Heel and foot support with molded cushioning heel cup

Abstract

A foot support and cushioning device can include: a foot portion having a generally tubular shaped body including: a first opening located at a first terminal end at a top of the foot portion; and a second opening located at a second terminal end at a front of the foot portion for receiving a foot through the first opening and then the second opening, wherein the foot portion is made of a material that provides support to at least a portion of a foot of a user; and a heel cup including: a resilient body and a shock absorbing area that spans at least an area adjacent to the user's calcaneus bone. The heel cup is seamlessly attached to an underneath side of the foot portion. The device can provide shock absorption to a user's heels and compression support to the foot and optionally ankle.

1 . A foot support and cushioning device comprising:
 a foot portion having a generally tubular shaped body, wherein the foot portion comprises:
 a first opening located at a first terminal end at a top of the foot portion; and 
 a second opening located at a second terminal end at a front of the foot portion for receiving a foot through the first opening and then the second opening, 
 wherein the foot portion is made of a material that provides support to at least a portion of a foot of a user; and 
   a heel cup comprising:
 a resilient body comprising two side walls, a rear wall, and a bottom platform, 
 wherein the bottom platform defines a recess located within a heel area of the foot portion; and 
 a shock absorbing area that spans at least an area adjacent to the user's calcaneus bone, 
 wherein the heel cup is seamlessly attached to an underneath side of the foot portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first terminal end is located just below the user's talus bone. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first terminal end extends above the user's talus bone in the range of 1 to 8 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second terminal end is located at or near the user's cuboid bone, the cuboid/metatarsal junction, or any location along the metatarsals. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot portion is made from a material having elastic properties, wherein the material stretches to receive the user's foot and snugly engages the foot after adorning. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the foot portion is made from a material selected from natural latex rubber; expanded neoprene; knitted compression cottons, polyesters, or other fibers; or stretchable thermal plastics. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorbing area comprises a plurality of spaced, parallel longitudinal ribs that extend longitudinally from the rear wall area along an exterior of the bottom platform towards the second terminal end. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the shock absorbing area further comprises a plurality of parallel transverse ribs that intersect the plurality of longitudinal ribs at spaced intervals forming a plurality of generally rectangular shock absorbing sections. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the depth of the plurality of longitudinal ribs decreases from a maximum depth at or near the rear wall area to a minimum depth near the second terminal end. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorbing area comprises a plurality of projections located on an exterior surface of the heel cup, wherein the plurality of projections are made of a resilient material, and wherein each projection is integrally formed as part of the heel cup. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel cup is made from a material selected from rubbers such as latex rubber, neoprene, nylon, or low-density thermoplastic materials, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel cup is formed via injection molding as a single unit. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the heel cup is attached to the foot portion during or shortly after the injection molding process for forming the heel cup. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel cup is attached to the foot portion by spot heating a top side of the bottom platform, peripheral edges of the heel cup, and the area of the foot portion that is to receive the heel cup. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot portion and the heel cup are formed as a single unit via injection molding. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot portion comprises an opening and a closure, wherein the opening spans at least a portion of the foot portion. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the closure is selected from a zipper, snaps, buttons, laces, or loop and nook fabric fasteners. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary support. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the auxiliary support comprises at least one strap, wherein a first end of the strap is secured to the foot portion, wherein a distal, second end of the strap extends at least partially around the user's foot, and wherein the distal, second end of the strap comprises a fastener for matingly engaging with a fastener receiver when the strap is fastened. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the distal, second end of the strap extends at least partially around the user's ankle.