A cushioning device for cushioning the contact load on a foot during gait. The cushioning device includes a tread of curvilinear shock absorbing elements substantially extending along a basic contact trajectory equivalent to the locus of substantially maximum contact stress during foot rolling. Each shock absorbing element has a triangular-shaped cross section having an inclined face oriented toward the contact trajectory such that each of the shock absorbing elements is flexed away from the basic contact trajectory during stance. As a result, the cushioning device deforms along the basic contact trajectory to a greater degree than on the rest of the device area, thereby equalizing the plantar contact stresses and improving the shock absorbing process.

An insole for use with footwear includes a first layer including a heel portion of a first thickness, a mid portion connected to a front section of the heel portion and having a substantially constant thickness which is much less than the first thickness, and having an upward curvature, an upper surface extending along the mid and heel portions and on which a person stands, and a lower surface extending along the mid and heel portions, the lower surface including a shallow recess in the mid portion, the first layer being made of a material of a first hardness; and a flexible and resilient, thin arch spring insert of a substantially constant thickness secured in the recess and following the curvature of the mid portion, the arch spring insert being made of a material of a second hardness which is greater than the first hardness.

Shoe comprising an upper (30), a sole (50) and an insole (40; 140), characterized in that it uses an insole (40) formed by at least one element (20; 120) of soft material joined on top of an element (10; 110) of rigid material.

A two-piece orthotic insert assembly. A post member is fixedly mounted in the heel end of a shoe, and has a generally concave bearing surface. A separate plate member is placed in the shoe so that the heel end thereof rests in the post, the heel cup of the plate member having a generally convex lower bearing surface which engages the concave bearing surface in the post member so as to permit a predetermined range of pivoting motion between the two pieces. The concave upper bearing surface of the post member defines a generally U-shaped bearing area which supports the rear foot portion of the plate at a predetermined angle for heel strike. Following heel strike, the plate member pivots so as to permit a controlled amount of pronation of the foot.

A removable insole for insertion into footwear, includes a lower layer made of a viscoelastic gel and including a lower surface, an upper surface, a toe portion, a heel portion and a medial arch portion interconnecting the toe portion and the heel portion, a first recess formed in the lower surface of the toe portion and a second recess formed in the lower surface of the heel portion, each recess having a peripheral side wall and a top wall, a plurality of thin, parallel, spaced apart sinusoidal wave shaped spring walls formed from the viscoelastic gel and connected to the top wall and the peripheral side wall in each recess, and the spring walls having lower edges generally coplanar with a lower surface of the toe portion and heel portion which is in surrounding relation to the respective recess; and a top cover secured to the upper surface of the lower layer.