Foot rest, method for the manufacture thereof, device including the foot rest, and therapeutic method using the same

Abstract

A foot rest including: a foot receptacle, the foot receptacle including a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion intersects the second portion; a cross-member disposed on a first side of the first portion; and a bucket connector disposed on the first side of the first portion of the foot receptacle, wherein the cross-member is proximate an end of the first portion and the bucket connector is distal to the end of the first portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foot rest comprising:
 a foot receptacle comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion intersects the second portion; and   a cross-member disposed on a first side of the first portion,   wherein the foot rest is a single unitary indivisible part.   
     
     
         2 . The foot rest of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is configured to accept a sole of a foot, and wherein the second portion is configured to accept a heel of a foot. 
     
     
         3 . The foot rest of  claim 1 , wherein the foot rest consists of a single material. 
     
     
         4 . The foot rest of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the foot receptacle are perpendicular. 
     
     
         5 . The foot rest of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is contoured such that a middle portion of an edge of the first portion is thicker than an end portion of the first portion and thicker than a middle portion of the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The foot rest of  claim 1 , further comprising a bucket connector disposed on a first side of the first portion of the foot receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The foot rest of  claim 6 , wherein the cross-member and the bucket connector are a single unitary indivisible part. 
     
     
         8 . A therapy device comprising,
 a bucket; and   the foot rest of  claim 1  disposed on the bucket.   
     
     
         9 . The therapy device of  claim 8 , wherein the foot receptacle engages a rim of the bucket and the cross-member engages an inner surface of the bucket. 
     
     
         10 . The therapy device of  claim 8 , wherein the therapy device is a single unitary indivisible part. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a foot rest for therapy, the method comprising molding a foot rest, the foot rest comprising:
 a foot receptacle comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion intersects the second portion; and   a cross-member disposed on a first side of the first portion,   wherein the foot rest is a single unitary indivisible part.   
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a therapy device, the method comprising molding the therapy device of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of assembling a therapy device, the method comprising disposing a foot rest on a bucket to assemble the therapy device, the foot rest comprising:
 a foot receptacle comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion intersects the second portion; and   a cross-member disposed on a first side of the first portion,   wherein the foot rest is a single unitary indivisible part.   
     
     
         14 . A method of therapy, the method comprising:
 providing the therapy device of  claim 8 ;   disposing a composition having a temperature of about −20° C. to about 50° C. in the bucket; and   immersing an ankle in the composition to administer therapy to the ankle.   
     
     
         15 . The method of therapy of  claim 14 , wherein the composition is ice water. 
     
     
         16 . A therapy device comprising:
 a bucket; and   a foot rest on the bucket, the foot rest comprising
 a foot receptacle comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion intersects the second portion, and 
 a cross-member disposed on a first side of the first portion, wherein the bucket and the foot rest are a single unitary indivisible part. 
   
     
     
         17 . The therapy device of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion is configured to accept a sole of a foot, and wherein the second portion is configured to accept a heel of a foot. 
     
     
         18 . The therapy device of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion and the second portion form an angle of about 120° to about 80°.