US 12,303,422 B2
Forefoot orthotic device
Jason R. Hanft, Miami, FL (US)
Assigned to Forefoot Defender, LLC, Miami, FL (US)
Filed by FOREFOOT DEFENDER, LLC, Miami, FL (US)
Filed on Jul. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/347,353.
Application 18/347,353 is a continuation of application No. 17/078,261, filed on Oct. 23, 2020, abandoned.
Application 18/347,353 is a continuation of application No. 15/406,168, filed on Jan. 13, 2017, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2023/0346584 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. A61F 5/00 (2006.01); A43B 7/1405 (2022.01); A43B 7/144 (2022.01); A43B 7/1445 (2022.01); A43B 7/149 (2022.01); A43B 17/00 (2006.01); A43B 17/02 (2006.01); A61F 5/01 (2006.01); A61F 5/14 (2022.01); A61F 13/04 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 5/14 (2013.01) [A43B 7/141 (2013.01); A43B 7/144 (2013.01); A43B 7/1445 (2013.01); A43B 7/149 (2013.01); A43B 17/006 (2013.01); A43B 17/02 (2013.01); A61F 5/0111 (2013.01); A61F 13/045 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A forefoot orthotic device for use in connection with a user's foot, the user's foot characterized by a forefoot and metatarsal heads one through five, the device comprising:
an element sized and shaped to underlie the forefoot, the element having opposite upper and lower surfaces, opposite proximal and distal ends, opposite lateral and medial sides, and resiliently compressible material extending between the opposite surfaces, the opposite ends and the opposite sides;
wherein the element has a central longitudinal axis, the lower surface of the element having at least three points defining a lower plane of reference for the element when the device is in use;
wherein the lateral and medial sides have respective lateral and medial side edges, the lateral and medial side edges located further from the central longitudinal axis at the distal end than at the proximal end;
a first and a second, substantially symmetrical expanded areas located at the lateral and medial sides, respectively, on the distal end of the element;
wherein the expanded areas are laterally spaced from each other by a predetermined amount and face upwardly to underlie the first and the fifth metatarsal heads of the user's foot when received on the device, the predetermined amount corresponding to a distance between the first and fifth metatarsal heads of the user's foot selected as a function of an intended size of the user's foot, the intended size ranging from child size 1 to adult male size 16 and corresponding to between 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches;
wherein the upper surface extends upwardly and inwardly from the opposite ends and the opposite sides to define corresponding, opposite proximal and distal areas, and opposite lateral and medial areas, the proximal, distal, medial, and lateral areas having respective central portions defining a plateau raised relative to the lower plane of reference; and
wherein the resiliently compressible material of the element is configured so that the lateral and medial areas are more rigid than portions of the proximal area adjacent the medial and lateral areas to delay arrival of impact force on regions of the forefoot overlying the medial and lateral areas relative to regions of the forefoot overlying the adjacent portions of the proximal area during an impact phase of a gait of the user.