[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in a sheath for retaining body heat
and supporting the muscle structure of a wearer. It consists of the combinations,
constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.
[0002] It is a well known fact that the heat loss or "cooling out" of muscles is the source
of most muscle injuries of athletes. My sheath is so constructed as to prevent this
heat loss, and still to allow full function of the enclosed muscles and substantially
free circulation of blood through the wearer's member that is enclosed in the sheath.
[0003] Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described
which is simple in construction, durable and efficient for the purpose intended, and
which may be readily applied by the wearer.
[0004] Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel
features of the invention will be set forth in the claims hereto appended.
[0005] For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying
drawings; forming part of this specification, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lower leg of a wearer showing my sheath applied
to it;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of my sheath, looking from the lateral aspect
of the sheath, part being disclosed in section with a pad being shown on the medial
aspect;
Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane III-III of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of my sheath; and
Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane V-V of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the thigh of a wearer showing my sheath applied
to it;
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing my sheath applied to a back;
[0006] While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention it should be understood
that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope 6f the annexed
claims without departing from the spirit of them.
[0007] Referring now to Figure 1 in detail, I have shown the lower right leg of a wearer,
designated generally at A, which has one of my sheaths B applied so as to enclose
at least part of the lower leg. Of course, the sheath may be designed to enclose any
selected member of the wearer, for example, the upper leg C, the lower or upper arm
(not shown), or the waist of the wearer. Sheaths according to my invention may also
be applied to an elbow, an adductor muscle,an ankle or a knee, using the same principles
of heat and support expounded here.
[0008] For the purpose of illustration, I have shown the lower leg as constituting the selected
member that is enclosed by the tubular sheath B. In order that the use of the sheath
may be easily understood, I shall briefly set forth the anatomical features of the
lower leg A. The tibia 10, or shin-bone, extends from the femur 11 to the astragal
12 and the tibialis anterior muscle 13 extends generally lengthwise of the tibia on
the lateral aspect or outer side 14 of the lower leg. The tibia 10 is located on the
plane 15 that extends from the anterior aspect 16 to the posterior aspect 17 (see
Figure 3). The soleus muscle 18 is located on the medial aspect or inside 19 of the
lower leg A.
[0009] As clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the tubular sheath B is contoured to
embrace the member of the wearer, here shown as being the lower leg A. This tubular
sheath is made from foam rubber (neoprene) to prevent loss of body heat from the enclosed
member.
[0010] The sheath B defines an inner surface provided with a muscle-supporting rib 20, which
is disposed to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed member A. The rib 20 is
disposed to one side of the anterior-posterior mesial plane 15 in a position to press
against and support a muscle structure of the wearer, here shown as the tibialis anterior
muscle 13, in its proper location with respect to a bone of the encloseo member, here
the tibia 10.
[0011] It i- important that the sheath B and the rib 20 be made sufficiently resilient to
allow full functioning of the supported muscle and substantially free circulation
of blood through the enclosed member of the wearer. This rib is made of the same material
as the sheath B, and is bonded integrally to the inside surface of the sheath. The
rib 20 extends substantially throughout the length of the sheath B from its upper
end 21 to its lower end 22 (see Figure 1). The material that I have found suitable
for the sheath is a foamed elastomer such as foamed rubber. A foamed rubberised neoprene
is particularly suitable. It is for convenience called "foam rubber".
[0012] As disclosed in Figures 2 and 3, a resilient substantially triangular-shaped pad
23 may be disposed on the medial aspect 19 of the sheath of the inside surface of
the latter so as to bear against and support the soleus muscle 18 of the enclosed
leg.
[0013] The sheath B may be fashioned from a sheet of foam rubber and its longitudinal edges
24 brought into abutting relation with one another (see Figure 3), and then a strip
of foam rubber 25 may be bonded over these abutting edges to extend from the upper
end 21 of the sheath to the lower end 22 thereof. Alternatively the edges 24 may be
stitched. This type of tubular sheath must be pulled over the foot 26 of the wearer,
when it is applied to the lower leg A.
[0014] Turning now to the modified form of the invention, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the
sheath B' is made of the "wraparound" type; otherwise, it is the same as the sheath
shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Accordingly, like reference characters have been applied-to
corrresponding parts of the two embodiments or forms of the invention.
[0015] As illustrated in Figure 4, the modified tubular sheath B is split along its length
from its upper end 21 to its lower end 22. This sheath has adjacent edges 27 and 28
bordering the split, when the sheath is wrapped around the wearer's member. A conventional
zipper D has coacting parts attached to the edges 27 and 28 of the sheath B. This
zipper is operable by a slide 29 to removably secure the sheath around the wearer's
member.
[0016] In Figure 5, I show the resilient muscle-supporting rib 20 as being secured to and
extending beneath one of the marginal sections that borders the split, here the edge
27. This rib has a free flap portion 30 that is insertable into a position under the
other marginal section 28. The zipper is disposed outwardly of the resilient rib 20
so that the enclosed member of the wearer will be protected against contact by the
zipper when it is activated. The zipper D is made of the type that has a pin 31 on
one of its parts that is adapted to be inserted into a socket 32 fixed to the other
part of the zipper. With this arrangement, the sheath B' may be wrapped around the
member of the wearer, and then the pin 31 inserted into the socket. At this time,
the slide 29 may be pulled so as to join the two coacting parts of the zipper D together.
[0017] It will be apparent that the modified tubular sheath B need not be pulled over the
wearer's foot or other extremity. Otherwise the construction and operation of the
two forms of the invention are the same and serve identical purposes.
[0018] Figure 6 shows internal rubber plates 33 in the thigh unit designed to provide special
support to the front part of the thigh (i.e. the quadriceps muscle group). Similar
internal plates in the rear provide special support to the back part of the thigh
(i.e. the hamstring group). The unit also provides general support to the other muscles
of the thigh, including the lower part of the adductor muscles.
[0019] Until now, adhesive tape and elastic bandages have been applied by medical staff
and trainers to reduce pain and to support and protect the injured muscles. However,
because of the lack of flexibility and thermal effect with the tape and the problem
of keeping elastic bandages in place these methods have generally only had limited
success. However, by combining the natural body heat with the directional .-support
from the rubber plates, the thigh unit according to my invention allows the injured
muscle to be exercised without the fear of the muscle getting cold or the risk of
further strain.
[0020] The back unit of Figure 7 is adapted to be worn, by sufferers of muscle spasms in
the lumbar region of the back. It is made to cover approximately 12 cm either side
of the waist,.with internal rubber plates lying over the lumbar muscle of the lower
back. Since the back support according to my invention has no metal structural supports,
it cannot produce rigid support for the bone structure of the back. However, the general
and directional muscular support given by my invention, coupled with its thermal properties,
relieve, and in some cases stop, muscle spasms in the lower and middle part of the
back.
[0021] The carefully designed shape of my invention units gives general muscular support
to the area of the body covered.
[0022] Special support comes from in-built rubber plates that give directional pressure
to key muscles.
[0023] The insulation properties of my invention units retain body heat.
[0024] The combined effect of the support and heat is a higher level of blood circulation,
muscle temperature and flexibility, promoting the healing of muscle injuries.
[0025] My invention can be worn by anyone needing support and warmth for troublesome muscles.
[0026] The heat generated is natural. It is also deep, and is therefore more likely to be
more effective than analgesic creams or embrocation.
[0027] ny invention can allow an athlete to train through an injury, so that the athlete's
general fitness, skills, muscle strength and confidence can be maintained during the
recovery phase. The extra heat generated by the exercise can further accelerate the
healing process. The end result is an earlier return to competition.
[0028] By providing warmth and muscular support, and also freedom of movement, my invention
eliminates the need to apply adhesive tape or an elastic bandage to the affected muscle
. before exercise.
[0029] My invention can also be used:
for the prevention of a muscle injury,
as a shock-absorber in body-contact sports,
to keep muscles warm during activity in cold conditions and in sports involving "stop-start"
action,
to improve the effectiveness of a warmup before competition, and
as an aid in the rehabilitation of a muscle injury following hospitalisation.
1. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of a wearer wherein a resilient tubular sheath is dimensioned to be applied
over a member of a wearer and is contoured to embrace the member, wherein the sheath
is made of foam rubber as herein defined so as to retain the heat of the body temperature
in the enclosed member and prevent loss of body heat from it, wherein the sheath defines
an inner surface provided with a resilient muscle-supporting rib, which is disposed
to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed member, the rib being disposed to one
side of an anterior-posterior mesial plane of the sheath in a position to press against
and support a muscle structure of the wearer in its proper location, the sheath and
rib being sufficiently resilient to allow full functioning of the supported muscle
and substantially free circulation of the blood through the enclosed member.
2. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of a wearer as claimed in claim 1 and in which the rib is bonded integrally
to the sheath and is made of the same material.
3. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of a wearer as claimed in claim 1 and in which the rib extends substantially
throughout the entire length of the sheath.
4. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of a wearer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sheath defines upper and lower
ends, wherein the sheath is split lengthwise from its upper end to its lower end,
whereby the sheath may be wrapped around the wearer's member, wherein the sheath has
adjacent edges bordering the split when the sheath is wrapped around the member and
a zipper having coacting parts attached to the edges of the sheath along the length
of the latter and being operable to removably secure the sheath around the member.
5. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of a wearer as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sheath defines a pair of adjacent
marginal sections that border the split, the resilient muscle supporting rib is secured
to and extends beneath one of the marginal sections and has a free flap portion insertable
into a position ,under the other marginal section, and the zipper is disposed outwardly
of the resilient rib so that the enclosed member will be protected by the rib against
contact by the zipper when the latter is actuated.
6. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of a wearer wherein a resilient tubular sheath is dimensioned to be applied
over a lower leg of a wearer and is contoured to embrace the wearer's lower leg, wherein
the sheath is made of foam rubber as herein defined so as to retain the heat of the
body temperature in the enclosed member and prevent loss of body heat from it, wherein
the sheath defines an inner surface provided with a resilient muscle-supporting rib,
which is disposed to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed member, the rib being
disposed to one side of an anterior-posterior mesial plane of the sheath in a position
to press against and support a muscle structure of the wearer in its proper location,
the sheath and rib being sufficiently resilient to allow full functioning of the supported
muscle and substantially free circulation of the blood through the enclosed member
so that it retains the heat of the body temperature in the enclosed member, wherein
the sheath defines an inner surface provided with a resilient muscle-supporting rib,
which is disposed to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed limb, wherein the
rib is disposed to one side of an anterior-posterior mesial plane on the sheath in
a position on the lateral aspect of the sheath so as to press against and support
the tibialis anterior muscle of the wearer in its proper location with respect to
the tibia, the sheath and rib being sufficiently resilient to allow full functioning
of the supported muscle and substantially free circulation of blood through the enclosed
lower leg of the wearer.
7. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of a wearer wherein a resilient tubular sheath is dimensioned to be applied
over a thigh of a wearer and is contoured to embrace the wearer's thigh wherein the
sheath is made of foam rubber as herein defined so as to retain the heat of the body
temperature in the enclosed member and prevent loss of body heat from it, wherein
the sheath defines an inner surface provided with a resilient muscle-supporting pad,
which is disposed to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed member, the pad being.
centred about an anterior-posterior mesial plane of the sheath in a position to press
against and support a muscle structure of the wearer in its proper location, the sheath
and pad being sufficiently resilient to allow full functioning of the supported muscle
and substantially full free circulation of the blood through the enclosed member so
that it retains the heat of the body temperature in the enclosed thigh and prevents
loss of heat from it, wherein the sheath defines an inner surface provided with a
resilient muscle-supporting pad, which is disposed to extend generally lengthwise
of the enclosed thigh, wherein the pad, if in front, supports the quadriceps muscle
group including the rectus femoris muscle and if at the back the pad supports the
hamstring muscle group which includes the biceps femoris muscle.
8. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of a wearer wherein a resilient tubular sheath is dimensioned to be applied
over a trunk of a wearer and is contoured to embrace the wearer's trunk wherein the
sheath is made of foam rubber as herein defined so as to retain the heat of the body
temperature'in the enclosed member and prevent loss of body heat from it, wherein
the sheath defines an inner surface provided with a resilient muscle-supporting pad,
which is disposed to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed member, the pad being
disposed to support the lower parts of the erector spinae (sacro spinalis) and the
latissimus dorsi muscles, the sheath and pad being sufficiently resilient to allow
full functioning of the supported muscles and substantially free circulation of the
blood through the enclosed member so that it retains the heat of the body temperature
in the enclosed trunk and prevents loss of heat from it.
9. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of the wearer wherein a resilient tubular sheath is dimensioned to be applied
over a lower leg of the wearer and is contoured to embrace the wearer's lower leg,
wherein the sheath is made of foam rubber as herein defined so as to retain the heat
of the body temperature in the enclosed member and prevent loss of body heat from
it, wherein the sheath defines an inner surface provided with a resilient muscle-supporting
rib, which is disposed to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed member, the
rib being disposed to one side of an anterior-posterior mesial plane of the sheath
in a position to press against and support the tibialis anterior muscle structure
of the wearer, in its proper location, the sheath and rib being sufficiently resilient
to allow full functioning of the supported muscle and substantially free circulation
of the blood through the enclosed member so as to retain the heat of the body temperature
in the enclosed lower leg and prevent loss of heat from it, wherein the sheath defines
an inner surface which is also provided with a resilient substantially triangular
shaped pad which is disposed on the mesial aspect of the sheath so as to press against
and support a soleus muscle of the wearer's enclosed lower leg.
10. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of the wearer wherein a resilient tubular sheath is dimensioned to be applied
over a thigh of the wearer and is contoured to embrace the wearer's thigh, wherein
the sheath is made of foam rubber as herein defined so as to retain the heat of the
body temperature in the enclosed member and prevent loss of body heat from it, wherein
the sheath defines an inner surface provided with a resilient muscle-supporting pads,
one before and one behind the thigh, which are disposed to extend generally lengthwise
of the enclosed member, each pad centred about an anterior-posterior mesial plane
of the sheath in a position to press against and support a muscle structure of the
wearer in its proper location, the sheath and pads being sufficiently resilient to
allow full functioning of the supported muscles and substantially free circulation
of the blood through the enclosed member so that it retains the heat of the body temperature
in the enclosed thigh and prevents loss of heat from it, wherein the sheath defines
an inner surface provided with'resilient muscle supporting pads which are disposed
to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed thigh, wherein a pad, in front, supports
the quadriceps muscle group, including the rectus femoris muscle, and at the back,
a pad supports the hamstring muscle group including the biceps femoris muscle.
11. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperature and supporting the muscle
structure of the wearer wherein a resilient tubular sheath is dimensioned to be applied
over a trunk of the wearer and is contoured to embrace the wearer's trunk, wherein
the sheath is made of foam rubber as herein defined so as to retain the heat of the
body temperature in the enclosed member and prevent.loss of body heat from it, wherein
the sheath defines an inner surface provided with resilient muscle-supporting pads
which are disposed to extend generally lengthwise of the trunk, wherein the pads are
disposed about the medial plane on the sheath so as to press against and support the
erector spinae (sacro spinalis) and latissimus dorsi muscles in their proper places,
the sheath and pads being sufficiently resilient to allow full functioning of the
muscles supported by the pads and substantially full circulation of the blood through
the enclosed member.
12. A sheath to retain the heat of the body temperature and to support the muscle
structure of a wearer wherein a resilient sheath is dimensioned to be applied over
a member of a wearer and is contoured to embrace it, wherein the sheath is made of
foam rubber as herein defined so as to retain the heat of the body temperature in
the enclosed member and prevent loss of body heat from it, wherein the sheath defines
an inner surface provided with a resilient muscle-supporting rib, which is disposed
to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed member, the rib being disposed to one
side of an anterior-posterior mesial plane of the sheath in a position to press against
and support a muscle structure of the wearer in its proper location, the sheath and
rib being sufficiently resilient to allow full functioning of the supported muscle
and substantially free circulation of the blood through the enclosed member so as
to maintain the body temperature of the enclosed member and prevent loss of bodily
heat from it, the sheath defines an inner surface provided with a resilient muscle-supporting
rib which is disposed to extend generally lengthwise of the enclosed member, the sheath
and rib being sufficiently resilient to allow full functioning of the muscle supported
by the rib and substantially free circulation of the blood through the enclosed member,
wherein the sheath has a split extending along its length to facilitate placement
of the sheath over the wearer's member, the sheath has adjacent marginal sections
that border the split, the rib is secured to and extends beneath one of these marginal
sections and has a free flap portion insertable into a position under the other marginal
section and wherein fastening means have coacting parts attached to the marginal sections
along the length of the split and are operable to removably secure the sheath over
the enclosed member, the fastening means being disposed outwardly of the rib so that
the enclosed member will be protected by the rib against contact by the fastening
means when the latter is actuated.
13. A sheath for retaining the heat of the body temperatures and supporting the muscle
structure of a wearer as claimed in claim 12 in which the split extends to one end
of the sheath.