Orthopedic stabilizer attachment and shoe
OwnerDon T. Alleninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved arch support device and shoe incorporating such device. A device and shoe incorporating the device is disclosed which include rigid members for supporting and distributing weight along the foot both forward and rearward away from the arch and a flexible member for cushioning the heel region of the shoe during standing, walking or other movement.
Claims32
An orthopedic apparatus for use on a shoe having a sole portion said orthopedic apparatus comprising, a region corresponding to the heel of a human foot, a region corresponding to the arch of a human foot, and a region corresponding to the ball of a human foot said apparatus, comprising:
- a substantially rigid first member extending from the arch region backward toward the heel region;
- a substantially flexible supporting member extending from the arch region backward toward the heel region;
- a fastener located in said arch region and fastening said first member and said supporting member together;
- a wedge, for maintaining a separation between said supporting member and said first member, said separation terminating at an apex;
- a substantially rigid wedge-shaped reinforcing member extending from the arch region forward to the ball region and reinforcing the sole portion of the shoe, said reinforcing member disposed in front of said apex;
- whereby said first member, said supporting member and said reinforcing member cooperate to distribute weight forward toward said ball region and rearward toward said heel region and said supporting member flexes toward said first member to thereby cushion said heel region.
An orthopedic shoe comprising:
- an upper portion for encompassing a human foot, and a sole portion, said portions forming a region corresponding to the heel of a human foot, a region corresponding to the arch of a human foot, and a region corresponding to the ball of a human foot;
- a substantially rigid first member extending from the arch region backward toward the heel region;
- a substantially flexible supporting member extending from the arch region backward toward the heel region;
- a fastener located in said arch region and fastening said first member and said supporting member together;
- a wedge for maintaining a separation between said supporting member and said first member, said separation terminating at an apex;
- a substantially rigid wedge-shaped reinforcing member extending from the arch region forward to the ball region and reinforcing the sole portion of the shoe, said reinforcing member disposed in front of said apex;
- whereby said first member, said supporting member and said reinforcing member cooperate to distribute weight forward toward said ball region and rearward toward said heel region and said supporting member flexes toward said first member to thereby cushion said heel region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.