Patent for shoe wedging to correct knee alignment

NewsBot · Sep 9, 2008

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This patent has just been granted:
Systems and methods for footwear related measurement and adjustment

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a footwear characteristic measuring system designed to determine measurements of a particular footwear wedge insert which may be used to encourage correct knee alignment in an article of footwear. The system includes a base, a recess, a set of angled members, and an illumination device. The recess is disposed within the base and is sized such that a user's foot may be disposed within the recess. The illumination device is disposed on the base and is medially aligned with the recess. The illumination device is oriented so as to transmit an illumination output upward or perpendicular to the top surface of the base. The angled members include an angled top surface and are configured to reliably couple within the recess of the base. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of encouraging correct knee and ankle alignment in an article of footwear.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear including shoes, boots, sandals, etc. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for properly measuring, aligning, fitting, and adjusting feet and footwear. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a footwear characteristic measuring system designed to determine measurements of a particular footwear wedge insert which may be used to encourage correct knee alignment in an article of footwear. The system includes a base, a recess, a set of angled members, and an illumination device. The recess is disposed within the base and is sized such that a user's foot may be disposed within the recess. The illumination device is disposed on the base and is medially aligned with the recess. The illumination device is oriented so as to transmit an illumination output upward or perpendicular to the top surface of the base. The angled members include an angled top surface and are configured to reliably couple within the recess of the base. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of encouraging correct knee and ankle alignment in an article of footwear. The method includes transmitting an illumination device upward and articulating a user's knee and ankle until the user's knee is medially illuminated. If it is necessary to laterally articulate the user's ankle (varus or valgus), the method further includes interchangeably positioning angled members below the user's foot until the user's knee is illuminated without lateral ankle articulation, and positioning a corresponding angled member within an article of footwear so as to encourage proper knee alignment.

Embodiments of the present invention represent a significant advance in footwear measuring and fitting technology. Conventional systems and methods fail to accurately and reliably measure feet in relation to knee positioning for adjusting varus and valgus ankle articulation. Likewise, conventional footwear does not accommodate the unique varus and valgus slopes necessary to encourage proper alignment for numerous users.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.
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Link to patent

NewsBot · Sep 22, 2016

This turned up on You Tube 10 minutes ago. The Somnio running shoe is soon to hit the market.

Admin2 · Nov 11, 2008

Related:
Other running shoe threads

Jeremy Long · Nov 16, 2008

This all flies against the recent research results from Roy Lidtke. Although applying rearfoot shoe wedging does change the frontal plane angle of the proximal tibia, he found that this also creates a greater lever arm and increased ground reaction force.

Still in progress, his work is now using more "dynamic" footwear designs, incorporating strategic sole flexibility throughout the soling. Think of a Nike Free concept, but with a more mechanically efficient gait path. These shoes also use a lower heel profile. Results thus far show promise in relieving chronic medial knee pain. Thus far, none of the research included subjects that also possess foot pain.

NewsBot · Apr 15, 2009

Here is a further patent that Somnio just got:

Here is a patent that has just been awarded:
Systems and methods for footwear related measurement and adjustment

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a footwear characteristic measuring system designed to determine measurements of a particular footwear wedge insert which may be used to encourage correct knee alignment in an article of footwear. The system includes a base, a stepped member, a platform, and an illumination system. The stepped member or piano hinge is positioned on the top surface of the base adjacent to or partially under the platform. The platform is disposed above the top surface of the base and connected on a first side to the base via a hinge. A second portion of the platform is positioned on top of a portion of the stepped member so as to form a particular angle with respect to the base depending on the height of the particular stepped member surface. The illumination system is oriented to transmit an illumination output upward or perpendicular to the top surface of the base.
Click to expand...

The present invention relates to footwear including shoes, boots, sandals, etc. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for properly measuring, aligning, fitting, and adjusting feet and footwear. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a footwear characteristic measuring system designed to determine measurements of a particular footwear wedge insert which may be used to encourage correct knee alignment in an article of footwear. The system includes a base, a stepped member, a platform, and an illumination system. The stepped member or piano hinge is positioned on the top surface of the base adjacent to or partially under the platform. The platform is disposed above the top surface of the base and connected on a first side to the base via a hinge. A second portion of the platform is positioned on top of a portion of the stepped member so as to form a particular angle with respect to the base depending on the height of the particular stepped member surface. The illumination system is oriented to transmit an illumination output upward or perpendicular to the top surface of the base. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of encouraging correct knee and ankle alignment in an article of footwear. The method includes transmitting an illumination device upward and articulating a user's knee and ankle until the user's knee is medially illuminated. If it is necessary to laterally articulate the user's ankle (varus or valgus), the method further includes incrementally positioning the platform on a higher stepped surface until the user's knee is illuminated without lateral ankle articulation, and positioning a corresponding angled member within an article of footwear so as to encourage proper knee alignment.

Embodiments of the present invention represent a significant advance in footwear measuring and fitting technology. Conventional systems and methods fail to accurately and reliably measure feet in relation to knee positioning for adjusting varus and valgus ankle articulation. Likewise, conventional footwear does not accommodate the unique varus and valgus slopes necessary to encourage proper alignment for numerous users.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.
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