Orthotic insert

• US 4,232,457 A
• Filed: 01/31/1979
• Issued: 11/11/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitchell R. Mosher
• Original Assignee: Mitchell R. Mosher
• Inventors: Mosher, Mitchell R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kee Chi, James
• Application Number:
  US06/008,025
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 36/44, 36/43, 36/91, 36/71, 128/586, 128/595, 128/607, 128/614
• US Class Current: 36/44
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/22 with fixed flat-foot insertions, metatarsal supports, ankle flaps or the like

Abstract

An orthotic insert formed of a resilient molded flexible plastic support member, a thin layer of vinyl applied to the upper surface, and a spongy resilient heel post mounted on the lower surface in the heel region. The insert extends from beneath the heel to a location proximal of the heel of the metatarsal joints of a user'"'"'s foot. The insert is flexible enough to accommodate variations in individual feet without the need for custom fitting, yet resists flex sufficiently to beneficially limit excessive foot pronation and thereby minimize injuries associated therewith.

Claims

1. An orthotic insert comprised of a plastic support member adapted to extend beneath the heel and arch of a user'"'"'s foot, terminating at points proximal to the user'"'"'s metatarsal heads;

and,

a heel post mounted on the lower surface of said support member at the heel region;

wherein said support member is formed of incompressible, flexible, resilient plastic sheet;

said heel post is formed of a compressible, resilient material;

said plastic sheet is molded to provide a rise of about 1/8" in the matatarsal arch and, when assembled with said heel post, to provide a rise of about 1" at the flange of the medial longitudinal arch, a rise of about 7/16" at the lateral longitudinal arch, and a 4°

-5°

varus at the heel; and

said heel post is approximately 3/16" at its thinnest point.

2. The orthotic insert of claim 1, wherein said support member is formed of 3/32" polypropylene.

3. The orthotic insert of claim 2, wherein said heel post is formed of sponge rubber having a compression/deflection rating of 7-14 pounds per square inch.

4. An orthotic insert comprised of:

a flexible, resilient, incompressible plastic support member adapted to extend beneath the heel and arch of a human foot terminating at a location proximal of the metatarsal heads; and

,

a yieldable, resilient sponge-like heel post mounted on the lower surface of said support member at the heel;

wherein said support member is formed of plastic sheet of substantially uniform thickness, said sheet being molded to provide rises at the medial longitudinal arch, at the lateral longitudinal arch, and at the matatarsal arch, and further to provide a varus at the heel;

wherein said support member is sufficiently flexible to flex, when worn in use, at one or more of said rises to conform to a variety of users, yet being sufficiently inflexible to limit pronation of the user'"'"'s foot in use.