JP2009543633A - Individually formed footwear and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

  Individually formed footwear such as shoes and insole to correct foot position and alleviate related problems. The shoe or insole includes at least one layer of a thermoplastic material advantageously selected from the group consisting of ABS, PVC, A-PET and PETG. A method for providing such footwear to a client at a retail store is also shown.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to footwear. More particularly, the present invention relates to individually adapted shoes, insoles, shoes and methods for obtaining them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION About 70% of the world's population suffers from foot problems. Only a small percentage of all people have the opportunity to purchase insoles that alleviate some of the problems. Recently, custom-made shoes and insoles have been manufactured by shoemakers, physiotherapists or foot therapists. So far, the associated sales system consumes considerable time and money. Those who are willing to pay 120-250 euros for special insoles or more than 300 euros for tailored shoes visit the craftsman or one of his remote partners, for example foot size and other features, Advantageously, the foot features, including the problematic features, are obtained and then placed on a waiting list for actual production by the artisan to begin. The delay between receiving orders and receiving customized insoles / shoes often extends from days to weeks, which makes the whole process quite awkward, especially from the point of view of the general client. Since foot movement / gait problems affect the soles, heels, knees, buttocks, back, etc., their treatment and prevention are particularly good for human health. A person walks 15,000 to 16000 steps every day. In sports, a foot takes weight many times. For example, the force from the ground is about three times the weight while running, and 7.5 times during basketball play with jumps and other irregular movements. If the foot position is correct, the load is evenly distributed to the upper joint.

  The pronation, called a general condition, means the inside (ie, midline) rotation of the foot (especially the heel and arch), which becomes over pronation when the foot rotates too much. In contrast, overload is caused by an inner rotation that is too small. Both conditions easily cause pain, wear and even pressure damage to the feet and various joints of the body.

  Different (arch) support insoles can be used to correct the position of the foot. They are designed to support the longitudinal center and lateral arches, but there are no separately glued wedges and they do not actually correct the position of the foot. Wedgeing is a time consuming and expensive process. The results obtained depend on the person doing the work and still tend to be less precise. Another disadvantage is that after the wedge is attached to the sole with an adhesive, a new mold cannot be obtained unless the wedge is first removed.

  Ready-made supports in the insole do not provide a perfect fit for any foot. Because people generally do not have the same foot shape. Thus, many support insoles ultimately seem inconvenient due to their terrible comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To alleviate the foregoing problems, the present invention, as one aspect thereof, is an insole for shoes having at least one layer made of a thermoplastic resin material, the material comprising ABS, PVC. The material selected from the group consisting of A-PET and PETG provides an insole characterized by exhibiting plasticity substantially below 95 ° C and above 45 ° C, ie in any of its ranges. .

  In another embodiment, the shoe has a sole having at least two layers, one of the two layers being made of a thermoplastic material.

  An insole or shoe that undergoes the shaping of the present invention to correct the position of the foot (or in fact reshaping since they inherently have some basic shape after manufacture) is hereinafter referred to as a preform. .

In a further aspect, the method of manufacturing individually formed insoles comprises:
Selecting one or more, for example, a pair of insole preforms from a collection of preforms having a thermoplastic layer;
If the preform is not preheated, heating the selected preform above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the thermoplastic resin layer;
Guiding the client to step on the heated preform,
Adjusting the angle of the ankle to the correct position with the assistance and guidance of an orthopedic or other trained person;
Adjusting the client's foot so that the plantar arch is in a normal height position;
Waiting for the temperature of the heated insole preform to drop below the glass point transition temperature of the thermoplastic material;
including.

In a further aspect, a method of manufacturing a separately formed shoe comprises:
Selecting one or more, for example, a pair of insole preforms from a collection of shoe preforms;
If the preform is not preheated, heating the selected preform above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic layer of the shoe preform;
Guiding the client to step into the heated shoe preform,
Adjusting the client's foot to place the plantar arch at a normal height,
Adjusting the angle of the ankle to the correct position with the assistance and guidance of an orthopedic or other trained person;
Removing the shoe preform from the foot,
Waiting for the temperature of the shoe preform to drop below the glass point transfer temperature of the thermoplastic material,
including.

In a further aspect, a method for providing a client with individually formed footwear includes:
A sales spot including a plurality of alternative items selected from the group consisting of an insole, a shoe liner and shoes, further comprising means for customizing an item belonging to the plurality of items on the client's foot. Organizing,
Studying the client's feet to enable selection of articles belonging to the plurality of articles;
Processing at least a portion of the selected article, preferably heating by means of customization, to a shape according to the external force introduced therein;
Contacting the client's foot with an article processed according to a predetermined use;
Correct the position of the foot by manually shaping and adapting the processed article;
including.

  The utility of the present invention arises from several problems. First, individually formed shoes or insoles provide natural arch support and distribute the force from the ground more evenly through the feet, knees, buttocks, and back. Second, it reduces in-progress or out-of-promotion and realigns the gait. This positively affects body posture and reduces fatigue, ankle sprains, friction and pain. The present invention further stabilizes the foot, adds lateral support for the foot, and enhances the reduction of muscle weakness. Further, when the thermoplastic resin layer extends under the side foot arch, the side foot arch is supported.

  Furthermore, considering the issue from a retail perspective, shoes / soles can be ordered through common retail stores, such as sports stores or shoe stores, and the customization process required by trained clerk takes only a few minutes Only. The sales spot only consumes a small space (several square meters), and the investment in equipment can be kept low. Providing customized insoles fosters a professional image that spreads from retail stores and provides advertising value related to other products. It attracts people to the store and increases sales of related products (shoes / insoles, socks, etc.) respectively. While retail prices are much lower than before, profit margins can be increased.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the insole or shoe has a thermoplastic layer that extends substantially over the majority of the insole, and is optional, but easy to adjust and easy to cut. At least the boundary region is left as it is.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the insole or shoe has a thermoplastic layer that covers only a portion of the insole / shoe from the lateral direction. Advantageously, the thermoplastic resin extends in the longitudinal direction from at least the heel to the bottom of the plantar arch and in the lateral direction to substantially the entire width of the insole.

In the following, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2 is a sketch of two insole embodiments according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of the method of the present invention in which individually formed footwear is provided to a client. FIG. 6 shows a more detailed flow chart for association analysis for determining client needs. FIG. 6 depicts a podscope including a transparent glass plate standing while a client performs a foot analysis. FIG. 3 is a more detailed diagram selected from the method steps of FIG.

Description of Embodiments The preform (~ blanket) insole has at least one layer, the layer is made of a thermoplastic resin, and the plantar arch from at least the heel of the target person's (hereinafter, client) foot. Extends below. Conveniently, two or three layers of material bonded together are used for the preform insole for client comfort. The upper layer (if used) of the preform insole is placed against the foot and the lower layer is placed against the shoe. The materials for these two layers can be selected from the prior art materials used in insoles. For example, the underlayer is a known material such as Rheluflex (trademark of Rhenoflex GmbH Ltd) comprising nonwoven polyester as a carrier, an ionomer resin-ethyl vinyl acetate mixture as an extruded core, and EVA hot melt as an adhesive. May be configured.

  The insole intermediate layer (in the case of three layers) is made of a thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin used can be selected from a large group of known thermoplastic resins. The important value is the temperature, the so-called glass transition temperature, at which the thermoplastic resin exhibits plasticity, while it returns to solid when the temperature drops after shaping the insole. This temperature is generally not high enough to feel uncomfortable with the client's foot. Despite the high glass transition temperature, the thermoplastic is still available if the thermoplastic is plastic, i.e. it can be cooled sufficiently before contacting the foot if it remains moldable. It is. A suitable temperature for a thermoplastic resin exhibiting plasticity is preferably below about 95 ° C and above 45 ° C. Conveniently, the range is 50 ° C to 85 ° C. Suitable materials that exhibit or are plastic within the preferred range are APET (amorphous polyester terephthalate) and PETG (glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate, which is a copolyester), or essentially similar properties. It is what has. Further, for example, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) can be used.

  The thickness of the thermoplastic layer should preferably be selected so as to provide reasonable support to the client's foot when the layer is in a rigid state. For example, if flexibility is more desired below the toe portion (thinner) than the sole arch (thicker), the thickness may vary across the layer.

Another property required for thermoplastic resins is that they are rigid below the melting point.
Referring to the embodiment shown in the upper sketch 102 of FIG. 1, an intermediate layer 104 (or a single layer) of thermoplastic resin can cover the entire area of the insole from the side. In another embodiment, referring to sketch 110, layer 112 covers only a portion of the insole from the side. This option requires that the thermoplastic resin extend lengthwise from at least the heel to the bottom of the plantar arch, and advantageously extend laterally over substantially the entire width of the insole. One possible implementation is designed such that the thermoplastic layer extends from under the heel to the metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot so that it can support the transverse foot arch. Also, the pre-cut pad can be placed under the side foot arch when the insole is shaped to lift the side foot arch to the optimal position. However, if some adjustment is required when the insole is laid in the shoe, it is advantageous to retain some area at the edge of the insole without a hard thermoplastic. Also, the toe portion of the insole should be free of rigid thermoplastic resin to allow natural foot movement during walking or running.

  One major aspect of the present invention relates to producing an insole preform that is prepared in one piece and is easy to heat to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin contained (piece is bonded May have separate layers bonded together, such as with an agent). Preferably, after cooling, the insole has a one-piece construction that corrects the position of the foot and supports the foot, in particular the plantar arch and the lateral foot arch. The plantar arch can be adjusted by pulling the top of the client's toes and / or pulling the top of the client's heel while holding the toes against the surface of the support (windlass effect). This adjustment can be performed with a soft pad regardless of whether or not guidance is performed using hands. Moreover, if it is a trained person, even if there is no support surface, an accurate result can be obtained only with a hand.

  Alternatively, according to the present invention, a shoe having a sole that can be shaped according to the client's foot may be provided to correct an incorrect position of the foot. In this case, the shoe has at least one layer of thermoplastic resin. Advantageously, the shoe is manufactured with all the necessary layers and adapted to each person at the time of purchase. Suitable shoes include, for example, various types of walking shoes, athletic shoes, boots, sandals and soft gym shoes.

  Advantageously, the shoe sole has a structure of at least two parts, the structure comprising a thermoplastic resin layer, the thermoplastic resin layer being provided on the upper surface of the sole material, for example in it. Integrated by embedding in One or more sole layers, excluding the thermoplastic layer, may include, for example, EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate), or other known materials, for example, the EVA described above may be used with different hardnesses . When there is one or more layers, the thermoplastic resin layer may be smaller in the lateral direction than the entire shoe. It is essential that the thermoplastic resin layer extends at least from the bottom of the footpad to the bottom of the plantar arch, similar to the insole. The thermoplastic resin can be selected in the same manner as the insole. Advantageously, at least the outer surface of the sole is made of a wear-resistant and friction-resistant material. Optionally, for example, viscoelastic foam or other materials may be used inside the shoe, they may be heat sensitive, so that the inside of the shoe is just reshaped with an insole And provide additional comfort / support. According to this embodiment, it can be asserted that it is a very comfortable personal shoe that tightly supports the bone structure of the foot and ankle. This is very important if the client suffers from, for example, diabetes or rheumatism and the shoe does not produce any friction or abnormal pressure on the foot.

  In a further alternative, footwear such as shoes (walking, sports, special training, etc.), skates, ski boots, etc. can be ordered with a pre-installed insole according to the present invention, the insole being personalized before use Must be done. The inner layer of the shoe receiving the insole of the present invention should advantageously conform to the insole shape. Optionally, for example, viscoelastic foam or other materials that may be heat sensitive may be used inside the shoe, thereby reshaping the inside of the shoe just by adding an insole.

  FIG. 2 shows, by way of example only, a flowchart of a method for providing an insole formed individually to a client by a retail store. The insole may be provided as such, or by default on shoes that may even include the insole of the present invention. Similarly, a shoe comprising a moldable insole of the present invention can be ordered through the method described below. Some of the method steps and associated devices are further visualized in FIGS. 3-5 for clarity.

  The inventive concept makes it possible to complete a customized insole in just a few minutes after receiving the assignment. The insole is offered to the seller as part of a complete service package that includes a sales spot, a foot analysis device, and a device that produces a customized insole. The service package may also include training the salesperson through an educational program that may be (intensive) lecture or daily basis.

  In step 202, the method begins. A sales spot is prepared for use at the retailer's store (218). The sales spots may advantageously be supplied as a predefined group that includes a number of separate elements having recommended locations within the spot so that the spot aggregate can be conveniently located in a suitable area, Alternatively, the retailer may make it at least partially from separate elements according to their preferences, if it appears useful. The spot includes the necessary means to quickly provide a properly shaped insole to the customer. Such means include a large number of insole preforms (preferably consisting of cardboard, for example, cardboard, space-saving, at least partly medium) with varying properties (size, thickness, basic design, etc.) A heating system (symbol 504 in FIG. 5), such as a stand or shelf with a visible casing), a mold stand with one or more mold-taking pads, and a furnace for heating the insole preform. And a research tool to analyze the client's foot and its problems / characteristics, in addition to a mere visual inspection, which is basically optional but anyway performed by trained staff. Good.

  The research means may include, for example, a podscope, a camera system, and a computer. A podscope is, by definition, a device for analyzing the interaction between a foot and a support surface. The client stands on the transparent glass plate of the podscope (see reference numeral 404 in sketch 402 in FIG. 4), where the person performing the measurement is shown through the mirror to the client's foot image. See lower sketch 410. The research means, for example the podscope described above, has data acquisition means such as an optical scanner, camera or other suitable device for optically and / or electrically imaging the client's foot and its position (error). (See reference numeral 406). Such imaging technology allows the storage of data that depends on the client for future use and storage purposes at the retail store.

  The imaging technique is coupled to a printer and / or computer (see reference numeral 502 in FIG. 5), which is based on the collected data, for example, different displays, such as arbitrarily enlarged foot images, silhouettes, and the like. To be visualized on the display. The trained salesperson points the client to the problem found in the foot position through the visualized image and sees how the situation can actually be improved by a custom insole according to the present invention. It may be explained. The computer may be configured to store data, preferably client specific data. Alternatively, a printed image may be stored. The computer may also include its own data transfer interface, e.g. a network interface, or a separate data transfer interface connected to them or directly connected to the data acquisition means to obtain data obtained from the central server of the sales chain, Alternatively, if the client permits, it may be transferred to an external device such as a third party database.

  Furthermore, the initiation phase includes a process 220 that educates salespeople and others about the insole sales and customization process of the present invention. Preferably, an insole manufacturing craftsman must take care of the training. It is beneficial to the result that human resources know how to use different insole designs, ovens, research tools, and mold stands. Certainly, responsibility for different devices may be shared by multiple people. That is, one person takes the foot analysis and the other actually shapes the insole into the proper shape. Only qualified in-store professionals may be entitled to wear brand labels associated with insoles. Educational programs may have periodic inspections that may be incidentally mandated for continued qualifications and rights to wear brand labels.

  Returning to the flow for implementing the present invention, step 204 is an analysis phase identified by the client, in which the trained salesperson examines the client's foot by hand or by eye. Or by listening from the client, preferably both, to first determine the client's needs.

  The analysis step 204 is further illustrated in FIG. 3 to illustrate other aspects included herein, first through the usage analysis (302), eg, for men / women, sports (general, and (Optional, tennis, running, soccer, football, basketball, hockey, skating, skiing, trekking, etc.) Is determined (304). The design affects, for example, the shape, material, thickness and elasticity of the preform. Information and decision making for analysis (eg, insole desired use / purpose 302) may be gathered directly from the client by investigating and monitoring the client's needs. The client may bring a pair of shoes to be used with the insole, for example, which makes it easy to select an appropriate preform design and size.

  In addition to just a collection of basic designs that are highly dependent on the desired use, more sophisticated data about the client's foot and its location (excessive, extraordinary, etc.) may be collected (306), eg, visually And may be reviewed through research tools such as the podscope described above. Although a preform that is too large may be appropriately cut to a smaller size in some applications, the size of the foot is of course the typical parameter required to determine (308) the appropriate insole preform / Standard. The client may communicate the size directly to the salesperson, but the size may be confirmed at the spot using an available measuring device. In addition, special conditions 310 such as hallux valgus, flat feet, concave feet, rheumatism, diabetes and pregnancy may further imply the need for special preforms that are advantageously in stock at retail stores. Preforms in which the sales manager cannot reliably handle or require the appropriate insole based on the information for which the client's feet and / or the indicated insole needs further investigation There can still be a rare situation where you simply realize that is not available. The salesperson may then send the client to a special clinic that employs a foot specialist with deeper knowledge, such as a physiotherapist or practitioner. Alternatively, the salesperson may contact a clinician for consultation and optionally order a special preform from the client if possible. In the clinic, more detailed examinations must be performed, for example neuromuscular, circulatory joint and soft tissue palpation exercise tests may be performed. The biomechanics of the lower limbs and the spine may be evaluated by recording the client's standing, walking and running on a video tape. Radiographs, bone scans, CT, MR, or ultrasonography can also be used. In this way, the cooperation between the clinic and the retailer providing the insole allows the client to receive a fully guaranteed service and the basic case is resolved at the spot on the retailer's premises, providing a more comprehensive Research must be done in the clinic.

  Instead of verbally communicating with the client from nothing, for example, a computer with pre-organized software is provided to interview the client regarding the characteristics of the foot and the intended use of the insole After that, the client profile is formed at least semi-automatically based on predetermined profiling rules. Alternatively, the client may have the preference already stored in the retail store by the existing customer history, in which case the client's personal data and future use of the new insole is not substantially changed. If so, the analysis step may basically be omitted.

  In any case, the software or a salesperson optionally supported by the software may recommend the appropriate insole design to the client based on the information available, and then the corresponding insole preform is preferably The preforms (or packages containing one or two preforms) will be removed from the nearby shelves where they are conveniently grouped based on their size / design. Since human feet are not actually the same size or shape, the preforms may be packaged separately instead of traditional one-by-one packaging. Alternatively, if the client already knows his or her need without the motivation for reanalysis, the client retrieves the appropriate preform on his own, and then the client is a sales representative for the rest of the customization procedure. You may consult with.

  In step 206, a suitable pair of preforms has already been determined and they are heated to a temperature that allows at least the pre-defined portions to be re-formed as a response to the physical forces introduced into them. The material selection for the preform as described above ensures a softening temperature, eg 85 ° C., for the predetermined part that is still acceptable by the client. After heating the preform to a reasonably high temperature, the aforementioned 85 ° C., it is preferable to wait until it falls to a more convenient reading such as 70-75 ° C. from the client's point of view. Alternatively, the client may wear socks or corresponding protective material to insulate the foot from high temperatures. The heating device is advantageously selected and configured so that the time to completion of heating is preferably less than a few minutes in order to provide prompt service to the client.

  In step 208, the heated preform is preferably placed on a flexible material, such as a mold stand mold pad (eg, pillow / cushion), for example, by the client through the sole to the preform surface. While instructing the force to be introduced, the salesperson guides the client's foot to the appropriate position, adapts the insole by physical interaction, for example by hand shaping with a fingertip, Achieve an improved mold according to the principles of the invention. See step 210 in FIG. 2 and symbol 506 in FIG. Shaping may be mentioned, for example, by introducing protrusions in the desired direction from the original insole shape / surface. Further, the client may introduce the necessary pressure corresponding to the posture of standing on the preform and applying the actual weight. Advantageously, the mold stand has a lower part that receives one or more mold pads and the client's feet above them, and an upper part such as a horizontal bar that the client can seek support during the mold-making process. And have.

  In step 212, the salesperson checks whether each insole fits the client's respective foot (sole) and provides an improved foot position and body posture. See reference numerals 508 and 510 in FIG. If fine tuning is to be made, the method may be redirected to an appropriate preceding step, such as step 206, 208 or 210. Otherwise, the individually formed insole fits the client's shoe and may require minor adjustments, such as 224, to cut the border area.

  Method execution ends at step 216. It waits until the temperature of the insole falls below the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin, after which the insole can be utilized. If the seller wants to maintain a customer registration or wants to send this information to a central registration that may be maintained by the sales chain, insole producer or some other third party, customer data May be accumulated (226) to facilitate future business for the same client. This preferably occurs only after the client has obtained a clear consent to store personal information. Step 226 may include providing the requester with care instructions for the insole.

  As an additional service, only 222, but if the client does not have shoes initially, the salesperson can advise the client to direct the client's interest to the insole of the present invention. This may occur unconditionally or after noticing a foot problem that the special insole can alleviate.

  The retail store may provide a product warranty that allows the client to obtain a preform that has been reshaped by the salesperson at no additional cost or with a basic service fee as needed.

  Although the above method has been described in terms of a pair of insoles, it is a preferred scenario, but one insole (or one shoe) may be provided.

  In the present invention, a liner or other element / layer to be placed on a shoe or possibly included in a shoe or other footwear is an insole of the present invention characterized by similar effects and general applicability. Can be considered.

  Similarly, the shoes of the present invention may be provided in the spirit of the method described above. In particular, the shoe sole or part thereof may be constructed by following the ideas set forth above with respect to the insole. For example, soft gym shoes, ballet shoes, sandals, or other types of shoe soles with sufficiently flexible portions suitable for manual molding after heating can be reshaped as appropriate.

  Certain method steps may be performed in reverse order, such as, for example, a set of foot characteristics analysis 306 and usability analysis 302 and basic insole design collection 304, both aspects selecting the appropriate insole blanket. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it contributes to (308).

Instead of heating, the preform can be reshaped using something other than the embedded thermoplastic material. For example, certain resins can be cured by using a predetermined chemical. However, in applying them, it is important to select materials that allow the preform to be reshaped in real time without problems on the client's foot. For example, the client must not be injured by a health hazard such as sunburn during or after reshaping.
In addition to humans, the invention also applies to the production of special footwear for animals.

Claims (30)

An insole for shoes or footwear, the insole having at least one layer of a thermoplastic material, the material being selected from the group consisting of ABS, PVC, A-PET and PETG, An insole substantially exhibiting plasticity at 45 ° C. or higher and 95 ° C. or lower. The insole of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic resin layer essentially covers the entire insole. The insole of claim 1, wherein the insole includes an upper layer for feet or / and a lower layer for shoes. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic resin layer extends at least from under the heel to under the plantar arch of the foot. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic resin layer extends from under the heel to the middle toe joint of the foot. 4. The insole of claim 3, wherein the lower layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a nonwoven polyester and an ionomer resin-ethyl vinyl acetate mixture. Footwear comprising the insole of claim 1. 8. Footwear according to claim 7, wherein the footwear is selected from the group consisting of shoes, skate shoes and ski shoes. The footwear according to claim 7, further comprising a heat-sensitive inner layer. A shoe comprising a sole having at least two layers, wherein one layer is made of a thermoplastic material. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic resin layer essentially covers the entire sole. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein the shoe sole includes an upper layer for the foot and / or a lower layer for the walking surface. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic resin layer extends at least from under the heel to under the sole arch, and the shoe includes an underlayer for the walking surface. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic resin layer extends from under the heel to the middle toe joint of the foot. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic resin material is selected from the group consisting of ABS, PVC, A-PET, and PETG, and the material exhibits plasticity substantially at 45 ° C. or more and 95 ° C. or less. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic resin layer is integrated with the shoe sole. The shoe according to claim 10, further comprising an inner layer made of a viscoelastic foam. In the method of manufacturing individually formed insoles,
Selecting one or more insole from a collection of preforms having a thermoplastic resin layer;
Heating the selected preform above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin layer when the preform is not preheated;
Guiding the client to step on the heated preform,
Adjusting the client's foot so that the plantar arch is in a normal height position;
Adjusting the angle of the ankle to the correct position with the assistance and guidance of an orthopedic surgeon or other trained person;
Waiting for the temperature of the heated insole preform to fall below the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material;
A method comprising the steps of: Placing an insole preform on a soft pad,
Ensuring that the insole preform closely follows the plantar bow and that the foot is in the correct position by hand, or / and finishing the insole shape to match the inner dimensions of the shoe,
The method of claim 18 further comprising one or more of: The foot adjustment process
Pulling the client's toe up so that the plantar arch is in a normal height position;
Lifting the client's heel while holding the toes against the support surface;
The method of claim 18 comprising at least one of the following: In a method of manufacturing individually formed shoes,
Selecting one or more shoe preforms from the shoe preform collection;
Heating the selected shoe preform above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic layer of the shoe preform when the preform is not preheated;
Guiding the client to step into the heated shoe preform,
Adjusting the client's foot to place the plantar arch in a normal height position;
Adjusting the angle of the ankle to the correct position with the assistance and guidance of an orthopedic surgeon or other trained person;
Removing the shoe preform from the foot,
Waiting until the temperature of the heated shoe preform drops below the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material;
A method comprising the steps of: Placing the shoe preform on a soft pad;
Ensuring that the shoe preform follows the sole bow closely and that the foot is in the correct position by hand,
The method of claim 21, further comprising one or more of: The foot adjustment process
Pulling the client's toe up so that the plantar arch is in a normal height position;
Lifting the client's heel while holding the toes against the support surface;
The method of claim 21, comprising at least one of: In the method of providing individually formed footwear to the client,
A sales spot including a plurality of alternative items selected from the group consisting of an insole, a shoe liner and shoes, further comprising means for customizing an item belonging to the plurality of items on the client's foot. Knitting (202, 218),
Studying the client's foot (204) to allow selection of articles belonging to the plurality of articles;
Processing (206) at least a portion of the selected article and heating it, preferably by means of customization, in response to an external force introduced therein;
Bringing the client's foot into contact with an article processed according to a predetermined application (208);
Correct the position of the foot by manually reshaping and adapting the processed article (210, 212);
A method comprising the steps of: Reshape the article (224) by cutting at least a portion of the article, store the client-specific article data in a local data storage device or a remote data storage device (226), analyze the foot and Educate the sales clerk to reshape the item (220) and send the client to a pre-determined clinic for analysis results indicating that no suitable item is available in the plurality of items (312). ) And
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising at least one of: The sales spot further includes one or more research means for analyzing a client's foot, the research means being selected from the group consisting of a podscope, a camera, a scanner, a printer, a display, and a computer. 25. The method of claim 24. The means for customizing is selected from the group consisting of a flexible pad on which the selected item is placed while in contact with the client's foot, and a heating system such as an oven for heating the selected item 25. A method according to claim 24, comprising at least one element. The selected article consists of foot size, foot form, purpose of use of the article indicated by the client, and special conditions of the foot as detected by analysis or as indicated by the client 25. The method of claim 24, picked up from the plurality of articles by using one or more criteria selected from a group. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the special condition comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of hallux valgus, flat feet, concave feet, rheumatism, diabetes and pregnancy. The method according to claim 24, wherein the selected article has a thermoplastic resin layer that is shaped in response to the external force when heated above a predetermined temperature.

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