Abstract:
A foot elevator having a peripheral wire base frame releasably connected with a peripheral wire upper frame. A peripheral wire blanket support frame releasably connectable to the base and upper frames is also provided. The base frame, the upper frame and the blanket support are releasably connected for disassembly and compact storage of the device. A cradle of flexible material is provided over a portion of the upper frame for support of a patient&#39;s lower limb.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to medical therapy and appliances for post operative or post injury treatment of lower limbs. 
     Patients recovering from surgery involving the lower limbs or after treatment of injury to the lower limbs sometimes require an elevated position for the lower limb for proper positioning and to minimize potential edema or swelling. The weight of blankets and the like, bearing upon the foot of a patient can tend to rotate the patient&#39;s leg, causing distress to such patients. Further, the patient&#39;s condition might be that bedding laid over and contacting the patient can cause trauma or injury to a treated and recovering area of the lower limb. Thus, it is often desirable to use a blanket support with the foot elevator 
     Prior foot elevator devices have consisted of a foam block which is molded or cut to the desired contour and shape. Such foam block devices are bulky to handle and store. Alternatively, a wrap-style splint device has been used. However, such wrap-style devices are contraindicated where minimizing contact is desired. 
     Both prior devices restrict the circulation of air along the patient&#39;s skin where the device is used, causing irritation and general discomfort. Both prior devices are difficult to clean or sanitize for prolonged use or use by subsequent patients. Further, neither device provides satisfactory protection to the lower limb, especially the foot and toe area, from the weight and discomfort of blankets and other bedding bearing on the foot and toes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foot-elevator and blanket support of the present invention address the deficiencies of the prior devices. A collapsible device having an upper peripheral frame supporting a cradle is provided The upper frame is releasably connected to a base peripheral frame. 
     In one aspect of the invention, a peripheral frame blanket support is also releasably connected to the upper and base frames. In another aspect of the invention, the various peripheral frames are formed from stainless steel wire for enhanced durability and maintenance, including ease of sanitation. In another aspect of the invention, the cradle is a removable fabric covering which is stretched over the upper frame to form a hammock-like receiving area for the lower limb and enhances free air circulation to the body portion engaged thereby. The configuration of the wire frame is such that no body portion need contact the wire frame itself. 
     Further, the assembled device does not have the bulk of the prior devices. The three wire frame members can be disconnected from each other to further minimize the bulk of the present invention and enhance compact storage. When in its collapsed state, the-preferred embodiment constitutes a mere fraction of the bulk of prior devices. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention as used by a patient, with a portion of a lower limb and a portion of typical bedding shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective detail view of the connecting device at the distal end of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective detail view of the connecting device at the proximal end of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In a preferred embodiment, a foot elevator 10 of the present invention includes an upper peripheral frame 12, a cradle or hammock 14, a base peripheral frame 16 and a blanket support frame 18 (FIG. 1). Upper frame 12 and base frame 16 are releasably connected at the proximal and distal ends of foot elevator 10 by releasable connector mechanisms 20a and 20b. At the distal end of foot elevator 10, blanket support 18 releasably engages connecting mechanism 20b. 
     Base frame 16 comprises two frame members 22a and 22b and two connector disks 24a and 24b (FIG. 2). Each frame member 22 has a linear midportion 26, a pair of legs 28a and 28a, a pair of lateral portions 30a and 30b and terminal ends 32a and 32b. Each frame member 22 is preferably bent from approximately 0.187 inch (4.75 mm) diameter stainless steel wire. Legs 28 extend generally upwardly and inwardly, toward each other, from the ends of midportion 26. Legs 28 and midportion 26 lie substantially within a generally vertical reference plane. An approximately forty-five degree angle is defined between midportion 26 and each leg 28a and 28b. Lateral portions 30 extend generally horizontally and perpendicularly from legs 28. Terminal ends 32 extend approximately forty-five degrees upwardly and outwardly, away from midportion 26 at the end of lateral portions 30 and connect with connector disks 24. 
     Upper peripheral frame 12 is quite similar to base frame 16, having frame members 36a and 36b and connector disks 38a and 38b (FIG. 2). As with frame members 22 frame members 36 have a linear midportion 40, a pair of legs 42a and 42b, a pair of lateral portions 44a and 44b and terminal ends 46a and 46b. Each frame member 36 is also preferably bent from approximately 0.187 inch (4.75 mm) diameter stainless steel wire. Legs 42 extend generally downwardly and inwardly, toward each other, from each end of midportion 40. Legs 42 and midportion 40 lie substantially within a generally vertical reference plane. An approximately forty-five degree angle is defined between midportion 40 and each leg 42a and 42b. Lateral portions 44 extend generally horizontally and perpendicularly from legs 42. Terminal ends 46 extend approximately forty-five degrees outwardly and downwardly, away from midportion 40, from the end of lateral portions 44 and connect with connector disks 38. For manufacturing simplicity, each frame member 22 and 36 is preferably identical. 
     Blanket support 18 comprises a generally semicircular midportion 48, legs 50a and 50b, lateral portions 52a and 52b, terminal ends 54a and 54b and connector disk 56 (FIG. 2). Semicircular midportion 48 lies generally horizontally with legs 50 descending generally vertically from each end of midportion 48. Lateral portions 52 extend generally horizontally and perpendicularly toward each other from the lower end of legs 50. Terminal ends 54 extend approximately forty-five degrees downwardly and toward each other from the ends of lateral portions 52 and connect with connector disk 56. 
     Releasable connectors 20a and 20b comprise connector disks 24a and 24b, connector disks 38a and 38b, indexing pins 58a and 58b and handscrews 60a and 60b (FIGS. 3 and 4). Each disk 24 and 38 is preferably aluminum, approximately 1.375 inch (34.9 mm) in diameter and 0.25 inch (6.35 mm) thick. Each disk 24 and 38 also has a threaded aperture 62 for receiving the threaded shaft 64 of handscrew 60. By reference to the positions on a clockface, disk 24 is also provided with an indexing pin aperture 66 at the 5:30 position for forcibly receiving pin 58 and has a pair of frame apertures 68 penetrating the edge 70 of disk 24 at the 4:30 and 7:30 clock positions. Terminal ends 32 of base frame 16 are forcibly fit into frame apertures 68 (FIG. 2). 
     Disk 38 has an indexing pin aperture 72 at the 5:30 position (FIGS. 3 and 4). However, aperture 72 is sized for a slip fit with pin 58. Disk 38 also has a pair of frame apertures 74 at the 10:30 and 1:30 clock positions which penetrate the edge 76 of disk 38. Terminal ends 46 of upper frame 12 are forcibly fit into frame apertures 74 (FIG. 2). 
     Connector disk 56 is identical to disk 38 having an indexing pin aperture 78 for slip fit engagement with pin 58, a threaded aperture 80 for receiving threaded shaft 64 of handscrew 60 and a pair of frame apertures 82, positioned at the 10:30 and 1:30 clock positions and penetrating the edge 84 of disk 56 (FIG. 3). Terminal ends 54 of support frame 18 are forcibly fit into frame apertures 82 (FIG. 2). 
     Cradle 14 is constructed from a flexible material, preferably a knit-cotton blend as is commonly found in athletic socks and the like (FIG. 1). Cradle 14 is fabricated in a sock-like fashion to form a fabric tube with two open ends. The resulting &#34;sock&#34; is simply slid over upper frame 12 in a sock-like manner to assemble cradle 14 to upper frame 12 at midportion 40 of members 36. The &#34;sock&#34; breathes freely and allows free air circulation to the body part which is in contact with the &#34;sock.&#34; 
     In use, upper frame 12 and base frame 16 are assembled as indicated in FIG. 2. Support frame 18 might or might not be included, depending upon the specific indications for treatment. Indexing pins 58 of disks 24 are aligned with pin apertures 72 of disks 38 and pin aperture 78 of disk 56, if support frame 18 is included (FIG. 3). Threaded shafts 64 of handscrews 60 are screwed into threaded apertures 62 and 80 to securely fasten frames 12, 16 and 18 together (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4). 
     Foot elevator 10 can easily be cleaned and sanitized by removing cradle 14 from upper frame 12. Cradle 14 may be easily laundered or replaced and each frame 12, 16 and 18 and connector 20 can be sanitized using standard methods. 
     The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiment only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principals of patent law.