Therapeutic insoles and footwear

Abstract

Disclosed are insoles and footwear having embedded pods elevated above a top surface of the insole to provide pressure to certain areas of a user's foot and to help provide pressure and stimulation to fascia to help restore or relieve foot pain, plantar fasciitis, metatarsal pain, heel spurs, neuromas, pinched nerve and aching feet. The pods can be arranged according to anatomical structures of the foot (e.g., based on common locations of plantar fasciitis or sciatica conditions and/or symptoms) and/or according to a theory of reflexology or other therapeutic theory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear system comprising:
 a footwear body having a sole disposed on a bottom of the footwear body, a plurality of apertures disposed on a surface opposite the sole, one or more straps joined to a toe portion of the footwear body and extending from the toe portion rearward toward a heel portion of the footwear body; and   one or more removable insoles, each insole having a plurality of protruding members that extend from a bottom of the insole downward toward the apertures when the insole is installed in the footwear body,   wherein the plurality of protruding members correspond to the plurality of apertures,   wherein each protruding member has a first perimeter defined by an outer edge of an interface where each protruding member is joined to the bottom of the insole, and a second perimeter defined by an outer edge of a distal end of each protruding member,   wherein the first perimeter is smaller than the second perimeter, and   wherein each of the apertures is configured to receive and engage a corresponding protrusion through interference fit.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of removable insoles includes a first insole having a toe ridge, an arch support and a heel cup. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of removable insoles includes a second insole having a plurality of pods extending from the second insole in an upward direction, wherein the plurality of pods include a first group of pods disposed in the heel cup of the second insole, and a second group of pods disposed on the arch support of the second insole, and wherein the first group of pods and the second group of pods are arranged on the second insole to provide relief for plantar fasciitis by providing pressure to areas of a foot of a wearer associated with plantar fasciitis. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of removable insoles includes a third insole having a plurality of pods extending from the third insole in an upward direction, wherein the plurality of pods include a first group of pods disposed on the arch support, and a second group of pods disposed on a big toe section of the third insole. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear system of  claim 1 , wherein each insole includes a big toe support section and a support section for toes other than the big toe, and a recessed portion disposed between the big toe support section and the support section for toes other than the big toe. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of apertures includes a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the plurality of protruding members include a first protruding member and a second protruding member, wherein the first aperture corresponds to the first protruding member and the second aperture corresponds to the second protruding member, and wherein the first aperture is disposed in an area adjacent a front portion of the arch support and toe support section, and the second aperture is disposed in an area adjacent to the heel cup and a rear portion of the arch support. 
     
     
         7 . An insole comprising:
 an insole body portion; and   a plurality of receptacles, wherein each receptacle is configured to receive and retain a pod, and wherein the plurality of receptacles includes one or more groups of receptacles arranged to retain a plurality of pods in positions to apply pressure on corresponding areas of a foot of a wearer.   
     
     
         8 . The insole of  claim 7 , wherein one or more of the plurality of receptacles includes a receptacle that has a first opening on a top surface of the insole body portion, a second opening on a bottom surface of the insole body portion, and a hollow section connecting the first opening and the second opening, and wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening. 
     
     
         9 . The insole of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more pods, each pod having a first member and a second member, wherein the first member is configured to be positioned on the top surface of the insole body and includes a receptacle, and wherein the second member is configured to be positioned on the bottom surface of the insole body portion and wherein the second member includes a protrusion that is configured to extend upward from the second opening through the hollow section and engage the receptacle of the first member of the pod. 
     
     
         10 . The insole of  claim 7 , wherein one or more of the plurality of receptacles includes a receptacle that has a first opening on a top surface of the insole body portion and a hole extending partially into the insole body portion, and wherein the hole is configured to retain a protrusion from a bottom of a pod. 
     
     
         11 . The insole of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more pods, each pod having an upper surface configured to apply pressure to a foot of a wearer when the insole in placed into a shoe worn by the wearer, and a protrusion extending from a bottom of the pod, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage the hole of one of the receptacles in the insole body portion. 
     
     
         12 . The insole of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more groups of receptacles includes a group of receptacles arranged to provide relief for plantar fasciitis by providing pressure to areas of a foot of a wearer associated with plantar fasciitis symptoms. 
     
     
         13 . The insole of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more groups of receptacles includes a group of receptacles arranged to provide relief for sciatica by providing pressure to areas of a foot of a wearer associated with sciatica symptoms. 
     
     
         14 . The insole of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more groups of receptacles includes a group of receptacles arranged to provide relief to a symptom according to a reflexology theory by providing pressure to areas of a foot of a wearer associated with a part of the body associated with the symptom. 
     
     
         15 . An insole comprising:
 an insole body portion having a bottom surface configured to be placed adjacent to a midsole of a shoe, and a top surface configured to be adjacent to a foot of a wearer when the insole is worn by the wearer; and   one or more pods embedded into the insole body portion, wherein each pod extends upward from the top surface of the insole body portion, and wherein each pod extends beyond a plane defined by the top surface of the insole body portion.   
     
     
         16 . The insole of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more pods includes a group of pods arranged to provide relief for plantar fasciitis by providing pressure to areas of a foot of a wearer associated with plantar fasciitis symptoms. 
     
     
         17 . The insole of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more pods includes a group of pods arranged to provide relief for sciatica by providing pressure to areas of a foot of a wearer associated with sciatica symptoms. 
     
     
         18 . The insole of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more pods includes a group of pods arranged to provide relief to a symptom according to a reflexology theory by providing pressure to areas of a foot of a wearer associated with a part of the body associated with the symptom. 
     
     
         19 . The insole of  claim 15 , further comprising a padding layer disposed on top of the top surface of the insole body portion and covering at least a portion of the pods, wherein the padding layer includes a gel material. 
     
     
         20 . The insole of  claim 19 , further comprising an ankle extension that extends upward from a heel area of the insole body.