US1129525A

US1129525A - Orthopedic device.

Info

Publication number: US1129525A
Application number: US86358414A
Authority: US
Inventors: Melvin L Severy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1914-09-25
Filing date: 1914-09-25
Publication date: 1915-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1932-02-23

Description

M- L. SEVERY.

ORTHOPEDIG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25; 1914 Patented FGb. 23, 1915.

{HE NORRIS PETERS C0, PHDTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTUN, D C- MELVIN L. SEVERY, O'F ARLINGTON HEIGHTS. MASSACHUSETTS.

ORTHO'PEDIC DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed September 25, 1914. Serial No. 863,584.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN L. similar, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arlington Heights, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Orthopedic Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for the relief and curative treatment of foot troubles involving a fallen or otherwise displaced arch. Heretofore the usual treatment has been to give direct support from beneath to the arch of the foot, with the idea of holding it in its normal position, but such treatment is not curative for thereason that the bones are constrained to move in an abnormal way and the foot muscles are not given the exercise necessary to increase their strength.

I have observed that in the general class of cases which it is my purpose to treat, the foot of the patient rolls either inwardly or outwardly at each step as he walks, and that this rolling produces such a distortion of the position of the bones of the foot as to subject the arch to arbnormal stresses. So long as this rolling is permitted to take place there is no opportunity for the foot to regain its lost strength. The above considerations have led me to the conclusion that the proper treatment for such cases is the application to the patients foot of some device which will force the foot to the proper normal position at the beginning of each step, and I have found that I can force a foot into such position by the use of a brace attached to the patients heel and acting to rock the foot in opposition to the characteristic rolling tendency just as the patient places his heel upon the ground. For use in extreme cases the complete device is provided with means for giving direct support to the arch from beneath, but the theory of the treatment is to make this support as little as is consistent with the prevention of harmful strain. A further principle of the treatment is the gradual reduction and final elemination of this direct support as the strength of the foot gradually increases. By thus positioning the foot properly and by compelling it when properly positioned to support so much of the patients weight as it is capable of supporting I gradually strengthen the foot muscles and this institutes a gradual curative action. In order to make possible necessary adjustments during the course of treatment and in order to secure uniform conditions with diflerent shoes I prefer to make the device wholly separate from the shoe, though obviously it might be constructed as part of a shoe, and it therefore takes in its preferred form the shape of a heel brace or support intended to be worn inside the shoe.

In order that all the details of the invention may be fully set forth I illustrate the preferred form complete with all the special features which might be used, but it is to be understood that certain of these are required only in special cases and may be omitted if desired, as will be apparent from a reading of the description.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view of the complete device, with parts broken away; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stiffener plate showing the arch support formed thereon and showing the lifter plates inserted; Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of lifter plates for use in the devices illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 6 is an elevation showing a slightly different construction of heel brace and attaching means therefor; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 2 showing a slightly different mode of attaching the lifter plate; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lifter plate used in Fig. 7.

From Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that the attaching means is a sort of ankle brace which embraces the heel of the foot and which is laced up in the familiar manner by means of a lacing, not shown, passing through the eyelets 11. The ankle brace, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 is made up of outer and

inner layers

12 and 13 with an intervening layer 14, which may be of any desired material, but commonly is felt, to serve to a certain extent as a pad, and to a certain extent as a stiffening means. The

portions

12, 18 and 14 are fastened through to a sole piece 15 which extends forward beyond the forward extremity of the attaching portion and is skived down to form a thin tongue or insole indicated in Fig. 1 at 1'6.

Beneath the sole portion 15 is a metallic stiffener plate 17 which extends forward in the arched tongue 18 at the inner side of the foot. This tongue 18 is formed to serve as a support for the arch of the foot and extends forward far enough to bear on the sole of the shoe, preferably as far forward as the ball of the foot. In order to give the necessary strength without undue weight, it is provided with a corrugation or rib. This also serves as a means to retain felt or other pads 19 which are interchangeable to permit adjustment of the amount of direct support given the arch. As already suggested the function of this arch brace portion 18 and pad 19, is merely to give such support as is absolutely necessary and in certain cases it may be wholly omitted. In such cases the forwardly extending portion 16 of the sole portion of the brace may not extend quite so far forward. The metal plate 17 has upward extensions 20 at either side of the brace structure outside the layer 12 and these extensions are bent downwardly upon themselves at 21 thus forming pockets or sockets for a purpose later to be described. These upward extensions 20 at the sides of the brace are protected by a leather slip or cover 22 which is stitched to the leather portion of the brace.

The pockets formed by the side plates 20 receive metallic lifter plates 23 which, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, extend downward beyond the stiffener plate 1.7 at either side of the brace. In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4: the lifter plates 23 are connected by a clove-tail connection to filler plates 24 which are interchangeable to permit adjustment. Over the filler plates 24 are separate bow springs 25 to give a limited vertical resiliency to the lifter plates. By the proper designing of the springs the relative resiliency of the springs at opposite sides of the foot and their relative range of movement may be made anything within desirable limits. In many cases it is not necessary that the special resiliency be secured and in such cases I omit the springs 25. WVhere only slight resiliency is necessary I make use of a lifter plate such as is indicated in Fig. 5 in which the lifter plate consists of a rectangular or substantially rectangular wire frame 26 with a bearing block 27 at the lower end.

The construction now described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 may obviously be so adjusted as to cant the patients foot either inwardly or outwardly by suitably changing or adjusting the lifter plates 23 at opposite sides of the foot. In cases where there is a pronounced tendency for the patients foot to roll in either direction, that is in cases "where there is pronounced ankle weakness, I

find, it desirable to provide lifter plates 23 one at each side of the foot so as to give as wide a support as possible, but in cases where there is a pronounced tendency to roll the foot in only one direction the lifter plate may be provided only on the side toward which the foot tends to roll. In fact in many cases the plate 17 will be provided with the upward projection 20 and the reflexed portion 21 only at one side of the foot.

Referring now to the modified construction shown in Fig. 6 it will be noted that here the attaching portion is much smaller and the arch supporting member is wholly omitted. The construction of the leather portion of the device is essentially the same as that already described and the lifter plate 23 is mounted in a pocket formed in the

bent plate

17, 20, 21 such as has already been described. Similar parts are similarly numbered. The brace is attached by means of an ankle strap 28.

In Figs. 7 and 8 further modification is shown. The device is intended to be attached by means of an ankle brace similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and built up of the

layers

12, 13 and 14 with the sole piece 15 and the stiffener plate 17. The stiffener plate 17 is continued up at 20 against that side of the-foot to which the lifter plate is to be attached. The plate 20 is not, however, reflexed to form a pocket. Instead the plate 17, 20 is formed with pockets 29 along the line of the bend, the plate 17 being formed with downwardly extending bosses at the pockets and these pockets receive the upper pair of three tongues 30 which are formed on the angular lifter plate 31. The tongues 30 thus straddle the plate 17 and serve as a ready means of releasable connection. Adjustment is secured by the substitution of lifter plates of difl'erent sizes.

It is to be observed that all the constructions above described involve some attaching means by which the whole device can be attached to the wearers heel-a stiffening structure associated therewith and adapted to support the heel and to bear against the side of the foot at the heel; and an eccentric support for said stiffening means so arranged as to convert a downward pressure by the heel thereupon into a lateral thrust against the side of the foot at the heel.

While, as above stated, the device is illustrated in its complete form I wish specifically to point out that various of the elements may be omitted in cases where the action of the device is not to be modified thereby, and I particularly call attention to the following: The arch brace 18 is subject to variation in form up to the point of complete elimination. Lifter plates may be used at one side only of the foot and in some cases one lifter plate pocket may be wholly omitted. In many cases the resiliency of the complete device will be suflicient without the special provision of the springs 25 and these may be omitted, and generally I do not limit myself to the specific construction shown as many obvious changes, all

falling within the scope of the invention, may be made.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an orthopedic device adapted to be worn within an ordinary shoe the combination of attaching means distinct from such shoe for attaching to the heel of a wearer and including a stiffening structure adapted to support the wearers weight at the heel and also to bear against the side of the foot at the heel; and a support for said stiffening structure located adjacent one side thereof and adapted to cause a tipping of said stiffening structure so as to convert a downward thrust of the heel into a lateral thrust against the side of the foot.

2. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means for attaching to the heel of a wearer and including a stiffening structure adapted to support the wearers weight at the heel and also to bear against the side of the foot at the heel; a support for said stiffening structure located adjacent one side thereof and adapted to cause a tipping of said stiffening structure so as to convert a downward thrust of the heel into a lateral thrust against the side of the foot; and means for adjusting said support to vary the amount of tipping caused thereby.

3. In an orthopedic device adapted to be worn within an ordinary shoe the combination of attaching means distinct from such shoe and adapted to embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening member carried thereby and adapted to extend beneath the heel and upward against the side of the foot at the heel; and a support for said stiffening member adjacent said upward extending portion and adapted to cant or tip the same laterally.

4C. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means; a substantially rigid stiffening member carried thereby and adapted to extend beneath the heel and upward against the side of the foot at the heel; a support for said stiffening member adjacent said upward extending portion and adapted to cant or tip the same laterally; and means for adjusting said support to vary the amount of tipping caused thereby.

5. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means; a stiffener plate connected therewith and having a portion adapted to support the weight of the wearer at the heel and also having portions adapted to extend upward therefrom at opposite sides of the foot at the heel to confine the same; and a support for said stiflener plate located at one side thereof and adapted to convert a downward thrust against said stiffener plate into a lateral thrust exerted by one of the upward extending portions thereof against that side of the foot.

6. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means; a stiffener plate connected therewith and having a portion adapted to support the weight of the wearer at the heel and also having portions adapted to extend upward therefrom at opposite sides of the foot at the heel to confine the same; a support for said stiffener plate located at one side thereof and adapted to convert a downward thrust against said stiffener plate into a lateral thrust exerted by one of the upward extending portions thereof against that side of the foot; and means for adjusting said support.

7.'In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adapted to embrace the heel of the wearer; a substantially rigid stiffener member carried thereby and adapted to extend beneath the heel and upward removable lifter plate attached to said stiffener member at the side adjacent said upward extending portion and itself extending downward from and beyond the same.

8. In an orthopedic device the-combination of attaching means adapted to embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening member attached thereto and having a portion adapted to extend beneath the heel and a portion adapted to extend upward against a side of the foot at the heel; said upwardly extending portion being provided with a pocket; and a lifter plate inserted and supported in said pocket and extending downward beyond said stiffener member to support the same in a laterally tipped or canted position.

9. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adapted to embrace the heelof the wearer; a substantially rigid stiffener member attached thereto and adapted to extend beneath the heel and upward against opposite sides of the heel; and downward extending lifter plates attached to said stiffener member at opposite sides thereof and projecting downward beyond the same to support said stiffener member in a laterally tipped or canted position.

10. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adapted to embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffener member attached thereto and having a portion adapted to extend beneath the heel and a portion adapted to extend upward against a side of the foot at the heel said upwardly extending portion being provided with a pocket; a spring mounted in said pocket; and a lifter plate resiliently supported in said pocket by said spring and extending downward beyond said stiffener member to sustain the same in a laterally tipped or canted position.

11. In an orthopedic device the combina tion of attaching means adapted to embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening member carried thereby and against a side of the foot at the heel; and a adapted to extend beneath the heel and upward against a side of the foot at the heel; a support for said stiffening member adjacent said upward extending portion and adapted to cant or tip the same laterally; and means for adjusting said support to vary the amount of such canting or tipping.

12. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adapted to embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening member carried thereby and adapted to extend beneath the heel and thence forward beneath the arch to a point at least as far forward as the ball of the foot, and also adapted to extend upward against the side of the foot at the heel; an arch supporting structure carried by said forward extending portion; and a support for said stiffening member adjacent said upward extending portion, adapted to cant or tip the stiffening member laterally.

13. In an orthopedic device the combination of attaching means adapted to embrace the heel of a wearer; a substantially rigid stiffening member carried thereby and adapted to extend beneath the heel and thence forward beneath the arch to a point as far forward as the ball of the foot and also adapted to extend upward against the side of the foot at the heel; an adjustable arch support structure carried by said forward extending portion; a support for said stiffening member adjacent said upward extending portion adapted to cant or tip said stiffening member laterally; and means for adjusting said support to vary the amount of such canting or tipping.

14. In an orthopedic device the combination of a flexible ankle brace structure adapted to be fastened about the heel and over the instep of a wearer; a stiffener plate attached thereto and adapted to extend beneath the heel and thence forward beneath the arch to a point as far forward as the ball of the foot and also provided with a portion forming a pocket and extending upward at the side near the heel; a removable arch supporting pad mounted on said forward extending portion; and an adjustable lifter plate supported in said pocket and extending downward to support said stifiener member in a laterally tipped or canted position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MELVIN L. SEVERY.

Witnesses EDWARD S. Cnooxn'r'r,

MARY C. WALSH.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.