US2827049A - Bunion pad and the like - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1958 w. M; SCHOLL 2,327,049

BUNION PAD AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 18, 1958 w. M. SCHOLL BUNION PAD AND THE LIKE v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1954 JIZYQYJ. czf

United rates 6 Claims. (Cl. 128153) This invention relates to improvements in a bunion pad and the like, and more particularly to a bunion pad having an offset toe loop for disposition over a toe of the foot, with the pad overlying the side of the adjacent metatarsal head, although the pad may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

,In the past, many and various types of bunion pads have been developed, but have proven objectionably diiiicult in properly attaching them to the foot did not fit the aflliction and adjacent portion of the foot in a substantially tailored manner, were sometimes diflicult to maintain in the proper location, and frequently increased pressure around the afiiiction to an objectionable extent while relieving pressure over the afiiiction itself. Also in many cases bunion pads heretofore known were not as durable as desired, could not be laundered whenever necessary, and could not be removed and replaced as frequently as desired.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a bunion pad of concavo-convex shape in both directions, and which has an offset toe loop so the pad intimately fits over the side of the toe and the corresponding matatarsal head.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a soft resilient cushioning bunion pad which, of course, may be made in a size to fit a bunion on or adjacent the first metatarsal head, and made readily in a smaller size to alleviate a tailors bunion.

Also a feature of the invention is the provision of a bunion pad or the like comprising a body portion made of a plurality of layers of cushioning material secured together in face to face relationship, one or both of the layers having an afiliction receiving opening or aperture therein, and one of the layers preferably extending beyond the other in all directions so as to properly distribute pressure from an article of footwear around the aflliction and thereby alleviate pressure over the aflliction directly, without providing uncomfortable pressure adjacent the affliction.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a bunion pad or the like having an ofiset toe loop and a concavoconvex configuration, of which the body portion is made of a plurality of layers of foam latex or equivalent cushioning material, one of the layers having an affliction receiving opening therein.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a bunion pad which may readily be removed and replaced, and laundered whenever deemed necessary, without any injury to the pad itself.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of an economical and highly efiicient bunion pad or the like of which the body part comprises a double layer of foam latex or equivalent material, with the outer surface of the pad covered with a smooth covering over which articles of apparel may readily slide.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above atent t) 2,827,049 Patented Mar. 13, 1958 pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an outer side elevational view of a bunion pad embodying the principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a pictorial illustration illustrating the bunion pad of Fig. 1 located in proper position to alleviate a bunion on a human foot;

Figure 3 is an inside elevational view of the pad of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse longitudinal sectional view through the pad taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a bunion pad of slightly different construction, also embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 6 is an inside elevational view of the pad of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is an outside side elevational view of a bunion pad of still ditferent construction but embodying principles of the instant invention; and

Figure 8 is an inside elevational view of the pad of Fig. 7.

As shown on the drawings:

In the first illustrated embodiment of the instant invention, namely the structure seen in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, there is shown a bunion pad or the like comprising a concavo-convex body part generally indicated by numeral 1 which is concavo-convex in both the longitudinal and lateral directions, with the concave side disposed inwardly. This body portion has an offset toe loop 2 thereon for flatly and intimately fitting around a toe 30f a human foot 4, as best seen in Fig. 2, and when applied to the foot as seen in this figure, it will be noted that the pad very intimately fits the toe, adjacent metatarsal head, and parts immediately posterior to that metatarsal head in a tailored intimate manner.

Initially, the entire pad is stamped from a fiat piece of cushioning material, there being two body portion layers 5 and 6, and the toe loop is then a narrow neck portion joining the two body part layers. One of the body part layers is rotated a full revolution, and secured in face to face relationship to the other layer, as by a suitable adhesive, whereupon the original narrow neck-like portion is shaped into the fiat toe loop 2 as illustrated in the drawings.

In this first form of the invention, it will be noted that the outer body part layer 5 is of slightly less size than the inner layer 6, and the outer layer is provided with a serrated or tortuous edge 7 to eliminate any substantial line pressure by an article of footwear. The serrated or tortuous edge evenly distributes the pressure of the footwear so that there is no abrupt pressure anywhere against any part of the foot around the afiliction, even though the article of footwear may be relatively tight fitting. It will also be noted that one of the body part layers, preferably the inner layer 6, is provided with an afiliction receiving opening or aperture 8 which will be disposed directly over the bunion or similar afiiiction so as to receive the same and transfer pressure to the surounding parts of the foot. The outer body part layer 5, having no opening or aperture, provides a means whereby a suitable medicament may be adequately applied to the afilition itself, if so desired, without danger of the medicament coming in contact with articles of apparel such as stockings, shoes, or the like.

Preferably, the entire pad is made of foam latex or equivalent material. Foam latex is preferred because this material has intercommunicating cells, is extremely light in weight, provides a soft clinging action against remote from the affliction itself.

. 3' theskimofnthe user,..and.maywithout injury. In addition. it may be noted that foam latex possesses extreme restorative powers, and is very Ianuinea. Preferably oventlfre outerface cthe cush ioning: material is a thin skin-likecover whieh ma-y" be of a finely woven fabric, or" which maybeinthe' form of a rubber skin. In either event, thegouter covering or skinwispreferably smooth'so: that-articles'ofi apparel will readily -'slide the'reover; As and wheir tlie loop -2is disposed over a toe, an article-of apparel such as a stocking will maintain the bunion pad in proper position;

muse; thexbunion' pad:just above described provides a very intimate fit, distributes pressure from articles of apparel: gradually in: an: :easy fashion: to parts i of the foot surroundingthe affliction -with mo discomfort, and is easily removed-and: replaced; The bunion padmay: be laundered whenever desired and repeatedly used.

In Figs. S-"and 6 1 have shown aslightly dilferent form of: the' invention which in some cases-ismoredesir'able' in that it effects a further and more evenitransference of pressure from an articleof footwear' to parts of thefoot In this instance, the pad comprises a body'part generally' indi'cated. by numeral 9,. of concavo convex shape in-zboth directions,and generally similar to the bodypart' of the pad 'desc'ribed in connectionwith Figs- 1 to 4; inclusive The pad of Figs. 5 and 6 embodies a toe loop 10 of the same character as previously described,:and' the pad is formed in the same general Way. However, in this instance, the-inner layer not the body part is. of less 'size:than the outer layer 12-,so that the outer layer ex tends well beyond: the inner layer in 'all directionsand thuseffe'cts a greater distribution and spreading of pressure from an article of footwear." In this instance also, both layers are providedfwith' aligned afiliction receiving aperturesas indicated at. 13, thus giving an opening entirel'y through the body part of the pad. The pad is therefore suitable for-bunions of greater protuberance than the paddescribed previously in connection with Figs. 1 to 4. The pad of Figs. 5 and 6 operates in substantially the same manner-as the pad of Figs. 1 to 4 andpossesses all the favorable characteristics of that pad.

In case: it is desired to have the added distribution of wearing apparel pressure provided by the'pad-of Figs. 5 and-6,, and yet have the outer layer of thebody part imperforate, the bunion. pad may be constructed as illustrated inFigs. 7 and 8. In this instance, the body port'ion: ofv the pad, generally indicated by-numeral -14,.inclu'des an inner layer 16,- an-outer layer 17, integral witha toe loop 15 of the character previously described. The innerlayer only is provided with an affliction receiving opening or aperture 18', and this inner layer 16*is of considerably less overall sizethan the outer layer 17. Thus; the outer layer 17 effects" a greater distribution of pressure from articles of footwear; while the inner layer has. theopeningto receivetheaffiiction; and carry a medicament if the same is desired;

befreely launderedat will 4 All the embodiments of the instant invention herein set forth and described function is substantially the same manner, and are of the same general construction.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts ofthe present invention.

I claim as my invention? V e 1. In a bunion pad, 21 doube layer body part, and an integral single layer toe loop having one end connected to one body part layer and the other and connected to the other body part layer, one of said body part layers having an aperturetherein,- botlr said-body 1ayers"being concave-convex. to intimately fit overthe outer side of a toe.

2. In a bunion pad, a double layer body part, an integral single layer toe loop having one end connected to one body part layer and the other end connected to the other body part layer, ,and said-body part having an aperture therethrouglr'toreceivean affliction of the'char act'er of a bunion;

3. In abunidnflpad, af doublelayerbody 'partg"an in;

teg'ral single" layer toe loop having one" end connected to one body part'laye'r andthe'oth'er end-*conne'c'ted'to'the other body part layer, one of said body'part'layers having an aperture therein, and the-outer layer'ofsaid body part being 'of greater size -'to extendbeyond {the inne layer'in all directions; 7 p

4 In a bu'nion pad; ad ouble layer bodypart, arr'in:

tegral single'lay'er toe loop haying one end connected'to one body part layer andthe other end connected tet'he other body part layer, the inner of'said body-part layers having an addiction receiving opening or ap'ertu'r'e'therein, and the outer-of said' body layers extending -bey-ond tlie' inner layer in' all directions. I

5. In a bunion pad, a concav o-conv'eii bodyfpart}a toe loop oflset from said body part to lie' 'fiiftly against a toe whileencircli'ng the'same, s'aidbody pa'rfcomprising a plurality of layers of foa'm latexsecured together, one end of said toe loop" being integrally-connectedto' one layer and' the other'end being integrally connected to the other layer, the inner of said-layers "having an afliiction receiving opening therein, and-iathin sin-earn covering over one face of botliis'aid body partljayer's-an'd the outside of said toeloopr 1 6. In a bunion pad, a doublelay'er body part campus: ing' superposed layers secured together; a single layerftoe loop having one end connected to oneibod'y' layer-and the other end t'o-the other-body layer, atleast' the inne'r of said body layers" having an'afiifct-ion-receiving opening therein, and one of said body layers being larger'iu area tha'nthe otherfl References Cited in the" file of this pate'nt Digate ...i.; June 21,- 1955

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