Stabilizing apparatus for inclined legs

Stabilizing apparatus for inclined legs of a subject in a supine or reclined position, comprising:

• a) a single thigh engageable portion extending generally transversally along the width of the lap of a subject with which said apparatus is bodily engaged;
• b) two spaced flexible and tensionable appendage portions extending downwardly from a corresponding transversal end and a longitudinal central region of said thigh engageable portion;
• c) a single foot engageable portion positionable on an underlying surface;
• and
• d) two spaced elongated portions having an unchangeable length, each of which extending from a corresponding one of said two appendage portions to said foot engageable portion and being spaced apart from the other elongated portion between said corresponding appendage portion and said foot engageable portion,
• wherein each of said two appendage portions is positionable to be in contact with, or slightly spaced from, the lateral side of a thigh of said subject,
• wherein said thigh engageable portion, said single foot engageable portion, said two appendage portions, and each of said elongated portions form together only a single closed loop,
• wherein each of said elongated portions extends from a central region of a corresponding appendage portion and is suitably tensioned to resist a forward foot sliding motion and to cause said two appendage portions to engage the lateral side of a corresponding thigh of said subject to resist relative transversal motion of an inclined leg, when said subject is in a supine or reclined position.

Method for supporting legs of a user of stabilizing apparatus when they are bent at the knee and the user is in a supine or reclined position, the stabilizing apparatus configured as only a single closed loop having:

• i. a single thigh engageable portion;
• ii. two flexible and tensionable appendage portions extending from a region of a corresponding longitudinal end of said thigh engageable portion in such a way so as to be positioned symmetrically with respect to a transversally extending centerline of said thigh engageable portion;
• iii. a foot engageable portion;
• iv. an elongated portion having an unchangeable length and extending from each of said two appendage portions to said foot engageable portion;
• and
• v. a tensioning device mounted on one or both of said elongated portions, defining a first portion of said one or both of said elongated portions extending from each of said two appendage portions to said foot engageable portion and a second portion of said one or both of said elongated portions extending from said foot engageable portion to said tensioning device, for adjusting a relative length of each of said first and second elongated portions,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• a) setting said single closed loop in body engagement with the user by performing the two operations exclusively of (1) positioning said thigh engageable portion on top of a central region of the thighs of a subject in such a way so as to extend generally transversally along the width of the lap, while said two spaced appendage portions extend downwardly from a corresponding transversal end and a longitudinal central region of said thigh engageable portion so as to be in contact with, or slightly spaced from, the lateral side of a thigh of said subject, and (2) positioning said foot engageable portion under the feet of the user and in contact with an underlying surface;
• and
• b) adjusting said tensioning device to tension said two appendage portions and said one or both of said elongated portions such that said two appendage portions protrude from said corresponding longitudinal ends of said thigh engageable portion and engage either side of the user's lap to prevent relative transversal motion of the legs and that each of said elongated portions prevents the user's legs from being straightened so that they remain bent at the knee.