Protective medical boot and orthotic splint

• US 5,609,570 A
• Filed: 11/21/1994
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EHOB, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LaMed, Inc.
• Inventors: Lamont, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RISLEY, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/343,090
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 602/27-29, 602/46, 602/65, 602/5
• US Class Current: 602/65
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/28 characterised by their attachment, also attachment of combined soles and heels
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0415 Accessories A43B5/0403, A43B5/0413, A43B5/0494 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0127 for the feet A61F5/0111 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0195 Shoe-like orthopaedic devices for protecting the feet against injuries after operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0585 for the legs toe correcting devices A61F5/019

Abstract

A medical boot includes a two piece boot body consisting of a lower flexible panel forming the sole portion of the boot body, and an annular flexible upper body joined to the peripheral edge of the lower panel so as to form a soft flexible protective wall around the toe and heel areas of the wearer'"'"'s foot. Each panel includes a resilient foam core, an inner fabric covering on one face of the foam core, and an outer fabric covering on the other face of the foam core. The inner fabric covering has a relatively soft short nap surface having wicking properties for capturing perspiration that may accumulate on the wearer'"'"'s foot. The outer fabric covering is a fibrous fastener material containing repeating contiguous miniature loops capable of interlocking connection with fastener patches carried by two strap formed integrally with the upper panel, such that the straps are enabled to hold the boot on the wearer'"'"'s foot. Edge areas of the fabric coverings are heat fused together to form a seal around the foam core in the upper panel.

Claims

1. A medical boot for orthotic or wound-care applications comprising, a two piece boot body that comprises a soft flexible upper panel, and a soft flexible lower panel joined together to form a protective boot around the wearer'"'"'s foot and lower leg:

said lower panel including a peripheral edge defining the sole of the boot body;

said upper panel having a lower-edge coextensive with the peripheral edge so that the upper panel is adapted to surround the foot of the wearer, including the wearer'"'"'s toe;

said upper panel comprising a front side portion extending upwardly from the front and side edges of said sole, said front side portion defining an opening exposing substantially the entire upper surface of the wearer'"'"'s foot;

said upper panel further comprising a rear portion extending upwardly from the rear edge of said sole to partially surround the wearer'"'"'s ankle and calf, leaving substantially the entire frontal surface of the lower leg and ankle exposed;

each of said panels comprising a resilient foam core, an inner fabric covering on the foam core surface facing the wearer'"'"'s body, and an outer fabric covering on the foam core surface facing away from the wearer'"'"'s body;

said inner fabric covering having a soft short nap surface having wicking properties for capturing perspiration that may accumulate on the wearer'"'"'s body;

said outer fabric covering comprising a continuous outer surface containing repeating contiguous miniature loops capable of being interlocked with fibrous hook fastener materials;

said upper panel having an integral leg strap adapted to extend across the front surface of the wearer'"'"'s leg, and an integral foot strap adapted to extend across the upper surface of the wearer'"'"'s foot;

each of said straps having an inner surface that is a smooth continuation of the contiguous panel surface;

each of said straps having a patch of fibrous hook fastener material on its inner surface adapted to adhere to mating surface areas of the outer covering on the upper panel, for retaining the boot body on the wearer;

said upper panel having an exposed edge area defined by mating surfaces of the inner and outer fabric coverings heat-fused together to form a seal around the associated foam core; and

said mating surfaces of the fabric coverings extending beyond the associated edges of the foam core, whereby the surface of said exposed edge area facing the wearer'"'"'s body forms a planar continuation of the associated panel inner surface.

2. The medical boot of claim 1, and further comprising a rigid exterior sole releasably attachable to the lower exterior face of the sole on the boot body;

said exterior sole having a rubberized non-slip lower surface, and an upper surface; and

strips of fibrous hook fastener material carried on the upper surface of said exterior sole can be detached from the boot body or secured to the boot body when it is desired to use the medical boot for walking purposes.

3. A medical boot for orthotic or wound-care applications comprising a soft flexible boot body that includes a first lower panel defining the sole of the boot, and a second upper annular panel defining an upright portion of the boot;

each of said panels comprising a resilient foam core, an inner fabric covering on said core having wicking properties, and an outer fabric covering on said core having a loop fastener surface;

said upper annular panel being adapted to partially surround the wearer'"'"'s foot and calf including the wearer'"'"'s toes, said panel defining an opening exposing substantially the entire upper surface of the wearer'"'"'s foot and substantially the entire frontal surface of the wearer'"'"'s lower leg and ankle;

said upper annular panel having an integral leg strap adapted to span the exposed frontal surface of the wearer'"'"'s leg, and an integral foot strap adapted to span the exposed upper surface of the wearer'"'"'s foot;

each of said straps having a patch of fibrous hook fastener material adapted to interlock with the outer surface of said upper annular panel; and

said upper annular panel having an exposed edge defined by mating surfaces of the inner and outer coverings heat-fused together, to provide a smooth uninterrupted inner surface facing the wearer'"'"'s skin.