US1358606A - Metatarsal support - Google Patents

Description

J. W. ARROWSMITH. METATARSAL'SUPPQRT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 19

17. RENEWED SEPT-14,1920- Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

SK X In ventor:

Atty

accompanying drawings,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Janus w. i mwsmm or Monms'rown, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'I'O ABROWSMITH Mrs. COMPANY, me, or monms'rown. NEW JERSEY, A oonrona'rron or new JERSEY.

METATAR AL SUPPORT.

1,358,606. Application filed To all whom it may concern Be it known that LYJAMES \V. Almowsrrrrn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Morristown, in the county of Morris, State invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Metatarsal Supports, of which the following is ix-specification. 1

The improvements relate to devices for supporting and. strengthening and correcting deformities of the bony structure of the luunan'foot, and more particularly to appliances of this kind intended for the purpose of remedying and preventing deformities oi'the metatarsal and p'halangeal section as well as the tarsal. L l f I'l eretofore various appliances have been used for theipurpose of treating abnormalities of the metatarsal structurepincluding ordinary instep arch supports vwithn1eans--- adjustable or otherwise- -for creating pressure at certain points in this 'region, flexible insoles with similar provision and metal supports made capable of adjustment at the forward part. These" appliances, however, have all proved;unsatisfactory in many cases, andit is to overcome the objections to them that the presentimprovements are designed, as we'll as to provide-a highly effident and effective support for-gthe entire 'u'nderarch of "the foot both longitudinal and transverse. r The improvements are illustrated in the in which Figural is an underside view of a support embodying the improvements; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by} the arrows; Figs. 3 and 4 are side viewsshowing different positions. The main-plate 1 is of ordinary construction, having an arched bottom portion and an upturned side portion, and extending from the 'calc'aneum to a point in proximity with the anterior metatarsal region. r Forward of this plate is another plate 3 extending from the front edge thereof to a point-beyond the metatarsophalangeal joint and arched longitudinally and laterally to approximate the normal arch'of the foot skeleton in this zone.

The two plates are secured to a flexible cover4, extending beyond them on all sides, but are not secured to each other. the cove'r forming a flexible hinge-permitting inde- Specification of Letters Patent.

of New Jersey, have power, =plateuthe weight, and at'each step of the 'wearer the metatarsal" plate is slightly raised llatented Nov. 9, 1920.

March 10, 1917, Serial No. 153,844. Renewed September 14, 1920. Serial No. 410,194.

pendent vertical movement of the two plates but holding them against lateral or longitudmal displacement.

The forward edge of the main plate 1 extends beyond and underlies the rear edge of the metatarsal plate 3, and the overlapping edges of both plates are formed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the support, to approximate the angle of the metatarsophalangeal joints. They are also of reduced thickness at their overlapping edges. so that their combined thickness is but little greater than the normal thickness of either plate, and these edges are arched laterally so as to conform to the shape of the foot and coincide in contour as well as width. The main-plate is secured by the rivets 5 and 6, and the metatarsal plate by the rivets it and, Sat its forward part and the rivet 9 at lts rearedge. This last named rivet holds the rear edgeof the plate in close contact with the cover and prevents it from slipping beneath theedge'of' the main plate when the cover is flexed, sothat the wearer cannot: accidentally change their relative superposed positions and thus change the character and effect, ashereina'fter explained.

The forward edge of the main-plate 1 extends an appreciable distance beyond the rear.edgeof themetatarsal plate 3, and the said rear edge of themetatarsal plate overlymgtheforward edge'lof the main-plate is supported thereon; so that when the mainplate is tilted vertically on its front edge the metatarsal plateis slightly raised- The resultiof this construction. is that the mainplate acts asa-leverfof the second class, the extreme front edge: being the fulcrum, the portion back of'the-metatarsal plate the and the rearedge of the metatarsal and lowered.

-The construction and action of the plates jabove describedha's an important effect on the bony structureandthe muscles and ligaments of the metatarsophalangeal section of the'foot. With a "arch iislmerely supported andheld in its fixed plate the metatarsal proper position, and with this provision the muscles and ligaments in manycasesare not exercised and'become *atrophied, and as weakness "or falling of thevarch is usually due to x-a deterioration ofiithese members the defect :is not remedied butrmerely compensated for in a certain degree. With the articulated support of the present improvements, however, these members are flexed and exercised and in many cases restored to their normal condition by such exercise. In addi tion to this the articulated metatarsal support giving flexibility corresponding approximately to the normal longitudinal flexure greatly increases the comfort and ease of walking. and interosseous muscles or lumbricales instead of being relieved of their functions are merely relieved of the strain of supporting the arch, which has proved too great for them, and are constantly exercisedand developed in a manner tending to strengthen and tension,

normal condition by the lever actionwhich has its greatest effect posterior to the distal ends of the metatarsal bones and diminishes in effect toward the digits. In short the articulation of the plates corresponding to the metatarsophalangeal articulation and the construction and arrangement of the two plates result in a relatively perfect fit, a harmonious action and an exercise of the parts tending toward their restoration.

Various modifications of the construction herein described and shown may be made, ,and the improvements varied within certain limits so as to secure one or all of the beneficial effects herein described, without departing from the scope of the invention, and it is not intended to limit the subjoined claims to the details of construction herein described and shown, except as otherwise in said claims specified.

What I claim is: 1. A support of the character described, comprising a plate extending under the tarsal and metatarsal zones of the foot and arched to approximate the normal arch of the said parts, a second plate located forward thereof extending to the metatarsophalangeal region, the rear edge of the second plate overlapping the forward edge of the first plate and being arched to approximate the arch of the anterior metatarsus, a piece of flexible material extending over the overlapping portions of the two plates, and a connection between the second plate and said piece back of the forward edge of the first them and restore them to plate.

2. An arch support, comprising in its construction two p ates hinged together a line positioned over at the metatarsophalangeal articulation and extending forward and rearward thereof, said plates being arched to approximate the arch of the foot which they underlie.

3. A support of the character described comprising a plate extending under the metatarsal zone of the foot, a second plate located forward thereof, having its rear ortion overlapping the forward portion of the The digital flexors, extensors as described may be said first named plate, the said two plates being made of relatively rigid sheet material and approximating in width the width of a plurality of the metatarsal bones, and their forward edges adapted to rest upon the sole of a shoe, and a flexible hinged connection between the said two plates permittin relative vertical movement of their a jacent edges.

4. A support of the character described comprising a plate extending under the metatarsal zone of the foot, a second plate located forward thereof, having its rear portion overlapping the forward portion of the said first named plate, the said two plates being made of relatively rigid sheet material and approximating in width the Width of a plurality of the metatarsal bones, and their forward edges ada ted to rest upon the sole of a shoe, and a exible hingedconnection between the said two plates permitt' relative vertical movement of their iiifi'acent edges, said hinged connection comprising a piece of flexible material extending over the sen: adjacent edges and connected with both p a es.

5. A support of the character described, comprising a plate extending under the metatarsal zone of the foot, a second plate located forward of and having its rear ortion overlapping the forward portion 0 the first plate, the said two plates being made of relatively rigid material, and a flexible con nection between the said two plates permitting independent movement of the said plates at their overlapping portions, and the construction being such that the said two plates may have upward and different angular movements simultaneously.

6. A support of'the, character described, comprising a plate extending under the metatarsal zone of the foot, a second plate located forward of and having its rear portion overlapping the'forward ortion of the first plate, the said two plates ing made of relatlvely rigid material, and a flexible connection between the said two plates permitting inde ndent movement of the said plates at t 'eir overlapping portions, and the construction being such that the said two plates may have an upward and angular movement simultaneously, the said two plates having a width greater than the width of a plurality of the metatarsal bones and the second plate having an upwardly arched portion forward of the first plate.

7. A support of the character described, comprising a plate extending under the metatarsal zone of the foot, a second plate located forward of and having its rear ortion overlapping the forward portion 0 the first plate, the said two lates being made of relatively rigid materia s, and a flexible connection between the said two' plates permitting independent movement of the said no plates at their overlapping portions, and the construction being such that the said two plates may have an upward and independent angular movement simultaneously.

8. A support of the character described, comprising a plate extending under the metatarsal zone of the foot, a second plate located forward of and having its rear portion overlapping the forward portion of the first plate, the said two plates being made of 10 relativel rigid materia and a flexible connection etween the said two plates permitting independent movement of the said plates at their overlapping portions.

Witness my hand this 2nd day of March, 15 1917 at the cit of New York, in the county and State of ew York.

JAMES W. ARROWSMITH.

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