Apparatus and method for a prosthetic foot cover

A prosthetic foot cover adapted for use on a prosthetic foot having a sagittal plane and a plantar surface having an arch, said prosthetic foot cover comprising:

• (a) a first cover component, said first cover component having a first internal cavity, a plurality of first cover grooves, and a plurality of first cover holes, and said first cover component being adapted to receive and cover a first portion of the prosthetic foot;
• (b) a second cover component, said second cover component having a second internal cavity, a plurality of second cover grooves, and a plurality of second cover holes, and said second cover component being adapted to receive and cover a second portion of the prosthetic foot;
• (c) a means for removably attaching the first cover component to the second cover component around the prosthetic foot;
• wherein the first internal cavity has a first internal cavity contacting surface that directly contacts substantially all of the plantar surface of the first portion of the prosthetic foot including the arch;
• and wherein the second internal cavity has a second internal cavity contacting surface that directly contacts substantially all of the plantar surface of the second portion of the prosthetic foot including the arch;
• and wherein the first cover component and the second cover component are removably attached to each other along the sagittal plane of the prosthetic foot;
• and wherein the first cover component and the second cover component are entirely discrete from each other;
• and wherein the foot cover is composed of a homogeneous linear spring rate material that produces a variable stiffness due to the substantially increasing/decreasing cross-sectional thickness along the length of the foot cover;
• and wherein the foot cover substantially encapsulates the volume of the lower prosthetic foot member providing substantial support around the contacting surfaces to allow uniform transition in ground reaction forces for smooth rollover and improved feedback;
• and wherein the prosthetic foot cover provides support to the prosthetic foot along substantially the entire plantar surface including the arch.

A method for covering a prosthetic foot having a sagittal plane and a non-planar plantar surface, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a prosthetic foot cover, said prosthetic foot cover comprising:
• (i) a first cover component, said first cover component having a first internal cavity and being adapted to receive and cover a first portion of the prosthetic foot;
• (ii) a second cover component, said second cover component having a second internal cavity and being adapted to receive and cover a second portion of the prosthetic foot;
• (iii) a means for removably attaching the first cover component to the second cover component around the prosthetic foot;
• wherein the first internal cavity has a first internal cavity contacting surface that directly contacts substantially all of the non-planar plantar surface of the first portion of the prosthetic foot;
• and wherein the second internal cavity has a second internal cavity contacting surface that directly contacts substantially all of the non-planar plantar surface of the second portion of the prosthetic foot and wherein the first cover component and the second cover component are entirely discrete from each other;
• and wherein the foot cover is composed of a homogeneous linear spring rate material that produces a variable stiffness due to the substantially increasing/decreasing cross-sectional thickness along the length of the foot cover;
• and wherein the foot cover substantially encapsulates the volume of the lower prosthetic foot member providing substantial support around the contacting surfaces to allow uniform transition in ground reaction forces for smooth rollover and improved feedback;
• (b) installing the prosthetic foot cover on the prosthetic foot.