US2573363A

US2573363A - Metatarsal pad

Info

Publication number: US2573363A
Application number: US69781A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herchall H Ruddick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-01-07
Filing date: 1949-01-07
Publication date: 1951-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1968-10-30

Description

Oct. 30, 1951 H RUDDICKl 2,573,363

METAYTARSAL PAD Filed Jan. 7, 1949 INVENTOR.

HERCHALL H. RUDDIOK Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METATARsAL APAD Hennen H. nuatuenV cincinnati, `ohio 'Application- January '1, 1949,-seria1No. 69,781

This invention relates to arch supports and more particularly to an arch-support pad having associated therewith simple, yet highly effective means for securing it in desired position with reference to certain portions of the foot.

An object of the invention is to provide an arch-support pad of the type adapted to be applied to the foot for providing support to the metatarsal arch formed by the five metatarsal bones, and wherein light Weight retaining means are provided which engage the foot for securing the pad in position incident to all movements and motion to or thru which a foot is normally subjected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supp-ort which is constructed whereby to iiex with the foot Without displacement from its preselected or predetermined relationship with the metatarsal arch.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arch-support having the hereinabove described characteristics which is fabricated whereby to facilitate washing, thereby enhancing foot sanitation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a metatarsal arch-supporting pad having means for positioning it relative to the foot for effectively preventing both lateral and transverse movement of the pad relative to the foot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad having the hereinabove described characteristics which may be positively secured to the foot by means which make minimum contact or engagement with the foot thereby resulting in a device which is comfortable to Wear and which is unlikely to bind or irritate the foot.

Further object of the invention is to provide a support which is particularly adapted to be manufactured using modern mass production techniques.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a support embodying the teachings of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the support of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the support of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a foot showing the support of Fig. 1 applied thereto.

With reference to Figs. 1,- 2 and 3, it will be noted that the present device comprises a metatarsal arch-support pad Ill, which is so constructed and arranged as to provide necessary and needed support to the metatarsal arch portions of a foot as formed by the five metatarsal 3 Claims. (Cl. lgs-1665) bones.

In the preferred embodiment, of the nvention, pad I may be fabricated 'from sponge rubber, or the like, suitably shaped to properly conform with the metatarsal arch of a foot, however, I do not intend to limit my invention to pads fabricated from such material. The present invention is neither directed to nor concerned with the particular shape of pads I, nor to the manner in which they are fabricated, so long as they are c-onstructed in such a manner as to effectively provide support for the metatarsal arch of a foot. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the pad includes a top or upper surface Il and a bottom or lower surface I3.

A foot encircling band I2 is secured to pad IU and preferably, as disclosed in Fig. 2, said band extends under the pad to which it is suitably and permanently secured. With particular reference now to Figs. 1 and 3 and 4, it will be noted that the foot encircling band l2 engages or underlies portions of the rear third of pad IS thereby locating said band in desired relationship with-the five metatarsal bones of the foot and to the rear of the st metatarsal phalangal joint. As disclosed in Fig. 4, this relationship will locate band I2 so as to encircle the foot over the first to fifth metatarsal bones in such a manner as to effectively resist forward movement on and relative to the foot.

One or more loopsltmay be secured to band I2, as at I6 and I8, wherein each of said lo-ops comprise interphalangeal strapping dimensioned to be located between various of the phalanges of the toes, see Fig. 4, thereby securing band I2 against rearward movement on the foot, for positively yet flexibly locating the arch-supporting pad It relative to the metatarsal arch of the foot.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, band I2 and loops I4 may be fabricated from light weight, washable elastic thereby providing a support which is light weight, automatically adjustable to the contour characteristics of a foot and which may be washed, after each usage, thereby facilitating maximum sanitation.

As used herein the term metatarsus is broadly used to include or comprehend the first through fth metatarsal bones, as the term is used in Fig. 275, page 260, of Grays Anatomy, 32nd edition. Y

It should be understood that certain modifications in the structural details of the device mayv be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A support of the class described comprising a metatarsal arch supporting pad, means for positioning said pad on a human foot against lateral movementI and other means for positioning said pad against longitudinal movement, said last mentioned means comprising elastic interphalangeal strapping connected with and on opposite sides of said first mentioned means.

2. A support ofthe class comprising a metatarsal arch supporting pad, an elastic band secured thereto dimensioned to circumscribe the foot, and a pair of elastic interphalangal straps connected with the band on opposite sides thereof.

3. A support of the class described comprising lo a metatarsal arch supporting pad including top and bottom surfaces, an elastic band secured to the bottom surface thereof forming a closed loop extending around and over the top surface of the pad from which it is spaced to encircle a foot at the metatarsus, and a pair of elastic,

laterally spaced, substantially U-shaped interphalangal straps extending in the same direction from said band, one end of each strap secured to the band adjacent the bottom surface of the pad, the opposite end of each strap secured to portions of the band which extend over the top surface of the pad.

HERCHALL H. RUDDICK.

REFERENCES CITED Y The following references are of record in the `file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,785,185 Day Dec. 16, 1930 2,099,401 Jungmann Nov` 16, 19371 2,416,823v Day Mar. 4, 194'? 2,533,601 McCormick Dec. l2, 1950