US2114526A - Foot support and exerciser - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1938. I L FEDER 2,114,526

FOOT SUPPORT AND EXERCISER Filed March 26, 1935 INVENTOR.

Jv W 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED. STATES FOOT SUPPORT AND EXERCISER Leo Feder, South Pasadena, Calif.

Application March 26, 1935, Serial No. 13,119

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to foot supports and exercisers of the general character shown in my pending application for patent, I filed March 16, 1934, Serial No. 715,929, and has for a principal object the provision of a device embodying a substantially stiff shank plate adapted to be inserted between the inner and outer soles of a shoe so as to span the arch and a yieldable plate secured at one of its ends at least to such shank plate and curved upwardly intermediate its ends so that the resilient plate may be yieldable and movable on the stiff plate.

A subsidiary object is to provide the resilient plate at its free end or ends with a slit or slot by means of which the plate is bifurcated and is rendered more resilient at its end or ends than at points intermediate the ends so that the resilient supporting plate will more readily 'yield to pressure while the user is flexing the feet, as while walking. Other and minor detailed objects of invention will appear as the description progresses.

I have shown a preferred form of device in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section in elevation of a shoe embodying my improved foot supporter and exerciser;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a form of device in which the yieldable plate is movable at both ends on the stiff shank plate, and both of said plates are slotted at corresponding ends thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of device similar to Fig. 2, except that slots are provided in both ends of the yieldable plate, and at least one end thereof is slitted outwardly of the slot for rendering the yieldable plate more readily flexible;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of device in which the yieldable plate is shown permanently attached at one end to the stiff shank plate, while the other end thereof is longitudinally slotted.

A device embodying my improvements includes but two members, namely: a substantially stiff elongated plate I and a relatively yieldable elongated plate 2 mounted on the plate I and arched intermediate its ends, and suitably attached at one or both ends to the plate I whereby the plate 2 may flex relative to the plate I, with one or both ends slightly movable longitudinally of the plate I as pressure is applied thereto. The plate I is secured at its rear end 3 to the heel of a shoe as by means of a rivet inserted through an aperture 4, and the front end thereof may similarly be attached to the outer sole 5 of a shoe by rivets inserted through aperture 6.

It will be observed that the plate I is of the general form and curvature of the outer sole 5 of a shoe, and that it substantially overlaps the arch of the shoe. The plate 2 is abnormally arched and engages the inner sole I of the shoe so as to normally hold said inner sole upwardly from a possible depressed position, thereby serving to support the arch of the foot, and while in the act of walking, to exercise the foot as the plate 2 is flexed and moved longitudinally to a slight extent on the plate I.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, one or both ends of the flexible plate 2 may be provided with elongated closed slots 8, through which rivets 9, secured to the stiff plates I, may extend so that the ends of the plate 2 thus formed are slightly movable longitudinally on the plate I.

As shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the flexible plate 2 may be slitted at Ill outwardly of the slots 8 in order that said plate may be more readily flexed and of less rigidity at its ends than at its arched central portion. When so formed, the slits ID will not permit the disengagement of the rivets 9 from the slots 8.

Also as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, an end of the stiff plate I may be slotted, as at II, so that the rivet 9, engaging the adjacent slot 8 of plate 2, may also be movable in the slot II, and the stiff plate I will be correspondingly weakened at its forward end over the outer sole 5 of the shoe.

In lieu of the rivet 9 at the forward end of the device, I may provide lugs I2 bent upwardly from plate I so as to engage an open slot I3 in the adjacent end of plate 2, as shown in Fig. 2, for permitting the movement of plate 2 on plate I, but preventing the lateral movement of plate 2 thereon.

As shown in Fig. 4, the rear end of plate 2 may be permanently secured to plate I by means of one or more rivets I4. While the forward end of plate 2 is provided with the open slot I3 and is detached from plate I thereat, this latter form of device provides the weakened forward end of plate 2 without weakening the plate I.

What I claim is:

1. A foot support and exerciser comprising: a rigid metal shank adapted to be mounted between the inner and outer soles of a shoe and to span the arch of the shoe, the rear end thereof overlying and being secured to the heel of the shoe, the forward end thereof overlying and being secured to the outer sole of the shoe, and an arched supporting plate mounted on said PATENT OFFICE shank plate at its ends and spaced intermediate its ends above said supporting plate in normal to span the arch of the shoe, the rear end thereof overlying and being secured to the heel of the shoe, the forward end thereof overlying and being secured to the outer sole of the shoe, and an arched supporting plate mounted on said shank plate at its ends and spaced intermediate its ends above said supporting plate in normal engagement with the inner sole of the shoe, corresponding ends of said supporting plate and said arched plate being slotted and a rivet mounted to move in the slots of said ends and holding said plates in slidable relation.

LEO FEDER.

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