Integrated Consumer Products

Abstract

Integrated consumer products including an article of footwear that provides for correction, mitigation or prevention of hallux valgus or bunion. The footwear is constructed such that forces generated by a wearer's foot while standing or walking are directed or redirected to provide support and forces on selective bone and soft tissues of the foot thereby providing corrective forces to counter the development or progression of a bunion. The mechanism of force redirection may include compliant type mechanisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear for correcting or mitigating a bunion deformity comprising:
 a sole comprising a bottom surface for contacting the ground and a top surface for receiving the bottom of a foot;   an upper portion that is connected to said sole and which has means to maintain foot in relative proximity to the sole, and wherein the upper portion includes a means for applying support or one or more lateral forces to one or more portions of a foot;   wherein said sole has means for receiving one or more forces from a foot or a planting surface and transmitting or redirecting at least a portion of said force to a first part of the upper portion; and   wherein said redirected force causes said first part of upper portion to apply a corrective force to at least one of a bone or soft tissue of foot thereby correcting or mitigating a foot deformity or misalignment.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the corrective force is applied to at least one of the following foot structures: the distal lateral hallux in the medial direction, the proximal medial hallux in the lateral direction, the medial portion of the first metatarsal in the lateral direction, and the metatarsophalangeal joint in the lateral direction. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the corrective force relaxes when the foot is not in contact with the ground, thereby relieving or reducing the corrective pressures on the foot structures. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the means for receiving and redirecting forces comprises a gel or fluid filled compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the means for receiving and redirecting forces comprises a compliant, spring or other elastic mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole for receiving a foot;   a strap comprising a first portion secured to said sole and a second portion for abutting or contacting at least a portion of a non-sole portion of a foot, said strap configured to at least partially transmit and redirect a force applied to the sole through the lower portion to an upper portion of the strap; and   wherein the redirected force through the upper portion provides a force on the portion of a foot to which abuts or contacts.   
     
     
         7 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole for receiving a foot;   a fluid or gel filled chamber existing within a portion of the sole and extending above the sole and configured to abut or contact a portion of an upper portion of a foot;   wherein said chamber provides means for transmitting a force applied to the sole to an upper or lateral portion of a foot; and   wherein the force transmitted is relaxed when the force on the sole is relaxed.   
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7  wherein the transmitted force provides a corrective action on one or more foot abnormalities or alignment.