Protective appliance for the hip joint area

Abstract

A protective appliance for the hip joint area comprises an annular pad made of a relatively resilient material and carrying adhesive strips on one surface to secure the pad to the skin, and a relatively rigid dome-shaped shield carried in opposed pockets formed on the other, outer surface of the pad. When the appliance is in place, the shield serves to disperse forces directed toward the hip joint area, transferring such forces to surrounding regions which are inherently better protected by body tissue. The shield fits somewhat loosely in the pad pockets to permit it to adjust to changes in body position, thus adding to the comfort of the appliance when it is worn. The sides of the shield disposed between the pad pockets are contoured out of the plane of the pad to add further comfort particularly when the wearer reclines on the appliance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.