SUPPORT SHELL ARRANGEMENT FOR ARRANGEMENT AT A LOWER LEG

• US 20110009791A1
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OPED AG
• Original Assignee: OPED AG
• Inventors: Hopmann, Gero
• Granted Patent: US 9,468,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0127 for the feet A61F5/0111 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0585 for the legs toe correcting devices A61F5/019

Abstract

A support shell arrangement (20) is provided for arranging on a lower leg, having a foot part (23) and a calf part (21). The calf part includes two calf struts (29, 30) disposed at the side of an entry opening (32) of the calf part, extending in the longitudinal axis of the calf part, and a heel strut connected to the calf struts in a strut connection and extending toward a heel part of the foot part. A support bow arrangement (24) has two bow struts (34, 35) extending in a U-shape about a sole area, the free strut ends thereof being pivotally connected in pairs in a common pivot joint (43, 44) on a joint axis corresponding to the ankle joint and connected to a calf strut, and connected to each other in a V-shape by a common support basis (36). The support basis is pivotally connected to the heel strut of the calf part at the heel side end thereof.

Claims

1. A support shell arrangement for arrangement at a lower leg, the support shell comprising:

a foot part; and

a calf part comprising two calf struts disposed at a side of an entry opening of the calf part and extending into the longitudinal direction of the calf part, and a heel strut connected to the calf struts in a strut connection and extending towards a heel part of the foot part; and

a support bow arrangement having two bow struts extending in a U-shape around a sole area and disposed at the foot part, free strut ends thereof being pivotally connected to one of the calf struts in pairs in a common pivot joint on a joint axis corresponding to the ankle axis and being connected to one other in a V-shape via a common support base, wherein the support base, at the heel-sided end thereof, is articulately connected to the heel strut of the calf part.

2. A support shell arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the support base of the support bow arrangement, on the lower side (82) thereof, is provided with a connection device (113) for connection with a sole device (84).

3. A support shell arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the support base of the support bow arrangement, on the lower side thereof, is provided with an auxiliary sole device.

4. A support shell arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the connection device is designed as an auxiliary sole device.

5. A support shell arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the support base of the support bow arrangement, on the lower side thereof, is provided with an activation device for a force sensor.

6. A support shell arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the support bow arrangement is formed as a component that is independent of an inlay shell of the foot part.

7. A support shell arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the support bow arrangement can be connected to the inlay shell of the foot part by means of a snap-fit connection.

8. A support shell arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the support bow arrangement is detachably connected to the inlay shell.

9. A support shell arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the foot part features a toe part that can be connected to the inlay shell.

10. A support shell arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the toe part is connected to the inlay shell so as to be extendable.

11. A support shell arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the toe part features a toe support being swivelable with respect to a base part by means of an articulated joint for connection with the inlay shell.

12. A support shell arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a bending angle setting device for heel-sided connection of the support bow arrangement of the foot part with the heel strut of the calf part the bending angle setting device including a flap articulated to a heel connection of the support bow arrangement and being fixable in variable positions at the heel strut by means of guiding engagement with a guide rail formed at the heel strut.

13. A support shell arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the flap features a flap stop that interacts with two rail stops that can be fixed at the guide rail so as to be variable in their relative positions with respect to the guide rail for limiting the path of displacement on both sides.

14. A support shell arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the calf part includes a calf bracket extending from the strut connection into a calf-sided gap of the calf struts and being resiliently supported against the strut connection.

15. A support shell arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the calf bracket, at a free terminal region thereof, is connected to the calf struts via stops that are connected so as to be longitudinally displaceable.

16. A support shell arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the stops can be fixed at the calf struts in various positions.