A modular orthopedic sandal comprising;
- a flexible insole;
- a resilient, flexible sole operable to be releasably attached to said insole, said sole including, a length as measured between the ends of said sole, an outer lateral surface having, a lower peripheral edge, and an upper peripheral edge, spaced above said lower peripheral edge, a bottom surface bounded by said lower peripheral edge, a top surface spaced above said bottom surface and recessed below said upper peripheral edge, an upstanding sidewall having, an inner surface surrounding and adjacent to said top surface, a top peripheral edge formed by said upper peripheral edge, an outer surface formed by a portion of said outer lateral surface located between said upper peripheral edge and said top surface, and
- means for releasably attaching said insole to said sidewall above said top surface, and
- means for releasably securing said sole to a foot of a user;
- at least one orthopedic appliance operable to be located between said insole and said top surface of said sole and surrounded by said sidewall;
- and
- means for attaching an orthopedic appliance to said sole below said insole,
- said inner surface has an inner, peripherally extending groove, level with said top surface and oriented outwardly towards said outer surface,
- said insole member has a first outer peripheral edge configured to seat within said groove, said groove comprising said insole releasable attachment means,
- said one orthopedic appliance has a plurality of small U-shaped wires having central portions embedded in said appliance in a downward direction;
- and
- said orthopedic appliance attachment means comprises a base plate operable to be located below said orthopedic appliance and against said top surface, said base plate having a second outer peripheral edge configured to align with said first outer peripheral edge when said base plate is located below said insole and to be seated within said groove with said first outer peripheral edge and a tangible grid of regularly spaced, hole-like mounting sites, through which said extending portions project and are crimped against said base plate,
- said bottom surface has a transversely oriented channel, extending through said outer lateral surface on opposite sides of said sole and at right angles to said length, said channel being located along said length of said sole so as to underlie the arch of a said foot, said channel being defined by a pair of spaced, front and rear end surfaces, vertically extending from said bottom surface towards said top surface and a base surface underlying said top surface, connecting said front and rear end surfaces at the depth of said channel;
- said foot releasable securement means comprises a detachable central member configured closely fit within said channel, said central member comprising at least a first element having set of six interconnected faces that include,
- a pair of opposed, spaced front and rear faces that are configured to respectively lie flush against said front and said rear end surfaces,
- a top face that underlies said base surface,
- a bottom face that is located opposite to said top face and is configured to be contiguous with said bottom surface, and
- a pair of opposed, spaced lateral faces that are configured to be contiguous with said outer lateral surface on opposite sides of said sole,
- means for releasably connecting said central member to said sole within said channel,
- an inelastic arch strap located within said channel to releasably attach said sole to said foot and to stiffen said sole to provide support for the arch of said foot, said arch strap including a pair of elongated, flexible strap sections, each of which, at one end, is connected to said sole, and each of which, at said one end, is operable to be located between said top face and said base surface when said central member is installed within said channel, said strap sections being oriented so that the other ends thereof extend in opposite directions and when said central member is installed, from opposite sides of said sole, said strap sections having means located at the said other ends of each of said strap sections for releasably and adjustably securing said strap sections together at their said other ends and a combined length to encircle said foot with the said other ends of each of said strap sections overlapping, and means for releasably connecting said strap sections to said sole at their said one ends, within said channel, said sole has a set of three vertical slots spaced apart from one another in a direction parallel with said length of said sole member, said slots being centrally located on said sole and communicating between said base surface and said top surface;
- said strap sections, at their said one ends, are adjacent to one another and are connected to said top face of said central member;
- and
- said central member releasable connection means and said strap sections releasable connection means comprise,
- a set of three upstanding loops integrally formed from said one ends of said strap sections, connecting said strap sections to one another, said loops being spaced apart from one another so as to align with said slots when said central member is located within said channel,
- said loops having a height equal to the distance separating said top surface from said base surface, and
- an elongated, cylindrical attachment rod having,
- a diameter sized to extend through said loops, and
- a length at least equal to the combined length of said slots and the spacing between said slots, whereby said central member is operable to be releasably connected to said sole within said transverse channel, with said loops extending through said slots, said rod extending through said loops at said top surface and said rod bearing at least against the portions of the top surface located between said slots.