Abstract:
A device for treating heel fissures (cracked heels) comprised of an elastic sleeve adapted to fit over the foot and heel of a person with toes and the back of the heel exposed, with the sleeve defining an exterior surface and an interior surface. Attached to the interior surface is at least one exfoliating insert, located to rub against callus areas of the foot as a person moves about during sleep.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a device treating heel fissures (cracked heels). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Heel fissures form at the intersection of two types of skin in the foot, glabrous and hairy skin, that come together at the side and bottom of the heel. For most people, the heel rim is a smooth transition between these two types of skin. However, when there is an uneven transition between the two skin types, calluses and heel fissures can occur. These fissures are secondary to recurrent callus formation. As the callus surrounding the rim of the heel thickens, the callus cracks. There is no cure, but prevention of deep, infected fissures is important, and that prevention requires a combination of exfoliation, moisturizing, and avoidance of the environmental conditions that seem to exacerbate the condition. 
         [0003]    A combination of professional and personal care are used to help someone with heel fissures prevent infection. Regular pedicures by a nail technician, combined with daily exfoliation and moisturizing cream at home can help. Additionally, minimizing the time spent standing, wearing open back shoes, and being cognizant of other environmental factors that cause callous formation will help minimize their effect. 
         [0004]    While these described procedures can help, those suffering from callused heels often fail to engage in the proper professional and personal care on a sufficiently regular basis to alleviate the problem. Largely because it takes so much time from a person&#39;s daily routines. 
         [0005]    Currently, home remedies fall into one or two categories: exfoliation or moisturizing. Beyond the traditional, inexpensive pumice stone, more sophisticated electronic sloughing devices such as the Artemis Woman Heel Smoother are currently available at about $20-$30, depending on the model. Moisturizing creams for cracked heels abound, and there are some socks/booties that claim to have moisturizing properties built in to help soften callouses. 
         [0006]    Given the above state of the art, it can be seen that there is a need for something that passively meets the problem of heel calluses, cracks and fissures over a long period of time, without the worry, need and expense of a periodic professional personal care. 
         [0007]    The current inventors and their common assignee Brown Medical currently sell stabilizing devices for heel pain that include elastic sleeves such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,525 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,299. The present invention represents a variation of those devices that occurred to the inventors to specifically and inexpensively treat heel fissures. 
         [0008]    Put another way, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide an elastic sleeve medical device that can simply and passively treat heel fissures, for example during sleeping time. 
         [0009]    The above primary objective is provided with a device which fits like a stocking and feels comfortable such that it can be easily worn to bed at night, remains cool during sleeping, and the natural thrashing about that occurs during sleep then exfoliates heel fissures. 
         [0010]    The method of accomplishing this as well as other objectives of the invention such as avoidance of expensive mechanical devices, avoidance of the regular use of pumice stone, and avoidance of expensive moisturizers, will be apparent from the detailed description which follows hereinafter. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A device for treating heel fissures (cracked heels) comprised of an elastic sleeve adapted to fit over the foot and heel of a person with toes and the back of the heel exposed, with the sleeve defining an exterior surface and an interior surface. Attached to the interior surface is at least one exfoliating insert, located to rub against callus areas of the foot as a person moves about during sleep. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view showing one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , showing relative location of inserts for exfoliating the heel. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of a foot device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The exfoliating device  10 , is comprised of a half stocking  12  (or sleeve) having an open top  14  and an open forward end  15 . The stocking is made of a stretchable material so as to fit snugly around the posterior, lateral, medial, and plantar aspects of the heel  16  of the foot  18 . Device  10  includes insert exfoliating pads  20  and  22  on each side of the inside surface of the half stocking  12  proximate the calcaneus of the heel  16 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pads  20  and  22  are disposed in a pocket formed by, for example, sewing a piece of pumice covered material  40  to the interior of sleeve  12 . The stitching  24  is shown on the exterior surface of half stocking  12 . When the half stocking  12  is positioned over the heel  16 , it extends forward along the lateral and medial sides of the foot  18  to approximately the mid-point of the longitudinal arch  24  of the foot  18  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). It is important to note that the open top  14  of the half stocking  12  terminates at the calcaneus below the talo calcaneal joint of the foot  18 . Thus the foot forward portion and the heel can remain cool and comfortable during sleep. 
         [0017]    Device  10  has mirror image left and right lateral portions, such that the device can be worn on either foot  18 . The device  10  can also be used alone or in conjunction with any type of foot wear. Device  10  is also stretchable or elastic so that it may be used with different foot sizes. 
         [0018]    Stocking  12  is preferably comprised of an elastic firm stitched material forming an elastic sleeve and is adapted to slide over the foot  18  of the user as shown in the figures to provide a tight fit around the heel  16 . An example of acceptable material is neoprene. Preferably the material is cut and stitched so that the seam  26  extends centrally along the bottom of the foot and up the back of the heel. 
         [0019]    While the device is primarily for treating heel fissures, it may also be used to stabilize the calcaneus and reduce movement and irritation by applying pressure on opposite sides of the ankle. It should be understood however that the primary purpose of this device is not ankle support but is for treating heel fissures. 
         [0020]    Pads  20  and  22  are preferably comprised of a pair of exfoliating insert pads sewn into the interior of the sleeve  12 . 
         [0021]    On its skin exposed side the insert pads  20  and  22  have an attached pumice surface  22 . Pads  20  and  22  are spaced apart and disposed on opposite sides of the inside surface of the elastic sleeve  12  such that when the device is worn around the heel  16 , as the wearer&#39;s foot thrashes and moves to and fro during a night&#39;s sleep, the pads rub against calluses and heel fissures, exfoliating them. In the morning the pad is removed and again put on at night. In this way, the patient does not have to worry and exfoliation passively occurs during sleep. 
         [0022]    In the preferred embodiment pads  20  and  22  are shaped as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . They are designed to compress against calluses of the heel exerting pressure due to the elastomeric nature of sleeve  12 . Pads  20  and  22  may take on many shapes, the elongated embodiment shown in the figures only being one example. 
         [0023]    Pads  20  and  22  exert equal and opposite compressive forces against the skin as the device  10  is worn. Pads  20  and  22  are disposed at sufficiently low positions against the user&#39;s foot that they rub against the heel transition point between the two types of skin, glabrous and hairy skin. Device  10  is normally used passively during sleeping. It may also be used with a shoe sock or slipper if one desires. 
         [0024]    Other optional changes may also be made. For example, this application has been described particularly with respect to a pumice covered insert but other abrasive materials may be used, such as abrasive silicon dioxide, covered inserts as used on nail files for example. 
         [0025]    The point being that when the sleeve  12  is worn, fissures caused by a number of factors including predisposition to dry skin, living in a dry climate, being overweight or obese, prolonged standing, wearing open back shoes and other skin conditions such as psoriasis and edema which the general population frequently suffer from, can be passively treated. The exfoliation provided by the device allows the user to treat cracked heels without actively scrubbing with a pumice stone or other device, thus allowing them to treat the problem over a longer period of time with less effort and more comfort and less expense. 
         [0026]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been set forth in the drawings and specification, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic or descriptive sense only and are not used for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.