US1260868A - Arch-support. - Google Patents

Description

E. CARAVIA.

ARCH SUPPORT APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I2, I916.

1,260,868. Patented Mar.26,1918.

EUGENE CABAVIA, OF NEW YORK N. Y.

oH-snrroa'r.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. as, rare.

Application filed September 12, 1916. Serial No. 119,786.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE CARAVIA, a citizen of the United States, residing at borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York'and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Arch-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

It is a well known fact that in shoe production, ametallic shank is employed, constituting a reinforcing element which is ar ranged beneath the insole of the shoe, extending approximately from the point occupied by the ball of the foot to the heel of the shoe. It is the purpose of my invention to utilize this shank in the capacity of an arch support, by forming the shank in a manner to conform to the arch of the foot, and from suitable material whereby the article will automatically adjust itself'to the foot during the act of walking, with a view. of supporting the instep or arch of the foot in its proper position under all conditions.

The nature and advantages of the inven tion will be. better understood when the fol lowing description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wheresole showing the arch support associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a shoe constructed in accordance with my invention. I J

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the arch support removed from the insole.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in detail A indicates generally a shoe constructed in the usual and well known manner, the insole being indicated at 10. The metallic shank generally employed as a reinforcing element and positioned beneath the insole 10, consists of a perfectly straight strip of material, but in accordance with my invention this shank (not shown.) is substituted by an arch-shaped member of suitable dimensions clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, and constructed from resilient material. While the arch-shaped member may consist of a single strip of resilient material, it is prefermade up of a plurality of such strips Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of an inindicated at 11 and 12 respectively, these strips being riveted or otherwise secured together at one end of the member, while the strip 11 at its opposite end terminates short of the corresponding extremities of the strip 12. It will be further noted that these strips are slightly spaced throughout their length with their opposite extremities in contacting engagement.

Secured to the under side of the insole 10 at an appropriate point in its length is a plate 13, and while this plate may be attached to theinsole in any suitable manner, it is preferably provided with corner prongs adapted to penetrate the insole and be bent against the side thereof opposite that upon which the plate is arranged. This plate is spaced a slight distance from the insole, the space between these parts defining a pocket for the reception of one end of the arch-shaped member, whereby the latter is held associated with the insole. Manifestly the arch-shaped member is arranged so that the same will conform to the archof the foot as illustrated in Fig. 2, and by reason of the resilient or inherent action of the material from which the member is constructed, the same will automatically and properly adjust itself to the foot during the act of walking and lifting of the foot, thus in addition to serving as a reinforcing element for the shoe, further functioning to support the instep or arch of the foot in its proper position under all conditions. The use of a plurality of strips 11 and 12 in the production of the arch-shaped member, and having these strips spaced as described, materially adds to the resiliency of the member as a whole and also prolongs the life of the latter. The invention also contemplates the production as an article of manufacture, the insole 10 together with the arch-shaped member attached thereto, whereby these articles may be arranged in any shoe and used with the same advantage when they are incorporated in the shoe during the production of the same.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that what is trative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

herein shown and described is merely illus- The free end of the'spring formed by the strips 11 and 12 freely contacts with the adjacent surface of the heel rearwardly of the heel whereby to cause the device to instantly follow the arch of the foot and yieldingly press a ainst the same at all times. In other Wor s the yielding action of the structure through the arrangement specified, causes the device to apply itself to the instep during any of the usual movements of the foot in the shoe.

In order to maximize the efliciency ofthe support, it is preferred to use the same in connection With shoes employing thin flexible shanks so that the parts will beautomatically responsive to 4 all strains and weights that are transmitted thereto. This will permit the sole 10 to always remain in close contact with the arch of the foot.

What is claimed is The combination with an inner sole for a shoe,.of a pocket located adjacent the instep part of the same, and a pair .of resilient strips having their ends connected together at one end thereof and fitting in the pocket,

said strips having their opposite ends free and' contacting, and the lowermost strip having free and constant contact with the heel of the shoe.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EUGENE CARAVIA.

Images