Patent Application
20180228226
The present invention relates generally to the field of rehabilitation, and more particularly to garments having pockets for positioning therapy packs along the major muscle groups.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
After strenuous activities such as playing sports or exercising, for example, it is not uncommon for a person to experience sore muscles, and/or soft tissue injuries to their body. When this occurs, the recommended treatment is to apply heat or cold therapy directly to the affected area. The two most common mechanisms for performing such therapy is to soak the entire body in a tub filled with hot or cold water, or to use therapy packs that radiate cold or hot temperatures outward.
When using therapy packs, it is important that the same be placed adjacent to the injured body portion to allow the flow of heat/cold from the pack to affect the injury. To this end, it is common for people to wrap elongated elastic bandages around the affected body part covering the pack. Unfortunately, this process has several drawbacks, as the pressure applied by such bandages is inconsistent. To this end, some bandages may be wrapped too tight, thereby affecting blood circulation to the area. Conversely, some bandages may be wrapped too loose, resulting in the pack moving from the intended location. Moreover, depending on the location of the injury, the use of such elongated bandages may make it difficult for the person to move, thereby immobilizing them until the treatment is complete.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide compression garments having a plurality of pockets that are aligned with the major muscle groups of a wearer for receiving and securely positioning therapy packs therein.
The present invention is directed to a rehabilitation compression garment. One embodiment of the present invention can include a shirt, pants and socks, each having a plurality of pockets that are positioned so as to correspond to a major muscle group of a garment wearer, and to receive a therapy pack therein.
In another embodiment, each garment can be constructed to be form-fitting, and can be sized specifically for a man, woman or child. Each garment can also include a plurality of fabric patches positioned along the inside facing portion to act as a burn guard.
This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
Identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
Each of the garments 11-13 can preferably be constructed from a generally lightweight, breathable and elastomeric material such as spandex, for example, in shapes and sizes suitable for fitting adults and children of all shapes, sizes and genders. Such a feature ensuring a tight fit against the skin of the wearer, and preventing movement of the same. Of course, any number of other materials such as high tech polyester, for example, are also contemplated.
As shown, each of the garments can also include a plurality of pockets that are positioned at specific locations to correspond to the major muscle groups of a wearer. In the preferred embodiment, each of the pockets can be sewn/formed along the outside facing surface of the respective garment, and can include a uniform shape and size, so as to allow therapy packs to be used interchangeably therewith. To this end, one or more of the pockets can also include a connector 15, such as a snap, button, or strips of hook and loop material, for example, to prevent an inserted therapy pack from becoming dislodged.
In the preferred embodiment, the shirt garment 11 can include a plurality of triceps pockets 11a, biceps pockets 11b, and shoulder pockets 11c along each arm. A pair of pectoral pockets 11d and upper and lower abdominal pockets 11e1 and 11e2 can be positioned along the front facing surface of the shirt garment 11. Likewise, a plurality of deltoid pockets 11f and lower back pockets 11g can be positioned along the rear facing surface of the shirt garment.
In the preferred embodiment, the pants garment 12 can include a plurality of quadriceps pockets 12a, knee pockets 12b, and calf pockets 12c along the front facing surface, along with a pair of hamstring pockets 12d along the rear facing surface. Finally, each of the socks 13 can include an Achilles pocket 13a.
Each of the above described pocket names are intended to correspond anatomically with the body part after which they are named. Although described and illustrated with regard to a particular number of pockets and particular locations, this is for illustrative purposes only. To this end, other embodiments are contemplated wherein a fewer or greater number of pockets can be provided at the illustrated locations and/or at other locations.
In either instance, each pocket can function to receive and securely position a therapy pack at a desirable location along the user's body. In the preferred embodiment, each of the pockets can include a dimension suitable for receiving a 5″×10″ therapy pack, such as a reusable hot/cold gel pack that is commercially available from Roscoe Medical. Of course, the garments are not limited to use with any particular brand or type of therapy pack, and each of the pockets can include any number of different sizes so as to accommodate therapy packs of varying shapes and sizes.
As shown in
Each of these patches can be located directly behind the respective pocket and can include an identical shape and size thereto. Each of the pockets can preferably be constructed from a fabric such as cotton, wool or flannel, for example, that is sewn or otherwise adhered to the inside of garment body and/or the inside facing portion of the respective pocket itself. The inclusion of such patches advantageously prevents users from experiencing hot or cold burns on their skin from an inserted therapy pack, while not interfering with the ability of the remainder of the garment to flex/compress to the shape of the body of the garment wearer.
Accordingly, the above described compression garments function to allow a user to securely position a hot or cold therapy pack directly against a sore or injured muscle in a novel manner that does not affect the ability of the user to move.
As noted above, each garment can be manufactured to fit men, women and children of any shape or size, and can include an unlimited number of decorative elements such as various colors, markings, words, shapes, symbols, logos, designs, texturing of materials, patterns, and/or images, for example. These elements can be secured onto and/or into the garments in accordance with known techniques so as to be flush with the surface of the main body or can be recessed, raised and/or protruding outward from the main body so as to give a three dimensional effect.
As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
