System of podiatric appliances independently adjustably securable on inner sole-like base plate
First Claim
1. A podiatric appliance system, comprising:
- a stiffly flexible base plate having an outline approximating that of at least a portion of the length and width of a foot sole, in the manner of a conventional footwear inner sole;
said base plate being more flexible about a series of longitudinally spaced, transversally extending axes thereof, than about longitudinally extending axes thereof;
said base plate including a plurality of strips of stiffly flexible material, each of such a thickness as to be flexible about its own longitudinal axis each not more than six millimeters wide arranged with close spacing of less than one millimeter from strip to strip, in a series in a single layer, with each strip extending transversally of the base plate; and
means flexibly uniting all of said strips, said uniting means being a layer of flexible material to which each of said strips is secured;
means providing a tangible grid of mounting sites on said base plate, extending in a uniform, predetermined pattern on all of at least one face of said base plate;
said mounting sites comprise closely spaced respective small, round holes provided vertically through each of said strips;
each said strip having said holes provided in at least one row of uniformly spaced holes, each of which rows extends lengthwise of the respective strip, which equates to transversally of the base plate;
a podiatric appliance constructed and arranged to have an operative portion thereof positioned in engaging relation with a respective portion of a foot of a wearer;
a mounting base provided on said podiatric appliance;
means providing at least two sets of spatially separated tangible securement sites on said mounting base of said podiatric appliance, said securement sites being constructed and arranged to be selectably juxtaposable in registry with a respective number of said mounting sites on said base plate so that such juxtapositions may be matched to a prescription, recorded or reported; and
respective securement means constructed and arranged for securing said mounting base to said base plate at each place where a said securement site is juxtaposed in registry with a said mounting site;
said securement means comprising a plurality of small U-shaped wires round in transverse cross-section and having respective central portions embedded in said mounting base of said podiatric appliance, each wire having two end portions protruding from said mounting base nearer to the perimeter than to the center of such mounting base, including one end portion at each respective securement site; and
said mounting sites being constructed and arranged to have respective ones of said wire protruding end portions inserted downwardly therethrough and bent under said base plate for securing said podiatric appliance on said base plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inner sole-like base plate is provided of stiffly flexible material provided with a grid of a multiplicity of mounting sites, e.g. small holes. A plurality of different podiatric appliances are provided, each in a range of graduated sizes or intensities and/or in an adjustable manner. Each of the appliances is provided with securement devices, such as two or more wire tabs, which extend from the appliance and are adapted for connection to the base plate at such of the mounting sites as are prescribed or otherwise determined to best suit the resulting construction to the individual wearer. In some instances the resulting construction is meant to be worn as an insert for conventional footwear or orthopedic footwear, and in other instances sandal-fashion either by itself or inside or outside a wearer'"'"'s socks, possibly then enclosed in a shoe or other covering. Some of the appliances are adapted to be worn on the foot without a base plate.
37 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A podiatric appliance system, comprising:
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a stiffly flexible base plate having an outline approximating that of at least a portion of the length and width of a foot sole, in the manner of a conventional footwear inner sole; said base plate being more flexible about a series of longitudinally spaced, transversally extending axes thereof, than about longitudinally extending axes thereof; said base plate including a plurality of strips of stiffly flexible material, each of such a thickness as to be flexible about its own longitudinal axis each not more than six millimeters wide arranged with close spacing of less than one millimeter from strip to strip, in a series in a single layer, with each strip extending transversally of the base plate; and means flexibly uniting all of said strips, said uniting means being a layer of flexible material to which each of said strips is secured; means providing a tangible grid of mounting sites on said base plate, extending in a uniform, predetermined pattern on all of at least one face of said base plate; said mounting sites comprise closely spaced respective small, round holes provided vertically through each of said strips; each said strip having said holes provided in at least one row of uniformly spaced holes, each of which rows extends lengthwise of the respective strip, which equates to transversally of the base plate; a podiatric appliance constructed and arranged to have an operative portion thereof positioned in engaging relation with a respective portion of a foot of a wearer; a mounting base provided on said podiatric appliance; means providing at least two sets of spatially separated tangible securement sites on said mounting base of said podiatric appliance, said securement sites being constructed and arranged to be selectably juxtaposable in registry with a respective number of said mounting sites on said base plate so that such juxtapositions may be matched to a prescription, recorded or reported; and respective securement means constructed and arranged for securing said mounting base to said base plate at each place where a said securement site is juxtaposed in registry with a said mounting site; said securement means comprising a plurality of small U-shaped wires round in transverse cross-section and having respective central portions embedded in said mounting base of said podiatric appliance, each wire having two end portions protruding from said mounting base nearer to the perimeter than to the center of such mounting base, including one end portion at each respective securement site; and said mounting sites being constructed and arranged to have respective ones of said wire protruding end portions inserted downwardly therethrough and bent under said base plate for securing said podiatric appliance on said base plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification