US880245A - Instep-arch support. - Google Patents

Description

NQ.880,245. PATENTED FEB.- 25, 1908.

' W. M. SCHOLL.

INSTEP ARGH SUPPORT.

APPLIOATIONI'ILED 00T. 21, 1907.

afford adequate su UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM M soHoLL, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INSTEP-iiROH SUPPORT.

No. 880,245. v

Improvements in Instep-Arch Supports, of.

which the followin is a specification.

My invention're ates to improvements in instep `arch supports for insertion in foot wear, and has for its general object to provide an instep arch support of such character as to port to the instep arch of the foot, but at al times yieldingly, so as to oppose no painfully harsh resistance to the pressure of that portion of the foo.t.

A further Object ofmyinvention is to rovide a device of the character described which will substantially affect'only the inner area'of the arch most apt to bebroken down and displaced, and will leave fre'e frompressure the` outer margin of the arch, which from its coniiguration and physical structure is not apt to become injured or broken down.

Anot er object of m invention is to pro- `vide a device of the c aracter described of construction simple and easy of manufacture, but efficient and practical in operation; and other and further ob'ects will best become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wnerein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation from the inside edge, of a support embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a bottoni plan view thereof; Fi 3 is a lo" itudinal section on line 3 3 of ig. 2, and, `ig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Thron hout said severalfigureslikenumerals of reierence refer always to like parts.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide in general a resilient metallic arch lorm to the longitudinalA arch of the .instep which it underlies, a metallic spring plate,

bowed or curved upward to less de ree than the arch plate, secured in fixed' re ation' to the arch plate at its rear end, and at its front end extending beyond the arch late, t o receive the forward extremityv of t e arch piste in sliding contact on its upper surface, and a cover piece of leather or other flexible i material, shaped to lit within the shank and heel portions of a shoe, overlying' the arch plate and secured thereto. Preferably the spring plate at its rear. end'as well as at its Specification vof Letters atent. 'Application med october 21.1907. serial No. 398,516.

' and, While the width of the late longitudinally curved or arched to con` Patented Feb. 25,

front end extends beyond the `arch plate so that the arch. plate has bearing at both ends at points located on the curve of the' spring plate, and elevated abovel the extremitiesof the spring plate. l

Inthe specilic construction 'illustrated 10 indicates the arch plate, longitudinally curved to conform with the longitudinal,

curve of the normal arch of the instep and transversely of shape and curvature to un- Vderlie and interit with the longitudinal and transverse curves of the inside of the arch;

late may be varied, I prefer that it shallp be approximately of. such width as to underlie the three inner metatarsal bones, and the inner and middle cuneiform bones, so .giving Support to the scaphoid and the astragalus, and leaving free of its support the outer metatarsals and the outer cuneiform bone.

] 1 indicates' the spring plate, bowed up- Ward in a longitudinal line to a'less extent than the arch of plate 10, and preferably of length greater than that of the arch plate,- sothat'the spring plate extends out beyond the arch plate at its .rear end, and also at its front end, and receives both ends of said arch plate on its curving portions. In general I prefer that the spring plate shall provide a central narrow neck 12, having its side edges upturned as at 12for strength, and joining end portions 13 and 14` of lgreater Width, the l front end portion 13 being considerably 'widened to present a substantial bear'in surfacef'to Vthe inner surface of the shoe, an

slightly' curled up at its front end, as indicatedat 13 to prevent cutting of the interior of the shoe. Whenpositioned in the shoe, the end 13 of the spring plate lies at about the middle of the transverse dimensionr of the shoe and just in front of the shank. The rear enlargement Mis' preferably so shaped and positioned' as to extend to approximately the center ofthe heel, to underlie and support the os calsis, and is secured at a suitable dis'- tance from its end to' substantially -the ex.

tremity of the arch plate, by two rivets 15 'and15 arranged side yside. The front ends of the A-arch and spring plates are free with respect to eachother, and the arch plate` bears on the upper surface of thc Spring plate for free sliding movement relative thereto, the extent of projection ofthe spring plate beyond the end of the arch plate eing preferably sufficient to permit the arch plate to Substantially flatten out Without vinterfel'- to approxi tioned to substantially eIlice' from or'leaving. contact with the spring ate. p 1 6 indicates a cover piece of leather, shaped 'v iate conformity with the interior of vthe heel and sha-'nk of a shoe, and proporfll such portions of the .shoe for convenient retention therein, such cover piece being preferably skivcd alon'g the edge of its upturned side portions and along' its front edge, and permanently secured to the arch the rivet l5., (whichfalso serves to retain the arch and spring plate togethcr,) and by a second rivet 1'7.suitably positioned adjacent the front end of the arch plate.

f In operation itWill be understood the d'evice is inserted bodily in the shoeand, beingv sold of course in size approximate to the across the shoe.

spring,

' respect to-the spring plate,

moving longitudinally with respect to the spring plate insliding relation thereto. It will also be apparent that the spring plate itself is capable of depression and serves as an auxiliary spring, moving longitudinally however, rto a much less extent-than the arc i carried, near its ends and not at its point of highest curvature. Further curvature of the bearing surface presented by the spring plate for the arch.' plate facilitates the sliding movements of the latter.

Practical experience has demonstrated that an arch su .port thus .constructed effectively prevents reaking down of the arch of the instep, and has a very appreciable effect toward restoring'and reforming )a broken down arch. It is, however, sufficiently elastic andl adaptable in its movements to conform readily to thefoot of the user, and in use a' very comfortable and easy .arch supporter or stay.

While I have herein described in some detail aspecific embodiment of my invention f which I have practically employed and found spirit and scope of my invention.

advantageous', it will be understood that l do not desire to limit myself to the exact details' of .construction 'and contour further thanas specified in the claims, numerous changes in detail might be made by those skilled in the art without departure from the plate at its rear end byy and its front edge as the Weight of the arch spring is.

' esas/it Having thus described my invention, What l claim. and desire to secure by Lettersy l-at-v ent, is,

l. As an article of manufacture, an instep arch supporter for insertion infoot Wear, come prising an arch plate longitudinally curved owed to less degree yinstep, a spring plate secured to said arch ,than the arch plate,

plate at its rear tending beyond the arch plate and receiving the front edge of the latter in free sliding and secured tothe plate structure an of a shoe.

2. As an article of manufacture, an instep arch supporter 'for insertion in foot Wear, comprising a bowed spring plate, an over-v lying arch plate, longitudinally curved to conform to the normal longitudinal arch of the instep, and transversely shaped to conform to the inside of the instep arch', and terminating at itsbuter ed e near of the transverse arch of t e foot, said arch plate being secured'to the spring plate at its rear end and front end,'and a flexible to the plates, and shaped heel and shank of a shoe. y

3. In an instep arch supporter,l for inser tion in and removal from foo`t-vve ar, the

nally curved toconform to the arch of the instep, degree nected to the arch plate at its rear end, and at its front lhatter in free sliding relation thereto, Where-- Y extent upon the spring plate by pressure applied to said arch, while the spring plate receives the pressure of the arch plate at its forward end at a point elevated by the bowing of the spring plate.

4. As an article of manufacture, an instep arch supporter for insertion .in foot-Wear, comprising al leather cover piece shaped to fit the shank and heel of a shoe, a lon itudinally curved arch platepositioned by t e cover piece and shaped to conform .to the attached to said arch plate at one end only,

being shaped to afford a relatively bearing edge at its front end, and a earing 5. ln an instep arch supporter, the;v l bination of a 'spring plate, y. an arci overlying" said spring'z thereon, "and aic'overpefc end, and: at its front end ex-' contact, and a' flexible cover piece overlying shapedl for comformity to the rear portions@ free from and contacting withsaid spring plate for sliding movement at 'its "ff cover piece secured to conform to tf'icfV and a spring plate, bowed to lessu' than the arch plate, and flexibly con-'f'` about centrally ofthe heel at its' V rear end.:

to conform to the longitudinal arch of thecombination of an arched plate longitudiend extending beyond the arch plate and receiving the front edge ofthe the arch plate may be straightened to an v inner-side of an instep arch, and a bovve'dl 12o sliding relation thereto, said springl plate Wide arch plate, e rivet joining the cover piece, arch plate and spring plate neer the heel, a Leeond rivet ,connecting the spring and arch only near the heel, and a third rivet meeting the arch plate Aand cover piece y neer their front end7 whereby the cover is secured to the arch plate near both in. the letter, and the arch plate is seto the spring plate near its rear end only and free for sliding movement on the 10 spring plate at its front end.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. soHoLL.

in` the presence of'- FORE BAiN, MARY E. ALLEN.

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