Metal Sock for Distributing Pressure, and Supporting Instep-arch.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Metal Sock for Distributing Pressure, and Supporting Instep-arch.
FREDERICK HENRY DAVIES, 30, Camberwell Green, London, S.E., Medical
Practitioner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A sheet of metal (tempered steel) is shaped to the contour of the under sur-
face of the foot. The central portion of the inner side of this sock, viz. that
part fitting between the ball of the big toe & the heel is split into lateral springs
sufficiently elevated, & so protected & prepared as to prevent their interlocking
when subjected to the pressure of the wearer. These springs are broader & some-
what shorter, in the centre, where the greatest support is wanted & longer &
narrow on either side, where less support is needed. Where the instep support
is not needed, then the metal sock is made without the lateral springs. In both
cases these socks distribute the pressure, both from underneath & from above,
& prevent the wearer suffering from walking over pebbles or anything causing
irregularity of surface.
Metal Sock for Distributing Pressure, and Supporting Instep-arch.
I, FREDERICK HENRY DAVIES, of 30, Camberwell Green, London, in the County
of Surrey, Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, and accompanying drawings,
that is to say:
My invention has for its object improvements in boots and shoes, by which
the instep-arch of the foot is elastically supported.
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of my invention, and show the
method by which the instep-arch of the foot is elastically and conveniently
supported, the comfort of the wearer being greatly promoted, and the fatigue
of walking being reduced.
For this purpose, I use the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
which consists of a plate a of elastic and sufficiently flexible metal, preferably
tempered steel, cut or formed to the shape of the lower side of the foot, and fitted
into the inside of the boot or shoe.
The central part of the inner side of this flexible plate a, that is to say, the
part between the ball of the great toe and the heel, is cut transversely into a
sufficient number of tongues b,`b, which are bent up, as shown in the figures, so as

page_text: to form elastic springs which form a perfect and very effective and useful support to
the instep of the foot exactly where needed.
The separate strips forming the springs b are so formed that they cannot catch
against each other when in use, and they may be made broader as shown, and
somewhat shorter, at and near the centre of the foot where the greatest support
is needed.
Figure 4 shows the support made somewhat shorter, (extending from the ball
of the great toe to the heel), and arranged to be fitted upon the foot before the
latter is inserted into the boot or shoe. For this purpose an elastic band c
attached to the support is fitted round the foot and holds the supporting device
in position.
The entire plate, together with the springs, is enclosed in a case of leather or
other flexible material, fitted and stitched upon them, as shown in Figure 4, to
prevent the metal from coming in contact with the foot, whilst leaving the plate
sufficiently flexible in every direction.
Figure 5 shows a somewhat similar plate without the case or band c.
The improved support described affords great comfort and convenience to the
person using it, providing a yielding elastic support to the foot exactly where
and when it is required.
The details of construction, materials used, and proportions of the parts may
be varied more or less to suit different circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
For supporting the instep-arch of the foot, a flexible elastic metal plate, the
central part of the inner side of the plate being formed into separate springs,
bent up so as to support the foot where required, as described, and illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
7000
Bated this 15th day of December
1000
EDWARDS AND Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.