# US 7,883,486 B2 · Protective pad for use with an orthopedic brace > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,883,486 B2 - Document ID: US7883486B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/873,470 - Filed: 2007-10-17 - Published: 2009-04-23 - Granted: 2011-02-08 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-17 - Inventors: Deborah A. O'Keefe; Susan D. Rosprim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7883486B2 ## CPC - A61F 13/041: {Accessories for stiffening bandages, e.g. cast liners, heel-pieces} - A61F 5/028: {Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports} - A61F 13/148: {Abdomen bandages or bandaging garments} - A61F 15/008: {Appliances for wound protecting, e.g. avoiding contact between wound and bandage (corn plasters A61F13/063)} - A61F 2013/00272: {protection of the body or articulation} - A61F 2013/00395: {from skin abrasion} - A61F 2013/00634: {foam} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A conformable pad (100) for use under an orthopedic brace includes an upper edge (101) having a straight dimension and a lower edge (108) having an uneven dimension with at least one wide section (101) and at least one narrow section (115). The pad (100) further includes a first edge (117) having a straight dimension and positioned adjacent to the at least one wide section (101) and a second edge (119) also having a straight dimension and positioned adjacent to the at least one narrow section (115) such that the first edge (117) is longer than the second edge (119). The invention is advantageous for use with orthopedic braces in order to prevent friction and irritation created by the brace against the user's skin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A low friction resilient foam pad that frictionally holds upon itself for use under a substantially rigid orthopedic brace comprising: a first straight side edge configured as a first end of the pad; a second straight side edge narrower in width than the first straight side edge and configured as a second end of the pad; a top edge having a substantially straight dimension and configured to be oriented as the top of the pad; a bottom edge having an uneven dimension and configured to be oriented as a bottom of the pad such that between the top edge and bottom edge is a first width positioned adjacent to the first end of the pad, a second width is positioned inwardly from the first width so the second width is wider in dimension than the first width, a third width positioned adjacent to the second width that is substantially the same dimension as the first width, and a fourth width that is narrower in dimension then the first width and is positioned adjacent to the second end of the pad; and wherein one side of the pad is a textured foam that faces the user's body and the opposite side of the pad is a non-textured nylon that faces outwardly from the user's body such that when the pad is wrapped around the user, the foam material engages with itself when expanded for holding the textured foam and non-textured nylon into a substantially fixed position when wrapped around the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 1, wherein the second width is the widest section of the pad. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 1, wherein the first width is approximately 20 cm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 1, wherein the second width is approximately 28 cm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 1, wherein the third width is approximately 20 cm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 1, wherein the fourth width is approximately 13 cm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 1, wherein the first end is approximately 20 cm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 1, wherein the second end is approximately 12 cm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 1, wherein the first end and the first width are substantially the same length. ### Claim 10 A conformable pad for use under an orthopedic brace comprising: an upper edge of the pad having a substantially straight dimension configured to be oriented as the top of the pad; a lower edge of the pad having an uneven dimension configured to be oriented as a bottom of the pad such that between the upper edge and lower edge is a first width positioned adjacent to a first end of the pad, a second width is positioned inwardly from the first width so the second width is wider in dimension than the first width, a third width positioned adjacent to the second width and a fourth width that is narrower in dimension then the first width and is positioned adjacent to a second end of the pad such that the first end of the pad is substantially wider in dimension than the second end of the pad; and wherein the first end of the pad, the first width and the third width are substantially the same dimension. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A conformable pad for use under an orthopedic brace as in claim 10, wherein one side of the pad is a textured foam that faces the user's body and the opposite side of the pad is a non-textured nylon that faces outwardly from the user's body such that when the pad is wrapped around the user, the foam material engages with itself when expanded for holding the textured foam and non-textured nylon into a substantially fixed position without fasteners when wrapped around the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A conformable pad for use under an orthopedic brace as in claim 10, wherein the second width is the widest section of the pad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A conformable pad for use under an orthopedic brace as in claim 10, wherein the fourth width is the narrowest section of the pad. ### Claim 14 A conformable pad for use under an orthopedic brace comprising: an upper edge of the pad having a substantially straight dimension configured to be oriented as the top of the pad; a lower edge of the pad having an uneven dimension configured to be oriented as a bottom of the pad such that between the upper edge and lower edge is a first width positioned adjacent to a first end of the pad, a second width is positioned inwardly from the first width so the second width is wider in dimension than the first width and is configured as the widest section of the pad, a third width positioned adjacent to the second width and having substantially the same dimension as the first width, and a fourth width that is the narrowest dimension of the pad and is positioned adjacent to a second end of the pad such that the first end of the pad is substantially narrower in dimension than the second end of the pad; and wherein the first width and the third width are substantially the same size. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A conformable pad for use under an orthopedic brace as in claim 14, wherein one side of the pad is a textured foam that faces the user's body and the opposite side of the pad is a non-textured nylon that faces outwardly from the user's body such that when the pad is wrapped around the user, the foam material engages with itself when expanded for holding the textured foam and non-textured nylon into a substantially fixed position without fasteners when wrapped around the user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A conformable pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 14, wherein the first width and third width are approximately 20 cm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A conformable pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 14, wherein the second width is approximately 28 cm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A conformable pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 14, wherein the fourth width is approximately 13 cm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A conformable pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 14, wherein the first end of the pad is approximately 20 cm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A conformable pad for use with an orthopedic brace as in claim 14, wherein the second end of the pad is approximately 12 cm.