Orthopedic shoe

• US 4,053,995 A
• Filed: 07/23/1976
• Issued: 10/18/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Melvin Shein
• Original Assignee: Melvin Shein
• Inventors: Shein, Melvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawson, Patrick D.
• Application Number:
  US05/708,140
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 36/83, 36/25 R, 36/30 R, 36/43, 36/44, 36/50, 36/54, 36/28, 36/129, 36/88
• US Class Current: 36/88
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/14 with foot-supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1415 characterised by the location under the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/20 Fastenings with tightening devices mounted on the tongue

Abstract

An orthopedic shoe including: a flat, level sole having a peripheral shape corresponding to that of the bottom plane of a foot and whose toe portion is very broad and of substantially constant width, whose central, metatarsal portion curves rapidly inwardly to a narrow neck connecting the toe portion with a heel portion, the ratio of the widths of the toe and heel portions being approximately 100 to 60, and the ratio of the toe portion to the neck of the central portion being approximately 100 to 40, the inner sole being formed in a plurality of layers at least of one of which is of compressible material capable of permanently conforming to the shape of the bottom of a foot under pressure of wearing; combined with an upper having a counter, a vamp and a toe portion, the vamp including a pair of widely spaced forwardly projecting flaps each including a row of eyelets and extending along the upper parts of the sides of the foot, the toe portion having a wide rearwardly extending tongue for covering the metatarsal arch and including a plurality of openings freely passing a lacing which adjustably connects the flap eyelets; the size, shape and arrangement of the sole, the upper and particularly the vamp, tongue and lacing being such that the shoe fits a foot in a glove-like manner supporting all parts of the foot uniformly and naturally.

Claims

1. An orthopedic shoe comprising in combination:

a flat, level sole whose periphery has the same shape as that of the bottom horizontal plane of a foot and includes an anterior transverse arch portion which is broad and of substantially constant width, a rapidly inwardly curving and narrowing metatarsal portion, and a heel portion, said sole including a compressible, permanently foot conformable layer; and

an upper including a heel counter, a vamp for embracing the sides and under the metatarsal arch, said vamp having a pair of widely spaced forwardly projecting flaps for extending along the upper parts of the sides of a foot, each flap including a longitudinal row of fastener devices, and a toe portion having a broad rearwardly extending tongue to cover the metatarsal arch, said tongue having upper and lower connected layers and at least one large transverse opening to freely pass an adjustable fastener therethrough for cooperation with said fastener devices, whereby the shoe closely conforms to the shape of a foot and supports all parts of the same in a uniform natural manner.

2. An orthopedic shoe according to claim 1, wherein the widths of the anterior transverse arch and heel portions of said sole are in the approximate ratio of 100 to 60, and the ratio of the width of the anterior transverse arch portion to the minimum width of the metatarsal portion of said sole is approximately 100 to 40.

3. An orthopedic shoe according to claim 1, wherein said sole is made of a plurality of flat layers secured together.

4. An orthopedic shoe according to claim 3, wherein said sole layers include, from top to bottom, leather, soft rubber foam, soft rubber and cork, respectively.

5. An orthopedic shoe according to claim 3, wherein said sole layers include, from top to bottom, leather, soft rubber foam and soft rubber, respectively.

6. An orthopedic shoe according to claim 3, wherein said sole is provided with areas including a plurality of noncircular openings therethrough to aid in pressure conforming the sole to the shape of the bottom of a foot.

7. An orthopedic shoe according to claim 3, wherein said fastener devices are eyelets and said fastener is a lace which passes through said openings of the tongue, whereby to lift the vamp into metatarsal arch supporting position without wrinkling said tongue.

8. An orthopedic shoe according to claim 7, wherein said openings in the tongue extend therethrough from top to bottom and are considerably larger than the lace which passes freely through them.

9. An orthopedic shoe according to claim 7, wherein said upper and lower layers are secured together at their forward and rear edges and said at least one large transverse opening extends from side to side for passage of said lace transversely between the layers.

13. An orthopedic show according to claim 3, wherein said sole is beveled upwardly and forwardly from a line lying approximately under the metatarsal -- phalange joints.

10. A shoe sole comprising a plurality of flat, horizontal layers secured together whose periphery has the same shape as that of the bottom horizontal plane of a foot and includes an anterior transverse arch portion which is broad and of substantially constant width, a rapidly inwardly curved and narrowing metatarsal portion, and a heel portion, one of said layers being formed of a compressible material capable of deforming under pressure to permanently conform to the shape of the bottom of a foot, the widths of the said anterior arch and heel portions being in the approximate ratio of 100 to 60, and the ratio of the width of the transverse arch portion to the minimum width of the metatarsal portion being approximately 100 to 40.

11. A shoe sole according to claim 10, wherein said sole layers include, from top to bottom, leather, soft rubber foam, soft rubber and cork, respectively.

12. A shoe sole according to claim 10, wherein said sole layers include, from top to bottom, leather, soft rubber foam and soft rubber, respectively.

14. An orthopedic shoe comprising in combination:

a flat, level sole having upper and lower substantially parallel planar surfaces and whose periphery has substantially the same shape as that of the bottom horizontal place of a foot and includes an anterior transverse arch portion which is broad and of substantially constant width, a rapidly inwardly curving and narrowing metatarsal portion, and a heel portion; and

an upper which includes broad tongue means for covering the metatarsal arch, said tongue means having aperture means formed thereon for passing an adjustable fastener transversely therethrough, said aperture means comprising a plurality of large openings formed in said tongue means from the top to the bottom thereof.

15. The orthopedic shoe according to claim 14, wherein the widths of the anterior transverse arch and heel portions of said sole are in the approximate ratio of 100 to 60, and the ratio of the width of the anterior transverse arch portion to the minimum width of the metatarsal portion of said sole is approximately 100 to 40.

16. The orthopedic shoe according to claim 14, wherein said fastener comprises a lace passing through said large openings.

17. The orthopedic shoe according to claim 16, wherein said openings in said tongue means are considerably larger than the lace which passes freely through them.

18. The orthopedic shoe according to claim 14, wherein said tongue means includes upper and lower layers secured together at their forward and rear edges which define at least one large transverse opening extending from side to side which comprises said aperture means for passage of said fastener transversely between said layers.