US2012311A

US2012311A - Arch support

Info

Publication number: US2012311A
Application number: US709734A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph C Howell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-02-05
Filing date: 1934-02-05
Publication date: 1935-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1952-08-27

Description

Au 7, 1935.. J. c. HOWELL 2,012,311

ARCH SUPPORT Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E INVENTOR.

JOSEPH 6 H0 WELL A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 7, 135.. J. c. HOWELL y fi ARCH SUPPORT Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

-MOM/ w 6. flame-u A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 27, 1935 2 THE. STATES hA'l' OFF 1 GE ARCH SUPPORT Joseph C; Howell, Fort Lee, N. .1

Application February 5, 1934, Serial No. 709,734

9 Claims. (C1 36- -71) This invention relates to arch supportsiof the inner and outer longitudinal arches where the character employing, a; supporting plate and greatest bending is requiredniearm for efiecting and maintaining an upward n a t o tO- Providing a Comfortable a arching or bowing of the said plate; natural support for the longitudinal and trans- 5 The invention provides an improved arch supverserarches of thefoot, the invention also pro- 6 port which may be readily applied to any style Vides anarch support including a plate recessed or type-of menawomens or childrensshoes and at its forward portion between the opposite sides which isv so constructed that a wide range of adto: acc mmod e m a s f r s pp ing and corjustments in the height of the arched portion recting any abnorinal conditionof the metatar- 10 of the supporting plate; may be obtained in order 5& arc Of the foot 10 to provide a corrective support for any abnor- With the; aboverecited and other objects in mal condition or the longitudinal or transverse view, refer n e is w m to e following arches of the foot, specification and accompanying drawings in The invention further contemplates an arch whi h there ha been i lus r several p 1 '6 support including an, arch plate which is conferred' e b i of the invention While the 1-5 structed as to, provide relative; different. degrees appfihdedvclalms a e nded to Cover other vaof resiliency andflexibiliw in various portions or riatiohd d" fi ns the eof which fall areas thereof and with, means underlying the Within h 1 and Spirit the v t o arch plate and so connected? therewithsas to: exert In e drawings: i

0 stresses; thereon between its ends for effecting a bottom P w Of the arch Plate and maintaining upward bucknng or arching with the tension plate and shoe shown in broken of the plate or portions thereof, while permitting 111195- of a, ufficient degree of flexing and; bending of Fig; 2 a longitudinal sectional view through the plate between its endsso that'it yields or the arch Support and'shoe taken approximately gives with the footto provide a proper and comon T s indicated at 25 formble Support theremn Fig. 31s a bottom plan view similar to Fig. l,

' The invention further provides, in an arch supw g e tension plate,in lines port f the Character described, an arch i Fig. a ma transverse sectional view through the composed of a plurality of plies or laminations arch Support taken approxlma'tely on which are differently contoured and provide thetlme 47' 3O arying degrees of resiliency andfiexibi lity at 10- f i iifi gg g g ggg fg g i i fgfi i g F: calized areas or the plate With a gradual mei gplatteandfidjusting means therefor ing of the varying degreesof flexibility of, ad,- 35 jacent areas into eachother the greatest rep gg i gfig of further 35 sistance to bending being located ad acent and Fighq'is a longitudinal Sectional View through medially side portion m underlies. the a shoe 'and arch support illustrating the metamner. longltpfimal h. and t 1 detarsalsarch support combined with the arch supcreasing resistance and increaslng flexibility and port and: tension plate resiliency extending forwardly, rearwardl'y and R m the drawings by characters of 40 f a to f 3 3 slde edge of t 1 reference, A designates the sole of a shoe, B the A rurtner reature of the invention resldesin heelgandi Gthe arch Support which overlies the an arch support which includesa flexible and f d:p ti the heel and which extends resilient arch plate having its highest point or forwardlythereof to a point in from of the f W slde Whlch YP metatarsal arch underlying and supporting the hes the nner longitudinal a and Wmch metatarsal archand-thelongitudinal and transcreases in height forwardly and rearwardly Verse arches;

thereof and tothe Oppo Side edge? the The arch support C includes a longitudinal p ate, and w eh f t n d s means for arch'plate m; which may be constructed in any 5 JllStlIlg the heightdesiredim'ann'er' to provide areas or portions hav- The invention further comprehends in an arch ing different, degrees of flexibility or resiliency, support, an arch plate which is so fashioned at the area; or portion having the greatest resistits forward portion and so connected with a tenance to flexing or bending and which is the highsion plate as to provide a high degree of fiexiest: regionrin the arch of the plate, is located adbility in the region; of the forward, ends of: the: jacentzto the: inner sideedgethereof. and under- 55 lies the inner longitudinal arch, with areas or portions thereof of increasing flexibility or resiliency merging one with the other and extending forwardly and rearwardly to the end edges of the plate and to the opposite side edge thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the arch plate It is composed of a plurality of thin spring metal or equivalent flexible plies or laminations II, I2, I3, I4, I5, I6 and IT, each of which is connected at its edge to its adjacent ply or plies to provide a resilient laminated assembly having areas of varying degrees of flexibility.

the shoe in the region of the instep and at its forward end is recessed at I8 to provide forwardly extending divergent or forked portions I9 and 20, which portions are formed as continuations of the inner and outer sides of the arch plate assembly and extend in the direction of and underlie the inner and outer longitudinal arches of the foot.

The rear of the outer side edge 2| of the topmost ply I I curves inwardly and merges into the rear edge which extends across the shoe structure in the region of the heel portion B in a rearward direction, the rearmost point then merging into the opposite inner side'edge 23. The next adjacent underlying ply I2 follows generally the contour of the ply I I and hasforked or divergent forward ends 2 1 and 25, the former being of substantially the same shape as the corresponding portion I 9 of the plate I I but terminating slightly in rear thereof and being-unsecured thereto but adapted to bear thereagainst. The forked end 25 of the ply I2 is of lesser size and length than the portion 20 of the ply I I and bears thereagainst but is not secured thereto. The outer side edge 26 of the ply I2 extends diagonally and rearwardly towards the inner side edge 23 of the ply II and said edge 26 is spaced a'substantial distance from the edges ZI and 22 of the plate II and has concavities adjacent its forward and rear ends which merge into a medial convexity. The rearmost portion of the ply I2 is spaced slightly in advance of the rearmost portion of the edge 22 of the plate II. The marginal edge 26 and the inner side edge which correspondsto the edge 25:- of the ply II is spot welded or otherwise secured to the ply I I as at 21 and also along a line extending across the forked portion 25 as illustrated.

The remaining plies It to I I inclusive are of generally similar contour but of I progressively smaller size and the plies I 3 and [4 have forwardly projecting

portions

28 and 29 at their inner sides with the latter portion 29- underlying the portion 28 and with the portion 28 underlying the portion 2 3, which portions are unsecured in order that the arch plate may freely flex in this region.

The remaining marginal edges of the plies I3 and M and the entire marginal edges of the plies 55, I 3, and ii are spot welded or otherwise secured to the next adjacent ply or plies as shown to provide a laminated assembly with the inner side edges of all of the plies disposed flush with each other.

The arch supporting structure further includes a tension plate 3%, which in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, has a forward portion S-I so contoured as to permit of the contact of the foot with the insole of the shoe at the bases of the great and little toes and which underlies the forked portions I9 and 20 and has.

The topmost ply or lamination II, at its side edges, conforms to the shape of the last of a forward convex edge 32 extending between the forward ends of the forked portions which are welded or otherwise secured thereto as at 33. The tension plate 30 is of gradually decreasing width from the forward portion SI towards the rear and has an inner concave side edge 34 which follows substantially the shape of the insole and which, together with the opposite concave side edge 35, defines a rearwardly directed diagonal terminal 36 which terminates at the juncture of the rearmost portion of the rear edge 22 with the inner side edge 23 of the ply I I and is spot welded or otherwise secured thereto as at til.

The arch plate may be adjusted in any desired manner by increasing or decreasing the degree of curvature of the tension plate 39 and as shown in this form of the invention, a headed stud 3B is secured to the underside of the tension plate and has an internally threaded hollow shank 39 depending therefrom and extending into a sleeve 49 which is located in an opening in the shank portion of the sole A of the shoe. A screw shank 4| threadedly engages within the threaded bore of the shank 39 and has its kerfed head disposed in an opening $2 in a face plate 43 countersunk in the underside of the shank portion of the shoe, the sleeve 4%] extending through an opening formed in one or more spring leaves 44 which bears on the upper surface of the shank portion of the shoe with the upper end of the sleeve beaded or flanged to overlie the leaf M as at 45. The spring leaf 44 and face plate 43 are suitably anchored to the shank portion of the shoe. The screw II between the kerfed head and the shank thereof is formed with an enlarged circular flange il disposed between the face plate A3 and the lower end of the sleeve so that the screw H is free to turn or move the stud 38 vertically, while retained against axial movement. Vertical movement of the stud 38 may be thus effected by turning of the screw M which movement produces a corresponding flexing of the tension plate 30 to vary the curvature of the arch plate. In this form of the invention also it is apparent that adjustments may be made in the degree of curvature of the arch plate while the shoe is being worn, by varying the curvature of the tension plate through the medium of the screw H.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the uppermost ply II is anchored adjacent its rear end as by a stud 58 which extends downwardly through an opening in the ply II and is secured in the shank portion of the sole. In this form of the invention also the rear portion of the tension plate 30 terminates in spaced relation with the rear edge 22 of the ply II but which is adjustably connected with the plate assembly It to vary the height and curvature thereof. As shown, the adjustable connection includes a pair of sleeves 58. and 52 having oppositely directed forked shanks 53 and 54 which are spot welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the rear portions of the tension plate 30' and the plate assembly Ill respectively with the sleeves 5! and 52 spaced apart and provided with longitudinally aligned threaded bores to receive the opposite ends of a threaded screw 55, one end of which is provided with a right hand thread and the other end with a left hand thread, the sleeves 5i and 52 being correspondingly threaded. The screw 55 is provided with an enlarged medial head 56 having one or more apertures 51 to receive therethrough a lock or cotter pin 53 by means of which the screw 55 may be secured against turning when the same has been adjusted auras-tr to effect the degree of tensiomdesired between the opposite ends of the spring rear assembly so as to produce the required degree of "curvature in thearch plate; In-order to=fiir-ther loci r the screw 55 a'lochnut fi isprovided on one of the threaded ends of the screw-55 for engagement against theendc'rf'thesl'eeve 5 H 5 In the form" oflthe inventiondllustrated in Fig. 6', the uppermostpl'y 60* of? thearch plate; which corresponds to the-ply H in the other forms, extends rearwardlyto' overliethe-entire heel" portion of the shoe strueturegwhile 'the remaining plies are identical with those in the other forms of the invention: In this instance, the arch" plate is "anchored" at G land 6-2 to the shoe structure and the tension'platetbiisformed with the rearwardly extending-terminal S y-which has welded or*otherwise-- secured was rearmost portion an internallythreaded sleeve 65 which depends therefrom. A threadedi of-a screw engages in the sleevefifi and extends rearwardly through an opening 61 in the heel structure'68 of" the shoe: The screw shank 66 is provided with a kerfed head 69 and an enlarged flange iii, the head lying within an opening H in a plate l2 recessed in the rear face of the heel structure E8 and anchored in place by screws 13 which are threadedly engaged in sleeves 14 secured within the heel structure. The flange ID is located in a recess l5 in the heel structure and is coveredby the plate 12. Adjustments in the tension plate 53 are effected by turning the screw shank 66 to increase or decrease the curvature of the arch plate fill.

In the various forms of the invention illustrated, the arch plate which supports the inner and outer longitudinal and transverse arches may also be provided with means for supporting the metatarsal arch and as shown in Fig. 7, the metatarsal arch supporting means consists of a yieldable resilient pad 89 which overlies the forward portion of the tension plate and is exposed for contact with the metatarsal region of the foot by the recessed forward portion of the arch plate iii. As particularly illustrated, the tension plate has secured thereto a yieldable element 8| which defines together with the tension plate a pocket having an entrance mouth 82 disposed rearwardly for permitting of the introduction of the pad 38 thereto and the removal of the same therefrom in order to interchangeably employ pads of varying shapes and sizes. Under this construction and arrangement, it is apparent that an arch support has been devised which combines in a single structure adjustable means for supporting the longitudinal and transverse arches as well as the metatarsal arch of the foot.

What is claimed is:

1. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate so constructed and arranged as to provide portions thereof having relatively different degrees of thickness and varying degrees of flexibility with the greatest thickness and resistance to bending being located in the highest region in the arch of the plate and with areas of lesser thickness and increasing flexibility merging one with the other and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof to the end edges of the plate, a flexible tension plate fixedly connected with the arch plate adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and means for tensioning said tension plate for effecting a differential upward arching of the arch plate.

2. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate so constructed and arranged as to provide portionethereofi having relatively: different: degrees'of thic'imess and varying degreesof flexibil ity with the greatest thickness and resistan'ce to sending beinglocated inthe highest region r in the arch of the pi ate and with areas- 0f lesser tlr icknessa nd increasin'g flexibility: merging one with'theotherand extendingforwardly'and rearwardly thereof to the end edges of the plate; a tension plate fixedly connected atone end with the' arc'h plate andtm'eans; connected"? withsaid remiss plate so as to efl-ect' a longitudinal stress on-the arch-plate between its endsand an upward amongst saidarch 'plate." 4

3. -Anarch support for shoes- -includi ng an arch plate having its forward medialportion recessed te provide forwardly divergent extensions of the inner and outerside portions; of the plate-which extend 'in the direction of and underlie theiiiner and outer longitudinal arches thefoot; the

saidplate being" further so constructed aind anranged as to provide portions thereof having 'reliatiy'elydiiferent degrees ofthicltness' and varying degrees offlexibility the greatest thickness and resistance to bending being located adjacent the inner side edge of the plate and in the region of the highest portion of the arch plate and with portions thereof of lesser thickness and increasing flexibility merging one with the other and extending forwardly thereof to the end edges of said extensions, a tension plate fixedly connected to the forward end of said extensions, and means for tensioning said tension plate for effecting a differential upward arching of the arch plate.

4. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate composed of a plurality of flexible plies connected together and so contoured as to provide a resilient laminated assembly having portions thereof of varying degrees of flexibility, with the greatest resistance to bending being located in the region of the highest portion of the arch plate and with portions thereof of increasing flexibility merging one with the other and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof to the end edges of the plate, a flexible tension plate fixedly connected with the arch plate adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and means for tensioning said tension plate for effecting a difierential upward arching of the arch plate.

5. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate composed of a plurality of flexible plies connected together and so contoured as to provide a resilient laminated assembly having portions thereof of varying degrees of flexibility, with the greatest resistance to bending being located in the region of the highest portion of the arch plate and with portions thereof of increasing flexibility merging one with the other and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof to the end edges of the plate, a tension plate fixedly connected at one end with the arch plate, and means connected with said tension plate so as to effect a longitudinal stress on the arch plate between its ends to effect a differential upward arching of the said arch plate.

6. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate composed of a plurality of flexible plies connected together and so contoured as to provide a resilient laminated assembly having portions thereof of varying degrees of flexibility, with the greatest resistance to bending being located adjacent the inner side edge of the arch plate in the region of the highest portion of the arch plate and with portions thereof of increasing flexibility merging one with the other and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof to the end edges of the arch plate and to the opposite side edge thereof, a tension plate fixedly connected at one end with the arch plate, and means connected with said tension plate so as to effect a longitudinal stress on the arch plate between its ends to effect a difierential upward arching of the said arch plate.

7. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate composed of a plurality of flexible plies secured together and so contoured as to provide a resilient laminated assembly having portions thereof of varying degrees of flexibility certain of said plies having their forward portions recessed to provide forwardly divergent extensions a tension plate fixedly connected to the forward ends of said extensions, and means connected with said tension plate so as to effect a longitudinal stress on the arch plate between its ends to effect a differential upward arching of said arch plate.

8. An arch support for shoes including an arch plate having its forward medial portion recessed to provide forwardly directed extensions of the inner and outer side portions of the plate, a tension plate fixedly connected to the forward ends of said extensions, means connected with said tension plate so as to effect a longitudinal stress on the arch plate between its ends to produce an upward arching of the arch plate, and yieldable resilient means arranged upon the forward end of said tension plate between the said extensions for supporting the metatarsal arch of the foot.

9. An arch supporting accessory for shoes including a flexible resilient arch plate, a flexible resilient stress plate fixedly connected with the arch plate adjacent the opposite ends thereof and adapted upon flexing of the stress plate to exert a compression on the arch plate between its ends for efiecting a differential arching of the arch plate, and means cooperating with the stress plate for flexing the same, said latter means being carried by the shoe and adjustable 20 from the exterior thereof.

JOSEPH C. HOWELL.