US2797688A - Composite corrective appliance for the foot - Google Patents

Description

July 2, 1957 c. F. CRAWFORD 2,797,688

COMPOSITE CRRECTIVE APPLIANCE FOR THE FOOT Filed Jan. 8, 1954 ited rates Patent Office 2,797,688 Patented July 2, 1957 COMPOSITE CORRECTIVE APPLIANCE FOR THE FOOT Claud F. Crawford, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to The Scholl Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Application January 8, 1954, Serial No. 402,939

4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-80) This invention relates to improvements in a composite corrective appliance, and more particularly to an appliance performing the double function of providing a cushioning support in a region adjacent digits such as lingers or toes, and at the same time maintain proper spacing between adjacent digits, the device being highly desirable for application to the plantar surface of the human foot to cushion the region adjacent the metatarsal heads, and also maintain two or more toes properly spaced, although the device may equally as well be applied to the hand of a user, and may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled 1n the art.

In the past, many and various devices for -correcting crooked and overlapped toes, which are frequently complicated or caused by bunions and enlarged joints, have been provided. Likewise, various devices have been provided for cushioning the plantar surface of the foot in the ball region thereof, or in the region around the metatarsal heads for the alleviation of callosities and similar aiilictions. Frequently, a crooked toe, especially when caused by a bunion or an enlarged joint, results in the acquisition of one or more callouses on the underside of the foot adjacent the metatarsal heads, and thus a patient needs alleviation for both alictions, which heretofore could only be provided by separate and independent instrumentalities.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a composite corrective appliance not only capable of cushioning an extremity of a body such as a hand or foot in the region of the digit heads, but also designed to maintain adjacent digits properly separated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a composite corrective appliance capable of cushioning a body extremity adjacent the digit heads, and also maintaining proper spacing between more than two adjacent digits.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a corrective appliance particularly desirable for cushioning the human foot in the region of the metatarsal heads, which device is equipped with toe separating means that also maintain the cushioning portion of the device in proper position adjacent the foot.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a foot cushioning appliance desirable for disposition beneath the foot in the region of the metatarsal heads, said cushioning device having a forward projection thereon, which projection carries toe separating means.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide a cushioning device highly desirable for use beneath the human foot in the region of the metatarsal heads, with a plurality of forward projections on the device, each projection carrying toe separating means thereon.

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 drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan View of a corrective appliance embodying principles of the instant invention, incorporating a phantom showing of a part of the human foot to illustrate one use of the device;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the device taken substantially as indicated by the line II-II of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a still different form of the invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In that illustrated embodiment of the instant invention as seen in Figs. l and 2, there is shown a composite corrective appliance including a cushioning body portion generally indicated by numeral 1. In the illustrated instance this body portion is generally ovate in shape, with the longitudinal axis for substantially transverse disposition relatively to the human foot or to the hand, as the case may be. While it will be definitely understood that the instant invention may be applied to a human hand as well as a human foot, for purposes of clarity the invention will be herein described in connection with the human foot.

The cushioning body part 1, as seen best in Fig. 2, preferably has a concave-convex shape, with the concave surface uppermost so as to provide a comfortably fitting cushioning element beneath the plantar surface of the foot underneath a plurality of the metatarsal heads. The disposition of the device is shown in Fig. l with a phantom outline 2 of the foot, and the foot is presumed to be on top of the device.

The cushioning body part is preferably made up of superposed layers 3 and 4 of foam latex or the equivalent. Preferably at least the underside of the device or underface of the layer 4 is provided with a suitable covering, which may be of fabric or any other suitable material. In the illustrated instance, this covering 5 is a thin smooth skin-like covering of rubber, of the general character used in the preparation of a dental dam. The upper layer 3 may or may not be provided with such a covering, as is found desirable in manufacture, and is preferably. se cured to the lower layer in any suitable manner such as by a cementitious material, exaggeratedly shown at 6 in Fig. 2. It will also be noted that the upper layer is preferably smaller in size than the lower layer so as to leave a margin of the lower layer exposed around the upper layer, and thus eliminate a high abrupt edge contact of the cushioning device with the foot.

As seen best in Fig. l, there is a forward extension or projection 7 integral with the body part 1 of the device, and more specifically integral with the lower layer 4 only. Firmly secured to this extension, adhesively or in any otherA suitable manner, is an upstanding `digit separator 8 which, as seen in Fig. l, preferably has a wedge-like shape longitudinally thereof, with the narrow end of the wedge adjacent the body part 1. This toe separator may be made of foam latex, if desired, or any other suitable material, and is preferably somewhat stiffer than the soft cushioning body part 1.

As seen in Fig. 2, the sides of the separator 8 are preferably somewhat concave in an upward `direction to provide an outwardly daring top as indicated at 9 so that the separator may be effectively locked between a pair of adjacent digits or toes. Obviously the sides of the adjacent toes will conform to the side contour of the separator, and the flared top will maintain the device in position between the toes, especially if the toes are overlapped or one of them is crooked.

It will be seen that when the device is located on a foot in the manner indicated in Fig. 1, the toe separator 8 not only maintains the respective pair of toes properly spaced apart, but also holds the entire device in proper position on the foot of the user with the body part 1 disposed beneath a plurality of metatarsal heads, or beneath the b-all of the foot. This holding action may be assisted by an article of hosiery worn by the wearer of the device. It will be noted that when properly positioned, the corrective appliance affords a comfortable cushioning of the ball of the foot, alleviates callosities in that region, and at the same time maintains proper spacing between and adjacent pair of toes.

Now the projection 7 need not necessarily be located in the precise position shown in Fig. 1, but may be disposed in any desirable location depending upon the requirements of the user. shown a device having a body portion 1 of the same construction as above described. In this instance, however, the body portion has a pair of spaced forward projections or extensions 10 and 11, each of which is equipped with a toe separator 8. With this arrangement, one separator may be disposed between the large toe and second toe, while the other separator may be disposed between the third and `fourth toes. Obviously, any suitable variation or number of toe separators may be utilized.

In the event it is desirable to have a toe separator on each side of the same toe, the more simple construction is that illustrated in Fig. 4. There', the same cushioning body part 1 is disclosed, but this body part or'more specifically the lower layer 4 is provided with a relatively wide forward extension 12 which 4carries a pair of spaced separators 8 8 so that there is room for a single toe be tween the separators.

The operation of the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is substantially similar to that seen in Fig. 1, except there is an engagement with more digits.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a composite corrective appliance capable of performing the double function of cushioning the ball of a foot or the palm portion of a hand, and at the same time maintainingV proper separationl betweenv digits, such as toes or lingers. In addition, the digit separating means performs the additional function of maintaining the en-- tire appliance in proper position upon the extremity of the user. Further, the device is simple in construction, may be laundered when desired, is highly durable, and economical to manufacture and use.

For example, in Fig. 3 I have It will be understood that modications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A composite corrective appliance, comprising a body part of cushioning material to contact a body extremity behind the digits, a relatively narrow projection extending forwardly from said body part, and a digit separator connected to said projection, said body part and said separator being made of foam latex but the digit separator being stiffer than said body part.

2. A composite foot correction appliance comprising a generally oval body part of cushioning material to underlie the ball of the foot behind the toes with the long axis of the body part beneath the metatarsal arch of the foot, an integral relatively narrow projection extending forwardly from said body part, and an upstanding toe separator on said projection.

3. A composite foot correction appliance comprising a generally oval body part of cushioning material to underlie the ball of the foot behind the toes with the long axis of the body part beneath the metatarsal arch of the foot, an integral relatively narrow projection extending forwardly yfrom said body part, and an upstanding toe separator on said projection, said toe separator also being of cushioning material but stiffer than said body part and said projection.

4. A composite foot correction appliance comprising a generally oval body part of cushioning material to underlie the ball of the foot behind the toes with the long axis of the body part beneath the metatarsal arch of the foot, an integral relatively narrow projection extending forwardly from said body part, and an upstanding toe separator on said projection, said toe separator also being of cushioning material but stiffer than said body part and said projection, said body part comprising two superposed layers of similar material with the stiler layer slightly less in area than the lower to leave an exposed margin of the lower layer around the upper layer, and said pro jection extending from the lower layer.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,305 schon Dec. 2, 1913 1,098,397 Pecorella June' 2', 1914 1,103,465 Arrowsmith July 14, 1914 1,129,670 Hardesty Feb. 23, 1915 2,506,308 Maynier May 2, 1950

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