Patent ID: 6524264
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A contact separation cover for a body brace and a body brace in combination wherein said body brace includes a first side to face away from the body of a person when worn, a second side to face toward said body of said person when worn, said contact separation cover comprises a panel of flexible sheet material over said second side of said body brace and integrally formed releasable positioning means for positioning and holding said panel of flexible sheet material over said second side and for removal of said panel of flexible sheet material therefrom, wherein said body brace includes a central portion, a first extending portion extending laterally in one direction from said central portion, wherein said panel of flexible sheet material of said contact separation cover includes an upper edge, a lower edge, a first end edge, a second end edge, a first releasable connecting assembly includes a first flap extending outwardly from said first end edge of said panel of flexible sheet material from a location near said upper edge thereof, a second flap extending outwardly from said first edge of said panel of flexible sheet material from a location near said lower edge thereof, said first flap being positioned to overlap said second flap to form a first receiving loop, a first releasable connecting means to releasably connect said first and second flaps together when overlapped, wherein said first extending portion of said body brace is received in said first receiving loop, said first releasable connecting assembly comprising said first and second flaps and said first releasable connecting means, said integrally formed releasable positioning means includes a first folded over portion of said panel of flexible sheet material along a portion of said upper edge thereof, a second folded over portion of said panel of flexible sheet material along a portion of said lower edge thereof, said first folded over portion terminating in an elongated first free edge a short distance below said upper edge of said panel of flexible sheet material, said second folded over portion terminating in an elongated second free edge a short distance above said lower edge of said panel of flexible sheet material, a first stretched strip of elastic material secured to said first free edge while stretched to thereby gather said first free edge in folds when said first stretched strip of elastic material is released to thereby contract, a second stretched strip of elastic material secured to said second freed edge while stretched to thereby gather said second free edge in folds when said second stretched strip of elastic material is released to thereby contract, said first folded over portion of said panel of flexible sheet material forming a first receiving pocket to releasably position and hold an upper edge of said body brace therein when said elastic strip secured to said first free edge is in its contracted position and to release therefrom when said first elastic strip is stretched to thereby lengthen said first free edge sufficiently to enable removal of said upper edge of said body brace therefrom, said second folded over portion of said panel of flexible sheet material forming a second receiving pocket to releasably position and hold a lower edge of said body brace therein when said second free edge is in its contracted position and to release therefrom when said second elastic strip is stretched to thereby lengthen said second free edge sufficiently to enable removal of said lower edge of said body brace therefrom, including said upper edge and said lower edge of said body brace, wherein said body brace includes said upper edge and said lower edge thereof, said upper edge of said body brace being received in said first receiving pocket of said contact separation cover, said lower edge of said body brace being received in said second receiving pocket of said contact separation cover.