US2918057A - Corn pad and blank therefor - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 22, 1959 M. R. LEVlTT CORN PAD AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed Nov. 27, 1957 21: 22" mam/V K. 467/77 CORN PAD AND BLANK THEREFOR Application November 27, 1957, Serial No. 699,339

Claims. (Cl. 12881) This invention relates to improvements in a corn pad and a blank therefor, and more particularly to a pad for the alleviation or removal of pressure from a corn or similar afliiction of the foot, particularly on a terminal toe of the foot, and a simplified form of blank from which said pad may be economically formed, although the device may be usable satisfactorily in other locations or in association with other toes of the foot, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of 'corn, callous and similar corrective pads have been developed, but in most instances of which I am aware, such pads were maintained attached to the foot of the user by means of adhesive material which, under certain circumstances, is aggravating to the skin of a user. In some instances, pads were made with toe loops attached for securing t..em to the foot of the user, but in every instance of which I am aware, the toe loops did not provide an even and comfortable fit such as to 'not only attach the pad intimately to the foot, but restrain the'pad against shifting its position during use. In addition, it may be stated that formerly known pads of this type, especially those provided with a toe loop, were not made as economically as desired both as to the actual assembly of the pad and also as to the cost of material consistent with the long life desired of the pad.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a pad'for the alleviation of corns and the like which is highly desirable for use on a terminal toe of the foot, and which is maintained stably in position by a toe loop.

Also an objectof this invention is to provide a pad for the alleviation of corns and the like which comprises a cushioning body portion with a toe loop disposed atan oblique angle thereto 50 as to intimately lie against a toe of the foot with the junction of the toe loop paralleling the space between adjacent toes.

Another feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of a foot corrective pad having a toe loop ex tending from the cushioning body portion at an angle, with an auxiliary corrective pad'carried by the toe loop and extending at an angle thereto in position to parallel the confronting sides of adjacent toes.

. A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a simple and economical form of blank or pattern from which a foot corrective pad may be shaped.

Still a further object of the instant invention resides in. the provision of a foot corrective pad made from a blank. or patternconsisting merely of a pair of opposed crescent. shapedbody portions connected at adjacent ends only by a relatively narrow. and integral neck which ultimately forms a toe loop when the body portions are superposed and secured together.

A further feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of a corn or callus corrective pad made from a blank of material having crescent shaped body portions at each end thereof connected adjacent side ends only of 2,918,057 Patented Dec. 22, 19 59 the body portions by a relatively narrow neck, with an auxiliary pad carried by said neck and projecting mainly from the neck on the same side as the free portions of the body parts.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with'the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a fragmentary and diagrammatic illustration of a human foot showing the same provided with a foot corrective pad embodying principles of the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged top plan view of the blank or pattern fro-m which the pad of Fig. 1 is shaped, indicating the shaping of the finished pad in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a view similar in character to Fig. l, but illus trating the foot equipped with a slightly different form of corrective padalso embodying principles of the instant invention; and i Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the blank or pattern from which the pad of Fig. 3 is shaped, again indicating in dotted lines the forming of the complete pad from the blank.

As shown on the drawings:

With reference now to Figs. 1' and 2, it will be seen that the first illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is shown in operative position on a human foot 1, the corrective pad being generally indicated by numeral 2, and associated with a terminal toe 3, in t is instance the terminal toe being the fifth or small toe of the foot; Itwill be understood, of course, that making the correc: tive pad slightly larger in size will enable the same to be used in similar manner on the first toe of the foot, and obviously in case it is desired, the corrective pad may be attached to substantially any toe of the foot.

The pad is preferably made of any suitable cushioning material, such as felt or equivalent fabric, ora foam material such as foam latex, polyurethane foam, polyvinyl chloride foam, or an equivalent natural or chemical material. Also preferably, if the pad is made of a foam cushioning material, the foam structure has intercommunicating cells therethrough, so that the pad may breathe upon pressure contact and removal by articles of apparel. In the illustrated instance, I have selected a foam material, either foam latex or a chemical foam, and this material is preferably covered with a thin sheet of plastic material or a slick-surfaced fabric, so as to avoid any binding or snagging of the pad when stockings or the like are put on. The slick cover is perforated as indicated at 4 in numerous locations, if so desired.

With reference now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the Q blank or pattern from which the pad is shaped comprises a pair of opp sed crescent-shaped or generally hook shaped body parts 5 and 6 disposed with concave edges confronting each other. These body parts are integrally con.- nected by a relatively narrow neck 7'joining adjacent side ends only of the body parts.

In shaping the blank into the finished pad, it is a simple expedient to move the crescent-shaped body portions along arcuate lines as indicated by the dash-dot lines 8 and 5 until the body parts are superposed. The body parts may then be secured together in face-to-face relationship in any suitable manner, such as by the use of a 'cementi tious material, or if the entire pad is made of a fabric such as felt, the body parts may be stitched together.

The swinging and superposing of the body parts causes the neck 7 to form a toe loop which is partially within substantially the plane of the superposed body parts, withobliquely when -a-toe is engaged through the loop, and the portion 10 of the toe loop will then parallel the confronting edges of adjacent toes so as to iniimately and fia ly overlie the received toe. Thus, the pad is held firmly and comfortably in position and will retain that position during use. Where a foam material is utilized, the slick cover is of course on the outer face of the pad and preferably the naked foam material itself is in contact with the skin of the foot, so that the benefit of the soft clinging action of the foam is obtained to further augment the stability of the pad and lessen the possibility of its shifting during use.

In Fig. l, the pad is illustrated as alleviating or removingpress'ure from a corn on the outside of the fifth toe, and the corn or other affliction would be atleast partially received in the concave or inner edges of the superposed body parts with the composite body part of the pad overlying healthy tissue at the point of 'maximum width of the foot so that shoe pressure will be maintained entirely off the affliction.

. In Fig. 3, I have illustrate'da slightly different form of the instant invention generally indicated by numeral 11, showing the same disposed on the same foot 1 and the same terminal toe 3. Again, it will be understood that if the pad is made in a larger size, it will fit in similar disposition over the first terminal or large toe of the foot, and again it will be understood that it may be applied to any othertoe should circumstances warrant.

..In this form of the invention, the blank or pattern is shown in Fig. 4 as comprising the same crescent-shaped body parts 5 and 6 connected by the same neck 7. However, the neck carries an auxiliary or secondary pad 12 preferably integral with the neck portion. This pad 12 as, seen in Fig. 4 extends more from the side of the neck in the direction of the free portions of the body parts 5 and 6 than it does on the opposite side of the neck. The auxiliary pad may be provided with a suitable affliction-receiving aperture 13 therein if so desired, and in most instances the provision of the aperture is preferable. On the opposite side of the neck 7, the auxiliary pad has an arcuate notched edge 14.

Now when the pad is formed from the blank by moving the body portions 5 and 6 along the arcuate paths indicated by the dash-dot lines 8 and 9, as above explained, the neck 7 forms a toe loop just as above explained, but the auxiliary pad 12 will project sharply away from the closed end of the toe loop, as indicated-by dotted lines in Fig. 4. Accordingly, when the finished pad is attached to a toe such as the fifth toe of the foot, as shown in Fig. 3, the toe loop will extend at an oblique angle from the superposed body. parts 5 and 6, and the auxiliary pad 12 will extend at an angle to the toe loop so as to parallel the confronting sides of adjacent toes. Thus, the auxiliary pad will be disposed in a comfortable position directly between the adjacent toes, the loop 7 will pass obliquely, over the upperand lower faces of the ,toe, and the superposed body parts 5 and 6 will be disposed adjacent the widest part of the foot and adjacent the. fifth metatarsal head, whereby there is a smooth, snug and comfortable fit over ,a terminal toe with the pad positively retained in its desired position. This fit of the pad is enhanced by virtue of the concave edge 14 on the auxiliarypad12, which engages intimately over the web between the fourth and fifth toes of the foot, as illustr'atediiiFigS. H

This embodiment of the instant inventionnotonly alleviates a corn or "similarfaffiict'ion on the outer side of the toe 3, but also alleviates a corn or similar a'ffiiction between that toe ar'rdthe next adjacent toe, which affiiction is received in the aperture 13 of the a'uxilfary pad, and it makes no difference whether theaffiiction is actually on the outer side of the fourth toe or the inner side of thefifth toe It will be understood that afilictionsmay be similarly relieved by the pad with the toe loop over the first toe of the foot, or with the toe loop over another toe of the foot, in which latter instance either the composite body or the auxiliary pad could be on the upper surface of a toe, while the other would be underneath that toe.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a simple, economical, and highly effective pad for the alleviation of corns and similar afiiictions, as well as a plurality of afilictions at the same time, and which pad may facilely and economically be shaped from a simple form of blank or pattern. I

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A blank for a foot corrective pad comprising a pair of spaced generally hook shaped and confronting body parts, and a relatively narrow neck connecting said body parts.

2. A blankfor a foot corrective pad comprising a pair of spaced generally hook shaped body parts, and a relatively narrow neck connecting said body parts, said neck connecting like ends of the body parts and extending along one side of the blank only.

3. A blank for a foot corrective pad comprising a pair of spaced generally hook shaped and confronting body parts, and a relatively narrow neck connecting said body parts, and and auxiliary pad portion carried by said neck intermediate the ends thereof. 4. A blank for a foot corrective pad comprising a pair of spaced generally hook shaped body parts, and a relatively narrow neck connecting said body parts at like ends, and an auxiliary pad portion carried by said neck intermediate the ends thereof, and extending away from said neck on the same side thereof as the free portions of said body parts.

5. A blank for a foot corrective pad comprising a relatively narrow neck merging integrally at each end in a generally hook shaped body part extending to one side of said neck with its concave edge confronting the concave edge of the other body part.

6. A foot corrective pad comprising a pair of generally hook shaped body parts superposed and secured together with their concave edges inward, and a neck connecting said body parts and forming an obliquely extending toe loop.

7., A foot corrective pad comprising a pair of generally hook shaped body parts superposed and secured together with their concave edges inward, and a neck connecting said body parts and forming a toe loop, said toe loop being connected to side ends only of said body parts and extending away from the body parts obliquely when engaged overa terminal toe.

8. A foot corrective pad comprising a pair of generally hook shaped body parts superposed and secured together with theirconcave edges inward, and a neck connecting saidvbody parts and forming a toe loop, and an auxiliary pad carried by said toe loop circumferentially spaced from the superposed body parts.

9. A foot corrective pad comprising a pair of generally hook shaped body parts superposed and secured together with their concave edges inward, and a neck connecting said body parts at like ends thereof and forming an obliquely extending toe loop, and an auxiliary pad carried by said toe loop circumferentially spaced from the superposed body parts, said auxiliary pad having the longer part thereof extending from the side of toe loop opposite the body parts for disposition adjacent another affliction than that alleviated by said body parts.

10. A foot corrective pad comprising a pair of generally hook shaped body parts superposed and secured together with their concave edges inward, and a neck connecting said body parts at like ends thereof and forming an obliquely extending toe loop, and an auxiliary pad carried by said toe loop circumferentially spaced from the 5 6 superposed body parts, said auxiliary pad having the References Cited in the file of this patent longer part thereof extending from the side of toe loop UNn-ED STATES PATENTS opposite the body parts, said auxiliary pad having an affiiction receiving aperture in said longer part and having 891145 Buer 1908 an arcuate concave edge on the opposite side of the toe 171L166 Dlgate June 1955 loop. 5 2,797,686 Crawford July 2, 1957

Images