Rigid orthotic and method of forming

Abstract

A rigid foot orthotic for walking or running. The orthotic is designed to bend slightly at the heel and near the toes—or the front and back portions of a person's step. The middle guides the ankles slightly outward but gently guides the inner foot down to the toe for the “push off” or forward motion of the step.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming an orthotic device, comprising:
 heating a thermally moldable plastic foot form to a moldable state;   forming the thermally moldable plastic foot form to a bottom surface a wearer's foot; and   cooling the thermally moldable plastic foot form.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming a bottom surface of the thermally moldable foot form to be substantially flat between a heel portion and a toe portion.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 inserting the thermally moldable foot form within a shoe.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 removing an inner sole of the shoe before inserting the thermally moldable foot form.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 wearing the shoe with the thermally moldable foot form.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 trimming the thermally moldable foot form to fit one or more interior dimensions of the shoe.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally moldable plastic is selected from a material that is substantially rigid once cooled. 
     
     
         8 . A rigid orthotic, comprising:
 a formed substantially rigid thermal plastic material having a substantially flat bottom surface extending from a heel portion to a toe portion;   an arch portion formed protruding from a top surface of the thermal plastic material along an instep side of the orthotic, the arch having a medial portion that is sloped gradually upwardly from the top surface of the orthotic proximal to median portion of the orthotic, a forward portion that slopes gradually upwardly and rearward from a point intermediate the toe portion and a high middle arch defined by an apex of the arch, and an aft portion that is sloped gradually upwardly and forward from a point intermediate a heel end of the orthotic and the high middle arch, wherein the thermal plastic material is adapted to be formed to the arch of a wearer's foot when the thermal plastic material is in a semi molten formable condition.   
     
     
         9 . The rigid orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the toe portion is formed to a thickness of about 1/16 of an inch to provide a spring to the user's step. 
     
     
         10 . The rigid orthotic of  claim 8 , wherein the aft arch portion gradually rises from about 0 degrees to between about 9 degrees and about 12 degrees beginning at a point approximately one third of a length of the orthotic from the heel end. 
     
     
         11 . The rigid orthotic of  claim 9 , wherein the forward portion of the arch gradually rises from between about 5 degrees to about 23 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The rigid orthotic of  claim 9 , wherein the thickness of the orthotic at the high middle arch is approximately ⅝ of an inch.