CA2267241A1

CA2267241A1 - Shoe and method of making same

Info

Publication number: CA2267241A1
Application number: CA002267241A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Howard J. Dananberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: HBN Shoe LLC
Priority date: 1996-10-02
Filing date: 1997-09-30
Publication date: 1998-04-09
Also published as: AU4661297A; BG103304A; PL185994B1; CN1520761A; AU732593B2; BG105934A; IL129277A; CN1163166C; IL129277A0; EP1433396A1; EP0991333A4; BG63449B1; NZ334835A; TR200003757T2; RO118110B1; JP2001523981A; YU17799A; WO1998014083A1; TR199900736T2; CN1232370A

Abstract

A foot construction comprising a rigid molded device (116) comprising a heel cup (118) and an anatomically shaped arch appliance (120) extending forwardly from the heel cup to just proximal to the metatarsal heads, causes the foot of the wearer to assume an anatomically correct position in the shoe, provides torsional stability and contributes to shoe structure integrity.

Description

WO 98/14083 PCTlUS97/17652 2 The present invention relates, in general, to footwear, and more particularly 3 to a footwear construction for walking and other active use. The invention has 4 particular utility in connection with high heel shoes, and will be particularly described in connection with such utility, although other utilities are contemplated.
6 Prior art high heel shoes in current use have a reputation of being extremely 7 uncomfortable and there is survey information indicating that as many as 20%
of 8 the users of such shoes experience foot pain related to the shoes immediately and 9 the majority of users experience such pain, after as little as four hours of use. This discomfort results primarily from the wearer's foot sliding forwards in the shoe 11 with the consequence that the wearer's toes are jammed in the toe portion of the 12 shoe.
13 With reference to Figure 1 there is shown in ghost the bone structure of a 14 foot in a conventional high heel shoe. The foot structure comprises the heel bones 10 {also known as tarsus), including the talus and calcaneous, the arch including the 16 cuneiform 11 and the metatarsus 12, and the toe bones or phalanges 13. The heel 17 bones 10 are supported by the heel seat 19, while the arch extends over the shank-18 reinforced midsole region 15 of the shoe to the ball of the foot 16 where the 19 metatarsus joins the base of the phalanges 13. The ball of the foot underlying the heads of the metatarsals, forming the metatarsus, and the phalanges are supported 21 by the toe region 9 of the shoe.
22 The shoe illustrated in Figure 1 has a heel height of approximately 2 inches.
23 The particular shoe illustrated is based on a U.S. standard ladies' shoe size 7. The 24 shoe is shown on a ground plane 18 from which the heel height " a" to the heel seat 19 is measured. The heel seat 19 is inclined upwardly at an angle of approximately 26 12-15 degrees relative to the ground plane. This angle is referenced "x" in Figures 1 27 and 3. The shank-reinforced midsole region 15 is angled downwardly and 28 forwardly of the shoe from the heel seat at an angle of approximately 30 degrees 29 relative to the ground plane. This angle is referenced "y" in Figures 1 and 3. In the toe region of the shoe the great toe is essentially parallel to the ground plane, but 1 may be inclined upwardly and forwardly by the upward and forward inclination of 2 the toe region at an angle of 2-3 degrees relatively to the ground plane 18.
This 3 angle is referenced "z" in Figures 1 and 3.
4 As will be appreciated, a conventional high heel shoe such as shown in Fig.
1 places the wearer's foot essentially on an inclined plane, whereupon the foot is 6 urged forward into the toe box in standing or walking. This results in pressure on 7 the ball or forefoot regions and toe jamming which often gives rise to a burning 8 sensation in these areas of the foot, as well as fatigue and discomfort.
9 Traditionally, shoes have been made with either one of two basic techniques, slip lasting or board lasting. In slip lasting, an upper typically is 11 stitched together and then either glued or sewn onto a mid-sole and/or outsole. In 12 board lasting, the upper is either stitched or glued onto a flat or pre-shaped board, 13 which in turn is attached to a sole and/or outsole. In order to properly carry the 14 weight of the wearer without the footwear collapsing, a reinforcement, known as a shank, typically made of metal, wood, leather, fiberboard or plastic, is cemented 16 and/or stitched between the midsole and/or insole board and an outsole.
Some 17 shoe constructions also employ a molded sock liner, and/or a cushioning insole is 18 provided for cushioning the foot in the shoe. However, while cushioning the foot 19 in the shoe may provide an initial perception of comfort, cushioning actually compromises biomechanical properties of the shoe and does little to stabilize the 21 foot in the shoe or support the foot in an anatomically correct position.
22 It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a shoe having a 23 construction which is comfortable to wear, but which also supports the wearer's 24 foot in the shoe in an anatomically correct position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe construction 26 method which provides a shoe construction which is comfortable to wear, but 27 which also supports the wearer's foot in the shoe in an anatomically correct 28 position.
29 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means for altering the angle of inclination of the heel in relation to the ground plane.
This is WO 98I14083 PCTIUS9?/1?652 1 applicable in a variety of shoe heel heights and would permit the ability to retain 2 the heel in a near parallel relationship to the ground plane as the heel height 3 increases as in women's high heeled dress shoes.
4 Still another object of the invention is to provide a shoe construction which supports the longitudinal axis of the foot but permits flexibility in the oblique axis 6 orientation. This would be applicable in the design, e.g. of golf shoes where 7 flexibility during swing motion could be permitted but collapse of the longitudinal 8 arch of the foot during walking prevented. In such application, the area underlying 9 the medial longitudinal arch of the foot would be either thinned down or completely removed to permit for raising and lowering of the arch of the foot 71 during the swing motion while the central portion would retain its rigid 12 construction to prevent long axis breakdown.
13 Briefly, the present invention in one aspect accomplishes the foregoing and 14 other objects, by providing a shoe construction in which a rigid shaped orthotic device comprising a heel cup and an anatomically shaped appliance running distally 16 to just proximal to the metatarsal heads, is rigidly affixed as a structural element to 17 the top surface of the last/insole board. The shaped device includes a deep 18 conformal heel cup, and runs from the heel of the shoe to the point just behind the 19 metatarsal head area, and is molded and/or machined to conform to the underside of the foot whereby to cause the foot to assume an anatomically correct position 21 within the shoe. As thus described, the shaped device of the present invention is 22 similar to a conventional foot orthotic device; however) unlike conventional foot 23 orthotic devices, the shaped device of the present invention comprises an integral 24 structural element of the shoe, whereby to better stabilize the wearer's foot in the shoe, and preferably eliminate the need far a separate shank, and thus may serve a 26 dual purpose.
27 As applied to high heel shoes in accordance with a preferred embodiment of 28 the invention, the rigid shaped device includes a heel seat having a slightly 29 downwardly inclined angle (relative to the shoe's imaginary shank plane), and an arch support extending forward from the heel seat and having a first portion which WO 98J14083 PCTlUS97I1~652 1 supports the head of the navicular of the wearer. The shoe also includes a 2 last/insole board extending downwardly and forwardly from the first portion of 3 the arch support, and a toe support region which extends at an inclination 4 upwardly and forwardly from the last/insole board whereupon the first metatarsal of the wearer is buttressed by the phalanges of the wearer to prevent forward 6 sliding of the foot of the wearer relative to the shoe, thereby preventing jamming of 7 the human digits into the toe portion of the shoe, while an increase of about 16% or 8 more of the wearer's weight is borne by the heel seat, as compared to standard high 9 heel dress shoes.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become 11 apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the 12 accompanying drawings in which like numerals depict like parts, and wherein:
13 Fig. 1 is diagrammatic cross sectional view of a conventional high heel shoe 14 made in accordance with the prior art;
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a high heel shoe made in 16 accordance with the present invention;
17 Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation showing a comparison of relevant 18 angles to the ground plane of a shoe made according to the present invention such 19 as that shown in Fig. 2, and a conventional high heel shoe having similar heel heights, i.e. such as shown in Fig. 1;
21 Figures 4-7 are views, similar to Figure 2, of high heel shoes made in 22 accordance with the present invention, and illustrating the application of the 23 invention to shoes with varying heel heights;
24 Fig 8 is a side elevational view, in partial cross-section, of a shoe made in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
26 Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the shoe of Fig. 8;
27 Fig. 10 is a perspective view, in partial cross-section, of the shoe of Fig. 8;
28 Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an element of the shoe of Fig. 8;
29 Fig. 12 is a view, similar to Fig. 8, and showing an alternative embodiment of the invention;

WO 98I14083 PCTlUS97/17652 1 Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 13-13 of Fig. 12; and 2 Fig. 14 is a side elevational view showing placement and support of the left 3 foot by the present invention.
4 Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present 5 invention. As in the case of the shoe of Figure 1, the shoe shown in Figure 2 has a 6 heel height of approximately two inches. However, unlike the conventional shoe 7 shown in Figure 1, in the Figure 2 shoe, the heel seat 20 is rotated clockwise, i.e., 8 in the direction of arrow CL, relative to the shank plane at an angle "H", relative to 9 ground plane 18, in accordance with the following formula:
H = 5~ + (oc x 1.25~) 11 where oc = the heel height in nearest'/z" segments in excess of 1".
12 An arch support 22 extends forward from the forward edge of the heel seat 13 20 to underlie the arch of the foot of the wearer, at least in part. Arch support 22 14 has a contour with a high point 23 which forms a barrier which prevents forward sliding of the calcaneus of the wearer forward in the shoe. The arch support 16 then curves downwardly from the high point 23 to join the shank 24 which then 17 runs to the toe region 26 of the shoe.
18 Shank 24 is inclined at an angle "M" perpendicular to the ground plane in 19 accordance with the following formula:
M = 18~ + (ac x 3.5~) 21 where oc = the heel height in nearest'/z" segments in excess of 1".
22 Maintaining the aforesaid relationships of "M" and "H" relative to heel 23 height is critical to the present invention in order to prevent excessive height at 24 point 23 which would be uncomfortable to the wearer. Thus, altering the M/H
relationship as heel height ac increases, results in a shift of the weight of the wearer 26 onto the heel seat, thus preventing forwarding sliding in the shoe, but without 27 creating a painful stress point under the arch of the wearer.
- 28 The toe region of the shoe is inclined upwardly and forwardly by the 29 upward and forward inclination at an angle 'T" of approximately 2-3~
plus/minus 1~ relative to the ground plane.

WO 98/14083 PCTlUS97/17652 1 The combination of the downward inclination of the heel seat, the contour 2 of the arch support 22 as an extension of the heel seat, the incline of the shank, and 3 the upward inclination of the toe region of the shoe, i.e. in accordance with the 4 present invention, results in higher percentage of the weight of the wearer being carried by and supported by the heel seat than in the case of a conventional high 6 heel shoe. Pressure measurements taken within the shoe under the wearer's heel 7 seat and balls of the foot, respectively, of a high heel shoe made in accordance with 8 the present invention, and a conventional high heel shoe of equal heel height, show 9 a shoe made in accordance with the present invention provides an increase in the weight carried by the wearer's heel of approximately 16 - 18%, with a 11 corresponding decrease in the weight carried by the ball of the foot of the wearer, 12 during walking. Thus, as a consequence of a design of the shoe of the present 13 invention, a greater portion of the weight of the wearer is borne by the heel seat 14 rather than being transferred by the sloping shank of the shoe to the ball of the foot, toe jamming is prevented, and comfort assured.
16 Referring to Figure 3 the line in ghost illustrates the heel seat angle H, the 17 inclination M of the first metatarsal and of the great toe T in the toe region relative 18 to the ground plane 18 of a high heel shoe made in accordance with the present 19 invention. Dimension oc represents the heel height. The solid line in Figure 3 represents the corresponding set of angles and inclination for currently available 21 high heel shoes having similar heel heights such as shown in Figure 1 to that of the 22 present invention. In these current shoes the inclination of the heel seat is upward 23 towards the rear of the shoe at an angle x of approximately 8 degrees, the 24 inclination of the first metatarsal downwardly and forward is at an angle y of about 27 degrees and the great toe is inclined upwardly and forwardly at an angle z of 26 approximately 1 '/z degrees. These angles are also relative to the ground plane 18, 27 and relate to a shoe of similar size.
28 A brief explanation of the mechanics of the foot rnay be helpful to facilitate 29 an understanding of the function of the shoe of the present invention. The foot is capable of functioning in two separate mechanical fashions so as to support the WO 98l14083 PCT/US97/17652 1 body above. Primarily, the foot functions as a beam and supports the body by 2 bending strain. This mechanism of support is effective when the force in acting on 3 the arch (arch flattening force) is relatively low. This occurs at such times in the 4 step when the center of body weight falls posterior (behind) the ankle joint. As the center of weight passes ahead of the ankle joint, as occurs in a normal step forward, 6 the forces present begin to cause arch flattening. To counter this, the foot initiates 7 a basic change in the mechanism of support to a truss form of support and is then 8 capable of supporting via compression strain. Since the bones of the faot have been 9 shown to be extremely strong in terms of compression strength, the greater the 1Q compression strain, the better the arch support ability. In order for the foot to 11 achieve this change in support mechanism, the metatarsals must be buttressed by 12 the bending of the toes. This buttress effect prevents the metatarsals from sliding 13 forward and thus permits the switch from bending to compression support.
14 It is the combination of this effect and the shape and inclination of the heel seat and arch support in the shoe design of the present invention that provides the 16 advantages of the present invention. By creating a particular platform surface for 17 the foot, a buttress effect is initiated in a more effective fashion preventing the 18 forward sliding of the metatarsal bones and, as a result, eliminating the subsequent 19 jamming of the toes into the pointed front of the shoes.
Increasing the angle of bending, dorsiflexion of the toes in the shoes can be 21 accomplished in one of two ways. The tip of the shoes may be lifted upwards 22 creating a "genie" type shoe. Although this would be effective, it would not be 23 particularly stylish. A more effective mechanism entails increasing the angle at 24 which the metatarsals themselves approach the sole of the shoe. This has the effect of increasing the bending of the toes without creating a "genie" type shoe.
This 26 increase in the angle of the metatarsals relative to the ground plane is accomplished 27 by the change in the rear construction of the shoe, specifically the angle of the heel 28 seat, and by extending the arch support under the navicular of the wearer as 29 previously discussed. Since the foot is jointed in a variety of locations, the plane that the heel bone (calcaneus) takes with the ground will be compensated for by the 1 pitch of the metatarsals as they approach the ball of the foot. This angular 2 relationship is inversely proportional. The closer the calcaneous comes to parallel 3 with the ground (provided there is adequate heel height present), the closer the 4 metatarsals approach a perpendicular attitude. Thus, by providing a heel seat with a low slope to increase the descent angle of the metatarsal, the desired buttressing 6 effect is achieved.
7 In the present invention, the heel seat is maintained downwardly inclined 8 with respect to the shank irrespective of the heel height, and the navicular of the 9 wearer is supported by an arch support extending forward from the heel seat.
In prior art shoe designs, the higher the heel of the shoe, the closer the heel seat angle 11 approaches the shank angle. This relative relationship in prior art shoe designs 12 created an inclined platform of the foot toward the floor. This increased angle in 13 turn forced the foot to slide forward and be pinched in the toe portion of the shoes.
14 The present invention creates a shoe in which the heel seat is downwardly inclined relative to the shank regardless of heel height, and provides an arch support which 16 underlies and supports the navicular of the wearer, thereby creating a surface which 17 causes a greater percentage of the wearer's weight is carried by the heel seat. The 18 metatarsal angle (corresponding to the shank of the shoe) increases proportionally 19 to the heel height, e.g. the higher the heel, the greater the metatarsal angle to the floor. In a shoe with a heel height over 2 inches, the advantage is not of increased 21 metatarsal inclination, but rather the resulting biomechanical change in metatarsal 22 inclination due to the maintenance of heel seat more closely aligned to parallel to 23 the ground plane.
24 This effect is emphasized when the toe region is angled as specified above in -order to increase the spring angle of the toes. As a consequence of this particular 26 design, the load distribution between the foot and the shoe is effected whereby 27 when the wearer is at rest a greater proportion of the weight of the wearer is borne 28 by the heel seat rather than being transferred by the sloping surface of the prior art 29 shoes to the ball of the foot with consequent problems as referred to above. Thus, 1 with the design of the present invention, toe jamming is prevented and comfort 2 assured.
3 While the description above has been made with respect to a U.S. standard 4 ladies' shoe size 7, having a 2 inch heel height, the invention is specifically designed to be applicable to the whole usual range of U.S. standard ladies' shoe sizes and 6 particularly to those in the range having from size 5 to size 10, and having various 7 heel heights and particularly to those heel heights that range from 1 to 3 inches.
8 With different shoe sizes and heel heights, the metatarsal inclination will vary 9 within the range of about 18 - 22 degrees in the case of a 1 inch heel height to about 33 - 36 degrees in the case of a 3 inch heel height. Figures 2 and 4-7 and the 11 following Table I illustrate high heel shoes made in accordance with the present 12 invention, and having heel heights of 1 inch (Figure 4), 1 '/z inches (Figure 5), 2 13 inches (Figure 2), 2 'h inches (Figure 6), and 3 inches (Figure 7.) Heel Seat Metatarsal Heel Height Inclination An le M Toe An~le (oc) (H) (T) 1~~ 5-6% 18-22% i=2%.

1'/z" 6-7% 20-23% 2-3%

2" 7-8% 24-28% 2-3%

2'fz" 8-9%~ 30-33% 2-3%

3" 9-10% 33-36% 3-4%

16 In Figs.8-I1, the primary elements of a shoe made in accordance with 17 another and preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown. The shoe 18 comprises a last/insole board 100 formed of a dimensionally stable, flexible material 19 such as leather, fiberboard, a non-woven material, or the like. Below the last board 110 is an outsole 112 and a heel 114. Located above the last board 1l0 is a rigid 21 device 116 comprising an heel cup l18 and an anatomically shaped arch appliance 22 120 extending forwardly from the heel cup 118 to just behind the metatarsal head 1 area 122. Device 116 is molded and/or machined to conform to the underside of 2 the foot whereby to locate and stabilize the heel of the wearer in the shoe, and is 3 racked downwardly from the heel cup 16, i.e. at about 5-10~, depending on the heel 4 height, so as to cause the foot to assume an anatomically correct position in the 5 shoe, while the heel of the wearer is retained in a near parallel relationship to the 6 ground plane, whereby to buttress the phalanges of the wearer to prevent forward 7 sliding of the foot of the wearer relative to the shoe, i.e. as described in detail above.
8 Device 116 is adhesively and/or mechanically, e.g. riveted or fixed to last/insole 9 board 11d.

10 Device 116 can be formed of a lightweight, rigid material compatible with 11 shoe construction. Thus molded device 116 preferably is formed of ABS
plastic;

12 however, device 116 may be formed of other rigid plastic molding materials or a 13 composite material such as a fiber reinforced plastic or a metal such as foamed 14 aluminum. Device 116 serves the dual purpose of locating and stabilizing the wearer's foot in the shoe, whereby to support the foot in an anatomically correct 16 position and provide torsional stability, and also serves to stiffen the shoe from the 17 heel forward to just behind the metatarsal head area, and support the weight of the 18 user. Thus, the requirement for a separate reinforcing shank may be eliminated.
29 However, the shoe also may incorporate a reinforcing shank, if desired.
Also, because device 116 is an integral part of the shoe, its exact location in the shoe, and 21 thus the location of the wearer's foot in the shoe is assured.
22 Completing the shoe is an insole or sock 124 which is placed over molded 23 device 116, and a shoe upper indicated generally at 126. Heel 114 is attached to the 24 outsole 112 by means of adhesive and/or mechanical fasteners in known manner, while upper 126 is affixed to the bottom of last/insole board 110 and outsole 112 by 26 means of stitching, adhesives, staples, rivets, or combinations thereof using one of 27 several well known shoe construction techniques.
28 The invention is susceptible to modification. For example, outsole 112 and 29 heel 114 may be formed as a single unit, as shown in Fig. 9. Also, as shown in Fig.
12, the device 116 advantageously may be employed in a low heel shoe 130 or boot.

WO 98/14083 PCTlUS97/17652 1 For such application, device 116 will be raked only slightly downwardly from the 2 heel cup 116 so as to accommodate the lower heel height, while the heel is retained 3 in a near parallel relationship to the ground plane. Also, device 116 could be 4 adjusted for different user applications, e.g. golf shoes, so as to provide the desired degree of torsional stability as well as anatomically holding the foot in position, 6 while maintaining shoe structural integrity. For example, as applied to golf shoes, 7 the area 132 underlying the medial longitudinal arch of the foot may be thinned so 8 as to permit for raising and lowering of the arch of the foot during the swing 9 motion, while the central portion would retai n its rigid construction to prevent long axis breakdown. Device 116 also advantageously may be employed in men's, 11 women's and children's walking and running shoes, tennis shoes, hiking boots, 12 cross-training shoes, sandals and other active footwear in which torsional stability is 13 desired.
14 Although the present invention has been illustrated in terms of a preferred embodiment, numerous modifications may be made without departing from the 16 spirit and scope of the invention. For example, as shown in phantom in Fig.
11, a 17 cut-out area 140 may be removed from device 116 underlying approximately the 18 distal 1/3 of the first metatarsal head. Therefore) the scope of the invention is to be 19 limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A high heel shoe having a fixed heel height a of at least one inch, a heel seat 20 topping said heel, an arch support 22 extending forward from the heel seat and having a first portion which supports the head of the navicular of the wearer in approximately the same plane (relative to the ground plane) as the wearer's heel bones, a shank 24 extending downwardly and forwardly from the first portion of the arch support, and a toe support region 26 which extends at an inclination upwardly and forwardly from the shank whereby to buttress the phalanges of the wearer to prevent forward sliding of the foot of the wearer relative to the shoe, wherein the heel seat is situated clockwise relative to the shank at an angle "H"
which is relative to the ground plane 18 in accordance with the following formula:
H = 5°+(.alpha. x 1.25°) wherein .alpha. = the heel height in nearest 1/2 inch segments in excess of 1", and the shank is inclined at an angle M perpendicular to the ground plane in accordance with the following formula:
M = 18° + (.alpha. x 3.25°) wherein .alpha. = the heel height in nearest 1/2 inch segments in excess of 1".

2. A high heel shoe according to claim 1, wherein the heel seat 20 is inclined with respect to the ground plane at an angle of approximately 3°
plus/minus 1°.

3. A high heel shoe according to claim 1, wherein said shank 24 is inclined relative to the ground plane at an angle of approximately 3°
plus/minus 3°.

4. A high heel shoe according to claim 1, wherein the toe region 26 of the shoe is inclined at an angle of approximately 2-3° plus/minus 1° with respect to the ground plane 18.

5. A high heel shoe according to claim 1, wherein said heel height .alpha. is approximately 1", said heel seat inclination H is 5-6°, said metatarsal angle M is 18-22° and said toe angle T is 1-2°.

6. A high heel shoe according to claim 1, wherein said heel height .alpha. is approximately 1 ~", said heel seat inclination H is 6-7°, said metatarsal angle M is 20-23° and said toe angle T is 2-3°

7. A high heel shoe according to claim 1, wherein said heel height .alpha. is approximately 2", said heel seat inclination H is 7-8°, said metatarsal angle M is 24-28° and said toe angle T is 2-3°

8. A high heel shoe according to claim 1, wherein said heel height .alpha. is approximately 2 ~", said heel seat inclination H is 8-9°, said metatarsal angle M is 30-33° and said toe angle T is 2-3°

9. A high heel shoe according to claim 1, wherein said heel height .alpha. is approximately 3", said heel seat inclination H is 9-10°, said metatarsal angle M is 33-36° and said toe angle T is 3-4°

10. An improved shoe construction comprising a flexible last board 110 overlying an outsole 112 and heel 114, the improvement which comprises a rigid device 116 comprising a heel cup 118 and having an anatomically shaped arch appliance 120 extending forwardly from said heel cup to just proximal to the metatarsal heads, said rigid device 116 being permanently affixed to said last board 110 as an integral part of said shoe, said rigid device serving to locate and stabilize the heel of the wearer in the shoe, and to support the heel of the wearer above the toes of the wearer, relative to the ground plane, such that the heel of the wearer is supported in a near parallel relationship to the ground plane, and cause the foot of the wearer to assume an anatomically correct position in the shoe, and to provide torsional stability, said device also contributing to shoe structure integrity.

11. A shoe construction according to claim 10, wherein said rigid device comprises ABS plastic..

12. An improved shoe construction according to claim 10, wherein the heel of the user is supported in a 5-10° angle relative to the ground plane.

13. A shoe construction according to claim 10, wherein said shoe comprises a cleated shoe, and wherein the area of said rigid device 116 underlying the medial longitudinal arch of the foot of the wearer is thinned down relative to the remaining areas of said device so as to permit for raising and lowering of the arch of the foot during walking.

14. A shoe construction according to claim 10, wherein said rigid device 116 comprises a one-piece molded construction.

15. A shoe construction according to claim 10, wherein said rigid device 116 comprises a one-piece machined construction.

16. A shoe construction according to claim 10, wherein said rigid device 116 is adhesively affixed to said last board.

17. A shoe construction according to claim 10, wherein said rigid device 116 is mechanically affixed to said last board.

18. A shoe construction according to claim 10, wherein a cut-out area 114 is provided in the device underlying the distal end of the first metatarsal head of the wearer.

19. In a method of making shoes in which an upper and an outsole are affixed to a last board, the improvement which comprises permanently affixing a rigid device comprising a heel cup and an anatomically shaped arch appliance to the top side of the last board, as an integral part of the shoe, whereby to stiffen the board from the heel forward to just proximal to the metatarsal heads, prior to affixing the upper and/or outsole on the last, said rigid device serving to locate and stabilize the heel of the wearer in the finished shoe, and to support the heel of the wearer above the toes of the wearer, relative to the ground plane, such that the heel of the wearer will be supported in a near parallel relationship to the ground plane when wearing the finished shoes.