BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These, as well as other features of the present invention, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top view of the adjustable bandage.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are side views illustrating a removable gauze pad.
FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating a butterfly bandage.
FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating a small bandage.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are top views illustrating a bandage with waterproof cover and vent hole.
FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a cotton ball being removed from the adhesive side of a flexible planar surface.
FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating three bandages overlapping and laminated together.
FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating a lift-off strip.
FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C illustrate a wound being dressed with an adjustable bandage on a human finger.
FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating a butterfly type bandage with a large air hole.
FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are side views illustrating a bandage with absorbent sponge being removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, shown in FIG. 1 is an adjustable adhesive bandage 10. The bandage 10 includes a flexible planar surface 12 having an adhesive side 14 and a non-adhesive side 16. The bandage also includes a peripheral edge 18. Additionally, the flexible planar surface includes a long axis 20 and a short axis 21 across the planar surface 12. A gauze pad 22 peelably engaged to a portion of the adhesive side 14 of the planar surface 12. A plurality of perforations emplaced across the flexible planar surface. The peripheral edge 18 of the planar surface 12 defines the boundary of the adjustable adhesive bandage 10. The adhesive side 14 of the flexible planar surface sticks to the skin surrounding the wound in order to keep various types of antiseptic pads secured to the wound. The perforations 24, 26 emplaced on the flexible planar surface allow for adjustments in the bandage 10. The adjustments are made by lacerating the perforations 24, 26.
The adjustable adhesive bandage 10 may further comprise a plurality of perforations 24 across the long axis 20 of the planar surface 12. Furthermore, the adhesive bandage 10 may comprise of a plurality of perforations 26 across the short axis 21. The plurality of perforations 24, 26 across the short axis 21 and the long axis 20 form sections of flexible planar surface 12 that are capable of being removed to adjust the size or shape of the adhesive bandage 10.
Referring now to FIG. 2 A-C, shown is a side view of the flexible planar surface 12. The removable gauze pad 22 is peelably engaged to a portion of the adhesive side 14 of the planar surface by a lift-off strip 30. The removable gauze pad 22 is secured to the lift-off strip 30 by an adhesive 34. The lift-off strip 30 includes finger tabs 32 at opposite ends. The finger tabs 32 are specially coated so the lift-off strip 30 will not stick to the adhesive side 14 of the planar surface 12 where the finger tabs 32 are located. The gauze pad 22 is removed by lifting the lift-off strip 30 using the finger tabs 32. When the gauze pad 22 is removed, antiseptic such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide may be applied to the gauze pad 22 to clean the wound. The embodiment of the invention contemplates using the removable gauze pad 22 to destroy, prevent, or inhibit growth of bacteria in and around the wound. Thus, the adjustable adhesive bandage 10 may be used to clean the wound rather than dress the wound. In another embodiment, the adjustable adhesive bandage 10 may be used to clean the wound and to dress the wound.
Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a butterfly bandage 28 formed from the adjustable bandage 10. The butterfly bandage 28 is formed by lacerating the perforations 24 along the long axis 20 of the flexible planar surface 12. The advantage of the butterfly bandage 28 is the four flaps that allow the adhesive bandage to remain secure on a curved or moving area. The common household bandage is generally ineffective in securing the absorbent pad to the skin over a curved or moving area.
FIG. 4 illustrates a small bandage 36. The small bandage 36 is formed from the larger adjustable bandage 10. The small bandage 36 is formed by lacerating the perforations 26 along the short axis 21 of the flexible planar surface 12. A section of the flexible planar surface 12 is removed to form the smaller bandage 36. A smaller adhesive bandage 36 is preferred for smaller wounds.
Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, shown is an adjustable bandage 10, further comprising a waterproof cover 38 peelably engaged to the flexible planar surface 12. The waterproof cover 38 prevents water from entering the wound. If waterproofing the wound is not desired, the vent cover 38 may be removed by lifting the waterproof cover tab 42. When the vent cover 38 is removed, the air hole 40 is exposed. This embodiment of the invention has the advantage of securing an absorbent pad to a wound with the ability to decide whether to waterproof the absorbent pad or keep the absorbent pad unprotected from water by placing the air hole 40 of the adhesive bandage over the absorbent pad.
Referring now to FIG. 6, a cotton ball 44 is secured to the removable gauze pad 22. The cotton ball 44 may be preferred as an agent to clean wound or apply an anti-bacterial treatment. The gauze pad 22 including the cotton ball 44 may be removed from the adhesive side 14 of the flexible planar surface 12.
FIG. 7 illustrates three adjustable bandages 10 overlapped such that the perforations 26 across the short axis 21 of the flexible planar surface 12 are substantially aligned at the peripheral edge 18. The bandages 10 are laminated together to form a large adjustable bandage 46 that is both waterproof and germ proof. The large adjustable bandage 46 can be adjusted to form many different types of shapes and sizes. The larger size bandage may be desirable for larger wounds where the size of a common household bandage is inadequate. Furthermore, the larger adjustable adhesive bandage 46 has many emplaced perforations allowing for a multitude of adjustments in shape and size.
FIG. 8 shows the lift-off strip 30 and the finger tab 32 with a cotton ball 44 secured to the lift-off strip 30.
Referring now to FIGS. 9 A-C, illustrates the adjustable bandage 10 applied to a wounded fingertip. The removable gauze pad 22, absorbent pad, or antiseptic pad is applied to the wound. Then the adjustable bandage 10 is applied around the finger, securing the gauze pad 22, absorbent pad, or antiseptic pad to the wound. The embodiment of the invention as shown illustrates the advantage of removing the gauze pad 22 and securing the gauze pad 22 to the injury using the adjustable bandage 10. Thereby, the adjustable adhesive bandage 10 is used to clean the wound and then to dress the wound.
FIG. 10 illustrates a butterfly bandage 28. The butterfly bandage 28 having a large air hole 48. A gauze pad 22 or a cotton ball 44 is placed on the injury and the large air hole 48 is placed over the gauze pad 22 or cotton ball 44 to secure the bandage 28 on the wound.
FIGS. 11 A-C illustrate an absorbent pad 50 being removed from the adhesive side 14 of the flexible planar surface 12.
Patent Application
20080039760
