 |
Purpose of the
Invention: |
 |
|
|
Foot Prints provide support
for the arch of the foot. The supportive insert
can be customized to fit specific foot shapes,
eliminating the need to purchase prescription
inserts. |
|
|
|
|
Problem[s] the
Invention Solves: |
|
|
| |
People who experience
chronic problems with their feet – especially
the arch of their foot – will seek help from
podiatrists. To alleviate the problem, the
doctor may prescribe prescription foot inserts.
These appointments and the prescription foot
inserts will cost handsome sums of money. If the
inserts do not work, a return to the doctor’s
office is inevitable. Alternative foot inserts
do not exist on the market, and a person does
not have other choices than meeting with a
doctor. |
|
|
|
|
Detailed Description
of the Invention: |
|
|
| |
Foot Prints are foot
supports that can be applied to different types
of footwear. They resemble traditional shoe
inserts, except they are constructed from hard
plastic that becomes moldable when placed in the
microwave. The inserts can be designed to be
removable, where they fit between a shoe’s
footpad and tread through a slit in the back of
the footwear. The insert can be removed and
placed in the microwave to become moldable.
Non-removable inserts can be built into the
shoe, eliminating the need for the slit in the
back. The removable insert or the footwear with
the non-removable insert is placed into the
microwave. The microwave is set at a
predetermined heat and time, and the concealed
plastic piece becomes moldable when the
microwave’s cycle is completed. After it’s
removed from the microwave, the insert or
footwear with the non-removable insert is placed
on the foot. A person then utilizes a dowel rod
that is provided in the device’s packaging to
roll the insert over the bottom of the foot,
conforming it to the shape of the arch. The
plastic hardens as it cools, and it becomes a
reliable, supportive insert for the arch of the
foot. For the removable insert design, the back
of the footwear where the slit is located
contains a hook and loop fastening system that
connects the footpad to the tread, securing the
plastic insert inside. This hook and loop system
is easily detached, allowing the insert to be
removed if a person desires to place it inside
different footwear or the microwave. The
removable, moldable insert eliminates trips to
the podiatrist, saving money and time. Other
designs that include a permanent insert built
into the footwear have no hook and loop
fasteners. The inserts can be reheated and
conformed to the foot many times. Exact
specifications of the inserts may vary when they
are manufactured on a broader scale. |
|
|
|
|
Description of
Drawings: |
|
|
| |
FIGURE 1 Shows a pair of
inserts removed from the flip-flop sandals.
FIGURE 2 Shows the plastic inserts being placed
into a microwave so they can be molded to a
person’s arch.
FIGURE 3 Shows how the moldable plastic is
inserted into the back slit of the sandals.
FIGURE 4 Shows a person utilizing the dowel rod
to mold the plastic into the shape of their
arch.
FIGURE 5 Shows the sandals after the plastic has
been molded and hardened. |
|
|
Virtual
Drawings
(Click Image to Enlarge) |
|
 |
| Figure 1 |
| |
 |
| Figure 2 |
| |
 |
| Figure 3 |
| |
 |
| Figure 4 |
| |
 |
| Figure 5 |
| |
|
