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Publication Number
US-10334905-B2
Publication Date
2019-07-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A protective boot adapted to be worn by individuals when lying in a reclining position. The boot has leg and forefoot portions that provide foot and lower leg support for a wearer while suspending the wearer's heel. The boot may include low-friction materials at an exterior surface of its leg and forefoot portions and at a continuous rim separating the exterior surface from an interior surface of the body, in which case the boot also preferably includes a system for adjustably closing an anterior opening in the forefoot portion by drawing lateral regions of the forefoot portion inward and together. The boot may additionally or alternatively include an L-shaped backplate having portions located at the leg and forefoot portions of the body and adapted to inhibit buckling of the boot within the leg and forefoot portions.
Core Innovation
A heel-suspending protective boot is provided for use by a person lying in a supine position while supporting a lower leg, heel, and foot. The boot includes a body formed of a flexible and compressible foam material, with a proximal leg portion and a distal forefoot portion contiguous with and projecting transversely from the leg portion. The body defines a continuous cavity complementary in size and shape to support the lower leg while supporting the foot in an upright position.
The body has an anterior opening defined in the leg and forefoot portions to permit the foot and lower leg to pass therethrough into the cavity. The boot includes an interior surface within the cavity, an exterior surface defined by the leg and forefoot portions, and a continuous rim separating the interior and exterior surfaces. A cushion within the cavity within the lower leg portion supports the lower leg and suspends the heel within the cavity.
Low-friction materials are arranged to reduce friction between the boot and surrounding surfaces while maintaining support and heel suspension. A first low-friction material defines the exterior surface at the leg and forefoot portions, and a trim includes a second low-friction fabric sewn onto the body to form the continuous rim in its entirety by compressing and narrowing the foam material along the entire perimeter of the anterior opening.
The boot further includes first and second means for adjustably closing the anterior opening in the leg portion and the forefoot portion, where the forefoot closing draws the lateral regions inward toward the medial and lateral sides without applying pressure to the dorsum of the foot. In additional refinements, the boot includes an L-shaped backplate located at the leg and forefoot portions and having a heel portion between them, with the backplate adapted to inhibit buckling and reduce the likelihood that the heel contacts the backplate within a heel recess.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Across these claims, the coverage centers on a flexible, compressible foam boot body with a continuous cavity and anterior opening, heel-suspending internal cushioning, low-friction exterior and continuous rim trim, and adjustably closing anterior-opening features arranged to immobilize the forefoot without applying pressure to the dorsum of the foot. A further independent-claim refinement adds an L-shaped backplate adapted to inhibit buckling with spacing to reduce heel contact within a heel recess and a separable adjustable cushion.
Heel-suspending foam boot with continuous cavity and anterior opening
A protective boot for use by a person lying in a supine position and supporting a lower leg, heel, and foot thereof, the boot comprising a body formed of a flexible and compressible foam material having a proximal leg portion and a distal forefoot portion contiguous with and projecting transversely, a continuous cavity complementary in size and shape to support the lower leg while supporting the foot in an upright position, and an anterior opening defined in the leg and forefoot portions to permit the foot and lower leg to pass therethrough into the cavity.
Continuous rim low-friction exterior and low-friction fabric trim sewn to compress-narrow the foam
A continuous rim separating an interior surface within the cavity and an exterior surface defined by the leg and forefoot portions, including a first low-friction material defining the exterior surface and a trim being a second low-friction fabric different from the first low-friction material and sewn onto the body to form the continuous rim in its entirety by compressing and narrowing the foam material along the entire perimeter of the anterior opening.
Cushion suspending the heel within the cavity
A cushion within the cavity within the lower leg portion for supporting the lower leg of the person and suspending the heel of the person within the cavity.
Adjustable closing of the anterior opening including forefoot closure without dorsum pressure
First means for adjustably closing the anterior opening in the leg portion with the lateral regions of the leg portion, and second means for adjustably closing a portion of the anterior opening in the forefoot portion with the lateral regions of the forefoot portion by drawing the lateral regions inward and toward the medial and lateral sides of the foot without applying pressure to the dorsum of the foot.
L-shaped backplate adapted to inhibit buckling and reduce heel contact in heel recess
An L-shaped backplate having posterior and forefoot portions located at, respectively, the leg and forefoot portions of the body and a heel portion located between the posterior and forefoot portions, the backplate adapted to inhibit buckling within the leg and forefoot portions, wherein the leg and forefoot portions extend at least partially over a heel recess defined by the heel portion so as to be spaced apart from the heel portion and reduce likelihood that the heel contact the backplate within the heel recess.
Separable adjustable cushion within the cavity
A separable adjustable cushion within the cavity within the lower leg portion for supporting the lower leg of the person and suspending the heel of the person within the cavity.
First means for adjustably closing anterior opening with leg lateral regions
First means for adjustably closing the anterior opening in the leg portion with the lateral regions of the leg portion.
Overall claim coverage is directed to a heel-suspending protective boot using a flexible and compressible foam body with a continuous cavity and anterior opening, a cushion that suspends the heel, low-friction exterior and continuous-rim low-friction fabric trim sewn to the foam perimeter, and adjustably closing means that close the anterior opening without applying pressure to the dorsum via inward drawing of forefoot lateral regions. One independent claim further requires an L-shaped backplate adapted to inhibit buckling and configured to reduce heel contact within a heel recess, alongside a separable adjustable cushion.
Stated Advantages
Reduces the likelihood that the heel of a person wearing the boot will contact the backplate within the heel recess.
Supports the foot in an upright position while suspending the heel within the cavity.
Reduces friction at the exterior surface and at the continuous rim through low-friction material and low-friction fabric trim.
Closes the forefoot portion by drawing lateral regions inward without applying pressure to the dorsum of the foot.
Documented Applications
Protective boot for a person lying in a supine position, supporting a lower leg, heel, and foot.
Use in supine support contexts where heel suspension within a cavity and adjustable closure of an anterior opening are used.
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