US20160021971A1

US20160021971A1 - High heeled shoe with internal comfort and pronation control system

Info

Publication number: US20160021971A1
Application number: US14/808,089
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew Lewis Carver
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-07-24
Filing date: 2015-07-24
Publication date: 2016-01-28
Also published as: WO2016014922A1

Abstract

A high heeled shoe. The high heeled shoe includes a heel portion seated on a heel post, a toe box, a shank, and a midsole. The midsole extends from the heel portion to the toe box. The midsole includes a heel cup seated in the heel portion, a digital head area seated in the toe box of the high heeled shoe, a metatarsal head area adjacent to the digital head area and seated between the shank and the toe box, a medial arch area positioned between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area and seated on the shank on a first side of the midsole, and a lateral arch area positioned between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area and seated on the shank on a second side of the midsole. The heel cup, the medial arch area, and the lateral arch area define a supportive portion for a heal and midfoot of a wearer. The metatarsal head area includes a shock absorptive material with shape memory.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/028,489 filed Jul. 24, 2014, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to high heeled shoes incorporating features to prevent or minimize pronation of the foot and to cushion impact based on the average custom orthotic molded human foot. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a high heeled shoe having full plantar foot contact with additional cushioning specifically designed to redistribute the wearer's body weight, thereby providing support and pronation control to the entire bottom of the foot, to increase the comfort for the wearer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Foot pronation is motion of the foot that occurs when the calcaneus (heel bone) everts, which “unlocks” all of the joints forward in the foot, and, in turn, permits the foot to drastically loosen and the arch to flatten. Pronation evolved millions of years ago as a benefit to ancient humans, who walked barefoot. At that time, pronation improved the early human's ability to walk on raw earth surfaces because the foot could change in shape and conform to abnormalities in the surface of the bare earth, improving fraction on uneven surfaces.
Today, foot pronation is generally not needed because most humans wear shoes, which eliminates the need for the foot to adapt to uneven ground. Further, most walking surfaces are flat and hard. However, the human foot continues to pronate, and this unnecessary pronation or hypermobility of the foot can cause various foot and knee pathologies stemming from undue stresses from body weight and ambulation on tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules. Early problems (e.g., after several years or up to about ten years) frequently caused by pronation include plantar fasciitis, heel pain, shin splints, toe sesamoiditis, joint capsulitis, forefoot bursitis, painful callouses, corns and hammertoe pain, arch pain, achilles tendonitis, knee cap tendonitis, and early arthritic changes. Long term (e.g., over decades), pronation can lead to osteoarthritis or wearing down of joint cartilage, leading to pain and arthritis in all lower extremity joints.
Conventional high heeled shoes create even more challenges in terms of pronation control. High heeled shoes force the wearer's foot into an artificial position that loads nearly all of the wearer's bodyweight onto the forefoot, with only a small portion of the weight borne by the heel. This is a highly unnatural state, and hyperpronation of the foot, in combination with high heel weight distribution, can drastically increase the likelihood of pronation-related foot problems. The mechanical fact that about 80% percent of weight and shear is on the ball of the foot—is exacerbated by the high heel shoe. This causes markedly increased pressures under the metatarsal heads, and arthritis, bursitis and painful callous formation often occurs from frequent use. The most commonly reported problem with high heeled shoes is pain or discomfort in the ball of the foot or the forefoot. High heeled shoes cause much greater instability of the rear foot because the shoe purchases the ground in a very small area, which generates a much greater propensity for a severe lateral ankle sprain as compared to other footwear. Sprains are caused by the rear foot turning in and under the lower leg. This happens because the subtalar joint (joint under the ankle) has an axis of motion that moves ⅔ inversion and ⅓ eversion.
Some attempts have been made to solve the problems caused by foot pronation, primarily in the case of athletic shoes, sandals, and other non-high heeled footwear. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,052 discloses a sole insert system for running and walking shoes. The insert disclosed therein includes a rigid heel seat for controlling heel position during walking or running. The insert does not provide support or cushioning to the bulk of the forefoot, including the metatarsal head or digital areas of the foot. Though the '052 patent contemplates a shoe with a built-in insert, the patent teaches that such unitary construction would not be suitable for high-heeled shoes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,608 discloses a custom-made sandal with various arch support elements at select, discrete locations, but without full support for the foot.
In the context of high-heeled shoes, some attempts to improve comfort have included placing inserts such as cushioned insoles/inserts inside the high heeled shoes. However, conventional inserts have not been able to significantly reduce pain because they have insufficient thickness and are not effective in redistributing the weight bearing portions of the wearer's foot inside the shoe to prevent or control pronation. In many cases, such insoles/inserts appear to be cushioned or to provide arch support, but when actually used in a shoe, they completely flatten under the weight of the wearer, providing no meaningful support whatsoever.
Another proposed solution is a customized, hard plastic orthotic inserts. This approach has also proved ineffective for high heeled shoes. Hard plastic orthotic devices can be effective for pronation control (though very few doctors and labs are able to construct such inserts), but they cannot effectively add impact cushioning. They can control pronation if they are made by a doctor and proper lab specifically for high heels. Very few doctors and labs are able to do this. An orthotic is a device on the plantar aspect of the foot that functions to markedly limit foot pronation by preventing the heel bone from everting, and preventing the loosening and flattening of the remainder of the foot. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,650 discloses a rigid plastic or hard foam insert for installation in a high heeled shoe to control the arch of the wearer's foot. However, the '650 insert terminates behind the metatarsal heads, without providing any support to the metatarsal head or digital areas of the foot, except for an optional extension of “cushioning material” which does nothing to prevent or minimize eversion or plantarflexing of the metatarsals under load.
Inserts for high heeled shoes, whether in the form of a cushioned insole, an orthotic device, or a combination of the two, do not adequately provide the requisite combination of arch support, pronation control, and shock absorption to deliver a comfortable and healthy walking experience for the wearer of high heeled shoes. High heeled shoes are generally designed for fashion, not comfort, with designs intended to conform closely with the wearer's foot. Accordingly, there is typically little, if any, extra space in the shoe to accommodate a cushioned or orthotic insert that could meet the needs of the wearer—especially given the forces exerted on the forefoot—even if the original insole (typically very thin) were entirely removed and replaced with such a device. Further, given the importance of aesthetic appeal for high heeled shoes, inclusion of a bulky orthotic insert cradling the full foot would not be possible, as a practical matter, because it is unlikely that many potential users would use such a device if its presence were readily apparent to passersby.
The cramped quarters of the high heeled shoe are particularly pronounced in the toe box. The internal cubic content or cubic space in the toe box of a high heeled shoe is markedly smaller than the actual cubic content of the five toes. In some cases, surgeons have actually amputated the fifth or baby toe for women who complained of pain in the toe box of high heeled shoes. To the extent conventional inserts are available for high heeled shoes, the user must choose between forcing both the foot and the insert, into the already-cramped toe box, or wearing a larger shoe size to accommodate the insert. Both options potentially lead to undesirable results. A tighter toe box can cause pain or trauma to the toes and toenails during wear (which may negate any added comfort from a cushioned insole or health benefits of an orthotic). A larger shoe can lead to improper fit in the back or heel portion of the shoe, with the same potential problem of causing additional discomfort or injury to the foot via poor fit. A larger shoe size is also undesirable because it may be aesthetically displeasing.
Accordingly, what is needed is a high heeled shoe with an integrated orthotic or orthotic-like device that cradles substantially the entire plantar aspect of the foot, and which addresses the problems of shock absorption and control of pronation, while substantially retaining the aesthetic features of the high heeled shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, an orthotic midsole for a high heeled shoe is disclosed. The midsole includes a heel cup for seating in a heel portion of the high heeled shoe, a digital area for seating in a toe box of the high heeled shoe, a metatarsal head area adjacent to the digital area, a medial arch area between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area on a first side of the midsole, and a lateral arch area between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area on a second side of the midsole. The heel cup is elevated relative to the metatarsal head area and the digital area. The heel cup, the medial arch area, and the lateral arch area define a supportive portion for a heal and midfoot of a wearer. The metatarsal head area comprises a shock absorptive material with shape memory.
In another aspect, a high heeled shoe is disclosed. The high heeled shoe includes a heel portion seated on a heel post, a toe box, a shank, and a midsole. The midsole extends from the heel portion to the toe box. The midsole includes a heel cup seated in the heel portion, a digital head area seated in the toe box of the high heeled shoe, a metatarsal head area adjacent to the digital head area and seated between the shank and the toe box, a medial arch area positioned between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area and seated on the shank on a first side of the midsole, and a lateral arch area positioned between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area and seated on the shank on a second side of the midsole. The heel cup, the medial arch area, and the lateral arch area define a supportive portion for a heal and midfoot of a wearer. The metatarsal head area includes a shock absorptive material with shape memory.
In another aspect, a high heeled shoe is disclosed. The high heeled shoe includes a heel portion seated on a heel post, a toe box, a shank, and a midsole. The midsole extends from the heel portion to the toe box. The midsole includes a heel cup seated in the heel portion, a digital head area seated in the toe box of the high heeled shoe, a metatarsal head area adjacent to the digital head area and seated between the shank and the toe box, a medial arch area positioned between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area and seated on the shank on a first side of the midsole, and a lateral arch area positioned between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area and seated on the shank on a second side of the midsole. The heel cup, the medial arch area, and the lateral arch area define a supportive portion for a heal and midfoot of a wearer based on an average foot size of a wearer of the high heeled shoe, and wherein the metatarsal head area comprises a shock absorptive material with shape memory.
Other aspects of the disclosed orthotic midsole and high heeled shoe will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the invention described above, together with further advantages, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side, cross-sectional, perspective view of an embodiment of a high heeled shoe for the right foot, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a midsole for a high heeled shoe for a right foot.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a the midsole of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the midsole of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the midsole of FIG. 2 showing lateral cross-sections at longitudinally-spaced intervals thereof.

FIG. 6 is an x-ray display of a foot in a standard high heeled shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the present invention are described by referring to various exemplary embodiments thereof. Although the preferred embodiments of the invention are particularly disclosed herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the same principles are equally applicable to and can be implemented in other systems, and that any such variation would be within such modifications that do not part from the scope of the present invention. Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of any particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
Referring now to the figures, a midsole 100 is disclosed for integration into a high heeled shoe 102. As shown in FIG. 1, the high heeled shoe 102 includes a heel post 104, an outer sole 106, the midsole 100, a counter 108, a quarter 110, a shank 111, a top line 112, an insole lining 114, a toe box 116, and a heel portion 118. The sole 106 forms the bottom of the shoe, and the midsole 100 is positioned above the sole 106, extending substantially the entire longitudinal length thereof. The depicted high heeled shoe 102 is designed for a wearer's right foot, but the principles described herein here are readily applicable to footwear for the left foot. In some embodiments, a removable or non-removable insole (not shown) is positioned above the midsole 100 for direct contact with a wearer's foot.
The high heeled shoe 102 may be any of a variety of styles, including but not limited to a pump, wedge, stiletto, peep-toe, platform, kitten, ankle strap, sling back, sandal, cork, boot, spool, chunky, and the like. The heel post 104 may be about 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 inches high. In some embodiments, the heel post 104 is from about 1.5 inches to about 6 inches or high. In other embodiments, the heel post 104 is from about 1.5 to about 4 inches high. In other embodiments, the heel post 104 is from about 2 to about 5 inches high.
Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, the midsole 100 includes a heel cup 120, a lateral arch area 122, a medial arch area 124, a metatarsal head area 126, and a digital or toe area 128. In one embodiment, the midsole 100 is of unitary construction, for example of silicone. Taken together, the heel cup 120, lateral arch area 122, medial arch area 124, metatarsal head area 126, and the digital area 128 cradle substantially the entire plantar aspect of the high heeled shoe wearer's foot, from heel to toe. Accordingly, a shoe incorporating the midsole 100 provides nearly 100% purchase of a foot having dimensions that are near the average dimensions of a wearer's foot for the shoe size in which the midsole 100 is installed, by cupping the heel to prevent pronation of the foot, supporting the arch, cushioning all five metatarsal heads while simultaneously preventing sliding or shearing motion, and providing a comfortable surface for the toes within the toe box 116. The depicted midsole 100 is designed for integration with a high heeled shoe for a wearer's right foot, but the principles described herein here are readily applicable to midsoles for the left shoe as well.
As used herein, the term “average” or “average foot” in the context of defining sizes, shapes, and other aspects of the midsole 100 refer to the typical foot length, foot width, and arch height for the typical wearer of a particular size of shoe that does not suffer pain and deformity pathology (i.e., a normal, healthy foot, with a proper arch). In one embodiment, the dimensions of the midsole 100 for a particular size of shoe are determined by taking an average of the dimensions of at least about 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, or 1000 custom orthotic-molded human feet for that particular size of shoe. Alternately, the pertinent dimensions of the midsole 100 to support an average foot for a given shoe size is selected using methods known in the art, for example using principles underlying the design and manufacture of non-prescription orthotic shoe inserts. Thus, a shoe containing midsole 100 firmly secures the abnormally flat, high arched, or pronated foot for a wearer of the shoe, thereby preventing such “abnormal” feet to function in positions that would otherwise cause short or long term damage to the foot. The forced alignment by the midsole 100 will curtail short and long term damage like tendonitis, fasciitis, capsulitis and arthritis. The end result will benefit the foot by preventing most wear and tear short and long term pain in these feet.
For example, for a U.S. size 9 women's shoe typically accommodates a woman's foot that is about 9.7-10.1 inches long, about 2.7-3.0 inches wide at the widest portion of the forefoot, with a medial arch about 0.2 to 0.4 inches high. Accordingly, for a size U.S. 9 women's shoe incorporating the midsole 100, the midsole is designed to support a foot with the above dimensions, in an effort to maximize usefulness for the population of women who wear size U.S. 9 shoes. However, a midsole 100 for a U.S. size 5 women's shoe, or even a U.S. size 7W (wide) or 7N (narrow) shoe of the same style would require a midsole 100 with slightly different specific dimensions to accommodate the average foot dimensions for a wearer of U.S. size 5, 7W, or 7N. The principles described herein are equally applicable to shoe sizing systems other than the U.S. sizing system. The elasticity of the walls of the shoe allow a comfortable fit for feet that deviate somewhat from average, and the extent to which the shoe can comfortably fit feet of greater deviation can be selected by one ordinarily skilled by constructing the walls of materials that have greater elasticity, though not so much elasticity as to interfere with control of foot pronation.
In one embodiment, the entire midsole 100 is formed of silicone, for example medical grade silicone comparable to the type used in breast implants. In one embodiment, the silicone is SILBIONE® 4310, produced by BlueStar Silicones USA Corp. Silicone does not substantially flatten or lose its memory over time. Accordingly, silicone is suitable for providing the requisite structural support to the heel and arch to prevent pronation of the wearer's foot, yet also provide cushioning and shock absorptive qualities to the load-bearing portions of the wearer's foot to lessen the concussive impact of walking and absorb gravitational forces through the foot. Silicone is made from natural sand, which means that the midsole 100 is an environmentally friendly product. Alternately, the entirety or portions of the midsole 100 may be formed from other materials that substantially retain their original shape over time, such as shape-memory rubber, so long as such materials are sufficiently resistant to compression to provide pronation control and arch support to the foot when supporting the weight of the wearer during walking, yet provide significant cushion (about 0.3-0.5 inch or more) to the metatarsal head areas of the wearer's foot. In various embodiments, the material of the midsole is selected to provide sufficient resistance to compression and to maintain the arch of the foot for a wearer weighing up to about 400 pounds, up to about 300 pounds, up to about 200 pounds, between about 85 and 400 pounds, between about 85 and 300 pounds, or between about 85 and 200 pounds.
As best seen in FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the midsole 100 is generally sigmoidal in shape. The heel cup 120 is elevated relative to the other portions of the midsole 100 for seating at the elevated heel portion 118 of the high heeled shoe 102. The lateral arch area 122 (not seen in the view of FIG. 4) and the medial arch area 124 are set at an angle sloping downward from the heel cup 120, toward the metatarsal head area 126, and generally corresponding with the shank 111 of the high heeled shoe 102, sized and angled based on the height of the heel post 104 of the shoe 102 in which the midsole 100 is or will be installed. As the arch areas 122, 124 transition to the metatarsal head area 126, the midsole 100 generally flattens out, and in some cases curves slightly upwards over the outer sole 106. The midsole 100 terminates at the digital area 128, seated over the outer sole 106 of the high heeled shoe 102.
In some embodiments, the underside 121 of the heel cup 120 and/or the underside 129 of the digital area 128 includes one or more features such as pegs, protrusions, protuberances, knobs, projections, or the like, or combinations thereof, that correspond with mating hollowed areas in the heel portion 118 and/or the outer sole 106 of the shoe 102. These features may both improve durability of the shoe 102 by more securely seating the midsole 100 in the shoe 102 and also improve comfort by providing additional silicone material to support the wearer's foot. In some embodiments, one or more of the lateral arch area 122, medial arch area 124, or the metatarsal head area 126 may include such features. In addition to or instead of such features and mating hollowed areas, the underside of the midsole 100 and/or the upper surface of the outer sole 106 (or other portion of the shoe 102 that interfaces with the midsole 100) may be textured to improve durability of construction.
The heel cup 120 of the midsole 100 is positioned at the heel portion 118 of the shoe 102. The heel cup 120 has a ridge 130 that extends continuously along the outer perimeter thereof. The ridge 130 firmly engages the wearer's heel laterally, medially, and posteriorly to cup the heel and subtalar joints to function as a non-prescription orthotic designed for the average heel given a particular shoe size. In one embodiment, the heel cup 120 is about 0.2 to about 0.4 inches thick at the ridge 130. Accordingly, the heel cup 120 prevents or decreases pronation or eversion of the subtalar joints, and flattening of the foot. Unlike typical rigid orthotic devices, the silicone construction of the heel cup 120 also provides a balanced amount of cushioning and comfort for the heel, thereby minimizing heel load and pain, while still maintaining sufficient stiffness and rigidity to prevent or decrease pronation of the foot.
The lateral arch area 122 and the medial arch area 124 of the midsole 100 support the plantar aspect of the foot just anterior to the wearer's heel. The lateral arch area 122 is located on a first side 101 of the midsole 100 corresponding the lateral side of the wearer's foot, and the medial arch area 124 is located on a second side 103 of the midsole 100 corresponding with the with the medial side of the wearer's foot. These lateral arch and medial arch areas 122, 124 are positioned over the shank 111 of the shoe 102 between the heel area 118 and the toe box 116, and are thus set at an angle beneath the length of the wearer's foot, where the specific angle is a function of the heights of the heel post 104 and the sole 106 (taking into account any platform under the sole 106). The lateral arch and medial arch areas 122, 124 include, respectively, a lateral ridge 132 and a medial ridge 134 that, in one embodiment, are continuous extensions of the ridge 130 of the heel cup 120. The lateral arch area 122 stabilizes the outside arch of the wearer's foot in the same manner as an orthotic device, thus helping to prevent or minimize pronation of the foot, with the lateral ridge 132 assisting to maintain proper positioning of the wearer's foot. The medial ridge 134 of the medial arch area 124 is sized in accordance with the arch height of the average custom medical orthotic for a wearer of the appropriate size of shoes. In one embodiment, the medial ridge 134 is about 0.2 to 0.4 inches high. The medial ridge 134 supports and maintains the positioning of the arch of the wearer's foot, and, in combination with the lateral ridge 132, helps to maintain the wearer's foot in the proper position during walking to prevent or minimize pronation.
The a metatarsal head area 126 of the midsole 100 supports the plantar aspect of the foot just anterior to the portion supported by the lateral and medial arch areas 122, 144. The metatarsal head area 126, along with the digital area 128, supports the wearer's forefoot. Of these two portions of the midsole 100, the metatarsal head area 126 supports the metatarsal heads and the ball of the wearer's foot, which, in turn, bear the majority of the wearer's bodyweight when wearing high heeled shoes 102 due to the positioning of the heel post 104 and the shank 111. For example, FIG. 6 depicts an x-ray of a foot wearing a standard high heeled shoe (that does not include the midsole 100). As seen in FIG. 6, the wearer's metatarsal 136 is positioned almost perpendicularly against the base 138 of the shoe. Accordingly, the metatarsal head area 126 functions, in part, as a shock absorber for the metatarsal heads. In some embodiments (see, e.g., FIG. 5), the metatarsal head area 126 of the midsole 100 includes the thickest layer of silicone (notwithstanding the ridges 130, 132, 134) along the longitudinal length of the midsole 100, thereby maximizing the cushioning on the corresponding portion of the wearer's foot. In one embodiment the silicone is in the metatarsal head area 126 is about 0.3-0.7 inches thick, or about 0.5 inches thick. The silicone construction allows the wearer's foot to depress into the metatarsal head area 126 to prevent or minimize sliding or shearing movement of the metatarsal heads of the wearer's foot, which can prevent or minimize the risk of callous and bursitis formation.
The digital area 128 of the midsole 100 supports the plantar aspect of the anterior portion of the foot, including the toes. The silicone at this portion of the midsole 100 is soft enough for depression by the wearer's toes to afford more internal cubic space availability in the toe box 116 of the high heeled shoe 102 because the toes can sink down into the midsole 100. Depression of the toes into the digital area 128 also provides additional protection to cushion against shear forces against the foot during walking Because the midsole 100 is incorporated directly into the shoe (and is not an orthotic insert over and above an existing midsole), in one embodiment, the toe box 116 provides sufficient of space to accommodate a relatively thick layer of silicone, for example at least about ⅛ or ¼ inch or ½ inch thick, at the digital area 128 to comfortably receive the user's toes, as compared to a standard high heeled shoe with or without an orthotic or padded insole/insert. In some embodiments, portions of the sole 106 of the shoe 102 may be thinner beneath all or part of the digital area 128 to define a hollow portion to accommodate an even thicker layer of silicone or other material. In one embodiment, inclusion of the midsole 100 as an alternative to a standard midsole increases the internal space of the toe box 116 by about 15-20%.
The midsole 100 is not a custom orthotic device. Rather, the midsole 100 is a pre-fabricated component designed for installation in a shoe 102 as a permanent component of the shoe 102. Accordingly, the midsole 100 is designed on a non-prescription basis to conform with the average arch and average heel of a custom orthotic for a user with a given shoe size. Accordingly, the midsole 100 is suitable for mass production and incorporation into any of a variety of shoe styles and sizes, as a replacement for the ordinary midsole that might otherwise be located therein. However, it should be appreciated that the disclosure herein is adaptable to develop a custom shoe with a midsole 100 designed specifically for a particular user, based on a three-dimensional model of that user's foot.
The addition of the midsole 100 to a high heeled shoe also helps prevent ankle sprains because the midsole 100 holds the rear foot in a locked position against pronatory forces, decreasing the ability of the subtalar joint to move toward abnormal inversion. By locking the rear foot with the midsole 100, proprioception for balance is also greatly improved because the foot loses its ability to wobble and unlock in the rear foot.
The present invention will be illustrated by the following examples, which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art may make various modifications to the described embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not meant as limitations. In particular, although the present invention has been described by way of examples, a variety of compositions and processes would practice the inventive concepts described herein. Although the invention has been described and disclosed in various terms and certain embodiments, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved, especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims which are to be appended. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these and other variations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An orthotic midsole for a high heeled shoe, the midsole comprising:

a heel cup for seating in a heel portion of the high heeled shoe;

a digital area for seating in a toe box of the high heeled shoe;

a metatarsal head area adjacent to the digital area;

a medial arch area between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area on a first side of the midsole; and

a lateral arch area between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area on a second side of the midsole;

wherein the heel cup is elevated relative to the metatarsal head area and the digital area, wherein the heel cup, the medial arch area, and the lateral arch area define a supportive portion for a heal and midfoot of a wearer, and wherein the metatarsal head area comprises a shock absorptive material with shape memory.

2. The orthotic midsole of claim 1, wherein the heel cup comprises a ridge that extends along an outer perimeter of the midsole.

3. The orthotic midsole of claim 2, wherein the ridge further extends along the outer perimeter of the midsole in the medial arch area and the lateral arch area.

4. The orthotic midsole of claim 3, wherein the midsole is installed in the high heeled shoe and the high heeled shoe is worn by a wearer, the ridge prevents or minimize pronation of the wearer's foot.

5. The orthotic midsole of claim 3, wherein each of the medial arch area, the lateral arch area, and heel cup are sized and shaped based on an average foot size of a wearer of the high heeled shoe.

6. The orthotic midsole of claim 1, wherein the midsole is formed substantially entirely of silicone.

7. The orthotic midsole of claim 6, wherein a thickest layer of the midsole is within the metatarsal head area.

8. The orthotic midsole of claim 6, wherein the silicone forming at least a portion of the metatarsal head area is at least 0.3 inches thick.

9. A high heeled shoe comprising:

a heel portion seated on a heel post;

a toe box;

a shank; and

a midsole extending from the heel portion to the toe box, the midsole comprising:

a heel cup seated in the heel portion;

a digital head area seated in the toe box of the high heeled shoe;

a metatarsal head area adjacent to the digital head area and seated between the shank and the toe box;

a medial arch area positioned between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area and seated on the shank on a first side of the midsole; and

a lateral arch area positioned between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area and seated on the shank on a second side of the midsole;

wherein the heel cup, the medial arch area, and the lateral arch area define a supportive portion for a heal and midfoot of a wearer, and wherein the metatarsal head area comprises a shock absorptive material with shape memory.

10. The high heeled shoe of claim 9, wherein the heel post is at least 1.5 inches high.

11. The high heeled shoe of claim 9, wherein the heel cup comprises a ridge that extends along an outer perimeter of the midsole.

12. The high heeled shoe of claim 11, wherein the ridge further extends along the outer perimeter of the midsole in the medial arch area and the lateral arch area.

13. The high heeled shoe of claim 12, wherein when the high heeled shoe is worn by the wearer, the ridge prevents or minimizes pronation of the wearer's foot.

14. The high heeled shoe of claim 12, wherein each of the medial arch area, the lateral arch area, and the heel cup are sized and shaped to support an average foot size of a wearer of the high heeled shoe.

15. The high heeled shoe of claim 9, wherein the midsole is formed substantially entirely of silicone.

16. The high heeled shoe of claim 15, wherein a thickest layer of the midsole is within the metatarsal head area, wherein when the wearer wears the high heeled shoe, the wearer's metatarsal heads depress into the silicone and prevent or minimize sliding or shearing movement of the metatarsal heads.

17. The orthotic midsole of claim 15, wherein the silicone forming at least a portion of the metatarsal head area is at least 0.3 inches thick.

18. The high heeled shoe of claim 9, wherein at least one of the heel cup or the digital area of the midsole further comprising at least one feature extending from an underside thereof selected from the group consisting of a peg, protrusion, protuberance, knob, and projection, extending, and wherein at least one of the heel portion or the toe box of the shoe further comprises a hollowed area that receives the at least one feature.

19. The high heeled shoe of claim 18, wherein each of the heel cup and the digital area of the midsole comprise at least one feature, and wherein each of the heel portion and the toe box comprise hollowed areas.

20. A high heeled shoe comprising:

a heel portion seated on a heel post;

a toe box;

a shank; and

a heel cup seated in the heel portion;

a digital head area seated in the toe box of the high heeled shoe;

a metatarsal head area adjacent to the digital head area and seated between the shank and the toe box; and

a medial arch area positioned between the heel cup and the metatarsal head area and seated on the shank on a first side of the midsole;

wherein the heel cup, the medial arch area, and the lateral arch area define a supportive portion for a heal and midfoot of a wearer based on an average foot size of a wearer of the high heeled shoe, and wherein the metatarsal head area comprises a shock absorptive material with shape memory.