US4062355A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for use in evaluating the lower leg and foot
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-04-09
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Granted: 1977-12-13
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Expires: 1996-04-09
Abstract
Abstract A device for use in making biomechanical or orthopedic evaluations of the lower leg and foot employs a heel stationing arrangement to automatically provide a reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the calcaneus bone. A forefoot measuring device is utilized to measure the angular deformity of the forefoot (varus or valgus) by determining the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot with respect to a plane perpendicular to the heel reference line. The forefoot measuring arrangement is adaptable to measure either the plane of the ball of the foot as determined by all five rays or as determined by any desired grouping of rays, such as the second through the fifth rays. A rearfoot measuring arrangement measures the angular deformity of the rearfoot (varus or valgus) by determining the vertical bisection of the lower leg with respect to the heel reference line. Further, the device has an attachment to measure the dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the foot about the ankle.
Inventors
- 👤 Joshua Morley Kaye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/107; A61B5/1074; A43; A43D; A43D1/00; A43D1/02; A61B5/45; A61B5/4528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A device for use in rendering evaluations of the lower leg and foot of a person comprising: heel stationing means to automatically provide a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone when the heel is placed therein; forefoot measuring means pivotally mounted on said heel stationing means to automatically determine and provide an indication of the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot from a plane perpendicular to said heel reference line, thus producing forefoot varus and valgus measurements; and rearfoot measuring means pivotally mounted on said heel stationing means to determine a rearfoot measuring line parallel to the vertical bisection of the lower leg and automatically provide an indication of the angular deviation between said heel reference line and said rearfoot measuring line, thus producing rearfoot varus and valgus measurements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A device for use in rendering evaluations of the lower leg and foot of a person comprising: heel stationing means to automatically provide a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone when the heel is placed therein; forefoot measuring means pivotally mounted on said heel stationing means to automatically determine and provide an indication of the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot from a plane perpendicular to said heel reference line, thus producing forefoot varus and valgus measurements; and rearfoot measuring means pivotally mounted on said heel stationing means to determine a rearfoot measuring line parallel to the vertical bisection of the lower leg and automatically provide an indication of the angular deviation between said heel reference line and said rearfoot measuring line, thus producing rearfoot varus and valgus measurements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising dorsiflexion measuring means romovably mounted on said heel stationing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heel stationing means comprises: a base plate to receive the inferior surface of the heel; a rear plate connected to said base plate and located in a plane perpendicular thereto, said rear plate adapted to have the posterior surface of the heel positioned thereagainst; a side plate to have a side of the heel positioned thereagainst; and a pair of grooves formed in the top surface of said base plate and adapted to selectively receive said side plate, each of said grooves located adjacent an associated side of said base plate and extending transversely to said rear plate, placement of said side plate in the groove adjacent the desired side of the foot and positioning of the heel in contact with said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate producing a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising: a pivot pin located on said side plate; a dorsiflexion measuring arm having a pivot opening located thereon, said pivot opening adapted to receive said pivot pin; and indicating means to provide an angular dorsiflexion measurement upon the foot being flexed upwardly about the ankle, said dorsiflexion measuring arm being maintained parallel to the lower leg with said side plate on a desired side of the foot, while the heel is contacting said base plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said forefoot measuring means comprises: an axle extending parallel to the plane of said base plate and rotatably mounted on said base plate; a forefoot measuring plate mounted on said axle at a position under the ball of the foot; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
indicating means located on said axle to demonstrate the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot from the plane of said base plate, when the heel is contacting said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
indicating means located on said axle to demonstrate the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot from the plane of said base plate, when the heel is contacting said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said rearfoot measuring means comprises: a vertical support pivotally mounted on said back plate and extending upwardly therefrom; lower leg bisectional representing means to provide said rearfoot measuring line; mounting means to mount said lower leg bisectional representing means on said vertical support to permit relative movement therebetween without varying the angular relationship between said rearfoot measuring line and the vertical axis of said vertical support; and indicating means to demonstrate the angular deviation between said rearfoot measuring line and said heel reference line.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
495 words
A device for use in rendering biomechanical and orthopedic evaluations of the lower leg and foot of a person comprising: a base plate to receive the inferior surface of the heel; a rear plate connected to said base plate and located in a plane perpendicular thereto, said rear plate adapted to have the posterior surface of the heel located thereagainst; a side plate to have the medial side of the heel positioned thereagainst; a pair of grooves formed in the top surface of said base plate and adapted to selectively receive said side plate, each of said grooves located adjacent an associated side of said base plate and extending transversely to said rear plate, placement of said side plate in the groove adjacent the medial side of the foot and positioning of the heel in contact with said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate producing a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the calcaneus bone; an axle extending parallel to the plane of said base plate and rotatably mounted on said base plate; a forefoot measuring plate mounted on said axle at a position under the ball of the foot; first indicating means located on an end of said axle which extends beyond said rear plate, said first indicating means demonstrating the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot from a plane perpendicular to said heel reference line, when the heel is contacting said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate, thus producing forefoot varus and valgus measurements; an elongated vertical support pivotally mounted on said rear plate and extending upwardly therefrom; lower leg bisectional representing means to provide a rearfoot measuring line parallel to the vertical bisection of the lower leg; a parallelogram arrangement to mount said lower leg bisectional representing means on said vertical support for movement of said lower leg bisectional representing means with respect to said vertical support without disrupting the parallel relationship between said rearfoot measuring line and the axis of said vertical support; a hinge located in said vertical support to permit motion of said lower leg bisectional representing means backward from said rear plate; second indicating means to demonstrate the angular deviation of said rearfoot measuring line from said heel reference line, when the heel is contacting said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate, thus producing rearfoot varus and valgus measurements; a pivot pin located on said side plate; a dorsiflexion measuring arm having a pivot opening located adjacent one end thereof, said pivot opening adapted to receive said pivot pin; and third indicating means to provide an angular dorsiflexion measurement upon the foot being flexed upwardly about the ankle, said dorsiflexion measuring arm being maintained parallel to the lower leg with said side plate on the lateral side of the foot, while the ball of the foot is positioned on said forefoot measuring plate and the heel is contacting said base plate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
495 words
A device for use in rendering biomechanical and orthopedic evaluations of the lower leg and foot of a person comprising: a base plate to receive the inferior surface of the heel; a rear plate connected to said base plate and located in a plane perpendicular thereto, said rear plate adapted to have the posterior surface of the heel located thereagainst; a side plate to have the medial side of the heel positioned thereagainst; a pair of grooves formed in the top surface of said base plate and adapted to selectively receive said side plate, each of said grooves located adjacent an associated side of said base plate and extending transversely to said rear plate, placement of said side plate in the groove adjacent the medial side of the foot and positioning of the heel in contact with said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate producing a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the calcaneus bone; an axle extending parallel to the plane of said base plate and rotatably mounted on said base plate; a forefoot measuring plate mounted on said axle at a position under the ball of the foot; first indicating means located on an end of said axle which extends beyond said rear plate, said first indicating means demonstrating the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot from a plane perpendicular to said heel reference line, when the heel is contacting said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate, thus producing forefoot varus and valgus measurements; an elongated vertical support pivotally mounted on said rear plate and extending upwardly therefrom; lower leg bisectional representing means to provide a rearfoot measuring line parallel to the vertical bisection of the lower leg; a parallelogram arrangement to mount said lower leg bisectional representing means on said vertical support for movement of said lower leg bisectional representing means with respect to said vertical support without disrupting the parallel relationship between said rearfoot measuring line and the axis of said vertical support; a hinge located in said vertical support to permit motion of said lower leg bisectional representing means backward from said rear plate; second indicating means to demonstrate the angular deviation of said rearfoot measuring line from said heel reference line, when the heel is contacting said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate, thus producing rearfoot varus and valgus measurements; a pivot pin located on said side plate; a dorsiflexion measuring arm having a pivot opening located adjacent one end thereof, said pivot opening adapted to receive said pivot pin; and third indicating means to provide an angular dorsiflexion measurement upon the foot being flexed upwardly about the ankle, said dorsiflexion measuring arm being maintained parallel to the lower leg with said side plate on the lateral side of the foot, while the ball of the foot is positioned on said forefoot measuring plate and the heel is contacting said base plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said first indicating means comrises a first scale, calibrated in arcuate degrees and located on said rear plate, and a first marker located on an end of said axle that extends through said rear plate; said second indicating means comprises a second scale, calibrated in arcuate degrees and located on said rear plate, and a second marker located on an end of said vertical support that extends from the pivotal mounting thereof in a direction away from said lower leg bisectional representing means; and said third indicating means comprises a third scale, calibrated in arcuate degrees and located on said side plate, and a third marker located on an end of said dorsiflexion measuring arm that extends from said pivot pin in a direction away from the lower leg.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said forefoot measuring plate comprises: a first ray portion; and a second through fifth ray portion, said portions being relatively displaceable to permit separate measurements of the varus and valgus of the forefoot as determined by the first through fifth rays and as determined by the second through fifth rays.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said portions are interconnected by a connecting bar located in aligned slots in said portions, so that displacement of said portions away from each other permits removal of the first ray from the plane of said forefoot measuring plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said lower leg bisectional representing means comprises: a first planar member; and a second planar member, said first and second planar members being connected at an acute angle with respect to one another, the bisectional plane of said acute angle being parallel to said axle so that placement of both said planar members against the lower leg automatically produces a vertical bisection of the lower leg.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 and further comprises: a slot formed in said rear plate to permit the marking of a vertical bisectional line on the heel and the observance of such a line already marked thereon; and grooves formed in said rear plate adjacent said grooves in said base plate to help secure said side plate in place.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
104 words
A device for use in rendering evaluations of the lower leg and foot of a person comprising: heel stationing means to automatically provide a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone when the heel is placed therein; an axle pivotally mounted on said heel stationing means; a forefoot meansuring plate mounted on said axle and located under the ball of the foot; and indicating means to show the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot from a plane perpendicular to said heel reference line, thus producing forefoot varus and valgus measurements.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
104 words
A device for use in rendering evaluations of the lower leg and foot of a person comprising: heel stationing means to automatically provide a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone when the heel is placed therein; an axle pivotally mounted on said heel stationing means; a forefoot meansuring plate mounted on said axle and located under the ball of the foot; and indicating means to show the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot from a plane perpendicular to said heel reference line, thus producing forefoot varus and valgus measurements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
154 words
A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said heel stationing means comprises: a base plate to receive the inferior surface of the heel; a rear plate connected to said base plate and located in a plane perpendicular thereto, said rear plate adapted to have the posterior surface of the heel positioned thereagainst; a side plate to have a side of the heel positioned thereagainst; and a pair of grooves formed in the top surface of said base plate and adapted to selectively receive said side plate, each of said grooves located adjacent an associated side of said base plate and extending transversely to said rear plate, placement of said side plate in the groove adjacent a desired side of the foot and positioning of the rearfoot in contact with said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate producing a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the calcaneus bone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said axle extends parallel to the plane of said base plate and is rotatably mounted on said base plate; said forefoot measuring plate is mounted on said axle at a position under the ball of the foot; and said indicating means is located on the end of said axle adjacent said heel stationing means to demonstrate on said heel stationing means the angular deviation of the plane of the ball of the foot from the plane of said base plate, when the heel is contacting said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
88 words
A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said forefoot measuring plate comprises: a first ray portion upon which at least one ray would normally be located; and a second ray portion upon which at least one other ray would normally be located, said first and second portions being relatively displaceable to permit separate measurements of the varus and valgus of the forefoot as determined when said first portion supports its associated ray or rays and when said first portion does not support its associated ray or rays.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
106 words
A device for use in rendering evaluations of the lower leg and foot of a person comprising: heel stationing means to automatically provide a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone when the heel is placed therein; a vertical support pivotally mounted on said heel stationing means; lower leg bisectional representing means mounted on said vertical support to provide a rearfoot measuring line parallel to the vertical bisection of the lower leg; and indicating means to show the angular deviation between said rearfoot measuring line and said heel reference line, thus producing rearfoot varus and valgus meansurements.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
106 words
A device for use in rendering evaluations of the lower leg and foot of a person comprising: heel stationing means to automatically provide a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone when the heel is placed therein; a vertical support pivotally mounted on said heel stationing means; lower leg bisectional representing means mounted on said vertical support to provide a rearfoot measuring line parallel to the vertical bisection of the lower leg; and indicating means to show the angular deviation between said rearfoot measuring line and said heel reference line, thus producing rearfoot varus and valgus meansurements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
153 words
A device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said heel stationing means comprises: a base plate to receive the inferior surface of the heel; a rear plate connected to said base plate and located in a plane perpendicular thereto, said rear plate adapted to have the posterior surface of the heel positioned thereagainst; a side plate to have a side of the heel positioned thereagainst; A pair of grooves formed in the top surface of said base plate and adapted to selectively receive said side plate, each of said grooves located adjacent an associated side of said base plate and extending transversely to said rear plate, placement of said side plate in the groove adjacent a desired side of the foot and positioning of the rearfoot in contact with said base plate, said rear plate and said side plate producing a heel reference line parallel to the vertical bisection of the calcaneus bone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as claimed in claim 18 wherein: said vertical support is pivotally mounted on said back plate and extends upwardly therefrom; and mounting means mount said lower leg bisectional representing means on said vertical support to permit relative movement therebetween without varying the angular relationship between said rearfoot measuring line and the vertical axis of said vertical support.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as claimed in claim 19 and further comprising a hinge located in said vertical support to permit motion of said lower leg bisectional representing means backward from said rear plate to permit accomodation of various leg sizes and positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2645025A
Cited
US2535787A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-12 | 1981-06-13 | 1981-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-12 | 1985-06-13 | 1985-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-12 | 1989-06-13 | 1989-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |