Method for preventing skin abrasions for patients having legs substantially locked in juxtaposition

• US 5,275,179 A
• Filed: 03/29/1991
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Lonardo
• Original Assignee: L'Nard Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Lonardo, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANLON, BRIAN EMMETT
• Application Number:
  US07/677,157
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 128/881, 128/889, 128/892, 128/894, 128/882, 128/869, 128/894, 128/85, 128/878
• US Class Current: 128/882
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/06 specially adapted for feet or legs; Corn-pads; Corn-rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/069 Decubitus ulcer bandages
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00395 from skin abrasion

Abstract

A flexible planar pad having a top, bottom, side edges, and opposite leg engaging surfaces. The leg engaging surfaces comprises a soft resilient material so that the skin and flesh of the inner portion of a patient'"'"'s legs will be protected from abrasive action. A first strap means is secured to the pad adjacent its upper end for securing the pad to a patient'"'"'s leg just above the knee. A second strap means is secured to the pad adjacent the bottom thereof for securing the pad to the patient'"'"'s leg just above the ankle. A third strap means can be used alternately and it is secured to the pad just below the knee portion to again secure the pad to the leg of the patient just below the knee.

Claims

1. A pad for preventing skin abrasions and the like for use between the legs of patients whose legs are substantially positioned in overlapping condition, comprising,

a flexible planar pad having a top, bottom, side edges, and opposite uncontoured leg engaging surfaces which are free from preformed indentations, including surfaces to permit simultaneous engagement with opposed heels, ankles and knees of said patient, and having a width sufficient to partially encompass one leg of a patient,

said leg engaging surfaces comprising a soft resilient material having the texture of wool fleece so that the skin and flesh of the inner portion of a patient'"'"'s legs will be protected from abrasive friction when said paid is placed between the legs of a patient whose legs are substantially locked together in overlapping condition, whereby the pressure exerted by the weight of one leg on the other can be equalized and the pressure points between heels, ankles and knees of the patient can be relieved, when said heels, ankles or knees are in overlapping condition,

said pad having an empty interior compartment defined by said top, bottom and side edges and opposite leg engaging surfaces,

first and second pairs of laterally spaced substantially vertical slots adjacent the top and bottom, respectively, of only one of said leg engaging surfaces,

first and second strap means extending through said first and second pairs, respectively, of said first and second pairs of vertical slots, and extending through said interior compartment between the laterally spaced vertical slots of each pair of slots so that said straps will be substantially free from contact with said leg engaging surfaces,

and first strap means secured to said pad adjacent the top thereof for securely wrapping said pad partially around a patient'"'"'s leg above the knee,

and a second strap means secured to said pad adjacent the bottom thereof for securely wrapping said pad partially around a patient'"'"'s leg above the ankle,

said first and second strap means adapted to conform the flexible planar pad to the shape of the patient'"'"'s leg to which it is attached,

said first and second strap means extending between said top and bottom of said flexible planar pad so as to be free from contact with the portion of the patient'"'"'s legs that are normally in contact with each other by reason of said overlapping condition.