US4216778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthopedic appliance
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-03-22
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Granted: 1980-08-12
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Expires: 1998-03-22
Abstract
Abstract Support for the bottom surface of a foot so as to maintain it in a normal, weight bearing posture is obtained by a rigid plate that extends under the area of the foot, except for the area under the toes and inner arch. The plate is of generally uniform thickness with tapered toe and heel portions. The rigid plate is obtained by molding an impression of the foot while the foot is held at right angles to the leg and in a semi-loaded or semi-pronated position.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis H. Weiss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:45
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B7/00; A43B7/14; A43B7/1405; A43B7/141; A43B7/1415; A43B7/142; A43B7/144; A43B7/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An orthopedic appliance to support a foot in a normal weight bearing posture, comprising: a rigid plate having an upper foot engaging surface adapted to conform to the normal weight bearing posture of the wearer's foot, and having an outside lateral edge adapted to generally extend outside of the cuboid and heel bones, a rear edge adapted to extend outside of the heel bone area, a forward edge adapted to extend beneath the forward portion of the metatarsal bones, and an inner periphery being concave toward the lateral outside edge so as to be adapted to extend adjacent the inside portion of the heel bone without being adapted to extend supportingly beneath the medial arch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An orthopedic appliance to support a foot in a normal weight bearing posture, comprising: a rigid plate having an upper foot engaging surface adapted to conform to the normal weight bearing posture of the wearer's foot, and having an outside lateral edge adapted to generally extend outside of the cuboid and heel bones, a rear edge adapted to extend outside of the heel bone area, a forward edge adapted to extend beneath the forward portion of the metatarsal bones, and an inner periphery being concave toward the lateral outside edge so as to be adapted to extend adjacent the inside portion of the heel bone without being adapted to extend supportingly beneath the medial arch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein said plate is tapered outwardly across its forward edge, rounded at its rearward edge, and generally of uniform thickness throughout the remainder of its extent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The appliance of claim 2, wherein said plate is constructed entirely of a thermo setting synthetic resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The appliance of claim 3, where the entire outer peripheral edge of the appliance is defined by said lateral outside edge, forward edge, inner periphery, and rearward edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein said plate is constructed entirely of a thermo setting synthetic resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The appliance of claim 1, where the entire outer peripheral edge of the appliance is defined by said lateral outside edge, forward edge, inner periphery, and rearward edge.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
231 words
A method of constructing an orthopedic appliance to be worn in contact with the bottom of the foot to maintain the foot in a correct or normal weight bearing posture, comprising: supporting the foot at generally right angles to the leg in a predominantly non-weight bearing posture with the heel and toes properly aligned in what would be a correct weight bearing posture for the foot; constructing a mold of the bottom of the foot when held in the position of the preceding step at least in the areas of the metatarsal bones, cuboid bone, and heel bone; employing said mold constructed according to the preceding step to mold a rigid appliance having a support surface conforming to the mold surface so as to conform to the foot within the area of the metatarsal bones, cuboid bone, and heel bone, without a support surface in conformity with what would be the medial arch area of the foot, so that said appliance has an outer periphery of its foot support surface defined by an outside lateral edge generally extending outside of the cuboid and heel bones, a rear edge extending outside of the heel bone area, a forward edge extending beneath the forward portion of the metatarsal bones, and an inner concave edge extending toward the lateral edge and adjacent the inside portion of heel bone without extending beneath the medial arch.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
231 words
A method of constructing an orthopedic appliance to be worn in contact with the bottom of the foot to maintain the foot in a correct or normal weight bearing posture, comprising: supporting the foot at generally right angles to the leg in a predominantly non-weight bearing posture with the heel and toes properly aligned in what would be a correct weight bearing posture for the foot; constructing a mold of the bottom of the foot when held in the position of the preceding step at least in the areas of the metatarsal bones, cuboid bone, and heel bone; employing said mold constructed according to the preceding step to mold a rigid appliance having a support surface conforming to the mold surface so as to conform to the foot within the area of the metatarsal bones, cuboid bone, and heel bone, without a support surface in conformity with what would be the medial arch area of the foot, so that said appliance has an outer periphery of its foot support surface defined by an outside lateral edge generally extending outside of the cuboid and heel bones, a rear edge extending outside of the heel bone area, a forward edge extending beneath the forward portion of the metatarsal bones, and an inner concave edge extending toward the lateral edge and adjacent the inside portion of heel bone without extending beneath the medial arch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of molding includes heating a thermosetting synthetic resin and applying it to a mold of the foot so as to conform to the mold.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
25 words
The method according to claims 7 or 8, including tapering the forward most edge of the appliance and the rearward most edge of the appliance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2401514A
Cited
US3903621A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-12 | 1984-02-11 | 1984-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-12 | 1988-02-11 | 1988-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-12 | 1992-02-11 | 1992-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |