; and
 wherein an upper surface of the medial contour zone slopes upwardly in a medial direction at an angle of between about fifteen and about forty degrees. 
   
     
     
         9 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the orthotic insert defines a functional support surface which extends generally between the heel and the metatarsal head area. 
     
     
         10 . The orthotic of  claim 9 , wherein the orthotic does not substantially extend beneath the heel or beneath the metatarsal head area. 
     
     
         11 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , further comprising a medial wing disposed adjacent the medial contour zone and extending towards the medial side, and wherein an upper surface of the medial wing extends upwardly from the medial contour zone at an angle of between twenty five and seventy five degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The orthotic of  claim 11 , wherein the orthotic insert is generally hollow beneath the medial contour zone and the medial wing. 
     
     
         13 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the lateral contour zone has a width which is between about one fourth and one half of a width of the orthotic insert. 
     
     
         14 . The orthotic of  claim 13 , wherein the medial contour zone has a width which is between one fourth and two thirds of the width of the orthotic insert. 
     
     
         15 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the lateral contour zone has a thickness which is between one eighth and one half of an inch and wherein the medial contour zone has a maximum thickness which is between about one eighth and one inch. 
     
     
         16 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the lateral contour zone has a thickness which is between one eighth and one half of an inch and wherein the medial contour zone has a maximum thickness which is between about one and a half times and three times the thickness of the lateral contour zone. 
     
     
         17 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the lateral contour zone tapers towards the proximal edge and towards the distal edge to a reduced thickness. 
     
     
         18 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein a bottom surface of the lateral contour zone is essentially flat, and wherein, when the orthotic insert is placed on a flat surface, a bottom surface of the medial contour zone is spaced above the flat surface. 
     
     
         19 . The orthotic of  claim 18 , wherein the bottom surface of the medial contour zone is concave. 
     
     
         20 . The orthotic of  claim 18 , wherein the medial contour zone has a thickness which is between about three and about twenty-eight percent of a proximal-distal length of the orthotic insert. 
     
     
         21 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the insert is attached to a shoe insole with adhesive. 
     
     
         22 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the orthotic is formed from a flexible material selected from the group consisting of silicone, silicon, silica, foam, memory foam, urethane, EVA, polyurethane, polyethylene, synthetic rubber, neoprene, neosponge, sofsponge, and ethyl vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         23 . The orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the orthotic further comprises a layer of rougher material on a plantar surface thereof.