Other

Northwest Podiatric Laboratory, Inc.

Northwest Podiatric Laboratories, Inc.

Superfeet Worldwide, Inc.

Hyclone Laboratories, Inc.

Northwest Podiatric Lab

Superfeet In-shoe Systems, Inc.

Dennis N Brown

Dale G Kern

Dan Wakeland

David C Carroll

Insole for footwear

A system for securely storing a weapon. The system includes a tray for containing a weapon. The tray has an opening for accessing a weapon. The system also includes a portable safe having an interior space sized and shaped for retaining the tray and the contained weapon. In addition, the system includes a mounting module attachable to a fixed surface. The mounting module includes an interior space for holding the portable safe and an access control system for locking the portable safe within the interior space of the mounting module. The access control system allows access by an authorized user and denies access of the weapon within the portable safe to an unauthorized user. The weapon is contained in the tray, the tray is retained in the portable safe and the portable safe is held in the interior space of the mounting module.

Portable weapon safe with mounting module and access controller providing rapid access to a weapon

The automobile display apparatus provides a triangular caution that easily attaches to and detaches from an automobile driven by a new driver. The apparatus, most importantly, attaches without damage to the auto but also insures that detachment is by choice only. The majority of the apparatus is fully flexible, thereby further improving adhesion. The inverted triangle is easily recognized as a cautionary symbol. Part of the reflective indicia is designed to progressively become a recognized symbol for a new driver so that the printed words may be omitted, by choice, in the future. Additionally, the indicia of the young person in the car serve the same purpose as an identifiable symbol to most motorists of a new or young driver. Identifying the driver as new encourages other motorists in the vicinity to be cautious and to also adapt a more courteous posture toward the new driver.

Automobile display apparatus

An orthotic insert assembly having a stationary heel post with a guide slot and an unattached rigid plate member with a depending peg that is received in the slot. The peg cooperates with the guide slot to control and direct a medial-to-lateral rocking movement of the plate member as the wearer's foot progresses through the gait cycle. The slot may be angled to impose a predetermined direction on the rocking movement.

Orthotic assembly having stationary heel post and separate orthotic plate

An orthotic insert having an angled lateral surface that engages the insole so as to pivot the insert in a lateral direction and invert the rearfoot at heel strike, and a medial bottom surface that freely interfits within the heel counter and insole of the shoe so as to avoid limiting pivoting motion in the medial direction as the weight on the foot shifts forwardly and medially. Pivoting motion in the medial direction is arrested by engagement between a distal medial portion of the rigid plate member and the insole along the transverse plane of the shoe. The distal medial portion of the plate member is located generally proximal and beneath the first metatarsal head of the foot. The upwardly angled medial surface of the post permits the post to fit optimally within the heel area of the shoe and also avoids interference between the heel counter/insole and the post that would impair proper operation of the insert.

Orthotic insert having heel post with contoured lower surface

A removable orthotic insert for improving the gait of a person suffering from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or other condition that impairs proper transfer of weight to the forefoot. There is a rigid cap member having a downwardly extending, transverse ridge located proximate the junction between the arch and forefoot portions of the insert, behind the metatarsal head area of the foot. The ridge engages the underlying insole of the shoe to form a pivot point that enables the insert to rock forwardly and rearwardly in the shoe. As the person's foot moves through the gait cycle, the transfer of weight towards the forward end of the foot causes the rigid cap member to tilt forwardly in the shoe, enhancing the angular orientation of the foot as the toe-off position is reached.

Orthotic for improving toe-off action of human foot

An insole assembly for a shoe or other article of footwear. The assembly includes a soft, cushioning foam blank having an upper surface which is contoured to engage the plantar surface of a foot, and a thin, substantially rigid, resiliently flexible cap which is mounted to the bottom of the blank so as to extend around the heel end and forwardly along the medial and lateral sides thereof. The rigid cap includes an upstanding wall which engages and buttresses the perimeter of the foam blank, and a series of medial and lateral flanges which extend across and support the bottom of the blank. The flanges are configured to cooperate with the foam blank to define zones of support in specific areas, with the maximum support and rigidity being provided for the rearfoot and midfoot areas of the foot.

Contoured insole for footwear

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 composite material blank for an orthotic insert. The device is formed of layers of fiberglass and graphite fiber material. A first graphite fiber layer provides the overall structure with increased strength, while secondary graphite fiber reinforcement strips are arranged below the first and fifth rays of the foot to provide additional rigidity and control in these areas. The edges of the graphite fiber layers are recessed inwardly from the edges of the fiberglass layers so as to provide a graphite-free border which prevents cracks from propagating into the graphite fiber layers. The layers are bonded together by heat curing over molds.

Method of making a composite material orthotic insert for enhanced control and durability

A gas cartridge introduced into the housing of the invention is punctured by a pin moved by an arm designed to show through a series of windows whether the cartridge is full or empty. A pulling on a tab rotates the arm to action, in puncturing the cartridge and a spring then locks the visual displays in position. The pin is provided with a cone-shaped head which prevents any re-arming of the arm from changing the display to show that the cartridge is full, when in fact the cartridge has been spent. The amount of pull needed to activate the arm can be selectively controlled.

Compressed gas safety inflator for life vests, life rafts and the like

A flotation device of the invention&mdash;of cell shape, substantially flat and of little bulk when deflated&mdash;is able to be filled with a compressed gas from a cartridge coupled with it so as to unfold and expand outwardly under action of the compressed gas which fills it. A belt of a jacket with an adjustable strap overlies the flotation device about the waist of a wearer and is coupled with it by a drawstrap. When the flotation device is filled with the compressed gas, its length increases to that of a life vest which can be placed around the head and about the neck when being donned. Pulling down the end of the drawstrap snugly secures the flotation device to the adjustable strap which continues to be worn about the waist. An elongated tube allows the wearer to orally inflate the vest should the compressed gas tend to leak over time, in keeping the head out of the water. The drawstrap is fixed to the waist strap at its inside center so as to bring end sections of the inflated flotation device towards one another when the drawstrap is being pulled, in tightening the life vest about the neck.

1-step safety belt inflatable into a life vest

A thin orthotic insert having a rigid rearfoot plate and a flexible forefoot cushion which are joined together without requiring a separate top cover. A connection is formed by a slot at the forward edge of the plate which receives and holds the rearward edge of the cushion layer. The rearfoot plate may be formed as a laminated structure, with forward edges of the upper and lower laminate layers being separated to form the wall portions above and below the slot. To form the slot, a spacer is inserted between the edges of the layers and then withdrawn after molding/curing. Because the need for a top cushion is eliminated, very low thicknesses can be achieved, on the order of 1.5 mm. The device is particularly advantageous for use in women's high-heeled shoes, where interior volume is extremely limited.

Growing community of inventors

Blaine, WA, United States of America

Dennis N Brown