Cast Protective Device

Abstract

A cast protective device for use on a foot portion of a cast to provide protection against dirt, stains, moisture and the like includes an outer sole and an upper portion secured to said sole adjacent the periphery thereof. The upper portion has a large opening for insertion of the foot portion of the cast and a fold with overlying portions in closing about the cast and members securing the upper portions together in said selected adjusted position. A heel portion and an adjacent intermediate portion of a lower surface of the outer sole are shaped with a curvature for a rocking motion to aid in walking and also has a plurality of transverse ribs thereon to cushion impact and to provide skid resistance.

Description

The present invention relates to cast protective devices for use on a foot portion of the cast and more particularly to such a cast protective device having a lower surface extending in a curvature between the heel portion and a toe portion to facilitate walking with support of body weight.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a device for use on a foot portion of a cast and which has a sole with a generally eliptical bottom convex from toe to heel that provides a rolling action for the foot and gives support for the person's body weight; to provide such a cast protective device or shoe with a sole and upper thereon adapted for a wide opening for ease of application and a closing shape to substantially encasing engagement with the cast; to provide such a protective shoe which is adapted to resist stains, moisture, dirt and the like; to provide such a cast protective device which is adjustable to the size of the cast and which is adapted for use on either a right foot portion or a left foot portion; to provide such a cast protective device, having an outer sole and an upper portion secured on an upper surface thereof with flap sections and means to secure same together in a selected adjusted overlapped position; to provide such a cast protective device wherein the outer sole has a plurality of longitudinally spaced ribs on a heel portion and an adjacent intermediate portion of a lower surface thereof to cushion impact during walking and for skid resistance; to provide such a cast protective device wherein the lower surface of the outer sole has a tread on a toe portion thereof and on an adjacent intermediate portion for traction during walking; to provide such a cast protective device wherein the outer sole is formed of a long-wearing and shock-absorbing material; and to provide such a cast protective device which is economical to manufacture, easily installed on a foot portion of the cast, easily adjusted to a secured porition, durable in use, and which is particularly well-adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include an exemplary embodiment illustrating various objects and features of the cast protective device of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cast having mounted thereon a cast protective device or shoe embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cast shoe with the upper in partially open position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cast shoe.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cast shoe and showing a lower surface of an outer sole.

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the cast shoe.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6--6, FIG. 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claim and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriate detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a device for use on a foot portion 2 of a cast 3 such as is applied to a foot and leg of a person having a bone fracture or other disabling injury. The cast device 1 includes a sole 4 with an upper portion 5 secured thereto adjacent the periphery thereof. In the illustrated structure the upper portion 5 has a pair of overlapping sections 7 and 8 adapted to be placed in overlapping relation in a selected adjusted position closely engaging the cast with means 9 securing the sections 7 and 8 together in said adjusted position to hold the shoe on the cast. A heel portion 10 and an adjacent intermediate portion 11 of a lower surface of the outer sole 4 have a curvature on the bottom to facilitate walking.

The outer sole 4 is engageable with a floor, ground surface, or the like during walking and the curved bottom is adapted to effect a rocking action of the cast 3 and the leg of a person. The illustrated outer sole 4 has opposite edge portions 14 and 15 extending laterally or transversely outwardly from a rocker portion 16 extending longitudinally between the heel portion 10 and a toe portion 17 of the outer sole 4. The rocker portion 16 is illustrated as a rib depending from the outer sole 4 and having a lower surface defining a curvilinear convex path between the heel portion 10 and the toe portion 17 of the outer sole 4. It is preferable that the curvilinear path be a generally elliptical form to provide a substantially smooth and gentle rocking action from the heel portion 10 to the toe portion 17.

It is desirable to cushion impact on the cast 3, therefore, the rocker portion 16 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs 12 thereon with the ribs 12 being on the heel portion 10 and the adjacent intermediate portion 11. It is also desirable to provide means on the lower surface of the rocker portion 16 to effect traction with the floor surface of the like, therefore, a suitable tread design 18 is formed in the toe portion 18 and an adjacent intermediate portion 19 of the rocker portion 16.

The outer sole 4 is preferably formed of a material having sufficient rigidity to support the cast 3 and sufficient flexibility to absorb shock and cushion the cast 3 within the cast protective device 1 during walking. Therefore, the outer sole 4 is formed of a suitable thermoplastic synthetic resinous material, rubber, or the like. Moldable resins such as urethane polyvinyl chloride and the like have been found to provide the desired rigidity combined with sufficient flexibility and resilency to support the cast 3 and cushion impact during walking. It is preferable that such material in the finished sole have a Shore A durometer value of sixty to seventy (60 to 70).

The upper portion 5 may be any suitable structure for applying and holding the sole 4 to the foot of a cast, as for example, straps, a sandal like top or other open type member for receiving the foot portion of the cast. The upper portion 5 may have its lower edges secured to the sole 4 in any suitable manner and in the illustrated structure the upper portion 5 has lower edge portions 20 turned in any overlying margins of the upper surface 6 adjacent the periphery of the outer sole, said edges and sole being secured together as by a suitable preferably waterproof adhesive.

While the edge portions 20 could be exposed, it is preferable to cover same for neatness of appearance. In the illustrated structure an inner sole 21 of suitable material such as fabric or plastic is secured to the top surface 6 of the outer sole 4 with peripheral portion overlying the edge portions 20. The inner sole is preferably secured to said edges 20 and top surface 6 by adhesive.

The joint or connection between the upper 5 and the sole 4 is closed and sealed to be waterproof by a suitable band or strap 20' or rubber or the like which extends circumferentially around adjacent portions the upper portion 5 and the outer sole 4 to cover the joint between the outer sole 4 and the upper portion 5. The strap 20' may be integral with the sole 4 on a separate piece and secured to the upper 5 and sole 4 by any suitable manner as by adhesive, vulcanizing or the like to provide a wear resistant waterproof structure. The upper portion 5 extends around the foot portion 2 of the cast 3 to enclose same and has the sections 7 and 8 adapted to be placed with one section overlapping the other, for example section 7 overlying section 8.

It is desirable that the upper portion 5 be formed of a suitable flexible material which is moisture resistant and which will protect the cast 3 therein from dirt, stains, and the like. Canvas preferably treated to be waterproof has been found to be a suitable material for the upper portion 5.

The means 9 for securing the sections 7 and 8 in an adjusted overlying position are illustrated as including a plurality of spaced straps 22, each having one end thereof secured to one of the sections, for example section 8, and extending outwardly therefrom. The straps 22 are illustrated as each having a plurality of spaced apertures 23 therein. The fastening means 9 also includes a plurality of buckles 24 mounted on the other section 7 of the upper portion 5 with a buckle 24 for each strap 22. Each buckle 24 has a tongue 25 adapted to extend through a respective and selected one of the apertures 23 of the respective strap 22 thereby securing the section 7 in a selected adjusted position overlying the other section 8. This arrangement of the fastening means is to place them near a midline position so as not to contact the other foot of the user when walking.

Using a cast protective device or shoe constructed as illustrated and described is extremely simple and includes moving the sections 7 and 8 thereby positioning same to define a wide opening to receive the foot portion 2 of the cast 3 and placing the foot portion 2 of the cast 3 within the upper portion 5 of the cast protective device 1 and moving the section 7 over the section 8 and positioning the straps 22 within the buckles 24 in a selected position to secure the sections 7 and 8 in the selected overlying position. Removal of the cast protective device 1 from the foot portion 2 of the cast 3 is also extremely simple, requiring only disconnecting the straps 22 from the buckles 24. The ribs 12 cushion impact on the cast 3 during walking and the tread 18 also provides some cushioning action and provides traction for the lower surface of the rocker portion 16.

Walking with the cast protective device or shoe 1 is accomplished by placing the heel portion 10 in engagement with the floor or other surface and rocking the cast 3 to move the sole 4 toward the toe portion 17 as the weight of the person having the cast 3 on one leg is moved forward. The rocking movement is closely similar to the natural movement of a person during walking and is much smoother than walking with a cast having an extension or buffer thereon and places less strain on the person having the cast 3 on one leg thereof.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

Claims

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A protective device for the lower portion of a foot and leg cast comprising:

a. a sole having a toe portion and a heel portion in spaced relation and a rib extending therebetween and connecting said toe and heel portions, said sole having intermediate portions extending laterally outwardly of said rib; said toe, heel, rib and intermediate portions of said sole having a generally planar upper surface of a length and width greater than the ground engaging portion of said rib, said rib being in depending relation to said intermediate sole portions;

b. said toe, heel and rib portions having lower surfaces cooperating to define a continuous curvilinear generally elliptical shape extending for substantially the length of the sole with said rib being a rocker portion between said toe and heel portions;

c. an upper portion having lower edge portions thereof secured to said sole adjacent the periphery thereof, said upper portion and sole enclosing the foot portion of a cast;

d. sections of said upper portion being adapted to be moved to a position defining an opening of a size to receive the foot portion of a cast and to be placed with one section overlying an other to adjust the shape of said upper portion to enclose and substantially fit a foot portion of a case therein;

e. means on said sections for securing same in a respective one of a plurality of adjusted overlying positions;

f. a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs in the lower surface of said heel portion of said sole;

g. a tread on the lower surface of said toe portion of the sole.