Foot support members that provide dynamically transformative properties

1. A foot support member, comprising:

a plantar support component for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot, wherein the plantar support component includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a first flexible support member disposed adjacent the second surface of the plantar support component, wherein the first flexible support member includes a first wave shaped portion, wherein the first wave shaped portion is oriented such that first plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the plantar support component and first plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the plantar support component, wherein the first wave shaped portion is formed as a first rigid plate made from a rigid but flexible material capable of flexing under weight of the wearer, and wherein flexing of the first rigid plate under weight of the wearer induces at least one first reaction selected from the group consisting of: (a) causes at least a portion of the first rigid plate to become flatter, (b) causes at least a portion of the first rigid plate to compress together, (c) changes at least one of a longitudinal or transverse dimension of the foot support member, and (d) applies a compressive or tensile force to at least one of the plantar support component or another part of the foot support member;

a second flexible support member disposed adjacent the second surface of the plantar support component, wherein the second flexible support member includes a second wave shaped portion, wherein the second wave shaped portion is oriented such that second plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the plantar support component and second plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the plantar support component, wherein the second wave shaped portion is formed as a second rigid plate made from said rigid but flexible material or another rigid but flexible material capable of flexing under weight of the wearer, wherein flexing of the second rigid plate under weight of the wearer induces at least one second reaction selected from the group consisting of: (a) causes at least a portion of the second rigid plate to become flatter and (b) causes at least a portion of the second rigid plate to compress together; and wherein the first flexible support member and the second flexible support member are joined together as a unitary, one piece construction by a first link extending between a wave crest peak of the first plural wave crests of the first flexible support member and an adjacent wave crest peak of the second plural wave crests of the second flexible support member.

2. The foot support member according to claim 1 , further comprising an outsole element located on an opposite side of the first flexible support member from the plantar support component and covering at least a portion of the first plural wave troughs.

3. The foot support member according to claim 1 , wherein the first wave shaped portion of the first flexible support member is located in a heel region of the foot support member.

4. The foot support member according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexible support member includes a first side member that extends to a first height above the first plural wave crests and a second side member that extends to a second height above the first plural wave crests and is located opposite from the first side member, and wherein the plantar support component is positioned between the first side member and the second side member.

5. The foot support member according to claim 4 , further comprising a tensioning element or spring component extending between the first side member and the second side member.

6. The foot support member according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third flexible support member disposed adjacent the second surface of the plantar support component, wherein the third flexible support member includes a third wave shaped portion, wherein the third wave shaped portion is oriented such that third plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the plantar support component and third plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the plantar support component, wherein the third wave shaped portion of the third flexible support member is formed as a third rigid plate made from said rigid but flexible material or another rigid but flexible material capable of flexing under weight of the wearer, and wherein flexing of the third rigid plate under weight of the wearer induces at least one third reaction selected from the group consisting of: (a) causes at least a portion of the third rigid plate to become flatter and (b) causes at least a portion of the third rigid plate to compress together.

7. The foot support member according to claim 6 , wherein the first flexible support member: (a) is located in a heel region of the foot support member and (b) extends from a lateral side to a medial side of the plantar support component,

wherein the second flexible support member: (a) is located in the heel region of the foot support member forward of the first flexible support member and (b) extends from the lateral side to the medial side of the plantar support component, and

wherein the third flexible support member: (a) is located in the heel region of the foot support member forward of the second flexible support member and (b) extends from the lateral side to the medial side of the plantar support component.

8. The foot support member according to claim 6 , wherein the third flexible support member is joined together as part of the unitary, one piece construction with the first flexible support member and the second flexible support member by a second link extending between the adjacent wave crest peak of the second plural wave crests of the second flexible support member including the first link and an adjacent wave crest peak of the third plural wave crests of the third flexible support member.

9. The foot support member according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexible support member: (a) is located in a heel region of the foot support member and (b) extends from a lateral side to a medial side of the plantar support component, and

wherein the second flexible support member: (a) is located in the heel region of the foot support member forward of the first flexible support member and (b) extends from the lateral side to the medial side of the plantar support component.

10. The foot support member according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexible support member extends from a lateral side to a medial side of the plantar support component, and wherein the second flexible support member extends from the lateral side to the medial side of the plantar support component.

11. A method of manufacturing a foot support member, comprising:

providing a plantar support component for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot, wherein the plantar support component includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

providing a first flexible support member disposed adjacent the second surface of the plantar support component, wherein the first flexible support member includes a first wave shaped portion, wherein the first wave shaped portion is oriented such that first plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the plantar support component and first plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the plantar support component, wherein the first wave shaped portion is formed as a first rigid plate made from a rigid but flexible material capable of flexing under weight of the wearer, and wherein flexing of the first rigid plate under weight of the wearer induces at least one first reaction selected from the group consisting of: (a) causes at least a portion of the first rigid plate to become flatter and (b) causes at least a portion of the first rigid plate to compress together;

providing a second flexible support member disposed adjacent the second surface of the plantar support component, wherein the second flexible support member includes a second wave shaped portion, wherein the second wave shaped portion is oriented such that second plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the plantar support component and second plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the plantar support component, wherein the second wave shaped portion is formed as a second rigid plate made from said rigid but flexible material or another rigid but flexible material capable of flexing under weight of the wearer, wherein flexing of the second rigid plate under weight of the wearer induces at least one second reaction selected from the group consisting of: (a) causes at least a portion of the second rigid plate to become flatter and (b) causes at least a portion of the second rigid plate to compress together; and wherein the first flexible support member and the second flexible support member are joined together as a unitary, one piece construction by a first link extending between a wave crest peak of the first plural wave crests of the first flexible support member and an adjacent wave crest peak of the second plural wave crests of the second flexible support member.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

providing a third flexible support member disposed adjacent the second surface of the plantar support component, wherein the third flexible support member includes a third wave shaped portion, wherein the third wave shaped portion is oriented such that third plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the plantar support component and third plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the plantar support component, wherein the third wave shaped portion of the third flexible support member is formed as a third rigid plate made from said rigid but flexible material or another rigid but flexible material capable of flexing under weight of the wearer, and wherein flexing of the third rigid plate under weight of the wearer induces at least one third reaction selected from the group consisting of: (a) causes at least a portion of the third rigid plate to become flatter and (b) causes at least a portion of the third rigid plate to compress together.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the third flexible support member is joined together as part of the unitary, one piece construction with the first flexible support member and the second flexible support member by a second link extending between the adjacent wave crest peak of the second plural wave crests of the second flexible support member including the first link and an adjacent wave crest peak of the third plural wave crests of the third flexible support member.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the first flexible support member includes a first side member that extends to a first height above the first plural wave crests and a second side member that extends to a second height above the first plural wave crests and is located opposite from the first side member, and wherein the plantar support component is positioned between the first side member and the second side member.

15. A foot support member, comprising:

a heel support component for supporting a heel portion of a wearer's foot, wherein the heel support component includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a first flexible support member disposed adjacent the second surface of the heel support component, wherein the first flexible support member includes a first wave shaped portion oriented such that first plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the heel support component and first plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the heel support component, and wherein the first wave shaped portion is formed as a first rigid plate made from a rigid but flexible material capable of flexing under weight of the wearer;

a second flexible support member disposed adjacent the second surface of the heel support component, wherein the second flexible support member includes a second wave shaped portion oriented such that second plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the heel support component and second plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the heel support component, wherein the second wave shaped portion is formed as a second rigid plate made from said rigid but flexible material or another rigid but flexible material capable of flexing under weight of the wearer, and wherein the first flexible support member and the second flexible support member are joined together as a unitary, one piece construction by a first link extending between a wave crest peak of the first plural wave crests of the first flexible support member and an adjacent wave crest peak of the second plural wave crests of the second flexible support member.

16. The foot support member according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a third flexible support member disposed adjacent the second surface of the heel support component, wherein the third flexible support member includes a third wave shaped portion oriented such that third plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the heel support component and third plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the heel support component, and wherein the third wave shaped portion is formed as a third rigid plate made from said rigid but flexible material or another rigid but flexible material capable of flexing under weight of the wearer.

17. The foot support member according to claim 16 , wherein the third flexible support member is joined together as part of the unitary, one piece construction with the first flexible support member and the second flexible support member by a second link extending between the adjacent wave crest peak of the second plural wave crests of the second flexible support member including the first link and an adjacent wave crest peak of the third plural wave crests of the third flexible support member.

18. The foot support member according to claim 15 , wherein the first flexible support member includes a first side member that extends to a first heigt above the first plural wave crests and a second side member that extends to a second height above the first plural wave crests and is located opposite from the first side member, and wherein the heel support component is positioned between the first side member and the second side member.

19. The foot support member according to claim 18 , further comprising a tensioning element fixed to and extending between the first side member and the second side member.

20. The foot support member according to claim 15 , wherein the heel support component includes a raised sidewall extending above the first surface, wherein the raised sidewall extends continuously around a rear heel area and forms a medial sidewall and a lateral sidewall of the heel support component.