COMPRESSION DEVICE HAVING AN INFLATABLE MEMBER WITH A POCKET FOR RECEIVING A COUNTERFORCE COMPONENT

1 . A compression foot cuff for applying compression to a foot of a wearer, the foot cuff comprising:

an inflatable member including first and second of fluid impermeable layers secured to one another to define an inflatable chamber;

a generally rigid counterforce component;

the inflatable member being formed to define a pocket receiving the counterforce component therein.

2 . A compression foot cuff as set forth in claim 1 wherein the counterforce component is received in the chamber and the pocket comprises a portion of the chamber shaped to capture the counterforce component and hold it in place with respect to the inflatable member.

3 . A compression foot cuff as set forth in claim 2 wherein the counterforce component is attached to one of the first and second layers of the inflatable member.

4 . A compression foot cuff as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a piece of material attached to an outer surface of one of the first and second layers to form the pocket.

5 . A compression foot cuff as set forth in claim 4 further comprising another piece of material attached to the outer surface of said one of the first and second layers to define another pocket, generally opposite ends of the counterforce component being received in respective pockets.

6 . A compression foot cuff as set forth in claim 4 wherein the pieces of material are heat-welded to the first fluid impermeable layer of the inflatable member.

7 . A compression foot cuff as set forth in claim 4 wherein the pieces of material are the same material as the first and second layers.

8 . A method of making a foot cuff device for applying compression to a foot of a wearer, the method comprising:

forming a bladder by joining together generally opposed first and second layers of fluid impermeable material to form a chamber;

positioning a generally rigid counterforce component in a pocket defined by the bladder so that the counterforce component is held in a selected orientation relative to the bladder in the pocket.

9 . A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein positioning the counterforce component comprises inserting the counterforce component into the chamber formed by joining the first and second layers.

10 . A method as set forth in claim 9 further comprising securing the counterforce component to one of the first and second layers in the chamber.

11 . A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising securing a piece of material to the first layer of fluid impermeable material to form the pocket on the first layer of fluid impermeable material.

12 . A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein positioning the counterforce component comprises inserting the counterforce component in the pocket after the pocket is formed on the first layer of impermeable material.

13 . A method as set forth in 10 wherein the counterforce component is received in the pocket simultaneously as the pocket is being formed.

14 . A method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising securing another piece of material to the first layer to form another pocket, opposite ends of the counterforce component being received in respective pockets.