Elbow or heel protector

Claim 1

An elbow or heel protector for providing cushioning to confined bed patients and the like, said protector comprising (a) a tubular sleeve stretchable in both longitudinal and circumferential directions and being adapted to provide a snug fit over the arm or foot of the patient, (b) pad means positioned within said sleeve to receive and cushion the patient's elbow or heel, said pad means being of substantially U-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration in the central portion thereof and including (1) opposite side panels of resilient foam material defining opposite sides of said U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, each of said side panels including an upper peripheral edge and a pair of converging lower edges extending from said upper peripheral edge, (2) a pair of superpositioned substantially rectangular bottom panels of resilient foam material including opposite sides and opposite ends and defining the bottom of said U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, (3) first seam means connecting together corresponding opposite ends of said superpositioned substantially rectangular bottom panels of resilient foam material, and (4) second seam means connecting said lower edges of said opposite side panels to the corresponding opposite sides of the lowermost of said superpositioned substantially rectangular bottom panels of resiient foam material, the opposite sides of the uppermost of said substantially rectangular bottom panels of resilient foam material being free of connection to said side panels and covering said second seam means to prevent contact of the patient with said second seam means, and (c) means securing said pad means in position within said sleeve.