Foot Membrane

摘要

The present invention is a non-woven foot membrane that helps provide comfort and support for the foot during high-heel or regular shoe wear. The device comprises a self-supporting membrane that flexes, stretches and conforms to the shape of the foot, or the portion of the foot in contact with the membrane, when worn. The device has different thicknesses throughout its structure. Preferably, the parts of the invention at and around the major points of contact on the bottom of the foot when wearing a shoe such as a high-heel, that is, the parts of the invention under the big toe, metatarsal heads of the forefoot, and the heel, are thicker than the other portions of the device. The device also has different frictional properties at the inner/upper surface and outer/lower surface as well as a curvilinear form that each work to cup and grip the foot as well as prevent slippage in the shoe. The increased thicknesses throughout various parts of the structure of the device as well as the opposing frictional properties and curvilinear shape all work to counteract the stresses experienced by the plantar soft-tissue during shoe wear.

主权项

1. A device to be worn on the foot comprising:
a base, unitary, self supporting, stretchable, membrane made of silicone having a durometer between about 3 and 10 on the Shore A scale configured in the general shape of the underside of a foot comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a front, a back, an outer perimeter, a medial side and a lateral side; said membrane further comprising: a cupped shaped toe portion in the front of the device having an indentation in a top surface configured to receive and contact the skin on the underside of a user's big toe when the device is worn; a cupped shaped forefoot portion adjacent and connected to said toe portion, said forefoot portion having an indentation in a top surface configured to receive and contact the skin on the underside of a user's forefoot when the device is worn; a midfoot portion adjacent to and connected to said forefoot portion; and a cupped shaped heel portion adjacent and connected to said midfoot portion, said heel portion having an indentation in a top surface configured to receive and contact the skin on the underside of a user's heel when the device is worn; wherein the thickness of said membrane in said toe portion is greatest near the center area of said toe portion and tapers down to a smaller thickness at the outer edge of said toe portion; wherein the thickness of said membrane in said forefoot portion is greatest near the center of the forefoot portion and tapers down to a smaller thickness at the outer edge of said forefoot portion; wherein the thickness of said membrane in said heel portion is greatest near the center of the heel portion and tapers down to a smaller thickness at the outer edge of said heel portion.