Flexible and removable leg cast/brace handle

• US 5,779,655 A
• Filed: 11/04/1996
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey H. Holden
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey H. Holden
• Inventors: Holden, Jeffrey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): POTHIER, DENISE M
• Application Number:
  US08/743,032
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 602/3-6, 602/23, 602/27, 602/60-62, 128/882, 128/DIG. 15, 294/147, 294/157, 294/149, 606/201, 606/203, 224/150, 224/917, 224/250, 224/578-582, 224/602, 224/128, 224/224
• US Class Current: 602/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles

Abstract

A flexible and removable leg cast/brace handle comprises a first strap and a second strap permanently interconnected by a longitudinally extending third strap, and at least one loop handle being connected to the third strap. In one embodiment, a single loop handle extends between the first strap and the second strap. In another embodiment, a single handle is connected to the first strap, the second strap, or the third strap, or to a combination thereof. In still another embodiment, two loop handles are provided, each handle extending between an intermediate portion of the third strap and a respective one of the first and second straps.

Claims

1. A device for manipulating a leg cast or leg brace of a user, comprising:

a first strap made of a loop fabric material having loops on both sides thereof and located at a first end of the device for encircling a first portion of the cast or brace;

a second strap made of a loop fabric material having loops on both sides thereof and located at a second end of the device for encircling a second portion of the cast or brace;

a third strap extending between and permanently connected to said first strap and said second strap; and

a loop handle connected to said third strap and spanning about half a length of said third strap, whereby said user is enabled to grasp the loop handle and manipulate the leg cast or brace.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second straps each have two ends, a D-ring affixed to one end of each of said first and second straps and a hook fabric portion affixed to the other end of each of said first and second straps.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said loop handle is formed of a loop fabric material having loops on both sides of said loop handle.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said third strap is made of nylon webbing.

5. A device for manipulating an immobilized leg of a user, comprising:

first strap means located at a first end of the device for encircling a first portion of the leg;

second strap means located at a second end of the device for encircling a second portion of the leg;

third strap means extending between and joining said first strap means and said second strap means;

a first loop handle having a first end connected to said third strap means and to said second strap means and a second end connected to an intermediate portion of said third strap means; and

a second loop handle having one end connected to said intermediate portion of said third strap means and an opposite end connected to said third strap means and said first strap means.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said first strap means comprises a thigh strap and said second strap means comprises an ankle strap.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first loop handle is stitched to the third strap means and the second strap means.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said first and second strap means are formed of a loop fabric material having loops on both sides of said first and second strap means.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said first and second strap means each have two ends, a D-ring affixed to one end of each of said first and second strap means and a hook fabric portion affixed to the other end of each of said first and second strap means.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein said first strap means and said second strap means are permanently stitched to said third strap means.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein at least one of said first strap means and said second strap means includes a D-ring for securing said at least one of said first strap means and said second strap means into a closed loop about the leg of the user.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said D-ring is stitched to said at least one of said first and second strap means.

13. The device of claim 5, wherein a D-ring is stitched to each of said first and second strap means.

14. The device of claim 5, wherein said first and second loop handles are double-stitched to the intermediate portion of said third strap means.

15. The device of claim 5, wherein said loop handles are formed of a loop fabric material having loops on both sides of said loop handles.

16. The device of claim 5, wherein said intermediate portion is at about a halfway point between opposing ends of said third strap means.

17. A device for manipulating a leg cast or leg brace of a user, comprising:

an adjustable first strap located at a first end of the device for encircling a first portion of the cast or brace;

an adjustable second strap located at a second end of the device for encircling a second portion of the cast or brace;

a third strap extending between and permanently connected to said first strap and said second strap, said third strap having a first end connected to said first strap and a second end connected to said second strap; and

a dual loop handle connected to said third strap, said handle having one end connected adjacent said first end of said third strap, an opposite end connected adjacent said second end of said third strap, and a middle portion connected to an intermediate portion of said third strap between said first and second ends, wherein said handle spans about an entire length of said third strap.