GB434733A - Apparatus for obtaining measurements in connection with the feet - Google Patents

Abstract

434,733. Apparatus for measuring the feet. LEACH, T., 92A, Kensington High Street, London. March 8, 1934, No. 7430. [Class 17 (iii)] [See also Group VI] Apparatus for obtaining measurements in connection with the feet comprises a base 1, supporting means for measuring (1) the length of the foot, (2) any malposition of the scaphoid bone and eversion or inversion of the heel under load, and (3) the height of the longitudinal arch. Means are preferably also provided for measuring the width of the foot across the base of the toes and the heel, and any degree of the malalignment of the big toe together with the force required to bring it into correct alignment. As shown, the base comprises a shallow box having a partly glazed top 5, 6, Fig. 1, the glass in use being preferably covered with celluloid or like transparent heat nonconducting material. The box has a central rib 7 carrying a slider 8 on which is mounted within the box transparent protractors 9, 10. The slider 8 comprises a block having recesses 45 which are contacted with the ball of the foot and which in conjunction with blocks 17 having recessed profiles 19, 20, serve to position the right or left foot on the support. The rib 7 also supports a second slider 36 having mounted thereon a cross member 37 resting on metal bearers 38 at the sides of the apparatus. The cross member 37 is brought into contact with the toes, whereupon pointers 39 disposed over English and metric scales 40 indicate the length of the foot. An arm 41<a> mounted on a slider 42 on the member 37, when contacted with the outer side of the foot, indicates the width at the toe-roots on a scale 43. The distances from toe or heel to the ball of the foot is indicated on scales 11, 12 by lines 47 drawn on the protractors 9, 10 and passing through 45. The height of the arch is measured by a device, Fig. 4, comprising a pillar 50 carrying a slider 51 having a cranked arm 52 projecting therefrom to engage the arch ; the base 49 of the device is clamped by bolts and fly-nuts to a slider 48, Fig. 1, on the rib 7. Deflection of the scaphoid bone when loaded is measured by a block 34 sliding on a rod 29 pivoted at 29<a>. The block 34 has projections 35 which are contacted with the scaphoid bone and the deflection of such bone when weight is thrown on the foot is measured on a scale 31 over which an index 30 on the free end of the rod 29 is movable. A cross-rib 13 supports sliders 14, 22, the sliders 14 having projecting arms 15, and 22 supporting a pivoted rod 23, Fig. 3, having an index 28<a> movable over a scale 28. A block 24 sliding on the rod 23 carries slidably a rod 25 having a fork 26<b> engageable with the heel, the slider and the rod being flexible by a clamping screw 26a. When the fork 26<b> is contacted with the heel, movement of the arm 15, Fig. 1, into contact with the foot gives the half-width of the heel on a scale 16. Rotation of the fork when weight is thrown on the foot, due to eversion or inversion of the heel, is indicated on the scale 28. The apparatus is made symmetrical for measurement of either foot. The force required to bring a malaligned big toe into normal position (as indicated on the protractors 9 or 10), may be measured by a spring balance attachable to the toe and tensioned by a screw spindle mounted on the base of the apparatus.