US1930889A - Arch lift - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 17, 1933. M. G. wAKsMUNDzKA 1,930,889

ARCH LIFT Filed Feb. 25, 195s INTERA/AL Cans/FORM F7957- METATHSHL ,S'CQPHo/D 2O 2,0 Z0

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Patented oct. 17, 1933 PATENT oFF1cEj ARCH LIFT Maria G. Waksmundzka, Washington, D. C.

Application February 25, 1933. Serial No. 658,602

2 Claims.

My invention is an arch lift.

As is well known, the condition of falling arch of the foot is caused by the lowering of the diternal cuneiform and rst metatarsal bones,

5 which is caused by the giving away of the muscles and ligaments adjacent to the articulated surfaces. These bones have an outer generally concave outline in a longitudinal direction.

I have discovered that if a flexible and resilient l0 lifting pad is arranged upon the arch of the foot, adjacent to these bones, and of suitable shape and size so that it will exert a proper upward and inward pressure upon these bones, near their articulated surfaces, that these bones will be gradually lifted and restored to their normal position. When this is done, ordinarily the remaining bones of the foot follow, and re` turn to the normal position, and the foot is restored to its normal strength and flexibility. 2O The lifting pad, due to its flexibility and resistency in use, serves to exercise and massage the muscles and ligaments adjacent to these bones, thereby strengthening the same and aiding in correcting the condition. y

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a'plan view of an arch lift embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is anend elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on'line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2,and,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the bones of the foot, illustrating the application of the device to the same.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of 40 illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates an attaching sole, which is advantageously formed of thin flexible material, such as leather. This attaching sole embodies a heel portion 1l, 'a' sole portion 12, and a restricted intermediate pornon 13.

The numeral 14 designates a lifting pad, which is flexible and resilient. This pad is preferably formed of rubber and is compressible and re-V silient, but is Vnot as compressible as sponge rubber. The degree of compressibility of the rubber may vary, and I have found that satisfactory results are obtainable by using a rubber having substantially the same degree of compressibility as is found in the ordinary office rubber band.

An important feature of the invention is the precise shape and arrangement of the lifting pad 14. This lifting pad is longitudinally curved, as shown as Figure 4, and has an inner convex face 15, and an outer concave face 16. In addition to this, the pad tapers throughout its entireilength, terminating in relatively thin edges 17. The free edge of the pad is also curved in a more or less Vertical plane.

Figure 3 illustrates the precise shape of the pad 14, in cross section. This pad tapers upwardly to a thin edge 18, and tapers downwardly to a thin edge 19, with its innermost contact portion 20, nearV its center. The general shape of the inner face 15 of the pad is spherical, the same being convex both vertically and horizontallyfV `vThe pad 14 is mounted upon the attaching sole 10, with the adjacent edge of the sole preferably engaging about the outer side of lthe pad, at its marginal edge, these parts being secured together by cement or the like. The effectiveness of the device depends largely upon the fact that it is made in precisely the correct shape and size, for each foot and shoe, and it is therefore, necessary that the device must be made in sizes corresponding to the sizes of the shoes. The device is arranged within the shoe so that the lifting pad 14 will be adjacent to the inner longitudinal arch of the foot. The attaching sole is made in the proper size and shape for the particular shoe, and is so correlated with the lifting'pad 14, that when the attaching sole is properly located in the shoe to coincide with the shoe sole, the lifting pad will be in lthe correct position. After being properly located in the shoe, the attaching sole` is cemented to the shoe sole. This holds the lifting pad against being displaced bodily, but due to the flexibility of the attaching sole and pad, the pad may flex or yield, during the walking action, so that it will properly massage and exercise the adjacent muscles and ligaments.

Figure 5 indicates the position that the lifting pad assumes with respect to the bones of the foot. It will be noted that the internal cuneiform and first metatarsal bones, at their outei sides, assume a generally convex relation in a longitudinal direction, covered of course by the flesh. The convex shape of the face 15 perr mits the lifting pad to conform generally to this relation of these bones. Further, the convex face of theV pad is so shaped that it exerts the maximum pressure upon the inner portions of the internal cuneiforrn and rst metatarsal bones, and also adjacent to their inner articulated surfaces. It will be noted that vthe portion 2li-of the pad 14 is arranged adjacent to .and opposite the articulated ends 20 of the internal cuneiforrn and first metatarsal bones. The edge or line 19 constitutes the effective edge of attachment between the lifting pad 14 and sole 10. The pad 14 is transversely inclined and projects laterally beyond this eifective edge of attachment 19. The entire area of the lifting pad 14 is therefore arranged outwardly of the under the foot, which is that area of the attaching sole l0 between the edge 19 and the opposite edge of the attaching sole, is entirely uncovered by the lifting pad. This preserves the thin character of the attaching sole 10 beneath the foot, which is important. By virtue of the precise arrangement of the lifting pad and attaching sole, the lifting pad exerts vertical and horizontal forces upon the longitudinal side arch of the foot and a resultant force at an angle of substantially from the horizontal passing through the maximum point of protuberance 20, and acting upon that end of the first metatarsal bone adjacent to the cuneiform bone. This force at an angle of substantially 45 from the vertical not only serves to elevate this end of the first metatarsal bone, but also serves to turn the end of the bone inwardly, restoring it to its normal position. Particular attention is called to the fact, as shown in Figure 5, that the inner face of the lifting pad 14 is sufciently long to extend over the first metatarsal, internal cuneiform and scaphoid bones, exerting pressure lupon all of them. This lifting force is in two general directions, namely, upwardly and horizontally, at generally a right angle to each other, as shown at Figure 3, with the resultant force in an inclined direction at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the horizontal. These forces are indicated by the arrows in Figure 3. The pad 14 therefore exerts an upward and lateral pressure upon these bones, which pressure is continuous but yieldable, with the result that the bones are free to move properly, but are lifted or supported and worked back to the normal elevated positions. Due to the flexibility and resiliency of the pad 14, it not only serves to elevate these bones, but also serves to massage and exercise the adjacent muscles and ligaments, which in turn, strengthens the foot and aids in its return to a normal condition. The lifting pad 14 does not extend under the sole of the foot, to any considerable distance, and therefore does not function to exert any true vertical lifting action. This lifting pad serves to apply a lifting force to the side face of the arch, which maximum force is exerted generally upv wardly at the inclination of about 45 degrees from the horizontal.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is:--

1. A device for lifting the inner longitudinal arch of the foot, said device being made in the proper size corresponding to the size of the shoe being worn, said device comprising a relatively thin attaching sole including a heel portion and an intermediate portion having a curved edge adjacent to the inner longitudinal arch, said attaching sole being adapted to be secured to the shoe in the correct position therein, and a flexible and resilient lifting padrsecured to the attaching sole adjacent to the curved longitudinal edge thereof,the effective edge of attachment between the sole and pad being such that the major portion of the solebeneath the foot is uncovered by the pad, the lifting pad being transversely inclined and having .the major portion of its area projecting laterally beyond the said effective edge of attachment, the lifting pad having a face which is longitudinally convex and transversely convex and having a maximum point of protuberance arranged near the center of such face, the lifting pad being so positioned upon the attaching sole that the maximum point of protuberance is arranged beneath and in substantial transverse vertical alignment with the articulated ends of the internal cuneiformand first metatarsal bones, the location of -the lifting pad at the effective edge of attachment and its transverse inclination aboveandlaterally beyond such effective edge of attachment bringinggthe maximum point of protuberance llaterally outwardly of such effective edge offattachment thereby causing the lifting. pad to exert substantially vertical and horizontal pressures upon the inner longitudinal arch and resultant pressure at an angle of approximately 45 from the horizontal through the maximum pointrof protuberance which will elevate the end of the. first metatarsal bone adjacent tothe internal cuneiform bone and turn the same inwardly to the normal position.

2. A device for lifting the inner longitudinal arch of the foot, said device being madev in the proper size corresponding y to the size of theshoe being worn, said device comprising a relatively thin attaching sole including a -heel portion andr an intermediate portion having a curved edge adjacent to the inner longitudinal arch, saidvattaching sole being adapted to be secured to the shoe in the correct positiontherein, and a flexible and resilient lifting pad secured to the attaching sole adjacent to the curved longitudinal edge thereof, the effective edge of attachment between the sole and pad being-such that the major portion of the sole beneath the Vfoot is uncovered bythe pad, the lifting pad being transversely inclined and having substantially its lentire area projecting laterally beyond the said effective edge of attachment, the liftingpad having an innerface which is longitudinally convex and transversely convex and having a maximum point of .protuberance arranged near theV center of such inner face, the inner face being of such a length that it extends over and exerts pressure upon ythe first metatarsal, internal cuneiform and scaphoid bones, the lifting` pad being so positioned upon the attaching sole that the maximum point of protuberance is l.arranged beneath and in substantial transverse vertical alignment with the articulated ends of the internal cuneiform and first metatarsal bones, the location of the lifting pad at the effective edge of attachment and its transverse inclination above andi laterally beyond such effective edge of attachment bringing the maximum point of Yprotuberance laterally outwardly of. such effective edge of attachment thereby causing'the liftingl padl to exert substantial vertical and horizontal pressures and a resultant pressure at lan angle of approximately 45 from the vertical through the maximum point of protuberance which will elevate the end of the first metatarsal bone adjacent to the internal cuneiform bone andl turn the same inwardlyto the normal position.

MARIA G. WAKSMUNDZKA.

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