Foot orthosis support device method and apparatus

A method for use with a portion of a human below a knee of the human including at least a portion of the human's foot, the portion of the human having at least a misalignment, the method comprising:

• providing an inner shell having a first rigidity sufficient to correct the misalignment and an anterior portion;
• providing an outer shell having a second rigidity at least as great as the first rigidity and an anterior portion;
• receiving the portion of the human into the inner shell to supportingly couple with the portion of the human;
• and
• receiving the inner shell into the outer shell with the anterior portion of the inner shell extending forward of the anterior portion of the outer shell and terminating rearward of a pivot region where the human pivots when walking or running and at or forward of a location where the metatarsal heads of the foot of the human approximately end, and with the outer shell supportingly coupling with the inner shell to provide in combination with the inner shell a cumulative support greater than provided by either the inner shell or the outer shell by itself;
• positioning the outer shell into a footwear while the outer shell is coupled with the inner shell and the inner shell is coupled with the portion of the human;
• and
• distributing a pressure by the second rigidity of the outer shell and the first rigidity of the inner shell over a desired area of the portion of the human sufficient to provide an amount of correction to the misalignment of the portion of the human while the human wears the inner shell inside of the outer shell inside of the footwear.

A corrective device for a portion of a human below a knee of the human including at least a portion of the human's foot, the portion of the human having at least a misalignment, the corrective device comprising:

• first means for receiving the portion of the human to couple with the portion of the human, the first means having a first rigidity sufficient to correct the misalignment and an anterior portion;
• and
• second means for receiving the first means for receiving, the second means for receiving including a means for coupling with a footwear and an anterior portion, with the anterior portion of the first means extending forward of the anterior portion of the second means and terminating rearward of a pivot region where the human pivots when walking or running and at or forward of a location where the metatarsal heads of the foot of the human approximately end, the second means having a second rigidity at least as great as the first rigidity, the first and second rigidities of the first and second means being sufficient to provide in combination a cumulative support greater than provided by either the first means or the second means by itself;
• and
• means for distributing a pressure by the first means and the second means over a desired area of the portion of the human sufficient to provide an amount of correction to the misalignment of the portion of the human.

A corrective device wearable on a portion of a human below a knee of the human including at least a portion of the human's foot with a heel and Achilles tendon and to be positioned inside of a footwear while on the portion of the human, the portion of the human having at least a misalignment, the corrective device comprising:

• an inner shell having a first rigidity sufficient to correct the misalignment, the inner shell shaped to accommodate receiving the portion of the human into the inner shell to supportingly couple with the portion of the human, the inner shell having a rearward region including left and right side portions and a heel cup extending between and connected to the left and right side portions to fully cover the heel and Achilles tendon of the foot in supporting contact with the foot when the foot is positioned within the inner shell, the left and right side portions and the heel cup being integrally formed as a unit with sufficient rigidity to hold the heel of the foot in a selected alignment against inverting or everting;
• and
• an outer shell having a second rigidity, the second rigidity being at least as great as the first rigidity, the outer shell shaped to accommodate receiving the inner shell into the outer shell to supportingly couple with the inner shell to provide in combination with the inner shell a cumulative support greater than provided by either the inner shell or the outer shell by itself and to accommodate positioning into the footwear for coupling with the footwear, the inner shell and the outer shell being sized and shaped such that when the inner shell is coupled with the portion of the human and the outer shell is coupled with the inner shell and positioned in the footwear, at least a sufficient portion of a pressure is distributed by the second rigidity of the outer shell and the first rigidity of the inner shell over a desired area of the portion of the human to provide an amount of correction to the misalignment of the portion of the human, whereby the human can wear the inner shell inside of the outer shell inside of the footwear in comfort while the portion of the pressure is being applied to facilitate correction of the misalignment;
• wherein the inner shell includes an anterior portion and the outer shell includes an anterior portion, with the anterior portion of the inner shell extending forward of the anterior portion of the outer shell and terminating rearward of a pivot region where the human pivots when walking or running and at or forward of a location where the metatarsal heads of the foot of the human approximately end.

A corrective device wearable on a portion of a human below a knee of the human including at least a portion of the human's foot including at least a portion of the human's foot with an instep and positionable inside of a footwear while on the portion of the human, the portion of the human having at least a misalignment, the corrective device comprising:

• an inner shell having a first rigidity sufficient to correct the misalignment, the inner shell shaped to accommodate receiving the portion of the human into the inner shell to supportingly couple with the portion of the human, the inner shell having a middle region including left and right side portions and left and right side extension portions connected to the left and right side portions, respectively, the left side extension portion extending inwardly over and in supporting contact with a left side portion of the instep of the foot when the foot is positioned within the inner shell and the right side extension portion extending inwardly over and in supporting contact with a right side portion of the instep of the foot when the foot is positioned within the inner shell, the left side portion and the left side extension portion being integrally formed as a unit and the right side portion and the right side extension portion being integrally formed as a unit, the left and right side extension portions being disconnected from each other;
• and
• an outer shell having a second rigidity, the second rigidity being at least as great as the first rigidity, the outer shell shaped to accommodate receiving the inner shell into the outer shell to supportingly couple with the inner shell to provide in combination with the inner shell a cumulative support greater than provided by either the inner shell or the outer shell by itself and to accommodate positioning into the footwear for coupling with the footwear, the inner shell and the outer shell being sized and shaped such that when the inner shell is coupled with the portion of the human and the outer shell is coupled with the inner shell and positioned in the footwear, at least a sufficient portion of a pressure is distributed by the second rigidity of the outer shell and the first rigidity of the inner shell over a desired area of the portion of the human to provide an amount of correction to the misalignment of the portion of the human, whereby the human can wear the inner shell inside of the outer shell inside of the footwear in comfort while the portion of the pressure is being applied to facilitate correction of the misalignment;
• wherein the inner shell includes an anterior portion and the outer shell includes an anterior portion, with the anterior portion of the inner shell extending forward of the anterior portion of the outer shell and terminating rearward of a pivot region where the human pivots when walking or running and at or forward of a location where the metatarsal heads of the foot of the human approximately end.

A corrective device wearable on a portion of a human below a knee of the human including at least a portion of the human's foot including at least a portion of the human's foot with a heel, Achilles tendon and instep, and positionable inside of a footwear while on the portion of the human, the portion of the human having at least a misalignment, the corrective device comprising:

• an inner shell having a first rigidity sufficient to correct the misalignment, the inner shell shaped to accommodate receiving the portion of the human into the inner shell to supportingly couple with the portion of the human, the inner shell having a rearward region including left and right side portions and a heel cup extending between and connected to the left and right side portions to fully cover the heel and Achilles tendon of the foot in supporting contact with the foot when the foot is positioned within the inner shell, the left and right side portions and the heel cup being integrally formed as a unit with sufficient rigidity to hold the heel of the foot in a selected alignment against inverting or everting, the inner shell having a middle region including left and right side portions and left and right side extension portions connected to the left and right side portions, respectively, the left side extension portion extending inwardly over and in supporting contact with a left side portion of the instep of the foot when the foot is positioned within the inner shell and the right side extension portion extending inwardly over and in supporting contact with a right side portion of the instep of the foot when the foot is positioned within the inner shell, the left side portion and the left side extension portion being integrally formed as a unit and the right side portion and the right side extension portion being integrally formed as a unit, the left and right side extension portions being disconnected from each other;
• and
• an outer shell having a second rigidity, the second rigidity being at least as great as the first rigidity, the outer shell shaped to accommodate receiving the inner shell into the outer shell to supportingly couple with the inner shell to provide in combination with the inner shell a cumulative support greater than provided by either the inner shell or the outer shell by itself and to accommodate positioning into the footwear for coupling with the footwear, the inner shell and the outer shell being sized and shaped such that when the inner shell is coupled with the portion of the human and the outer shell is coupled with the inner shell and positioned in the footwear, at least a sufficient portion of a pressure is distributed by the second rigidity of the outer shell and the first rigidity of the inner shell over a desired area of the portion of the human to provide an amount of correction to the misalignment of the portion of the human, whereby the human can wear the inner shell inside of the outer shell inside of the footwear in comfort while the portion of the pressure is being applied to facilitate correction of the misalignment;
• wherein the inner shell includes an anterior portion and the outer shell includes an anterior portion, with the anterior portion of the inner shell extending forward of the anterior portion of the outer shell and terminating rearward of a pivot region where the human pivots when walking or running and at or forward of a location where the metatarsal heads of the foot of the human approximately end.