U.S. patent number RE40,363 [Application Number 09/592,462] was granted by the patent office on 2008-06-10 for footgear with pressure relief zones.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ossur hf. Invention is credited to Tracy E. Grim, Eric G. Montag, Kevin O'Donnell.
United States Patent |
RE40,363 |
Grim , et al. |
June 10, 2008 |
Footgear with pressure relief zones
Abstract
Footgear with an inner sole (66) having a grid of removable
resilient elements to permit removal of selected elements (68) to
provide relief to ulcerated or injured areas of the foot. An air
bladder (64) may underlie sole (66), preferably with additional
cushioning material (40) within the air bladder. A walker (12) with
a soft support (20) may be provided with the inner sole within the
support. Some of the removal resilient elements may have a higher
density or height than others. The footgear may include an
adhesively-backed resilient pad (212) to provide additional support
to a region. The footgear may include means for reducing shear
stress on a bottom surface of the foot. An edema patch (240) may be
provided for covering an open space (248) left after a user has
removed a removable section from the grid. The edema patch applies
pressure to the afflicted zone of the foot (250) preventing fluids
from building up.
Inventors: |
Grim; Tracy E. (Thousand Oaks,
CA), O'Donnell; Kevin (Santa Barbara, CA), Montag; Eric
G. (Van Nuys, CA) |
Assignee: |
Ossur hf (Reykjavik,
IS)
|
Family
ID: |
21784704 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/592,462 |
Filed: |
February 16, 1994 |
PCT
Filed: |
February 16, 1994 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/US94/01797 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
January 06, 1995 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO94/18863 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
September 01, 1994 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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08017818 |
Feb 16, 1993 |
5329705 |
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Reissue of: |
08360798 |
Jan 6, 1995 |
05761834 |
Jun 9, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/88; 36/110;
36/93; 36/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B
1/0009 (20130101); A43B 7/1465 (20130101); A43B
7/20 (20130101); A43B 13/40 (20130101); A43B
17/02 (20130101); A43B 17/026 (20130101); A43B
17/035 (20130101); A61F 5/0111 (20130101); A61F
5/012 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43B
7/14 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;36/43,44,71,88,95,93,110,140,155,141 ;602/23 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2681516 |
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Mar 1993 |
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FR |
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93/13685 |
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Jul 1993 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Patterson; Marie
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC
Parent Case Text
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/017,818, which was filed Feb. 16, 1993 now
U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,705. This invention is related to that
disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/965,750, filed
Oct. 23, 1992, (Docket No. 88-182), entitled "Orthopaedic Support
and Method for Providing Semi-Permanent Relief Zones," assigned to
the assignee of this invention.
Claims
What is claimed is:
.[.1. A walker with pressure relief areas for the foot of a user,
said walker having a sole area extending substantially for the
entire area underlying the foot of a user, comprising: a walker
frame including an outer sole and struts extending from said sole
upward; a soft goods support for enclosing the ankle, lower leg and
at least a portion of the foot, said support being secured to said
frame; an inner sole mounted in said soft good support, said inner
sole including an underlying flexible sheet extending substantially
over the entire sole area; and an upper resilient inner sole member
extending over and being removably secured to said underlying
flexible sheet, said upper resilient inner sole member having a
substantially uniform thickness and extending substantially over
the entire sole area; said upper resilient inner sole portion being
composed of a plurality of at least 50 separate resilient sections
arranged in a grid pattern, said sections being removably secured
on their lower surfaces to said underlying flexible sheet and said
sections together forming a substantially smooth surface for
engagement by the foot, said sections being individually removable
to provide localized pressure relief to selected areas of the foot;
and aid sections being directly adjacent one another to form said
grid; said grid pattern extending over substantially all of said
upper inner sole member; whereby one or a plurality of said
sections may be removed at any desired area of the inner sole
member to provide a relief zone corresponding to an afflicted zone
of a foot..].
.[.2. A walker with pressure relief areas for the foot of a user,
as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper resilient sole member
includes at least 80 separate resilient sections..].
.[.3. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner sole portion
has a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the inner sole portion
is substantially symmetrical about said axis so that the walker may
be used for either the left or the right foot and ankle of the
user..].
.[.4. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient
sections are removably secured to said flexible sheet by hook and
loop material; whereby said resilient sections may be easily
removed and replaced..].
.[.5. A walker as defined in claim 4 wherein some of said separate
resilient sections are taller than other of said sections so that a
user may arrange said taller sections to custom fit a foot..].
.[.6. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said underlying
flexible sheet is substantially indentation-free..].
.[.7. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein some of said separate
resilient sections are lower density sections and some are higher
density sections so that a user may arrange said higher density
sections to create at least one zone of additional support for a
foot..].
.[.8. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said walker further
comprises an additional resilient pad having an aperture and an
adhesively-backed lower surface for attaching said additional pad
to the upper surface of a plurality of said removable sections,
said additional pad providing a region of additional support for a
foot..].
.[.9. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said walker further
includes an edema path comprising a patch of stretch material
having an adhesive layer on a lower surface thereof for adhering
the edema patch to a top surface of removable sections surrounding
a relief zone from which a user has removed other sections, such
that the edema patch covers the relief zone..].
.[.10. A walker as defined in claim 9 wherein said edema patch
further includes a fluid-impermeable film layer overlying said
stretch material for preventing transmission of fluids through said
edema patch..].
.[.11. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said walker further
includes an edema patch comprising a patch of fluid-impermeable
film having an adhesive layer on a lower surface thereof for
adhering the edema patch to a top surface of sections surrounding a
relief zone from which a user has removed other sections, such that
the edema patch covers the relief zone..].
.[.12. A walker as defined in claim 11 wherein said edema patch
further includes a layer of stretch material overlying said film
patch..].
.[.13. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said separate
resilient sections are hexagonal..].
.[.14. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said inner sole
includes a plurality of layers, with the layer closest to the foot
being substantially softer and more resilient than other
layers..].
.[.15. A walker as defined in claim 1 further comprising means
connected to said support for extending around the instep to hold
the foot back into said support and in engagement with said inner
sole..].
.[.16. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said inner sole
extends to the rear beyond the heel of a patient and upward along
and to the rear of the foot of the user..].
.[.17. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein hook and loop type
fabric holds the support to the walker frame..].
.[.18. A walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said walker further
comprises a bladder for containing air which is mounted in said
walker above said outer sole, and wherein said inner sole is
mounted above said bladder..].
.[.19. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole extending substantially over the entire sole area
mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said inner sole
having a plurality of independently vertically movable sections
arranged in a grid pattern, said independently vertically movable
sections having lower surfaces which are mounted within said
footgear and said sections together form a substantially smooth
surface for engagement by the foot; means for independently
modifying support of the foot provided at each section location;
said resilient sections being directly adjacent one another to form
said grid; and said grid of resilient sections comprising
substantially all of said inner sole and extending over
substantially all of said sole area; wherein said resilient
sections have a height, a width and a depth, said height being
greater than said width and depth..].
.[.20. Footgear as defined in claim 19 wherein said means for
independently modifying the support of the foot comprises
independent mechanical retention elements..].
.[.21. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot,
comprising: an outer sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear
above said outer sole, said inner having a plurality of
independently vertically movable sections arranged in a grid
pattern, said independently vertically movable sections having
lower surfaces which are mounted within said footgear and together
form a substantially smooth surface for engagement by the foot;
means for independently modifying the support of the foot provided
at each section location; said resilient sections being directly
adjacent one another to form said grid; and said grid of resilient
sections comprising substantially all of said inner sole; wherein
said resilient sections have a height, a width and a depth, said
height being greater than said width and depth; and said means for
independently modifying the support of the foot comprising
independent pneumatic sections which a user may puncture to
deflate..].
.[.22. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user, comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole extending substantially over the entire sole area
mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said inner sole
having a plurality of removable sections that are removable mounted
in said footgear and that are arranged in a grid pattern said
removable sections having lower surfaces which are removable
secured within said footgear and said sections together forming a
substantially smooth surface for engagement by the foot said
sections being individually removable from said footgear to provide
localized relief to selected areas of the foot; said resilient
sections being directly adjacent to one another to form said grid,
with substantially no space in between said sections except when at
least one of said sections has been removed; and said grid of
resilient sections comprising substantially all of said inner sole
and extending substantially over the entire sole area; wherein said
footgear further comprises a bladder for containing fluid, mounted
in said footgear above said outer sole, and said removable sections
are mounted in said footgear above said bladder..].
.[.23. Footgear with pressure relief zones for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user, comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole extending substantially over the entire sole area
mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said inner sole
having a plurality of separate individually mobile resilient
sections arranged in a grid pattern, said sections being removable
secured on each of their lower surfaces to an underlying flexible
sheet such that a user may disengage a lower surface of one or more
of said sections from said flexible sheet for removal from said
footgear, said resilient sections forming a surface for engagement
by a foot; said resilient sections being directly adjacent one
another to form said grid and extending over substantially all of
said sole area; and an edema patch for covering an open space left
after a user has removed at least one mobile section from said
grid, said edema patch comprising an upper patch body having a
lower surface and an adhesive layer on said lower surface for
adhering said patch to mobile resilient sections surrounding the
open space; wherein said footgear further comprises a bladder for
containing fluid, mounted in said footgear above said outer sole,
and said resilient sections are mounted in said footgear above said
bladder; whereby one or a plurality of said adjacent sections may
be removed at any desired area of the inner sole to provide relief
corresponding to an afflicted zone of the foot, said edema patch
being placed over the removed sections to apply pressure to the
afflicted zone of the foot, thereby preventing fluids from building
up therein..].
.Iadd.24. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole extending substantially over the entire sole area
mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said inner sole
having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a grid
pattern, said resilient sections having lower surfaces which are
mounted within said footgear and said sections together form a
substantially smooth surface for engagement by the foot, and having
upper surfaces which are independently vertically movable; means
for independently modifying support of the foot provided at each
section location; said resilient sections being directly adjacent
one another to form said grid; and said grid of resilient sections
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending over
substantially all of said sole area; wherein said resilient
sections each comprise at least three layers of progressively
different softness and resiliency, with the softest and most
resilient layer being closest to the foot; and said grid pattern of
resilient sections constituting means for providing a multiplicity
of sections that sway to a substantial extent laterally
independently of one another in response to forces applied by the
foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a foot as
the user walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. Footgear as defined in claim 24 wherein said footgear is
a shoe..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. Footgear as defined in claim 24 wherein said footgear
further comprises a heel portion that extends partially up the heel
and ankle area of the user..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user, comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole extending substantially over the entire sole area
mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said inner sole
having a plurality of removable resilient sections that are
removable mounted in said footgear and that are arranged in a grid
pattern, said removable sections having lower surfaces which are
removable secured within said footgear and said sections together
forming a substantially smooth surface for engagement by the foot
said sections being individually removable from said footgear to
provide localized relief to selected areas of the foot; said
resilient sections being directly adjacent to one another to form
said grid, with substantially no space in between said sections
except when at least one of said sections has been removed; said
grid of resilient sections comprising substantially all of said
inner sole and extending substantially over the entire sole area;
wherein said resilient sections each comprise at least three layers
of progressively different softness and resiliency, with the
softest and most resilient layer being closest to the foot; and
said grid pattern of resilient sections constituting means for
providing a multiplicity of sections that sway laterally to a
substantial extent independently of one another in response to
forces applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the
bottom of a foot as the user walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. A pad for footgear with pressure relief areas for the
foot, said pad having a sole area extending for substantially the
entire area underlying the foot of a user, comprising: an
underlying flexible sheet and an upper resilient inner sole member
extending over and being removably secure to said underlying
flexible sheet, said upper resilient inner sole member having a
substantially uniform thickness and extending substantially over
the entire sole area; said upper resilient inner sole portion being
composed of a plurality of resilient sections, said sections being
removably secured on their lower surfaces to said underlying
flexible sheet and said sections together forming a grid having a
substantially smooth upper surface for engagement by the foot, said
sections being individually removable to provide localized pressure
relief to selected areas of the foot; said grid comprising
substantially all of said inner sole and extending substantially
over the entire sole area; wherein said resilient sections each
comprise at least three layers of progressively different softness
and resiliency, with the softest and most resilient layer being
closest to the foot; whereby a relief zone corresponding to an
afflicted zone of a foot is provided when one or more of said
sections is removed; and said grid pattern of resilient sections
constituting means for providing a multiplicity of sections that
sway laterally independently of one another in response to forces
applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom
of a foot as the user walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole extending substantially over the entire sole area
mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said inner sole
having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a grid
pattern, said sections having lower surfaces which are mounted
within said footgear and said sections together form a
substantially smooth surface for engagement by the foot, and having
upper surfaces which are independently vertically movable; means
for independently modifying support of the foot provided at exact
section location; said resilient sections being directly adjacent
one another to form said grid; said grid of resilient sections
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending over
substantially all of said sole area; wherein said resilient
sections comprise a material that resists compression-set; and said
grid pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing
a multiplicity of sections that sway laterally to a substantial
extent independently of one another in response to forces applied
by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a
foot as the user walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot,
comprising: an outer sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear
above said outer sole, said inner sole having a plurality of
resilient sections arranged in a grid pattern, said sections having
lower surfaces which are separately removably mounted within said
footgear, and said sections having upper surfaces which together
form a substantially continuous upper surface for engagement by the
foot and which are independently vertically movable; said resilient
sections being directly adjacent one another to form said gird; and
said grid of resilient sections extending over substantially all of
said inner sole; said sections having a height and width, with the
height of said sections being at least equal to the width thereof,
to permit swaying of said sections, thereby reducing shear forces
on the lower surface of the foot; said footgear having a heel/ankle
portion that extends partially up the heel and ankle area of the
user; said footgear including flaps for holding the foot into the
footgear, said flaps extending over at least a portion of the upper
surface of the foot from both sides of the foot; arrangements for
holding said flaps together to hole the user's foot into the
footgear; said flaps leaving an opening at the front of the
footgear so that the toes of the user may extend out beyond the
flaps while still resting on said inner sole; said upper surface of
said sections being directly exposed for direct engagement with the
foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the user; and
said grid pattern of resilient sections constituting means for
providing a multiplicity of sections that sway laterally to a
substantial extent independently of one another in response to
forces applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the
bottom of a foot as the user walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot as
defined in claim 30 wherein said inner sole includes an underlying
flexible sheet to which said sections are removably secured; and
said sections being secured to said sheet, and said inner sole
being secured into said shoe by hook and loop type fastening
arrangements..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot as
defined in claim 30 wherein said sections are softer and more
resilient adjacent said upper surface as compared with the lower
portion of said sections adjacent said lower surfaces..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot,
comprising: an outer sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear
above said outer sole, said inner sole having a plurality of
resilient sections arranged in a grid pattern, said sections having
lower surfaces which are separately removably mounted within said
footgear and said sections having upper surfaces which together
form a substantially smooth and continuous upper surface for
engagement by the foot; and which are independently vertically
movable; said resilient sections being directly adjacent one
another to form said grid; said grid of resilient sections
extending over substantially all of said inner sole; said grid
pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing a
multiplicity of sections that sway laterally to a substantial
extent independently of one another in response to forces applied
by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a
foot as the user walks along; said footgear having a closed
heel/ankle portion; said footgear including upper footgear parts
for holding the foot into the footgear, said upper footgear parts
extending over at least a portion of the upper surface of the foot
from both sides of the foot; and said upper surface of said
resilient sections being directly exposed for direct engagement
with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the
user..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said sections having lower surfaces which are
separately removably mounted within said footgear, and said
sections having upper surfaces which together form a substantially
smooth and continuous upper surface for engagement by the foot; and
which are independently vertically movable; said resilient sections
being directly adjacent one another to form said grid; and said
grid comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said footgear having a
closed heel/ankle portion; said footgear including upper footgear
parts for holding the foot into the footgear, said upper footgear
parts extending over at least a portion of the upper surface of the
foot; arrangements for engaging said upper footgear parts to hold
the user's foot into the footgear; said upper surface of said
resilient sections being directly exposed for direct engagement
with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the
user; and said grid pattern of resilient sections constituting
means for enabling said sections to sway laterally to a substantial
extent independently of one another in response to forces applied
by the foot and for reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a foot
as the user walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said sections having lower surfaces which are
separately removably mounted within said footgear, and said
sections having upper surfaces which together form a substantially
smooth and continuous upper surface for engagement by the foot, and
which are independently vertically movable; said resilient sections
being directly adjacent one another to form a grid; and said gird
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said footgear having a
closed heel/ankle portion; said grid pattern of resilient sections
constituting means for providing a multiplicity of sections that
sway laterally to a substantial extent independently of one another
in response to forces applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear
stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks along; and said
upper surface of said sections being directly exposed for direct
engagement with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the
foot of the user..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said sections having lower surfaces which are
separately removably, mounted within said footgear and said
sections having upper surfaces which together form a substantially
smooth and continuous upper surface for engagement by the foot, and
which are independently vertically movable; said resilient sections
being directly adjacent one another to form a grid; and said grid
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said upper surface of said
sections being directly exposed for direct engagement with the foot
of the user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the user; and said
grid pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing
a multiplicity of section that sway laterally to a substantial
extent independently of one another in response to forces applied
by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a
foot as the user walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot as
defined in claim 36 wherein said inner sole includes an underlying
flexible sheet to which said sections are removably secured; and
said sections being secured to said sheet, and said inner sole
being secured into said shoe by hook and loop type fastening
arrangements..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot as
defined in claim 36 wherein said sections are softer and more
resilient adjacent said upper surface as compared with the lower
portion of said sections adjacent said lower surfaces..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot,
comprising: an outer sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear
above said outer sole, said inner sole having a plurality of
resilient sections arranged in a grid pattern, said sections having
lower surfacers which are separately removably, mounted within said
footgear and said sections having upper surfaces which together
form a substantially continuous upper surface for engagement by the
foot, and which are independently vertically movable; said
resilient sections being directly adjacent one another to form said
gird; and said grid of resilient sections extending over
substantially all of said inner sole; said upper surface of said
sections being of soft resilient material and being directly
exposed for direct engagement with the foot of the user or a sock
or stocking on the foot of the user; said inner sole including at
least 80 of said resilient sections; said sections being hexagonal
in shape and having a linear extent less than 3/4 inch; and said
grid pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing
a multiplicity of sections that sway laterally independently of one
another to a substantial extent in response to forces applied by
the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a foot
as the suer walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot,
comprising: an outer sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear
above said outer sole, said inner sole having a plurality of
resilient sections arranged in a grid pattern, said sections having
lower surfaces which are separately removably, mounted within said
footgear and said sections having upper surfaces which together
form a substantially continuous upper surface for engagement by the
foot, and which are independently vertically movable; said
resilient sections being directly adjacent one another to form a
grid; and said upper surface of said sections being of soft
resilient materials and being directly exposed for direct
engagement with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the
foot of the user; said inner sole including at least 80 of said
resilient sections; and said grid pattern of resilient sections
constituting means for providing a multiplicity of sections that
sway laterally independently of one another to a substantial extent
in response to forces applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear
stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks
along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. Orthopaedic footgear with resilient support for the foot,
comprising: an outer sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear
above said outer sole, said inner sole having a plurality of
compressible resilient sections arranged in a grid pattern, said
sections having upper surfaces which are independently vertically
movable and which together form a substantially smooth and
continuous upper surface for engagement by the foot; said inner
sole extending for substantially the entire area underlying the
foot of the user; said resilient sections being directly adjacent
one another to form said grid; said grid of resilient sections
extending over substantially all of said inner sole; said upper
surface of said sections being of soft resilient material and being
directly exposed for direct engagement with the foot of the user or
a sock or stocking on the foot of the user; and said grid pattern
of resilient sections constituting means for providing a
multiplicity of sections that sway laterally independently of one
another to a substantial extent in response to forces applied by
the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a foot
as the user walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. Orthopaedic footgear as defined in claim 41 wherein said
sections are hexagonal in cross section..Iaddend.
.Iadd.43. Orthopaedic footgear as defined in claim 41 wherein said
inner sole includes at least 80 sections..Iaddend.
.Iadd.44. Orthopaedic footgear as defined in claim 41 wherein said
sections are less than 3/4 inch in transverse extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.45. Orthopaedic footgear as defined in claim 41 wherein said
sections are individually removably secured within said
footgear..Iaddend.
.Iadd.46. Orthopaedic footgear with resilient support for the foot,
said footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the
entire area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer
sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole,
said inner sole having a plurality of compressible resilient
sections arranged in a grid pattern, said sections having upper
surfaces which are independently vertically movable and which
together form a substantially smooth and continuous upper surface
for engagement by the foot; said resilient sections being directly
adjacent one another to form a grid; said upper surface of said
sections being of soft resilient material and being directly
exposed for direct engagement with the foot of the user or a sock
or stocking on the foot of the user; said grid pattern of resilient
sections constituting means for providing a multiplicity of
sections that sway laterally independently of one another in
response to forces applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear
stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks along; said grid
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said sections having a
height and a transverse extent, with the height being greater than
said transverse extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.47. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot,
comprising: an outer sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear
above said outer sole, said inner sole having a plurality of
resilient sections arranged in a grid pattern, said sections having
lower surfaces which are separately removably mounted within said
footgear and said sections having upper surfaces which are
independently vertically movable and which together form a
substantially smooth and continuous upper surface for engagement by
the foot; said resilient sections being directly adjacent one
another to form a grid; and said grid of resilient sections
extending over substantially all of said inner sole; said upper
surface of said sections being directly exposed for direct
engagement with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the
foot of the user; said sections having a height and a transverse
extent, with the height being substantially equal to or greater
than said transverse extent; and said grid pattern of resilient
sections constituting means for providing a multiplicity of
sections that sway laterally independently of one another to a
substantial extent in response to forces applied by the foot,
thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user
walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.48. An orthopaedic footgear as defined in claim 47 wherein
the sections are in contact with one-another..Iaddend.
.Iadd.49. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot,
comprising: an outer sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear
above said outer sole, said inner sole having a plurality of
resilient sections arranged in a grid pattern, said sections having
lower surfaces which are separately removably mounted within said
footgear and said sections having upper surfaces which are
independently vertically movable and which together form a
substantially smooth and continuous upper surface for engagement by
the foot; said resilient sections being directly adjacent one
another to form said grid; said grid of resilient sections
extending over substantially all of said inner sole; said upper
surface of said sections being directly exposed for direct
engagement with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the
foot of the user; and said grid pattern of resilient sections
constituting means for providing a multiplicity of sections that
sway laterally to a substantial extent independently of one another
in response to forces applied by the foot, for reducing shear
stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks
along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.50. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said sections having lower surfaces which are
separately removably mounted within said footgear and said sections
having upper surfaces which are independently vertically movable
and which together form a substantially smooth and continuous upper
surface for engagement by the foot; said resilient sections being
directly adjacent one another to form said grid; said grid
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said upper surface of said
sections being directly exposed for direct engagement with the foot
of the user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the user; and said
grid pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing
a multiplicity of sections of substantial height that sway
laterally to a substantial extent independently of one another in
response to forces applied by the foot, and providing means for
reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks
along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.51. Orthopaedic footgear with resilient support for the foot,
said footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the
entire area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer
sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole,
said inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged
in a grid pattern, said sections having upper surfaces which
together form a substantially continuous upper surface for
engagement by the foot; and which are independently vertically
movable; said resilient sections being directly adjacent one
another to form said grid; said upper surface of said sections
being of soft resilient material and being directly exposed for
direct engagement with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking
on the foot of the user; said resilient sections being removable
from the footgear; said gird comprising substantially all of said
inner sole and extending substantially over the entire sole area;
said grid pattern of resilient sections constituting means for
providing a multiplicity of sections that sway laterally
independently of one another in response to forces applied by the
foot, and constituting means for reducing shear stresses on the
bottom of a foot as the user walks along; and said sections having
a height and a transverse extent, with the height being greater
than said transverse extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.52. Orthopaedic footgear with resilient support for the foot,
said footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the
entire area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer
sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole,
said inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged
in a grid pattern, said sections having upper surfaces which
together form a substantially continuous upper surface for
engagement by the foot and which are independently vertically
movable; said resilient sections being directly adjacent one
another to form a grid; said upper surface of said sections being
of soft resilient material and being directly exposed for direct
engagement with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the
foot of the user; said resilient sections being removable from the
footgear; said grid comprising substantially all of said inner sole
and extending substantially over the entire sole area; said grid
pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing a
multiplicity of sections that sway laterally independently of one
another in response to forces applied by the foot, further
constituting means for reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a
foot as the user walks along; and said sections having a height and
a transverse extent, with the height being substantially equal to
or greater than said transverse extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.53. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole extending substantially over the entire sole area
mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said inner sole
having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a grid
pattern, said resilient sections having lower surfaces which are
mounted within said footgear and said sections together form a
substantially smooth surface for engagement by the foot; and having
upper surfaces which are independently vertically movable; means
for independently modifying support of the foot provided at each
section location; said resilient sections being directly adjacent
one another to form said grid; and said gird of resilient sections
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending over
substantially all of said sole area; wherein said resilient
sections each comprise at least three layers of progressively
different softness and resiliency, with the softest and most
resilient layer being closest to the foot; said grid pattern of
resilient sections constituting a multiplicity of sections that
sway laterally independently of one another in response to forces
applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom
of a foot as the user walks along, and said sections having a
height and a transverse extent, with the height being substantially
equal to or greater than said transverse extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.54. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user, comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole extending substantially over the entire sole area
mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said inner sole
having a plurality of removable resilient sections that are
removable mounted in said footgear and that are arranged in a grid
pattern said removable sections having lower surfaces which are
removable secured within said footgear and said sections together
forming a substantially smooth surface for engagement by the foot
said sections being individually removable from said footgear to
provide localized relief to selected areas of the foot; said
resilient sections being directly adjacent to one another to form
said grid, with substantially no space in between said sections
except when at least one of said sections has been removed; said
grid of resilient sections comprising substantially all of said
inner sole and extending substantially over the entire sole area;
wherein said resilient sections each comprise at least three layer
of progressively different softness and resiliency, with the
softest and most resilient layer being closest to the foot; said
grid pattern of resilient sections constituting a multiplicity of
sections that sway laterally independently of one another in
response to forces applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear
stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks along; said
sections having a height and a transverse extent, with the height
being substantially equal to or greater than said transverse
extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.55. A pad for footgear with pressure relief areas for the
foot, said pad having a sole area extending for substantially the
entire area underlying the foot of a user, comprising: an
underlying flexible sheet and an upper resilient inner sole member
extending over and being removably secured to said underlying
flexible sheet, said upper resilient inner sole member having a
substantially uniform thickness and extending substantially over
the entire sole area; said upper resilient inner sole portion being
composed of a plurality of resilient sections, said sections being
removably secured on their lower surfaces to said underlying
flexible sheet and said sections together forming a substantially
smooth surface for engagement by the foot, said sections being
individually removable to provide localized pressure relief to
selected areas of the foot; wherein said resilient sections each
comprise at least three layers of progressively different softness
and resiliency, with the softest and most resilient layer being
closest to the foot; said grid comprising substantially all of said
inner sole and extending substantially over the entire sole area;
whereby a relief zone corresponding to an afflicted zone of a foot
is provided when one or more of said sections is removed; said grid
pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing a
multiplicity of sections that sway laterally independently of one
another in response to forces applied by the foot, thereby reducing
shear stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks along; and
said sections having a height and a transverse extent, with the
height being substantially equal to or greater than said transverse
extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.56. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole extending substantially over the entire sole area
mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said inner sole
having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a grid
pattern, said sections having lower surfaces which are mounted
within said footgear and said sections together form a
substantially smooth surface for engagement by the foot; and having
upper surfaces which are independently vertically movable; means
for independently modifying support of the foot provided at each
section location; said resilient sections being directly adjacent
one another to form said grid; said grid of resilient sections
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending over
substantially all of said sole area; wherein said resilient
sections comprise a material that resists compression-set; and said
grid pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing
a multiplicity of sections that sway laterally to a substantial
extent independently of one another in response to forces applied
by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a
foot as the user walks along; and said sections having a height and
a transverse extent, with the height being substantially equal to
or greater than said transverse extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.57. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said section having lower surfaces which are
separately removably mounted within said footgear, and said
sections having upper surfaces which together form a substantially
continuous upper surface for engagement by the foot; and which are
independently vertically movable; said resilient sections being
directly adjacent one another to form a grid; and said grid
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said sections having a
height and width, with the height of said sections being at least
equal to the width thereof, to permit swaying of said sections,
thereby reducing shear forces on the lower surface of the foot;
said footgear having a heel/ankle portion that extends partially
[only part way] up the heel and ankle area of the user; said
footgear including flaps for holding the foot into the footgear,
said flaps extending over at least a portion of the upper surface
of the foot from both sides of the foot; arrangements for holding
said flaps together to hold the user's foot into the footgear; said
flaps leaving an opening at the front of the footgear so that the
toes of the user may extend out beyond the flaps while still
resting on said inner sole; said upper surface of said sections
being directly exposed for direct engagement with the foot of the
user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the user; said grid
pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing a
multiplicity of sections that sway laterally to as substantial
extent independently of one another in response to forces applied
by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a
foot as the user walks along; and said sections having a height and
a transverse extent, with the height being substantially equal to
or greater than said transverse extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.58. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said sections having lower surfaces which are
separately removably mounted within said footgear and said sections
having upper surfaces which together form a substantially smooth
and continuous upper surface for engagement by the foot, and which
are independently vertically movable; said resilient sections being
directly adjacent one another to form said grid; said grid
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said grid pattern of
resilient sections constituting a multiplicity of sections that
sway laterally independently of one another in response to forces
applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom
of a foot as the user walks along; said footgear having a closed
heel/ankle portion; said footgear including upper footgear parts
for holding the foot into the footgear, said upper footgear parts
extending over at least a portion of the upper surface of the foot
from both sides of the foot; said upper surface of said resilient
sections being directly exposed for direct engagement with the foot
of the user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the user; and said
sections having a height and a transverse extent, with the height
being substantially equal to or greater than said transverse
extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.59. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said sections having lower surfaces which are
separately removably mounted within said footgear, and said
sections having upper surfaces which together form a substantially
smooth and continuous upper surface for engagement by the foot; and
which are independently vertically movable; said resilient sections
being directly adjacent one another to form said grid; and said
grid comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said footgear having a
closed heel/ankle portion; said footgear including upper footgear
parts for holding the foot into the footgear, said upper footgear
parts extending over at least a portion of the upper surface of the
foot; arrangements for engaging said upper footgear parts to hold
the user's foot into the footgear; said upper surface of said
resilient sections being directly exposed for direct engagement
with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the
user; and said grid pattern of resilient sections constituting a
multiplicity of sections that sway laterally independently of one
another in response to forces applied by the foot thereby reducing
shear stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks along; and
said sections having a height and a transverse extent, with the
height being substantially equal to or greater than said transverse
extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.60. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot, said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said section having lower surfaces which are
separately removably mounted within said footgear, and said
sections having upper surfaces which together form a substantially
smoothed and continuous upper surface for engagement by the foot;
and which are independently vertically movable; said resilient
sections being directly adjacent one another to form a grid; said
grid comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said grid pattern of
resilient sections constituting means for providing a multiplicity
of sections that sway laterally independently of one another in
response to forces applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear
stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks along; said
upper surface of said sections being directly exposed for direct
engagement with the foot of the user or a sock or stocking on the
foot of the user; and said sections having a height and a
transverse extent, with the height being substantially equal to or
greater than said transverse extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.61. Footgear as defined in claim 60 wherein said means for
independently modifying support of the foot at each section
location includes the removable fastening of each resilient section
into the footgear..Iaddend.
.Iadd.62. Orthopaedic footgear with resilient support for the foot,
said footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the
entire area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer
sole; an inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole,
said inner sole having a plurality of compressible resilient
sections arranged in a grid pattern, said sections having upper
surfaces which are independently vertically movable and which
together form a substantially smooth and continuous upper surface
for engagement by the foot; said resilient sections being directly
adjacent one another to form a grid; said upper surface of said
sections being of soft resilient material and being directly
exposed for direct engagement with the foot of the user or a sock
or stocking on the foot of the user; said grid comprising
substantially all of said inner sole and extending substantially
over the entire sole area; said grid pattern of resilient sections
constituting means for providing a multiplicity of sections that
sway laterally independently of one another in response to forces
applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the bottom
of a foot as the user walks along; and said sections having a
height and a transverse extent, with the height being substantially
equal to or greater than said transverse extent..Iaddend.
.Iadd.63. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said sections having lower surfaces which are
separately removably mounted within said footgear and said sections
having upper surfaces which are independently vertically movable
and which together form a substantially smooth and continuous upper
surface for engagement by the foot; said resilient sections being
directly adjacent one another to form a grid; and said grid
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said upper surface of said
sections being directly exposed for direct engagement with the foot
of the user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the user; said
sections having a height and a transverse extent, with the height
being substantially equal to or greater than said transverse
extent; and said grid pattern of resilient sections constituting
means for providing a multiplicity of sections that sway laterally
independently of one another to a substantial extent in response to
forces applied by the foot, thereby reducing shear stresses on the
bottom of a foot as the user walks along..Iaddend.
.Iadd.64. Footgear with pressure relief areas for the foot said
footgear having a sole area extending substantially for the entire
area underlying the foot of a user comprising: an outer sole; an
inner sole mounted in said footgear above said outer sole, said
inner sole having a plurality of resilient sections arranged in a
grid pattern, said section having lower surfaces which are
separately removably mounted within said footgear and said sections
having upper surfaces which are independently vertically movable
and which together form a substantially smooth and continuous upper
surface for engagement by the foot; said resilient sections being
directly adjacent one another to form said grid; said grid
comprising substantially all of said inner sole and extending
substantially over the entire sole area; said upper surface of said
sections being directly exposed for direct engagement with the foot
of the user or a sock or stocking on the foot of the user; and said
grid pattern of resilient sections constituting means for providing
a multiplicity of sections that sway laterally to a substantial
extent independently of one another in response to forces applied
by the foot, for reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a foot as
the user walks along..Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to footgear having orthopaedic soles
providing pressure relief areas for the feet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The problems solved by the present invention were discussed at
length in the prior patent application cited above, and the
background section of that application will therefore be repeated
here.
Support pads are used in a wide variety of applications to provide
cushioned support to an injured or otherwise sensitive bodily
appendage. Such pads have the dual purpose of (1) providing
orthopaedic support to the appendage and (2) protecting the
appendage from further injury or damage resulting from contact with
a foreign object or hard surface.
One common use of a support pad is as a cushioned foot sole in
specialized footwear such as soft boots or patient walkers. These
devices generally employ some type of soft, resilient material,
such as foam, to provide cushioned support of a sensitive or
damaged foot.
A particular problem arises when it becomes necessary to provide
uneven support across the outer surface of an appendage. For
example, an ulcerated appendage, often found in diabetic patients,
requires pressure relief to the ulcerated area to allow healing. In
this instance, it is desirable to have a pad which will apply
cushioned support to the appendage, while refraining from
supporting the afflicted area. For diabetic patients, the feet are
commonly beset with such ulcerations, and it is therefore desirable
to provide a cushioned support sole for a shoe or walker which is
capable of providing specific zones of pressure relief.
Other approaches have addressed the problem of providing cushioned
foot support. U.S. Pat. No. 2,598,217 (Bronson), issued May 27,
1952, discloses as invalid's boot with a thick insole. However,
these approaches require replacement of the sole for each new
patient, or for each new area of the original patient's foot which
must be relieved.
Andrews U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,078 discloses a footwear insole with a
molded arch support. The insole has either three indentations or a
single banana-shaped indentation arranged in an arc behind the
toes, and another indentation at the heel. A user may adhesively
fix pad inserts into one or more of the indentations to provide
support to the foot. The user omits inserts from selected
indentations to relieve pressure on certain area of the foot.
Unfortunately, a number of problems arise when diabetes patients,
who are prone to severe foot ulcers, attempt to use the Andrews
device. Before discussing these deficiencies, however, it is useful
to review the foot problem that many diabetes patients face. It is
well known that diabetes patients are prone to foot ulcers. In
fact, lesions of the foot are responsible for more than one-fifth
of the hospitalizations of diabetic patients. More than 40% of the
lower extremity amputations in the United States are performed on
diabetic patients who have poor circulation in the lower limb. With
reduced sensation in the foot, the patient is unlikely to feel
discomfort when the skin is subject to shear forces during walking,
and consequently he or she does not properly adjust his or her
gait. Lesions are formed or are made worse.
Diabetes patients also experience other extreme difficulties with
their feet. Diabetic patients often undergo an unfortunate
evolutionary pattern of anatomical deterioration. Initially, the
foot will have a normal appearance and will only have vascular or
neuro-vascular deficiencies. However, the bone structure can
quickly deteriorate. Charcot joints can form, and the foot becomes
drastically deformed. From then on, the areas of the foot that can
bear weight are abnormal, their locations are unpredictable, and
custom foot accommodations will be required for the remainder of
the person's ambulatory life.
The Andrews device does little to overcome these problems. Foot
ulcers and bone deterioration can occur anywhere on the foot, yet
Andrews provides only a few pads in very specific locations. The
Andrews fixed-location pad arrangement cannot provide pressure
relief to damaged areas of the foot that are located anywhere
except the four specific pad locations. This makes Andrews
inadequate for the majority of diabetes patients with damaged
feet.
An additional drawback of the Andrews pad is that it lacks means to
reduce shear forces on the skin of the foot that arise as the
patient walks along. Such shear forces can further damage existing
ulcers, or create new ulcers. This is particularly true where the
patient walks for any distance.
Other deficiencies of Andrews are apparent. As shown in Andrews
FIG. 1, the Andrews sole is limited to either a left or right
foot-only sole. The same Andrews sole cannot be used on either foot
because sole support 16 is built into the shoe.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,056 (Rudy), teaches a method for conforming a
ski boot to the foot of the wearer by heating an inflatable
bladder, distending it to the desired shape, and then cooling and
deflating the bladder. The bladder can be subsequently be
re-inflated to fit the wearer's foot. This method requires a
mechanism for heating, which may be inconvenient or impractical
when applied to a comfortable sole. In the method disclosed, the
inflatable bladder was placed over the foot to contact opposing
sides, rather than underneath it as a support. Moreover, the
elastomeric materials described in the Rudy patent typically may
not provide the requisite comfort and cushioning generally required
in a healing device.
A further method of providing support to an injured foot is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,128 (Grim, et al.) in which a
removable leg walker includes a plurality of inflatable and
adjustable bladder members in order to provide variable amounts of
pressure to an affected limb as leg swelling increases or
decreases. However, the bladder members of the Grim device do not
retain their shape except as restrained by the surface of the
appendage itself and thus do not provide the desired semi-permanent
areas of relief to an injured appendage.
Incidentally, the above-cited U.S. patent application Ser. No.
07/965,750 discloses arrangements which provide relief using a pad
of particulate material which is vacuum formed to the desired
configuration.
From an overall standpoint, a principal object of the present
invention is to provide a comfortable cushioned sole which may be
conveniently modified to provide pressure relief to specific areas
of the wearer's foot.
Another important object of the invention is to furnish a device
which may be reused to provide relief to different areas of the
patient's foot, or which may be used by other patients.
A further object is to provide a method for comforting a cushioned
sole to the foot of a particular wearer, and of later reforming or
returning the sole to its original shape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the invention, a
walker frame, including an outer sole and side struts may be
provided with an air bladder mounted above the outer sole, and a
special inner sole mounted above the bladder and made up of a large
number of separate resilient sections removably secured to a
flexible sheet to form a substantially flat surface for engagement
by the foot. In areas where the foot is ulcerated or otherwise
injured, sections of the inner sole are removed to provide pressure
relief.
In accordance with a broader aspect of the invention, footgear or
footwear generally may be provided with an inner sole having mobile
sections of the type described in the preceding paragraph.
With regard to the walker embodiment, a flexible soft goods-type
support may be provided, to enclose the patient's foot, and having
arrangements for securing to the walker frame. The bladder may be
mounted between the outer sole and support, layered within the soft
goods support, or preferably above the soft goods support. A dorsum
strap may be secured to the support or the inner sole and extend
around the ankle and instep, to hold the foot in place on the inner
sole.
Additional features of the invention may include the following: 1.
The removable sections may be held in place by pressure sensitive
adhesive or preferably hook and loop type securing material of the
Velcro type of permit removal and replacement of the sections. 2.
The removable sections may be in a grid like configuration, using
hexagonal, rectangular or square patterns. 3. The inner sole may
have multiple layers, with the layer closest to the foot being
softer and more resilient than other layers. 4. The inner sole may
extend to the rear and upward to cushion the rear of the heel. 5.
The bladder may be filled with fluid, air, other gas, liquid, or
gel material. 6. The bladder may contain additional resilient
material such as a layer of foam, for extra cushioning of the foot.
7. The removable sections can be arranged on a substantially
indentation-free surface. 8. The removable sections may cover most
or substantially all of the inner sole, or may cover selected
important areas such as the heel and ball of the feet areas. 9. The
removable sections may have various densities so that a user may
arrange denser sections to provide additional cushioning in
selected areas of the inner sole. 10. The removable sections may
have various heights so that a user may arrange the sections to
custom-fit the foot. 11. An edema patch may be provided for
covering an open space left after a user has removed one or more
mobile sections from the grid and for applying pressure to the
afflicted zone of the foot, thereby preventing fluids from building
up in the afflicted zone of the foot.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description and from the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a walker of the type to which the
present invention is applicable;
FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the walker of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG.
1;
FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative inner sole
configuration;
FIG. 6 is a schematic showing of a walker system implementing the
principles of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a side view of a support pad which has dense removable
sections arranged underneath the arch of a user's foot;
FIG. 8 is a side view of a support pad which has dense removable
sections arranged around a pressure relief area from which sections
have been removed;
FIG. 9 is a side view of a support pad which has dense removable
sections arranged in the heel area to absorb impact as a user steps
down on the pad;
FIG. 10 is a side view of a support pad which has dense removable
sections arranged in the ball region of the foot to absorb the
pressure of stepping forward;
FIG. 11 is a top view showing a support pad having high density
removable sections in the toe area, and less dense removable
sections in the mid-foot region;
FIG. 12 is side view of a pad having taller removable members
arranged underneath the arch of a foot;
FIG. 13 is a side view showing that the members of the pad of FIG.
10 custom-fit the countour of the foot when the user is standing on
the pad;
FIG. 14 is a side view of a pad having taller members arranged
around a pressure relief zone from which removable members have
been removed;
FIG. 15 is a top view showing an additional pad applied on top of
removable members;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the support pad of FIG. 15 taken
along line 16-16 of FIG. 15 showing that the additional pad has an
aperture which is positioned over a pressure relief zone from which
removable members have been removed;
FIG. 17 is a side view of a support pad showing that fluids can
become trapped in an injured area of the foot that is positioned
over a pressure relief zone;
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an edema patch having a stretch
layer and an adhesive layer;
FIG. 19 is a side view of a support pad in which an edema patch has
been applied over a relief zone area from which removable sections
have been removed;
FIG. 20 is a top view of a support pad in which an edema patch has
been applied over a relief zone area from which removable sections
have been removed;
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an edema patch having a layer of
stretch material, a fluid-impermeable film, and an adhesive
layer;
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an edema patch having a
fluid-impermeable film and an adhesive layer;
FIG. 23 is a side view of a support pad having an edema patch
covering a pressure relief zone with the edema patch rounding the
top edges of the pressure relief zone;
FIG. 24 is a partial exploded view of an alternative embodiment of
a walker of the type to which the present invention applies;
FIG. 25 is a partial cross-sectional view of the alternative
embodiment of FIG. 24 taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a pad having inflated pneumatic
members; and
FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the pad of FIG. 26, with
individual members having been deflated to provide pressure relief
in a specific area of the pad.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a walker
12 including a frame made up of an outer sole assembly 14 and two
side struts 16 secured to the sole, and extending up on either side
of the lower leg of the patient 18. Within the frame 14, 16, is a
soft goods type support member 20 for enclosing the lower leg,
ankle and most of the foot of the patient or user. As best shown in
FIG. 4, the soft goods type body member 20 includes outer cloth
material 22 and 24 separated by two layers of foam 36 and 37, which
may be either foam rubber or foamed urethane, by way of examples.
The soft goods type body member 20 may be held in position within
the frame 14, 16, by pads of hook and loop type material on the
inner surface of the struts 16, and by the straps 28 extending
around the struts 16, through the D-rings 30 and then being folded
back on the other portions of the straps, and held in adjustable
positions by mating Velcro type hoop and loop areas on the surfaces
of the straps. The straps 32 and 34 across the instep and the
forward portion of the assembly, operate in similar manners to hold
the foot and the soft goods type support member 20 in position
within the frame 14, 16.
Incidently, with regard to the detailed construction of the walker
frame, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,128, granted Jan.
7, 1992, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
One of the straps 28 is also visible in FIG. 4 as is one of the
struts 16. Between the body member 20 and the strut 16, and between
the strut 16 and the strap 28, is hook and loop type material, so
that various members are secured in place relative to one
another.
Within the side walls of the soft goods body member 20, may be air
bladders such as that shown at reference numeral 38 in FIG. 4 and
preferably containing a layer of open cell foam 40. The bladder 38
may be located between one layer of foam 36 and fabric 22 and the
second layer of foam 37 and fabric 24. This arrangement provides
additional cushioning for the lower leg of the patient,
particularly in the vicinity of the struts 16.
FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the walker of FIG. 1, with
reference numerals employed in FIG. 1 being carried over to FIG. 2.
Shown in FIG. 2 is the elongated pad 44 of hook type material. The
outer cloth covering of the soft goods type body member 20 is of
cloth of one of the well known types such as brushed nylon material
which will receive hook type securing pads, such as that sold under
the trademark "Velcro" so that the front upper portion of the soft
goods type support member 20 may be held in the closed position by
the engagement of the pad 44 with the outer surface of the mating
portion 45 of the support member 20. Similarly, the pad 46 on the
inner surface of the front flap 48 of the soft goods support member
20 serves to engage the mating flat 50 on its outer surface, and
holds the front portion of the soft goods member around the upper
portion of the patient's foot.
The footgear of the present invention is provided with an inner
sole assembly 52 which is preferably mounted within the soft goods
support member 20 by a layer of hook type securing material 54
which is on the lower surface of the assembly 52, and which engages
the inner surface of the soft goods type support member 20 in the
area 56 as shown in FIG. 2. The rear portion 58 of the inner sole
assembly 56 may extend up behind the heel of the patient to cushion
this area of the foot; and the straps 60 and 62, formed of soft
material and held together by hook and loop type securing
arrangements, served to hold the patient's foot back into proper
engagement with the inner sole assembly 52.
Inner sole assembly 52 includes a lower air bladder 64 which may
contain a layer of foam material, and an upper resilient layer 66
contituting separate removable sections, also known as individually
mobile resilient sections, which together form a normally
substantially smooth surface for engagement by the foot. These
sections are individually removable, as indicated by the sections
68 which are shown removed from the space 70 where they would
normally be located to complete the smooth upper surface of the
inner sole assembly 52. The concept, as mentioned in the
introductory portion of the present specification, is to provide
relief to ulcerated or injured portions of the foot, whereby the
foot is supported on the adjacent resilient material, with relief
provided in the areas where the removable sections have been taken
away.
The top surface of bladder 64 may be substantially indentation-free
so that the resilient sections may be removed from any location on
the grid. The user is thereby not limited to removing insets only
from indentations located in a limited number of positions on the
side, such as in the Andrews patent discussed in the Background
section. Instead, a user of the present invention may remove
sections from precisely the desired location.
Note that the individual resilient sections such as the section 68,
have hook or loop type securing material 72 on their lower
surfaces, and the upper surface of the bladder 64 has mating hook
and loop type material for removably securing sections such as
section 68 in place to provide a relatively smooth upper surface.
Thus, the group of sections 68 may be reinserted and re-secured
into the opening 70, and other sections removed, to accommodate
different needs, or the problems of another patient. Instead of
using hook and loop type securing material as shown in FIG. 2, the
lower surface of sections such as the sections 68 may be provided
with pressure sensitive adhesive, thereby providing the removable
and replaceable functions as discussed hereinabove.
FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view taken along
line 3-3 of FIG. 1. More specifically, the view of FIG. 3 includes
the soft goods type support member 20 which is here shown as a
single layer for simplicity, but which, in reality, would be two
layers of cloth and two foam layers forming a central foam core, as
discussed in connection with FIG. 4. In addition, FIG. 3 shows the
outer sole 14 including the lower tread portion 78, which would
normally be somewhat rough for traction, the flap 48, the strap 62,
the bladder 64, and the resilient inner sole 66.
Concerning the sole 14, in addition to the outer tread portion 78,
it may include the upper and lower high strength plastic sheet
members 82 and 84 which are interconnected by appropriate ribs 85.
At the rear of the sole 14 is a cantilevered area in which
resilient foam material 86 is located, so that controlled flexing
of the rear heel end 88 of the lower plastic sheet member 84
provides increased cushioning for the patient, against shock to
which he or she might otherwise be subjected.
Regarding the bladder assembly 64, it may include a sealed bladder
made of thin sheet urethane 92 covered with cloth material 94, and
containing an open cell foam layer 96 which may be bonded to the
upper or lower surface of the bladder. Between the upper surface of
the bladder assembly 64, and the lower surface of the inner sole 66
is a suitable material 98, for removably securing the inner sole 66
to the upper surface of the bladder 64. Material 98 may be hook and
loop type material, or pressure sensitive adhesive, as noted
hereinabove. The inner sole 66 may be formed of three layers 102,
104 and 106, which are bonded together. These three layers 102, 104
and 106 may be of progressively different softness and resiliency,
with the softest and most resilient layer being the layer 102
closest to the foot, with layers 104 and 106 being progressively
less resilient and providing somewhat greater support.
It should be noted that bladder 64 is entirely optional. Inner sole
assembly 52 may alternatively include a flexible pad rather than
bladder 64. The flexible pad may be made of a material such as
cloth with which a hook and loop type material can engage.
With regard to the construction of the outer sole assembly 14, it
may be formed as described hereinabove in the cited U.S. Pat. No.
5,078,128, or may be of any other desired configuration. The
present invention is primarily directed to a configuration of the
inner sole, and the precise configuration of the outer sole
arrangements may be chosen from many alternatives.
FIG. 5 shows an alternative arrangement of the individual removable
sections of the inner sole which is designated by the reference
numeral 52'. In addition to the continuous outer rim 112, the
sections are rectangular, or square, and have a closer spacing in
the heel area 114, and in the area 116 immediately behind the toes.
The area 118 where the toes would be located, and the central area
120 below the instep, could have larger sections, as these areas
are less likely to have ulcerations and require relief. It is noted
in passing, however, that the hexagonal configuration as shown in
FIG. 2, is the presently preferred embodiment.
Regarding FIG. 6, this is a schematic showing of a walker
illustrating the principles of the invention and shows the soft
goods type support 20, the sole 14, the bladder 64, and the inner
sole 66. The bladder 64 may be a sealed bladder, preinflated, or
may be provided with a pump 132, and pressure relief arrangements
134. The pump 132 may be manually actuated, mechanically actuated,
or may be actuated by a walking or running action of the user. The
pressure relief arrangements 134 may involve a simple adjustable
spring and ball type controlled pressure relief valve, or may
involve more complex pressure sensing and valve actuation
arrangements controlled by the sensing of the pressure.
Regarding FIGS. 7-11, one alternate embodiment of the present
invention employs separate removable resilient sections having
different material densities. Some of the resilient sections are
lower density sections and some are higher density sections, so
that a user may arrange the higher density sections to create at
least one zone of additional support for a foot. The zone or zones
of higher density sections serve to selectively absorb energy
during portions of the walking gait.
For instance, concentrating resilient sections made of dense
material in the midfoot region will help distribute force
throughout the surface of the plantar pad during the gait. As with
the other embodiments of the present invention, the removable
resilient sections are arranged in a grid. The user removes
selected resilient sections in order to create a customized
pressure relief zone of desired location and dimensions.
Dense material may also be added to specific regions of the foot to
absorb energy where needed, such as the heel region or the instep
region. These areas may experience high stress and therefore
require additional padding.
Alternatively, the midfoot region of the planar pad may be of a
denser material than the heel or the forefoot region. Body weight
then shifts onto the middle foot area and off of the front and heel
portions of the foot. In other words, during the gait the denser
material will support the midfoot region, while the heel and
forefoot sink into the less dense material. It should be
emphasized, however, that the less dense material must be
sufficiently dense so as to prevent the foot from hitting the
bottom of the pad, which is known as "bottoming out".
There are at least two other uses for resilient sections having
increased density. First, dense resilient sections may be arranged
around the perimeter of a pressure-relief area where resilient
sections have been removed. The denser sections provide additoanl
suport, and serve to prevent the ulcerated area of the foot from
bottoming out in the unsupported area.
Second, dense resilient sections may be used to prevent
"compression set", which is a permanent reduction in cross-section
arising from constantly stepping down on the material. A denser
material is stronger and more durable, and is less likely to become
permanently deformed than a less dense material. Consequently, use
of resilient sections having increased density can result in
increased durability and product life.
FIGS. 7-11 illustrate some of the various ways that a user or
physician might arrange resilient sections of different densities
on the pad. FIG. 7 illustrates an inner sole 166, also known as a
plantar pad, having removable resilient sections of different
densities. A region 168 of high-density removable sections supports
the arch section of foot 170. As the user steps down on plantar pad
166, high density region 168 reduces the load that lower density
regions 172 would otherwise carry. Consequently, high density
region 168 reduces pressure from ulcerated area 174 of foot
170.
FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative distribution of high density
removable sections on an inner sole or plantar pad 180. Most of the
surface area of plantar pad 180 is covered with normal density
removable pads 182. However, higher density removable pad 184
surround pressure relief area 186 where pads have been removed.
These dense pads 184 provide additional support in the area
immediately adjacent to ulcerated area 174. In particular, these
dense pads serve to reduce the chance that ulcerated area 174 will
"bottom out" or displace vertically below the bottom of pad 180
during walking and running, which would impact ulcerated area 174
and potentially further injure the foot.
FIG. 9 shows that dense sections 192 are arranged in a rear portion
of plantar pad 190. These dense sections 192 can absorb shock
better than normal density pads 196 and, in this instance, help
compensate for the "heel strike" that occurs as the user steps down
onto heel 194 of the foot 170. It should be noted that many
diabetic patients are obese, and that the heel may be subjected to
significant loading while the user walks around. The arrangement of
dense sections 192 of FIG. 9 reduces the risk of heel injury from
such significant heel loading.
FIG. 10 shows that dense sections 169 may be arranged in a front
portion of a plantar pad 167 in the area of the ball and toes of
foot 170. This arrangement of dense sections 169 provides support
during the "push-off" part of the walk when the person pushes hard
against the forward portion of the foot to move the body forward.
Dense sections 169 absorb this "push-off" pressure, and protect the
ball and toes 179 of foot 170 from bottoming out against a support
layer below plantar pad 167.
FIG. 11 illustrates a plantar pad 210 having three different
densities of removable resilient pads. High density pads 212 are
arranged in the heel area of the plantar pad. These pads compensate
for the significant shock loading of heel strike. Medium density
pads 214 are arranged to correspond to the toe and ball areas of
the foot to provide support during pushoff loading. Lower density
pads 216 support the rest of the foot.
Another alternative embodiment uses some separate resilient
sections that are taller than other sections. A user may arrange
the taller sections to custom fit a foot. FIG. 12 shows that tall
removable sections 200 have been arranged underneath the arch of a
user's foot 202. Regular height sections 204 suport the other areas
of the foot. When the user steps onto the pad 206 as in FIG. 13,
the taller sections 200 fully support the arch of the foot. In
addition, the taller sections 200 carry more of the user's body
weight than would regular-height sections.
Taller sections can be arranged around an area of pressure relief,
as in FIG. 14. This region of taller sections 208 serves two
purposes. First, the taller sections raise the foot in the region
of the pressure relief area, thereby reducing the chances that the
injured area will "bottom out" against the bottom of the pad when
the user steps down on the foot. Second, the taller sections carry
more weight around the pressure relief area than would shorter
sections. Consequently, the region of tall sections 208 of FIG. 14
provides greater pressure relief to the injured area. It should be
noted that the taller sections 200 in FIG. 12 may be rearranged to
form the configuration of the pad in FIG. 14.
As noted above, a heavy patient or a patient with a particularly
large ulcer may "bottom out" the afflicted area against the bottom
of the pad during walking. To prevent "bottoming out", the user may
apply an additional resilient pad having an aperture and an
adhesively-backed lower surface. The lower surface adheres to the
upper surface of resilient sections surrounding a pressure relief
zone. The additional pad provides extra support around the pressure
relief area.
FIG. 15 shows an additional pad 212 applied on top of resilient
sections 214. Pad 212 has an aperture 216 to provide pressure
relief to an ulcer. FIG. 16 shows that aperture 216 is positioned
immediately adjacent to pressure relief zone 218, from which
removable sections have been removed to create an area of low or no
pressure. The bottom surface of additional pad 212 is provided with
an adhesive layer 220 to attache the pad to the top surface of
resilient sections 214. Any of a variety of commercial adhesives
may be used, such as the 921 High Tech Adhesive manufactured by the
3M Company of St. Paul, Minn.
The additional pad may have any of a variety of sizes and shapes to
accommodate a variety of different ulcer sizes and user weights.
The pad may be made of a single-density material, or may have a
multi-density layered arrangement consisting of a supple top layer
for comfort and a dense lower layer to support body weight. The pad
may also be cut into a grid pattern in order to reduce the shear
forces on the foot during walking.
Furthermore, the user may choose to apply the additional pad to the
plantar surface without removing any removable sections from the
pad. For a particularly heavy user, leaving the removable sections
in place provides padding beneath the injured area of the foot to
further prevent the "bottoming out" that might otherwise occur as
the user transfers weight to the injured area of the foot.
With regard to an alternative feature of the present invention, a
problem called "window edema" occurs when an area of the body under
low pressure is surrounded by an area of higher pressure. Body
fluids tend to build up and become trapped in the area of lower
pressure. Distal parts of the body, such as the hands and feet, are
particularly prone to window edema because the cardio-vascular
system typically does not do a good job of retrieving fluids that
are far from the heart. The trapped fluids become excellent media
for bacteria to grow, thereby causing infections.
Window edema may be a problem for some users of the present
invention. FIG. 17 show that fluids 226 may build up and become
trapped in a pressure relief zone such as 228 under foot 230. Since
foot 230 is far from the user's heart, the cardio-vascular system
has trouble carrying away the fluids 226 that build up in relief
zone 228. As bacteria grows in fluids 226, the user may be subject
to a dangerous infection that can threaten the well-being of the
foot.
In order to prevent window edema in the present invention, an edema
patch amy be provided in the relief area. FIG. 18 shows that an
edema patch 240 may comprise a patch of stretch material 242 with
an adhesive backing 244. Stretch material 242 may be the material
sold under the trademark "LYCRA" or a similar material elastic
properties. Adhesive 244 may be any of a variety of commercial
adhesives, such as the 921 High Tech Adhesive manufactured by the
3M Company of St. Paul, Minn.
FIGS. 19 and 20 show an edema patch 240 applied to the plantar
relief pad 246 to cover the opening of relief zone 248. The edema
patch 240 adheres to a top surface of removable sections
surrounding a relief zone from which a user has removed other
sections, such that the edema patch covers the relief zone. Edema
patch 240 applies some pressure to afflicted regions 250 of foot
230, thereby reducing the pressure difference between the afflicted
area 250 and the area immediately surrounding relief zone 248.
However, edema patch 240 generally applies less pressure to
afflicted region 250 than would removable sections if inserted to
fill relief zone 248. Nevertheless, edema patch 240 applies
sufficient pressure to afflicted region of the foot 250 in order to
reduce the likelihood of window edema.
The edema patch may be provided with a variety of features, and may
be used in ways other than that shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. The patch
may be of various sizes, shapes and stretch to accommodate
particular sizes and shapes of afflicted areas. The patch may be
applied to any area of the plantar pad where sections have been
removed to create a pressure relief zone. If a user has created
multiple pressure relief zones to accommodate multiple ulcers, the
user may place an edema patch over each pressure relief zone.
As FIG. 21 shows, the edema patch may further include a
fluid-impermeable film layer 256 underlying the stretch material
242 in order to prevent fluid transmission from the foot into the
area from which sections have been removed. Adhesive 244 is applied
to the lower surface of film 256. Any of a variety of materials may
be selected for the underlying film, including but not limited to
urethane. The film thickness may be chosen to have substantial
thickness, thereby limiting its stretchability and enabling it to
give substantial support to the afflicted area of the foot.
Alternatively, the film may have minimal thickness, which makes the
film highly stretchable but limits the support that the film can
give the foot.
As an additional alternative, film 256 may overlie stretch material
242, with adhesive 244 being on the lower surface of stretch
material 242. Film 256 and stretch material 242 may be bonded by
pressing the film and stretch material together under high
pressure. Alternatively, they may be bonded using any of a variety
of commercial adhesives. Additionally, FIG. 22 shows that the patch
may comprise a film layer 256 with adhesive layer 244 without any
stretch material at all.
The edema patch provides another benefit to the user. The relief
zone has edges that provide a "window" around the afflicted area.
The foot may be subject to increased pressure at these edges, which
physicians must often scythe to present skin irritation. However,
as FIG. 23 shows, when an edema patch 240 is applied to the plantar
pad to cover the pressure relief zone, the pad covers and smooths
the edges of relief zone 248. There is then no need for a physician
to scythe the edges.
FIG. 24 and 25 illustrate an additional alternative embodiment of a
walker that incorporates the present invention. FIG. 24 is a
partial exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a walker of
the type illustrated in FIG. 1. A feature of this embodiment is the
inner booty 357, which holds the foot firmly in place within the
walker.
FIG. 24 shows a walker including a frame made up of an outer sole
assembly 314 and two side struts 316 secured to the sole, and
extending up on either side of the lower leg of a patient. Within
the frame 314, 316, is a soft goods type support member 320 for
enclosing the lower leg, ankle and most of the foot of the patient
or user. The soft goods member, which is of the type described
previously in conjunction with FIG. 4, includes outer layers of
cloth material separated by two layers of foam and bladders
338.
The soft goods body member 320 may be held in position within the
frame 314, 316, by pads of hook and loop type material on the inner
surface of the struts 316. Additionally, straps such as 28 of FIG.
1 may extend around the struts 316, through D-rings such as 30 in
FIG. 1 and then fold back to be held in place by mating hook and
loop areas on the surfaces of the straps. The straps 332 and 334
across the instep and the forward portion of the assembly, operate
in similar manners to hold the foot and the soft goods type support
member 320 in position within the frame 314, 316.
Elongated pad 344 is a strip of hook type material. As in the
embodiment of FIG. 2, the outer cloth covering of the soft goods
type body member 320 is of one of many well-known types cloth that
will receive hook type securing pads such as that sold under the
trademark "Velcro". The front upper portion of the soft goods type
support member 320 may be held in the closed position by the
engagement of the pad 344 with the outer surface of the mating
portion 345 of the support member 320. Similarly, the pad 346 on
the inner surface of the front flap 348 of the soft goods support
member 320 serves to engage the mating flat 350 on its outer
surface, and holds the front portion of the soft goods member
around the upper portion of the patient's foot.
The present embodiment is provided with an inner booty 357 to
provide additional means for retaining the foot within the walker.
Inner booty 357 is sewn to soft goods body members 320 along seam
351. Elongated hook type pads 347 and 349 engage the inner surfaces
of flaps 359 and 361, respectively, to adjustably hold the inner
body about the patient's ankle and foot.
The footgear of the present embodiment is provided with an inner
sole assembly 352 which is preferably mounted within the soft goods
support member 320 by a layer of hook type securing material 354
which is on the lower surface of the assembly 352, and which
engages the inner surface of the soft goods type support member 320
in the area 356 and in the area 390 on inner booty 357.
Inner sole assembly 352 includes a lower cloth pad 364 and an upper
resilient layer 366 constituting separate removable sections, also
known as individually mobile resilient sections, which together
form a normally substantially smooth surface for engagement by the
foot. These sections are individually removable, as indicated by
the sections 368 which are shown removed from the space 370 where
they would normally be located to complete the smooth upper surface
of the inner sole assembly 352.
Cloth pad 364 may be substantially indentation-free so that the
resilient sections may be removed from any location on the grid.
The user is thereby not limited to removing insets only from
indentations located in a limited number of positions on the sole.
Instead, a user may remove sections from precisely the desired
location.
The individual resilient sections such as the section 368, have
hook or loop type securing material 372 on their lower surfaces,
and the upper surface of the bladder 364 has mating hook and loop
type material for removably securing sections such as section 368
in place to provide a relatively smooth upper surface. Thus, the
group of sections 368 may be reinserted and re-secured into opening
370, and other sections removed, to accommodate different patient
needs.
FIG. 25 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view of the present
embodiment taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1. Soft goods type support
member 320 is shown here as a single layer for simplicity but which
would actually be two layers of cloth and two foam layers forming a
central foam core, as discussed in connection with FIG. 4. FIG. 25
also shows outer sole 314 including the lower tread portion 378,
which would normally be somewhat rough for traction, the flap 348,
the cloth pad 364, and the resilient inner sole 366. The sole 314
may include tread portion 378, and upper and lower high strength
plastic sheet members 382 and 384 interconnected by appropriate
ribs 385. Resilient foam material 386 controls flexing of the rear
heel end 388 of lower plastic sheet member 384 provides increased
cushioning for the patient.
Between the upper surface of cloth pad 364, and the lower surface
of the inner sole 366 is a suitable material 398, for removably
securing the inner sole 366 to the upper surface of the cloth pad
364. Material 398 may be hook and loop type material, or pressure
sensitive adhesive, as noted hereinabove. The inner sole 366 may be
formed of three layers 302, 304 and 306, which may be of
progressively different softness and resiliency, with the softest
and most resilient layer being the layer 302 closest to the foot,
with layers 304 and 306 being progressively less resilient and
providing somewhat greater support.
Another alternative embodiment of the present invention includes an
inner sole having a plurality of independently vertically movable
sections arranged in a grid pattern. Means are provided for
independently and adjustably modifying the support of the foot at
each section location. Referring to FIG. 26, the modifying means
may include independent pneumatic sections 468 which a user may
puncture to a partially or fully deflat, as illustrated in FIG. 27.
The modifying means could alternatively include independent
mechanical retention elements which a user would push down and
which would then stay in place at a position below the surface of
the sections that the user has not pushed down.
It should be noted that the various embodiments of the present
invention provide means to reduce shear forces on the sole of the
foot. The grid pattern of resilient sections creates a multiplicity
of sections that sway laterally independently of one another in
response to forces applied by the foot. Typical soles simply resist
lateral foot motion, thereby including shear stresses on the bottom
of the foot which may cause or aggravate ulcers. Thus, in contrast
to typical soles, the grid pattern of independently mobile
resilient sections of the present invention constitutes means for
reducing shear stresses on the bottom of a foot as the user walks
along.
It should also be noted that inner sole assembly 52 may be worn
interchangeably with either the right or left foot. So, for
instance, a user may use the inner sole assembly to pad the left
foot for a time, then later use it to pad the right foot. Likewise,
the entire walker 12 may be designed to be worn interchangeably on
either the right or left leg.
Concerning the dimensions of the removable sections, one operative
and presently preferred embodiment of the invention employs
hexagonal removable elements of the type shown in FIG. 2, with the
hexagons having a distance between opposing faces of approximately
1/2''. Larger or smaller removable sections could be employed;
however, it is preferred that the sections have a linear extent
less than 3/4''. In the presently preferred embodiment, the
removable sections are resilient and each have a height that is
greater than its width and depth.
In conclusion, a number of illustrative embodiments of the
invention have been discussed hereinabove. However, it is to be
understood that various changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus,
by way of example and not of limitation, the air bladder under the
sole may be embedded in the soft goods member or may be located
under it, between the soft goods support member 20 and the outer
sole assembly 14. In addition, the optional bladder may be filled
with a variety of fluids other than air, such as gel or water. The
invention is, of course, applicable to other types of footgear, in
addition to walkers, for example, athletic shoes or normal walking
shoes. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the
precise embodiments described hereinabove.
* * * * *