Shoe Tuning System and Method

Abstract

A replaceable tuning wedge-shaped piece of a variety of hardnesses, is inserted in the midsole of shoes for enhancing the rate of compression. As the shoe breaks down or compresses, the tuning wedges will help the midsole rate of compression in each individual's gait. Such wedges can be made of elastomers, rubbers, plastics, wood, air bladders, Skydex brand thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material, D3O® Set Foam, or the like. A method of adjusting the density and compression of the midsoles or platforms of footwear includes using these wedges in shoes. An athletic or casual or dress shoe can include an upper component, a midsole, an outsole, and a void or voids along the midsole borders for housing wedges of different durometers for controlling compression rates of each foot of the individual wearer.

1 . A shoe comprising:
 a) an upper component;   b) a midsole having borders;   c) an outsole;   d) a void or voids along the midsole borders for housing wedges of different durometers for controlling compression rates of each foot of an individual wearer; and   e) wedges which fit in the void or voids.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe as in  claim 1 , wherein the wedges are made of plastic, EVA, rubber, air bladders, wood, and/or D3O® Set Foam or like materials. 
     
     
         3 . A shoe as in  claim 1  where the wedges have attachment characteristics for seating said wedge into the midsole without voids. 
     
     
         4 . A shoe for controlling compression rates of a wearer's foot, the shoe comprising:
 a) an upper;   b) a midsole;   c) an outsole;   d) one or more voids along the midsole; and   e) one or more wedges of varying durometers, wherein the one or more voids are sized and shaped to accept the one or more wedges.   
     
     
         5 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of using the shoe of  claim 4  wherein the wearer chooses the one or more wedges to place in the one or more voids based on the durometer of the wedge that will most effectively control the compression rate of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatuses for controlling the compression rate of an individual's foot, the apparatuses having a size and a shape so one or more can be placed in the individual's shoes, wherein the apparatuses have various durometers, and wherein the apparatuses are substantially wedge-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatuses of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatuses are wedge-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . A method of using the apparatuses of  claim 11  comprising the steps of:
 (a) choosing one or more apparatuses of the appropriate durometer for each different shoe of the individual to most effectively control the compression rate of each of the individual's feet; and 
 (b) placing the apparatuses chosen in step (a) in the individual's shoes. 
 
     
     
         14 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the one or more apparatuses are different for each of the individual's shoes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the following step:
 (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) as the shoe breaks down to continue to most effectively control the compression rate of each of the individual's feet. 
 
     
     
         19 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the wedges include a sensor or sensors. 
     
     
         23 . The shoes of  claim 4 , wherein the wedges include a sensor or sensors. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatuses of various durometers include a sensor. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein choosing the apparatus is based on input collected from a sensor contained within the shoe. 
     
     
         26 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the wedges are rectangular in vertical cross section and taper toward a point. 
     
     
         27 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the wedges are rectangular in vertical cross section and taper to a point. 
     
     
         28 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein there are four voids in the shoe for receiving wedges. 
     
     
         29 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the wedges are inserted from the side. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A shoe as in  claim 1  where the wedges have attachment characteristics for seating said wedge into the midsole. 
     
     
         32 . A method of using the shoe of  claim 4  wherein a user chooses the one or more wedges to place in the one or more voids based on the durometer of the wedge that will most effectively control the compression rate of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         33 - 34 . (canceled)