Abstract:
An improved construction for a device intended to raise the heel or heels of a user up off an associated shoe to diminish or eliminate pain and discomfort. The device is adjustable to accommodate a variety of applications and is transferable between those applications.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/483,450 filed May 6, 2011. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a cushioning, shock absorbing device adaptable for use in a variety of situations to cup and support a user&#39;s heel or heels, suspending the heel above an associated shoe or shoes, for example, when weight is applied to the device. While the device is described in particular detail to the human foot heel, those skilled in the art will recognize the wider application of the inventive concepts disclosed hereinafter. 
     When people stand, walk or run they exert pressure on their heel. The device disclosed takes pressure off the heel, thereby diminishing or eliminating pain and discomfort many people experience while standing, walking or running. Prior heel support devices typically provide flexible cushioning materials as a part of a shoe and/or as an insert to a particular type of shoe. Other prior devices provide shoes that contain an integral and non-removable foot support structure that is installed as a unit into a shoe which is not transferable to other shoes. Still other prior art devices typically use spring structures of various forms constructed as part either the shoe insole itself or as a supplemental insert positioned adjacent to the insole. 
     There is a need for an adjustable heel support for supporting the heel independently of the shoe insole. There also is a need for a heel support device which is transferable between various shoes and is adaptable to fit various widths of shoes. There is a need for such a support device which is also adjustable longitudinally to provide adjustability of support along the length of the user&#39;s foot. A need also exists for a device in which the cushioning member is replaceable and adjustable in applicational use. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with this disclosure, generally stated, a support and cushioning device having a simplified construction is provided which includes a flexible support member having a predetermined shape, the flexible member being designed for insertion into a second article, the second article conventionally being used to support the heel equivalent of a limb. A flexible cushioning member is provided having a plurality of ends, at least two of said ends being attached to the flexible member in a manner to cushion the heel and prevent and/or reduce contact of the heel with the second article in the application and use of the device. The support member is compatible with a plurality of second articles, and both the support member and the cushioning member preferably are adjustable in use. For the purposes of this disclosure the support and cushioning device is denominated as a “heel jack.” 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification: 
         FIG. 1  is a view in perspective of one illustrative embodiment of heel jack of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a view in side elevation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view illustrating the flex pattern of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view rear elevation of the heel jack of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view in perspective of one illustrative embodiment of the flexible heel support employed with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front plan view of a second illustrative embodiment of the heel jack of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a second illustrative embodiment of the flexible heel support employed with the embodiment of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view and perspective of the second illustrative embodiment of the heel jack of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view taken about the line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIGS. 10 a  and 10 b    show a third illustrative third embodiment of the heel jack of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a view in perspective, partly broken away, illustrating one application for the heel jack of this invention. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what I presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the invention. As various changes could be made in the described constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , one illustrative embodiment of heel jack of the present invention is shown preferably to comprise a support structure or element  1  and a heel support or cushion  2  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     The support a structure  1  includes, in the embodiment illustrated, a pair of opposed wing members  3  and  4  respectively. The wing members preferably are constructed from a moldable material, and various forms of plastic or other synthetic material, for example, polypropylene, latex, rubber or other similar moldable and/or thermoplastic materials work well. Those skilled in the art will recognize that materials other than the materials listed may be used, if desired. The wing members  3  and  4  preferably are interchangeable with one another, and may be formed from a single mold during manufacture. In addition, the wings themselves may be coated with a soft coating of a non abrasive material not shown, for example, a latex or foam rubber coating to increase the comfort level of the structure  1  in use. The wing members  3  and  4  define an open mouth  5  generally sized to accept the heel portion of the user&#39;s foot, as latter described in greater detail. 
     Each of the wing members  3  and  4  has a plurality of generally parallel spaced apart channels  10  formed in it. The channels  10  also preferably have a plurality of serrations  11  formed in them. The outward facing area between the spaced channels  10  are intended to receive elongated strips of a hook and loop fastening (Velcro®) material  13 . The material  13  is attached to the wing members by any convenient method. Adhesive works well, for example. Other fastening devices and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and another novel method is described in greater detail below. 
     A plurality of support arms  20  extend from and between the wings  3  and  4 . Each of the support arms  20  have respective first and second ends which engage the channels  10  in respective ones of the wing members  3  and  4 . In the embodiment illustrated, preferably one of the support arms  20  assumes a shape corresponding to the contour of a typical shoe of the wearer. As will be appreciated, other shapes may be employed if desired. 
     The support arms  20  may be constructed from a variety of materials. I have found that the spring steel works well, but those skilled in the art will recognize that other materials may be employed for the arms  20  in other embodiments of the support element  1 . 
     Each end of the members  20  have a plurality of protrusions  25  formed in them, which are sized both for reception in the channels  10  and for frictional engagement with the serrations  11  of the respective wing members  3  and  4 . 
     The support element  1  is adjustable for reception in a number of various size shoes, and may be transferred between shoes by the user. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the support element  1  is adjustable axially along the members  20  through the engagement of various ones of the protrusions  25  and the serrations  11 . Because the position of the members  3  and  4  with respects to the length of the members  20  control the stiffness or flexibility of the members  20 , the relative position of the members  20  and the wing members  3 , 4  also controls the flexibility of the heel jack. Thus movement of the members  20  provides both adjustment of the mouth  5  thereby making a larger heel silhouette insertable in the support element  1  while also permitting the heel jack to support and cushion a longer portion of the heel as the arm  20  movement adjusts the length and width provided by the support element  1  at the same time. At least some adjustment is an important aspect of the present disclosure in that it enables the support  1  to be used in a plurality of different shoe sizes and shoe designs, merely by making the adjustment between the support arms  20  and the wings  3  and  4  varies the flexibility of the design as illustratively shown by a plurality of positions along the spread angles  100 . As later described, and shown in  FIG. 3 , even without adjustment between the wings and the support members  20 , the members  20  themselves provided rotational movement about a length or longitudinal axis along the spread angles  100 , regardless of whether or not the additional adjustment provided by axial movement of the arms  20  and the wings is provided in a particular embodiment of the disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , one illustrative embodiment of heel supporting member or cushion  3  is shown to have an elongated T-shape, delineated by a first arm  31 , a second arm  32  and a third arm  33 . Each end of the arms  31 ,  32 , and  33  has conventional hook and eye  35  material attached to them, enabling the heel support  30  to be removably secured to the support element  1 . Again, attachment of the material  35  to the member  2  may be accomplished by any conventional method. Through the material  35 , the arms  31 ,  32  may be mounted to the hook and eye material  13  along the wings  3  and  4 , while the arm  33  may be attached to itself around at least one of the members  20  to provide a heel supporting a position for the combined components. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art the heel support  3  may be adjusted along the channels  13  to vary the height of the member  2  with respect to the wings of  3  and  4 , while the end  33  may be adjusted along the support members  20  to position the heel support  2  properly with respect to and in consideration of a user&#39;s physical characteristics and/or the intended use of the device. While the heel supporting member or cushion  3  in the embodiments illustrated is described as being or having a “T” shape, a variety of other design silhouettes are compatible with the broader aspects of the disclosure. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 , a second attachment method of the heel support or cushion  2  is shown in greater detail. As there shown, the wings  3  and  4  again have a plurality of support arms  20  extending between them. In this embodiment, however, the arms  20  are encapsulated within the support wings  3  and  4 . While this embodiment is not as adjustable as the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the arms  20  still are flexible enough to vary the size of the mouth  5  to accommodate the need of the user. The heel support or cushion  2  again preferably is T-shaped, but the ends of the arms  31  and  32  are crimped to provide a rail  50 . The rail  50  then is inserted along a mating channel  60  formed in the wings  3  and  4 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 . The end  33  of the heel support  3 , in the embodiment illustrated, may use a hook and eye fastening system for attachment to and release from a selected one of the arms  20 . However, other fastening methods, including various conventional clips or a simple hook type fastener or hanger type hook may be used, if desired. 
       FIGS. 10 a  and 10 b    illustrate a third illustrative embodiment of the heel jack of the present invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , the wings  3  and  4  have a pair of members  20  associated with the wings. One of the members  20  is preferably integrally formed with the wings. A second member  20  is pivotally mounted to wings  3  and  4  at a pivot point  70  and  71  respectively. The integrally formed member  20 , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 b    has a plurality of teeth  75  formed in it. The second member  20 , which as indicated above is rotatably mounted to the rings  3  and  4 , has a groove or channel  80  formed it which is sized to receives a teeth  75  in a friction fit. The channel  80 /teeth  75  interaction permits the heel support member  2  to be crimped between the rotatable member  20  and the lower member  20  or to slide into a channel on the under portion of the second member  20 . While a friction fit between the arm members  20  is described, 
     As shown in the various embodiments, the support structure or element  1  is generally U-shaped; however it may take any shape, such as oval, square or a rectangle. The support structure  1  is intended to make contact with the heel counter on the inner portion of the shoe of the user, for example. It may be further secured to the heel counter of the shoe with hook and eye material (Velcro®), although in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the spring material utilized for the support arms  20  enable the device to be frictionally engaged with the inner portion of the shoe in a friction fit. The preferred U-shape coupling component is the shape of a person&#39;s heel. (See  FIG. 11 ) As indicated above, at least the wings can be molded, contoured or indented depending on the shoe needed. As further indicated above, it is preferable that the support element  1  is adjustable, to accommodate a range of length, but as shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 11 , a single length device may be provided, if desired. 
     The support element  1  function is to support and suspend the flexible member  2  when weight is supplied by a person&#39;s heel. While various materials may be in employed in construction, the support element  1  should be strong enough to withstand forces applied to it. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, this will vary from one person to another depending on weight, age, shoe size and type and whether the device is used merely for standing, walking or running. In any event, the support  1  should not be allowed to invert, bend, crack or break. The flexible heel support or cushion  2  is used to cushion the heel. That is accomplished in the various embodiments by keeping the member  2  suspended between the wings  3  and  4  and the support arms  20  forming the U-shape. As best seen in  FIG. 11 , the flexible member  2  function is to cup and support the person&#39;s heel, suspend the heel and keep the heel generally from touching the shoe when weight it applied to it by the user. Various materials may be used for the heel support or cushion  2 , but I have found that a latex material works well for the intended purpose. While the intent of the support  1  is to eliminate contact between the heel and the shoe, for example, some contact may be acceptable depending of the physical characteristics of the user and/or the condition being treated through use of the support element  1 . As will be appreciated, the member  2  is intended to be replaceable, and the flexibility of the member  2  may be varied to accomplish the intended use. 
     As indicated above, the support element  1  fits inside the shoe against the heel counter. It cups the outer edges of the person&#39;s heel. The flexible member  2  in turn is supported during application use. The support element  1  and flexible member  2  are all necessary for proper function. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, additional ankle stabilization elements can be added for use with the above described structural elements, if desired. An ankle stabilization element will be necessary if there is no heel counter in application use or if the device is used in other areas or other medical purposes. 
     Numerous variations within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In addition to the various examples given throughout the description, it will be apparent that various dimensions, materials and shapes may be altered in other embodiments. For example, the cushion  2  may have differing thicknesses associated with it to facilitate use of the device described. While a latex construction for the cushion  2  is preferred, other elastic or flexible materials are compatible with the broader aspects of the disclosure. In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects and advantages of the present invention have been achieved and other advantageous results have been obtained.