Orthotic device and method of manufacture

• US 8,882,690 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fred W. Toenges
• Original Assignee: Fred W. Toenges
• Inventors: Toenges, Fred W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PETRIK, KARI K
• Application Number:
  US12/927,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 602 27- 30, 602 65- 66, 128/882, 36/89, 36/92, 36/93, 36174-182
• US Class Current: 602/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0172 with cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0174 laterally placed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles

Abstract

An orthotic device having a thin, flexible material defining a plantar wall and lateral, medial and posterior sidewalls. A fastening mechanism releasably secures the lateral and medial sidewalls together. In some embodiments, the plantar wall defines a laterally extending distal trimline positioned distal of the first metatarsal head and proximal of the third, fourth and fifth metatarsal heads when the foot is secured within the orthotic device. In other embodiments, the device includes a heel post having a distal terminal edge with a medial portion extending into the arch proximal to the navicular bone and a lateral portion positioned proximal of the arch. In still other embodiments, an elongate strip of padding material projects inwardly below and proximate the medial malleosus and the lateral malleosus and is positioned to inhibit withdrawal of the calcaneous bone. A method of manufacturing an orthotic device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An orthotic device adapted to be worn on a foot having an ankle joint and first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsal heads for increasing hydrostatic pressure within the foot and enhancing stability of the ankle joint and for controlling pronation, said orthotic device comprising:

a sheet of material shaped into a configuration defining a plantar wall, a lateral sidewall, a medial sidewall, and a posterior sidewall wherein each of said sidewalls extend upwardly from said plantar wall;

a fastening mechanism releasably securing said lateral and medial sidewalls together to thereby firmly enclose the foot within said configuration; and

wherein the plantar wall defines a laterally extending distal trimline including a medial section, a transitional section and a lateral section, wherein said transition section connects said medial section and said lateral section and wherein, when the foot is secured within said orthotic device, said medial section of said distal trimline is located distal of the first metatarsal head and said lateral section of said trimline is located proximal of the third, fourth and fifth metatarsal heads;

wherein said medial sidewall extends from said posterior sidewall to a distal vertically extending edge located proximal said medial section of said distal trimline; and

,

wherein said lateral sidewall extends from said posterior sidewall to a distal vertically extending edge located proximal said lateral section of said distal trimline.

2. The orthotic device of claim 1 further comprising a heel post disposed on an exterior surface of said plantar wall, said heel post having a distal terminal edge with a medial portion and a lateral portion wherein said medial portion is positioned distal of said lateral portion.

3. The orthotic device of claim 2 wherein said plantar wall defines an arch adapted to generally conform to an arch of the foot and said medial portion of said distal terminal edge at least partially extends within said arch proximal to a navicular bone of the foot and said lateral portion of said distal terminal edge is positioned proximal of said arch.

4. The orthotic device of claim 1 wherein said orthotic device further comprises a resilient padding material projecting inwardly from each of said medial and lateral sidewalls wherein said padding material is adapted to be disposed below and proximate a medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus of the foot and positioned to inhibit withdrawal of the calcaneous bone of the foot when the foot is secured within said orthotic device.

5. The orthotic device of claim 1 wherein said posterior sidewall defines a substantially U-shaped trimline and said fastening mechanism includes a D-ring secured to one of said lateral and medial sidewalls and a strap secured to the other of said lateral and medial sidewalls, said strap being releasably securable to said D-ring.

6. The orthotic device of claim 1 wherein said sheet of material comprises a thermoformable material which is heated and shaped into said configuration.

7. The orthotic device of claim 6 wherein said thermoformable sheet material is about 3/32 inch thick.

8. The orthotic device of claim 7 wherein said thermoformable sheet material comprises one or more of a polypropylene and co-polymer materials.

9. The orthotic device of claim 1 wherein said posterior sidewall defines a substantially U-shaped upper trimline.

10. An orthotic device adapted to be worn on a foot having an ankle joint and first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsal heads for increasing hydrostatic pressure within the foot and enhancing stability of the ankle joint and for controlling pronation, said orthotic device comprising:

a sheet of material shaped into a configuration defining a plantar wall, a lateral sidewall, a medial sidewall, and a posterior sidewall wherein each of said sidewalls extend upwardly from said plantar wall;

a fastening mechanism releasably securing said lateral and medial sidewalls together to thereby firmly enclose the foot within said configuration; and

wherein the plantar wall defines a distal trimline comprising a medial section adapted to be positioned distal of the first metatarsal head and a lateral section adapted to be positioned proximal of the third, fourth and fifth metatarsal heads when the foot is secured within said orthotic device;

wherein said medial sidewall extends from said posterior sidewall to a distal vertically extending edge located proximal said medial section of said distal trimline; and

,

wherein said lateral sidewall extends from said posterior sidewall to a distal vertically extending edge located proximal said lateral section of said distal trimline.

11. The orthotic device of claim 10 wherein said distal trimline edge further comprises a transition section connecting said medial and lateral sections, said transition section adapted to be located near the second metatarsal head.

12. The orthotic device of claim 11 wherein said sheet of material comprises a thermoformable material which is heated and shaped into said configuration.

13. The orthotic device of claim 12 wherein said thermoformable sheet material is about 3/32 inch thick.

14. The orthotic device of claim 13 wherein said thermoformable sheet material comprises one or more of a polypropylene and co-polymer materials.

15. The orthotic device of claim 10 further comprising a heel post disposed on an exterior surface of said plantar wall, said heel post having a distal terminal edge with a medial portion and a lateral portion wherein said medial portion is positioned distal of said lateral portion.

16. The orthotic device of claim 15 wherein said plantar wall defines an arch adapted to generally conform to an arch of the foot and said medial portion of said distal terminal edge at least partially extends within said arch proximal to a navicular bone of the foot and said lateral portion of said distal terminal edge is positioned proximal of said arch.

17. The orthotic device of claim 10 wherein said orthotic device further comprises a resilient padding material projecting inwardly from each of said medial and lateral sidewalls wherein said padding material is adapted to be disposed below and proximate a medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus of the foot and positioned to inhibit withdrawal of the calcaneous bone of the foot when the foot is secured within said orthotic device.

18. The orthotic device of claim 10 wherein said posterior sidewall defines a substantially U-shaped trimline and said fastening mechanism includes a D-ring secured to one of said lateral and medial sidewalls and a strap secured to the other of said lateral and medial sidewalls, said strap being releasably securable to said D-ring.

19. The orthotic device of claim 10 wherein said posterior sidewall defines a substantially U-shaped upper trimline.