Protective, removable boot for a brace, cast or orthotic device

• US 7,475,501 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anatomical Concepts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Anatomical Concepts, Inc.
• Inventors: Perala, Brian S., DeToro, William A., DeToro, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US11/492,619
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 361/10, 36/9.R, 36/77.R, 36/71.R
• US Class Current: 36/110
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0081 made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/22 Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/106 Disposable slippers; One-piece slippers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/163 specially adapted for health or hygienic purposes, e.g. comprising electrically conductive material allowing the discharge of electrostatic charges
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/1493 Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements

Abstract

A removable boot/protector for a foot or ankle that has been placed in a brace, cast or orthotic device comprising of a flexible, substantially weather-resistant body portion having a an inner sole; an enclosed toe section that extends upwardly from a front end of said inner sole and terminates in a first toe fastening means; a pair of side sections each of which extend upwardly from said inner sole and terminate in a flap that extends from the toe section, upwardly along an upper arch region of the foot and toward a front region of the ankle, each of said side section flaps connecting together at least partially along said upper arch region; and an enclosed heel section that extends upwardly from a rear end of said inner sole, said inner sole, toe, heel and side sections defining a cavity into which the human foot may be inserted and removed.

Claims

1. A removable boot for a human foot or ankle which is adapted for fitting about the foot in an orthotic device such as a brace or cast, said boot comprising a flexible, substantially weather-resistant body portion having:

(a) an inner sole;

(b) an enclosed toe section that extends upwardly from a front end of said inner sole and terminates in a first toe fastening means;

(c) a pair of side sections each of which extend upwardly from sides of said inner sole and terminate in a flap that extends from the toe section, upwardly along an upper arch region of the foot and toward a front region of the ankle, each of said side section flaps connecting together at least partially along said upper arch region; and

(d) an enclosed heel section that extends upwardly from a rear end of said inner sole, said heel section includes an aperture through which a pivot joint of the brace or cast may partially protrude, and said inner sole, toe, heel and side sections defining a cavity into which the human foot may be inserted and removed.

2. The brace or cast boot of claim 1 which further includes a non-skid outer sole.

3. The brace or cast boot of claim 1, wherein said inner sole, toe, heel and side sections are integrally formed.

4. The brace or cast boot of claim 1, wherein said toe, heel and side sections are made from a vinyl material.

5. The brace or cast boot of claim 1, wherein said toe, heel and side sections are made from leather.

6. The brace or cast boot of claim 1, wherein at least one of said side sections overlaps said toe section and includes a second toe fastening means.

7. The brace or cast boot of claim 6, wherein said first and second toe fastening means include complementary hook and loop fasteners.

8. The brace or cast boot of claim 1, wherein one of said side sections substantially overlaps the other side section after the foot is inserted and each side section includes upper arch fastening means.

9. The brace or cast boot of claim 8, wherein said upper arch fastening means include complementary hook and loop fasteners.

10. The brace or cast boot of claim 1, wherein said heel section includes an upper heel fastening means for adjusting about the pivot joint of the orthotic device.

11. The brace or cast boot of claim 1, wherein said upper heel fastening means include complementary hook and loop fasteners.

12. A boot for protecting the wearer of a foot orthotic device, said boot comprising a flexible, substantially weather-resistant body portion having:

(a) an inner sole;

(b) an enclosed toe section that extends upwardly from a front end of said inner sole and terminates in toe fastening means;

(c) a pair of side sections each of which extend upwardly from sides of said inner sole and terminate in a flap that extends from the toe section, upwardly along an upper arch region of the foot and toward a front region of the ankle, one of said side section flaps overlapping the toe fastening means, and one of said side section flaps overlapping the other side section flap and connecting at least partially along said upper arch region;

(d) an enclosed heel section that extends upwardly from a rear end of said inner sole, said heel section including an aperture through which a pivot joint of the orthotic device may partially protrude, said inner sole, toe, heel and side sections defining a cavity into which the orthotic device wearer may insert and remove his or her foot; and

(e) a non-skid outer sole.

13. The orthotic device boot of claim 12, wherein said heel section includes upper heel fastening means for adjusting about the pivot joint.

14. The orthotic device boot of claim 13, wherein said upper heel fastening means include complementary hook and loop fasteners.

15. The orthotic device boot of claim 12, wherein said inner sole is non-skid.

16. The orthotic device boot of claim 12, wherein said inner sole, toe, heel and side sections are integrally formed.

17. The orthotic device boot of claim 12, wherein said toe, heel and side sections are made from a vinyl material.

18. The orthotic device boot of claim 12, wherein a first side section flap overlaps the toe fastening means of the toe section and a second side section flap overlaps the first side section flap, each side section flap including either of hook and loop complementary fasteners.