Orthopedic Boot Liner

Abstract

An orthopedic boot liner is provided that is adapted to be inserted into an orthopedic boot to absorb moisture from the foot of a wearer therein. The boot liner comprises a cushioned, moisture absorbent material that absorbs moisture and also improves comfort while wearing an orthopedic boot, such as a walker boot. The liner comprises a body portion adapted to form along the sole of a wearer's foot, the body portion having an upper surface and an underside surface. The heel end of the liner has a curved edge with an upstanding lip extending upwards therefrom to support the wearer's heel, while the mid-body portion of the liner comprises a pair of lateral wings. The pair of wings extends from the sides of the liner and form over an upper surface of the wearer's foot when the wearer's foot is within the liner

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/251,174 filed on Nov. 5, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to liners for orthopedic boots. More specifically, the present invention relates to a padded liner for an orthopedic boot that is adapted to cushion the foot of the wearer and absorb moisture therefrom.

Orthopedic boots and foot braces are common orthopedic appliances utilized after an injury or medical procedure. These devices, which include controlled ankle movement (CAM) walker boots, are utilized to support the foot and ankle of the wearer during a given recovery period while allowing the user to remove the device periodically in order to shower or apply treatments to the affected limb. Walker boots in particular allow a user to continue to walk without crutches during the recovery period, which makes these boots a highly preferable option over solid casts for a given treatment when possible. The ability to secure the foot and ankle of a user and then remove the brace when needed makes recovery more bearable for the user and improves his or her mobility.

The present invention provides a liner for orthopedic boots, including walker boots, which are adapted to absorb moisture from the sole of a wearer's foot. The liner is placed within the interior of the orthopedic boot and along the sole thereof. The liner includes wings along the sides thereof, which wrap over the wearer's foot when placed into the liner and into the boot. The body of the liner is preferably a moisture absorbent material and comprises a given thickness to improve the cushioning provided to the injured limb. Overall, the liner improves cushioning and removes moisture as a result of sweating within the boot interior. This improves comfort while wearing the boot, improving compliance and therefore assisting recovery after an injury or procedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is intended solely for the benefit of the reader and is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present invention provides a new orthopedic boot liner that can be utilized for providing convenience for the user while wearing an orthopedic boot for an injury or after a medical procedure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved orthopedic boot liner that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an orthopedic boot liner that comprises a body portion adapted to form along the sole of a wearer's foot, the body portion having an upper surface and an underside surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic boot liner wherein the body portion has a distal end, a heel end, and a mid-body portion. The heel end of the liner comprises a curved edge with an upstanding lip extending upwards therefrom to form around the heel of the wearer. The mid-body portion of the liner is disposed between the distal end and heel end, and has sides disposed along an interior edge and an outer edge of the body portion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic boot liner further comprising a pair of liner wings extending from the sides of the mid-body portion, the liner wings extending upwardly and adapted to form over an upper surface of the wearer's foot when the wearer's foot is placed against the upper surface of the body portion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic boot liner wherein the body portion is comprised of a moisture absorbent material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic boot liner wherein the body portion of the liner is adapted to form a cushion under the wearer's foot and the body portion is comprised of a singular, compressible, and moisture absorbent material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic boot liner wherein the liner wings of the liner further comprise flaps that extend around the wearer's foot and oppose one another along the upper surface of the wearer's foot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic boot liner wherein the underside surface of the liner further comprises an orthopedic boot attachment therealong that comprises adhesive.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic boot liner wherein the underside surface of the liner further comprises an orthopedic boot attachment therealong that comprises hook fastener material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic boot liner wherein the upper surface of the body portion may further comprise a raised orthotic arch support along the mid-body portion and interior edge thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopedic boot liner wherein the underside surface of the liner further comprises raised grooves extending therealong.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the liner of the present invention and a representative orthopedic boot.

FIG. 2 shows a frontal perspective view of the orthopedic boot liner in an open state.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the orthopedic boot liner in a working state, applied to the foot of a wearer.

FIG. 4 shows a rear perspective view of the orthopedic boot liner.

FIG. 5 shows an underside view of the orthopedic boot liner.

FIG. 6 shows a view of the orthopedic boot liner in a working state, applied to the foot of a wearer and positioned within an orthopedic boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the orthopedic boot liner of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for cushioning the foot of a wearer while in an orthopedic boot, and for absorbing moisture therefrom. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an exploded view of the orthopedic boot liner 20 of the present invention. The orthopedic boot liner 20 comprises a body portion adapted to form along the sole of a wearer's foot, the body portion having an upper surface 21 and an underside surface 22. The body portion has a distal end 25, a heel end 26, and a mid-body portion 27. The distal end 25 supports the toes of a wearer, and mid-body portion 27 supports the sole and arch of the wearer, while the heel end 26 is adapted to support the heel end of the wearer. The upper surface 21 comprise a substantially flat, unfeatured surface, or alternatively the upper surface may comprise a raised arch support portion 35 therealong. The arch support portion 35 comprises a raised orthotic arch support along the mid-body portion 27 and along the interior edge 34 of the liner 20.

The heel end 26 of the liner 20 may comprise an upstanding lip 31 therealong, whereby the lip 31 conforms to the heel of the wearer when the wearer's foot is positioned within the liner 20. The lip 31 extends upwards and around the heel end 26 of the liner 20 to ensure the liner 20 and the wearer's foot do not slide relative to one another. Along the mid-body portion 27 is furthermore a pair of liner wings 40 that extend upwards and over the foot of a wearer. Together, the wings 40 and the lip 31 along the heel end 26 form a foot opening 50 that accepts the wearer's foot therethrough. Along the distal end 25 end of the liner 20 is also an opening to allow the user's toes to be exposed therealong.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the pair of liner wings 40 extend upwards from the mid-body portion 27 and from an interior edge 34 and an outer edge of thereof. The liner wings 40 are flexible flap members extending upwardly that are adapted to form over an upper surface 85 of the wearer's foot 80 when the wearer's foot 80 is placed against the upper surface 21 of the liner 20. The wings 40 secure around the wearer's foot 80 when the liner 20 and the wearer's foot 80 are disposed within an orthopedic boot 100.

An exemplary embodiment of the orthopedic boot is shown in FIG. 1. The liner 20 serves as a cushion and a moisture absorbing liner within the boot, whereby the boot is one that braces, supports, or immobilizes the wearer's foot. The boot 100 may include securing straps 108, a boot sole 105, and an open upper 101. The liner 20 is positioned along the boot sole 105 and the liner 20 receives the wearer's foot 80 therein. Preferably, the body of the liner 20 is comprised of a moisture absorbent material and one that is adapted to form a cushion under the wearer's foot 80. The material may comprise a singular, compressible material, or alternatively the material of the liner 20 may comprise a composite of different materials. The liner 20 is compressible to cushion the wearer while walking, and is preferably moisture absorbent to absorb sweat and moisture from the wearer's foot while the boot 100 is in use.

The lip 31 along the heel end 26 of the liner 20 extends upwards from the upper surface 21 of the liner 20 and stops short of the wearer's ankle 81. The lip 31 extends along the heel 83 of the wearer's foot 80 to secure the heel 83 therein, while the ankle 81 is exposed along the opening 50 of the liner 20. Similarly, the toes 86 of the wearer's foot 80 are also exposed along the distal end 25 of the liner 20. This allows for more breathability, and furthermore assist the user inserting his or her foot into the liner 20 prior to or while entering the boot 100.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown an embodiment of the liner 20. Along the lower surface 22 thereof, the liner 20 may comprise one or more features that secure the liner 20 within the boot interior. The first of these comprises elongated raised ridges 29 extending a length of the liner body portion. The raised ridges 29 act as tread within the boot interior, and furthermore allow the liner material to compress into the spaces between the ridges 29 when the user places weight onto the liner 20. The ridges 29 are raised portions extending partially or extending the entire length of the liner 20, whereby between the ridges 20 are valleys that can receive the compressed material of the liner. The ridges 29 and valleys also act as tread to reduce movement of the liner 20 in the boot.

In addition or in lieu of the raised ridges 29, the lower surface 22 of the liner 20 may comprise an orthopedic boot attachment therealong. The attachment may comprise adhesive, hook and loop fastener material, or similar attachment devices that are not substantially thick between the lower surface 22 of the liner 20 and the boot sole. The orthopedic boot attachment is positioned between the liner 20 and the boot, and is used to secure the lower surface 22 of the liner 20 thereto. This prevents relative movement. The adhesives may secure the liner 20 thereto, while hook and loop fastener material provides a more readily removable connection therebetween. Alternative attachment devices are contemplated.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a view of the liner 20 disposed within the interior of an orthopedic boot 100. As shown, the liner 20 cushions the wearer's foot and secures therearound. The liner 20 if positioned within the boot 100 and separates the wearer's foot from the sole area of the boot. This adds cushion to the boot and allows the liner 20 to wick sweat from the wearer's foot. The wings extend over the foot and the toes of the foot are exposed. The straps 80 of the boot 100 are used to secure the foot and the liner 20 within the boot interior.

It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) An orthopedic boot liner, comprising:

a body portion adapted to form along the sole of a wearer's foot, the body portion having an upper surface and an underside surface;

the body portion having a distal end, a heel end, and a mid-body portion;

the heel end comprising a curved edge with an upstanding lip extending upwards therefrom;

the mid-body portion being disposed between the distal end and heel end, and having sides disposed along an interior edge and an outer edge of the body portion;

a pair of liner wings extending from the sides of the mid-body portion, the liner wings extending upwardly and adapted to form over an upper surface of the wearer's foot when the wearer's foot is placed against the upper surface of the body portion.

2) The orthopedic boot liner of claim 1, wherein the body portion is comprised of a moisture absorbent material.

3) The orthopedic boot liner of claim 2, wherein the body portion is further adapted to form a cushion under the wearer's foot and the moisture absorbent material of the body portion is further comprised of a compressible material.

4) The orthopedic boot liner of claim 1, wherein the liner wings further comprise flaps that extend around the wearer's foot and oppose one another along the upper surface of the wearer's foot.

5) The orthopedic boot liner of claim 1, wherein the underside surface further comprises an orthopedic boot attachment therealong that comprises adhesive.

6) The orthopedic boot liner of claim 1, wherein the underside surface further comprises an orthopedic boot attachment therealong that comprises hook fastener material.

7) The orthopedic boot liner of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the body portion further comprises a raised orthotic arch support along the mid-body portion and interior edge thereof.

8) The orthopedic boot liner of claim 1, wherein the underside surface of the liner further comprises raised ridges extending a length of the body portion.