Compression brace structure and material
AssigneeLa Pointique International Ltd.
InventorsJackson Chiang, Jonathon Chuang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a composite material for use in making orthopedic elastic braces for supporting a body part by compression. The composite material includes center (110), inner (120), and outer layers (130). The center layer having on one side a plurality of grooves (100) that intersect each other to define a grid pattern functioning as passageways along the width and length of the layer to promote heat and moisture dissipation for the body part being supported. A plurality of cuts (150) extending through the entire depth of the center layer and distributed across the surface area of the layer, while retaining sufficient elasticity and density to provide adequate compression support.
Claims18
A flexible, resilient composite material used to manufacture elastic compression braces, the composite material comprising:
- a center layer of elastic material having a first face and a second opposite face, a plurality of channels formed in the first face of the center layer, said channels intersecting each other to define a network, said plurality of channels defining passageways extending along substantially the entire length of said first face, and further wherein said center layer having a plurality of cuts extending through said center layer material;
- an inner fabric layer of a resiliently elastic porous fabric attached to the first channeled face of said center layer;
- and
- an outer fabric layer of a resiliently elastic porous fabric attached to the second face of said center layer;
- wherein said channels formed in the first face of the center layer are capable of channeling away moisture and heat when the first face side of said center layer is worn facing the wearer, and
- wherein when the center layer is stretched during use, the cuts in the center layer expand to allow passage of moisture and air therethrough.
A flexible, resilient sheet material for use in making elastic compression braces for surrounding and supporting a body part by compression, the sheet material comprising:
- first and second faces;
- a plurality of grooves formed in at least one of the first and second faces of the sheet material, said grooves intersecting each other to define a network of grooves defining passageways along the width and length of the sheet material to provide an outlet for heat and moisture dissipation for said body part being supported;
- and
- a plurality of cuts extending through the entire depth of said sheet material and distributed across the sheet material, whereby the center layer retaining structural integrity to provide orthopedic compression to the body part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.