US3545104A - Walking cast protecting boot - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1970 v. E. LAURIE 3,545,104

WALKING CAST PROTECTING'BOOT Filed Feb. 10, 19 9 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Veldon E. LAURIE ymwz zy 4? PATENT AGENTS De.8,1910 V.E.LAUR|E 3,545,104

WALKING CAST PROTECTING BOOT Filed Feb. 10, 1969 f .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Veldon E. LAURIE PA ,NT AGENTS 0 v. E. LAURIE 3,545,104

WALKING CAST PROTECTING BOOT Filed Feb. 10, 1969 I 3 Sheets-$heet .5

INVENTOR I Veldon E. LAURIE PAT T AGENTS United States Patent Int. 01. A431) 1/10 US. CI. 36-73 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A waterproof boot for use with walking casts, the boot having a sole formed with a ground engaging region intermediate heel and toe portions of the sole and an inner pad in the sole formed with a depression for receiving a buffer of the walking cast.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to protective coverings for walking casts.

Casts made of plaster of paris or other materials are frequently used for restraining movement of a limb after resetting of a fracture in a bone of the limb. Walking casts are distinguished from other casts by the provision of a buffer embedded in or otherwise attached to the bottom of the foot portion of the cast so that the person wearing the cast can walk on the cast. The material from which the casts are made is usually water soluble and is liable to disintegration when exposed to excessive moisture such as rain or snow. Furthermore, these casts are fairly expensive to replace and in wet weather the patient is obliged to remain indoors to avoid the damage to the cast.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved boot for use with walking casts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a boot for use with walking casts which is impervious to moisture.

The invention provides as a new article of manufacture for use with a walking cast a waterproof boot having an upper and a sole, the sole having heel and toe portions and a ground engaging portion located between said heel and toe portions. The ground engaging portion is spaced further from the upper than the heel and toe regions and is shaped to receive a buifer on a walking cast.

More particularly, the waterproof boot comprises a water-tight upper having an opening at the top thereof for receiving a cast and a sole water-tightly sealed to the upper. The sole comprises a lower layer of waterproof material defining toe, heel and ground engaging regions with the ground engaging region located between and extending below the toe and heel region. The sole also cornprises an inner pad formed with a depression adjacent said ground engaging region for receiving a bulfer and a walking cast inserted into the boot.

Preferably, the upper comprises an opposed pair of closure means each closure means comprising a pair of outer flaps and means for securing the outer flaps together and an inner flap extending between and secured to the outer flaps.

An embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a general view of a waterproof boot embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through the boot of FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a section through the waterproof boot of FIG. 1 showing a walking cast located therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The boot 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, comprises an upper 2 and a sole 3.

The sole 3 has a lower layer 4 of waterproof material. The sole 3 comprises a heel portion 5, a toe portion 6, and an intermediate portion 7. The intermediate portion 7 constitues the ground engaging region of the sole of the boot and is formed with a rib or other non-slip generally planar ground engaging surface 8. As will be seen from the figures, the ground engaging surface 8 of the sole is located further from the upper 2 than the undersurfaces of the toe and heel portions of the sole so that in general use only the surface 8 contacts the ground. The sole also includes an inner pad 9 of fibrous material which is bonded to the layer 4. The inner pad 9 has a depression 10 adjacent to and above the ground engaging region 7 of the sole. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the depression 10 is shaped to receive a buffer 11 of a walking cast 12 when the cast is inserted into the boot.

In walking casts the buffer 11 is provided intermediate the sole and the heel to allow the possibility of walking on the cast. The buffer cannot be placed in the normal position at the heel of the cast.

The upper 2 comprises rubberized fabric material which is sealed to the sole 3 around the periphery of the sole. The upper 2 has one opening for the reception of the cast 12 at the top of the upper.

Closure means are provided at both the front and rear of the upper.

The front closure means comprises a pair of outer flaps 14 only one of which is shown in the figures. The flaps 14 extend longitudinally down the front face of the upper to the toe from the opening for reception of the cast. Secured to and extending between the flaps 14 is an inner flap 15. In the embodiment illustrated, the front closure means incorporates a plurality of hooks 13 for use with a strap and buckle system of conventional type.

The rear closure means illustrated in the drawings comprises a pair of outer flaps 16 extending longitudinally between the opening for reception of the cast and the heel of the upper. A sliding tooth fastener 17 is secured to each of the opposed edges of the outer flaps 16. An inner flap 18 is secured to and extends between the opposed edges of the outer flaps 16.

It will be seen that the two closure means provide a substantially water-tight seal between the cast and the upper around the opening for reception of the cast but enable the cast to be easily removed from the boot. It is to be remembered in this context that there is no mobility in the cast as there is in a leg and that the minimum amount of stress should be imposed upon the material of the cast.

Thus it will be seen that there has been provided a new form of protective covering for a cast which enables the wearer of the waterproof boot provided to venture out into inclement weather and still obtain adequate pr0tcction for the cast while achieving ambulation.

What I claim as my invention is:

What I claim as my invention is:

1. As a new article of manufacture for use with a walking cast, a waterproof boot having an upper and a sole, said sole having heel and toe portions and a ground engaging portion located between said heel and toe portions, the ground engaging portion being spaced further from the upper than the heel and toe regions and being shaped to receive a buffer on a walking cast.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said sole comprises an outer layer of waterproof material having an undersurface with a ground engaging surface of generally planar form and the remainder of the undersurface spaced from the ground engaging surface towards the upper.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein said sole also comprises an inner pad integral with said layer, said pad having a depression therein for receiving the buffer adjacent the ground engaging surface of the sole.

4. As a new article of manufacture for use with a walking cast, a waterproof boot comprising a water-tight upper having an opening at the top thereof for inserting a cast and a sole water-tightly sealed to the upper, the sole comprising a lower layer of waterproof material defining toe, heel and ground engaging regions with the ground engaging region located between and extending below the toe and heel regions, the sole also comprising an inner pad formed with a depression adjacent said ground engaging region for receiving a buffer on a walking cast inserted into said boot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,817,300 8/1931 Dorogi 36-4X 2,956,561 10/1960 Houde a 128-835 3,280,485 10/ 1966' Arnold 36- 7.?

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128--83.5

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