Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Shoe for cast on foot
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-25
2001-04-10
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Shoe for cast on foot
C036S011500, C602S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212798
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a post operative shoe system, and more particularly, to a post operative shoe system facilitating recovery of a foot surgical patient.
Various types of shoes and other footwear have been developed for use following post operative surgery and for other therapeutic purposes. While there are many different types and kinds of such footwear, some examples of prior art designs are shown by the therapeutic weight disbursing shoe sole of U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,262; the adjustable semi-flexible health shoe construction of U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,735; the orthopedic shoe construction of U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,678; the removable ankle brace footwear design of U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,793; the adjustable post surgical shoe construction of U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,925; the shock absorbing surgical shoe of U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,767; another post operative shoe construction as shown by U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,557, and the post operative shoe design of design Pat. No. 262,580.
While all of the above constructions have functioned to provide comfort and support to a post operative surgical patient, there have been a number of inherent disadvantages, considering the time of use and the type of injury for which such shoes may be employed. Concerning the time of use, there are different foot support requirements immediately following surgery, for a period of 6-8 weeks, than in a subsequent convalescent period, for example, 3-4 months following surgery. Some therapeutic and post operative shoes may be limited to certain types of foot injuries or problems, and thus will assist in the healing process for a variety of different kinds of foot injuries/problems.
As will be apparent from the discussion that follows, the present invention is a post operative shoe system which overcomes the aforenoted deficiencies of the prior art, while at the same providing improved comfort, stability, convenience, and use by the foot surgical patient in the post operative recovery period.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects and advantages of the present invention include:
The provision of a new and improved post operative shoe system facilitating recovery of the foot surgical patient;
The provision of the aforementioned post operative shoe system which includes a first pair of shoes and a second pair of shoes of different design and construction;
The provision of the aforementioned post operative shoe system in which the first and second pair of shoes provide, in different ways, the necessary comfort, stability, support, convenience and ease of use by the post operative foot surgical patient;
The provision of the aforementioned post operative shoe system in which the first pair of shoes incorporates a unique double closure system including releasably adjustable fastener elements to enable each of such shoes to be held securely in place on a user's foot without any slippage or the shoe at the heel and/or the sensation hat such shoe may be coming off during use;
The provision of the aforementioned post operative shoe system in which the second pair of shoes includes releasable adjustable attachment across the top of and around the heel of a user's foot;
The provision of the aforementioned post operative shoe system which incorporates a soft, comfortable and washable inner lining with a breathable, easy to clean outer lining for each of the shoes in the aforementioned system;
The provision of the aforementioned post operative shoe system which can be used for a variety of different foot injuries/problems including any crushing injury to the foot, any bunion problems, any metatarsal injury to the foot, and/or other foot problems; and
The provision of the aforementioned post operative shoe system which is constructed in a durable slip last construction facilitating long wearing and use; is attractive in appearance; easily washed/and or cleaned; can be manufactured by well known shoe manufacturing techniques; and is otherwise well adapted for the purposes intended.
Briefly stated, the post operative shoe system of the present invention facilitates recovery of the foot surgical patient and includes a first pair of shoes employed immediately following surgery, with each such shoe including a pre-configured rigid shoe sole , a counter assembled to the shoe is forming a heel; and an inner and outer vamp assembled to the shoe sole and counter on opposite sides of each shoe and including a toe cut-out section at the front end of each shoe, with the inner and outer vamp on opposite sides of each shoe being releasably adjustably attached to one another. The second pair of shoes employed in the post operative shoe system is used after the initial convalescent period, and includes a pre-configured rigid sole, and an inner and outer vamp assembled to the shoe sole on opposite sides of each shoe and including toe and heel cut outs, the inner and outer vamp on opposite sides of each such shoe being releasably adjustably attached to one another across the top of and around the heel of a user's foot
The pre-configured rigid shoe sole in each of the first pair of shoes comprises an outsole and a two part insole including a pre-configured rigid shoe sole insole attached to the outsole and a padded upper insole attached to the pre-configured rigid insole. Each of the second pair of shoes has a pre-configured rigid sole comprising a pre-configured rigid outsole and a padded upper insole.
In each of the first pair of shoes, one of the inner and outer vamps is provided with tongue elements, with the tongue elements and the other of said vamps being releasably adjustably attached to one another, and with one of the vamps also having strap means extending therefrom which are also releasably adjustably attached to the other of said vamps, to provide a double closure fastening system.
In the second pair of shoes in the aforementioned post operative shoe system, the inner and outer vamps are releasably adjustably attached to one another across the top of a user's foot and include heel strap elements extending therefrom which are also releasably attached to one another behind the heel of a user's foot.
In both of the first and second pair of shoe constructions in the post operative shoe system, the inner lining is preferably made from terry cloth lining for comfort and ease of washing, while the outer lining is made from a porous synthetic poyamide material to facilitate breathing and cleanliness.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description that is to follow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4151662 (1979-05-01), Vistins
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patent: 4773170 (1988-09-01), Moore et al.
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patent: 5152081 (1992-10-01), Hallenbeck et al.
patent: 5452527 (1995-09-01), Gaylord
patent: 5778565 (1998-07-01), Holt et al.
patent: 5827210 (1998-10-01), Antar et al.
patent: 5885236 (1999-03-01), Varn
patent: 5897518 (1999-04-01), Shaw
patent: 2159038 (1985-11-01), None
Koenig Richard D.
Waldron Donald J.
Hibnick Gerald R.
Moh'andesi Jila M.
POS Equipe, L.L.C.
Schwartz Robert M.
Sewell Paul T.
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