Tube sock-shaped covering

• US 6,964,688 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ohio Willow Wood Company
• Original Assignee: Ohio Willow Wood Company
• Inventors: Kania, Bruce G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US09/418,505
• Time in Patent Office: 2,223 Days
• Field of Search: 623/33, 623/35, 623/36, 623/37, 602/62, 602/63, 602/64, 602/65
• US Class Current: 623/36
• 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 2/7843 Inflatable bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/80 Sockets, e.g. of suction type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30065 thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30069 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3021 frustoconical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30324 differing in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5007 having elastic means different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric insert elastic coating A61F2002/3007; springs A61F2002/5072; plate-like springs for feet A61F2002/6657
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/5055 Reinforcing prostheses by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping, e.g. carbon fibre composites
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7818 Stockings or socks for the limb stump cosmetic coverings A61F2002/5001
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/7837 Sleeves for attaching or protecting, i.e. open ended hoses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0071 thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0036 differing in thickness

Abstract

Articles of apparel for an amputee'"'"'s residuum and for non-amputees who desire or require padding or joint support.

Claims

1. A tube-shaped covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering comprising fabric coated on only the inside thereof with polymeric material capable of forming an air-tight seal with a limb of a wearer when said covering is donned, said covering configured to have an open end for introduction of said stump and a closed end opposite said open end.

11. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said fabric comprises stretchable non-wovens.

50. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said covering is seamlessly coated directly on the inside thereof with said polymeric material.

51. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is thicker at said closed end of said covering than at said open end.

52. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said fabric is coated on the inside thereof with an uneven distribution of polymeric material that results in a thinner posterior middle and upper portion, and a thicker distal anterior medial and anterior lateral portion.

53. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is arranged in a recessed Achilles configuration.

54. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoset elastomer, and mixtures thereof.

55. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises a block copolymer.

56. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises a block copolymer and mineral oil.

57. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises urethane.

58. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises rubber.

59. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises rubber and mineral oil.

60. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises a thermoset elastomer.

61. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises silicone.

62. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material comprises a thermoplastic gel composition having a Shore A hardness of between about 1–

20.

63. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is a thermoplastic gel composition having a Shore 00 hardness of between about 1–

100.

64. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said fabric comprises fiber-on-end fabric.

65. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said covering has a length from closed end to open end of from about 10–

25 inches.

66. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material is of a thickness that varies from about 0.150–

0.500 inches.

67. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material includes a biocide.

68. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric material includes a vitamin.

2. A tube-shaped covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering comprising fabric coated on the inside thereof with polymeric material capable of forming an air-tight seal with a limb of a wearer when said covering is donned, and docking means for attachment of an external device to the said covering, said covering configured to have an open end for introduction of said stump and a closed end opposite said open end.

8. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said external device is a prosthetic device.

9. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said docking means, comprises one or more of:

a pin, cable, strap, hook and loop type fastener, snap, or buckle.

10. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said docking means is incorporated by attachment of an adapter to the outside of said covering.

12. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said covering is seamlessly coated directly on the inside thereof with a said at least one polymeric material.

13. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material has a thickness profile that is thicker at said closed end of said covering than at aid open end.

14. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said covering is coated on the inside thereof with an uneven distribution of polymeric material that results in a thinner posterior middle and upper portion, and a thicker distal anterior medial and anterior lateral portion.

15. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material is arranged in a recessed Achilles configuration.

16. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material is a thermoplastic gel composition having a Shore A hardness of between about 1–

20.

17. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoset elastomer, and mixtures thereof.

18. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material comprises a block copolymer.

19. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material comprises a block copolymer and mineral oil.

20. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material comprises urethane.

21. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material comprises rubber.

22. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material comprises rubber and mineral oil.

23. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material comprises a thermoset elastomer.

24. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material comprises silicone.

25. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said fabric comprises fiber-on-end fabric.

26. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, having a length from closed end to open end of from 10–

25 inches.

27. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material has a thickness varying from 0.150–

0.500 inches.

28. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material includes a biocide.

29. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material includes a vitamin.

48. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said fabric comprises a stretchable nonwoven.

69. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 2, wherein said polymeric material is a thermoplastic gel composition having a Shore 00 hardness of between about 1–

100.

3. A tube-shaped covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering comprising fabric, a polymeric material capable of forming an air-tight seal with a limb of a wearer when said covering is donned, and locking means for attaching pads, wherein said fabric is coated on the inside thereof with said polymeric material;

and wherein said covering is configured to have an open end for introduction of said stump and a closed end opposite said open end.

30. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said docking means comprises one or more of:

a pin, cable, strap, hook, snap, or buckle.

31. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said covering is seamlessly coated directly on the inside thereof with said polymeric material.

32. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material has a thickness profile that is thicker at said closed end of the covering than at said open end.

33. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said fabric is coated on the inside thereof with an uneven distribution of polymeric material that results in a thinner posterior middle and upper portion, and a thicker distal anterior medial and anterior lateral portion.

34. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material is arranged in a recessed Achilles configuration.

35. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoset elastomer, and mixtures thereof.

36. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material comprises a block copolymer.

37. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material comprises a block copolymer and mineral oil.

38. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material comprises urethane.

39. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material comprises rubber.

40. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material comprises rubber and mineral oil.

41. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material comprises a thermoset elastomer.

42. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material comprises silicone.

43. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said fabric comprises fiber-on-end fabric.

44. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, having a length from closed end to open end of from 10–

25 inches.

45. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material has a thickness varying from 0.150–

0.500 inches.

46. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material includes a biocide.

47. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material includes a vitamin.

49. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said fabric comprises a stretchable nonwoven.

70. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material is a thermoplastic gel composition having a Shore A hardness of between about 1–

20.

71. A tube-shaped covering according to claim 3, wherein said polymeric material is a thermoplastic gel composition having a Shore 00 hardness of between about 1–

100.

4. A tube-shaped covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering comprising fiber-on-end fabric and a polymeric material capable of forming an air-tight seal with the limb of a wearer when said covering is donned, said fabric being coated directly on the inside thereof with said polymeric material, said covering configured to have an open end for introduction of said stump and a closed end opposite said open end.

5. A tube-shaped covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering comprising fiber-on-end fabric coated on the inside thereof with a non-foamed polymeric material capable of forming an air-tight seal with the limb of a wearer when said covering is donned, said covering configured to have an open end for introduction of said stump and a closed end opposite said open end.

6. A tube-shaped covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering comprising fiber-on-end fabric coated on the inside thereof with a cushioning polymeric material capable of forming an air-tight seal with the limb of a wearer when said covering is donned, said covering configured to have an open end for introduction of said stump and a closed end opposite said open end.

7. A tube-shaped covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering comprising fiber-on-end fabric coated with a polymeric material capable of forming an air tight seal with the limb of a wearer when said covering is donned, said covering configured to have an open end for introduction of said stump and a closed end opposite said open end, and being made by a process including the step(s) of coating an inside surface of said fiber-on-end fabric with a melt of said polymeric material.