Rehabilitation boots with dual air bags and dual inflation devices

Abstract

Rehabilitation boot which features: a bowl (10) which has: a base (11); and a stretchable sleeve (13) extending upwards from the base (11) and exhibits: a rear section; two lateral sections, each arranged on opposite sides of the rear section; and at least one slot (132) extending downwards from an upper part of the expandable sleeve (13) to divide an upper part of the expandable sleeve (13) into several separating parts (133, 134), each of the at least one slot (132) being crossed by at least one removable rib (135) extending transversely across the slot (132) to join two adjacent separating parts (133, 134), and which can be removed; and a front opening (12) formed on a front side of the shell (10); and a lining (20 / 20A) arranged in the shell (10); a front rail (30) that covers the front opening (12) of the shell (10) and is connected to the shell (10) via several straps (40); two inflation devices (60), each attached to the two lateral sections of the expandable sleeve (13); and two air bags (50 / 50A) which are arranged in the shell (10) adjacent to the two lateral sections of the expandable sleeve (13), each of the two air bags (50 / 50A) being in fluidic communication with one of the two inflation devices (60) via a respective hose (55 / 55A) and being configured such that it can be inflated and emptied by the respective of the two inflation devices (60).

Description

1. Area of ​​the utility model

[0001] The present utility model relates to an orthopedic boot, in particular a rehabilitation boot with dual air bags and dual inflation devices, which can be expanded laterally. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] A rehabilitation boot is an orthopedic brace that provides stable support to an injured or weakened joint, muscle, or bone in cases of sprains and fractures of the ankle. The rehabilitation boot aids recovery after surgery and is suitable for acute sprains, stress fractures, and stable fractures of the foot or ankle.

[0003] A rehabilitation boot known from the prior art comprises a rigid shell, a lining arranged within the shell and configured to enclose an injured body part of a patient, and a front splint connected to the shell by straps to cover it. However, because the shell is rigid and has a fixed shape, it is difficult to expand. If the broken leg swells, it becomes difficult to place the swollen and broken leg into the shell, or it may be compressed by the shell, which is uncomfortable for the patient.

[0004] Furthermore, the rehabilitation boot known from the prior art can also include an air sac arranged within the shell and an inflation device located on the outside of the rehabilitation boot. The inflation device is in fluidic communication with the air sac via a hose. The inflation device can be compressed to inflate the air sac, thus providing individually tailored compression support to increase comfort and reduce leg edema. However, the hose for the fluidic connection between the air sacs and the inflation device is long, easily bent or twisted, and can be easily compressed by the patient's leg. This can easily cause the hose to become blocked when the inflation device is compressed, hindering inflation of the air sac.Furthermore, the compression support provided by a single air bag is uneven and limited.

[0005] In order to overcome the disadvantages of the rehabilitation boot known from the prior art, the present utility model provides a rehabilitation boot with dual air cushions and dual inflation devices to mitigate or eliminate the aforementioned problems.

[0006] The main purpose of the present utility model is to provide a rehabilitation boot that gives patients with injured legs a comfortable wearing experience.

[0007] The rehabilitation boot comprises a shell, a liner, a front splint, two inflation devices, and two air bags. The shell includes a base, an expandable sleeve extending upward from the base, and a front opening formed at its front. The expandable sleeve includes a rear section, two lateral sections on opposite sides of the rear section, and at least one slot extending downward from the top of the expandable sleeve to divide the upper part of the sleeve into several compartments. Each slot is crossed by at least one removable rib extending across the slot to connect two adjacent compartments. The liner is arranged within the shell. The front splint covers the front opening of the shell and is connected to the shell by several straps.The two inflation devices are each attached to the two lateral sections of the expandable sleeve. The two air bags are arranged within the shell and are each adjacent to the two lateral sections of the expandable sleeve. Each air bag is connected via a hose to one of the two inflation devices and is configured to be inflated and deflated by the inflation device.

[0008] Further tasks, advantages and novel features of the utility model will become more understandable based on the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings. Drawings: Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rehabilitation boot according to the present utility model; Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the rehabilitation boot from Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of the rehabilitation boot made of Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 4 is a rear view of the rehabilitation boot made of Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 5 is a side view of a shell with inflation devices of the rehabilitation boot made of Fig. 1; Fig. Figure 6 is a rear view of the shell with inflation devices of the rehabilitation boot made of Fig. 5; Fig. Figure 7 is a rear view of the rehabilitation boot in Fig. 1, which shows that the removable ribs next to its top have been removed; Fig. Figure 8 is a rear view of the rehabilitation boot made of Fig. 1, which shows that all removable ribs have been removed; and Fig. Figure 9 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment of a rehabilitation boot according to the present utility model.

[0009] With reference to the Fig. 1 to 4, a rehabilitation boot according to the present utility model comprises a shell 10, a lining 20, a front splint 30, several straps 40, two air bags 50 and two inflation devices 60.

[0010] With reference to the Fig. In sections 1 to 4, the shell 10 is rigid and can be made of a plastic material. The shell 10 comprises a base 11, an expandable sleeve 13, and an anterior opening 12. The base 11 is configured to accommodate a patient's foot. The expandable sleeve 13 is integral with the base 11, extends upward from the base 11, and is configured to partially surround a patient's lower leg. The expandable sleeve 13 comprises a posterior section and two lateral sections, each located on opposite sides of the posterior section. The anterior opening 12 is formed on the front face of the shell 10.

[0011] With reference to the Fig. 1 to 4, the lining 20 is made of a soft material, configured to enclose the foot and lower leg, and is arranged in the shell 10. The front rail 30 covers the front opening 12 of the shell 10 and is connected to the shell 10 by several spaced-apart straps 40.

[0012] With reference to the Fig. 3 to 6, the two inflation devices 60 are each attached to the two lateral sections of the expandable sleeve 13. The two air bags 50 are arranged in the shell 10 and are each adjacent to the two lateral sections of the expandable sleeve 13. Each air bag 50 is in fluidic communication with one of the inflation devices 60 via a respective hose 55 and is configured such that it can be inflated and deflated by the inflation device 60. Each inflation device 60 comprises a bellows 61, which is configured such that it can be repeatedly pressed to pump air into the air bag 50, and a deflation valve 63, which is configured such that it can be pressed to release the air from the air bag 50.

[0013] Since the rehabilitation boot has two air bags 50 arranged on opposite sides of the shell 10, each air bag 50 is connected via a corresponding hose 55 to a corresponding inflation device 60. Adjacent to the inflation device 60, each hose 55 is short with a simple path and cannot be bent or compressed. This allows the hoses 55 to remain unobstructed and free from clogging. Therefore, air can be pumped into the air bags 50 without hindrance.

[0014] Since the rehabilitation boot includes two air bags 50 on opposite sides, each connected to two inflation devices 60, the two air bags 50 can be individually inflated or deflated. This allows the lower leg to be securely and stably fixed in the shell 10 without slippage, the compression pressures of the two air bags 50 can be individually adjusted, and wearing comfort can be improved. If only one side of the lower leg is swollen, the air bag 50 on that side can be fully inflated to compress and splint the swollen area, while the other air bag 50 can be only slightly inflated.

[0015] With reference to the Fig. In sections 3 and 5 to 8, the expandable sleeve 13 further comprises at least one slot 132 extending downwards from a top surface of the expandable sleeve 13 to divide an upper part of the expandable sleeve 13 into several partitions 133, 134. Each slot 132 is crossed by at least one removable rib 135 extending across the slot 132 to connect two adjacent partitions 133, 134. Each removable rib 135 can be removed. When the partitions 133, 134 are connected via the at least one removable rib 135, the upper part of the expandable sleeve 13 is restricted and difficult to expand. When the removable rib 135 is removed, the upper sections of the adjacent two separating parts 133, 134 can be easily moved away from or towards each other, so that the upper part of the stretchable sleeve 13 is easily adjustable to change the tightness for better comfort.

[0016] Preferably, the expandable sleeve 13 comprises several spaced-apart slots 132. Each slot 132 is crossed by several removable ribs 135 that extend over the slot 132 and are arranged downwards at intervals. In this embodiment, the expandable sleeve 13 comprises two slots 132, each arranged between the rear section and the two side sections. That is, the separating element 133 is formed on the upper section of the rear section, and the separating elements 134 are each formed on the upper sections of the side sections. Each slot 132 is crossed by two removable ribs 135 that are arranged downwards at intervals.

[0017] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, if the user wishes to expand the extendable sleeve 13 only slightly, only the removable rib 135, located at the top of a slot 132 or at each slot 132, is removed. Therefore, the two adjacent separating parts 133, 134 on the lower sections of the extendable sleeve 13 remain connected and can only be moved slightly apart. This limits the expansion range of the extendable sleeve 13. As shown in Figure 7, the user only needs to remove the removable rib 135. Fig. As shown in Figure 8, all removable ribs 135 can be removed if the user wishes to increase the extension range of the extendable sleeve 13. Accordingly, the user can determine the number of removable ribs 135 to be removed according to the size of the injured lower leg.

[0018] With reference to the Fig. 5 and Fig. Preferably, each removable rib 135 is a disposable component and has a cutting groove 136 formed in one side of the removable rib 135 and extending from a top to a bottom of the same. Therefore, the removable rib 135 can be removed by simply cutting along the cutting groove 136.

[0019] With reference to Fig. 3. The two air bags 50 can be arranged between the shell 10 and the lining 20 and are detachably attached to the shell 10 via Velcro fasteners 56. This allows the air bags 50 to be fixed inside the shell 10 without slipping.

[0020] With reference to Fig.9 In a further embodiment, the two air bags 50A can be arranged in the lining 20A. Each tube 55A extends from the air bag 50A and out of the lining 20A to be in fluidic communication with the inflation device 60. Therefore, when the button 61 of each inflation device 60 is repeatedly pressed, the air bag 50A inside the lining 20A is inflated, causing the lining 20A to expand and compress the lower leg. Additionally, the lining 20A can be detachably attached to the shell 10 by means of hook-and-loop fasteners 56.

[0021] In summary, the expandable sleeve 13 of the shell 10 comprises slots 132 with removable ribs 135, so that the expandable sleeve 13 can retain its shape without the need to remove the removable ribs 135 and can expand after some or all of the removable ribs 135 have been removed. Therefore, the swollen lower leg is not severely compressed by the expandable sleeve 13. The wearing comfort of the rehabilitation boot of the present utility model application can be improved accordingly. Furthermore, the expandable sleeve 13 can be compressed by tightening the straps 40, so that the expandable sleeve 13 can be adjusted according to the healing stage of the injured lower leg.

[0022] Furthermore, the rehabilitation boot includes two air bags 50 located on opposite sides, each in fluidic communication with the two inflation devices 60, allowing each air bag 50 to be inflated and deflated independently. Each tube 55 in the shell 10 is short and simply routed to maintain unimpeded flow without clogging.

Claims

[1] Rehabilitation boot which features: a bowl (10) which has: a base (11); and a stretchable sleeve (13) extending upwards from the base (11) and exhibits: a rear section; two lateral sections, each arranged on opposite sides of the rear section; and at least one slot (132) extending downwards from an upper part of the expandable sleeve (13) to divide an upper part of the expandable sleeve (13) into several separating parts (133, 134), each of the at least one slot (132) being crossed by at least one removable rib (135) extending transversely across the slot (132) to join two adjacent separating parts (133, 134), and which can be removed; and a front opening (12) formed on a front side of the shell (10); and a lining (20 / 20A) arranged in the shell (10); a front rail (30) that covers the front opening (12) of the shell (10) and is connected to the shell (10) via several straps (40); two inflation devices (60), each attached to the two lateral sections of the expandable sleeve (13); and two air bags (50 / 50A) which are arranged in the shell (10) adjacent to the two lateral sections of the expandable sleeve (13), each of the two air bags (50 / 50A) being in fluidic communication with one of the two inflation devices (60) via a respective hose (55 / 55A) and being configured such that it can be inflated and emptied by the respective of the two inflation devices (60). [2] Rehabilitation boot according to claim 1, wherein the two air bags (50) are arranged between the shell (10) and the lining (20). [3] Rehabilitation boot according to claim 2, wherein the two air bags (50) are detachably attached to the shell (10) via Velcro fasteners (56). [4] Rehabilitation boot according to claim 1, wherein the two air bags (50A) are arranged in the lining (20A). [5] Rehabilitation boot according to claim 3, wherein the lining (20A) is detachably attached to the shell (10) via hook and loop fasteners (56). [6] Rehabilitation boot according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the expandable sleeve (13) has several spaced-apart slots (132); and each of the slots (132) is crossed by several of the removable ribs (135) which are arranged downwards at intervals. [7] Rehabilitation boot according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the expandable sleeve (13) has two of the slots (132) arranged between the rear section and the two lateral sections of the expandable sleeve (13); and each of the slots (132) is crossed by two of the removable ribs (135) arranged at downward intervals. [8] Rehabilitation boot according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the removable ribs (135) has a cutting groove (136) formed in a side of the removable rib (135) and extending from a top to a bottom of the removable rib (135).

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