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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 803,634, filed Dec.
2, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,673, which is a continuation-in-part of
Ser. No. 687,909, filed Dec. 31, 1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,003. This
invention relates generally to stretchable wrap sheets which are
adjustable; and more particularly concerns an improved device which is
adjustably wrappable through a wide range of wrap sizes, and easily
attaches to the body of the user, as for example to his knee joint region
or elbow joint region, and at the same time allows flexibility of the
joint, as during walking, and may be used for holding cold or hot packs in
place.
There is need for means to quickly and adjustably wrap about body joints,
limbs, etc., characterized by a wide range of wrap sizes, and for means to
adequately hold cold or hot packs in place on the bodies of users; and
this need is critical as respects user's limbs which are required to flex,
in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a major object of the invention to provide an apparatus meeting the
above need, and which also provides additional advantages such as ease of
attachment, ease of detachment; blockage of heat transfer from the pack to
the exterior (i.e. away from the user's body), and blockage of heat
transfer from the exterior to the pack, while it is retained in position;
and flexibility and stretchability of the sheet, to best conform to the
in-place pack as well the user's body to which it is wrapped or retained,
in use. Basically, the device comprises:
(a) an insulative, flexible, relatively thin sheet that is bi-directionally
stretchable, the sheet including a first elastomeric layer, and a second
layer of pile fabric attached to and substantially covering one side of
the first layer,
(b) the sheet adapted to be adjustably wrapped and to be adjustably
tensioned, about a user's anatomy, and there being hook elements carried
by the sheet to removably attach to said second layer at any position of
wrap adjustment of the sheet.
As will appear, the sheet preferably has stretchability, and is in at least
partly stretched condition in use, conforming to the shifting position of
the user's body (such as a limb), allowing the user to walk about with his
joint compressively wrapped or to flex his wrapped arm, and the wrap
easily affords different degrees of compression exertion on the body.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved device of
the above character, wherein the thin sheet comprises an insulative,
flexible, stretchable layer of material such as elastomer, foamed rubber
being usable, and pile fabric covering one side of the elastomer layer, to
allow a wide range of attachment points for hook tab means carried by the
sheet.
It is further object of the invention to provide an anchor for the pack, as
for example a hole or holes in the main portion of the sheet, as will
appear.
Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a single device to
hold multiple hot or cold packs, as adjacent the upper chest and upper arm
of the human wearer.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the
details of illustrative embodiments, will be more fully understood from
the following specification and drawings, in which:
DRAWING DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a wrap-type retention device incorporating the
invention:
FIG. 2 is a section on lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the sheet wrapped about the knee
of a user;
FIG. 4 is a section on lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a modified wrap;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on lines 6--6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 and 8 are cross sections showing different extents of stretchable
wrapping and compression exertions;
FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 7, showing another use of the wrap;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of yet another modified wrap;
FIG. 11 is like FIG. 1, and shows a modified device;
FIG. 12 is like FIG. 11, and shows a further modification; and
FIG. 13 is a view showing application of the FIG. 11 device to a human
wearer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the drawings, the hot or cold pack retention device 10 comprises an
elongated, insulative, flexible, relatively thin sheet 11 having two
generally parallel elongated legs 12 and 13 joined to a sheet main portion
14. The latter may have oppositely extending stub legs 15 and 16, as
shown, to be covered by the legs 12 and 13, during wrapping, as in FIGS. 3
and 4. The sheet is preferably stretchable to conform closely to the hot
pack 20 positioned over the body extent (such as a knee 17, or elbow joint
or neck) for comfortably holding the pack in such position during flexing
of the joint, or body, as during walking or arm flexing. In this regard,
the pack 20 may consist of a flexible bag 21 containing cold or warm
water, and may contain ice pieces. The bag tubular neck 31 is typically
rigid, and mounts a removable cap 32.
The sheet main portion 14 is provided with an anchor to anchor the pack in
position when the sheet main portion is placed over the joint, as is seen
in FIG. 1. Note that the sheet main portion is sized to substantially
cover and grip the bag, when the latter is partially flattened, as in FIG.
3, with liquid therein. The bag is gripped for example due to the fact
that the sheet includes or comprises an underlayer 23 of elastomer, such
as foamed rubber (NEOPRENE) of a thickness between 1/32 and 1/4 inch. Such
material is stretchable bi-directionally (in all directions) to best
conform to the user's flexing joint and to the shifting position of the
bag liquid contents, while tensioned, in use.
Attached to the layer 23 (as by adhesive at 25) is an upper or outer layer
24 of fabric having outward facing hook or pile element construction, to
attach to pile or hook elements, respectively proximate the ends of the
legs, during wrapping. Such elements are indicated at 26 and 27 at the
underside of the leg extension 12a and 13a, in FIG. 1, and they removably
attach, as by finger pressure, to any portion of the outer surface 24a of
the layer 24, during wrap-up. Accordingly, the leg extension may be
positioned anywhere over the surface 24a of layer 24 on legs 12 or 13, or
the main portion 14 of the body, for maximum comfort and adjustably, and
in conformance with retention of the bag 21 in curved or other position,
over the body joint, or body surface.
The anchor may be generally centrally located on main body portion 14, and
may with unusual advantage comprise a through opening or hole 30 through
portion 14, sized to loosely, i.e. fittingly receive the tubular neck 31
of the bag 21, slipped through the opening. A cap 32 is shown on the neck,
and is removable to change the liquid contents of the bag. Legs 12 and 13
wrap over the pack 20, at opposite sides of the neck and cap, to leave it
exposed for such liquid change; at the same time, the sheet is anchored to
the neck, as described, and the bag is comfortably retained in position on
the ailing or bruised joint, the legs 12 and 13 being slightly tensioned.
Removal of the wrap is very simple, to allow complete removal of the bag
21, as described, and subsequent replacement. It will be noted that the
sheet is insulative, to block heat access from the exterior to the bag, in
the case of a cold pack, and to block heat escape to the exterior (i.e.
away from the joint), in the case of a hot pack.
The sheet 11 may consist of the commercial product known as STARSKIN, 3 mm
#1 smooth skin plush royal 403, produced by St. Albans Rubber Ltd., St.
Albans, Herts, England.
In FIGS. 5 and 6, the wrap 50 for a user's anatomy includes an insulative,
flexible, relatively thin, elongated sheet 51 that is bi-directionally
stretchable. It includes a first (inner elastomeric layer 52 corresponding
to layer 23, and a second and thinner (outer) layer of fabric 53 having
outward facing hook or pile construction 53a (preferably pile) to attach
to pile or hook elements (preferably hooks) 54 as on tabs 55 carried by
the sheet, as at one end thereof. Layer 52 is bonded to the fabric 53.
Preferably the pile construction covers or substantially covers or extends
throughout the major length of layer 52.
Such construction enables great versatility or adjustability of the wrap,
both as to exertion of a wide range of compressive forces, and use of the
same wrap on a wide range of joint or limb sizes. Thus, as shown in FIG.
7, the wrap extends over limb 56, and extends about 370.degree. about the
limb; in FIG. 8, the same wrap has been stretched about the same limb to
extend about 470.degree. about the limb, to exert greater compression on
the limb or joint; and in FIG. 9, the same wrap extends about a smaller
limb 56a, wrapped about 720.degree. about that limb. This is made possible
because the hooks on tab 55 may attach anywhere on the outer pile surface
of the wrap.
FIG. 10 shows a modified and elongated wrap 60, having greater width than
that of FIG. 5; however its construction is the same as shown in FIG. 6.
Two holes are formed through the wrap (corresponding to holes 30 in FIG.
1), to receive the necks 61 of two hot or cold packs 62. (The latter may
for example be spaced to be applied to the hips of an injured athlete). As
before, the hook elements 54 on tab 54 are attachable anywhere on the pile
surface 53a of fabric layer 53, which extends throughout or substantially
throughout the length and width of the rectangular elastomer layer 52.
The device of FIG. 11 is in part like that of FIG. 1, that part bearing the
same numerals. In addition, the sheet includes a T-shaped portion 100
having a stem 101 and a cross-piece 102, of the same material as sheet 11.
Stem 101 is integral with the mid-portion 103 of sheet 11, and projects
laterally. The cross-piece 102 projects longitudinally and has oppositely
extending legs 102a and 102b spaced from the main sheet 11. The T-shaped
portion, and in particular the stem 101, form an additional through
opening 104 to receive the neck 105 of an additional hot or cold liquid
pack 106 applicable to the upper arm of a human wearer 107, as seen in
FIG. 13.
Additional tab means 108 is integral with one end of the cross-piece, i.e.
leg 102a in the example. That tab may contact the first elastomer layer
and the leg 102a and be stitched thereto at 109. See corresponding
stitches attaching tabs 26 and 27 to legs 12 and 13. Tab 108 carries hook
elements 108a to removably attach to pile 111 on leg 102b, or anywhere on
the cross-piece when the cross-piece legs are wrapped about the upper arm
of the wearer as in FIG. 13. At that time, tabs 26a and 27a removably
attach (hook and pile connection) to the first sheet surface as seen in
FIG. 13, so that hot or cold pack 20 engages the upper chest area of the
wearer. The sheet 11 wraps about the wearer's shoulder and across his
chest and back, and then at the opposite side of his torso, below his
other arm, as shown. Stretchability, bi-directionally of the sheet and
T-shaped portion, plus ability of the tabs to connect to any surface
portion of the sheet and T-shaped section, facilitate comfortable, close
fitting for the wearer, to hold the packs in position during ambulatory
movement of the wearer.
FIG. 12 is like FIG. 11, except for the provision of two holes 30 in the
sheet mid-portion 115, between U-shaped inner terminals 116 and 117 of the
legs 12 and 13, and 15 and 16. Holes 30 are sized to fit the necks of two
packs, as described.
The two adjustably tightenable wrap connections (about the shoulder and
torso, and about the upper arm), connected by the stem 101, stably support
the liquid packs in otherwise inherently unstable positions.
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