Patent Application
20180104108
This invention relates generally to supporting sleeves and wraps for the joints of a person and, more particularly, to a compression sleeve and material for use in a compression sleeve.
Compression sleeves and wraps provide orthopedic support for joints such as the knee, ankle, elbow, and wrist during weightlifting and other activities. Such devices are typically made of an elastic material such as neoprene that surrounds the joint and applies a compressive force to the joint when it is stretched.
However, sleeves made of neoprene tend to be rather bulky and can bunch up or gather on the inner side of a joint, in which case they no longer provide compressive support in that area.
It is, in general, an object of the invention to provide a new and improved compression sleeve and material for use therein.
Another object of the invention is to provide a compression sleeve and material of the above character which overcome the limitations and disadvantages of compression sleeves and materials heretofore provided.
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a compression sleeve fabricated of a composite material that surrounds the joint to be supported and has a main layer of elastically stretchable material and at least one thin film of stretchable material which is laminated to the main layer and provides additional compressive forces that combine with compressive forces provided by the main layer in supporting a joint about which the sleeve is stretched. The material has a third layer which in some embodiments is a nylon jersey material, while in others it is another stretchable material that provides additional compressive forces and support.
As illustrated in
Other suitable materials for use in the elastic main layer or core 12 include breathable and non breathable chloroprene rubber (CR), neoprenes, and similar elastomers with the ability to stretch and rebound and exhibit little or no compression set. Another possibility is ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) memory foam. Other suitable materials for use in the thin stretchable film layer 13 include polyethylene, polyester, elastane, and other similar materials with elastomeric characteristics. Other flexible materials that can be used in outer layer 14 include polyester, elastane, and the like.
If even more compression is desired, layer 14 can also be a stretchable material such as polyurethane, rather than nylon or other fabric.
The composite, tri-layer material is manufactured in sheet form and cut into sections or panels that are sewn or otherwise joined together to make the sleeve, with the contour or configuration of the sleeve being determined by the contours of the panels and the manner in which they are joined together.
The compression sleeve shown in
On the sides of the sleeve, the lower, rear corner portions of front panel 16 are cut away, and replaced with sector-shaped Inserts 21 of another stretchable material, with one edge of the inserts extending along the lower edge of the sleeve and another extending vertically and being attached to the lower portion of rear panel 17 by stitching 18. The curved edge of each insert is attached to front panel 16 by flat seam stitching 22. In one exemplary embodiment, the inserts are fabricated of a synthetic rubber material such as that marketed under the Ariaprene Pro trademark, and have a thickness of 1.0 mm or less. The Ariaprene Pro material is a 3 layer material with a neoprene foam center and outer layers of a material such as nylon. However, the inserts can also be fabricated of polyester, polyester-polyurethane, elastane, or other similar materials with good elasticity.
The upper and lower edges of the sleeve are bound with stretchable nylon binding tape 23 which is secured to the upper and lower margins of panels 16, 17 and to the lower margin of lateral inserts 21 by zig-zag stitching 24.
In one presently preferred embodiment, the composite material of which panels 16, 17 are made has a CR grade neoprene main layer or core 12, with a polyurethane film or foil 13 on one side of the main layer or core and nylon jersey 14 on the other. In this particular embodiment, the neoprene layer is 3.0 mm thick, and the overall thickness of the material is 3.85-4.10 mm.
When the sleeve is manufactured, the composite material is oriented with the nylon jersey on the inside, next to the skin, and the polyurethane on the outside. However, the sleeve is designed to be reversible and, can be worn either the way it is made or inside out with the polyurethane on the inside and the nylon jersey on the outside.
The support sleeve shown in
This embodiment also has patches 28, 29 of elastically stretchable material on the front and rear sides of the sleeve for applying additional compressive support to selected areas of the joint on which the sleeve is worn. These patches are fabricated of a composite material similar to material the panels 16, 17 are made of, with patch 28 having a central main layer or core 30, and inner layer 31, and an outer layer 32 and patch 29 having a central main layer or core 33, and inner layer 34, and an outer layer 35.
Patch 28 has a shape generally similar to front panel 16, but is smaller in size. It is attached to the front panel by zig-zag stitching 31 which extends about the periphery of the patch.
Patch 29 has a shape generally similar to stretchable panel 26, but is smaller in size. It is attached to the lower margin of panel 26 by the zig-zag stitching 24 that secures the binding tape and by additional zig-zag stitching 32 which extends along the upper margin of the patch.
As in the embodiment of
The invention has a number of important features and advantages. It provides a new and improved orthopedic support and a new and improved material for use in such supports. The material is highly elastic and relatively thin, and a compression sleeve or wrap fabricated of it conforms closely to a joint on which its worn and applies a uniform compressive force to the joint.
It is apparent from the foregoing that a new and improved compression support and material been provided. While only certain presently preferred embodiments have been described in detail, as will be apparent to those familiar with the art, certain changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
