OVERMOLDING FOR AN ORTHOPEDIC WALKING BOOT

1 . An orthopedic walking boot, comprising:

a base extending from a toe of the walker to a heel, the base including a substrate section having a substantially smooth lower surface, the base further comprising a recessed section at the heel including holes that extend through the base;

an outer sole overmolded to the base, an upper surface of the outer sole chemically bonded to a lower surface of the base without adhesive; and wherein the holes in the recessed section anchor portions of the outer sole to add shear strength to a mating of the outer sole and the base; and

a vertical support assembly removably coupled to the base.

2 . The orthopedic walking boot of claim 1 , further comprising a shock absorber insert mated with the base to provide shock absorption, at least a portion of the outer sole is overmolded to both the base and the shock absorber insert.

3 . The orthopedic walking boot of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a section configured to support the user's posterior portion of the heel, the orthopedic walking boot further comprising a heel cushion overmolded to an interior portion of the section, wherein the outer sole and the heel cushion comprise a continuous material overmolded to the base using one or more connective tunnels to facilitate resin flow.

4 . The orthopedic walking boot of claim 3 , wherein the outer sole and said heel cushion comprise a continuous material using a connective tunnel to facilitate resin flow.

5 . An orthopedic walking boot, comprising:

a base extending from a toe of the walker to a heel, the base including a substrate section having a substantially lower surface;

an outer sole overmolded to the base, an upper surface of the outer sole chemically bonded to a lower surface of the base without adhesive; and

a vertical support assembly removably coupled to the base.

6 . The orthopedic walking boot of claim 5 , further comprising a shock absorber insert mated with the base to provide shock absorption, at least a portion of the outer sole is overmolded to both the base and the shock absorber insert.

7 . The orthopedic walking boot of claim 5 , wherein the base comprises a section configured to support the user's posterior portion of the heel, the orthopedic walking boot further comprising a heel cushion overmolded to an interior portion of the section, wherein the outer sole and the heel cushion comprise a continuous material overmolded to the base using one or more connective tunnels to facilitate resin flow.

8 . The orthopedic walking boot of claim 7 , wherein the outer sole and said heel cushion comprise a continuous material using a connective tunnel to facilitate resin flow.