Fit and support system for the foot

Abstract

A footwear device suitable for interfacing with a sports implement, such as a snow ski, ice skate blade or in-line skate wheel system, is provided. It comprises a rigid base (2100), a heel counter (2300), a medial forefoot counter (2201) and a forefoot/midfoot compression member (2400). In one embodiment, the medial forefoot counter (2201) is adjustable in a direction medially/laterally with respect to the foot of a user into different positions relative to the rigid base. In another embodiment, the heel counter (2300) is adjustable in a direction anteriorly/posteriorly with respect to the foot into different positions relative to the rigid base. In a further embodiment, the forefoot/midfoot compression member (2400) comprises an instep counter (2420) and a support member (2410) for the instep counter. The instep counter (2420) is mounted for pivotal movement about a transverse axis relative to the rigid base (2100) and is also pivotable about a vertical axis centered in the vicinity of the first metatarsal of the foot. In a further embodiment, the footwear device includes a sports implement interface member ( 2101) which is adjustable in a medial/lateral direction with respect to a user's foot into different positions relative to the rigid base (2100).