# US 5,345,701 A · Adjustable orthotic

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- Number: US 5,345,701 A
- Document ID: US5345701A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/095,355
- Filed: 1993-07-21
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1991-04-26
- Inventors: Leland R. Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345701A

## CPC

- A61F 5/14: Special medical insertions for shoes for flat-feet, club-feet or the like
- A43B 7/24: Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side {, preventing supination or pronation}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR

## Abstract

An orthopedic device for adjustable correction of varus and valgus conditions includes an orthotic having at least one attachment device thereon together with a plurality of mating posts having varying degrees of correction for forefoot and rearfoot attachment. In some instances the orthotic is formed as part of a shoe.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An orthopedic corrective appliance kit for the feet comprising:
at least one footbed portion selectable by foot size for the right or the left foot and conforming substantially to right or left soles of the selected size, the at least one footbed portion formed from a material substantially non-deformable with respect to a ground surface;
a plurality of selectable wedge means defining different angles;
first attachment means beneath a rearfoot area of the at least one footbed portion for attaching at least one of the plurality of selectable wedge means; and
second attachment means beneath a forefoot area of the at least one footbed portion for attaching at least one of the plurality of selectable wedge means, each of the plurality of selectable wedge means including mating connection means for interchangeably attaching to one of the first or second attachment means of the at least one footbed portion, the plurality of selectable wedge means enabling forefoot and rearfoot alignment of the feet while standing and walking to correct valgus and varus foot abnormalities.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic kit of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second attachment means is at least one recess, and the mating connection means of each of the plurality of wedge means is at least one ridge for interchangeably mounting within the at least one recess of the at least one footbed portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic kit of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second attachment means is a plurality of recesses and the mating connection means of the plurality of wedge means is a mating plurality of posts for interchangeably mounting with the plurality of recesses of the at least one footbed portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic kit of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second attachment means is at least one recess and the mating connection means of the plurality of wedge means is at least one raised section having a mating, reversible geometry to the at least one recess in the at least one footbed portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic kit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of wedge means comprises wedges defining at least three different angles for selectively changing the angle of the at least one footbed portion with respect to the ground surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic kit of claim 1 further comprising arch support attachment means beneath an arch portion of the at least one footbed portion and removable arch support means defining means for connecting to the arch support attachment means.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic kit of claim 1 wherein the at least one footbed portion is made from polyethylene terephthalate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic kit of claim 1 having a right and a left footbed portion, at least one of the plurality of selectable wedge means attachable, at either the first or second attachment means, to either the right or left footbed portions to correct valgus or varus foot abnormalities.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The orthopedic kit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of selectable wedge means comprises a first plurality of rearfoot wedge means for interchangeable connection to the first attachment means of the at least one footbed portion, and a second plurality of forefoot wedge means for interchangeable connection to the second attachment means of the at least one footbed portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The orthopedic kit of claim 9 wherein the first attachment means is at least one curved recess and each of the plurality of rearfoot wedge means defines a matting curved raised area for interchangeable attachment within the at least one curved recess of the at least one footbed portion, and where the second attachment means is at least one slot and each of the plurality of forefoot wedge means defines a mating raised area for interchangeable attachment within the at least one slot of the at least one footbed portion.

### Claim 11

An orthopedic corrective appliance kit for the feet comprising:
a shoe having a sole;
a plurality of wedge means defining different angles;
first attachment means defined in a rearfoot area of the sole of the shoe for attaching at least one of the plurality of selectable wedge means; and
second attachment means defined in a forefoot area of the sole of the shoe for attaching at least one of the plurality of selectable wedge means, the plurality of selectable wedge means defining mating connection means for interchangeably and reversible connecting to the first and second attachment means, the plurality of selectable wedge means enabling forefoot and rearfoot alignment of the foot to correct a majority of valgus foot abnormalities or varus foot abnormalities by substantially maintaining alignment of the feet while standing and walking.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The orthopedic corrective appliance kit of claim 11 wherein each of the first and second attachment means is at least one recess for receipt, from a right and a left side of the sole, of the least one wedge means to selectably correct for valgus and varus foot abnormalities.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The orthopedic corrective appliance kit of claim 11 wherein at least one of the wedge means is a heel of the shoe for connection to the first attachment means.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The orthopedic corrective appliance kit of claim 11 wherein the first attachment means is a threaded receiver and the second attachment means is a bolt member extending through at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of wedge means.
