US2721403A - Orthopedic support and blank therefor - Google Patents

Description

1955 s. QUISLING ORTHOPEDIC SUPPORT AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed Aug. 21, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 22 E OU/Si. ING

Oct. 25, 1955 s, QU|5| |NG 2,721,403

ORTHOPEDIC SUPPORT AND BLANK THEREFOR File 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

3V RRE OU/SL/NG Attorney Oct. 25, 1955 5 QUISLING onmormxc SUPPORT AND BLANK mum-0R 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Alli. 21, 1952 INVEN TOR.

@J m w 0 M M Mm R M w/v s United States Patent ORTHOPEDIC SUPPORT AND BLANK THEREFOR Sverre Quisling, Madison, Wis.

Application August 21, 1952, Serial No. 305,569

7 Claims. (Cl. 36-71) This invention relates to orthopedic supports adapted to be placed in shoes and to the blanks from which such supports may be made quickly, easily, and cheaply.

In the present state of the art, arch supports are made in two distinct types. The common type of arch support is made in standard sizes. These standard sizes are not adaptable to any large number of feet and are not suitable for use in every type of shoe. The other type of arch support is made to fit individual feet. In order to obtain an arch support which properly fits the individual foot, it is necessary for an orthopedic expert to make a plaster mold of the foot. A metal casting is then formed and finished to fit the foot and the shoe, using the mold as a pattern. The making of this type of arch support requires considerable time and is, of necessity, expensive, as is apparent. Even the best of these arch supports are often cumbersome.

Another type of orthopedic support has become conventional in which a pocket is provided at the point at which a portion of the foot is ostensibly supported, said pocket being adapted to be filled with a plastic material such as synthetic resin or rubber latex of which any desired quantity up to the capacity of the pocket may be introduced into the pocket. The pocket is then sealed and the support is placed inside a shoe. A person may then put on the shoes and while the shoes are being worn the material in the pocket sets to a hard and rigid, or at least firm, mass, thus creating a firm support for a portion of the foot. This type of support has the obvious disadvantage that rather than supporting a particular portion of the foot in such a manner as to correct a deformity, the contours of the deformity or malformation are impressed upon the material as it sets and thus the device merely supports the malformation rather than supporting said portion of the foot in such manner as to correct any defect.

My invention provides an orthopedic support which is suitable for correcting different sorts of defects, and may be adjusted to support difierent portions of the foot to different degrees and yet may be produced easily and cheaply and is such that fitting and adjustment may be carried out by any person who is well acquainted with the characteristics of feet or even by one who is merely well acquainted with the characteristics or deformities of any particular foot.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an orthopedic support which may be economically produced and yet which is adjustably adaptable to support any one or all of several portions of a foot in varying degrees.

Another object of the invention is such an orthopedic support which is not harmful to the shoe in which it is placed.

Another object is a blank from which such an orthopedic device may be produced.

Further objects will become apparent from the drawings and the following detailed description in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which it is my intention to illustrate the invention, it being understood that changes may be made from the precise embodiments shown without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an orthopedic device according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bottom of said device;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank from which said device may be made;

Figure 4 is a plan view of another orthopedic device according to my invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the device of my invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bottom of the device according to Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the embodiment of Figure 5 may be made;

Figure 8 is a plan view of another blank from which the embodiment of Figure 5 may be made;

Figure 9 is a plan view of another embodiment;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the bottom of the I device according to Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the bottom of another embodiment;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view on lines 12-12 of the insert showing the embodiment of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the bottom of a modification of the embodiment of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view on lines 1414 of the insert shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a plan view of still another embodiment;

Figure 16 is a plan view of still another embodiment;

Figure 17 is a plan view of a blank from which the embodiment of Figure 16 may be made;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the bottom of a modification of the embodiment of Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a plan view of still another embodiment;

Figure 20 is a plan view of still another embodiment;

Figure 21 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 20 with the appendages folded outward to show the construction; and

Figure 22 is a plan view of a blank from which a modification of the embodiment of Figure 20 may be made.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown an orthopedic device consisting of an insolelike portion I. provided with a rounded projection 2 extending from the perimetral edge thereof in the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch portion thereof. At the point where the edges of projection 2 meet the edge of portion 1 (which conforms to the normal perimeter of an insole of a shoe adjacent the longitudinal arch portion) straplike appendages 3 are attached. Appendages 3 may be integral with portion 1 or may be attached by means of sewing or adhesive or other means known to the art. Appendages 3 are folded downwardly and inwardly under portion 1, being attached by sewing or adhesive or other means to portion 1 at their extremities 4. The arrangement of appendages 3 in this manner provides a means of firmly securing inserts 5 to the bottom side of portion 1 at the longitudinal arch portion thereof. Inserts 5 are removable and any desired number of inserts may be included in order to provide a greater or less degree of support as may be desired. In addition to the support provided at the longitudinal arch portion by inserts 5, the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 make provision for support of the transverse or metatarsal arch, slots 6 being provided therein at approximately the central portion of the metatarsal arch adapted to retain insert 7 which may be of any thickness which will provide varying desired degrees of support for the central portion of the metatarsal arch. Several inserts may be iised in place of the single insert 7 to provide any desired height of support.

In Figure 3 there is shown a blank indicated generally as 8 from which the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be made. Blank 8 has substantially the shape of the insole portion of a shoe, additionally being provided with projection 2' at the longitudinal arch portion thereof and straplike appendages 3 protruding therefrom being integrally attached thereto at the junction of the edges which define the insole of a shoe at the longitudinal arch portion thereof and the edges of projection 2. Too portion 9 serves primarily merely to keep the device more securely in place and may be omitted. Heel portion 16 may also be omitted but is desirable to assist in keeping the device in place in the shoe. I is 4 Referfing now to Figure 4 thereis shown another embodimentin which insolelike portion 11 is provided with rounded lateral projection 12 in place of a normal insolelike perimeter at the longitudinal arch portion thereof and is further provided with appendages 13 attached at the junction of the edges of said projecting portion 12. and those edges of portion 11 which define the normal perimeter of an insole in the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch, said appendages being folded downwardly and inwardly and having their ends attached to the bottom of portion 11 at 14-. Inserts 15 maybe held in place by the interaction of portion 11 and attachedappendages 13. The metatarsal arch area may be provided with a plurality of slots 16 which thus provide for a plurality of locations for insert 17 which may be held in place by any pair of slots 16 and may thus support any portion of the transverse or metatarsal arch according to the needs of any particular user. i p

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 there is shown an em bodiment comprising a portion 21 generally conforming to the contours of the insoleof ashoe provided with projecting portion 22 at the longitudinal arch area thereof and further provided with strap-like appendages 23 attached at the junction of the edges of said projecting portion 22 and those edges of portion 21 which define the normal perimeter 'of an insole in the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch, said appendages 23 being folded downwardly and inwardly underneath the bottom surface of 21, their ends being attached thereto at 24. The position of appendages 23 is thus such that generally heart-shaped inserts 25 in any desired number can be securely retained in place by the interaction of appendages 23 and the bottom of portion 21. The device of Figures 5 and 6 does not extend forward entirely to the front of the shoe but the toe portion is omitted and the contour 29 of the front portion is substantially a straight line running transversely across the foot. Appendages 26 are attached to portion 21 at the junction of contour 29 with those edges of 21 which correspond to the normal perimeter of a shoe insole in its toe area, said an pendag'e's 26 having the form of strips and being folded downwardly underneath 2 1 and having their ends attached to the bottom of portion ll at 27. Said location of strip 26 permits the insertion underneath 21 of flexible inserts 28 in any number which may be desired to provide adequate support for the metatarsal arch portion of the foot, the arrangement of strips 26 being adapted to hold inserts 28 securely in place.

In Figure 7 there is shown a blankvfrom which the orthopedic supports of Figures 5 and 6 may be made, said blank may be formed out of material such as a thin fiexible sheet of leather or plastic in a single stamping operation in such manner as to provided all the elements of the device except inserts 25 and 28 as an integral unit or the appendages may be made separately and attached by known means such as by sewing or adhesive. Insole portion 21 is provided with projection '22 at the longitudinal arch area thereof and with adjoining appendages 23' and is provided at the toe portion with appendages 26'. That portion 29' which might *cbrres'p'bfi'd to the 4 portion of a shoe insole extending under the extremities Of the toes be ifi'cllld'ed or may be 'O'fiiittd as shiiWfi.

In Figure 8 there is shown another blank suitable for producing a very slight modification of the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6. Portion 21 of the blank corresponds to the contours of an insole of a shoe and is provided with projection 22" and adjoining appendages 23" and is provided with an omitted t'o'e portion 29 which optionally may be included and is provided further with adjoining appendages 26". It will be observed that although appendages 23' and 23f are attached to insolelike portion 21 and 21" respectively, at the junctions of the edges of projections 22 and 22" with the adjoining normal insolelike perimeter edges, appendages 23' are folded along the line of the insolelike perimeter whereas appendages 23" are folded along the line of the perimeter of projection 22"; therefore appendages 23' and 23" project from portions 21' and 21 in different directions. Similarly, appendages 26' and 26" although attached at substantially the same point with reference to toe portion 29' and 29" fold respectively along the edges of that part of the perimeter 21' which defines omitted toe portion 29 and the normal lines of an insole perimeter and therefore extend outwardly from portions 21 and 21 in different directions. s I

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10 there is shown another embodiment in which insolelike portion 31 is provided with projection 32 in the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch and with appendages 33 attached thereto at the junction of the normal insolelike perimeter in said area withjthe edges of projection 32, said appendages 33 being folded downwardly and inwardly, so as to underlie the bottom of 31 in parallel relationship, the ends of said appendages being attached to the bottom of portion 31 at 34. Said straplike appendages 33 thus provide means for securely retaining in place thinfiexible inserts 35 which may be inserted in any number desired for support of the longitudinal arch portion of a foot. In: solelike portion 31 is further provided with a pair of slots 36 under the hall of the foot adapted to retain inserts 37 which may be placed therein to provide support for the ball of the foot. Insole-like portion 31 is further provided with pairs of slots 38 and 39 at the heel portion thereof in which inserts may be retained to support either the right or the left portion of the heel respectively or to support the entire heel by placing an insert in each of the pairs of slots 33 and 39. insolelike portion 31 is further provided with perforations 40 which are adapted to improve the ventilation of the foot and also further adapted to retain powder which may be applied for treatingthe foot to alleviate or eliminate such condi tions as athletes foot, ringworm, fungus or impetigo or may be applied merely for the comfort of the wearer. Each perforation retains a small amount of powder and the powder therefore remains for a substantial length of time in the foot area instead of migrating to the outer edges o'r the insole.

Referring now to Figure 11 there is shown insolelike portion 41 provided with projection 42 at the longitu; dinal arch area thereof and with straplike appendages 43 folded downwardly and inwardly so as to underlie the bottom surface thereof and having their ends attached to the said lower surface at 44. Insert45 is retained in place by the interaction of portion 41 and said appenda 'ges 43.

In Figure '12 said insert 45 is shown in cross-section. Insert 45 may consist of a thin piece of material which may be leather or plastic and has attached to one surface atiibe 4'6 through which warm air may be introduced to warm the feet or powder or gas may be introduced to treat the feet; said tube 46 may be attached to the thin sheet 45 by adhesive or other means. It may be noted that insert 45 is not heart-shaped but is merely triangular in shape ang Pldvided with two lobes which extend through the loops formed by the two straplike appendages 43, said lobes beingso shaped that thebase line of insert 45 nearest the extremity of appendages 43 at point 44 is substantially a straight line.

Referring now to Figure 13 there is shown another embodiment quite similar to the embodiment of Figure 11 in which insolelike portion 51 is provided with projece tion 52 and straplike appendages 53 having their ends secured to the bottom surface of portion 51 at 54. Insert 55 which is retained in place by the interaction of portion 51 and straps 53, as show in Figure 14, comprises two pieces of thin flexible material, which may be any suitable material such as that of which portion 51 is made, having inserted thereinbetween tube 56 through which warm air may be introduced to warm the feet or gases or powders for treatment of the feet. Said tube 56 may be provided with a distributing device 57 which may be a short section of tubing disposed transversely to tube 56 and provided with a T connection thereto.

Referring now to Figure there is shown another embodiment in which insolelike portion 61 of thin flexible material is provided with straplike appendages 63 attached to the perimetral edge of portion 61 and folded downwardly and inwardly and attached to the bottom surface of 61 at 64. It may be noted that portion 61 is not provided with any projection at the longitudinal arch portion thereof but has merely the contours of a shoe insole. Insert 65 is retained in place by straplike appendages 63 and is also not provided with a projection extending beyond the insolelike perimeter in the longitudinal arch area of portion 63. Insert 65 may be best described as having a crescent shape rather than the heart shape shown in aforementioned figures and as indicated by Figures 11 and 13 insert 65 need not be heartshaped. insolelike portion 61 is further provided with straplike appendages 66 attached thereto at the perimeter of the toe portion thereof and folded downwardly and inwardly, having their extremities secured to the bottom surface thereof at 67. Insert 68 is retained in place in the toe area of portion 61 by the action of straps 66 and is generally semicircular in shape. Inserts 65 and 68 may consist of one or more layers of thin flexible material which may be similar to that of which insolelike portion 61 is made.

In Figure 16 there is shown another embodiment in which insolelike portion 71 is provided with straplike appendages 73 attached thereto by seams at the longitudinal arch portion of the normal insolelike perimeter thereof. Said straplike appendages 73 are folded downwardly and inwardly, having their ends secured to the bottom surface of portion 71 at 74. Appendages 73 are adapted to retain in place an insert according to the embodiment of Figure 15 or according to the embodiments of Figures 11 or 13 but in addition appendages 73 are provided with slots 79 which are adapted to have inserted therein an insert such as 75, which need not be so large as the inserts of the other embodiments aforementioned. Since slots are provided at different places in straps 73, insert 75 may be optionally inserted in such of said slots as will provide for its most suitable arrangement with respect to the area of the foot which it is desired to support.

There is shown in Figure 17 a blank from which the embodiment of Figure 16 may be made; said blank comprises insolelike portion 71' provided with one end of each of straplike appendages 73 sewed thereto adjacent the normal insolelike perimeter thereof at the longitudinal arch area. Said straps 73' are provided with slots 79' adapted to hold a small insert in any one of a plurality of desired locations. Insert 75 in Figure 16 is shown as having a generally crescent shape but need not have such a shape. It may be oval, diamond shaped, triangular, or even altogether irregular.

In Figure 18 there is shown another embodiment in which insolelike portion 81 is provided with straplike appendages 83 similar to the appendages 73 shown in Figures 16 and 17. Appendages 83'are provided with slots 89 therein and have their ends secured to the bottom surface of 81 at 84. An insert 85 which may be oval as shown may be inserted in a pair of said slots 89. As shown in Figure 18 any desired additional number of straplike appendages may be provided at any area of insolelike portion 81 to retain inserts of any desired thickness in order that support may be provided at any desired portion of the foot. For example, portion 81 may be provided with straplike appendages 86 in the neighborhood of the termini of the metatarsal arch, said straplike appendages 86 being folded downwardly and inwardly and having their ends secured to the bottom surface of portion of 81 at 87. Straps 86 are adapted to retain in place an insert 88 which may consist of one or more thicknesses of a thin flexible material which may be identical or similar to the material of which portion 81 is made. As has been mentioned before in connection with such inserts as insert 65 and insert 68, the insert such as 88 may be any one of numerous desired shapes.

There is shown in Figure 19 another embodiment in which insolelike portion 91 is provided with straplike appendages 93 extending on the lower surface thereof and substantially parallel with the lower surface thereof from points adjacent the normal insolelike perimetral edge thereof in the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch and being attached thereto at said points by adhesive or by seams as shown. Saidstraps may have their other ends adjacent each other and attached adjacent each other to the bottom surface of portion 91 at 94 by seams as shown or by other suitable means. Such straps are adapted to retain in place an insert such as 95, Which may consist of one or more thicknesses of a thin flexible material. Insert 95 may have any one of the shapes heretofore mentioned. As shown it may have the shape of an approximately symmetrical three-lobed planar figure, one of the lobes forming a projection 92 at the neighborhood of the longitudinal arch which may extend beyond the normal perimetral insolelike edge of portion 91. Insolelike portion 91 is further provided with straplike appendages in the toe area thereof, such straps being attached to the lower surface of portion 91 at their outer ends adjacent to the perimeter of portion 91 by seams, as shown, or other suitable means, being attached substantially adjacent one another at their other ends at 97, as shown. Straps 96 are adapted to retain in place an insert 98 which may support any desired portion of the toe area of the foot. Insert 98, which is shown as having the shape of an ellipse may have any of the shapes described heretofore in connection with inserts. Q

In Figures 20 and 21 there is shown another embodiment in which insolelike portion 101 is provided with appendages 102 and 103 attached respectively at the perimetral edge'of 101 in the toe area at 104 and in the heel area at 105, said appendages 102 and 103 being adapted to fold downwardly and inwardly so as to un derlie the bottom surface of portion 101 and be dis posed substantially parallel thereto, said portions 102 and 103 having respectively the shape of a sole portion of an insole of a shoe and the heel portion of an insole of a shoe so that taken together they substantially define the outline of a shoe insole. Portions 102 and 103 may be provided with slots 106 adapted to retain in place inserts such as 107, 108 and 109 which may be so located in any two or more of slots 106 as to support any edge portion of a foot. Inserts 107, 108 and 109 may have any of the shapes heretofore described in connection with inserts. Portions 102 and 103 are attached to the edge of portion 101 by sewing but may, of course, be attached by other suitable means such as adhesive or, as shown in Figure 22, they may be integrally connected therewith by being stamped out of the same sheet of flexible material.

In Figure 22 there is shown a blank comprising insolelike portion 101. provided with appendages 102 and 103 integrally connected therewith by being stamped out of the same sheet of material in connecting relationship, said appendages being adapted to be folded downwardly and inwardly underneath portion 101 so as to define a second insolelike portion substantially as shown in Figure 20.

Thus it may be observed from the description that my invention broadly consists of a sheet of thin flexible material substantially having the shape of at least a portion of an insole of a shoe and therefore adapted to be inserted in a shoe, said insolelike portion being provided with a plurality of appendages each having an end attached thereto adjacent the perimetral edge thereof and adapted to be folded downwardly and inwardly so as to underlie the bottom surface thereof and be sub stantially parallel therewith. Said appendages may be adapted tohave their other ends attached to the bottom surface of said insolelike portion and thereby to retain an insert of any desired thickness which may be adapted to support any desired portion of a foot or the appendages maybe provided with slots therein or straps thereon which are in turn adapted to retain in place such an insert.

The said thin flexible material may be leather or synthetic resin or rubber, natural or synthetic, and may suitably have a thickness of to the specific thickness not being critical to the invention.

Thus it may be seen that my invention provides means for easily and economically providing any portion of a foot whatsoever, according to the desires or whims of an operator, with support of such thickness and extending to such lateral degree as the operator may prefer.

Thus it will be observed that my invention is broad in scope and is not to be limited except by the claims since certain adaptations and variations may be permissible.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. In an orthopedic device comprising a sheet of thin flexible material substantially having the shape of at least aportion of an insole for a shoe and thereby being adapted to be inserted in a shoe, a pair of straplike appendages of approximately equal length each having an end attached thereto adjacent the perimetral edge there'- of spaced apart along said edge a distance approximately equal to the length of each of said appendages and folded downwardly and inwardly so as to underlie the bottom surface thereof and be substantially parallel therewith the otherwise unattached ends of said appendages being 1 attached adjacent each other to the bottom surface of said insolelike portion.

2. The device of claim -1 in which said appendages are provided with slots therein.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said slots are parallel to the perimeter-s "of said appendages.

4. An orthopedic device comprising a sheet of thin flexible material substantially having the shape of at least a portion of an insole for a shoe and thereby being adapted to be inserted in a shoe, having a rounded projection extending from the longitudinal arch portion of the perimetral edge thereof, said extending portion being adapted to extend upward along the interior surface of a shoe between the adjacent upper of the shoe and the adjacent longitudinal arch portion of a foot, said insolelike portion being provided with a pair of straplike appendages of approximately equal length each having an end attached thereto adjacent the perimetral edge thereof spaced apart along said edge a distance approximately equal to the length of each of said appendages and folded downwardly and inwardly so as to underlie the bottom surface thereof and be substan tially parallel therewith, said appendages being adapted to retain at least one piece of thin flexible material under said insolelike portion adapted to support a portion of a foot, the otherwise unattached ends of said appendages being attached adjacent each other to the bottom surface of said insolelike portion.

5. The device of claim 4 in which ends of said straplike appendages are attached to said edge at the longitudinal arch portion theerof.

6-. The device of claim 4 in which ends of said straplike appendages are attached on each side of said rounded projection.

7. A blank from which an orthopedic support may be constructed comprising a sheet of thin flexible mate rial substantially having the shape of at least a portion of an insole for a shoe, said insolelike portion being provided with a pair of straplike appendages of approximately equal length each having an end attached thereto adjacent the perimetral edge thereof spaced apart along said edge a distance approximately equal to the length of each of said appendages and adapted to be folded downwardly and inwardly so as to underlie the bottom surface thereof and be substantially parallel therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 246,931 Williams Sept. 13, 1881 683,142 Reed Sept. 24, 1901 1,061,352 Block May 13, 1913 1,417,600 Gutmann May 30, 1922 2,957,519 1 Block Oct. 13, 1936 2,220,439 Block Nov. 5, 1940 2,312,373 Baum Mar. 2, 1943 2,487,691 Boos Nov. 8, 1949 2,510,654 Pepin June 6, 1958 2,559,014 Fo'rtier July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,856/28 Australia Nov. 26, 1929

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