Footwear apparatus for improving gait biomechanics

Abstract

The present invention is for a footwear apparatus for improved gait biomechanics. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the footwear apparatus may comprise a heel cup that provides a valgus tilt to a user's foot and provides a deep heel cup to adequately support the user's heel. It may also be comprised of a medial arch support member and a forefoot lateral support member, wherein the heel cup, the medial arch, and the forefoot lateral support member stabilize the user's foot in a lateral direction to minimize pronation and heel inversion. In one example, the heel cup provides a valgus tilt of approximately 4 degrees to the user's rear foot, and the forefoot lateral support member provides a valgus tilt of approximately 2 degrees to the user's forefoot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear apparatus for improved gait biomechanics, the footwear apparatus comprising:
 a heel cup configured to provide a first valgus tilt to a heel of a user;   a medial arch support member; and   a forefoot lateral support member configured to provide a second valgus tilt to a forefoot of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second valgus tilt is a two degree valgus tilt to the user's forefoot. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first valgus tilt is a four degree valgus tilt to the user's heel. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heel cup comprises a heel platform on a bottom surface of the footwear apparatus, wherein the heel platform is thicker on a lateral side than on a medial side. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the heel platform comprises a concave bearing surface having a peripheral edge surrounding a central depression, and wherein the lateral side of the peripheral edge is thicker than the medial side of the peripheral edge. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot lateral support member comprises a forefoot platform on a bottom surface of the footwear apparatus, wherein the forefoot platform is thicker on a lateral side than on a medial side. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the forefoot platform comprises a concave bearing surface having a peripheral edge surrounding a central depression, and wherein the lateral side of the peripheral edge is thicker than the medial side of the peripheral edge. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is comprised of molded plastic and the first valgus tilt and second valgus tilt are fixed and not adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the medial arch support member comprises a raised portion, the raised portion accommodating and supporting a user's medial arch. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is comprised of a contoured insole apparatus configured to be placed within an article of footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is comprised of an article of footwear.