Elastic bandage

The invention relates to an elastic bandage for medical use. A base part of the bandage is made of pure cotton cloth or other fabric with a cloth cover on a transverse side in which a drainage aperture is defined. On opposite transverse sides of the base part there are respectively provided two outlying parts of the bandage with a drainage aperture in each of them. On opposite transverse sides of the base part there are respectively two safety bands and two suspenders on a longitudinal side of base part. The safety bands and the outlying parts are fastened together with fasteners.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an elastic bandage for medical use. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Existing post-operative bandages, popularly known as "multi-head bandages", 
are made of pure cotton or unwoven fabric and comprise a piece of 
rectangular cloth with a number of cloth strips on two opposing sides of 
the cloth. A patient, after having an operation in the chest or abdomen, 
would have this bandage applied for protection and stabilization of the 
operation wound or incision. This type of bandage usually requires two 
medical personnel to wind it around the wounded portion of a patient. Once 
the bandage is wound around the patient, the cloth strips on opposite 
sides are successively overlapped on each other and tightly fastened 
together. If a drainage tube or other drainage device is needed for the 
wound, it may be placed in a gap between the cloth strips of the bandage. 
The prior art devices suffer from the disadvantage of being cumbersome. The 
prior bandage requires two skilled individuals for application. A patient 
cannot handle the bandage himself. Additionally, the prior bandage is not 
elastic and applies uneven pressure to a wound. Uneven pressure on a wound 
may result in uneven healing of the wound and discomfort to the wearer. 
The prior bandage is susceptible to loosening or displacement due to 
patient motion. If the bandage is wound too tightly, the patient may 
suffer a feeling of constriction. If the bandage is wound too loosely, the 
analgesic effect from the pressure of the bandage is lost. Also, because 
the drainage tube is placed between a gap in the cloth strips of the 
bandage, it is liable to be become twisted or constricted and its drainage 
capacity impeded. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention discloses a bandage for medical use made of elastic 
and other fabric. It has the advantages of being elastic, providing even 
pressure to the wound, and providing an analgesic effect from the pressure 
without a feeling of constriction. Its elasticity prevents loosening or 
sliding due to patient motion. Its substantially even pressure and 
stability allows for the smooth and clean healing of a wound. For added 
durability, a preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses 
loops for removably securing receptacles such as bottles or bags on the 
bandage and drainage openings in the bandage to facilitate unimpeded 
drainage from a wound. Further improvement includes the addition of a 
relatively thin padding sheet, provided in the area where the various 
bandage members are connected. 
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
The elastic bandage comprises a base bandage member, two outlying bandage 
members, a cloth cover, and corresponding fasteners. It may also comprise 
two relatively thin padding sheets, two safety bandage members, two 
suspenders, and corresponding connectors and fasteners. 
In its preferred embodiment, he base bandage member is made of pure cotton 
or other fabric. As well, it is isosceles trapezoidal in shape if used as 
a chest bandage, to conform to the V-shape, larger on the upper part than 
on the lower part, of the typical human torso. It is rectangular in shape 
if used in other applications. 
The two outlying bandage members are made of elastic materials. Each has a 
length substantially equal to that of the base bandage member, for 
purposes of providing evenly distributing pressure throughout the bandage. 
Each is either trapezoidal or rectangular in shape, corresponding to the 
shape of the base bandage member. Each is sewingly joined on a proximal 
edge, respectively with opposite transverse edges of the base bandage 
member. Each has fasteners located on a distal edge of each outlying 
bandage member, so that the two outlying bandage members may be fastened 
together at their distal ends. At least one outlying member also has a 
centrally located fastener, so that it may be connected to a corresponding 
safety bandage member. 
The cloth cover is made of cotton or other sterile material. It is sewingly 
attached to the location where one of the outlying bandage members is 
joined with the base bandage member. The cloth cover and at least one the 
outlying bandage members contain corresponding drainage openings. A tube 
may be inserted in the drainage opening to facilitate draining of the 
wound. 
Further, the bandage may contain a two relatively thin padding sheets. This 
provides added durability. The padding sheets are made of foamed plastic 
or other cushioning materials. They have width substantially equal to that 
of the outlying and base bandage members. The sheets are provided around 
the two joints formed where each outlying bandage member is connected to 
the base bandage member. Also, at least one of the joints may contain a 
loop for removably securing receptacles such as bottles or bags on the 
bandage. Such a receptacle may be connected to a tube inserted in the 
drainage openings, so that drainage from the wound may be received and 
contained. 
Two safety bandage members may be used in the invention to increase 
pressure upon the wound, further preventing unwanted motion of the 
bandage. The safety bandage members are made of elastic fabric. Each is 
trapezoidal or rectangular in shape, corresponding to the shape of the 
base bandage member. Each is sewingly attached on a proximal edge 
respectively to opposite locations where the outlying bandage members are 
joined with the base bandage member, on a side of the base bandage member 
opposite the cover cloth. The length of the safety bandage members is less 
than that of the base and outlying bandage members, to provide pressure 
beyond that available from the base and outlying bandage members alone. 
Fasteners are located on a distal edge of each safety bandage member and 
on a central part of at least one safety bandage member, so that at least 
one safety bandage member may be fastened to at least one, corresponding 
outlying member, and so that the two safety bandage members may be 
fastened together at their distal ends. 
Two suspenders may be used to help support the bandage upon the wound, in 
applications such as a chest bandage. The suspenders are made of elastic 
fabric. Each suspender is sewingly attached to a longitudinal edge of the 
base bandage member and is spaced apart from the other. Two connectors are 
each located on a longitudinal edge of each outlying bandage member, 
corresponding to the edge where the suspenders are located. The suspenders 
may be connected to the connectors. The bandage is operated as follows: 
The base bandage member is placed on a side of a body opposite the wound to 
be bandaged. The cloth cover is brought around the body to cover the 
wound. Each outlying bandage member is brought around its respective side 
of the body and is fastened to the other. 
Additionally, each safety bandage member is brought around its respective 
side of the body. At least one safety member is fastened to at least one 
outlying bandage member. Then the two safety bandage members are fastened 
together. 
Further, each suspender is pulled up over the top of the body portion being 
bandaged. Each suspender is then pulled down and respectively connected to 
a corresponding connector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2., base bandage member 1 is made of pure 
cotton or elastic fabric. Length T of the base bandage member 1 may be 
varied to accommodate patients of different size and stature. Width 
t.sub.1 is slightly greater than width t.sub.2 when the invention is used 
as a chest bandage, due to the V-shape, larger on the upper part than on 
the lower part, of the typical human torso. Width t.sub.1 and width 
t.sub.2 of the base bandage member are equal when the invention is used as 
a general application bandage. Cloth cover 2 is rectangular in shape and 
made of pure cotton or other sterile fabric. Cloth cover 2 is attached to 
a edge of base bandage member 1. The length of the cover is equal to 
length T of base bandage member 1. Horizontal drainage opening 3 is 
located within cover cloth 2. A drainage tube may pass through drainage 
opening 3. 
Outlying bandage members 4 and 5 are made of elastic fabric. Outlying 
bandage members 4 and 5 are sewingly attached to base bandage member 1 
each on an opposite transverse edge of base bandage member 1. Outlying 
bandage member 4 is located along the same edge as cloth cover 2. The 
length of the outlying bandage members is equal to length T. The width of 
the outlying bandage members is slightly longer than width t.sub.1. A 
drainage opening (not shown) is located on outlying bandage member 4 at a 
position which corresponds to the drainage opening 3 in cover cloth 2. A 
drainage opening may optionally be located on outlying bandage member 5 at 
a position which corresponds to drainage opening 3. Fasteners 7 and 8 may 
be nylon, plastic, or metallic buttons or other known fastening devices. 
Fasteners 7 and 8 are respectively attached to distal ends of outlying 
bandage members 4 and 5. The outlying bandage members can be fastened 
together by joining fasteners 7 and 8 and the entire bandage can be 
fixedly bound around a patient. 
Safety bandage members 9 and 10 are made of elastic fabric. Safety bandage 
members 9 and 10 can be used to increase the pressure of the bandage. 
Safety bandage members 9 and 10 may be attached to base bandage member 1 
each on opposite transverse edges of the base bandage member. The length 
of safety bandage members 9 and 10 is less than length T. The length of 
safety bandage members 9 and 10 is less than that of outlying bandage 
members 4 and 5. Fasteners 11 and 12 are respectively attached to distal 
ends of safety bandage members 9 and 10. Fastener 13 is attached to a 
central location on a side of outlying bandage member 4, facing safety 
bandage member 9. Fastener 14 is attached to a central location, 
corresponding to the location of fastener 13, on a side of safety bandage 
member 10 opposite outlying bandage member 5. Fasteners 11, 12, 13 and 14 
may be nylon, plastic, or metallic buttons or other known fastening 
devices. 
Safety bandage members 9 and 10 are necessary when the present invention is 
used as a chest bandage or in other applications where added pressure is 
necessary. When the safety bandage members are used, fasteners 12 and 13 
are fastened together, as are fasteners 11 and 14. This increases pressure 
on the patient's wound. 
Padding sheets 15 and 16 are made of foamed plastic or similar materials. 
Padding sheets 15 and 16 are interposed around the joints formed where 
outlying bandage members 4 and 5 (or safety bandage members 9 and 10) are 
attached to base bandage member 1. 
Loop 17 is located where outlying bandage member 5 is attached to base 
bandage member 1, on the same side of the attachment as outlying bandage 
member 5. Alternately, a loop may also be located where outlying bandage 
member 6 is attached to base bandage member 1, on the same side of the 
attachment as outlying bandage member 6. Loop 17 may be used to removably 
secure receptacles such as bottles or bags on the bandage. 
Suspenders 18 and 19 are made of elastic fabric. Suspenders 18 and 19 may 
be used when the present invention is used as a chest bandage or in other 
applications where added support is necessary and available. Suspenders 18 
and 19 can be attached to a longitudinal side of base bandage member 1, 
spaced apart from each other. Connecting strips 20 and 21 can be 
respectively attached on a longitudinal side, corresponding to the 
longitudinal side on which the suspenders are attached, of outlying 
bandage members 4 and 5. Suspender 18 and connecting strip 20, and 
suspender 19 and connecting strip 21 may be interconnected to each other 
by either tying them in a knot or by providing fasteners on ends of the 
connecting strips.