Surgery – Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants – Restrainers and immobilizers
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-04
2001-10-30
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery
Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
Restrainers and immobilizers
C128S892000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heel protection device and more particularly pertains to a new heel protection device for protecting a portion of the heel of a user's foot from developing sores from prolonged contact with bedding during a period of bedrest.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a heel protection device is known in the prior art. More specifically, heel protection devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,937,218; 1,562,454; 2,592,739; 3,693,619; 3,670,725; and Des. 261,821 and Des. 364,009.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new heel protection device. The inventive device includes a cap member for receiving the heel portion of the user's foot, and a securing strap assembly for securing the cap member on the heel portion of the user's foot. The cap member comprises a base portion for positioning adjacent to a sole of the user's foot, a back portion mounted on the base portion at a rearward location of the base portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and a pair of laterally spaced side portions mounted on lateral side locations of the base portion and the back portion, with the side portions being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the base portion.
In these respects, the heel protection device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of protecting a portion of the heel of a user's foot from developing sores from prolonged contact with bedding during a period of bedrest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of heel protection device now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new heel protection device construction wherein the same can be utilized for protecting a portion of the heel of a user's foot from developing sores from prolonged contact with bedding during a period of bedrest.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new heel protection device apparatus which has many of the advantages of the heel protection device mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new heel protection device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art heel protection device, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a cap member for receiving the heel portion of the user's foot, and a securing strap assembly for securing the cap member on the heel portion of the user's foot. The cap member comprises a base portion for positioning adjacent to a sole of the user's foot, a back portion mounted on the base portion at a rearward location of the base portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and a pair of laterally spaced side portions mounted on lateral side locations of the base portion and the back portion, with the side portions being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the base portion.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new heel protection device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the heel protection device mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new heel protection device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art heel protection device, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new heel protection device that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new heel protection device that is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new heel protection device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such heel protection devices economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new heel protection device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new heel protection device for protecting a portion of the heel of a user's foot from developing sores from prolonged contact with bedding during a period of bedrest.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new heel protection device that includes a cap member for receiving the heel portion of the user's foot, and a securing strap assembly for securing the cap member on the heel portion of the user's foot. The cap member comprises a base portion for positioning adjacent to a sole of the user's foot, a back portion mounted on the base portion at a rearward location of the base portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the base portion, and a pair of laterally spaced side portions mounted on lateral side locations of the base portion and the back portion, with the side portions being oriented substantially perpendicularly to the base portion.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new heel protection device that permits a user's foot to receive ventilation while protecting the heel from developing bed sores
LandOfFree
Heel protection device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Heel protection device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Heel protection device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2612807