Technical Field

The invention relates to the therapeutical auxiliary means, in particular orthopaedic instep raisers for treating and healing different diseases and deformations of the arch of the foot.

Background Art

Recently world-wide different methods of natural therapeutics have been spread to an ever increasing extent, even in the circle of physicians, representing the opinion, in so far as traditional medical methods and treating according to natural healing methods should be applied simultaneously.

Unfortunately different deformations of the arch of the foot often occur, these used to be treated with different assageing methods, resp. by using instep raisers. Several means for sole massage have been known, showing the common disadvantageous feature that these are suited neither for individual persons nor special types of deformation, consequently the desired efficiency cannot be achieved at all.

In course of examination of the deformed foot in orthopaedic ambulances wearing of an instep raiser becomes necessary, while the instep raiser used to be prepared after having made a sketch or modelling the foot. However, preparing said instep raisers is rather time-consuming, as a consequence, use of the instep raiser and healing the foot become possible only after the expiration of a longer period.

Another disadvantageous feature of the known instep raisers lies in, that they are unable to follow the improved state of the foot with the desired quickness. It may often happen that the feet get healed and the instep raiser has to be exchanged for another type, involving repeatedly a longer 'period of preparing. This problem occurs most frequently with children, as the foot improves upon the effect of the instep raisers or the child simply grows it out, as a consequence, the existing instep raiser has to be exchanged for a new one, and within a short period.

At the same time, however, exchange of the traditional instep raisers is rather wearisome and complicated and the little patient will be subjected to mental difficulties.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the invention lies in to develop an in¬ step raiser which simultaneously meets the requirement of orthopaedic curing and that of natural therapeutics, enabling a mode of formation of the instep raiser being in compliance with individual demands of the patient.

The invention is based on the recognition that by the aid of a set of pressing profiles and a base plate carrying the pressing profiles and fitting to the dimensions of the foot, the physician or the person practicing natural healing will be able to prepare the instep raiser locally in the desired formation. Accordingly, wearing of the instep raiser and healing can be started immediately and the complaints of the patient can be cured within a brief time.

The aim set for the invention can be realized by means of an therapeutic auxiliary device, i. e. by the aid of an instep raiser which is provided with different exchangeable pressing profiles of a various shape and material being suitable for treating different deformations of the arch of the foot, furtheroπ having a preferably perforated base plate made of some flexible elastic material carrying the pressing profiles, while the profiles and the base plate are covered with a multilayer coating. With a preferred embodiment of the therapeutic auxiliary means, the instep raiser according to the invention contains a base plate with a thickness of 0,3 to 3 mm, preferably of 1,5 to 2 mm and formed with a regular raster, provided with one or more fixing elements on its bottom surface for fixing the base plate to the solepart of the shoe. The fixing elements are preferably fixing needles; the base plate is made preferably of some synthetic material.

With another preferred embodiment of the therapeutical auxiliary means according to the invention, namely an instep raiser, the pressure profiles are of diverse shapes and dimensions and they are made either of metal or some synthetic material connected to the base plate, while the multi-layer coating is made of leather an/or of some leather like material on natural or synthetic basis, provided with perforations being suitable for human wearing, made optionally of some roughened layer made of some natural material of proper strength and with adequate permeability for vapours. With a further preferable embodiment of the therapeutical auxiliary means i. ε. an instep raiser according to the invention, is coated with a further layer of high strength for load distribution.

With a further expedient embodiment of the therapeutical auxiliary means according to the invention the coating is provided with a fixing element which can be a tearing fastener, a snap-fastener or some laced elastic fibre.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Advantageous embodiments of the therapeutical auxiliary means, the instep raiser according to the invention, serving here as examples, will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the therapeutical auxiliary means according to the invention,

Fig. 2 illustrates the laminar arrangement of the therapeutical auxiliary means according to the invention, Fig. 3 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the therapeutical auxiliary means according to the invention.

Best Modes of Carrying out the Invention

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of the therapeutical auxiliary means according to the invention, serving for healing and correction of diverse diseases and deformations of the arch of the foot. The instep raiser will be built-in into the shoe into the sole part 1 thereof, into any traditional or specially shaped shoe. In case of some specially shaped shoe, the sole part 1 of the shoe is provided with a 14 opening for receiving the fixing element of the therapeutical auxiliary means (furtheroπ instep raiser).

Essentially the instep raiser according to the invention consists of an about 2 mm thick base plate 2 with a regular raster, made preferably of some synthetic material, as well as of differently shaped and dimensioned

pressing profiles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 having been connected to the base plate 2, as well as of a multi¬ layer coating 13. The coating 13 is formed of leather and/or a leather-like perforated roughened layer, being suitable for human wear and of a layer of some natural material of proper strength and adequate ventilation. Optionally the coating 13 may include a further layer of high strength for load distribution.

It is considered as advantageous, if the coating 13 is formed as a casing enveloping the base plate 2.

Fig. 2 illustrates the laminar arrangement of the instep raiser according to the invention, showing the relative position of the single layers, so the sole part 1 of the shoe, the base plate 2, the pressing profiles 3 to 12 having been arranged on the base plate 2, as well as the coating 13 layer.

Formation and application of the instep raiser will be described below.

After having stated the deformations of the foot to be healed, the physician or the healer using natural methods determines mode and ways of healing and forms accordingly the instep raiser. In course of forming the instep raiser, the pressing profiles needed for healing are arranged on the base plate 2. Arrangement and number correspond to the method of healing. The rigid part of the instep raiser thus obtained is provided with a multi-layer coating, thereafter the coating layers are bent back along the edges and fixed by means cf fixing element, e. g. by means of a tearing fastener. Thereafter, the instep raiser will be fixed to the shoe by means of pins protruding therefrom.

In compliance with the state of health of the foot to be treated, formation of the instep raiser can be re-arranged at any time, according to necessities. When wearing special shoes, the base plate 2 can be built-in into the shoe in a well-fixed way, while the pressing profiles 3 to 12 will be arranged on the _. fixed base plate. By virtue of further application and formation, the instep raiser according to the invention is water-proof, it can be placed into any slipper or slipper-like shoe, so it can be prepared so, as to be suitable for taking a bath or shower.

For the sake of order it should be mentioned that materials used in course of preparing the instep raiser should have a long-lasting useful life.

Main advantage of the instep raiser according to the invention lies in that it is well suitable for medical- -orthopaedic treatment and realization of methods and treating principles of natural healing.

- Due to the formation based on a modular system it can be re-built, whenever wanted. - By proper selection of the raster on the base plate it is equally suitable for children and grown-up people.

- The instep raiser is flexible, it is light, properly ventilated, it assures comfortable wear.

- It can be assembled easily and quickly. With another preferable embodiment of the invention we maintened the advantageous characteristics of the modular system, the base plate is formed without perforation, in case of necessity one can provide for ventilating openings.

The base plate 2 can be prepared from some flexible syn-thetic material, leather, eventually from some leather ^¬ like material. The flexible thin base plate is provided with one element of the tearing fastener, preferably this is a

softer cloth-like element of the tearing fastener. Connection of the element to the base plate may be realized by sewing or glueing.

Pressure profiles are made of materials of different elasticity, in consideration of point of view of natural healing methodes, with two types resp. sets of profiles in compliance with existing disease.

The bottom surface of the pressure profiles, where it contacts the ^" base plate is to be provided with one of the elements of the tearing fastener.

By virtue of the characteristic features of the structural elements, this embodiment corresponds to the accuracy of the traditional instep raisers having been prepared with wearisome work, while the technical parameters exceed those of known solutions. It supports softly, however well defined actively the tired foot, supply with the instep raiser for people in need can be realized quicker and in a more human way in comparison to known solution.

This second embodiment of the invention may be well applicable for the younger ones, with seriously ill children the solution may represent a break-through in supply.

Figure 3 illustrates construction of the instep raiser, wherein the base plate 2 receives the pressure profiles 3-12. By the means of coating 13 the instep raiser will be utmost comfortable. Coating 13 should be formed as a casing.

The embodiments as described above include unrestricted possibilities of variation. Beginning with gravely ill people up to sportsmen, everyone being in need, can wear the instep raisers according to the invention.