Abstract:
A sling having a generally rectangular shoulder pad with a cutout for the user&#39;s neck and four D-rings attached thereto is disclosed. A chest strap is attached to two of the D-rings, one on each end of the shoulder pad. An arm strap is attached to the two remaining D-rings. Both of the straps are formed of a resilient material to allow the user flexibility and mobility while wearing the sling. In order to create an easily adjusted attachment, each of the straps has a layer of resilient hook material on one side. At each end of each strap is a patch of hook material. The combination of hook and loop material is used to connect each end of the strap to the corresponding D-ring. An alternate embodiment uses two O-rings. Each O-ring attaches one end of both the arm strap and the chest strap to the shoulder pad. Also disclosed is a foam doughnut attachable to the underside of the shoulder pad to create a low pressure area within the opening in the doughnut to protecting a surgical site or other sensitive tissue.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a sling for supporting the arm and shoulder of a patient. More particularly it relates to a sling that provides bracing and stabilization to the shoulder and arm of a patient. Although the sling may be used for other situations, the sling is particularly useful for acromio-clavicular separations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Slings of many different styles have been created to provide support while patients are recovering from broken bones, surgery and other injuries. However, these prior art devices have an assortment of disadvantages. For example, standard slings are made from inelastic materials. The user places their arm in the sling and the sling supports the weight of the arm. However, in this case, if the user moves the arm upward even a small amount, no support is provided. Therefore, most users are severely limited in the amount of motion they can achieve while they are incapacitated and using the sling. 
     Other styles of slings utilize complicated adjustment systems that are difficult to adjust to correctly fit the user and may be even more difficult for the user to don. These slings are also typically somewhat costly to manufacture due to the large number of parts and the assembly required. 
     Therefore, there is a clear need in the industry for an easily adjustable, resilient sling that provides elastic support for a user&#39;s arm throughout a wide range of motion, thereby enabling the user at least partial use of his or her arm. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention takes the form of a sling to support and brace a user&#39;s arm after surgery or injury. The sling has a generally rectangular shoulder pad with a cutout for the user&#39;s neck and two to four attachment rings attached thereto. One embodiment uses four D-rings. A chest strap is attached to two of the D-rings, one on each end of the shoulder pad. An arm strap is attached to the two remaining D-rings. A second embodiment uses two O-rings in place of the four D-rings. Both the chest strap and the arm strap pass through each of the O-rings. Both of the straps are formed of a resilient or elastic material, such as neoprene to allow the user flexibility and mobility while wearing the sling. The resilient material allows the sling to provide more effective support for the user through a range of motions, thereby allowing increased activity while decreasing pain and the inconvenience associated with wearing a sling. In order to create an easily adjusted attachment, each of the straps has a layer of resilient hook material on one side. At each end of each strap is a patch of hook material. Optionally, the patch of hook material may extend beyond the end of the strap. The combination of hook and loop material is used to connect each end of the strap to the corresponding D-ring. Other attachment mechanisms, such as buckles, snaps, etc. may also be used. 
     If desired, a resilient pressure-relief member may be attached to the underside of the shoulder pad to create a low-pressure area within the opening in the doughnut. The doughnut would be useful in protecting surgical sites or other sensitive tissue from the pressure caused by the weight of the user&#39;s arm in the sling. The doughnut is preferably formed of a resilient material, such as foam, and has a layer of hook material on one side, which may be attached to the underside of the shoulder pad. If preferred, an alternate attachment could be used. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the sling. 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  are front views of a user wearing the sling. 
     FIG. 3 shows the underside of the shoulder pad with the pressure relief doughnut. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the shoulder pad. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of a second embodiment of the sling. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1,  2   a  and  2   b  show a top view of the sling  10  and a user wearing the sling, respectively. The sling  10  is formed of a shoulder pad  20  and two straps  50 ,  60 . Although the shoulder pad  20  may be formed of different shapes such as rectangular or oval, the embodiment shown is rectangular with rounded corners  22  and an arcuate cutout  24  on one side. Preferably, the shoulder pad  20  is of sufficient length to extend down onto the user&#39;s chest and back. For most people a shoulder pad  20  with a length of 12 inches would be sufficient. However, larger and smaller version may be desirable for larger and smaller individuals including children. Therefore, versions of the shoulder pad  20  may be in the range of 24 inches to 6 inches, more preferably in the range of 8 to 18 inches, most preferably in the range of 10 to 15 inches in length. The cutout  24  is designed to rest against or near the user&#39;s neck. For the user&#39;s comfort, the edge of the shoulder pad  20  may optionally be trimmed with a smooth piping  26 , as shown. The bottom surface  28  of the shoulder pad  20  may be formed of a loop material  30  so that it may mate with the hook material  84  on a pressure relief member  80 , shown connected to the underside of the shoulder pad  20  in FIGS. 3 and 4. On the top surface  32  of the shoulder pad  20 , four strap connection rings  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  are attached. Optimally, the rings  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  are attached at mirror image points on the two ends of the shoulder pad  20 , thereby allowing the sling  10  to be used for either the right or the left shoulder. The embodiment shown uses plastic D-rings, however, other durable materials, such as metal, and ring styles may be used. The connection may also take other forms such as buckles, ties or other adjustable connections. 
     The shoulder pad  20  should be filled with a resilient material, such as foam, fiberfill, batting, etc., to promote the resilient support and to provide maximum comfort for the user. In order to hold the material in place within the shoulder pad  20 , additional lines of stitching or tacking may be used during manufacturing or in the final product. Although other heights may be used, the thickness of the shoulder pad  20  is in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 inches, more preferably in the range of 0.25 to 1.5 inches, most preferably in the range of 0.5 to 1.25 inches. The current embodiment is approximately 1.0 inch thick. 
     Two straps are used in the present configuration: a chest strap  50  and an arm strap  60 . Although the straps  50 ,  60  may be formed of other materials, they are optimally formed of a resilient or elastic material, such as neoprene. In order to facilitate easy attachment, one side of the strap  50 ,  60  may include a layer of resilient loop material  52 ,  62 . The chest strap  50  is used to stabilize the shoulder pad  50  during use. The width of the chest strap  50  may be anywhere in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 inches, more preferably in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 inches, most preferably in the range of 1.0 to 2.0 inches. The embodiment show uses a chest strap  50  that is approximately 1.5 inches wide. The arm strap  60  is used to elastically support the user&#39;s arm. The width of the arm strap  60  is anywhere in the range of 1.0 to 6.0 inches, more preferably in the range of 1.5 to 4.0 inches, most preferably in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 inches. The embodiment shown uses an arm strap  60  that is approximately 2.0 inches wide. A patch of hook material  54 ,  64  is connected to each end of each strap  50 ,  60 . If desired, the patch of hook material  54 ,  64  may extend beyond the end of the strap  50 ,  60  to create an extension  56 ,  66  that provides additional length and stability for the connection. 
     The two strap connection rings  34 ,  36  on the side of the shoulder pad  20  with the cutout  24  are for the chest strap  50 . The chest strap  50  connection rings  34 ,  36  are preferably oriented such that the chest strap  50  extends from the longitudinal axis  48  of the shoulder pad  20  at an angle between 45 and 90 degrees, more preferably between 50 and 85, most preferably between 60 and 80. In the embodiment shown, the chest strap  50  extends at approximately a 70 degree angle from the longitudinal axis  48  of the shoulder pad  20 . To connect an end of the chest strap  50  to a ring  34 ,  36 , the user passes the end of the chest strap  50  through the ring  34 ,  36  from the under side of the ring  34 ,  36  and doubles it back. The patch of hook material  54  attached to the end of the chest strap  50  is connected with the mating loop material  52  that is attached to one side of the neoprene. The other end of the chest strap  50  is similarly attached to the other ring  34 ,  36 . In alternate embodiments, one end of the chest strap  50  may be permanently attached to one of the rings  34 ,  36  or even directly to the shoulder pad  20 . 
     The two strap connection rings  38 ,  40  located toward the straight edge of the shoulder pad  20  are for the arm strap  60 . The arm strap  60  connection rings  38 ,  40  are preferably oriented such that the arm strap  60  extends from the longitudinal axis  48  of the shoulder pad  20  at an angle between 0 and 45 degrees, more preferably between 10 and 35 degrees, most preferably between 20 and 30 degrees. In the embodiment shown, the arm strap  60  extends at approximately a 25 degree angle from the longitudinal axis  48  of the shoulder pad  20 . To connect an end of the arm strap  60  to a ring  38 ,  40 , the user passes the end of the arm strap  60  through the ring  38 ,  40  from the under side of the ring  38 ,  40  and doubles it back. The patch of hook material  64  attached to the end of the arm strap  60  is connected with the mating loop material  62  that is attached to one side of the neoprene. The other end of the arm strap  60  is similarly attached to the other ring  38 , 40 . In alternate embodiments, one end of the arm strap  60  may be permanently attached to one of the rings  38 ,  40  or even directly to the shoulder pad  20 . 
     The strap connection rings  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  may be attached to the shoulder pad  20  by any suitable means. In the embodiment shown, each ring  34 , 36 ,  38 , 40  has an attachment strip  70  of material passing therethrough. Both ends of each strip  70  are connected together and then stitched to the shoulder pad  20 . To provide a secure connection, the attachment strips  70  for the arm strap connection rings  38 ,  40  and the chest strap attachment rings  34 ,  36  may create an overlap  72 . 
     Additional reinforcing may also be used to secure the rings and provide structural support to hinder deformation of the shoulder pad  20 . In FIG. 1, there is an additional reinforcing strap  46  stitched between the attachment strips  70  for the strap connection rings  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  on the first end portion  42  and the second end portion  44  of the shoulder pad  20 . 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  also show optional bicep straps  100 . The strap attaches the arm strap  60  to the bicep of the user. If present, the bicep strap  100  may be permanently affixed to the arm strap or it may be releasably attached to the arm strap with hook fastener material or other convenient attachment means, such as buckles, snaps, ties, etc. 
     FIG. 3 shows the underside or bottom surface  28  of the shoulder pad  20  and FIG. 4 shows a cross-section thereof. The bottom surface  28  of the shoulder pad  20  is preferably formed of a loop material, thereby permitting attachment of a pressure relief member  80 . The pressure relief member  80  shown is round and formed of a resilient foam with a layer of hook material  84  attached to one side. If preferred, the pressure relief member  80  may form different shapes such as oval, square, rectangular, etc. or some combination thereof. Also, alternate attachment mechanisms may be used. In alternate embodiments, the connection between the pressure relief member  80  and the shoulder pad  20  may be formed by other releasable attachments such as adhesive, snaps or other releasable attachment means. The pressure relief member  80  could ever. be held in place merely by the pressure of the sling  10 . 
     The opening  82  in the center of the pressure relief member  80  provides an area where the pressure from the sling  10  is reduced or eliminated. Typically, the pressure relief member  80  is used in cases where the patient has a wound, abrasion or other sensitive site on which pressure is undesirable. In such a case, the physician or user can select the appropriate location for the pressure relief member  80  on the underside or bottom surface  28  of the shoulder pad  20  and attach the pressure relief member  80  with the mating parts of the hook and loop fastener, thereby temporarily affixing the pressure relief member  80  in the desired location. If, during use, the user finds that the pressure relief member  80  is improperly located due to the initial placement of the device  10  or due to other circumstances such as increased or decreased swelling, etc., the user may relocated the pressure relief member  80  in a more comfortable or more useful location. 
     In the embodiment shown, the sling  10  is symmetrical allowing the unit to function on either the left or the right side of the user without modification or adjustment of the sling  10 . If preferred, left side and right side versions of the sling  10  may also be created. In this case, the end of one or both of the straps  50 ,  60  that are connected to the end of the shoulder pad  20  on the user&#39;s back could be permanently affixed to the shoulder pad  20 . The adjustment for the strap  50 ,  60  lengths would be done exclusively by the opposite end of the straps  50 ,  60 , which are attached to the front end of the shoulder pad  20  and would be within easy reach of the user. 
     The present invention is designed to provide almost infinite and constant adjustment by the user and/or doctor. A combination of the resiliency of the strap and the friction between the strap and the user&#39;s arm and/or sleeve securely supports the user&#39;s arm without slipping of the arm strap. The secure support allows the sling to provide constant, resilient support for the user when the arm and elbow are at their natural resting position angle of approximately 90 degrees and throughout a range of motion. Constant support allows a user to participate in more activities while providing the necessary support and protection and decreasing the pain and inconvenience. 
     As noted above, the particular configuration given is especially useful for treating patients with acromio-clavicular separations. The pressure provided presses against the clavical, thereby moving it closer to its normal position proximate the acromium. 
     Many features have been listed with particular configurations, options and embodiments. Any one or more of the features described may be added to or combined with any of other embodiments or other standard devices to create alternate combinations and embodiments. 
     Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only a few possible embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments and modifications will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of a few preferred embodiments of the invention, and the full scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.