Foot therapy system
View Patent ↗A modular shoe insole is disclosed. The insole includes discrete therapeutic components that are removably attachable to a support frame for customization to selectively target and provide therapeutic relief to specific areas of the foot. The therapeutic components include a first-toe support member corresponding to the big toe, a second-to-fifth-toe support member corresponding to the second through fifth toes, a ball-of-foot support member corresponding to the ball of the foot, an arch support member corresponding to the arch of the foot, a heel support member corresponding to the heel of the foot, toe dividers for separating the second through fifth toes, and a heel guard for protecting the heel from the back of a shoe. Addition or removal of a therapeutic component from the support frame enables individuals to target the specific area of the foot that corresponds to the therapeutic component.
1. A foot therapy system, comprising:
a modular shoe insole comprising:
a support frame including a surface having a first-toe section, a second-to-fifth-toe section, a ball-of-foot section, an arch section, and a heel section;
one or more therapeutic components comprising:
a discrete first-toe support member including substantially the same shape as the first-toe section, the first-toe support member removably attachable to the first-toe section of the support frame,
a discrete second-to-fifth-toe support member including substantially the same shape as the second-to-fifth-toe section, the second-to-fifth-toe member removably attachable to the second-to-fifth-toe section of the support frame,
a discrete ball-of-foot support member including substantially the same shape as to the ball-of-foot section, the ball-of-the-foot support member removably attachable to the ball-of-foot section of the support frame,
a discrete arch support member including substantially the same shape as the arch section, the arch support member removably attachable to the arch section of the support frame,
a discrete heel support member including substantially the same shape as the heel section, the heel support member removably attachable to the heel section of the support frame,
a discrete toe divider removably attachable to the second-to-fifth-toe support member to separate a user's toes from one another, and
a discrete heel guard member removably attachable to the heel support member to protect a user's heel from a back of a shoe,
wherein one or more of the first-toe support member, the second-to-fifth-toe support member, the ball-of-foot support member, the arch support member, and the heel support member are attachable to the support frame at the same time to provide relief to an area of a user's foot that corresponds to the particular support member attached to the support frame.
2. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 1 , wherein:
the toe divider comprises an upper end, a lower end, and a height;
the heel guard member comprises an upper end, a lower end, and an arcuate portion disposed between the upper end and the lower end including a contour of a heel.
3. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 1 , wherein the support frame comprises a first fastener for fastening the support frame to the first-toe support member, the second-to-fifth-toe support member, the ball-of-foot support member, the arch support member, and the heel support member.
4. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 3 , wherein:
the first-toe support member comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a perimeter edge, and a second fastener for mating with the first fastener of the support frame;
the second-to-fifth-toe support member comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a perimeter edge, and a third fastener for mating with the first fastener of the support frame;
the ball-of-foot support member comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a perimeter edge, and a fourth fastener for mating with the first fastener of the support frame;
the arch support member comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a perimeter edge, and a fifth fastener for mating with the first fastener of the support frame; and
the heel support member comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a perimeter edge, and a sixth fastener for mating with the first fastener of the support frame.
5. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 4 , wherein the support frame comprises a perimeter edge including a lip disposed around the perimeter edge, the lip extending upwardly from the edge and abutting the perimeter edges of one or more of the first-toe support member, the second-to-fifth-toe support member, the ball-of-foot support member, the arch support member, and the heel support member when the first-toe support member, the second-to-fifth-toe support member, the ball-of-foot support member, the arch support member, or the heel support member are attached to the support frame.
6. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 5 , wherein:
the lip extends perpendicularly upwardly from the perimeter edge of the support frame; and
the lip friction fits one or more of the first-toe support member, the second-to-fifth-toe support member, the ball-of-foot support member, the arch support member, and the heel support member when one or more of the first-toe support member, the second-to-fifth-toe support member, the ball-of-foot support member, the arch support member, and the heel support member are attached to the support frame.
7. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 4 , wherein:
the first fastener comprises a plurality of apertures disposed on the surface of the support frame;
the second fastener comprises a protuberance disposed on the lower surface of the first-toe support member;
third fastener comprises a protuberance disposed on the lower surface of the second-to-fifth-toe support member;
fourth fastener comprises a protuberance disposed on the lower surface of the ball-of-foot support member;
the fifth fastener comprises a protuberance disposed on the lower surface of the arch support member; and
the sixth fastener comprises a protuberance disposed on the lower surface of the heel support member.
8. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of apertures comprises at least one aperture disposed in the first-toe section, at least one aperture disposed in the second-to-fifth-toe section, at least one aperture disposed in the ball-of-foot section, at least one aperture disposed in the arch section, and at least one aperture disposed in the heel section.
9. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 8 , wherein:
the protuberance of the second fastener mates with the at least one aperture disposed in the first-toe section;
the protuberance of the third fastener mates with the at least one aperture disposed in the second-to-fifth-toe section;
the protuberance of the fourth fastener mates with the at least one aperture disposed in the ball-of-foot section;
the protuberance of the fifth fastener mates with the at least one aperture disposed on the arch section; and
the protuberance of the sixth fastener mates with the at least one aperture disposed in the heel section.
10. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 9 , wherein:
the second-to-fifth toe support member further comprises a seventh fastener for fastening the second-to-fifth toe support member to the toe divider; and
the heel support member further comprises an eighth fastener for fastening the heel support member to the heel guard member.
11. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 10 , wherein:
the toe divider comprises a ninth fastener for mating with the seventh fastener; and
the heel guard member comprises a tenth fastener for mating with the eighth fastener.
12. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 11 , wherein:
the seventh fastener of the second-to-fifth-toe support member comprises an aperture disposed on the upper surface of the second-to-fifth-toe support member; and
the eighth fastener of the heel support member comprises an aperture disposed on the upper surface of the heel support member.
13. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 12 , wherein:
the ninth fastener of the toe divider comprises a protuberance disposed on the lower end of the toe divider for mating with the aperture of the seventh fastener;
the tenth fastener of the heel guard member comprises a protuberance disposed on the lower end of the heel guard member for mating with the aperture of the eighth fastener.
14. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 13 , wherein the toe divider comprises a plurality of spacers including at least two of a first spacer to divide the first toe from the second toe, a second spacer to divide the second toe from the third toe, a third spacer to divide the third toe from the fourth toe, and a fourth spacer to divide the fourth toe from the fifth toe.
15. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 14 , wherein the seventh fastener of the second-to-fifth-toe support member comprises a plurality of apertures disposed on the upper surface of the second-to-fifth-toe section.
16. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 15 , wherein the second-to-fifth-toe support member comprises a first region adapted to be positioned between the first toe and the second toe, a second region adapted to be positioned between the second toe and third toe, a third region adapted to be positioned between the third toe and fourth toe, and a fourth region adapted to be positioned between the fourth toe and the fifth toe.
17. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of apertures of the second-to-fifth-toe support member include a first aperture disposed in the first region, a second aperture disposed in the second region, a third aperture disposed in the third region, and a fourth aperture disposed in the fourth region.
18. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 17 , wherein the first spacer, the second spacer, the third spacer, and the fourth spacer each comprise a protuberance disposed on the lower end thereof.
19. The modular shoe sole insert of claim 18 , wherein:
the protuberance of the first spacer mates with the first aperture of the first region;
the protuberance of the second spacer mates with the second aperture of the second region;
the protuberance of the third spacer mates with the third aperture of the third region; and
the protuberance of the fourth spacer mates with the fourth aperture of the fourth region.