US1809731A - Arch support - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1931. w. M. scHoLL 1,809,731

ARCH SUPPORT Filed May 26, 1924 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM M. SCHOLL, LOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS v ARCH SUPPORT Application led May 26,

The invention relates to improvements in arch supports.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a support for the arches of the foot so formed that it tends to restore and maintain the plantar surface of the foot to and in its natural form.

. Another object is to provide a foot support which: will produce a substantially uniform distribution of the weight imposed upon the foot over the plantar area thereof, after the parts of the foot have been restored to their natural positions.

A further object is to provide an arch support which is light, elastic, comfortable and sufficiently stable to perform the foot com forting and correcting functions for which it is designed. It is especially suitable to be worn in the modern, light-weight, fashionable fragile foot wear designed for women and possesses qualities which render it desirable for use in childrens shoes.

Other objects, advantages and benefits will i readily appear from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the device n showing apart of the covering removed.

o Fig. 2 is a plan view of an inner spring plate with attached lining sheet.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the yielding or resilient plastic pad for raising the second, third and fourth metatarsal bones of the anterior or metatarsal arch of the foot.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central section thru Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 thru Fig. 1. w

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. l.

In all the views the same reference characters are employed to indicate corresponding parts. l

A device suitable for the purpose intended must be characterized by lightness, strength, elasticity and of suitable configuration to ,conform the parts of the foot to their natural 50 respective reposing positions without exert- 1924. vseran No. 715,839.

ing localized excessive pressure after the restoration has been accomplished.

In, the drawin s 10 represents a leather sole or` tap, fanared at 11 near its front endand skived in a round area at 12 at the heel end. This end is skived to provide a cavity to receive the oscalcis of the foot. This top piece or tap conforms to the plantar surface of the foot and with the underlying elements provides means for supporting and replacing the structures known as the inner and outer longitudinal arch and the anterior transverse metatarsal arch. The appliance restores the foot toA its normal three point bearings z-the oscalcis, rst metatorsophalangeal joint, and fifth metatarsophalangeal 'oint. s J The cavity 12 formed by skiving the leather provides a receptacle for the heel of the foot, thus supporting the oscalcis and the tender sensitive tissues attached to that part of the bone structure. This is brought about by the surrounding elevation 13 which relieves the aforesaid parts of the pressure which otherwise would be impressed thereupon by transferring the pressure to the ypart 13 and substantially suspending the sengsitive' parts within the cavity 12.. This furthermore permits the heel portion of the foot to extend more deeply into the shoe and thereby prevents the shoe from pullin oft' yat the heel due to the elevation of the oot within the shoe being increased by the thickness of the device at this point. The more-or-less rigid, yet yielding supporting element of the structure, the metal spring blade 14, is substantially straight along the inner longitudinal edge 15 and curves outwardly at l'from the heel end and extends forwardly into a fan-like part 17 at its forward end to provide a base of support for the anterior, metatarsal correction pad 18. The pad 18 of a yielding, resilient nature, may be made of such material as felt, curled hair, sponge rubber, composition cork, or the like. It is supported upon the forward, fanshaped end 17 of the underlying spring plate 14. The pad is of proper outline, as shown, to support and to elevate the displaced second, third and fourth metatarsal bones anteriorly.

The device is designed and intended to restore the parts of the foot to its normal three 5 point bearings, the oscalcis, the first meta.- tarsophalangeal joint and the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint and, when these parts are in their natural position, the pressure upon the plantar surface of the foot is substantially evenly distributed upon the suport. p By skiving the edges of the tap or sole 10 at 20 to taper it toward the edge and at 21 in the same manner, the abruptness of these surfaces is avoided and the supporting function for the transverse arch is more pronounced.

The spring may be suitably and securely fastened to a thin leather sheet 22 in any suitable manner and the sheet 22 may then be secured to the tap plate 10 by cement, stitching or the like, and the rivets embedding in the tap 10 thus avoid presentation of rough disa eeable surfaces to the foot.

25 T e bottom surface of the device may be covered with soft leather, chamois, felt fabric 23, or the like, by stltching, cement, or other unobjectionable means.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v As an article of manufacture, an arch supf port including a sole member having on its upper surface at its rear portion a skived recess therein, adapted to be disposed below the oscalcis of the foot of the wearer, surrounded by a mar inal area of substantial width, a substantia ly oval-shaped yieldable ad adjacent the forward end of said memer having a widened forward portion to underlie the second, third, and fourth metatarso halangeal joints of the foot, a longitudinal y arched spring plate underlying the sole member and supporting the longitudinal arch of the foot, said late extending forward beneath the yieldable pad and supporting the plantar surface of the foot, and a lower covering member disposed below the pad and spring plate and protecting these members from contact with the shoe sole.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand. c WILLIAM M. SCHOLL.

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