US1559324A - Bunion protector - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1925.

..-F.. H. JENSEN .BUNION PROTECTOR Filed April 11. 1924 [awe n r,

Frank H. Jensen,-

CL rney.

Patented Get. 27, 1925.

UNlTED STATES FRANK H. JENSEN, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUNION PROTECTOR.

Application filed April 11, 1924. Serial No. 705,828.

To all whoa? it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. JENsnN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Everett, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bunion Protectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

The object of this invention is the construction of an economical and simple but effective device for protecting the joint of the large toe of a persons foot, and for curing any enlargement and bunions thereat.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an orthopedic appliance embodying my in vention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 3-3 in Fig. 4. Fig. i is a section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

The pad 1 consists of two layers of imitation chamois 2 or other suitable fabric or fine skin, stitched together near their edges, as at 3, and holding between them a layer of soft felt 4, or other yielding material. The shape of the pad is oblong, being approximately a semi-ellipse at one end, and having at the other end the pocket for the big toe.

Through all three 1ayers 2 and 4 is an aperture 5 preferably circular and somewhat larger in the fabrics 2 than in the felt 4 in order to reduce any possible sharpness of edge where the hole touches the side of the foot.

The pocket consists of a length of tape 6 stitched to the end of the pad, and having two other lengths of tape 7 and 9 stitched at their ends to the tape 6 and crossing at their midlengths where they are stitched together, each tape 7 and 9 being approximately U-shaped.

To the inside of this pocket and attached to the intersection of the tapes 7, 9, as by cement, is a small pad of felt 10, the same being preferably the section cut from the felt 4 in the formation of the aperture 5.

The purpose of the pad 10 is to bear against the end of the toe in the pocket and thereby to ensure against irritation thereof.

These appliances are preferably made in rights and lefts in order that the substantially straight edge 11 of each pad may rest upon the shoe sole, or, rather, on the stockmg portion which. comes against the sole.

In applying the devices to the foot, the pocket 12 is slipped on over the toe of the foot, with the straight edge of the pad downward, and the aperture 5 as near central of the joint of the big toe as it will come, different sizes being manufactured for different sizes of feet. Then thestocking is drawn onto the foot and the boot or shoe fastened up. The bunion or other tender part of the joint thus comes within the aperture 5 and is shielded by the yielding wall of felt and fabric surrounding it.

As is evident, this appliance is comparatively inexpensive, has no metallic or un yielding parts to irritate, and is at the same time effective in the performance of its desired work.

What I claim as my invention is:

A bunion protector comprising a yielding pad, a section of tape stitched to an end thereof to form the opening of a pocket, two sections of tape stitched at their ends to the first-named tape and crossing each other and stitched together at their midlengths, and a so yielding pad attached to their midlengths and standing at substantially a right angle to the general length of the pocket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto set my hand this 5 9th day of April, 1924.

FRANK H. JENSEN.

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