US1804009A - Combined insole and arch support - Google Patents

Description

May 5, 1931.

o. GREGAREK COMBINED INSOLE AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed June 14. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

May 5, 1931. o. GREGAREK COMBINED INSOLE AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed June 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 5 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED INSOLE AND ARCH SUPPORT Application filed June 14,

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combined insole and arch support for shoes and the like, and has for its object to so construct such a device that the insole and arch support will be permanent parts of each other.

A further object of the invention is to so design the device that it may be made entirely of felt and that in use, it will develop the proper medial tread, namely, a tread from the center of the heel on a straight line forward through the great toe, thus bringing the bones of the foot in proper alignment, and giving effective support to the arch.

With these and other ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construc tion and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1, is a plan view of my combined insole and support for the right foot, showing a skeleton foot in broken lines in proper rela tive position to the device.

Fig. 2, is an edge view of Fig. 1, the skeleton of the foot being omitted.

F ig'. 3, is a plan view of a left foot insole and support showing a slightly modified form of my invention.

Fig. 4, is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a further slight modification of my invention.

In carryng out my invention as embodied in Figs. 1 and 2, 10 represents an insole of the proper shape to fit snugly within a shoe and having formed thereon the arch support 11 of the unique outline shown which outline is for the purpose hereinafter set forth and the edges of this support are skived on angles, as clearly indicated and also for the purpose hereinafter explained. This article 1929. Serial No. 370,773.

is preferablymade by utilizing a piece of felt of sufficient thickness to include the thickness of the finished insole and the support, the surplus stock being skived and cut away to produce the the proper height of the arch support.

On thatside of the insole upon which the small toe of the foot falls, the arch support is extended to the edge of the insole as indicated at 12 and the rear portion of the support including this extension is skived at a gradually increasing angle from the outer edge of the extension to the opposite edge of the support as indicated at 13 inorder that the rear joints of the bones of the arch may be supportedon the inclined surface formed by this skiving and follow the downwardly inclining portion of the arch which blends with the heel of the foot, thereby tending to hold the foot in proper position within the shoe. I

The rear portion'of the support including the extension 12 is intended to support the posterior arch comprising the internal cuneiform, middle cuneiform, externalcuneiform and cuboid bones.

The forward 7 such shape so as to underlie and support the bones, the skiving 14 along the front edge of the support serving to support the forward joints of these bones without interfering wlth the proper curvature of the under side of the foot at this point. I

The point blendingbetween the skiving. 14 with the skiving 15 is intended to extend between the joint of the big toe and the joint of the next toe so as to properly position these joints and prevent crowding which is' essential to maintain the proper tread.

A support made as above described will develop the proper medial tread from the center of theheel on a straight line forward including the great toe, thus bringing the bones of the foot in proper alignment and providing the proper support for the posterior, lonproper thickness of insole and portion of the support is of 7 gitudinal and anterior arches including the metatarsal arch.

The device being made entirely of felt pro vides a soft and yielding tread to the foot throughout, while giving a sufiicient support to the arch, avoiding any hard pressure upon the under side of the bones of the foot, and being absorbent, takes up perspiration and gives sufficient ventilation to the foot and tends to prevent disagreeable odors and the formation of callouses. Also, this combined insole and support is light in weight and may be readily removed for cleansing and airing.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, I form the heel 16 and arch support of one piece 17 which latter is of the same shape as that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 and after splitting the support 17 as clearly shown, the forward portion of the insole 18 is skived along its inner edge and inserted between the split sections of the support so that when said sections are brought against the faces of the insole they may be stitched thereon as indicated at 18a. The insole may be reversed to fit either a rig t or left handed shoe with all the advantages before described, as will be readily understood.

In the modification shown in Fig. a the insole 19 has stitched thereon the arch support 20 of the same forms as that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, and a layer of felt 21 is superimposed and stitched upon the upper surface of this insole, thereby covering the arch support which gives the added advantage of protecting the foot from direct contact with the edges of the'arch support.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and useful is 1. As an article of manufacture, an insole having an arch support formed. thereon and projecting from one face thereof and fashioned to provide a major portion extending longitudinally ofthe insole to support the longitudinal arch extending from the posterior arch to the anterior arch with the forward end projecting between the great and second toes and extending toward the exterior edge of the device as'a support for the metatarsal bones, having an extension at the rearend terminating at the edge of the insole as a support for the posterior arch, and the edges of the support being skived outwardly and downwardly from the top face of the support to the top face of the insole to provide a gradual decrease in thickness of the support from its surface to the surface of the insole. I

2. A device of the character described comprising an insole and an arch support produced .as a unitary structure with the arch the longitudinal arch of a foot between the posterior and anterior arches and fashioned to provide a medial tread from the middle cuneiform bone to a point between the great and second toes adjacent the metatarsal arch, and the edges of said support being skived to provide in particular a beveled support for the metatarsal bones.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

OTTO GREGAREK.

support located in the position occupied by

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