Abstract:
A multi-piece therapeutic cover that assembles to warm, cushion and stabilize the thigh of a below-knee amputee. A thigh piece contains a resiliently rigid channel piece and several laterally extending, wings including sizing tabs that overlap and cooperate with associated straps. A stump contact piece, end cap piece and knee cover piece contain foam pads to cushion the stump end and knee. Strips of hook and loop fastener material arrayed about the surfaces of the protector pieces judiciously overlap to contain the protector pieces to each other and the limb. Buckled straps further support the protector assembly to the limb.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to limb protection devices for amputees and, in particular, to a multi-piece, padded, fabric and fleece lined assembly for below-knee amputees, wherein a leg or thigh piece, a stump contact piece, a distal end cap cover piece and a knee or patella cover piece contain resilient contoured inserts and/or foam cushion pieces that support/brace and cushion the thigh, knee and stump end and wherein hook and loop fasteners and stabilizing straps organize and secure the pieces to each other and to the amputee&#39;s limb. 
         [0002]    A variety of appliances have been developed for amputees for use during post-operative recovery, therapy and long term maintenance. The devices are typically constructed for particular use with the arms and legs. Some devices serve as dressings during recovery. Some devices mount to the limb to stabilize the stump end and support or cushion a prosthesis mounted to the limb. Some devices include active linkages that cooperate with and stabilize limb movement. U.S. Pat. Nos.  5 , 302 , 169 ;  5 , 529 , 575 ;  5 , 571 , 206  and 5,651,792 disclose devices having active, hinged linkage pieces adapted for use by below-knee amputees. 
         [0003]    Some appliances are used daily after removal of a prosthesis to cover, warm and/or protect the limb and stump, such as during periods of relative inactivity (e.g. when at home or asleep). It is to the latter category that the subject invention belongs. The assembly of the present invention is intended to mount to and warm an amputated limb to promote vasodilatation, maintain blood circulation and prevent ulceration or other physical degradation of the stump. That is, by keeping the limb and stump end warm, the blood vessels don&#39;t constrict and healthy blood flow is maintained. The device also physically cushions and warms the limb with minimal skin trauma (e.g. ulcerations, cracking and/or abrasions). 
         [0004]    The present below-knee limb protector assembly was developed to provide a multi-piece light weight assembly that warms, cushions and stabilizes the extremity. The assembly includes a thigh piece having a longitudinal support portion containing a rigid channel member constructed from a resilient and malleable material and several laterally extending cloth covered wings having fasteners that overlap to encase the limb and cooperate with associated strap fasteners. A stump contact piece, end cap piece and knee or patella cover piece contain foam pads to cushion the stump end and knee. Strips of hook and loop fastener material are arrayed about the protector pieces and judiciously overlap to contain the protector pieces to each other and the limb. Buckled straps further support the protector to the limb. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a thermally insulated protection assembly for below-knee amputees to stabilize, cushion and warm the limb to stimulate blood circulation. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a below-knee protective assembly comprising several sewn fabric and fleece pieces having a number of hook and loop fasteners fitted to overlapping surfaces of the assembly pieces and associated straps to collectively wrap and fasten to configure and encase the protective device about the thigh. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a protective device having a thigh piece that contains a longitudinal, foam covered, contoured, resilient channel member shaped to contain and support the thigh. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a thigh support piece wherein overlapping fleece lined fabric wings contain multiple separated lines of stitching that segregate the wings to accommodate tailor fitting the assembly; presently the stitching is positioned to accommodate differing circumferential limb sizes and wherein the stitching transversely bisects each wing piece and is displaced sufficiently (e.g. 1 to 4 inches) to segment each wing and permit shortening the wing pieces adjacent the stitching without fraying to tailor the length of the wing pieces to fit the circumference of the amputee&#39;s limb. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the invention to provide stump contact cushions, spacers and adjoining end cap pieces that provide cloth/fleece covered foam cushions that directly contact the stump end and/or fill a space between the contact piece and an end cap piece to conform to and cushion the stump end and fasten to a limb encasing thigh piece. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a knee or patella cover support piece that contains a foam cushion and mounts to a limb encasing thigh piece. 
         [0011]    The foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention are obtained in a presently preferred fabric covered limb protector assembly of the invention that is lined with fleece. One or more pieces can also contain a thermal insulation. Several overlapping tabs of hook and loop fastener material are arrayed about the surfaces of several wing pieces at a thigh cover piece and detachable knee and end cap fabric cover pieces and mate with other associated fastener pieces and straps. The fasteners at the wings of the thigh piece and detachable knee and end cap pieces align to define and selectively control the fitting of the protective assembly to the amputee&#39;s thigh and stump. 
         [0012]    The thigh piece contains a longitudinal foam covered, rigid channel member constructed from a resilient and malleable material having a contoured channel that supports the posterior surface of the thigh and knee. Laterally extending wing portions extend such that the thigh piece exhibits a general “H” shape. The wing pieces include displaced lines of transverse stitching organized and arranged to permit cutting and shortening the wing pieces to fit different thigh circumferences. The length of at least one wing piece can thereby be tailored to assure a proper fit about the circumference of an amputee&#39;s thigh upon wrapping and overlapping the wing pieces onto each other. 
         [0013]    Hook and loop fasteners are secured to external fabric and internal fleece surfaces of the assemblies&#39; pieces and are aligned to overlap and secure the protective assembly to the amputee&#39;s thigh. Other accessory, extension pieces having tabs of hook and loop fastener material can be mounted to the thigh piece wings to extend the wings to fit amputees with large diameter thighs. 
         [0014]    A stump cover or end cap piece contains a foam cushion and provides a fleece liner and mates to the stump end. Associated fabric/fleece covered foam spacers can be added to fill the longitudinal space of the thigh piece. 
         [0015]    An end cap piece contains a foam cushion and wing pieces that support tabs of hook and loop fastener material and mount to the thigh piece to contain the stump cover and filler pieces to the thigh cover piece. 
         [0016]    A fabric and fleece covered knee or patella cover piece contains a foam cushion and supporting sewn strips and straps of hook and loop fastener material that overlap and mount to the thigh piece to cover the knee. 
         [0017]    Still other objects, advantages, distinctions and constructions of the invention will become more apparent from the following description with respect to the appended drawings. Similar components and assemblies are referred to in the various drawings with similar alphanumeric reference characters. The components can be combined in various combinations and with other limb protection assemblies. The description should therefore not be literally construed in limitation of the invention. Rather, the invention should be interpreted within the broad scope of the further appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of the leg protector assembly removed from an amputee&#39;s leg and wrapped and buckled to a closed condition with the knee and end cap pieces mounted to the leg or thigh cover piece. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective drawing of the leg protector assembly folded open and showing the relative positioning of a portion of an amputee&#39;s leg to the leg or thigh cover, the knee cover, stump cover, and end cap pieces and an accessory foam filler pad that mounts between the stump cover and end cap pieces and wherein a cutaway view is shown to an internal foam cushioning and/or a possible thermal insulation/cushioning material. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective drawing of the leg protector assembly folded open with the knee and end cap cover pieces detached, along with a detached thigh wing extension piece and wherein cutaway views depict an elongated rigid thigh channel support member and foam cushioning liners mounted in the thigh cover piece and several foam pads mounted in the knee cover, stump cover and end cap pieces. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective drawing of the leg protector assembly folded open with the knee and end cap cover pieces attached to the thigh cover piece and wherein stump cover end cap and spacer pieces are shown removed from the assembly. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Similar structure throughout the drawings is referred to with the same alphanumeric reference numerals and/or characters. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  several perspective views are shown in various stages of assembly to the present invention of a therapeutic leg protector assembly  2  for partial leg (e.g. below-knee) amputees. The leg protector assembly  2  is constructed of several sections or pieces that assemble to form the protector  2  shown removed from a wearer&#39;s leg in a fully assembled condition in  FIG. 1 . The several pieces of the protector  2  are constructed from an air permeable fabric cover material  4 . The cover material  4  is presently sewn from a durable velour cloth. Other materials such as a heavyweight cotton fabric, CORDURA® or other fabrics or laminated/layered fabric and insulation combinations might also be used. 
         [0024]    The interior surface of the cover material  4  is lined with a fleece material  6 . A thermal insulation material  8  shown in partial cutaway at  FIG. 2 , if desired, can also be mounted between the cover material  4  and the interior fleece lining  6 . A suitable thermal insulation material  8  can for example comprise THINSULATE® or any of a variety of other cushioning and insulating materials. The fleece  6  and any provided insulation material  8  collectively provide a thermal barrier to maintain the temperature of a covered limb  9  to promote dilation of the blood vessels and blood flow through the covered extremity. 
         [0025]    The leg protector  2  when fitted to an amputated limb, such as the leg or thigh, is assembled from a number of separate pieces that are positioned to the limb and sequentially overlapped and fastened or attached to each other. When fully assembled the protector  2  covers, warms and protects the amputee&#39;s limb. 
         [0026]    With attention to  FIG. 2  and during fitting, an elongated, “H-shaped” leg or thigh piece  10  is typically laid out and the wearer&#39;s limb  9  is aligned to lie in a longitudinal center portion that defines a channel or trough space  11 . The trough space  11  exhibits a contoured curvature (e.g. arcuate) when viewed end on. The curvature is defined by a resiliently rigid, generally “U-shaped” channel or trough member  12  contained in the longitudinal center portion of the thigh piece  10 , see  FIG. 3 . Prior to mounting the protector assembly  2 , the limb  9  can be wrapped with a gauze material or other suitable cover or sock  7  can be mounted to the limb. 
         [0027]    The channel member  12  extends substantially the length of the thigh piece  10 . The channel member  12  is presently constructed of a resilient plastic material. The material is generally rigid but can flex laterally and torsionally without breaking. A variety of different plastics, KEVLAR®, polymers, compositions or metal materials can be used to form the channel member  12 . The contour of the channel shape might also be adjusted depending upon the limb and for example might be molded or formed into a preferred shape prior to or after mounting in the thigh piece  10 . Depending upon the material, heat or other external energy sources can be used to tailor contour the channel space  11 . 
         [0028]    One or both of the posterior and anterior surfaces of the channel member  12  can be covered with a layer of foam  14 . The channel member  12  mounts in a longitudinal pocket defined by lines of stitching formed between the cover and fleece liner materials  4  and  6 . The limb  9  (e.g. leg or thigh) of an amputee when fitted to the thigh piece  10  nests in the curvature of the channel space  11  and the internal fleece lining  6  and underlying foam layer  14  conform about the limb  9 . The thigh and knee are simultaneously supported in coaxial alignment with the channel space  11  and the knee is generally immobilized. 
         [0029]    Once the thigh and knee are fitted into the thigh piece  10  a space can exist at the end of the amputee&#39;s stump. A stump contact cover piece  20  is then positioned in the space to contact the distal or stump end of the limb. The stump cover piece  20  provides a fabric cover  22  and fleece liner  24  that are sewn together to contain a generally cylindrical foam pad  26 . The fleece end  24  is mounted to contact the stump end. Depending upon the length of the limb relative to the thigh piece  10 , one or more cloth covered foam filler pieces  26  can be mounted distal to the stump contact cover piece  20 , see  FIG. 4 . 
         [0030]    An end cap piece  30  having a fabric cover  32  and fleece lining  34  and containing a foam pad  36  is next fastened to the thigh cover piece  10 . Tabs of hook and loop fastener material  38  and  40  that are adhered or affixed such as by sewing to the fleece lining  34  and fabric cover material  4  of the thigh piece  8  are overlapped and fastened together to hinge the end cap piece  30  to the thigh piece  10 . The end cap piece  30  can thereby pivot relative to the distal end of the thigh piece  10  to align the foam pad  36  of the end cap  30  with the stump cover piece  20  and any filler pieces  26 . 
         [0031]    A tongue portion  42  extends from the end cap piece  30  and independently folds to mount over the anterior surface of the contained limb  9  and stump cover piece  20 . Wings or straps  43  of hook fastener material  38  laterally extend from the end cap piece  30  and separately attach to longitudinal tabs of loop fastener material  40  attached to external sides of the thigh piece  10 . Upon folding the tongue  42  over the stump end and stump cover  20  and securing the fastener straps  43  to the thigh piece  10 , the stump contact piece  20  and filler pieces  26  are held in place. 
         [0032]    The remainder of the limb protector pieces are next arranged and secured to each other to fully secure the protector assembly  2  to the amputee&#39;s limb. The thigh piece  10  is secured to the limb and end cap piece  30  with upper and lower wing or arm portions  50  and  52  and  54  and  56  that extend from longitudinal sides of the thigh piece  10 . The relatively short side arm portions  52  and  56  extend approximately 1 to 2-inches and contain tabs of appropriate hook/loop fastener material  38  or  40  sewn to the fleece lining  6 . 
         [0033]    The relatively longer upper arm portions  50  and  54  are constructed to lengths on the order of 8 to 14-inches to accommodate thighs of differing circumference. The arm portions  50  and  54  include displaced lines of sewn stitching  60  that segment and define a series of tabs  62  at each arm portion  50  and  54 . A tab  62  can be severed from the thigh piece  12  by cutting between the lines of stitching  60  or in other fashions without producing fraying at the severed edges. The paired lines of stitching  60  separate the wing arms  50  and  54  into several tabs  62  and each tab sized in a range of approximately 2 to 4 inches in length. Depending upon the amputee, one or more tabs  62  can be severed to tailor fit the length of the wings  50  and  54  to the circumference of the bound limb. The extraneous tabs  62  are severed at or between the stitching lines  60  without fraying or separation of the fabric and fleece layers  4  and  6 . It is to be appreciated single lines of stitching  60  might also be used to accommodate tailor fitting. 
         [0034]    Upon wrapping the wing arms  52  and  56  over the limb and overlapping the arms  52  and  56  with the arms  50  and  54 , tabs of appropriate hook/loop fastener material  38  or  40  sewn to the fabric cover material  4  and fleece lining  6  at the arms  52  and  56  mate with the fastener tabs at the arms  50  and  54  to secure the thigh piece  8  to the limb  9 . The overlapped arms  52  and  56  also bind the tongue portion  42  of the end cap piece  30  to the limb. 
         [0035]    One or more fabric  4  and fleece  6  covered wing extension pieces  64  (one of which is shown at  FIG. 3 ) can be fastened to the arms  50 - 56  to appropriately extend the length of the overlapping combined arm pieces  50 ,  52  and  54 ,  56  to fit amputees having thighs of large circumferences. 
         [0036]    The protector assembly  2  is further secured to an amputee&#39;s limb by additionally wrapping buckled straps  70  sewn to the cover material  4  at the wing arms  50 - 56  to independently overlap the fastened wing arms  50 - 56 . Mating buckles  72  and  74  sewn to the ends of the straps  70  are then fastened to securely attach the thigh piece  10  to the amputee&#39;s limb, see  FIG. 1 . A variety of different types of mating buckles and fasteners can be used to secure the ends of the straps  70 . 
         [0037]    A knee or patella cover piece  80  is next affixed to the thigh piece  10 . The knee cover piece  80  comprises an envelope of fabric  4  and fleece  6  material that contain a foam cushion piece  82 . Straps  84  extend from the fabric cover material  4  and support tabs of hook/loop fastener material  38  and/or  40 . The knee cover piece  80  is mounted over the wrapped thigh cover  10  to cover the amputee&#39;s knee and the straps  84  are secured to the longitudinal tabs of hook/loop fastener material  38  and/or  40  that extend along the sides of the thigh piece  10 . 
         [0038]    While the invention has been described with respect to a number of preferred constructions and considered improvements or alternatives thereto, still other constructions may be suggested to those skilled in the art. It is also to be appreciated that selected ones of the foregoing features can also be used singularly or be arranged in different combinations to provide a variety of improved therapeutic limb wear. The foregoing description should therefore be construed to include all those embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following claims.