Patent ID: 6361517
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
In combination:a) a shoe to be worn by a person and having a sole with a walking surface and an upper surface, the shoe defining a toe end and a heel end and a longitudinal centerline between the toe and heel ends such that there is an inside portion of the shoe on a first side of the longitudinal centerline and an outside portion of the shoe on a second side of the longitudinal centerline, the shoe having a widest section in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline that is closer to the toe end than to the heel end; and b) a foot lift assist comprising: i) a belt having opposed lateral sections to be worn over hips of a person; ii) a flexible foot strap having inside and outside surfaces and to be worn around the shoe between the toe end and the widest section of the shoe, the flexible foot strap having a first portion that underlies the shoe sole walking surface; iii) a ring held on the foot strap at a location on the outside portion of the shoe; and iv) an elastic cord having a first end connected to a selected lateral section of the belt, and a second end connected to the ring held on the foot strap, v) a pad on the foot strap inside surface and having first and second ends, the pad first end being in flat facing contact with the shoe sole upper surface, so that removing the weight of a person wearing the shoe and foot lift assist enables the elastic cord to lift the shoe and pivot the shoe upwardly to thereby enable the person to walk without the shoe toe end dragging on the ground.