Elastic Bandage And Fastener Therefor

Abstract

An elastic bandage and fastener combination which includes an elongated elastic web adapted to be wrapped around a body part and terminating in an end region to which a substantially non-stretchable but flexible sheet is fixed. This sheet extends across the entire width of the web and has fixed thereto an elongated fastener tape which projects beyond the web and is capable of being wrapped around the latter after the web is wrapped around the body part for maintaining the wrapped elastic web around the body part. The fastener tape is also substantially non-stretchable so that by pulling on the tape tension force is transmitted through the flexible but non-elastic sheet across the entire width of the elastic web for uniformly tensioning the latter throughout the entire width thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bandages.

In particular, the present invention relates to elastic bandages which are wrapped around a body part in order to protect the latter.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use on the limbs of animals such as horses, although the structure of the invention also is capable of being used with human beings such as athletes.

As is well known, in order to protect certain body parts elastic bandages are wrapped around the same. Such elastic bandages are often known as Ace bandages.

However, one of the problems encountered with bandages of this type is that when they are wrapped around the body part which is to be protected it is difficult to provide a uniform tension across the entire width of the bandage and they are often wrapped with wrinkles which provide undesired pressure points where undesirable stresses are generated.

Up to the present time the problem of providing a construction according to which it becomes possible to apply such an elastic bandage in a uniform manner and to fasten it when uniformly applied has not been solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a construction which will enable an elastic bandage to be uniformly applied with a uniform tension around a body part.

Also it is an object of the present invention to provide a bandage construction which will enable the bandage to be securely fastened after the bandage has been applied with a uniform tension, with the bandage being maintained in a wrinkle-free manner around the body part.

Furthermore it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction which can accomplish these objects while at the same time being relatively simple and inexpensive and extremely convenient to use.

Also it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction of this type which is very strong enabling the bandage and the fastener attached thereto to be washed innumerable times without losing in any way the effectiveness of the bandage structure of the invention.

According to the invention the bandage-fastener combination includes an elongated elastic web capable of being wrapped around a body part which is to be protected, this web having fixed to one end region thereof a flexible but non-stretchable sheet means which extends completely across the entire width of the web. An elongated fastener tape means is fixed to the latter sheet means midway between opposed side edges of the web, and the fastener tape means is also non-stretchable and extends freely beyond the web. As the web is wrapped around the body part which is to be protected tension is applied through the fastener tape means and the non-stretchable sheet means to the web across the entire width thereof in a uniform manner, and upon completion of the wrapping the fastener tape means is itself wrapped around the web for holding the latter reliably in position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of a known structure which has drawbacks avoided by the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of the combination of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective illustration of one stage in the manufacture of the combination of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 shows in elevation the manner in which the combination of the invention is wrapped around the leg of a horse; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows and schematically showing the bandage as it is worn by the animal.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is illustrated therein an example of a known bandage and fastener combination. This structure includes the elongated flexible web 10 of elastic sheet material which may take the form of a well known Ace Bandage. This elastic web 10 terminates in a triangular end 12 to which a fastener tape 14 is fixed as illustrated. Another section of fastener tape 16 is fixed to the web 10 midway between the side edges thereof at the region of the end 12. The fastener tape portions 14 16 may take the form of Velcro with the tape portion 16 having fastener elements distributed over the exposed surface thereof which is visible in FIG. 1, while the fastener tape 14 is of the same construction and has fastener elements also distributed thereover at the surface which is visible in FIG. 1.

With this construction the web 10 is wrapped around the body part which is to be protected while pulling on the end 12, as by grasping the tape 14, and at the end of the wrapping of the web 10 the fastener elements of the tape portion are placed in engagement with the fastener elements of the tape portion 16 to hold the wrapped bandage in position.

With this known construction because the tension force is concentrated along the central region of the web 10 between the opposed side edges thereof there is an unavoidable creation of wrinkles in the web, particularly because the central region where the tapes 14 and 16 are located cannot stretch. In addition, undesirable stretching is concentrated in the space which extends longitudinally between the tapes 14 and 16. As a result with this construction even though extreme care is exercised it is impossible to provide a uniform wrapping of the web 10 around the body part which is to be protected, and the result is the creation of undesirable wrinkles and non-uniform distribution of tension across the width of the web 10 with pressure points where the wrinkles are located.

These problems inherent in the known structure are avoided with the structure of the present invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 2-6. Thus, with the present invention there is also an elongated web 20 of elastic sheet material in the form of an Ace Bandage, for example. This web 20 also terminates in a triangular end region 22 illustrated in FIG. 2. An elongated fastener tape means 24 is fixed to the web 20 and projects therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 2.

However, in accordance with the present invention the triangular end region 22 of the web 20 is fixed with a sheet means 26 (FIG. 3) which while being flexible is not stretchable. This sheet means 26 may be made of any suitable plastic sheet material.

As may be seen from FIG. 3, the flexible but non-stretchable stiffening sheet 26 is initially placed on the web 20 so that the sheet means 26 extends across the entire width of the web 20 with a pointed end 28 of the sheet 26 situated at the extremity 30 of the web 20. Then the corner portions 32 of the web 20, which project beyond the sides of the sheet 26, are folded over against the sheet 26, and in this condition the parts are fastened to each other as by sewing.

With the non-stretchable but flexible sheet means 26 thus situated, in effect, in a pocket which is formed at the free end region of the web 20 which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fastener tape means 24 is fixed to the sheet means 26. Thus, FIG. 2 illustrates how the fastener tape means 24 extends into overlapping relation with the web 20 at the end region thereof which is provided with the sheet means 26. Stitches 34 extend across the web for fastening the sheet means 26 to the web and for fastening the tape means 24 to the sheet means 26, this fastening taking place through the folded over portions 32 of the web 20. It will be noted that the fastener tape means 24 is situated centrally between the opposed side edges of the web 20 and extends along a line which when extended along the web 20 will be situated midway between the opposed side edges thereof, this web 20 having a uniform width.

The fastener tape means 24 also preferably takes the form of a Velcro fastener. In the illustrated example the fastener tape means 24 has an inner elongated region 36 provided with fastener elements 38 distributed over one face thereof. An outer elongated portion 40 of the fastener tape means 24 is fixed to and projects from the inner elongated portion 36, and this fastener portion 40 has the fastener elements 42 distributed over a face of the portion 40 which is opposed to the fact of the portion 36 along which the fastener elements 38 are distributed. This construction can be provided by cutting the tape 24 and turning the portion 40 over with respect to the portion 36 so that the fastener elements 38 and 42 will be situated at the opposed faces of the fastener tape means 24.

FIG. 4 illustrates the construction in the end region where the stiffening sheet 26 and fastener tape 24 are located. Thus, it will be seen from FIG. 4 that the web 20 at the upper part of FIG. 4 is situated next to a part of the sheet means 26 which is sandwiched between one part of the web 20 and the folded over corners 32 thereof, with the tape 24 being fixed to the exterior surfaces of the folded over corners and fastened through these folded over corners to the sheet means 26 and the web 20 by the stitches 34.

When this construction is to be used as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5, the end of the web 20 distant from the end which is illustrated in FIG. 2 is first placed against a protective cotton layer 21 which surrounds the body part which is to be protected, such as the illustrated lower portion of a leg 44 of a horse, so as to prevent chaffing or pressure points which can damage circulation. The web 20 is then wrapped along a spiral on layer 21 and around the limb between the hoof and knee through a height of 10 or 12 inches, and tension is uniformly applied. By pulling on the fastener tape 24, the tension force is uniformly distributed across the entire width of the web 20 as a result of the non-stretchable sheet means 26 which serves to prevent any non-uniformity in the transmission of tension to the elastic web 20. The wrapping is carried out so that the fastener elements 38 will be directed outwardly away from the wrapped web 20. Thus, the smooth surface of portion 36 which is not visible in FIG. 2 is located directly next to the outermost wrapping of the web 20, thus exposing the fastener elements 38. The length of the elongated portions 36 and 40 is such that the portion 36 will pass at least once around the wrapped web 20 and then during the next turn of the portion 40 the fastener elements 42 thereof will engage the fastener elements 38 so as to achieve a secure connection as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Experience has shown that this construction is extremely rugged since it can be readily applied with uniform tension across the entire width of the elastic web 20 while at the same time the structure is effective even after many uses and washings. Because of the presence of the sheet means 26 which serves to distribute the tension uniformly across the entire width of the elastic web, creation of undesirable wrinkles are avoided and the bandage is capable of being applied with a uniform tension throughout.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A bandage-fastener combination comprising an elongated web of elastic sheet material adapted to be wrapped around a body part, flexible but non-stretchable sheet means fixed to said web at one end region thereof and extending across the entire width of said web, and elongated flexible but non-stretchable fastener tape means fixed to said sheet means midway between opposed side edges of said web and extending from said sheet means beyond said web along a line which when extended along said web will be situated substantially midway between said opposed side edges thereof, so that after said web is wrapped around a body part starting with an end of said web distant from said sheet means, said sheet means will be located at the exterior of the wrapped web and said fastener tape means can be wrapped around the web for fastening the latter on the body part, said sheet means transmitting a tension force to said web uniformly across the entire width thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said web has a uniform width.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said sheet means is of a triangular configuration and has a substantially pointed end situated at an extremity of said web which is located at the end region thereof to which said sheet means is fixed, said substantially pointed end of said sheet means being situated substantially midway between opposed side edges of said fastener tape means.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said web is of a substantially triangular configuration, matching the configuration of said sheet means, at said end region of said web to which said sheet means is fixed.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said web has at said end region corner portions folded over said sheet means and situated between said sheet means and said fastener tape means with the latter being fastened to said sheet means through said folded over corner portions of said web.

6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said fastener tape means has an inner elongated portion next to and extending from said web and provided with fastener elements on one face of said tape means and an outer elongated portion fixed to and extending from said inner elongated portion and having fastener elements on an opposed face of said tape means, the length of said inner and outer elongated portions of said tape means being sufficiently great for the fastener elements on the outer elongated portion to be placed in engagement with the fastener elements on the inner elongated portion for releasably fastening said tape means around the wrapped web.