Orthopedic shoe

An orthopedic shoe including: a flat, level sole having a peripheral shape corresponding to that of the bottom plane of a foot and whose toe portion is very broad and of substantially constant width, whose central, metatarsal portion curves rapidly inwardly to a narrow neck connecting the toe portion with a heel portion, the ratio of the widths of the toe and heel portions being approximately 100 to 60, and the ratio of the toe portion to the neck of the central portion being approximately 100 to 40, the inner sole being formed in a plurality of layers at least of one of which is of compressible material capable of permanently conforming to the shape of the bottom of a foot under pressure of wearing; combined with an upper having a counter, a vamp and a toe portion, the vamp including a pair of widely spaced forwardly projecting flaps each including a row of eyelets and extending along the upper parts of the sides of the foot, the toe portion having a wide rearwardly extending tongue for covering the metatarsal arch and including a plurality of openings freely passing a lacing which adjustably connects the flap eyelets; the size, shape and arrangement of the sole, the upper and particularly the vamp, tongue and lacing being such that the shoe fits a foot in a glove-like manner supporting all parts of the foot uniformly and naturally.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an orthopedic shoe which closely fits and 
comfortably supports the foot of a wearer in a natural manner without 
resulting in undue pressure on any part of the foot. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Mass produced conventional shoes normally include elevated heels, or in 
some instances depressed heels, thus detrimentally departing from a flat 
sole corresponding to the plane of the bottom of the foot. The soles and 
attached uppers normally are broadest in the area of the 
metatarsal-phalange joints and then narrow considerably, sometimes to 
nearly a point, thus squeezing and deforming the toes of the wearer, and 
lessening the support as well as causing sensitive and irritating 
callouses. A further disadvantage of these shoes is the failure of the 
soles to deform at the six points of major pressure exercised during 
standing and walking, which six points correspond to the junctures of the 
toes with the metatarsus including the two sesamoid bones connecting the 
large toe. As a result, the conventional shoe forces the foot to fit the 
shoe and causes deformations of the foot that are painful. Such shoes are 
impossible to be worn by persons having weak feet or other serious foot 
problems including callouses and bunions. These persons can only be helped 
by custom molded shoes which are very, very expensive. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a natural form 
shoe which overcomes the above briefly described defects and disadvantages 
of conventional shoes. 
It is another important object of the invention to provide an orthopedic 
shoe whose sole corresponds to the bottom of the wearer's foot and thus 
forces the shoe to fit the foot rather than the foot to fit the shoe as in 
conventional shoes. 
Another important object of the invention is to provide a shoe, having the 
above-described characteristics, whose sole is flat and whose innersole 
fomred in layers at least one of which is of a compressible material so as 
to permanently conform to the shape of the underside of the foot under 
weight of the wearer and which layer, or another layer, is sufficiently 
resilient to properly support the six pressure points of the foot, thereby 
eliminating or preventing the formation of callouses and bunions and 
producing equalized weight distribution. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a shoe having a 
flexible upper, whose vamp underlies and supports the metatarsal arch, and 
which includes a pair of forwardly projecting widely spaced side flaps 
having eyelets for lacing, and a broad tongue extending rearwardly from 
the toe portion of the upper to cover the metatarsal arch between the said 
flaps, the tongue having one or more large openings through which the 
lacing freely passes, the construction and arrangement being such that the 
tongue and vamp side flaps fit closely in glovelike fashion nearly 
completely about the metatarsal arch lifting and supporting the same 
without unnatural pressure. 
Yet, another object of the invention is to provide an orthopedic shoe, 
having the above-described characteristics, which is equivalent in fit and 
support to a custom molded shoe cast to fit exactly the shape of an 
individual's foot, but which can be produced by mass production processes 
and which thereby achieves the benefits of a custom molded shoe at vastly 
reduced cost to the purchaser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring more particularly to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the 
invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as comprising an orthopedic shoe 
generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. To understand the 
invention, it is explained that the structure of the shoe is dictated by 
the structure of the inner sole generally indicated by the reference 
numeral 12, and which is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
Inner sole 12, shown in full lines in FIG. 2, includes a very broad 
anterior transverse arch portion 14, a rapidly inwardly curving and 
narrowing metatarsal portion 16 and a heel portion 18. The peripheral 
contour of the inner sole conforms exactly to that of the horizontal 
bottom plane of a human foot so that the inner sole is much narrower than 
the conventional shoe sole at its neck portion 20 under the metatarsal 
arch of the wearer's foot. Thus, as will become apparent later, the shoe 
relies upon the upper which extends under the metatarsal arch to lift and 
support the wearer's arch. The anterior transverse arch or toe portion 14 
of the inner sole is broad and of substantially constant width. Thus, the 
toes of the wearer are fully supported and are free to spread under weight 
exercised on the sole during walking and running without squeezing of the 
toes together and without permanently deforming the toes in the manner 
prevalent with many conventional shoes. The heel portion 18 of the inner 
sole is of conventional shape. It has been found that the configuration of 
the inner sole as thus briefly described is best suitable for most wearers 
when the width of the transverse anterior arch, the minimum width of the 
metatarsal portion of the sole and the width of the heel portion of the 
sole are in the approximate ratio of 100 to 40 to 60. 
It is highly desirable that the inner sole be level and flat as is the 
bottom of the human foot, in contrast to the use of an elevated or 
depressed heel, both of which are detrimental to the wearer. To this end, 
the inner sole 12 may be formed of a plurality of relatively thin flat 
layers as shown in FIG. 3. The top layer 22 is formed of a flexible 
leather lining or other suitable material. The second layer 24 is formed 
of a soft rubber foam material, which is resilient and compressible and 
preferably such that with use permanent depressions will be molded into 
the sole by pressure at the six major pressure points of the foot, 
corresponding to the junctures of the toes with the metatarsus including 
the two sesamoid bones. Beneath the foam rubber layer is placed a thin 
layer 26 of soft rubber, and below this layer another thin layer of cork 
28 completes the inner sole. The cork like the rubber foam is resilient 
and somewhat permanently compressible so that it deforms to form cavities 
at the pressure points of the bottom of the foot. The described layers are 
glued or cemented together to form the inner sole. Desirably, the extreme 
front portion of the inner sole is beveled upwardly from the bottom line 
30 to ease and aid the walking process and reduce the flexing of the inner 
sole during such action. If, however, a thinner sole is desired, the 
bevelling may be omitted. It has been found that a suitable thickness for 
each of the layers 22, 26 and 28 is approximately 1/16 inch, while a 
suitable thickness for the soft foam rubber layer 24 is approximately 
one-eighth inch. While the inner sole has been described as having four 
layers, it should be apparent that more or fewer layers may be utilized, 
and other suitable materials may be used. The layer of cork 28, for 
example, may be omitted so long as one of the remaining layers such as the 
soft foam rubber layer 24 is capable of resiliently supporting and 
permanently conforming to the shape of the underside of the foot. It 
further may be desirable to perforate the inner sole from top to bottom, 
or at least through the three underlayers, with a plurality of 
non-circular openings 32 which permit the inner sole to more readily 
conform to the shape of the bottom of the foot and to form permanent 
depressions at the major pressure areas. Some conventional inner soles are 
perforated but normally these utilitize round openings which tend to 
collapse on themselves. Accordingly, the preferred shape of the 
perforations 32 is square, triangular or rectangular. 
An outer sole 34 is provided which has exactly the same peripheral shape as 
the inner sole 12 and which is also relatively thin and flat but may vary 
in thickness depending on the material used for the outer sole. The outer 
sole is secured to the inner sole and to the shoe upper by any 
conventional method, none of which need illustration or description 
herein. Since the outer sole 34 is flat, the heel of the wearer will not 
be elevated or depressed and the bottom of the foot is firmly supported in 
its natural, horizontal, flat state. 
The shoe is completed by a flexible leather upper which differs from 
conventional uppers in several important aspects. Firstly, the toe portion 
36 of the upper conforms in shape to the wide transverse anterior arch 
portion of the inner sole 12 and is also of substantially constant width 
from front to rear. At the rear of the toe portion it is integrally formed 
or connected to a flap 38 which may be considered to be a part of the vamp 
of the shoe and which has a bottom edge which is curved to conform to the 
shape of the contiguous central portion of the inner sole 12. The rear of 
this portion 38 is integrally secured to the heel portion 40 of the upper. 
The vamp on the opposite side of the part 38 is more or less rectangular 
in shape as indicated by reference numeral 42. Projecting forwardly from 
the heel portion 40 are a pair of widely spaced flaps 44 each having a 
longitudinal line of fastening devices illustrated as being eyelets 46 for 
passage of a lacing 48. 
A broad, generally rectangularly shaped tongue 50 is integrally formed on 
the toe portion 36, or secured thereto to extend rearwardly over the 
metatarsal arch and thus complete the vamp portion of the upper. The 
tongue has suitably arranged therein a plurality of large rectangular 
openings 52 passing therethrough from top to bottom and which serve to 
freely pass the lacing 48. When the lacing is tightened on the foot of the 
wearer, the free passage of the lacing through the apertures 52 prevent 
the tongue 50 from wrinkling or otherwise unduly binding the arch of the 
foot. It should be further noted that since the lacing eyelets in the 
flaps 44 are widely spaced, these flaps are pulled upwardly to a greater 
degree than they are pulled inwardly and a corresponding greater upper 
force is exercised on the portion 38 of the upper which lies under the 
metatarsal arch. Accordingly, the shoe vamp, when adjusted about the foot 
of the wearer by appropriate tying of the lacing 48, and comprising the 
parts 38, 42, flaps 44 and tongue 50 gently surround the metatarsal arch 
with the part 38 lifting and supporting the arch in a natural manner. 
The modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 in all 
respects is the same as the shoe shown in FIG. 1, except that the toe 
portion of the sole, the inner sole and the upper are slightly elongated 
and given an oval shape instead of a squared off front. This modified shoe 
10' may have a rubber or crepe outer sole 34' and a canvas upper and will 
thus be suitable for use as a tennis shoe while still incorporating the 
foot cradling and support features of the shoe described above and 
illustrated in FIG. 1. Obviously, with other minor modifications, such as 
by addition of spikes or cleats, the shoe may be adapted for use with 
other sports such as track, golf, and the like. 
A modified shoe tongue 50' having the same attributes as the tongue 50 is 
illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. This tongue is formed of two thin layers 54 
and 56 mounted one above the other and preferably secured to each other 
along their forward and rear edges 58 and 60. This leaves a space between 
the layers 54 and 56 which permits the free passage of the lacing from 
side to side of the tongue, and such lacing is free to be adjusted without 
wrinkling the tongue. Furthermore, the lacing is substantially hidden by 
the described construction. 
It is pointed out that the orthopedic shoe of the invention as described 
above is naturally formed to the shape of the foot, and supports all parts 
of the foot in a natural manner without undue pressure in any area. Thus, 
the shoe conforms to the foot rather than vice-versa. The construction and 
arrangement is such that the entire foot is closely surrounded and 
supported in a glove-like manner. Particular note should be taken that the 
shoe provides for transverse and longitudinal arch support in an anatomic 
manner, and the structure is such that the lacings are supported by the 
tongue so that the tongue becomes a portion of the vamp which supports the 
arch of the foot. At the same time the tongue protects the foot from 
unduly high pressure along the length of the lacing. The tongue may vary 
in width from approximately 2-7/8-inches to 4-inches depending upon the 
width, type and contour of the shoe. The tongue opening between the flaps 
44 may be varied from approximately 13/4-inches to 21/2-inches depending 
upon the width and size of the shoe. 
It should be further obvious that the construction of the shoe is such that 
it may be used as a dress shoe and may be modified slightly by additions 
and ornaments to the upper so as to appeal to those who are conscious of 
style. For example, the modifications may include those applicable to 
blucher, wing tip, saddle shoes or sandals. 
While the fastener and fastener devices described are the lace and eyelet 
type, it should be further obvious that other equivalents may be used in 
replacements such as zippers, elastics, velcro and hook eyes. The 
above-described tongue opening may if desired be located on the side of 
the shoe. 
Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and 
described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The 
invention, therefore, is not intended to be restricted to the exact 
showing of the drawings and description thereof but is considered to 
include reasonable and obvious equivalents.