Flexible foot abduction apparatus

Abstract

A flexible foot abduction apparatus allowing movement in a horizontal and vertical plane with an elongated member made of a shape memory material. The elongated bar is shaped such that it has both vertical and horizontal aspects to allow a user to more easily manipulate the apparatus in one or both planes. The elongated member has an original shape which can be selectively forced into a second shape by a user and then return to the original shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flexible foot abduction apparatus comprising:
 a bar having a left end and a right end, the bar further comprising an original shape;   a left plate selectively attachable to the left end;   a right plate selectively attachable to the right end;   the bar having a first portion and a second portion, and a middle portion located both between and above both of the first portion and the second portion;   wherein the middle portion is configured to allow a user to move the left end in both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane relative to the right end;   wherein the bar is bendable to a second shape when a force is applied by the user and reforms to the original shape upon removal of the force.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a left shoe receiving member. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a right shoe receiving member. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the left plate is attached to the left shoe receiving member;   a shoe is attached to the left shoe receiving member; and   wherein the shoe comprises a boot made of a pliable material.   
     
     
         5 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the right plate is attached to the right shoe receiving member; and   a second shoe is attached to the right shoe receiving member.   
     
     
         6 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the left plate is disposed at a specific angle to the bar to treat the ailment of clubfoot. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the shoe further comprises a cover attached to the boot and is made of a pliable material. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of adjustment straps configured to selectively strap in a foot of a user to the flexible foot abduction apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . A flexible foot abduction apparatus comprising:
 a bar assembly comprising a first end and a second end;   a left plate selectively attachable to the first end at a specific angle to treat the ailment of clubfoot;   a right plate selectively attachable to the second end at a specific angle to treat the ailment of clubfoot;   wherein the bar assembly has an original shape and is bendable to a second shape when a force is applied by a user of the flexible foot abduction apparatus and reforms to the original shape upon removal of the force.   
     
     
         10 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the bar assembly has a first portion and a second portion;   the bar assembly has a middle portion disposed both between and above the first portion and the second portion; and   the middle portion is configured to allow a user to move the first end in both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane relative to the second end.   
     
     
         11 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the left plate is attached to a left shoe receiving member. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the right plate is attached to a right shoe receiving member. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a shoe comprising a boot made of a pliable material. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the left shoe receiving member is attached to the left plate. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the shoe further comprises a cover attached to the boot and is made of a pliable material. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of adjustment straps configured to selectively strap in a foot of a user to the flexible foot abduction apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . A flexible foot abduction apparatus comprising:
 an elongated bar comprising a left end and a right end, the elongated bar further comprising an original shape;   a left plate selectively attachable to the left end; and   a right plate selectively attachable to the right end;   wherein the elongated bar includes a first portion and a second portion, and a middle portion disposed both between and above the first portion and the second portion;   wherein the middle portion is configured to allow a user to move the left end in both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane relative to the right end; and   wherein the elongated bar is bendable to a second shape when a force is applied by the user of the flexible foot abduction apparatus and reforms to the original shape upon removal of the force.   
     
     
         18 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the left plate is attached to a left shoe receiving member and the right plate is attached to a right shoe receiving member. 
     
     
         19 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising a shoe comprising a boot made of a pliable material. 
     
     
         20 . The flexible foot abduction apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the shoe further comprises a cover attached to the boot and is made of a pliable material, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of adjustment straps configured to selectively strap in a foot of a user to the flexible foot abduction apparatus.