Cast cover

Abstract

A protective cover for a cast. Exemplary embodiments include a cover for a lower arm cast including an optional thumb cover. Exemplary embodiments may be constructed from resilient foam located within a protective shell, and the protective shell may include fasteners arranged to retain the cast cover around the cast. An exemplary thumb cover includes a plurality of pockets, each of which holds a thumb pad. The exemplary thumb cover may be installed on the cast prior to installing the cast cover, and the thumb cover may extend through an opening in the cast cover.

1 . A method of protecting a cast with a protective cover:
 arranging a cast cover at least partially around a cast, the cast cover including an outer shell, a resilient core received within the outer shell, a cast cover fastener, and a thumb opening;   installing a thumb cover over a thumb portion of the cast, the thumb cover being arranged through the thumb opening of the cast cover; and   securing the cast cover in place around the cast by coupling the cast cover fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cast cover fastener comprises a hook-and-loop fastener; and   wherein coupling the cast cover fastener comprises coupling the hook-and-loop fastener.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thumb cover comprises a generally hollow truncated cone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thumb cover comprises a plurality of adjacent pockets containing a respective plurality of pads. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thumb cover is installed over the thumb portion of the cast prior to securing the cast cover in place around the cast. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thumb cover in installed over the thumb portion of the cast after securing the cast cover in place around the cast. 
     
     
         7 . A method of protecting a cast with a protective cover:
 providing a core of flexible and elastic foam sized to at least partially cover a cast;   receiving the core within an outer shell including a portion sized to receive the core such that the core is substantially covered by the outer shell;   arranging the outer shell about the cast;   attaching a plurality of fasteners associated with the outer shell, the plurality of fasteners being arranged to retain the outer shell about the cast; and   installing a thumb cover over a thumb portion of the cast, the thumb cover being arranged through an opening in the cast cover.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the plurality of fasteners comprises at least one hook-and-loop fastener; and   wherein attaching the plurality of fasteners to the outer shell comprises coupling the hook-and-loop fastener.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein installing the thumb cover over the thumb portion of the cast comprises wrapping at least one strap extending from the thumb cover at least partially around the outer shell. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein providing the core comprises selecting the core from a plurality of available cores based at least in part upon one or more of desired thickness, desired rigidity, and desired elasticity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the portion sized to receive the core comprises a pocket including an opening edge; and   wherein receiving the core within an outer shell comprises
 receiving the core within the pocket via the opening edge and 
 securing the opening edge using at least one fastening device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the thumb cover is installed over the thumb portion of the cast before the outer shell is arranged about the cast. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the thumb cover is installed over the thumb portion of the cast after the outer shell is arranged about the cast. 
     
     
         14 . A method of protecting a cast with a protective cover:
 inserting a core of flexible and elastic foam at least partially into an outer shell, the outer shell adapted to at least partially cover a cast;   coupling the outer shell about the cast by fastening a plurality of fasteners associated with the outer shell; and   installing a thumb cover over a thumb portion of the cast, the thumb cover being arranged through an opening in the cast cover.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the plurality of fasteners comprises at least one hook-and-loop fastener; and   wherein fastening the plurality of fasteners to the outer shell comprises coupling the hook-and-loop fastener.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising
 removing the core from the outer shell;   cleaning at least one of the core and the outer shell; and   installing one of the core and a replacement core in the outer shell.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the thumb cover is installed over the thumb portion of the cast before the outer shell is coupled about the cast. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the thumb cover is installed over the thumb portion of the cast after the outer shell is coupled about the cast.