US1702012A - Foot-arch support - Google Patents

Description

' Feb. 12, 19.29;-

C. E. LACYEY FOOT ARCH SUPPORTc Filed June 17, 1927 Patented Feb. l2, 1929..

UNITED sra-rss CYRIL EDWARD LACEY, 0F BIRMENGHAM, ENGLANI).

FODT-ARCE SUEPGRT.

Application med June rf, 1927, semi no. 199.551, ana in Great Britain :any 21,1926.

This invention comprises improvements in foot supports, comprising an arched pad which is adapted to lit under the arch of the foot to form a support, and'with which pad may be combined a heel leveller or levellers and a metatarsal support or supports or the like; and this invention'has for its object an improved form whereby the oot-arclr support is resiliently supported in an improved manner. Y

According to the present improvements, a pad of leather or other suitable material, which is blocked out to form an arch shaped conliguration, has a flexible metal strip secured. to the underside, such metal strip being characterized in that it is not shaped transversely so that itcan freely iler: along its entire length. Both ends of this flexible strip are slidably connected to a base metaly strip so that such base metal strip can be supported on the inside of the boot or shoe without any sliding movement when the iirst mentioned strip is flexed. Spiral springs are inserted betweenl the two strips to resiliently react against the lieXing of the metal strip secured to the leather or like pad. The two metal strips may be Jformed of rustless steel so that the resiliency of the device is obtained by the use of the said inserted springs.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is an inside view ot' a pad constructed according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation looking in the direction of arrow m Figure l. v

Figure 3 isa side elevation looking in the direction of arrow g/ Figure 1.

Figure i is a section on line 4 4 of Fig-` ure l.

Figure 5 is a 'ace view 03": the base strip hereinafter referred to.

Figure 6 is an edge view, and

Figure 7 is a face view of the metal strip fixed to the underside of the pad.

According to a convenient embodiment of this invention, the support comprises a pad l ot leather or other suitable material which may be blocked out to form an arch shaped conhguration7 at one side of the foot, to conform with the shape of the toot arch. fr thin strip oi' preferably flexible non-rustl ss metal 2 is riveted at the centre to the underside ot this pad. lhis strip is located against the under face ott the arched pad. A second strip or ribbon or" preferably rustless metal 4 is slidably mounted at each end on the ends of the irst mentioned spring strip. Conveniently for this purpose the ends of this base strip have tongues 5 which slidably engage in the bridge piece 6.

Spiral springs 7 are interposed between the strips 2 and Il to provide the resilient 'support7 and such springs are preferably detachable such as by means of the end coils engaging over projections 8 riveted to the strips or plates 2 and ll. IThe projections 8 may have grooves 8a to be engaged in the coils ofthe springs. A cup 8* may be provided tor receiving the centre spiral'spring. Conveniently three springs are used and by substituting stronger or weaker springs7 considerable variationin the strength of the support may be obtained in accordance with the weight of the `wearer or other conditions. 'lhe strength ot the resilient support may also be gradually strengthened or wealrened whilst in the particular example shown any one, or any two springs may be used.

ln the atoredescribed construction the strips or plates 2 or et are constructed of rust less metal and the resilient support is obtained by the interposed springs.

y It desired however, the strips or plates 2 or l may be formed from spring steel. Or again the strip or plate 2 only may be formed of spring' steel. When the strip or plate 2 is formed from spring steel, the ends of the base plate e are preferably so connected that a` limited sliding movement only is allowed.

The base strip el in use is substantially flat7 and therefore when a load is placed on the arch, the ends ot the curved strip 2 will slide outwardly in relation to the base strip. The arrangement issuch that complete flexibility along the entire length ot the arch is ob-V tained and therefore the arch conforms to any shape and will not apply a. local pressure to the arch of the toot.

The base strip i will also conform to the shapeoi` the boot, and preferably the outer heads of the rivets 8 on the plate 4 areshaped to prevent the pad slipping from the correct position in the boot or shoe. A rubber insert l2 may be provided in thepad.

rlhe trontofthe pad may have two oppositely arranged pockets l0 with the openings or mouths 'lacing one another and directed towards the centre ot the pad. A single piece ot sponge rubber or pad of somewhat ovalshape can thus be lined in the two pockets, one end of the pad engaging one pocket,

' siderable length of ythe pad and the pocket is open 'from 'the centre of .theheel down the side.` i A number of superimposed ipockets may'be provided so that one,ftWo, or more insertioi1s`-ca1i"be fitted. Afsnialler pocket 13 Vmay also be provided on the l'inner side `for an'insert or fptrd. y Y Y l A feature .of this sup-port is `that the natural flexion .and extension of Jhe foot or rise Y Y and fall; of the arch is encouraged. l"This Causes the' muscles to act in a natural man# ner, and thereby exercising and strengtheningthe -muscles so that theycan ultimately Yfunction Without a Supportga rigidsupport, ior instance, causes the muscles to atrophy and become set, and a support is permanentiyV required. e p Y VClaims: 'n Y @Y 1.Y A' foot-arch support comprising a pad,

arnetal .istrip secured to the undersidezof the (pad, ametal'base strip'slidably connected at Vspecification.'l

both ends to the iirst mentioned strip, and Y interposed'springs between the two strips, the interposed Vsprings imparting the required flexible support.

2. A Cootfairchsupport"comprising a pad, a flexible metal strip, which `is free to flex longitudinally, secured to `the underside ofthe pad, a metalbase strip slidably4 connected at both lends Ytok the 'irst mentioned metal strip, fittings on theopposed 'faces of the two metal Astrips anda plurality of spiral springsv de- Vtacha'bly connected in'fpjosition'V onfthe said fittings and individually removable 4from fthe ttings, 'to vary the resiliency of the support y afforded by the springs. Y

3. 'foot-arch support comprisingapad, a flexible metal ,strip secured to thepad, cen

tral'ly otlset bridge :pieces disposed trans-V, Y versely of the strip and located adjacent "to ,the ends of the strip', meansfor connecting the endsoi' Fthe lnridgefpiec'es to the strip, xenc specified-strip and reducedn Width at yits ends to torni 'tongues received inthe -otl's'et portions ofthe bridge rpieces `'or vsliding movement longitudinallyfof the .first specied strip. Y Y VIn, Witness Whereo'f-ll-have signed this CYRIL `reni/Vixen LAGEY. j

second strip arched away from the irst

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