System and Method for Stabilizing Footwear

Abstract

A footwear stabilizing system is provided. The system comprises an upper and a sole attached to the upper. The sole comprises an outsole comprising an inner surface formed in a biomechanically correct shape and an insert attached to the outsole, the insert comprising at least one of single piece of material and a fluid-filled bag. The insert is configured to conform to and stabilize a human foot upon impact. The outsole is configured to match a common curvature of a heel and arch of the foot. The insert is constructed of and/or contains non-Newtonian material. The outsole is configured with a shaped heel cup configured to absorb impact across entire heel. The outsole works in conjunction with the insert to provide foot stabilization and arch support. The insert reacts at each step to foot shape and provides support upon impact.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear stabilizing system, comprising:
 an upper;   a sole attached to the upper, the sole comprising:
 an outsole comprising an inner surface formed in a biomechanically correct shape, and 
 an insert attached to the outsole, the insert comprising at least one of single piece of material and a fluid-filled bag, 
   wherein the insert is configured to conform to and stabilize a human foot upon impact.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole is configured to match a common curvature of a heel and arch of the foot. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured to be at least one of constructed of and contain non-Newtonian material. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole is configured with a shaped heel cup. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the heel cup is configured to absorb impact across entire heel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole is configured to work in conjunction with the insert to provide foot stabilization and arch support. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured to react at each step to shape of foot and provide support at time of impact. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the shape of insert formed at time of impact provides arch support lower than typical arch pronation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole has an outer surface that is at least one of flat, contoured, and lugged. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the non-Newtonian material comprises at least one of rate sensitive and viscoelastic or dilatant foams with shear thickening properties formulated into polymers or silicones. 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing stabilizing footwear, comprising:
 an insert attached to an inner surface of an outsole of an item of footwear detecting an impact, the impact associated with a downward stepping action of a wearer of the item;   the insert, based on detecting the impact, becoming firm;   the insert changing to a shape of a foot causing the impact;   the insert tightening to create a temporary orthotic property; and   the insert, based on detecting reduction of the impact, returning to a previous non-firm state.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the outsole is configured to match a common curvature of a heel and arch of the foot. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the insert is configured to be at least one of constructed of and contain non-Newtonian material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the outsole is configured with a shaped heel cup configured to absorb impact across entire heel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the insert changing to the shape of the foot comprises providing arch support lower than typical arch pronation. 
     
     
         16 . A footwear stabilizing system, comprising:
 a footwear outsole biomechanically shaped to match common curvature of heel and arch of foot;   a heel cup incorporated into the outsole; and   an insert comprising one of a single piece of sheer thickening material and a fluid-filled bag built into the outsole that, upon detection of downward pressure by the foot, becomes firm in the shape of the foot.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the heel cup is configured to absorb impact across entire heel. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the insert is configured to be at least one of constructed of and contain non-Newtonian material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the insert changing to the shape of the foot comprises providing arch support lower than typical arch pronation. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the insert returns to a previous non-firm state based on detecting reduction of the impact.