Abstract:
A frequent method of treating Plantar Fasciitis, acute ankle sprains, Achilles tendon repairs, foot drop or other conditions is a so-called night splint which may be utilized by a patient while sleeping, or during other period of extended inactivity, to maintain a desired orientation between a patient&#39;s foot and lower leg. A night splint portion includes a thin, lightweight sole portion not suitable for walking or other weight bearing activities; however, a sturdy raised lip around the sole portion includes multiple mounting slots which temporarily mate with matching mounting tabs on a walking boot attachment which includes a sturdy weight bearing sole so that a patient may temporarily convert the night splint to a walking boot.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates in general to a treatment for a Plantar Fasciitis, acute ankle sprains, tendonitis, tendon ruptures, acute foot pain, or other conditions and in particular to a splint or boot for immobilizing the human foot and ankle. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a night splint for stretching ankle tendons, which can be converted to a durable walking boot with minimal complexity. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the area of orthotic splints, the prior art has generally evolved into two distinct designs, walking boots and splints. 
     Walking boots are generally study, heavy and designed to support the patients weight during walking or other ambulatory activities. Examples of walking boots may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,773, U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,760 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,623. Each of these devices is designed to restrict the flexing of the human foot with respect to the lower leg and frequently such boots include adjustable hinge mounts so that the amount of Dorsi flexion or Plantar flexion may be accurately described and controlled. 
     Splints on the other hand are typically lightweight and designed to be worn while the patient sleeps or during other periods of extended inactivity. Examples of splints may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,865, U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,350, U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,520 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,232. Each of these splints is lightweight and designed to be worn either with a conventional shoe or, alternatively, while the patient sleeps or during an extended period of inactivity. 
     This dichotomy between the two design philosophies has resulted in some difficulty for patients whose medical treatment requires that the movement of their foot or ankle be restricted during long periods of time, but who cannot sleep with a heavy durable walking splint in place or cannot walk while wearing a lightweight night splint. A similar problem had existed when the ankle is immobilized utilizing a plaster or fiberglass cast. Recognizing this difficulty, several inventors have attempted to provide cast protective devices, which could be slipped over the foot portion of a plaster or fiberglass cast to protect the cast while permitting the wearer some degree of mobility. Excellent examples of these devices may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,424 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,704. 
     The desirability of a lightweight night splint which may be modified to permit the patient to become ambulatory is known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,841, issued to William D. Lamont, discloses a medical boot which includes a lightweight night splint device and which includes a durable fabric material which may be temporarily attached to the bottom of the boot to permit some ambulation on the part of the patient. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,570 issued to the same inventor, discloses a boot, which may be wrapped around the night splint and patients ankle to permit the user to ambulate while wearing a night splint. 
     Upon reference to these last two patents, it should be apparent that while providing an excellent solution to the problem of ambulation while wearing a lightweight night splint, neither of these designs provides anywhere near the weight bearing durability of typical walking boot splints and consequently, it would be desirable to provide a method or system whereby a lightweight night splint may be efficiently converted to a walking boot without undue complexity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved treatment for Plantar Fasciitis, acute ankle sprains, tendonitis, tendon ruptures, acute foot pain, or other conditions. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved splint for immobilizing the human foot and ankle. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a splint for stretching ankle tendons during periods of inactivity, which can be converted to a walking boot with minimal complexity. 
     The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. A frequent method of treating Plantar Fasciitis, acute ankle sprains, tendonitis, tendon ruptures, acute foot pain, or other conditions is a so-called night splint which may be utilized by a patient while sleeping, or during other periods of extended inactivity, to maintain a desired orientation between a patient&#39;s foot and lower leg, thus stretching ankle tendons. A night splint portion includes a thin, lightweight sole portion not suitable for walking or other weight bearing activities; however, a sturdy raised lip around the sole portion includes multiple mounting slots which temporarily mate with matching mounting tabs on a walking boot attachment which includes a sturdy, weight bearing sole so that a patient may temporarily convert the night splint to a walking boot. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The present invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side pictorial view of the combination night splint and walking boot of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the night splint portion of the combination night splint and walking boot of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a rotatable hinge utilized in the combination night splint and walking boot of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cut-away side view of the rotatable hinge of FIG. 3, in a locked position; 
     FIG. 5 is a cut-away side view of the rotatable hinge of FIG. 3, in a pivoting position; 
     FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic views of the rotatable hinge of FIG. 3, demonstrating the range of adjustment possible; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the walking boot portion of the combination night splint and walking boot of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view demonstrating the joining of the night splint portion and walking boot portion of the combination night splint and walking boot of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 are partial views of the mounting slots and tabs utilized to join the night splint portions and walking boot portions of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the Figures and in particular with reference to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a side pictorial view of the combination night splint and walking boot  10  of the present invention. As illustrated, combination night splint and walking boot  10  is constructed of a lightweight material such as Titanium, Aluminum or Plastic, such as Nylon Polyurethane or Polyethylene and includes a leg brace  12  and an identical second leg brace  14  (not shown in this Figure). Mounted along leg brace  12  is a hook or loop fastener strip  16  and a similar strip is provided on the opposite leg brace. In this manner, a pair of hook or loop straps  20  and  22  may be wrapped around the lower leg of the patient and, when engaged with the hook or loop strip  16  and the second hook or loop strip, may be utilized to retain the pair of leg braces in a tight proximate position to the lower leg of the patient. 
     Mounting each leg brace  12  or  14  to combination night splint and walking boot  10  is a rotatable hinge  24 . A similar rotatable hinge  26  is also provided but not depicted in this Figure. 
     A foot support member  28  is provided and, as illustrated, is constructed utilizing a thin flat sole portion, which may be utilized to support the human foot. A walking boot attachment  30  is mounted to foot support member on  28  and includes a heel portion  32 , mid-foot portion  34 , and a toe portion  36 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, heel portion  32  and toe portion  36  are slightly inclined from the plane defined by mid-foot portion  34  in order to assist the patient in walking. 
     An instep strap  38  is illustrated which is attached to turnbuckles  40  and  42  (not shown in this Figure) and utilized to further restrain the human foot in close proximity to foot support member  28 . Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a raised lip portion  44  is depicted. As illustrated, raised lip portion  44  forms a counter around the heel area of combination night splint and walking boot  10  and extends along each side of foot support member  28 , forming the mounting surface for turnbuckles  40  and  42  (not shown in this Figure). 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, there is depicted a perspective view of the night splint portion of the combination night splint and walking boot of the present invention. As now depicted, leg braces  12  and  14  extend upward along the lower leg of the patient and are mounted to foot support member  28  by means of rotatable hinges  24  and  26 . 
     As clearly illustrated herein, raised lip portion of  44  forms a counter around the heel area of foot support member  28  and extends along each side thereof, providing a mounting surface for turnbuckles  40  and  42 . 
     In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, raised lip portion  44  also serves to provide a plurality of mounting slots. Generally rectangular mounting slots  46 ,  48  and  50  are depicted in FIG. 2; however, those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate, upon reference to the foregoing, that a greater or lesser number of slots maybe chosen. 
     With reference now to FIG. 3, there is depicted an exploded view of rotatable hinge  24 , which may be utilized in construction of the combination night splint and walking boot  10  of the present invention. Of course, rotatable hinge  26  is constructed in an identical manner. As depicted, a hinge socket  54  is integrally formed as part of raised lip portion  44 . Hinge socket  54  receives axle pin  56  through axle aperture  60  and a plurality of position pins  58  through a matching plurality of position pin apertures  62 . 
     Lock plate  64  is also illustrated in FIG.  3 . As depicted, lock plate  64  includes a lock plate axle aperture  66  and lock plate position pin apertures  68 . Each lock plate position pin  68  is aligned with a position pin aperture  62  within hinge socket  54  and receives a position pin  58 , thus prohibiting rotation of lock plate  64 . 
     An important feature of the rotatable hinge of the present invention is the provision of lock pins  70 . As depicted, two lock pins  70  are provided and, in a manner which will be explained in greater detail herein, these lock pins may be inserted into a selected lock pin aperture  80  to adjust the angular relationship between leg brace  12  and combination night splint and walking boot  10 . 
     Still referring to FIG. 3, spring  72  and axle pin cap  74  are also provided and are coaxially aligned with axle pin  56  to provide adjustment of rotatable hinge  24  in a manner which will be explained in greater detail herein. Leg brace  12  having hook or loop strip  16  attached thereto, terminates in a brace plate  78  which includes a plurality of lock pin apertures  80  and a brace plate axle aperture  82 . Axle pin cap  74  will protrude through brace plate axle aperture  82  and each lock pin  70  will be inserted into a selected one of lock pin apertures  80  to provide fixed angular adjustment as depicted below. Finally, a flexible cap  84  is provided and mounted conventionally to brace plate  78  to protect the mechanisms contained therein and provide means for adjusting rotatable hinge  24 , as explained below. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, there is depicted a cut-away side view of rotatable hinge  24  of FIG. 3, in a locked position. As depicted herein, position pins  78  prevent rotation of lock plate  64 . As illustrated, lock pins  70 , mounted to lock plate  64 , are each inserted into a lock pin aperture  80  within brace plate  78  and consequently, leg brace  12  is prohibited from rotating with respect to the combination night splint and walking boot  10  of the present invention. 
     With reference now to FIG. 5, there is depicted a cut-away side view of rotatable hinge  24  of FIG. 3, in a pivoting position. As illustrated in this Figure, flexible cap  84  has been depressed inward in the direction indicated at arrow  86 . Axle pin cap  74  compresses spring  72 , pushing lock plate  64  further onto each position pin  58 . In this position, lock pins  70  are disengaged from lock pin apertures  80  within brace plate  78 . While flexible cap  84  remains depressed in the depicted position, leg brace  12  may be rotated with respect to combination night splint and walking boot  10 . In the depicted embodiment of the present invention, six lock pin apertures  80  are provided in both the upper and lower region of brace plate  78  and each one is located in order to permit ten (10°) degrees of Dorsi flexion or Plantar flexion of combination night splint and walking boot  10  with respect to leg brace  12 . In this manner, the health professional may select a particular orientation to be maintained between the patient&#39;s foot and lower leg in accordance with the treatment regimen, which is desired. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6A-6C, there are depicted schematic views of rotatable hinge  24  of FIG. 3, demonstrating the aforementioned range of adjustment. As depicted, the positioning of lock pins  70  into selected lock pin apertures  80  may result in a ten (10°) degree Dorsi flexion or ten (10°) degree Plantar flexion. Similarly, in FIG. 6B, a twenty (20°) degree Dorsi flexion or twenty (20°) degree Plantar flexion may be obtained. Finally, as depicted in FIG. 6C, a thirty (30°) degree Dorsi flexion or thirty (30°) degree Plantar flexion may be selected, providing a wide range of treatment options to the health care professional. 
     With reference now to FIG. 7, there is depicted a perspective view of walking boot attachment  30  of the combination night splint and walking boot  10  of the present invention. As illustrated, walking boot attachment  30  is a sturdy, weight-bearing unit, which includes a heel portion  32 , a mid-foot portion  34  and a toe portion  36 . As described above, heel portion  32  and toe portion  36  are inclined slightly from the plane defined by mid-foot portion  34  to assist the patient in walking. 
     Still referring to FIG. 7, as depicted therein, walking boot attachment  30  includes a plurality of mounting tabs,  90 ,  92  and  94 . In the depicted embodiment, each mounting tab  90 ,  92  or  94 , includes a mounting tab slot,  96 ,  98  and  100 . Further, each mounting tab includes a pair of mounting tab ears. Thus, mounting tab  90  includes mounting tab slot  96  and mounting tab ears  102  and  104 . Similarly, mounting tab  92  includes a mounting tab slot  98  and mounting tab ears  106  and  108 . Finally, mounting tab  94  includes a mounting tab slot  100  and mounting tab ears  110  and  112 . Mounting tabs  90 ,  92  and  94  are preferably constructed of a sufficiently flexible material such that compression of each portion of the mounting tab toward the mounting tab slot will provide sufficient clearance so that the associated mounting tab ears may pass through an associated rectangular mounting tab slot and, once clear, may expand to form a temporary and efficient lock. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 9 and 10, there are illustrated partial views of the interaction between mounting slots and mounting tabs which may be utilized to join together the combination night splint and walking boot portions of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 9, mounting tab  92  has been compressed toward mounting tab slot  98  such that mounting tab ears  106  and  108  have passed through mounting slot  46  and thereafter expanded, forming a rigid bond between walking boot attachment  30  and foot support member  28 . Similarly, raised lip portion  44  in FIG. 10 forming the counter around the heel portion of foot support member  28  includes a mounting slot  50  which, in the matter described above, has accommodated mounting tab  94 . 
     Upon reference to the foregoing, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventor&#39;s herein have provided a lightweight night splint which may be rapidly and efficiently converted to a walking boot while maintaining a desired orientation between the patients foot and lower leg, permitting accommodation of sleep or large periods of inactivity and ambulation. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.