Patent Publication Number: US-2019175381-A1

Title: Heel lift device

Description:
This non-provisional patent application is based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/595,860 filed Dec. 7, 2017. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to a heel lift device and, more particularly, to a heel lift device comprising an elongate foam body that wraps around a user&#39;s ankle or lower leg to form a generally donut configuration around the ankle or lower leg that helps to elevate the heel above an underlying surface and eliminate pressure on the heel, thereby preventing sores. 
     Discussion of the Related Art 
     Many patients, particularly elderly patients, are confined to a bed for extended periods of time which may lead to a variety of sores and other complications. In particular, bed ridden patients are highly susceptible to heel pressure ulcers caused by the patients&#39; heel rubbing against the mattress, bed structure and other objects. 
     In the past, various devices have been proposed to address the problem of heel sores and, particularly the need to elevate the heel above the underlying bed surface. Other devices have been proposed to elevate various parts of the body, including the arms and legs. Examples of related art devices include those disclosed in the U.S. Patent to Taylor et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,382, directed to an ankle bolster, and Shields, U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,745, directed to a self elevating limb support. These devices disclosed in Taylor and Shields consist of a dense foam cylinder that is fitted to the lower leg (or arm) from just below the knee to the ankle. These devices allow the user to lie in a supine position while avoiding foot contact with the surface of the bed. However, a shortcoming of these devices is that they are designed to fit to a particular size leg. In particular, the device in Taylor has overlapping flanges on each end that are specifically designed to fit together and prevent one end from overrunning and creating a bulky or lumpy area. In the event the Taylor device were to be fitted to a larger person with thick legs, the device would leave a gap between the opposite ends. If fitted to a very thin leg, there would be some play or extra space as the flanges on the opposite ends meet together preventing the device from being tightened around the thin leg. Similarly the device in Shields does not allow for adjusted fitting to a person having very large legs or very thin legs. The device in Shields is designed to fit only a very specific sized leg. Therefore, the devices in Shields and Taylor would need to be provided in a range of sizes (e.g., small to XXL) to accommodate all users. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need for a foam device that wraps around a user&#39;s lower limb, and particularly the ankle or lower leg area, for purposes of elevating the heel to prevent contact and sores on the heel, and wherein the device is easily adjusted to accommodate a wide range of leg sizes without leaving gaps or space between the foam device and the user&#39;s leg. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a heel lift device for elevating a person&#39;s heel above a surface, such as a bed surface. In particular, the heel lift device includes an elongate resilient and cushioning body formed of an open cell polyurethane foam and having a generally square or rectangular transverse cross-section, and further including a top surface, a bottom surface, opposite side surfaces, and opposite end faces that are sloped at an angle relative to the top and bottom surfaces. The opposite end faces are angled along parallel planes relative to one another with the angle between one of the end faces and the top surface being greater than 90 degrees and the angle of the other (opposite) end face and the top surface being less than 90 degrees. In use, the bottom side is placed against the lower leg or ankle of the user and the elongate foam body is wrapped about the user&#39;s leg into generally circular or donut configuration so that at least a portion of the angled opposite end faces meet together. Next, the foam body is secured in place with one or more straps having releasable fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners. The angled end faces allow for adjusted, uniform fitting to different size legs with no gaps between the abutting end faces and no gaps between the bottom side of the device and the user&#39;s leg. When fitted on the user&#39;s leg (or ankle), the device elevates the heel and eliminates pressure on the heel to prevent sores. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view showing the heel lift device of the present invention fitted to a user&#39;s lower leg or ankle and supporting the user&#39;s heel above a bed surface so as to prevent direct contact of the heel with the bed or other objects; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the heel lift device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the heel lift device of the present invention showing an arrangement of straps with hook and loop fasteners for securing the heel lift device around the user&#39;s lower leg or ankle, as seen in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view illustrating two of the heel lift devices of the present invention connected end to end in order to provide a longer overall length to accommodate exceptionally large legs or to fit over an immobilizer device or other device worn on the user&#39;s leg. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the several views of the drawings, and initially  FIG. 1 , the heel lift device of the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as  10 . The heel lift device  10  is specifically designed to be fitted about a user&#39;s lower leg or ankle, as seen in  FIG. 1 , so that a user&#39;s heel H is elevated above a surface S, such as a bed surface, while the user is lying in a supine position. This helps to avoid contact of the user&#39;s heel H with the bed surface S or other objects, thereby eliminating pressure on the heel and preventing sores, particularly for bedridden patients. 
     The heel lift device  10  includes an elongate body  12  formed of a resilient and cushioning material. In one embodiment, the elongate body  12  is formed of an open cell polyurethane foam material that is latex free. In a preferred embodiment, the open cell polyurethane foam is breathable, and has a density of 2.8 lbs per cubic foot. The preferred embodiment of the device further provides for a polyurethane foam having 50 lb ILD (Indentation Load Deflection). 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the elongate foam body  12  of the heel lift device  10  has a generally square or rectangular transverse cross-section with a flat top surface  20 , a flat bottom surface  22  and opposite flat side surfaces  24  and  26 . Further, the opposite end faces  30 , 32  of the elongate foam body are sloped at an angle relative to the top and bottom surfaces and are preferably angled along parallel planes relative to one another. Thus, as seen in  FIG. 2 , when viewed from a side elevation and with the elongate body in a relaxed state, the elongate foam body  12  has a shape that resembles a parallelogram, but not a rectangle. 
     The top surface  20  of the foam body  12  includes a releasable fastening system  40  for securing the foam body around the user&#39;s leg, as shown in  FIG. 1 . In a preferred embodiment, the releasable fastening system  40  includes a pair of elongate straps  42  that extend from one end of the foam body  12  on the top surface. The straps  42  include one component  44  of a releasable fastening system, such as a hook and loop fastening system. The opposite end of the top surface  20  of the foam body  12  is provided with cooperating releasable fastening components  46  that releasably attach to the components  44  on the straps  42  for adjustably securing the straps  42  thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the releasable fastening components  46  are one component of a hook and loop fastening system for releasable attachment to the hook and loop fastening component  44  on the respective cooperating strap  42 . 
     In use, the bottom surface  22  of the elongate foam body  12  is placed against the user&#39;s lower leg or ankle and the foam body  12  is wrapped around the user&#39;s leg (or ankle) in a generally circular or donut configuration so that the foam body completely surrounds the user&#39;s leg. Once wrapped in this configuration, the foam body  12  is secured in place with the releasable fastening system  40 . Specifically, the straps  42  are secured to the cooperating releasable fastening component  46  on the top surface  20  of the foam body, as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     The angled end faces  30 , 32  are sloped relative to the top surface  20  and bottom surface  22 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the angle between end face  30  and top surface  20  is greater than 90 degrees, while the angle between end face  30  and bottom surface  22  is less than 90 degrees. Similarly, the angle between end face  32  and top surface  20  is less than 90 degrees while the angle between end face  32  and bottom surface  22  is greater than 90 degrees. The angled end faces  30 , 32  of the foam body  12  allow for adjusted, uniform fitting to different size legs with no gaps being left between the abutting opposite end faces  30 , 32  of the foam body  12  and no extra space between the foam body and the user&#39;s leg. When fitted on the user&#39;s leg (or ankle) the device  10  elevates the heel H, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , two of the foam bodies  12  are shown attached end to end using the straps  42  on one foam body which attach to the releasable fastening components  46  on the other foam body. This allows for a greater overall length that can be completely wrapped around larger legs or an immobilizer device or other device worn on the user&#39;s leg. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with a preferred and practical embodiment thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.