IP Library Granted Patent US 9,844,484
Granted Patent B2
US 9,844,484 · App. 14/206,395 · Granted Dec 19, 2017

Heel protector and corresponding rehabilitation systems and methods for using the same

Inventors: David S Noskowicz (Spring Grove, IL); Margaret Falconio-West (Round Lake, IL)
Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
A61H9/005A61H9/0092A61H2201/0111A61H2201/0214A61H2201/0257A61H2201/164A61H2201/165A61H2201/169A61H2201/5002A61H2205/106
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,844,484
App. No.
14/206,395
Granted
Dec 19, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device ( 900 ) includes a leg engaging section ( 101 ) and a foot engaging section ( 102 intersecting at a heel receiver ( 103 ). The leg engaging section and the foot engaging section defining a leg insertion aperture ( 104 ). A first compression wrap member ( 301 ) and a second compression wrap member ( 302 ) extend from the leg engaging section. An inflatable bladder ( 501 ) can be disposed along the leg engaging section between the leg insertion aperture and a compressible cushion layer ( 902 ). The inflatable bladder can be selectively inflatable through a connection tube ( 502 ) exiting the inflatable bladder at a non-orthogonal angle ( 504 ) relative to an edge ( 507 ) of the inflatable bladder. The leg engaging section can define at least one channel ( 1002 ) to permit the connection tube to exit the device.

Claims (29)

1. A device, comprising:

a leg engaging section and a foot engaging section intersecting at a heel receiver, the leg engaging section and the foot engaging section defining a leg insertion aperture, at least the leg engaging section comprising a compressible cushion layer;

a first compression wrap member and a second compression wrap member, disposed interior to a first side of the leg engaging section and a second side of the leg engaging section, affixed to and extending from the leg engaging section;

one or more fastening straps extending from sides of the leg engaging section; and

an inflatable bladder disposed along the leg engaging section between the leg insertion aperture and the compressible cushion layer, the inflatable bladder selectively inflatable through a connection tube exiting the inflatable bladder at a non-orthogonal angle relative to an edge of the inflatable bladder;

the leg engaging section defining at least one channel to permit the connection tube to exit the device.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more other fastening straps affixed to and extending from the foot engaging section.

3. The device of claim 2 , the one or more fastening straps comprising four fastening straps, with at least one fastening strap extending from a first side of the device, while other fastening straps extend from another side of the device.

4. The device of claim 2 , the first compression wrap member defining a proximal edge, a distal edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the second side edge defining a plurality of attachment tabs.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional inflatable bladder disposed along the leg engaging section between the leg insertion aperture and the compressible cushion layer, the at least one additional inflatable bladder selectively inflatable through at least one additional connection tube exiting the at least one additional inflatable bladder at another non-orthogonal angle relative to at least one edge of the at least one additional inflatable bladder.

6. The device of claim 5 , the leg engaging section defining at least one additional channel to permit the at least one additional connection tube to exit the device.

7. The device of claim 6 , the inflatable bladder and the at least one additional inflatable bladder is configured to be sequentially inflatable.

8. The device of claim 6 , the connection tube and the at least one additional connection tube coupled to a common tube exterior to the device.

9. The device of claim 6 , the connection tube and the at least one additional connection tube coupled to a common tube interior to the device.

10. The device of claim 1 , the compressible cushion layer comprising one of an organic batting or an inorganic batting surrounding a first tube and a second tube.

11. The device of claim 10 , the first tube disposed to a first side of a medial line of the leg engaging section, the second tube disposed to a second side of the medial line.

12. The device of claim 1 , the inflatable bladder disposed within a pocket of the leg engaging section.

13. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a port extending from at least one channel at an angle relative to a side of the device.

14. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a strain relief fitting disposed about the connection tube at an exterior of the device.

15. The device of claim 1 , the first compression wrap member and the second compression wrap member disposed interior of a first side and a second side of the leg engaging section.

16. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a bolster to stabilize the device rotationally.

17. The device of claim 16 , the device comprising a fastener disposed on an exterior of the leg engaging section, the bolster comprising a complementary fastener disposed on an exterior of the bolster.

18. A device, comprising:

a leg engaging section comprising a central panel and a first side and a second side extending from the central panel, the first side and the second side defining a leg insertion aperture;

one or more compression straps affixed to and extending from the central panel interior to the first side and the second side; and

an inflatable bladder disposed along the leg engaging section, the inflatable bladder selectively inflatable through a connection tube exiting the inflatable bladder at a non-orthogonal angle relative to an edge of the inflatable bladder;

the leg engaging section defining at least one channel to permit the connection tube to exit the device.

19. The device of claim 18 , further comprising a second inflatable bladder, serially inflatable with the inflatable bladder.

20. The device of claim 18 , the first side and the second side each comprising fastening straps to couple the first side and the second side together.

Assignments (6)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2026
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075643/0462 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071672/0100 →
CONVERSION OF ENTITY FROM CORPORATION TO LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Recorded Oct 31, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
Reel/Frame 057977/0567 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057927/0091 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058040/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2014
From: NOSKOWICZ, DAVID S; FALCONIO-WEST, MARGARET
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 032417/0477 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 13757233 · Feb 1, 2013
Continuation In Part 13649920 · Oct 11, 2012
Provisional Application 61781682 · Mar 14, 2013
Related Publication 20140194796A1 · Jul 10, 2014