Royce Medical Company

Other

Thomas A Kasper

Tracy E Grim

William G Lucas

Gus A Singas

A skeleton ball comprising a plurality of loops woven together into a spheroidal grid derived from polyhedral geometry. The loops comprise elongated rod, strand or tube elements joined at the ends subsequent to the weaving process. Only one joint per loop element is required. The grid's connections are frictionally secured through mutual flexural deformation of loops as a result of the weaving process. The frictionally-secured connections allow some embodiments to be collapsed or folded flat through relative sliding motion of loops. Relative sliding motion of loops also allows enlargement of grid openings so the ball may be used as a tote or container. The ball may be designed for bouyancy without need for inflation. The ball is suitable as a swimming or aquatic exercise aid affixed to the limbs through relative sliding of loops. The ball may be fabricated from widely available materials with little capital equipment or material preparation; modification or adaption of the ball to meet a diverse range of applications is discussed.

Skeleton ball

An improved, lightweight and removable leg walker is provided for stabilizing and rapidly healing lower leg injuries of a patient. The injured limb is disposed in a removable inner ankle bootie whose interior is partially covered with inflatable support bladders. While the foot is secured within the booties, it is then inserted into and additionally supported by a removable soft goods-type support. The soft goods-type support is securely attached to a walker frame by a combination of strap fasteners with Velcro attachments. Inflatable bladders are located along the inner surfaces of two strut bases and raised heel strip. A tongue portion of the soft goods-type support also includes an inflatable bladder which provides additional support to the injured limb. These inflatable bladders encourage proper circulation from the lower leg to the heart. The walker frame comprises a pair of strut bases and struts in order to prevent inversion and eversion of the ankle. The full length sole portion of the walker is novelly constructed of two halves joined together. This construction is structurally superior to other walkers and braces insofar as it costs less and weighs less than other walkers currently manufactured. The heel portion of the sole also is constructed to form a cantilever spring, shock absorbing element.

Removable leg walker

A fluid bladder including a check valve inturned within the bladder. The bladder is formed of two thin sheets of plastic material sealed together around the periphery of the bladder. The check valve is formed of an extended mating pair of strips of the same two sheets of plastic overlying one another and heat bonded together by a high frequency electric field along two substantially parallel lines to form a central flow channel with a closed gap-free configuration. In forming the check valve, at least one pair of electrodes are employed, and insulating material is used to enclose the electrodes so that the two sheets of plastic material are maintained parallel and in contact with one another during welding and the subsequent cool-down interval, thereby assuring reliable check valve operation.

Sheet plastic check valve technique

A combined check valve and relief valve assembly for permitting the free of a fluid in a first direction and for selectively preventing backflow. Backflow occurs only upon depression of a compression spring-loaded cylindrical valve actuator housed within the valve body. The valve assembly comprises a valve body having an inlet and outlet port which are adjacent to an upper and lower cylindrical bore respectively, thus providing a flow path. A resilient duckbill valve is mounted within the cylindrical bores. A compression spring-loaded valve actuator is also received, lossely, within the valve body and is provided with a stem at the end of the valve actuator, proximate to the opening of the duckbill valve. Fluid passing through the upper cylindrical core around the valve actuator opens the lips of the duckbill valve permitting free passage therethrough. Back pressure seals the lips of the duckbill valve so that the valve becomes a check valve. Depression of the valve actuator, however, causes the stem thereof to penetrate and open the valve lips to selectively permit backflow to provide the relief valve function.

Growing community of inventors

Agoura Hills, CA, United States of America

Thomas A Kasper