US2113898A - Adjustable arch support - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1938. a US 2,113,898

ADJUSTABLE ARCH SUPPORT Filed Oct. 9, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. 1 fianm'sflA/ebue ATTORNEYS April 12, 1938. E5, N HU 2,113,898

ADJUSTABLE ARCH SUPPORT Filed 001:. 9, 19 35 ZSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 12, 1938 ADJUSTABLE. ARCH SUPPORT Francis B. Nehus, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Albert H. Bode, Cincinnati, Ohio Application October 9, 1935, Serial No. 44,209

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjustable arch support and is concerned with supports of this kind. adapted under one form tobe removably positioned in a shoe, and under another form, to be permanently positioned therein.

An object of the invention is to provide an arch support adapted for fine degrees of adjustment so that the wearer may determine the position best adapted for his purposes and comfort Another object is to provide an arch support adjustable in four directions, namely, upwardly and downwardly as well as forwardly and rearwardly.

Another object is to provide an arch support,

adjustable as described, but constructed of a minimum of parts so that the device may be manufactured at low cost and manipulated with ease by the wearer.

Another object is to provide an arch support comprising a resilient pad removable to adjusted positions.

Another object is to provide an arch supporting plate which contacts the inner sole with which it is adapted to be associated at only three points whereby a particularly effective resiliency is achieved.

Another object is to provide an arch support unit which is immediately accessible interiorly of the shoe with which it is associated so that the support unit may be readily adjusted and readjusted to suit the wearers needs with a minimum of time and efiort.

Another object of the invention is to provide arch supporting means adapted for long periods of usefulness.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of one form of the arch support unit of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the intermediate of the unit illustrated in Fig. 1.

' Fig.4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the intermediate arch supporting member, in the form of a resilient pad.

' Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

, .Fig. '7 is a fragmental perspective view of a shoe having a modified form of the arch supporting unit associated with the inner solethereof.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an inner cover or insole adapted to be used in a shoe provided with the support unit of Fig. 7.

Heretofore various types of arch support units have been provided but these have possessed various disadvantages. Probably the chief disadvantage which has been common to arch units previously known, has been the lack of complete adjustability. Some arch support units have been provided in which a support plate is provided with means, generally at the ends of the plate, for raising and lowering the plate to different arch supporting heights. Frequently, the means'for adjusting in this manner, have been complicated and comparatively inaccessible so that an expert was required for making such adjustments. In addition to this, such arch units, while providing for the up and down adjustmentv referred to, have had no means for shifting the arch unit as a whole forwardly or rearwardly of the shoe to exactly the position required by the individual wearer. It is obvious that the raisa central longitudinal slot and a main adjustment screw associated therewith, provides not only for the depression and elevation of the arch supporting plate, but likewise provides for shifting of this plate bodily to the front or rear of the shoe, as may be required. In this way the proper placing of the arch support may be obtained with absolute exactitude.

The present invention likewise embraces various other advantages including efficiency of manufacture due to the simplicity and reduction of parts of the device. The degree of resiliency of the main ar'ch supporting plate of this invention has been greatly increased due to the novel three point support whereby said plate is associated with the inner sole of a shoe.

With reference to the drawings: The unit illustrated in Fig. '1 comprises an upper plate or cover In which may be formed of leather. The cover Ill may project from the heel of the shoe up to the forward portions thereof. Said cover may be diate plate.

provided with a central aperture I2 and front and rear similar apertures I3.

Beneath the cover II], on the inner sole of a shoe, the bottom plate I4 of the arch supporting unit of Fig, 1 is adapted to be positioned. The position of the whole unit is substantially the same as that of the modified form seen associated with a shoe in Fig. '7. Said plate I4 may likewise be provided at one side thereof, and ad.-

jacent the front and rear extremities thereof,"

with one or more perforations l6 and II which are adapted to register with the slots or apertures I3 of the cover III. A central threaded aperture I8, on the instep side of the plate I4 is likewise provided.

The main arch supporting member consists of an intermediate plate I9 (Fig. 2) consisting of a body portion 29, having front and rear resilient pronged extensions 2| and 22 extending therefrom in alignment with one side, that is the inner longitudinal arch side, of the plate. A lateral resilient extension 23 projects from the plate to- Ward the side opposite the instep portion and along a line substantially intermediate the pronged extensions 2| and 22. It will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 4, that all of said extensions 2!, 22, and 23 project into planes below the central or body portion of the plate I9.

The plate I9 is provided along the instep por tion thereof, and centrally of the body 20, with a longitudinal slot 24 through which an adjustment screw 25 freely extends. The upper portion of adjustment screw 25 is revolubly connected by suitable means with the body 20 of the interme- The means illustrated in Fig. 4 comprise the screw head 26 and an annular shoulder 210 on the shank of the screw at a point below the head. Between the head 26 and the shoulder 216 the portions of the body ZIIadjacent the slot 24 are loosely engaged.

The lower portions of the screw 25 are adapted to be threadedly received in the perforation I8 of the bottom plate Hi. It will further beseen that the head 26 of the screw may be positioned in or upon the central aperture I2 of the cover I II.

The pronged extensions 2i] and 22, comprise longitudinal slots 2'! which are adapted'to register with the perforationsIG and I! of the bottom plate and with the apertures I3 of the cover III. A screw 28 (Fig. 1) projects freely through the aperture I3, the slots 21 of the pronged extensions, and is threadedly receivable in perforations I5 and I! of the bottom plate. 7

The use and adjustment ofthe arch support unit just described is as follows: The device is positioned in the shoe and the wearer determines for himself whether the height of the unit is suitable for his purposes. If it'is to be lowered, the screw 25 is advanced into the perforation I8 so that the intermediate plate is depressed. If greater height is needed in the unit; said screw is retracted and the plate thereby raised. It will be understood that prior to these adjustments, the screws 28 which normally retain the extremities of the pronged extensions 2I and 22 in contact with the inner sole 'of a shoe, are loosened so as to permit a slidable relation of the pronged extensions with the bottom plate I4. The individual need as to height of the arch unit having thus been attended to, the exact positioning of the unit of the intermediate plate It may be effected. This is likewise'a'ccomplished by loosening of the screws 25 and 28, the loosening of the former permitting the plate I9 to be shifted forwardly or backwardly of the shoe, by virtue of the slot 24.

It may be-remarked that in the event that a very considerable forward and rearward adjustment of the plate is required, the'screws-28 may be removed from the initial perforations I 6 and I! into which they were inserted and threadedly entered into other of said perforations. It'will be understood, however, that normally, the latitude of movement made possible by the slots l2 and 21, provide for a Wide range ,of adjustment without the need of changing the screws 28 to other of the adjacent threaded perforations.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form of intermediate member is illustrated. Thisconsists of a resilient pad 29 having its greatest height or thickness on the instep side 39 and tapered toward the oppositeside thereof as indicated at 3|. The resilient pad is providedwith front and rear slotted extensions BI and 32 which are adapted 'to cooperate with suitable adjustment screws similar to the screws 28 heretofore described in connection'with Fig. 1. This pad may be shifted to the front and rear of the shoe but obviously is not intended'for use in instances where depression and elevation of the arch support are required.

In Fig. 7 a'modified form of unit comprises a a plate 33 identical with the plate I9'heretofore described but having under its pronged extensions 34 and 35 small screw plates 36 instead of the large bottom plate-Moi the first form of the invention described. Furthermore, the central adjustment screw 31 is entered into a central screw plate 38, all of said plates being suitably se- 1 of the invention seen in Fig. 7 is adapted to be permanently positioned in a shoe whereas the form illustrated in Fig. 2 is a removable unit.

Due tothe minimum of parts in the device of Fig. 7, the latter may readily and efficiently be installed in both a new and an old shoe.

Fig. 8 illustrates a suitable cover or insole that may be used in the shoe with which the unit of Fig. '7 is associated. When the adjustment screws of the arch support unit are to be regulated, the insole II may be lifted'for giving access thereto.

In both the units of Figs. 1 and '7; the intermediate plates I9 and 33 have a-three point contact only with the inner sole upon which they are positioned. This makes for highly efficient resiliency in the arch support and likewise for a minimum of abrasion and wear .on the inner sole. It will be seen, especially in Fig. 4, that the lateral extension of said intermediate plates, having no positive connection with either the upper cover, the bottom plate'or the inner sole of thezshoe, is free to shift to the extent necessitated by any adjustment of the instep portions ofthe unit. It will be further seen that the projection of said lateral extension intermediate the pronged extensions of the arch support plate results in gradual tapering of the height of the arch support unit from the instep portion thereof toward the opposite side of the shoe. The minimum of parts required of the present invention is in marked contrast with the similar elaborate structures heretofore provided for similar purposes. Furthermore, the reduction in weight as well as in material, of the unit illustrated in Fig. '7, makes for greater comfort as well as greater economy in use and in manufacture.

What is claimed is: V

1. An adjustable arch support comprising a bottom plate, a flexible top plate or cover, means connecting said two plates and providing for a' pocket like recess therebetween and accessible from one side thereof, a resilient arch-supporting member adapted to be inserted in said recess and provided with a forward and rearward pronged extension, said upper plate being formed with a pair of elongated slots and said bottom plate being provided with two pairs of threaded perforations, said slots and perforations being adapted to register with the pronged extension of the positioned arch-supporting member, and a screw adapted to be inserted in each of said elongated slots and to be passed downwardly between the prongs of the adjacent extension into a selected 7 one of the threaded perforations of the bottom plate, said screws being adapted to limit forward and backward movement of the positioned archsupporting member and being adapted to be removed and inserted in other of said perforations to provide for selective adjustability of the archsupporting member.

2. The combination with a shoe, of an arch support unit adapted to be positioned on the inner sole of the shoe at the instep and comprising an independent convex resilient plate provided with a slot extending longitudinally of the plate, an

adjustment screw projecting freely through the slot and having its upper portion revolubly connected with the plate, the head of the screw being accessible from the interior of the shoe, and means on the inner sole for threadedly receiving the lower portions of the screw to providefor advancement and retraction of the screw and consequent depression and elevation of the plate, the screw further providing in the retracted position for forward and rearward shifting and adjust-' ment of the plate as a whole by virtue of said slot.

3. The combination'witha shoe, of an arch support unit adapted to be positioned on the, inner sole of the shoe at the instep and comprising a convex resilient plate provided adjacent the central portion thereof with a slot extending of the screw being accessible from the interior of the shoe, and means on theinner sole for threadedly receiving the'lower portions of the screw to provide for advancement and retraction thereof and consequent depression and elevation of the intermediate portions of the plate, the screw further providing in the retracted position for forward and rearward shifting and adjustment of the plate as a whole by virtue of said which the arch-supporting element is associated and to be advanced and retracted relative thereto for effecting depression and elevation of said element, said adjustment member further providing in the retracted position for forward and rearward shifting and adjustment of the archsupporting element as a whole by virtue of said slot.

5. An adjustable arch support comprising a flexible cover, a bottom plate beneath the cover and provided with perforations, an arch supporting element adapted to be positioned between said plate and cover, and means for releasably attaching the arch-supporting element tothe bottom plate, said attaching means comprising downwardly-projecting members associated with the arch-supporting element and insertable into selected perforations of the bottom plate, the insertable members being adapted to be withdrawn, and reinserted mother of said perforations for selectively adjusting the position of the arch-supporting element as a whole.

6. An arch supporting unit adapted to be positioned on the insole of a shoe and comprising a plate of resilient material provided with a front and rear slotted extension, and means for attaching said extension to a shoe insole'and comprising screws or the like insertable through the slotted extensions and means attachable to'the shoe insole beneath the extensions and providing under each a screw-receiving perforation, the plate being adjustable as a whole forwardly and rearwardly by loosening of the screws and shifting of the plate within the limits of the slotted extensions.

7. Arch supporting means comprising a plate provided with perforations, an independent archsupporting element for positioning on said plate, and means for releasably attaching the arch-supporting element to the plate, said attaching means comprising a downwardly projecting member associated with the arch-supporting element and insertable into a selected perforation of the plate for positioning the arch-supporting element, said insertable member being adapted to be withdrawn and reinserted in other of said plate perforations for'selectively adjusting the position of the arch-supporting element as a whole.

7 FRANCIS B. NEHUS.

Images