US2304384A - Adjustable foot support - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24,1942. H. STEMMCNS 2,304,384

ADJUSTABLE FOOT SUPPORT Filed NOV. 13, 19 41 a Jnventor Patented Dec. 8, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE FOOT SUPPORT Clarence H. Stemmons, Kansas City, Mo.

Application November 13, 1941, Serial No. 418,931

2 Claims. (01. 36-71) This invention relates to foot cushioning and adjusting inserts to be fitted in the shoes of those persons needing foot corrective or cushioning adjustments on account of tenderness, weak arches, pressure, or the like. Usually these devices have comprised slip soles or sock liners. I have found that such devices do not always so accurately fit the contour of the shoe as to reliably maintain their position against forward slippage, this trouble being particularly encountered with the type of device which does not extend for the full length of the shoe.

In the present invention, therefore, one object is to make the device of semi-permanent or permanent nature, when positioned within a shoe, so that all possibility of slipping from position will be avoided. At the same time, another object is to provide a construction of the general character indicated which is so constructed as to provide for access to the space below the sock liner for the positioning or removal of various adjusting pads and cushions, so that the structure may be modified in accordance with the foot condition of each patient, or in accordance with betterments in the foot of a patient which may be brought to pass through the gradual reconditioning of the foot.

With the general objects named in view and others as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe with the part above the sole, in central longitudinal section, the shoe being depicted with an antislipping member of shorter length than and resting on the sole and constituting an anchorage for a member of substantially the same size and contour, equipped with a metatarsal pad, the last named member being shown in inoperative position for disclosure of the anti-slipping member.

Figure 2 is a substantially full-size top plan view of the anti-slippage member, the instep wing thereof being in fiat position.

Figure 3 is a reduced inverted plan view of the metatarsal pad holding member, composed of two layers, the lower layer having parallel longitudinal slits providing an intermediate depressible portion for holding an auxiliary metatarsal pad, when deemed necessary, the two layers being stitched together, but free of attachment at the wing or inner side, from the front end of the metatarsal member to a point corresponding to the front side of the heel portion, the unattached edges providing a pocket for the reception of pads, if desired, between the heel portion and metatarsal pad.

Figure 4 is an upright cross section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

In the said drawing, where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, I is a base member of sheet material and of contour corresponding generally to the inner face of a shoe sole. This base member is of such material, except when built in as a part of the shoe at the time of manufacture as will, hereinafter appear, as to be thoroughly wettable' by glues, pastes, and adhesives, and it may thereby be permanently or semi-permanently secured in position to the sole of a shoe. If the base member is actually built in as a part of the shoe then only its upper face is wettable by adhesives. The base member as it is here shown, is in the form of a partial inner sole or sock liner, in that it does not cover the full length of the sole of the shoe, but ends just forward of the metatarsal joint.

Hingedly secured at its front edge to the front edge of the base member I, as by a line of stitching 2, is a flap member which preferably comprises two separate sheets of similar contour, a top sheet 3 of material which will not snag or catch on hosiery, and a bottom sheet 4 of adhesive wettable material. Positioned between the layers 3 and 4 is a metatarsal pad 5 which is confined by a row of stitching 6 connecting said layers or sheets. The two sheets 3 and 4, except along a limited portion of their edges where the mouth of a pocket 7 is exposed for placing an arch pad 8, are secured permanently together by a row of stitching 9. In order to provide means for raising the metatarsal pad to increase its thickness in such cases as may require this adjustment, the lower layer or sheet 4 has a pair of spaced slits l0 through which a pad ll of rubber or other suitable material may be thrust for underlying the metatarsal pad 2 as shown.

After the device has been secured within a shoe as explained by gluing the base I to the sole, the patient will point out the point or points of pressure or pain, and the operator proceeds to swing up the top or fiap member 3-4, which, by preference, is provided on the underside of its heel portion with a rubber or other suitable cushion surface I2. The operator can now glue or otherwise secure any pads as may be required to suit the condition of the patients foot. For example, in the construction as shown, the base I carries a more or less extensive heel and arch-wing rubber pad or adjustment I3 for cushioning this part of the foot. Also attached to the base I is a wedge heel support cushion M which has a tendency to straighten out the foot as the heel strikes the ground to overcome excessive toe-out. By placing a similar pad on the other side of the heel, excessive toe-in may be corrected. The member i'may also carry pads l5 and [6 for the support respectively, of the cuboid and astragalus portions of the arch.

From the above description and drawing, it will'be evident that I have produced a construction embodying all of the features of advantage set forth as desirable, and while I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that I reserve the right to all changes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. .In an adjustable foot support, a shoe, a base member of sheet material conforming in contour to the insole of the shoe from the back of the heel to a point forward of the metatarsal bones of a foot adapted for fitting in the shoe, a member conforming in size and contour to and resting upon the base member and stitched crosswise of the shoe at its front end to the base member, and consisting of two similar sheets stitched together, the bottom one adapted for adhesion to the base member, a pad secured permanently to and between the two sheet members at a point to underlie the metatarsal joint of any foot fitting the shoe, the top sheet of the two sheet member having an instep wing-extension at its inner side and for the length of said wing-extension, unattached to the bottom sheet to provide a hidden mouth through which 'cushions may be inserted between or withdrawn from the two sheets.

2. In an adjustable foot support for a shoe, a base member of sheet material conforming in contour to the insole of the shoe from the back thereof to a point forward of the metatarsal bones of a foot adapted for fitting in the shoe, a member conforming in size and contour to and resting upon the base member and stitched crosswise of the shoe at its front end to the base member, and consisting of two sheets stitched together, the bottom one adapted for adhesion to the base member, a pad secured permanently to and between the two sheet members at a point to underlie the metatarsal joint of and foot fitting the shoe, the top sheet of the two sheet member having an. instep wing-extension at its inner side and for the length of said Wing-extension, unattached to the bottom sheet to provide a hidden mouth through which cushions may be inserted between or withdrawn from the two sheets; the said bottom sheet having a depending loop below the metatarsal pad, and a removable pad for engaging said loop accessible for placement in or removable from said loop through said hidden mouth.

CLARENCE H. STEMMONS.

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