Referring now to the drawings, the appendage covering system 10 of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 through 13. The appendage protection system of the present invention includes an appendage cover 12 and a sleeve 14. These items are shown on a user prior to entering the shower in Figure 1. The appendage cover 12 is an enclosure or garment for placement over an appendage of the user 36. The appendage cover 12 encloses a cast, bandage 34, or fixation device on the users 36 appendage to protect them from contamination or damage. The appendage cover 12 is made of an impermeable (i.e. waterproof) plastic material shaped to fit the leg or arm of the user 36. The plastic may be a polymer or a copolymer or blends thereof and may employ a single layer or multiple layers. The cover 12 has an opening 16 (i.e. open end) for receiving the users 36 appendage there through. The cover 12 is preferably provided with a slit 18 extending from the opening 16 to provide a larger access opening for the users 36 appendage where the slit 18 may be closed by a zipper 20.
The zipper 20 may be provided with a slider 22 to make it easier for the user to open and close. It is envisioned that the zipper may be in the form of a rib and groove closure similar to those found on storage bags. One possible zipper is found in US patent 2,613,321 to Madsen, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The rib and groove strips may be formed in one piece with the cover or they may be on strips separate from the cover where the strips are then secured to the slit on the cover. The interlocking rib and groove closures provide an excellent leak proof seal. The zipper 20 need not be a rib and groove closure but may be any closure that is capable of providing a leak proof or water tight seal. The opening 16 or open end is provided with an elastic band 24 to seal around the user's limb or appendage, preventing water from entering. The purpose of the system 10 of the present invention is to allow patients with wounds, casts, or fixation devices the freedom to take showers and go into inclement weather (rain or snow) without damaging the cast or contaminating their dressing. The appendage cover 12 may be provided with a fastener at its open end to form a more effective seal against water seepage. The fastener may be in the form of a closure flap 26 with hook and loop strips 28 (i.e. Velcro, see Fig. 3). The open end of the cover 12 may be provided with a sealing member 38 on the interior surface thereof to aid in sealing between the cover 12 and the users 36 appendage (see Fig. 13). In Figure 13 the protective cover is shown without the closure flap and the zipper for clarity. The sealing member may be made of a resilient foamed plastic, silicone, rubber, or other suitable material. This material may be secured to the cover 12 by heat sealing, adhesive or other suitable methods.
The appendage cover 12 may be used in lieu of or in combination with a sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 is made of an impermeable (i.e. waterproof) plastic material and has elastic bands 24 at each end. The sleeve 14 may be formed of the same material as the cover or a different material. The sleeve 14 has openings 16 at each end to allow the appendage of the user to pass there through. The sleeve 14 is placed over the open end of the appendage cover 12 (see best in Figs. 3, 7, and 10) so that one end seals against the appendage cover 12 and the other end seals against the appendage of the user 36. The sleeve 14 provides an additional barrier against water seepage. At least one open end of the sleeve 14 may be provided with a sealing member 38 on the interior surface thereof (see Figure 12) to aid in sealing about the appendage of the user 36 and the cover 12. It is envisioned that each open end may be provided with a sealing member 38. The sealing members 38 may be made of a resilient foamed plastic, silicone, rubber, or other suitable material. This material may be secured to the sleeve 12 by heat sealing, adhesive or other suitable methods. The sleeve may be made of a tubular plastic extrusion (i.e. seamless) or the sleeve may be made of a sheet material with a seam. The seam is shown in Figs. 4 and 6 by the dotted line. The ends of the sheet may be joined together at the seam by heat sealing, adhesive or any other suitable means provided that it produces a water tight seam.
One way of deploying the system of the present invention is shown in Figure 2. The user 36 has first placed the sleeve 14 over their leg 40 (see Fig. 2) that has a bandage 34 covering a wound. Once the sleeve 14 is in place, the user 36 then inserts their foot and leg 40 into the protective cover 12. Once the zipper 20 on the slit 18 is closed and the closure flap 26 at the opening 16 (i.e. open end) is secured, the user 36 lowers the sleeve 14 over the open end of the cover 12 (see Figure 3). The foot portion 30 of the protective cover 12 may be provided with anti-slip material 44 (see Figures 4, 7, and 8) to provide the user with traction on wet and or slippery surfaces. The anti-slip material 44 may be provided in strips on the bottom surface of the foot portion or it may cover the entire bottom surface of the foot portion. The anti-slip material 44 may be made of a resilient plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone, thermoplastic elastomers, or other suitable materials. As seen in Figures 1-8, one form of the protective cover 12 is for the foot and leg 40 of a user 36. Another form of the protective cover is shown in Figures 9-11, which is for the hand and arm 42 of the user 36. The protective cover 12 has a closed end that is opposite the opening 16. The closed end is formed into either a foot portion 30 (see Fig. 8) or a hand portion 32 (see Fig. 10).
The protective cover 12 of the present invention 10 may be provided with at least one or more securing straps 46 for maintaining the cover 12 about the appendage of the user 36. These straps 46 are seen in Figures 6, 7, 9, and 11 and may be provided on either form of the present invention (i.e. foot and leg cover or hand and arm cover). The securing straps 46 shown are provided with hook and loop strips 28 (commonly referred to as VelcroŽ). The present invention may employ other fastening mechanisms on the securing straps 46. These may include but are not limited to snaps, buckles, or any other suitable fastening mechanism.
