Post-Operative Shoe And Method For Construction Thereof

Abstract

A post-operative shoe and method for construction thereof is provided. The post-operative shoe includes an outsole having a substantially flat top surface with variable rigidity and rounded toe and heel ends and a midfoot segment located between the toe and heel ends. The rigidity of the outsole is most rigid after a medical procedure performed on a wearer of the outsole and less rigid as time passes from the medical procedure. One or more bores are formed within the outsole, each bore originating at the toe end and terminating at one of a proximal end of the toe end and a distal end of the midfoot segment. One or more flex rods are each sized to fit within one of the bores to determine the rigidity of the outsole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A post-operative shoe, comprising:
 an outsole comprising a substantially flat top surface with variable rigidity and having rounded toe and heel ends and a midfoot segment located between the toe and heel ends, wherein the rigidity of the outsole is most rigid after a medical procedure performed on a wearer of the outsole and less rigid as time passes from the medical procedure;   one or more bores formed within the outsole, each bore originating at the toe end and terminating at one of a proximal end of the toe end and a distal end of the midfoot segment; and   one or more flex rods each sized to fit within one of the bores to determine the rigidity of the outsole.   
     
     
         2 . A post-operative shoe according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a midsole located above the top surface of the outsole.   
     
     
         3 . A post-operative shoe according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an insole shaped similar to the outsole and positioned above at least one of the top surface of the outsole and a top surface of the midsole.   
     
     
         4 . A post-operative shoe according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 hooks affixed to one of the insole and the outsole; and   loops affixed to the other of the insole and the outsole.   
     
     
         5 . A post-operative shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the hooks and loops are affixed to one of the heel end and the toe end of the insole and the outsole. 
     
     
         6 . A post-operative shoe according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upper portion affixed to the outsole.   
     
     
         7 . A post-operative shoe according to  claim 6 , wherein the upper portion comprises at least one of side supports, a top compression panel, and a heel strap. 
     
     
         8 . A post-operative shoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the top compression panel is removably affixed to top flap segments of the side supports. 
     
     
         9 . A post-operative shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of each bore is threaded immediately past an opening of that bore on the toe end. 
     
     
         10 . A post-operative shoe according to  claim 9 , wherein each flex rod comprises threading on a distal end that interconnects with the threading of the bore in which that flex rod is placed. 
     
     
         11 . A method for constructing a post-operative shoe, comprising:
 forming an outsole comprising a substantially flat top surface with variable rigidity and having rounded toe and heel ends and a midfoot segment located between the toe and heel ends, wherein the rigidity of the outsole is most rigid after a medical procedure performed on a wearer of the outsole and less rigid as time passes from the medical procedure;   forming one or more bores within the outsole, each bore originating at the toe end and terminating at one of a proximal end of the toe end and a distal end of the midfoot segment; and   providing one or more flex rods each sized to fit within one of the bores to determine the rigidity of the outsole.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 positioning a midsole above the top surface of the outsole.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 positioning an insole shaped similar to the outsole above at least one of the top surface of the outsole and a top surface of the midsole.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 affixing hooks to one of the insole and the outsole; and   affixing loops corresponding to the hooks to the other of the insole and the outsole.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the hooks and loops are affixed to one of the heel end and the toe end of the insole and the outsole. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 affixing an upper portion to the outsole.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the upper portion comprises at least one of side supports, a top compression panel, and a heel strap. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the top compression panel is removably affixed to top flap segments of the side supports. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein an inner surface of each bore is threaded immediately past an opening of that bore on the toe end. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein each flex rod comprises threading on a distal end that interconnects with the threading of the bore in which that flex rod is placed.