WO2000062721A1

WO2000062721A1 - Leg and foot corrective device

Info

Publication number: WO2000062721A1
Application number: PCT/KR2000/000362
Authority: WO
Inventors: In Sik Park
Original assignee: Shin, Jung, Bin
Priority date: 1999-04-20
Filing date: 2000-04-19
Publication date: 2000-10-26
Also published as: JP2002541917A; JP3575792B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a leg and foot corrective device having a tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector, which is worn even in a sitting state. The leg and foot corrective device includes: a main supporter, a posterior thigh bar mounted on an upper portion of the main supporter; the posterior thigh bar serving as a center for correcting legs, the posterior thigh bar being adjusted vertically in its height and being bent forward and backward centering a knee level; a pair of bands arranged at both sides of the posterior thigh bar, each band moving laterally in an appropriate position centering the posterior thigh bar; a plantar bar mounted on a lower portion of the main supporter; and a pair of corrective shoes arranged at both sides of the plantar bar, each shoe moving laterally in an appropriate position centering an ankle joint level.

Description

LEG AND FOOT CORRECTIVE DEVICE

Background of the Invention This invention relates to a leg and foot corrective device having a tibiofibula

(leg) reverse-rotation corrector, which can correct not only bent legs but also feet, which is developed abnormally.

The tibiofibular deformations cause abnormal development of legs. When a person walks with the abnormally developed legs, he or she has inwardly or outwardly deformed state in the shin. Therefore, more particularly, this invention relates a leg and foot corrective device, which can correct the toeing out and the toeing in, adjust the length of a supporter by setting the range for correction according to the abnormal state, and restrain and correct the rotation of the thigh bone and the coxa. Some peoples have a bad appearance and feel unwell or ill in walking due to deformation of the legs and the feet caused by various occasions that nobody guess why it arose. Moreover, bad posture causes chronic diseases. There have been various and many-sided researches to correct the deformations. As the result, many kinds of leg corrective devices have been open to the public. A leg corrective device of vertically two line tightening type is disclosed in

Korean Utility Model publication No. 92-8785. The leg corrective device includes a supporter and an automatic angle controlling plate, so that the mounting angle of the supporter can be automatically controlled according to the bent angle of bone, thereby dispersing the pressure in the whole area. Another leg corrective device is disclosed in Korean Utility Model

Publication No. 96-3393. In the leg corrective device, a fixing band for fixing the l inside of a thigh to an upper support frame and foot holding means is arranged on a lower portion of the support frame. An ankle protecting portion of the foot holding means is made of silicone. An elastic band is fixed on a center portion of the support frame and a shin guard is fixed on the elastic band, so that it is easy to tie and untie the elastic band with a magic tape.

However, the conventional leg corrective devices have several problems that they cannot adapt for various angles of the bent bone because the supporter is a fixed type, and a user may suffer the pain caused by a partially applied pressure if the angle of the supporter does not meet with the angle of the bent bone while wearing it. Additionally, the conventional leg corrective devices have further problems that the corrective effect becomes gradually reduced because the elastic band has a reduced elasticity after wearing for a long time, and the leg corrective devices cannot correct the deformed legs and the deformed feet at once.

Summary of the Invention

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a leg and foot corrective device having a tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector, which can be used conveniently and continuously while a user sits down or lies down indoors and used being adjusted in its length according to the length of the user's leg and to the angle of the deformed legs and feet.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a leg and foot corrective device having a tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector, which can be used without preventing the circulation of the blood and making muscles shriveled because the wearing part is not pressured during wearing. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a leg and foot corrective device having a tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector, which can set the correction range according to the deformed condition and correct the deformed legs and feet at once.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a leg and foot corrective device comprising: a supporter; a leg corrective means attached on an upper portion of the supporter; a foot supporting plate attached on a lower portion of the supporter to correct deformed feet; and shoes mounted on the foot supporting plate, the shoes having a tibiofibula reverse-rotation corrector.

The leg corrective means of the present invention can widely correct deformed condition of the shin, knee and thigh regions without regard to the O- shaped legs or the X-shaped legs. Furthermore, the correction range can be set, the length of the supporter can be adjusted according to the deformed condition and the leg corrective means can be worn even while a user sits down.

The foot supporting plate and the corrective shoes constitute a foot corrective means. The shoes are mounted on the foot supporting plate to move laterally and divided into a front part and a rear part. The front part and the rear part of the shoes can be move in all directions to correct the deformation of the heel and the front part of the foot.

Most of leg deformations take the form that the shin is protruded outwardly and the inside of the thigh and the foot are formed with an inclination. Some of leg deformations take the form that the shin is protruded inwardly, the knees contact with each other and the distance between the feet is wide. The former is called as the O-shaped deformation and the latter is called as the X-shaped deformation.

The present invention can correct both deformations and correct also the

deformation of the foot bone. In a foot construction, it is most important to have a heel construction developed normally.

The heel bone developed abnormally is more fatal to the foot than any other bones developed abnormally. Because the heel of the foot where the weight of the body is transferred directly serves to stand the body, when impact is applied to the heel, the impact is transferred through the leg and the spines to the brain directly.

If the heel construction is deformed or abnormal, because of abnormal walking posture, the user may have a dull head due to the vibration during walking and be frequently attacked by diseases due to abnormal development of the body, and hereditarily recessive regions become rapidly worse. Moreover, the abnormal walking posture cannot give a good impression to other persons.

Especially, infants and children who are not yet grown fully must wear shoes fit for the body. The shoes fit for the body makes the heel bone locate in an appropriate position, thereby the infants and children can grow rapidly without illness and grow with a well-proportioned body and a slender figure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a leg and foot corrective device according to the present invention;

Fig. IB is a sectional view of the leg and foot corrective device; Fig. 1C is a sectional view of a corrective shoe of the leg and foot corrective

device; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the leg and foot corrective device;

Fig. 3A is a view illustrating a state that a foot deformed outwardly is corrected;

Fig. 3D is a view illustrating a shape of a foot adjustable shaft in the state of Fig. 3A;

Figs. 3B, 3E and 3H are views illustrating the shoe and the foot adjustable shaft of a normal condition;

Fig. 3C is a view illustrating a state that the foot deformed inwardly is corrected; Fig. 3F is a view illustrating a shape of the foot adjustable shaft in the state of Fig. 3C;

Fig. 3G is a view illustrating a state that talipes varus is corrected;

Fig. 31 is a view illustrating a state that talipes valgus is corrected;

Fig. 4A is a plan view of a leg corrective means of the leg and foot corrective device;

Fig. 4B is a front view of the leg corrective means;

Fig. 4C is a view illustrating a posterior bending state of the leg corrective means;

Fig. 4D is a view illustrating an anterior bending state of the leg corrective means;

Fig. 5 A is a perspective view of a plantar bar and the shoe;

Fig. 5B is a front view of the plantar bar and the shoe;

Fig. 5C is a view illustrating an interior bending state of the plantar bar;

Fig. 5D is a view illustrating a superior bending state of the plantar bar; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector; Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector; and Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the shoe of the tibiofibula (leg) reverse- rotation corrector.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views.

Fig. 1 A is a perspective view of a leg and foot corrective device, Fig. IB is a sectional view of the leg and foot corrective device, and Fig. 1 C is a sectional view of a corrective shoe of the leg and foot corrective device. Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the leg and foot corrective device. Fig. 3 A is a view illustrating a state that a foot deformed outwardly is corrected, Fig. 3D is a view illustrating a shape of a foot adjustable shaft in the state of Fig. 3A, Figs. 3B, 3E and 3H are views illustrating the shoe and the foot adjustable shaft of a normal condition, Fig. 3C is a view illustrating a state that the foot deformed inwardly is corrected, Fig. 3F is a view illustrating a shape of the foot adjustable shaft in the state of Fig. 3C, Fig. 3G is a view illustrating a state that talipes varus is corrected, and Fig. 31 is a view illustrating a state that talipes valgus is corrected. Fig. 4A is a plan view, Fig. 4B is a front view of a leg corrective means of the leg and foot corrective device. Fig. 4C is a view illustrating a posterior bending state and Fig. 4D is a view illustrating an anterior bending state of the leg corrective means. Fig. 5 A is a perspective view

and Fig. 5B is a front view of a plantar bar and the shoe. Fig. 5C is a view illustrating an interior bending state, and Fig. 5D is a view illustrating a superior bending state of the plantar bar. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a sectional view and

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector, and Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the shoe of the tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a main supporter, 2' indicates a refraction supporter, 2 indicates a posterior thigh bar, 3 indicates a plantar bar, 4 indicates a pair of bands, 5 indicates corrective shoe, 6 indicates a foot adjustable shaft, 7 indicates a rotary unit, 8 indicates a front part adjustable unit, 9 indicates a rear part adjustable unit, 10 indicates a knee level and 11 indicates an ankle joint level.

In a first preferred embodiment, the use of the leg and foot corrective device according to the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail.

The posterior thigh bar 2, which is the center for correction of the leg, is mounted horizontally on an upper portion of the main supporter 1. The bands 4 are attached at two sides of the posterior thigh bar 2. The bands 4 can be moved laterally in an appropriate location on the posterior thigh bar 2. The plantar bar 3 is mounted horizontally on a lower portion of the main supporter 1. The plantar bar 3 has a pair of corrective shoes 5 arranged to move laterally in appropriate locations on the plantar bar 3.

The posterior thigh bar 2 mounted on the main supporter 1 can be moved vertically and bent forward and backward centering the knee level 10. A user can wear the posterior thigh bar 2 even in a sitting state.

First, in case of the correction of the legs, to wear the leg and foot corrective device shown in Fig. 1, the height of the posterior thigh bar 2 mounted on the main supporter 1 is adjusted fit for deformed legs and feet. As shown in Fig. 2, a user wears the leg and foot corrective device in the sitting state. As shown in Fig. 4, the bands 4 are moved laterally according to the deformed leg to fit for the deformed legs. The posterior thigh bar 2 can be bent backward and forward at a prescribed angle according to the deformed condition to correct the deformed legs. As correction examples, there are shown the posterior bending state and the anterior bending state of the posterior thigh bar 2 in Figs. 4C and 4D.

Second, in case of the correction of the deformed feet, the corrective shoes 5 mounted on the plantar bar 3 are moved laterally and the plantar bar 3 is bent at a prescribed angle to correct the deformed feet, as shown in Figs. 3 A to 31. Fig. 3A is a correction state of the feet deformed outwardly, Fig. 3D is a shape of a foot adjustable shaft in the state of Fig. 3 A, Figs. 3B, 3E and 3H are the shoe and the foot adjustable shaft of a normal state, Fig. 3C is a correction state of the feet deformed inwardly, Fig. 3F is a shape of the foot adjustable shaft in the state of Fig. 3C, Fig. 3G is a correction state of talipes varus, and Fig. 31 is a correction state of talipes valgus.

The corrective shoes 5 consist of the front part adjustable unit 8 and the rear part adjustable unit 9, which have the rotary unit 7 for rotating in every direction centering the foot adjustable shaft 6. As shown in Figs 5A to 5D, the corrective shoes 5 can be adjusted in every direction at a prescribed angle according to the deformation of the feet. Figs. 5 A to 5D show used states of the plantar bar and the corrective shoes. Fig. 5B is a front view, Fig. 5C shows a correction state in case of the inferior bending state and Fig. 5D shows a correction state in case of the superior bending state. In a second preferred embodiment, the use of the leg and foot corrective device according to the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail.

The lower end portion of the main supporter 1 extends to a center axis of a bottom of the corrective shoe for the correction of foot and the upper end portion of

the main supporter 1 is connected with a refraction supporter 2' in the form of "^~ι ".

The bands 4 are respectively mounted on the main supporter 1 and the refraction supporter 2' for fixing the leg. On the lower end portion of the main supporter 1 serving for .the correction of the foot, the plantar bar 3 and the rotary unit 7 are mounted by the front part adjustable unit 8 and the rear part adjustable unit 9 disposed on the bottom of the corrective shoe. By rotating the rotary unit 7, mounted on the plantar bar 3, in every direction, the deformed foot can be corrected. First, in case of the correction of the leg, to wear the leg and foot corrective device, shown in Fig. 6, fit for the deformed leg and foot, the location of the bands 4 is adjusted vertically or laterally centering the main supporter 1 , and the refraction supporter 2' is bent forward and backward at a prescribed angle according to the deformed condition to correct the deformed leg.

Second, in case of the correction of the foot, the corrective shoe 5 mounted on the lower end portion of the main supporter 1 is moved laterally and the angle of the plantar bar 3 is adjusted at a prescribed angle to correct the deformed foot. The corrective shoe can correct the deformed foot by adjusting the angle of the user's foot in all directions according to the deformed condition.

The use of the corrective shoe 5 according to the second embodiment is equal to that of the first embodiment (see Figs. 7 to 9).

Therefore, as described above, the present invention can correct the deformed leg and foot at once and the user can used easily it in the sitting state. The present invention having a simple structure has the following effects. The user can use it conveniently and continuously while sitting down or lying down indoors, can adjust its length according to the length of the user's leg and to the angle of the deformed leg and foot. Furthermore, the present invention can be used without preventing the circulation of the blood and making muscles shriveled because the worn part is not pressured during wearing. Moreover, the present invention can correct the deformed leg and foot at once.

Having now described a few embodiments, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. Numerous modifications and other embodiments are within the scope of one of ordinary skill in the art and are contemplated as falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is;

1. A leg and foot corrective device, which is worn even in a sitting state, comprising: a main supporter; a posterior thigh bar mounted on an upper portion of the main supporter, the posterior thigh bar serving as a center for correcting legs, the posterior thigh bar being adjusted vertically in its height and being bent forward and backward centering a knee level; a pair of bands arranged at both sides of the posterior thigh bar, each band moving laterally in an appropriate position centering the posterior thigh bar; a plantar bar mounted on a lower portion of the main supporter; and a pair of corrective shoes arranged at both sides of the plantar bar, each shoe moving laterally in an appropriate position centering an ankle joint level.

2. A leg and foot corrective device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in a leg corrective means of the upper portion of the main supporter, the posterior thigh bar can be adjusted vertically in its height, the band can be moved laterally according to the shape of deformed legs, and the posterior thigh bar can be bent forward and backward at a prescribed angle according to the deformation, i.e., a posterior bending or a anterior bending, of the legs.

3. A leg and foot corrective device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in a foot corrective means of the lower portion of the main supporter, each shoe arranged on the plantar bar includes a front part adjustable unit and a rear part adjustable unit, which have a foot adjustable shaft inserted into the center of the shoe and a rotary unit for moving in every direction on the foot adjustable shaft, and wherein the corrective shoes can move laterally and bent at a prescribed angle on the plantar bar to correct the deformed feet.

4. A tibiofibula (leg) reverse-rotation corrector, comprising: a main supporter having a lower end portion which extends to a center axis of a bottom of a corrective shoe for the correction of foot;

a refraction supporter being in the form of " ^~~ι ", the refraction supporter

being fastened on an upper end portion of the main supporter; bands mounted on the main supporter and the refraction supporter for fixing the leg; a plantar bar mounted on the lower end portion of the main supporter, the corrective shoe being arranged on the plantar bar; a rotary unit being mounted on the plantar bar, the rotary unit making th'ϊ corrective shoe rotate in every direction to correct a deformed foot; front and rear part adjustable units mounted on the bottom of the corrective shoe, the front and rear part adjustable units being disposed to the plantar bar and the rotary unit.