Patent ID: 6966131
Filing Date: 2005-11-22
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An arch support orthosis having an arch curve being adjustably tensioned during use, said arch support orthosis being positioned under a foot and being sized and shaped to be removably placed within a foot support enclosure worn by a user, comprising: an arch support orthosis being sized for support of the foot from underneath about the metatarsal bones of the foot, to underneath about the calcaneus bone of the foot, said orthosis having a first surface being contoured for support of the foot, having a second surface being downwardly faced for contact with the foot supporting surface of the shoe, and having a medial side and an outer lateral side on opposed sides of a central longitudinal midline of said orthosis; a forefoot portion of said first surface being arcuately shaped to be positionable underneath the metatarsal bones of the foot; a heel portion of said first surface being arcuately shaped to be positionable underneath the calcaneus bone of the foot; a medial longitudinal arch curve proximate said medial side of said orthosis, said medial longitudinal arch curve being shaped to be positionable underneath the arch of the foot, said medial longitudinal arch curve having an upper surface being curved upwardly along a crown portion, said medial side being disposed in a continuous arched curve along a length dimension of said medial side of said orthosis, said medial longitudinal arch curve including: an anterior slope being inclined from said upper surface of said medial longitudinal arch curve toward said forefoot portion of said orthosis; a posterior slope being inclined from said upper surface of said medial longitudinal arch curve toward said heel portion of said orthosis; a medial slope being inclined from said upper surface of said medial longitudinal arch curve toward said lateral side of said orthosis; said anterior slope having an anterior base of a first thickness, said posterior slope having a posterior base of a second thickness, said crown of said medial slope having a third thickness along said upper surface of said medial longitudinal arch curve, said third thickness of said crown being less than said second thickness, whereby said anterior base and said posterior base providing rigidity for said medial longitudinal arch curve for repetitive adjusting of said means for tensioning without failure during use by heavily weighted users; and a means for tensioning said medial longitudinal arch curve connectable between an underside portion of said anterior slope and an underside portion of said posterior slope, said means for tensioning having a means for adjusting manipulated by a user for adjustment of said means for tensioning between a neutral length, a decreased length, and an extended length between said anterior slope and said posterior slope, whereby when the neutral length of said means for tensioning is reduced to the decreased length by the user adjustment of said means for adjusting, the tension along said medial longitudinal arch curve is increased resulting in the stiffness of said arch curve is increased from said means for tensioning being at the neutral length, and respective slopes of said anterior and posterior slopes are increased, and when the neutral length of said means for tensioning is increased to the extended length by the user adjustment of said means for adjusting, the tension along said medial longitudinal arch curve is decreased with resulting decrease in respective slopes of said anterior and posterior slopes with resulting decrease in stiffness of said arch curve.