SACROILIAC BELT AND COMPOSITE STRUCTURE

Abstract

A sacroiliac belt with a non-elastic inner belt to wrap around the user's hips and an elastic outer belt to wrap from the back to opposite sides of the inner belt. Non-cinchable hook and loop fastener construction is used to secure the inner and outer belts in position. The inner belt includes an inside elastomeric foam layer with open-cell frictional gripping surface, a non-elastic outside layer of loop material, and a hook tab for engaging the loop material to close the belt. The inner belt may be established with a non-elastic composite foam-fabric structure comprising a bi-laminate of the foam and elastic fabric, and a strip of loop material secured lengthwise onto the fabric side of the bi-laminate. The outer belt includes an elastic strip and hook tabs for connecting to the strip of loop material. The non-elastic composite foam-fabric may be used in other orthopedic braces and supports.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sacroiliac belt in accordance with the invention, the sacroiliac belt being shown in a closed condition as would be worn by a user; the sacroiliac belt having a non-elastic inner belt and an elastic outer belt, the inner belt comprising an inside foam-fabric bi-laminate secured to an outside strip of loop material.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sacroiliac belt shown in FIG. 1, but showing the inner belt open and the ends of the outer belt detached from the inner belt.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sacroiliac belt shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4A, but with the outer belt not shown, and with the upper and lower widths of the foam-fabric bi-laminate curved over (as may naturally occur when the sacroiliac belt is worn) to establish a lengthwise cushion over and under the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the strip of loop material.

FIG. 5 is a view of the inside of the sacroiliac belt shown in FIG. 1 as laid flat.

FIG. 6 is a view of the outside of the inner belt shown in FIG. 1 as laid flat (i.e., the outside of the sacroiliac belt shown in FIG. 1 as laid flat with the outer belt not shown).

FIG. 7 is a view of the outside of the sacroiliac belt shown in FIG. 1 as laid flat, with one end of the outer belt peeled away from the inner belt and turned up for viewing the inside details thereof.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the sacroiliac belt shown in FIG. 1 as laid flat, the bottom view being a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 9 is perspective view of the sacroiliac belt shown in FIG. 1 as positioned on the hips (shown in dashed lines) of a user.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate sacroiliac belt in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the alternate sacroiliac belt shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second alternate sacroiliac belt in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an orthopedic band utilizing a lengthwise non-elastic foam-fabric composite in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternate orthopedic band utilizing a lengthwise non-elastic foam-fabric composite in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A non-elastic foam-fabric composite band for use in orthopedic braces and supports comprising: a) a first layer of elastomeric composition foam with an open-cell frictional gripping surface and positive moisture wicking characteristic;b) a second layer of stretchable fabric secured to the foam layer and extending the length and width thereof;c) a strip of lengthwise non-stretchable loop material of hook and loop fastener construction secured to the second layer, opposite the first layer, along the length thereof; andd) a hook tab of hook and loop fastener construction secured proximate one end of the strip of loop material.

2. The composite band as defined in claim 1 in which the second layer is stretchable unbroken loop fabric.

3. The composite band as defined in claim 1 in which the hook tabs are positioned for connecting to the strip of loop material in a non-cinchable fastening arrangement.

4. The composite band as defined in claim 1 in which the first and second layers extends widthwise beyond the strip of loop material to establish a lengthwise cushion over the edges of the strip of loop material.

5. The composite band as defined in claim 1 further comprising a ring secured proximate the end of the strip of loop material opposite the hook tab, and in which the hook tab is sized to be slipped through the ring and secured to the strip of loop material.

6. A method for manufacturing a non-elastic foam-fabric composite band for use in orthopedic braces and supports comprising: a) providing i) a bi-laminate comprising: a) a first layer of elastomeric composition foam with an open-cell frictional gripping surface and positive moisture wicking characteristic, andb) a second layer of stretchable fabric secured to and extending the length and width of the foam layer;ii) a strip of lengthwise non-stretchable loop material; andiii) a hook tab;b) securing: i) the strip of loop material to the fabric side of the bi-laminate along the length thereof, andii) the hook tab proximate one end of the strip of loop material.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 in which the second layer is stretchable unbroken loop fabric.

8. The method as defined in claim 6 further comprising providing and securing a ring proximate the end of the strip of loop material opposite the hook tab, the hook tab being sized to be slipped through the ring and secured to the strip of loop material.

9. A sacroiliac belt comprising: a) a non-elastic inner belt configured for encircling placement around a user's hips, the inner belt having i) an inside layer of elastomeric composition foam with an open-cell frictional gripping surface and positive moisture wicking characteristic, the foam extending for encircling engagement around a user's hips;ii) an outer layer of loop material extending in secured relation with the inside layer for encircling placement around the user's hips, andiii) a hook tab at one end thereof in fastening engageable relation with the loop material with the inner belt encircling the user's hips; andb) an elastic outer belt sized to extend forwardly from the back of the inner belt to the sides thereof, the outer belt having hook tabs for connecting to the loop material of the inner belt.

10. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 9 in which the outer layer of loop material is lengthwise non-elastic loop fabric secured to and extending the length and width of the inside layer of foam.

11. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 9 in which the hook tabs are positioned for connecting to the strip of loop material in a non-cinchable fastening arrangement.

12. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 9 further comprising stretchable fabric secured to and extending the length and width of the foam layer, the outer layer of loop material being lengthwise non-elastic and secured to the stretchable fabric along the length thereof, the stretchable fabric and foam layer extending widthwise beyond the edges of the outer layer of loop material.

13. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 12 in which the stretchable fabric is unbroken loop fabric having loop size substantially smaller than the loop of the outer layer of loop material.

14. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 9 in which the hook tabs are positioned for connecting to the outer layer of loop material in a non-cinchable fastening arrangement.

15. A sacroiliac belt comprising: a) a non-elastic inner belt configured for encircling placement around a user's hips, the inner belt having i) an elastic bi-laminate with: a) a layer of elastomeric composition foam with an open-cell frictional gripping surface and positive moisture wicking characteristic, the foam extending for encircling engagement around a user's hips,b) a layer of stretchable fabric secured to and extending the length and width of the foam layer;ii) a strip of lengthwise outwardly facing non-elastic loop material secured to the fabric side of the bi-laminate along the length thereof, andiii) a hook tab secured proximate one end of the strip of loop material; andb) an elastic outer belt sized to extend forwardly from proximate the back of the inner belt to both sides thereof, the outer belt having hook tabs for connecting to the loop material of the inner belt.

16. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 15 in which the hook tabs are positioned for connecting to the strip of loop material in a non-cinchable fastening arrangement.

17. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 15 further comprising a lengthwise cushion over the edges of the strip of loop material.

18. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 15 in which the elastic bi-laminate extends widthwise beyond the strip of loop material to establish said lengthwise cushion.

19. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 15 in which the layer of stretchable fabric of the elastic bi-laminate is comprised of a layer of stretchable unbroken loop fabric having loop size substantially smaller than the loop size of the strip of loop material.

20. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 15 in which the outer layer comprises an elastic strip extending from side to side around the back of the inner belt.

21. The sacroiliac belt as defined in claim 15 in which the outer belt comprises a pair of elastic strips each independently connectable to the inner belt and sized to extend from proximate the back of the inner belt to respective sides of the inner belt.