US2138823A - Flexible arch support - Google Patents

Description

D66. 6, 1938. I Y WERKMAN 2,138,823

FLEXIBLE ARCH SUPPORT Filed May a, 1957 fieoaore Fl er/6mm) Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES e TENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an arch support adapted to be applied to the edge of the sole of a boot or shoe, and preferably consisting of a stamped metal plate having a flange or flanges engaging the face of the sole adjacent its edge.

An object of the invention is to construct the arch support in such a way as to give the same suflicient flexibility to enable the plate to conform or adapt itself to the shape of the edge of the shoe at the point where it is applied, at the same time preserving sufficient rigidity in the arch support to insure that it will operate effectively as an arch support for the shoe.

The arch support is preferably applied to the inside edge of the sole adjacent the forward face of the heel of the shoe, and one of the objects of the invention is to form the arch support with an upper flange having a form which will facilitate the application of the support to the shoe, but which, at the same time, will give the plate sufficient flexibility to enable it to conform to the shape of the sole edge.

A further object of the invention is to improve the general construction of arch supports of this type, with the idea of enabling the arch support to be applied with great facility to the edge of the sole, at the same time insuring sufficient flexibility to enable the support to adapt itself to the shape of the shoe edge without detracting from the rigidity which the support must have to enable it to perform its function of supporting the arch of the shoe.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficient flexible arch support.

A preferred embodiment-of the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a shoe illustrating an arch support embodying my invention applied to the same.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the arch support as viewed from its upper side removed from the shoe.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the arch support as viewed from the inner side.

Fig. 4 is a section taken about in the plane of the line 44 in Fig. 1, and passing through the arch support and the adjacent portion of the shoe to illustrate its relation to the sole of the shoe when in position.

In practicing the invention, I construct the arch support preferably of a plate of metal, from which the arch support is stamped. This plate should have sufficient thickness to give it the necessary rigidity, and is preferably formed with one or more flanges to engage the face of the sole of the shoe adjacent to the edge where the device is applied. The flange or flanges on the device facilitate securing it to the edge of the sole, but are constructed in such a way that the vertical plate or web of the devicewill have sufficient flexibilityto enable it to conform to the shape of the edge to which it is applied.

Referring more particularly to the parts, I indicates the arch support which, in Fig. 1, is illustrated as applied to the edge 2 of the sole 3 of a shoe. The arch support is confined in its extent to the shank of the shoe forward of the heel and on one side only of the shoe. It is preferably made as a stamping from sheet metal, and comprises a single rigid plate having a web 4, which is disposed in a substantially Vertical plane against the edge 2 of the sole when the device is in use. This web 4 is flanged, and preferably carries an upper flange 5, which is in a horizontal plane and substantially at right angles to the plane of the web 4. The upper flange 5 preferably has a serrated edge so that projecting teeth 6 with notches 1 between the same, are formed along it. These teeth 6 are preferably disposed in pairs, and gaps in the form of slits 8 are cut in the flange extending from a point adjacent or at the web 4 in an inward direction toward the interior of the shoe. These gaps prevent the flange 5 from giving undesirable stiffness to the support. The points, or teeth 6, facilitate positioning the flange 5 when shoving it inwardly over the edge 2 of the sole. The support is preferably applied in the position illustrated just forward of the forward face of the heel 9 of the shoe.

The web 4 has a concavo-convex form in a vertical plane, so as to enable it to fit approximitely, or substantially to the shape of the edge 2 where it is applied.

The support also preferably includes a lower flange l0, which is adapted to flt under the sole 3 as indicated in Fig. 4. This lower flange Ill is preferably formed with gaps II, or reentrant angles, that extend outwardly from the points l2 in the vertical plane of the web 4 of the plate. In the construction illustrated, there are two of these gaps H, so that the flange I0 presents the form of two end lobes l3 and an intermediate lobe l4. These lobes preferably have curved edges l5 so as to give them the form of tongues, and to facilitate their being shoved under the sole.

Suitable means is preferably provided for securing the support in place. For this purpose I prefer to provide perforations IS in the lobes, through which a small fastener such as a small nail I! may be driven (see Fig. 4).

It should be understood that in practice, the web 4 of the support would have a shape enabling it to fit approximately to the shoe with which it was intended to be worn. However, as there is a slight variation in shoes, the support has sufficient flexibility to enable it to be applied to the edge of the sole of any shoe having an approximate shape to the shoe with which the support was intended to be worn.

It should be understood that this plate is not only concavo-convex in plan at the web 4, but the entire support is curved in a vertical plane (see Fig. 3). This curvature enables the arch support to conform to the downward inclination of the shank of the shoe as it passes away from the heel 9.

It will be evident that although the flanges of the device enable it to be securely held on the edge of the sole by reason of the gaps that are cut in these flanges, they do not detract from the flexibility of the support as a Whole. In other Words, they do not prevent bending of the web 4 in conforming it to the shape of the edge 2 of the sole. 7

What I claim is:

1. A flexible arch support to be applied to the edge of the sole of a boot or shoe, said arch support consisting of a single rigid plate having a web confined in extent to the shank of the shoe, and on one side of the shoe only, conforming approximately to the shape of the edge of the sole at the shank and just forward of the heel of the shoe, said plate having an upper flange for engaging over the upper face of the sole, and having a lower flange to extend under the sole, said flanges having gaps formed therein extending through the same from the said web and enabling the web-to flex and adapt itself to the shape of the sole edge.

A flexible arch support to be applied to the edge of a sole of a boot or shoe, said arch support consisting of a single rigid plate having a web confined in extent to the shank of the shoe on one side only, conforming substantially with the shape of the edge of the sole at the shank and just forward of the heel of the shoe, said plate having an upper flange for engaging over the upper face of the sole, said upper flange having a serrated edge, and having gaps extending completely through the same, said plate further having a lower flange to extend under the sole, said lower flange consisting of a plurality of lobes with gaps formed therebetween extending from a point adjacent the web, said gaps in said flange and between said lobes enabling the web to flex and adapt itself to the shape of the sole edge, said lobes having perforations therein to permit fasteners to be applied through the same to secure the plate to the sole.

THEODORE WERKMAN.

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