Foam plastic orthopedic fabric
AssigneeApplied Technology International, Ltd.
InventorHarry A. Sherman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An orthopedic fabric is disclosed which includes a length of unbroken loop fabric to which is intimately adhered a layer of thermoplastic breathable elastomeric foam without employing stitches or other additional materials. The unbroken loop fabric may be stretchable for use as a support device or non-stretchable for use as an immobilizing device. The thermoplastic foam layer may be cured directly upon the unbroken loop fabric or may be intimately bonded by employing ultrasonic frequency, radio frequency or thermal energy sufficient to melt surface portions of the foam layer causing it to become adhesive.
Claims19
An orthopedic fabric comprising:
- a layer of unbroken loop fabric of preselected length defined between a first end and a second end, the fabric defining a receiving surface which is removably engageable with hooks of a hook and loop type closure;
- a layer of elastomeric foam comprising thermoplastic urethane of length similar to that of the fabric layer, the foam layer being in contact with and adhered to the fabric layer;
- and,
- hook means removably engageable with the layer of unbroken loop fabric and secured to the layer of unbroken loop fabric, the hook means being operable to releasably attach portions of said fabric together.
An orthopedic fabric comprising:
- a layer of unbroken loop fabric of preselected length defined between a first end and a second end, the fabric defining a receiving surface which is engageable with hooks of a hook and loop type closure;
- a layer of elastomeric foam comprising thermoplastic urethane of length similar to that of the fabric layer, the foam layer being intimately bonded to the fabric layer by diffusion of the thermoplastic urethane into the fabric layer;
- and,
- hook means engageable with the layer of unbroken loop fabric and secured to the layer of unbroken loop fabric, the hook means being operable to releasably attach portions of said fabric together.
The method of fabricating an orthopedic fabric, comprising:
- forming a length of unbroken loop fabric, the fabric defining a receiving surface which is removably engageable with hooks of a hook and loop type closure;
- adhering a layer of thermoplastic elastomeric foam to the fabric, the thermoplastic foam being of a type which is a flowable liquid before curing and which collapses into a flowable liquid with application of heat energy;
- permanently securing a hook fastener to one of the unbroken loop fabric and the foam layer by engaging the flowable liquid with the hook fastener and allowing the same to harden;
- readily engaging and disengaging the hook fastener and the unbroken loop fabric.
The method of claim 17, wherein the subjecting comprises using radio frequency to produce the heat energy.
The method of fabricating an orthopedic fabric, comprising:
- forming a length of unbroken loop fabric, the fabric defining a receiving surface which is removably engageable with hooks of a hook and loop type closure;
- adhering a layer of thermoplastic elastomeric foam to the fabric, the thermoplastic foam being of a type which if a flowable liquid before curing and which collapses into a flowable liquid with application of heat energy;
- forming at least one seam with a portion of the unbroken loop fabric by application of heat energy to collapse the foam into a flowable liquid which bridges the seam and thereafter hardens at a thickness less than the foam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.