1. An adjustable lift support apparatus, comprising:
a holder;
a base;
a first fixed shaft having a first end and a second end, the first fixed shaft being attached onto the base via the first end and attached onto the holder via the second end, the first fixed shaft further having a first gear mounted near the second end;
a transmission shaft having a third end and a fourth end, the transmission shaft being rotatably mounted on the holder and having a second gear mounted near the third end, the second gear meshing with the first gear; and
a support mounted onto the holder and near the fourth end of the transmission shaft;
wherein lifting or lowering of the support together with the holder is actuated by applying an external force on the support or the holder to make the second gear rotate with respect to the first gear, so as to adjust the height of the support corresponding to the base.
2. The adjustable lift support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support comprises a bracket and a frame pivotally attached onto the bracket, and the support is attached onto the holder by the bracket.
3. The adjustable lift support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a first sleeve and a first connecting member movably disposed in the first sleeve, the first fixed shaft is attached onto the first sleeve of the holder via the second end, and the support is attached onto the first connecting member of the holder.
4. The adjustable lift support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transmission shaft comprises:
a second sleeve providing the third end and an inner surface, the inner surface of the second sleeve having at least one groove; and
a second connecting member providing the fourth end and an outer suface, the second connecting member being movably disposed in the second sleeve, the outer surface of the second connecting member having at least one rib, and each of the at least one rib corresponding to one of the at least one groove, respectively;
wherein when the second gear rotates with respect to the first gear, the second connecting member rotates with the second sleeve by cooperation of each rib and the corresponding groove.
5. The adjustable lift support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base defines a first axis, the support defines a second axis, an included angle is defined between the first axis and the second axis, a third gear is mounted near the fourth end of the transmission shaft, and the adjustable lift support apparatus further comprises:
a second fixed shaft having a fifth end and a sixth end, the second fixed shaft being attached onto the support via the fifth end and attached onto the holder via the sixth end, the second fixed shaft further having a fourth gear mounted near the sixth end;
wherein the third gear meshes with the fourth gear, and when the second gear rotates with respect to the first gear, the third gear also rotates with respect to the fourth gear, such that during lifting or lowering of the support together with the holder, the included angle maintains constant.
6. The adjustable lift support apparatus of claim 5, wherein the support comprises a bracket and a frame pivotally attached onto the bracket, and the second fixed shaft is attached onto the bracket of the support via the fifth end.
7. The adjustable lift support apparatus of claim 5, wherein the holder comprises a first sleeve and a first connecting member movably disposed in the first sleeve, the first fixed shaft is attached onto the first sleeve of the holder via the second end, the second fixed shaft is attached onto the first connecting member of the holder via the sixth end, and the transmission shaft comprises:
a second sleeve providing the third end and an inner surface, the inner surface of the second sleeve having at least one groove; and
a second connecting member providing the fourth end and an outer surface, the second connecting member being movably disposed in the second sleeve, and the outer surface of the second connecting member having at least one rib, each of the at least one rib corresponding to one of the at least one groove, respectively;
wherein when the second gear rotates with respect to the first gear, the second connecting member rotates with the second sleeve by cooperation of each rib and the corresponding groove, such that the third gear rotates with respect to the fourth gear at the same time.
8. The adjustable lift support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a resilient member having a seventh end and an eighth end, the resilient member being attached onto the holder via the seventh end and attached onto the transmission shaft via the eighth end, for assisting in lifting or lowering the support together with the holder.
9. The adjustable lift support apparatus of claim 8, wherein the resilient member is a coil spring.
10. The adjustable lift support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission shaft is pillared.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An orthotic foot device for footwear having a heel and a toe, comprising:
a flexible insole chassis being adapted to extend substantially between the heel and the toe of the shoe and having upper and lower surfaces;
the chassis including a cushioned layer composed of conforming resilient material overlying the upper surface of the chassis for receiving the foot of the wearer in a closely conforming manner;
at one support component removably attached adjacent to one another at the lower surface of the chassis to provide support to the foot of the wearer through the cushioned layer; and
wherein the foot of the wearer is comfortable due to the closely conforming cushioned support and is supported from beneath the cushioned layer by the support component.
2. The orthotic foot device according to claim 1, further including a hard plastic heel portion having an extending portion that partially wraps upwardly along a side of the chassis for protecting the fifth metatarsal.
3. The orthotic foot device according to claim 2, wherein the hard plastic heel portion includes an opening for a heel pad.
4. The orthotic foot device according to claim 3, wherein the heel pad is composed of a urethane gel.
5. The orthotic foot device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of support components includes an arch support and a metatarsal support.
6. The orthotic foot device according to claim 5, wherein the arch support and the metatarsal support are complementary shaped.
7. The orthotic foot device according to claim 5, wherein the arch support partially wraps upwardly along another side of the chassis for supporting and protecting the arch.
8. The orthotic foot device according to claim 1, wherein the cushioned layer has a thickness of between about 0.5 mm and about 10 mm.
9. The orthotic foot device according to claim 1, further including a fabric layer attached to a top side of the cushioned layer.
10. An orthotic foot device for footwear, comprising:
a flexible insole chassis adapted to extend substantially between the heel and the toe of the footwear;
the chassis including a cushioned layer composed of conforming resilient material; and
a hard plastic heel portion having an extending portion that partially wraps upwardly along one side of the chassis for protecting the fifth metatarsal.
11. The orthotic foot device according to claim 10, wherein the hard plastic heel portion includes an opening for a heel pad.
12. The orthotic foot device according to claim 11, wherein the heel pad is composed of a urethane gel.
13. The orthotic foot device according to claim 12, further including at least one support component.
14. The orthotic foot device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one support component includes an arch support and a metatarsal support.
15. The orthotic foot device according to claim 14, wherein the arch support and the metatarsal support are complementary shaped.
16. The orthotic foot device according to claim 14, wherein the arch support partially wraps upwardly along another side of the chassis for supporting and protecting the arch.
17. The orthotic foot device according to claim 10, wherein the cushioned layer has a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 10 mm.
18. The orthotic foot device according to claim 10, further including a fabric layer attached to a top side of the cushioned layer.
19. An arch support component for an orthotic foot device, comprising:
a dished piece composed of suitable flexible material;
the dished piece having a generally crescent shaped bottom portion and having a side portion integrally connected to and intersecting with the bottom portion at a curved ridge having a midpoint;
the bottom portion being configured to accommodate the foot arch; and
an attachment side of the member including at least one attachment device adapted to removably connect to the insole.
20. The arch support component according to claim 19, wherein the attachment device includes hooks.
21. A method of making a removable orthotic foot device for a shoe having a heel and a toe, comprising:
creating a flexible insole chassis adapted to extend substantially between the heel and the toe of the shoe; and
removably attaching at least one support component to a bottom side of the insole chassis.
22. The method according to claim 21, further including attaching a cushioned layer to a top side of the insole chassis.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the cushioned layer includes a fabric layer attached to a top side of the cushioned layer.