Patent Document

PROTECTIVE AND INSULATING COVER FOR AN INJURED LIMB 
     This invention relates to a cover for an injured limb, and more particularly, to a temporary protective cover for use on a limb, such as a leg temporarily covered by a cast or ace bandage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many people suffer limb injuries. Anyone who breaks, sprains, or otherwise injures a foot, leg, or ankle must wear a protective item such as a cast or an ace bandage over the injured area. Each of these protective items can interfere with the wearing of normal foot wear such as a sock or a shoe. Furthermore, people who have bunions may not comfortably be able to wear normal foot apparel. One problem that a person, who wears such a protective item frequently encounters, is that exposed body part can get cold or dirty. 
     In order to solve the problem of exposure, many cast covers are known. These other cast covers, which exist on the market, do not have the combination of necessary traits, which solves the problems of protection from dirt and cold. 
     A protective cast cover must have at least six desirable qualities. Firstly, it must protect the toes or other exposed areas from cool or inclement weather. Secondly, it must keep the exposed body parts and the (usually white) cast as clean as possible. 
     Thirdly, a cover must be easily be put on and removed in a manner that reduces foot movement as much as possible. Fourthly, any cover must accommodate walking casts with rubber soles in the bottom. Fifth, the cover must be able to adjust to the size of the cast so it is not bulky or unsightly. Sixth, the cover must be washable, in order to be effectively reusable. 
     If all of these features are maximized, the desired durability of the cover may not be obtained. In fact, to maximize all of the desired traits, while not sacrificing the other desirable traits, can result in a very useful protective cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a cast cover, that keeps the exposed areas of the body warm and dry in cool or inclement weather. 
     A further objective of this invention is the provision of a cast cover that keeps the cast and exposed areas of the body clean. 
     Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of a cast cover that is easily applied and removed so that foot movement and pain are reduced as much as possible. 
     Still a further objective of this invention is the provision of a cast cover which can accommodate walking casts with rubber soles. 
     Another objective of this invention is the provision of a cast cover which can adjust to different sizes of casts so it is not bulky or unsightly. 
     Yet another objective of this invention is the provision of a cast cover that is washable. 
     Still, another objective of this invention is the provision of a cast cover which is breathable. 
     Also, an objective of this invention is the provision of a cast cover which is durable. 
     These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a protective and insulating cast cover made from fleece or other material which is stretchy and warm with a double layer of material at the toes and hook and loop fasteners at the top, thereby forming a cast cover, which is warm, easily applied and removed, adjustable, and decorative. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a front perspective view of protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a side view of protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a top perspective view of protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts an exploded view of protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention 
         FIG. 5  depicts a top perspective view of protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention showing the hook and loop assembly  150 . 
         FIG. 6  depicts a bottom plan view view of bottom panel  120  for protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a top plan view of top panel  140  for protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a top plan view of top toe panel  160  for protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a bottom plan view of bottom toe panel  166  for protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 10  depicts a side view of protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention with the rubber sole  110  option included. 
         FIG. 11  depicts a top perspective view of protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention with an elastic panel  170 . 
         FIG. 12  depicts a top perspective view of protective and insulating cast cover  100  of this invention extended into a foldable tongue panel  180 . 
       Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with the present invention, a protective and insulating cast cover is provided. Any material that is warm, stretchy, washable, breathable, and durable is suitable for the protective and insulating cast cover. Furthermore, a lighter weight material such as cotton is suitable for a cover designed solely to keep the cast clean and decorated. In a preferred form, the cast cover has a composition involving a single layer of material covering most of the cast or injured limb, with a double layer of material covering the toes or other exposed areas of the limb. 
     However, for a cover designed to accommodate a walking cast, a cut must be made in the sole of the cover. A useful material must not fray or otherwise be weakened when cut. A fleece material is the most preferred choice because it does not fray when cut. 
     The cast cover or cover for an injured limb of the present invention combines into one design many of the advantages, which combination is lacking in the prior art. Unless otherwise specified, cast cover and cover for an injured limb are used interchangeably. 
     There are at least six outstanding advantages of this cast cover. First, the cast cover protects exposed areas of the limb from cool or inclement weather. Second, the cast cover helps to keep exposed areas of the limb clean. Third, the cast cover is easily put on and removable to prevent pain and movement in the foot. Fourth, a fleece cast cover can be cut to accommodate a walking cast without fraying. Fifth, the cast cover can adjust to different sizes of casts so that it is not bulky or unsightly. Sixth, the cast cover is washable. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 , a protective and insulating cast cover  100  is placed over a limb in a cast  102 . The cast cover  100  is composed of material  104  that is both insulating and elastic. The insulating nature of the material  104  ensures that exposed areas of the limb will be protected from inclement weather. 
     The difference between  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3  is in the tab position. Top ankle tab  146  and bottom ankle tab  126  can secured to each other in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 3 , on the tongue  136  is hook and loop assembly  150  to receive top ankle tab  146  and bottom ankle tab  126 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , both the protective and insulating nature of cast cover  100  become clear. A majority of the cast is covered by a single piece of the material  104 . This covering helps to keep the cast clean and dry and also serves a decorative purpose. Top toe panel  160  in top panel  140  and bottom toe panel  166  in bottom panel  120  provide and extra layer of protection and insulation for the exposed areas of the limb. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , one feature of cast cover  100  is the hook and loop assembly  150 . The flexible nature of the material  104  and the hook and loop assembly  150  make it easy to put on and remove the cover and thus, reduce foot movement and pain in the process. The hook and loop assembly  150  can be undone to provide maximum room for sliding into or removing cast cover  100 . Furthermore, the elasticity of the material  104  means that the cover  100  can be stretched to accommodate different sizes of cast  106 . Bottom ankle tab  126  and top ankle tab  146  can be adjusted as fasteners on tongue  136  to ensure a snug fit around the ankle. Thus, cast cover  100  is well fitted and not bulky or unsightly. 
     Top panel  140  includes top ankle tab  146  with top toe end  148  oppositely disposed therefrom. Likewise, bottom panel  120  has bottom ankle tab  126  with bottom toe end  128  oppositely disposed therefrom. Top ankle tab  146  and bottom ankle tab  126  can secure to each other ( FIG. 5 ) or to the tongue  136  if desired and hook and loop assembly  150  is present ( FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , bottom panel  120  and top panel  140  adds to the well fitting nature of cast cover  100 . Bottom panel  120  is designed to allow the material  104  to adjust to the contour of the heel. Top panel  140  allows cast cover  100  to adjust to the curves on the top portion of the limb. Therefore, cast cover  100  is decorative instead of bulky and unsightly. Furthermore, there is not an excess of material that can cause tripping or injury. 
     For example, when the limb is a foot, bottom panel  120  extends over the sole of the foot and up the heel. The top panel  140  extends over the foot with the tongue  136  extending up the shin. Bottom ankle tab  126  and top ankle tab  146  reach over tongue  136  and are secured thereto or to each other by hook and loop assembly  150  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the extra insulation and protection from top toe panel  160  and bottom toe panel  166  become clear. Both top toe panel  160  and bottom toe panel  166  are secured Top Side of Cover  162 , Bottom Side  164  Bottom Toe Panel:  166  This added layer helps to ensure that exposed areas of the limb stay clean, warm, and dry. 
     With  FIG. 10 , the optional form, a rubber sole  110  is incorporated into the bottom of the cast cover  100 . The rubber sole  110  provides traction, durability, and extra protection on the bottom of cast cover  100 . Thus, a person who is able to walk on the injured limb can use the invention on outdoor, rough, or slick surfaces without risking further injury. 
     With  FIG. 11  protective and insulating cast cover  100  includes an elastic panel  170  extending partially along the area, where bottom panel  120  and top panel  140  separate at panel seam  142 . Elastic panel  170  combines with the stretchable material of protective and insulating cast cover  100  in order to an even greater ease putting on or taking off the same. 
     In  FIG. 12 , tongue  136  of top panel  140  is extended into a foldable tongue panel  180 . Pleat  182  adds more material and padding for the top of protective and insulating cast cover  100 . Thus, increased protection is added to the limb protected thereby. 
     This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings being combined—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention as disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
     Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and device can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.

Technology Category: 1