Support for a user's leg

Abstract

A support adapted to be placed on a person's leg such that it can contact the backs of the user's upper and lower leg includes a surface that is conformed to the user's leg, renders the support more comfortable to use and more effective in supporting the user's leg. The support is structured so that any tendency for the support to move or rotate relative to the user's leg is minimized. The support may include a raised portion or is otherwise shaped to inhibit movement or rotation. The support may have a first surface portion shaped to conform to a calf area of the rear of the lower leg and a second surface portion shaped to conform to an Achilles tendon area of the rear of the lower leg.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A support for a leg of a person, the support comprising: 
 a body formed at least partially with a flexible resilient filler material, the body having a first surface and an opposed second surface, the first surface being adapted to engage a rear portion of a lower leg and the second surface being adapted to simultaneously engage a rear portion of an upper leg when the support is mounted to a leg of a user; and    at least one raised portion disposed on the first surface, the at least one raised portion being adapted to inhibit movement or rotation of the support relative to the leg.    
     
     
         2 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised portion is defined by a peripheral region of the first surface.  
     
     
         3 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised portion comprises a first raised portion adapted to lie adjacent to the one side of the lower leg and a second raised portion adapted to lie adjacent to another side of the lower leg.  
     
     
         4 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the first surface has a first surface portion having a first shape and a second surface portion longitudinally spaced from the first surface portion, the second surface portion having a second shape that is different from the first shape.  
     
     
         5 . The support according to  claim 4 , wherein the first shape is defined at least in part by a first radius of curvature and wherein the second shape is defined at least in part by a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature being greater than the second radius of curvature.  
     
     
         6 . The support according to  claim 4 , wherein the first shape defines generally a U-shape and the second shape defines generally a V-shape.  
     
     
         7 . The support according to  claim 4 , wherein the first and second portions are contiguous.  
     
     
         8 . The support according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second surface portions defines at least a portion of the at least one raised portion.  
     
     
         9 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is tapered such that the first and second surfaces converge from an end adapted to lie furthest away from a knee to an end adapted to lie closest to the knee.  
     
     
         10 . The support according to  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment device coupled to the body for securing the support directly to the leg.  
     
     
         11 . The support according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised portion is formed integral with the body.  
     
     
         12 . A support for a leg of a person, the support comprising: 
 a body formed at least partially with a flexible, resilient filler material, the body having a thickness adapted to allow simultaneous engagement of both a rear portion of an upper leg and a rear portion of a lower leg when the person's knee is flexed; and    an outer surface defined by the body, the outer surface including a first surface adapted to engage the rear portion of the lower leg and a second surface adapted to engage a rear portion of the upper leg, the first surface being shaped to inhibit movement or rotation of the support relative to the leg.    
     
     
         13 . The support according to  claim 12 , wherein the first surface has a first surface portion having a first shape and a second surface portion longitudinally spaced from the first surface portion, the second surface portion having a second shape that is different from the first shape.  
     
     
         14 . The support according to  claim 13 , wherein the first shape is defined at least in part by a first radius of curvature and wherein the second shape is defined at least in part by a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature.  
     
     
         15 . The support according to  claim 13 , wherein the first shape defines generally a U-shape and the second shape defines generally a V-shape.  
     
     
         16 . The support according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second surface portions are contiguous.  
     
     
         17 . The support according to  claim 12 , wherein the first surface has a first surface portion and a second surface portion and wherein one of the first and second surface portions is adapted to inhibit movement or rotation of the support relative to the leg.  
     
     
         18 . The support according to  claim 12 , wherein the body is tapered such that the first and second surfaces converge from an end adapted to lie furthest away from the knee to an end adapted to lie closest to the knee.  
     
     
         19 . The support according to  claim 12 , further comprising an attachment device coupled to the body for securing the support directly to the leg.  
     
     
         20 . A support for a leg of a person, the support comprising: 
 a body formed at least partially with a flexible, resilient material, adapted to support the leg, the body having a thickness adapted to allow simultaneous engagement of both a rear portion of an upper leg and a rear portion of a lower leg when the person's knee is flexed; and    an outer surface defined by the body, the outer surface including a first surface adapted to engage the rear portion of the lower leg and a second surface adapted to engage a rear portion of the upper leg, the first surface having a first surface portion shaped to conform to a calf area of the rear of the lower leg and a second surface portion shaped to conform to an Achilles tendon area of the rear of the lower leg.    
     
     
         21 . The support according to  claim 20 , wherein the first surface portion defines generally a U-shape and the second surface portion defines generally a V-shape.  
     
     
         22 . The support according to  claim 21 , wherein the first and second surface portions are contiguous.  
     
     
         23 . The support according to  claim 21 , wherein the second surface portion is adapted to inhibit movement or rotation of the support relative to the leg.  
     
     
         24 . The support according to  claim 20 , wherein the body is tapered such that the first and second surfaces converge from an end adapted to lie furthest away from the knee to an end adapted to lie closest to the knee.  
     
     
         25 . The support according to  claim 20 , further comprising an attachment device coupled to the body for securing the support directly to the leg.