Patent ID: 6283932
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An orthopedic device, such as a heel relief device, comprising(a) a shaft capable of at least partially encircling at least a lower part of a leg, (b) a foot part having a front end,(c) a cup-shaped heel part connecting the foot part to the shaft,(d) a continuous bearing surface extending along the foot part and the heel part, the bearing surface being adapted to support a foot, and the bearing surface constituting a lower closure of the orthopedic device and having a side facing the interior of the orthopedic device, said bearing surface side being flat and symmetrical with respect to a central longitudinal axis, and(e) an arch support affixable to said bearing surface side and extending only from the foot part up to a beginning of the heel part,(1) a side-wall portion of the arch support adapted to run along an outside of the foot and extending substantially linearly, and(2) another side-wall portion of the arch support adapted to run along an inside of the foot, said another side-wall portion having a shape of an arc, a flank of the arc near the heel part rising substantially perpendicularly from the bearing surface to an apex, and(3) a top surface of the arch support extending between the side-wall portion and the another side-wall portion and also extending between a heel and a toe end of the arch support, the top surface rising in height from the sidewall portion to the apex of the another side-wall portion and rising substantially perpendicularly from the continuous bearing surface in height from the heel end to the apex of the another side-wall portion and then descending in height toward the toe end, the top surface being spaced high enough from the continuous bearing surface to maintain the heel of the user freely floating above the continuous bearing surface.