Outsole for orthopedic device

Abstract

An outsole for an orthopedic device includes a heel part, a forefoot part, and a mid-foot part separating the heel part from the forefoot part. A longitudinal axis extends in a longitudinal direction between an anterior end of the forefoot part and a posterior end of the heel part. A transverse axis intersects the longitudinal axis and extends in a transverse direction between a lateral edge of the outsole and a medial edge of the outsole. A bottom surface extends along the longitudinal axis and between the medial and lateral edges. The bottom surface defines an apex at the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse axes and at least one apical line passing through the apex and subtending an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis. The bottom surface curves through the apex and along the at least one apical line in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.

1 . An outsole for an orthopedic device comprising:
 a heel part, a forefoot part, and a mid-foot part separating the heel part from the forefoot part;   a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction between the forefoot part and the heel part;   a transverse axis intersecting the longitudinal axis and extending in a transverse direction between a lateral edge and a medial edge of the outsole;   a bottom surface extending along the longitudinal axis and between the lateral edge and the medial edge, the bottom surface defining an apex at the intersection of the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis and at least one apical line passing through the apex and subtending an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis, the bottom surface curving through the apex and along the at least one apical line in both the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, and the bottom surface defines a substantially same radius of curvature along the at least one apical line and the longitudinal axis;   wherein the bottom surface has an interior region surrounding the apex with an outer periphery tapering inward from a first end of the interior region directed from the heel part to the apex and expanding outward from the apex toward a second end of the interior region directed toward the forefoot part so that the interior region directs a heel strike of a foot of a user toward the apex;   wherein the apex is closer to an end portion of the heel part than an end portion of the forefoot part.   
     
     
         2 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the apex is located at a maximum thickness of the outsole. 
     
     
         3 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface includes a tread section defining a tread pattern with a plurality of angled grooves surrounding and intersecting the interior region. 
     
     
         4 . The outsole of  claim 3 , wherein the apex is smoother than the tread pattern, the tread section arranged so that when weight is placed on the outsole over the interior region the tread section distributes at least some of the weight away from the interior region to the tread section. 
     
     
         5 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the oblique angle is between about 5 degrees and about 7 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface curves in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction from the apex toward the lateral edge. 
     
     
         7 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface curves convexly along the at least one apical line from the lateral edge of the heel part toward the apex. 
     
     
         8 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface curves convexly along the at least one apical line toward the medial edge of the forefoot part. 
     
     
         9 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one apical line includes a first apical line and a second apical line intersecting the first apical line at the apex, the second apical line subtending another oblique angle to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the interior region defines a prolate spheroid face on the bottom surface. 
     
     
         11 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one apical line extends diagonally through the interior region. 
     
     
         12 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the apex is located in the mid-foot part. 
     
     
         13 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole has an upper surface arranged oppositely from the bottom surface and spaced therefrom by a thickness; the upper surface having a toe protector portion extending generally upright from the upper surface at the forefoot part relative to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         14 . The outsole of  claim 14 , wherein the thickness of the outsole between the upper surface and the bottom surface in the heel part is greater than a thickness of the outsole between the upper surface and the bottom surface in the forefoot part. 
     
     
         15 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface defines a pair of curved lengthwise contours forming raised arch portions on opposite sides of the mid-foot part. 
     
     
         16 . An outsole for an orthopedic device comprising:
 a heel part, a forefoot part, and a mid-foot part separating the heel part from the forefoot part;   a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction between the forefoot part and the heel part;   a transverse axis intersecting the longitudinal axis and extending in a transverse direction between a lateral edge and a medial edge of the outsole;   a bottom surface extending along the longitudinal axis and between the lateral edge and the medial edge, the bottom surface defining an apex at the intersection of the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, the bottom surface curving in a longitudinal direction about the transverse axis and generally between the forefoot part and the heel part such that the bottom surface curves in the longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis from the heel part through the apex in the mid-foot part in a first direction, and then in a second direction toward the forefoot;   the bottom surface defining a plurality of treads;   the bottom surface curving in a transverse direction about the longitudinal axis such that the bottom surface curves along the transverse axis in the transverse direction across a width of the bottom surface, from the lateral edge through the apex in the first direction and then curving in the second direction toward the medial edge;   the bottom surface having an interior region devoid of said treads and being located within the apex in the mid-foot part, and the interior region extending elongate between the heel part and forefoot part.   
     
     
         17 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein a radius of curvature of the bottom surface along the transverse axis by increasing from the apex toward the lateral edge and the medial edge, such that the bottom surface along the transverse axis is convexly curved. 
     
     
         18 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein a radius of curvature of the bottom surface along the longitudinal axis varies by increasing from the apex toward the heel part and the forefoot part, such that the bottom surface along the longitudinal axis is convexly curved. 
     
     
         19 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein the bottom surface defines a pair of curved lengthwise contours forming raised arch portions on opposite sides of the mid-foot part. 
     
     
         20 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein the apex is closer to an end portion of the heel part than an end portion of the forefoot part.