US1728536A - Combined heel and arch support for footwear - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1929 T R 1,728,536

COMBINED HEEL AND ARCH SUPPORT FOR FOOTWEAR Filed Aug. 1'7, 1927 W TNESSES v IJVYENTOR:

I 11 ZZL/fl.&a1 %mr, W a A W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE nanny A. oan'mna, or nnoon n, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR or own-m1- ro noun .1. cmrnnrn, 1a., or nnnxm. HILL, rnnnmvam COMBINED HEEL AND ARCH SUPPORT FOR FOOTWEAR Application filed August 17, 1927. Serial No. 218,451.

This invention relates to footwear embodying means affording su port at the instep for the wearers feet, where y falling or lowering of the arches is scientifically prevented. More specifically my present improvements contemplate a combined heel and arch support, preferably of resilient material, that isdurable and highly eflicient for the purposes had in new. H

An object of my invention is to rovide a combined heel and arch support w ich cor"- rectly sustains the longitudinal and transverse arches of the wearers foot-at all times from the ground upwardly while at the same time properl "cushioning the heel.

Another 0 ject is the rovision of novel means, that will scientilibally support the wearers ,foot under all normal conditions, while according free natural movement for the several foot bones; that preserves'the original curvature of footwear shanks relative to the sole portion thereof; and which prevents formation ofconcavities or other iiregularities in the inner sole portion that conduce to the development of weak, delicate, and

flat feet.

Other objects and advantages will be manifest from the following detailed explanation of my invention, which, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrates a practical embodiment thereof; while the appended claims define those features alleged as novel and patentable.

In the drawings Fig. I is an underside plan view of a shoe for masculine wear embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. II is a side view of the same, with a portion of the upper removed for convenience in illustration.

Fig. III is a transverse section, taken as indicated by the arrows III-III in Fig. I; an

Fig. IV is a similar sectional view on the planeIdesignated by the arrows IVIV in Fi fieferring more particularly to Figs. IIV of the drawings, a conventional shoe is comprehensively designated by the numeral 6, the same comprising an upper 7, and sole 8; to

which my novel combined heel and arch supporting device, generally denominated 9, is

Pplfied and secured, as hereinafter fully set ort This combined device 9, is preferably made of suitable resilient material such as rubber, leather, or any other appropriate composition useful in the art; and, 1t embodies-in a unitary structure-the heel 10 with a forwardly directed arch supporting portion 11, effective to scientifically sustain the longitudinal and transverse arches of the wearers foot. The supportin portion 11, it is to be particularly remarke extends, when applied to the shoe sole 8, by virtue of its novel unconstrained configuration inside of the middle of the heel 10, forwardly under, the inner aspect of the wearers foot, with its bearing surface 12 offset suificientl from the longitudinal center line of the slZoe 6, to correctly sustain the articulation of the astragalus and scaphoid bones; as well asvthe metatarsalphalanx articulation of all the toes substantially flush with the heel.10 and ball 13 of the shoe, even when off the ground. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the supporting portion 11, of the device 9, is

of somewhat fish-tail outline in plan, and that it normally-or before attachment to the shoe (i-extends colanar with the top of the heel 10. In o't er words, the ground engaging surface thereof gradually tapers somewhat arcuately upwards from the point of mergence 14 with the heel tread to the relatively wider knife-edge 15, where it joins the shoe sole 8 transversely in the region of the ball 13. .Furthermore,-the fish-tail portion is slightly tapered transversely, from a high point 16- adjacent the inner border edge of the shoe sole 8, gradually down to a low polnt 17 merging into the outer border edge of said sole, whereby the weight of the body is firmly sustained from the inner to the outer side of the foot withoutany'st'rain upon the transverse arch. I

The supporting portion 11, it is also to be noted, aligns snugly with the inner border edge of the shoe shank 18, whereat it is conveniently molded as indicated by the l1ne shading19-Fig. I. On the other hand, the

outer side 20 of the portion 11 is spaced relative to the outer border edge 21, of the shank 18; or, more specifically-and as best appreciated from Fig. Ithe side 20 gradually sweeps inwardly from the heel 10 to the bend 22 of the fish tail, where it flares sharply outword to the knife-edge 15, above referred to. a

In some instances-such as when it is desired to provide the shoe 6 with a rubber sole 8-the device 9 may be built up of laminae and integrally united to the sole 8 by vulcanizing; or, when of leather, the several lifts may be secured together by brads in the known manner.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the provision of the heel 10 with an integral arch supporting portion 11, (lo-extensive with the shoe shank inner border edge to the region of the sole ball 13, with said portion on an angular turn and following the transverse pedis muscle, that it will sustain the entire longitudinal and transverse arches. In other words, I provide a correct support for the metatarsal-phalanx articulations from the fifth or little toe, to that of the big toe. Also, it is noteworthy that the support 11 graduates from substantially nothing at the outer side or edge of the shoe sole 8, to an elevation of about one-eighth of an inchfor example-on the inner edge thereof, in the region of the ball 13; and similarly the portion ,11 gradually increases in thickness from its frontal knife edge rearwards till merging into the heel tread.

From the preceding description, it is thought, my invention will be well understood; while the right is hereby reserved to make such variations in shape, as are'neccs-' sary to adapt ther same to difiering styles of footwear, without departing from the generic aspect of said invention, the scope whereof is encompassed by the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. As'an article of manufacture a support embodying a heel portion with a forwardlydirected section adapted to correctly sustain the longitudinal and transverse arches of the human foot, said section before application to a shoe extending co-planar with the top of the heel butwhen applied thereto being flexed downward from a point inside of the middle of the heel forward under the inner region of the ball, with its bearing surface extending sufficiently from each side of the longitudinal center to repose under and support the articulation of the astragalus and scaphoid bones, as well as the metatarsal phalanx articulations of all the toes.

2. As an article of manufacture a support for footwear embodying a heel with a forwardly-extending fish-tail section initially having its upper surface co-planar with the top of the heel and its" ground engaging face in thickness from a high point adjacent the inner marginal edge to a low point adjoining the outer marginal edge of the foot Wear sole. 3. As an article of manufacture a support for foot-wear embodying a heel with a for: wardly directed prolongation initially having its upper surface co-planar with the top of said heel but when downwardly flexed conforming to the shank of the foot wear to which it is applied, said prolongation comprising a body portion of substantially even thiclmess designed to sustain the inner part of the foot arch, and a fish-tail spread tapered down longitudinally as well as transversely outwards to merge into the footwear sole at-that region known as the ball, so as to correctly sustain the metatarsal phalanx articulation of the foot with capacity for natural movement at all times.

4. As a new article of manufacture a com- 1 abined heel and arch support for shoes, the arch support being of fish-tail outline having its upper surface initially co-planar with the top of the heel and the fin portion adapted when downwardly flexed to merge into a shoe sole at that region known as the ball, said fin portion conforming alon its inner edge to that of the shoe shank wit its outer edge spaced relative to the outer border edge of said shank with an inward sweep intermediate the heel portion and fish-tail bend, said arch supporting portion tapering downwardly outwards from a high point on the inner side thereof so as to correctly sustain the metatarsal phalanx articulations at all times.

5. As a new article of manufacture an arch support for foot wear embodying a heel and

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