U.S. patent number RE32,680 [Application Number 06/724,291] was granted by the patent office on 1988-05-31 for protective cover for human limb joints.
This patent grant is currently assigned to S. J. Kaplan and Associates, Inc.. Invention is credited to Susan Pompa.
United States Patent |
RE32,680 |
Pompa |
May 31, 1988 |
Protective cover for human limb joints
Abstract
A removable protective cover to be fitted on the limb joints,
such as the elbow and the heel of a patient. It forms a generally
"L" shape interior with one portion fitted over the fore arm and a
portion over the upper arm. It is made of lambskin, having the
leather or skin side out receiving the abrasive action from the bed
(or chair), in which the patient is confined, and the wool side in,
in contact with the wearer's skin. It is secured in position by
quick-detachable straps that can be easily manipulated by a
semi-invalid. It is made in different sizes, for adults and
children, and can be used on the heel as well as the elbow.
Inventors: |
Pompa; Susan (Lincolnwood,
IL) |
Assignee: |
S. J. Kaplan and Associates,
Inc. (Lincolnwood, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
27018638 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/724,291 |
Filed: |
April 17, 1985 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
404431 |
Aug 2, 1982 |
04471770 |
Sep 18, 1984 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/881; 128/882;
602/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/102 (20130101); A61F 13/069 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/10 (20060101); A61F 13/06 (20060101); A61F
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/132R,153,149,77,8R,8H,165,166,134,16,22,24 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Richards Manufacturing Co., Inc., Orthopedic catalog, 1979, p. 44.
.
The Tetra Company, catalog page titled Tetra.TM. Decubitus
Pads..
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Primary Examiner: Coven; Edward M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gallagher; Paul H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A protective cover adapted to be applied to a human limb joint
such as the elbow or the heel, the limb having members directed
generally transversely relative to each other, and the cover when
so applied to the limb joint having relationship thereto as set out
hereinbelow, the protective cover comprising,
a natural hide composed of a leather layer and a wool layer
thereon, including a first elongated piece and a second piece,
said first piece having opposite, substantially parallel,
longitudinal marginal edges and opposite terminal edges and being
of generally U-shape form about a longitudinal axis, forming
parallel leg portions of substantial length along said axis, and of
substantial width transverse thereto, the legs thereby being of
great area, said first piece defining opposite open ends bound by
said marginal edges,
said second piece being positioned transversely across one of said
open ends of the first piece and secured thereto continuously
around the marginal edge of the U-shape of the first piece,
the pieces being positioned with the leather layers disposed
outwardly and the wool layers disposed inwardly, and the layers
extending throughout the areas of the respective pieces,
said leg portions being adapted to be fitted to opposite sides of
the limb, and said second piece being adapted to engage the
corresponding surface of an adjacent limb member, said second piece
and the adjacent elements of said leg portions effectively
surrounding one of the limb members and forming an opening through
which that limb member extends, and the leg portions of said first
piece effectively surrounding the other of the limb members and
forming an opening through which that limb member extends, and the
cover effectively enclosing the portion of the limb between the
openings, and
releasable securing means including a plurality of straps fixedly
secured to the outer surface of one of said leg portions at a
position remote, in axial direction, from said second piece, each
strap extending from the terminal edge of said one leg portion to
the terminal edge of the opposite of said leg portions when in
securing position, and being releasably secured to the outer
surface of said opposite leg portion whereby, the securing means
being operable for effecting the surrounding condition of the leg
portions relative to the respective limb member, and also operable
for effecting the surrounding condition of the leg portions and the
second piece together relative to the respective limb member,
said first piece and said second piece constituting the entire
cover, except for the securing means, and thereby extending
throughout the area of the protective cover,
the leather layer being exposed, except for the location of the
securing means, throughout its area and devoid of any other
materials, and thereby forming the only surface that engages other
objects in the wearing of the protective cover, and the wool being
exposed throughout its area and devoid of any other materials, and
thereby forming the only surface that engages the limb of the
wearer.
2. A protective cover according to claim 1 wherein, the leather is
of a gluteraldehyde-tanned condition. .Iadd.
3. A protective cover adapted to be applied to a human limb joint
such as the elbow or the heel, the limb having members directed
generally transversely relative to each other, comprising,
a fleece incorporating a base and fibers thereon, and including a
first piece and a second piece, originally independent of and
separate from each other,
the first piece being of U shape formation, and including a pair of
parallel legs and a bight interconnecting the legs, the legs being
thereby spaced apart and the first piece defining a first open end
and a second open end, and having a marginal edge of U shape at
each end, said legs extending circumferentially at least a portion
of one of the members of the wearer's limb,
the second piece being positioned transversely across the space
between the legs at said first end and secured to the first piece
at the corresponding marginal edge of the latter,
the fleece being oriented with the fibers directed inwardly to
engage the wearer's limb, and the base directed outwardly, and
releasable securing means on the first piece including
interconnectable elements on respective ones of the legs thereof,
certain of said elements extending over and across said space when
the elements are respectively interconnected,
said first and second pieces constituting, except for said securing
means, the entire protective cover, and constituting the entire
portions engagable with the wearer's limb, and the entire portions
having exterior surfaces engaging external objects which the
wearer's limb engages, the fibers being distributed throughout the
area of the base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
4. A protective cover according to claim 3 wherein, said legs of
the first piece are of substantial length in direction
perpendicular to said bight and thereby capable of extending a
substantial distance around the wearer's limb, and
the securing means includes elements readily manipulatable by one
hand, and put in securing position by pressing them together in
direction transverse to the direction of the tendency to pull apart
and releasable by pulling them in direction opposite the pressing
direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
5. A protective cover according to claim 4 wherein,
said first piece is of substantial length in direction parallel
with said bight,
said securing means is positioned in spaced relation to said first
end and thereby to said second piece, the second piece and the
portions of the legs of the first piece next adjacent the second
piece, are free of securing means, and said second piece and those
portions of the legs define an opening surrounding and
accommodating the other member of the limb. .Iaddend. .Iadd.6. A
protective cover according to claim 3 wherein,
the second piece covers the entire area between the legs of the
first piece, and the two pieces terminate upwardly at a position
adjacent each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. A protective cover
according to claim 6 wherein,
the pieces are secured together by stitching the bases of the
pieces together. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A protective cover according to
claim 7 wherein,
the stitching extends entirely around the U shape linearly
throughout the legs and the bight therebetween. .Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention lies in the field of caring for patients who are
bed-ridden, or spend considerable time in bed, including those that
are confined to wheel chairs, or otherwise confined. The patient
being confined, for example in bed, develops sores by contact, as
in rubbing, with the bed clothes and these occur most often on the
limb joints, as the elbows and the heels. These sores develop from
rubbing action or abrasive action with the bed clothes, as
distinguished from mere aches and pains from immobility. These
sores may develop not only from bed clothes, but from other
sources, such as in wheel chairs, where the elbows or heels may
rest on or rub against the elements of the wheel chair, with
consequent similar sores on the joints. Heretofore there had been
various means and methods developed for counteracting or preventing
such sores, but none of them have been entirely satisfactory, and
in fact most of them have been greatly lacking in the effect
desired.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A broad object of the invention is to provide a novel protector for
human limb joints, such as the elbow and the heel, for use by a
patient who spends considerable time in bed, or in a chair (e.g.
wheel chair), having the following features and advantages:
1. It completely covers the elbow, or heel, and effectively
protects the skin of the wearer from sores often acquired by
patients.
2. It is made of natural lambskin, having both the leather and the
wool, with the wool disposed inwardly and the leather outwardly;
the wool presents a cushion effect and comfortable feeling to the
wearer, and warm feeling in winter and cool feeling in summer, and
the leather receives the abrasive action from the bed or chair.
3. The leather is very pliable, facilitating fitting of the cover
to the patient's limb and adapting to movements of the body of the
wearer.
4. It is easily applied to and removed from the elbow or the heel,
by the wearer, thereby facilitating such by a semi-invalid.
5. Its design and construction facilitates making it in different
sizes, for adults and for children, and for the elbow and for the
heel.
.Iadd.6. Its design and construction renders it more pliable, to
better fit the elbow or heel.
7. Its design and construction renders a single and same article
especially adaptable to application to either the elbow or the
heel.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sketch of a person wearing the device of
the invention on his elbow;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sketch of the device on the wearer's
heel;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the protective cover;
FIG. 4 is an end view from the left end of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an end view from the right end of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a view of the device, oriented according to FIG. 3, as
applied to the wearer's elbow;
FIG. 7 is a view from the left of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a view of the protective cover in opened-out position,
oriented in the direction of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken at line 9--9 of FIG. 4.
In referring to the overall objectives of the device of the
invention, and as referred to above, the device may be worn by the
patient on the elbow or on the heel. For convenience, the elbow and
the heel are referred to generically as joints in the human limbs,
i.e. the arms and legs, and in either case the joint is referred to
as including members disposed transversely relative to each other;
for example in the case of the elbow, the members are the fore arm
and the upper arm, and in the case of the heel, the members are the
foot and the ankle.
Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the protective
device of the invention applied to the elbow of the wearer, and
FIG. 2 shows it applied to the heel. Referring particularly to
FIGS. 3-5, the protective .[.covering.]. .Iadd.cover .Iaddend.12 is
made up of two main pieces, a first piece 14 and a second piece 16.
The piece 14 is the larger of the two, preferably of U-shape,
having parallel legs 18, interconnecting which is a curved portion
or bight 20. The second piece 16 extends transversely between the
legs of the first piece, at .[.one.]. .Iadd.a first .Iaddend.end of
the latter, filling the space formed by the U-shape, and the two
pieces are stitched together along a continuous seam 22. The
overall shape of the cover as viewed in side view, may be generally
rectangular. Securing means 24 is provided on the piece 14 adjacent
.Iadd.a second end, that is, .Iaddend.the end opposite the second
piece 16 and includes preferably a type generally known as
"Velcro", there being two units, each made up of a first or backing
strip 26, in this case sewed directly to the corresponding side or
leg 18 on the piece 14, and a strap 28 secured to the opposite leg
18. The straps 28 are thrown over the open side of the U-shaped
first piece and fitted in face-to-face contact engagement with the
strips 26 and are held there securely in normal usage. This type of
securing means is known, and one of the pieces, such as the strips
26 have tentacles acting as "hooks" which engage and grab elements
of the straps. This kind of securing means is of particular
convenience for use by semi-invalids, because it is easy to
manipulate, both to engage or secure, and disengage or separate.
Those acts can be done easily with one hand and in most cases the
patients can apply the cover themselves and need not be helped by
attendants.
The protective cover 12 is made of natural lambskin. As herein
used, the material will be referred to generically as hide, which
is constituted by the outer covering of the animal, i.e. the lamb,
and includes the leather or skin 30 and the wool 32 thereon. The
protective cover is constructed with the leather or skin disposed
outwardly, and the wool inwardly. It is applied to the joint, i.e.
the elbow, (FIG. 6) by fitting the legs 18 of the U-shaped piece 14
against the fore arm 34, and the second piece 16, at the end fitted
against the upper arm 36, the elbow proper being indicated at 38.
After the cover is thus fitted to the elbow, the straps 28 of the
securing means are flapped or fitted down against the backing
strips 26 and are securely held thereby, as noted above. In this
step, the top edges of the legs 18 of the U-shaped first piece, are
folded around the fore arm, or partially so, according to the
various dimensions involved, and the extent to which the wearer
manipulates the elements. In its position as thus applied, the
cover is generally "L" shape, forming in effect two openings
disposed transversely relative to each other, receiving the fore
arm and the upper arm, themselves generally transverse to each
other, and it is thereby securely held in place on the elbow. The
straps 28 are of substantial length, and can overlap the backing
strips a greater or lesser amount, thereby providing a wide range
of adjustability for different size areas.
The protective cover may be of any size desired, both as to size of
person, and the manner in which it is to be fitted on the elbow.
Since the wool is positioned inwardly, it engages the skin of the
wearer and provides a cushion for the elbow, and the arm. For
example the wool may be of a thickness of about 3/4 of an inch,
i.e. inwardly from the skin or leather and this great depth
obviously provides great comfort to the wearer. The leather being
on the outside, absorbs the abrasive action in engaging the bed or
chair, this arrangement providing great comfort to the wearer, and
long life to the device, the leather being highly wear
resistant.
Wool has an added advantage in the comfort of the wearer, in that
it is not only warm in the winter time, but is actually cool in the
summer, the wool absorbing the perspiration from the wearer and
enabling air to pass through the strands of the wool to produce a
cooling effect.
The skin of the hide is very soft and pliable. It is tanned to
accomplish that end, and it thereby adapts itself well to the shape
and size of the patient's limb joint. Also, for example, the cover
may not be put on exactly straight or symmetrically, but will
nevertheless adapt itself well to the joint because of its
pliability. Furthermore, as the arm is bent or flexed, the cover
adapts itself to such movements, shifting according to the
positioning or movements of the limb members. Moreover, the
softness and pliability of the leather facilitates applying the
device in position. For example, a semi-invalid may find it
difficult to actually apply the cover and move the securing strips
down into securing position, but the pliability of the leather
makes it easy to shape it to the arm and in this way facilitates
putting the securing strips down into securing position.
Different forms of tanning the leather may be utilized,
selectively, such as the gluteraldehyde process, or chrome tanning.
Gluteraldehyde tanning imparts a very desirable
characteristic--washability. It can be dried in a dryer for longer
time than regular lambswool.
A further advantage of the device is that wool, in its natural
condition, greatly resists combustion.
.Iadd.The construction of the protective cover renders it
especially adaptable to either the elbow or the heel, particularly
in that the legs 18 of the U shape piece 14 have substantial
length, in direction perpendicular to the bight 20, relative to the
dimension between the legs, so that the legs, and the piece 16, in
that direction, provide substantial coverage of corresponding
member of the limb of the wearer. Similarly, the legs 18 have a
substantial second length in direction parallel with the bight 20,
so that the legs 18 provide substantial coverage in that direction,
along the respective member of the limb. In each case, the elements
of the protective cover reach a substantial distance along the
length of the limb member, as well as a substantial extent around
it, and in both cases all parts of the cover are effectively held
by the securing means at one location, that is, the securing
elements 26, 28 across the legs 18. Additionally, the parts of the
cover accommodate the limb members in different relative angular
positions of the limb members.
For convenience in identification of the various elements of the
protective cover, and considering a feature implicit in the
original disclosure, the lambskin may be referred to as a fleece,
this being used as a generic term herein, having a base
corresponding to the leather and fibers corresponding to the wool
on the leather.
The design and construction as described above is well adapted to
the use of materials other than lambskin, such as synthetic
materials, in which a fabric is used as a base, corresponding to
the leather, and synthetic fibers or filaments thereon
corresponding to the wool. .Iaddend.
* * * * *