Stump boot for an ankle disarticulation patient

• US 7,291,181 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Brown, Joseph Lyons
• Original Assignee: George Brown, Joseph Lyons
• Inventors: Brown, George, Lyons, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US11/088,444
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 623 32- 37, 602/10, 602/65, 602/62
• US Class Current: 623/33
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/60 Artificial legs or feet or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/7812 Interface cushioning members placed between the limb stump and the socket, e.g. bandages or stockings for the limb stump
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7862 Harnesses, straps for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30462

Abstract

A stump boot for use by an ankle disarticulation patient having a stump. The stump boot includes a sole, an inner casing, and an outer casing having a substantially rectangular cutout covered by a flexible member. The inner casing is custom molded to fit the stump and insertable within the outer casing. The sole is integrally attached to the outer casing and includes a foam inner sole, an outer sole having a non-skid grip material, a contoured wedge therebetween having an adjustable rubber build-up and a rounded bottom. A buckle and a strap are both integrally attached to the outer casing opposite one another. The strap has a securing fastener and a securing means and wraps over the flexible member and through the buckle for securing the stump within the stump boot.

Claims

1. A stump boot for use by an ankle disarticulation patient having a stump, comprising:

a substantially circular outer casing defining an interior hollow cavity between a top opening and a contoured bottom portion, said casing having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a top edge defining the top opening, said exterior surface has two side portions, including an inner and outer side portion, and having a front and rear portion together defining a continuous exterior surface, said top edge contouring upwardly about the two side portions and extending downwardly across the rear portion, said top edge extending downwardly along the front portion and defining a substantially rectangular cutout being covered by a flexible member extending thereacross, said flexible member extending outwardly across the front portion and being partially surrounded by said top edge;

a buckle integrally attached to the inner side portion of the exterior surface of the outer casing;

a strap having a first side, a free end, and a securing fastener including a hook-and-loop fastener having a hook strip and a loop strip, wherein the hook strip is a securing means, said first side of the strap near the free end includes the loop strip integrally attached thereto alternating between the hook strip integrally attached thereto, said strap attaching by a rivet to the outer side portion of the exterior surface of the outer casing opposite the buckle;

an inner casing custom manufactured from reinforced plastic from a negative plastic mold to fit the stump and insertable against the interior surface of the outer casing and held in place by the strap and flexible member; and

a sole having a rounded bottom and being integrally attached to the contoured bottom portion of the outer casing, said sole including a foam inner sole, an outer sole, and a contoured wedge extending therebetween, said foam inner sole integrally attached against the contoured bottom portion of the outer casing, said outer sole having contact with a ground surface and including a non-skid grip material, said contoured wedge being an adjustable rubber build-up and extending between the inner and outer soles.

2. The stump boot of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is elastic.

3. A method of walking by an ankle disarticulation patient having a stump, and a leg having an inner and outer portion, wearing a stump boot having an inner casing, an outer casing having an interior hollow cavity having a flexible member, a strap having a free end having a securing fastener having a securing means, having a sole having a rounded bottom, a foam inner sole, and an outer sole, the steps comprising:

a) inserting the stump into the stump boot by putting the stump into the inner casing and placing the inner casing into the interior hollow cavity of the outer casing by stretching the flexible member;

b) securing the stump within the stump boot by wrapping the free end of the strap across the flexible member and through the buckle and attaching the securing means to the securing fastener; and

c) walking by bearing weight from the stump down onto the foam inner sole and causing the rounded bottom of the sole to roll forward against a ground surface and compensate for lack of normal ankle movement.