Crutch cover

Abstract

1. The Crutch Cover is a square shaped, mitten-like (with no thumbs) cover made of thick, polyester batting covered by soft fleece fabric. The dimensions are approximately 10″ long, by 10″ wide by 2″ thick. 2. The Crutch Cover is designed for people who use crutches, typically after experiencing leg surgery or a broken leg bone. When a person uses crutches, the top part of the crutch can make the user's armpit, side arm and side ribcage sore and uncomfortable. This discomfort arises from the constant rubbing of the crutch top against the user's body. The Crutch Cover creates a soft cushion around the top 10″ of the crutch, thereby, protecting the person's armpit, side arm and ribcage side. 3. The Crutch Cover easily slides over the top portion of the crutch. It fits snugly in place. No pins, elastic, buttons, pull cords, elastic or flaps are needed to hold the Crutch Cover is place. The thick polyester batting is sewn in place. It is not removable, nor will it fall out of the Crutch Cover. The thickness of the batting is consistent throughout the entire cover.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. The field of endeavor of the Crutch Cover is 135.73. Its purpose is to provide relief from the pain and soreness associated with the use of crutches. The pain and soreness typically is in the user's armpit, side arm and ribcage side.

2. The Crutch Cover fits snugly over the top of the crutch. Once in place, it will not move.

3. When a person uses crutches, the top part of the crutch can make the user's armpit, side arm and side of ribcage uncomfortable. The discomfort arises from the constant weight of the person rubbing against the pad.

4. The Crutch Cover creates a soft cushion around the top of the crutch pad; thereby, protecting the armpit. Since the length of the crutch cover reaches 10″ in length, it also protects the person's side arm. The Crutch Cover has padding on both sides so it also protects the person's ribcage side. The Crutch Cover easily slides over the crutch top and fits snugly into place.

5. The Crutch Cover is machine washable on the delicate cycle. Tumble dry on low is recommended.

6. The Crutch Covers described in this patent application differ from those crutch covers already patented. In other patents, the crutch covers are held in place by elastic, a cord, hook and loop fasteners (Velcro), flaps, or adhesive. The Crutch Covers described in this patent application fit snugly in place by their design. None of the above items are needed to hold it in place. The bottom edge does not have to be gathered or pulled together tightly. Other patented crutch covers have varying degrees of padding throughout the cover. This Crutch Cover has the same amount of padding throughout the entire cover. Additional layers of padding cannot be added.

The padding in this Crutch Cover cannot be removed since it is sewn into the cover.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

7. The Crutch Cover is a square shaped, mitten-like cover. It is made from thick polyester batting covered by soft fleece. The bottom of the square is open. This is the part that slides over the crutch top. The batting and fleece is on both sides of the Crutch Cover as well as the top. There is comfort on all sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

8. FIG. 1 depicts the Crutch Cover by its frontal view. The shape is essentially a square. FIG. 1 also presents the approximate dimensions of the invention. FIG. 1 does not depict the softness of the Crutch Cover. Since the Crutch Cover is very simple, I believe only one view is necessary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

9. I invented the Crutch Cover in July 2004 after a family member had knee surgery. Initially, he complained of the soreness in his armpit and side arm, as well as the side of his ribcage. I created the Crutch Cover by sewing a mitten-like structure (with no thumb) by covering thick, polyester batting with soft fleece. The batting and fleece are on both sides as well as over the top of the crutch. The bottom of the Crutch Cover is open. This enables the Crutch Cover to slide over the top of the crutch. Shortly after using the Crutch Covers, the family member stated he noticed significant improvement in the soreness of his armpits, arm sides and ribcage side.

10. Shortly thereafter, I made Crutch Covers for a friend and also for a neighbor. These individuals experienced a significant decrease in the soreness of their armpits, side arms and ribcage sides as well.

11. The Crutch Cover is a mitten-shaped (with no thumb) square. It measures 10″ long by 10″ wide and is about 2″ thick.

12. The Crutch Cover slides over the top of the crutch. The cover fits snugly over the top of the crutch. Therefore, no buttons, elastic, pins, pull cords or Velcro are needed to hold the Crutch Cover in place. The Crutch Cover does not have to be pulled tight at the bottom to stay in place.

13. The Crutch Cover is manufactured with a rectangular piece of fleece fabric measuring approximately 20″ long by 12″ wide. A piece of polyester batting measuring 18″ by 12″ is placed on top of the fleece leaving 1″ of fleece showing on each end. The fleece and batting are sewn together along each side lengthwise. The fleece/batting combination is folded in half widthwise with the batting on the outside. A single line of straight stitch is sewn down each side of the fleece/matting creating a 1″ seam allowance. The mitten-shape is now formed. The Crutch Cover is turned right-side out so that the batting and seams are now on the inside of the cover. A straight stitch is sewn along the bottom of the batting around the entire Crutch Cover. This secures the bottom of the batting to the fleece. The bottom, open-ended portion of the fleece is zigzagged stitched to prevent the fleece from fraying. This step is added as a precaution since fleece fabric typically does not fray. The Crutch Cover is ready to use.

Claims

1. The Crutch Cover is a square, mitten-shaped (with no thumbs) pad that easily slides over the tops of many styles of crutches. The Crutch Cover fits snugly over the top of the crutch and stays in place due the snug fit. No Velcro, pins, buttons, pull-cords or elastic are needed to hold the Crutch Cover in place.

2. The Crutch Cover measures approximately 10″ in length, 10″ in width and 2″ in depth. It is made of soft, machine-washable fleece fabric and lined with thick polyester batting. The batting is sewn into the “fleece” mitten. It is not removable and will not fall out of the Crutch Cover. The thickness of the batting is consistent throughout the entire cover.

3. The Crutch Cover minimizes or even eliminates the soreness of a person's armpit, side arm and side rib cage due to the use of crutches.

4. Laundering directions are: Machine washable on the delicate cycle; tumble dry on low.