Touch fastener strap and splint having buckle retention means

A touch fastener strap of the type which includes an elongate strap member with a buckle on a first end and complementary touch fastener elements carried by the strap member adjacent to an opposing second end. The second end of the strap member may be passed through the buckle, doubled over itself and secured in a desired position by connection of the complementary touch fasteners with each other. The improvement is a retention member carried adjacent the second end of the strap member and being deformable between a relatively thin insertion position wherein the second end of the strap member including the retention means is sufficiently thin to be inserted into and through the buckle in a first direction to form a loop, and a relatively thick retention position wherein the strap member including the retention means is sufficiently thick that it is normally retained in the buckle. The strap is also disclosed with specific reference to a wrist splint.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a strap having means for retaining the strap in a 
buckle, and a splint, such as a wrist splint, wherein the strap is 
retained in the buckle during placement and removal of the splint. The 
strap facilitates placement of the splint on the body part with only one 
hand. 
Numerous types of splints are known in the art of the type which can be 
removed and replaced by the patient. This is often necessary for bathing, 
dressing and adjustment of the splint. Many of these types of splints are 
held in place by straps which extend around the circumference of the 
splint and are adjusted to hold the splint in position in the correct 
therapeutic position and at the correct degree of tightness. These straps 
most often include touch fastener elements for securing the straps in the 
proper position. By "touch fasteners" is meant conventional hook-and-loop 
fasteners, or other types of fasteners which operate by means of 
complementary mechanical engagement of opposing surfaces. 
The hooks and loops are sometimes referred to as "male" and "female" touch 
fastener elements. These include so-called hermaphroditic fasteners having 
identical complementary surfaces of upright arrow or mushroom-shaped 
elements which slip past each other into a locking position and are 
disengaged by peeling the surfaces away from each other, as well as other 
types. 
These types of fasteners offer the advantages of being infinitely 
adjustable, launderable, repetitively cycled between open and closed 
positions numerous times, inexpensive to purchase and easy to attach to 
the splint. A conventional arrangement for utilizing such fasteners is to 
attach a simple loop-shaped buckle to the splint together with a strap of 
suitable length with touch fasteners on an outer-facing side. The entire 
outer-facing side of the strap may be comprised of loose, unbroken fibrous 
loops, with a relatively small patch of complementary flexible hooks 
positioned on the end of the strap. The end of the strap is extended 
around the splint, passed through the buckle, doubled back over itself to 
the correct fit and pressed downwardly so that the patch of hooks engages 
the fibrous loops. 
It has been observed that some individuals have difficulty properly 
applying such a splint, since it may be difficult to thread the end of the 
strap through the relatively narrow buckle with only one hand-the hand not 
in the splint. This is particularly true if the buckle is attached to the 
splint by means of a short length of flexible webbing, as is often the 
case. In such circumstances the patient must hold the buckle in the 
correct position and insert the strap through the buckle with the same 
hand at the same time. This is particularly difficult if, as is often the 
case, the patient has injured the dominant hand and must use the other 
hand. 
There are many other circumstances were it would be desirable to prevent 
the strap from slipping completely out of the buckle when it is only 
necessary to loosen the strap sufficiently to, for example, remove a body 
part from a splint or other structure. If the strap can be retained in 
loosened position, it is only be necessary to retighten the strap to the 
desired position without any need to manipulate the buckle or reinsert the 
strap into the buckle. 
The invention of this application provides such a means of retaining the 
strap in the buckle. The retention means can be easily fabricated without 
any additional manufacturing steps and without any additional materials. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a strap having means 
for retaining the strap in a buckle. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a strap having touch 
fastener elements thereon with means for retaining the strap in a buckle. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a strap with means for 
retaining the strap in a buckle which is easy to fabricate. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a strap with means for 
retaining the strap in a buckle in a loosened condition to facilitate 
manipulation of the strap. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a strap with means for 
retaining the strap in a buckle which does not require additional 
fabrication steps. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a strap with means for 
retaining the strap in a buckle which does not require additional 
materials. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a strap with means for 
retaining the strap in a buckle under normal circumstances but wherein the 
strap can be removed if desired by exerting additional pulling force on 
the strap. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a splint, such as a wrist 
splint, wherein the strap is retained in the buckle during placement and 
removal of the splint. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a splint, such as a wrist 
splint, wherein the splint can be easily placed on the wrist, adjusted, 
and removed from the wrist with one hand. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a splint having a strap 
with means for retaining the strap in a buckle in a loosened condition to 
facilitate, with one hand, placement of the splint on the body part to be 
protected, to facilitate adjustment of the splint, and to facilitate 
removal of the splint. 
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the 
preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a touch fastener strap 
of the type which includes an elongate strap member with a buckle on a 
first end and complementary touch fastener elements carried by the strap 
member adjacent to an opposing second end. The second end of the strap 
member may be passed through the buckle, doubled over itself and secured 
in a desired position by connection of the complementary touch fasteners 
with each other. The improvement comprises retention means carried 
adjacent the second end of the strap member and being deformable between a 
relatively thin insertion position wherein the second end of the strap 
member including the retention means is sufficiently thin to be inserted 
into and through the buckle in a first direction to form a loop, and a 
relatively thick retention position wherein the strap member including the 
retention means is sufficiently thick so that it is normally retained in 
the buckle. 
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, said retention 
means comprises a deformable member cooperating with the second end of the 
strap member and extending outwardly from the plane of the strap member in 
a direction whereby the deformable member is deformed downwardly into the 
plane of the strap member during insertion of the second end of the strap 
into and through the buckle and is deformed outwardly away from the plane 
of the strap member during movement of the strap from the buckle. 
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, said retention 
means comprises a length of touch fastener material carried by the strap 
member to form a double-thickness portion, and an end edge of the 
double-thickness portion extends outwardly from the plane of the strap 
member in a direction whereby the end edge of the double-thickness portion 
is deformed downwardly into the plane of the strap member during insertion 
of the second end of the strap into and through the buckle, and is 
deformed outwardly away from the plane of the strap member during removal 
of the strap from the buckle. 
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, said end 
edge is defined by a line of transverse stitches extending across the 
width of said strap member. 
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, one side of 
said strap member is covered with touch fastener elements comprising 
loose, fibrous loops. 
Preferably, one side of said strap member is covered with touch fastener 
elements comprising loose, fibrous loops and a complementary patch of 
flexible hooks. 
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a splint product is 
provided for immobilizing a body part and comprises a support dimensioned 
to fit around the body part to be immobilized. A touch fastener strap 
member and buckle are carried by the support in opposed relation wherein 
the strap member may be passed through the buckle, doubled over itself and 
secured in a desired position by connection of complementary touch 
fasteners carried by the strap member with each other to secure the 
support in position around the body part. The improvement comprises 
retention means carried in closely spaced-apart relation to a free end of 
the strap member. The retention means is deformable between a relatively 
thin insertion position wherein the free end of the strap member including 
the retention means is sufficiently thin to be inserted into and through 
the buckle in a first direction, and a relatively thick retention position 
wherein the strap member including the retention member is sufficiently 
thick that it is normally retained in the buckle. 
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the retention 
means comprises a deformable member cooperating with the second end of the 
strap member and extending outwardly from the plane of the strap member in 
a direction whereby the deformable member is deformed downwardly into the 
plane of the strap member during insertion of the second end of the strap 
into and through the buckle and is deformed outwardly away from the plane 
of the strap member during removal of the strap from the buckle. 
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the 
retention means of the splint comprises a length of touch fastener 
material carried by the strap member to form a double-thickness portion, 
and further wherein an end edge of the double-thickness portion extends 
outwardly from the plane of the strap member in a direction whereby the 
end edge of the double-thickness portion is deformed downwardly into the 
plane of the strap member during insertion of the second end of the strap 
into and through the buckle, and is deformed outwardly away from the plane 
of the strap member during removal of the strap from the buckle. 
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, said end 
edge of the strap member of the splint is defined by a line of transverse 
stitches extending across the width of said strap member. 
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, one side of 
said strap member is covered with touch fastener elements comprising 
loose, fibrous loops. 
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, one side of 
said strap member is covered with touch fastener elements comprising 
loose, fibrous loops and a complementary patch of flexible hooks. 
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, said splint 
comprises a wrist splint. 
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wrist 
splint includes hand fastening means for being positioned between the 
thumb and forefinger to secure the wrist splint to the hand, and arm 
fastening means for being positioned around the arm to secure the wrist 
splint around the arm. 
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wrist 
splint support is tubular and is placed on the wrist by inserting the hand 
and wrist into the support from one end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE 
Referring now specifically to the drawings, a strap according to the 
present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and shown generally at 
reference numeral 10. The strap 10 is formed of an elongate strap member 
11 of suitable length for the intended use. Strap member 11 is typically a 
woven or knitted tape with a loose, unbroken fibrous surface on one side 
formed of a multitude of loose loops 12. The loops 12 form one-half of a 
touch fastener system. 
A buckle 14 is secured to one end of the strap member 11 by passing one end 
of the strap member 11 through the buckle 14 and doubling the strap member 
11 over on itself. The doubled portion of the strap member 11 is then 
stitched or with sewing stitches 13 or otherwise joined, such as by 
ultrasonic welding, to secure the buckle 14 to the end of the strap member 
11. 
A woven or knitted patch 16 having a multitude of hooks 18 is stitched or 
ultrasonically welded onto the end area of strap member 11 opposite the 
buckle 14. Note that the patch 16 is stitched to the same side of the 
strap member 11 as carries the loops 12 with sewing stitches 19. 
As is also shown in FIG. 1, the stitches 19 are placed on the patch 16 so 
as to leave a short retention member 20 extending along the strap member 
11 in the direction of the buckle 14. The compression of the patch 16 into 
the strap member 11 caused by the stitches 19 causes the retention member 
20 to angle outwardly slightly away from the plane of the strap member 11, 
and it is this feature which permits the invention to work so simply and 
effectively. 
The angle of the retention member 20 is such that when the strap member 11 
is being passed into and through the buckle 14, the retention member 20 is 
easily depressed back onto the surface of the strap member 11. Thus, the 
retention member 20 and the strap member are collectively relatively thin 
and thus pass through the buckle 14 without resistance. 
As is shown in FIG. 2, the second end of the strap member 11--the one with 
the patch 16--is passed through the buckle 14 and doubled back over 
itself. After being properly adjusted, the patch 16 is depressed 
downwardly onto the loops 12, fastening the strap member 11 into a desired 
diameter. The position of the patch 16 and the angle of the retention 
member 20 is shown in a somewhat exaggerated manner in FIG. 4. Note that 
the retention member 20 continues to perform its gripping function even 
though it is attached to the strap member only by the line of stitching 
19. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, the function of the retention member 20 is 
illustrated. As is shown, when the strap member 11 is loose, the angle of 
the retention member 20 is such that it catches on the buckle 14 and 
normally prevents the second end of the strap member 11 from slipping back 
through the buckle 14. The retention member 20, while capable of flexing, 
is sufficiently stiff to resist the weight of the strap member 11 as it 
tries to slide through the buckle 14. On the other hand, in a situation 
where the user desires to completely remove the second end of the strap 
member 11 from the buckle 14, force applied to the strap member 11 will 
cause the retention member 20 to fold back onto the patch 16, allowing the 
second end of the strap member 11 to pass through the buckle 14. In 
effect, the thickness of the retention member 20 and the strap member 11 
is sufficiently great to prevent unaided passage of the strap member 
completely out of the buckle 14, and thus normally defines a relatively 
thick retention position. 
The strap 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 has wide application to secure any 
object by encircling it and some support adjacent to it. A specific 
application according to a variation of the invention is shown in FIGS. 
6-9. As is shown in FIG. 6, a tubular wrist splint 30 is secured to the 
wrist by extending the hand into and through the splint 30 so that the 
splint 30 extends from approximately where the palm of the hand joins the 
base of the fingers to the lower arm above the wrist. The wrist splint 30 
shown in FIGS. 69 is generally typical of prior art splints insofar as it 
includes hand fastening means comprising a strap 32 and arm fastening 
means 34 for securing the splint 30 to the hand and arm at the desired 
degree of tightness. An elongate strip of loose, non-woven fibrous loops 
36 cooperates with patches of flexible hooks (not shown) on the underside 
of the straps 32 and 34 to retain the straps 32 and 34 in the desired 
position. 
In accordance with the invention, a centrally-located wrist strap member 38 
provides support directly over the wrist of the wearer. As is shown in 
FIG. 6, strap member 38 is attached to the underside of the splint 30 and 
extends around to the top of the splint 30. The strap member 38 has loose, 
nonwoven fibrous loops 40 on the outwardly-facing surface and a patch 42 
of flexible hooks attached by sewing stitches 43 positioned on the end of 
the outwardly-facing surface, as shown. The sewing stitches 43 are 
positioned to form a retention member 44. The retention member 44 
functions in the same manner as the retention member 20 in FIGS. 1-5, and 
reference back to those Figures is made for the purpose of further 
explanation. 
A buckle 45 is attached to splint 30 by a short length of elastic webbing 
47, opposing ends of which are secured at spaced-apart locations on the 
lateral side of the splint 30. As is shown in FIGS. 6-9, the strap member 
38 is extended through the buckle 45 (FIGS. 6 and 7); doubled back on 
itself (FIG. 8); and the patch 42 depressed into the fibrous loops 40 to 
secure the strap member 38 in the desired position (FIG. 9). Straps 32 and 
34 and strap member 38 are independently adjustable. 
To remove the splint, straps 32 and 34 and strap member 38 are detached, 
loosening the splint 30 so the hand can be withdrawn. Retention member 44 
functions to prevent the strap member 38 from being withdrawn entirely 
from the buckle 45. Thus, when the wearer is ready to replace the splint 
30, the hand is re-inserted into the splint 30 and the straps 32 and 34 
re-attached. Since the strap member 38 has been retained in the buckle 45, 
it is not necessary to rethread the strap member 38 into the buckle 45 
with one hand, or obtain help from someone else. Rather, it is a simple 
matter to grasp the end of the strap member 38 and pull it back into the 
proper position for reattachment to the loops 40 on the strap member 38. 
Should the wearer wish to remove the strap 38 from the buckle 45, a tug at 
the strap 38 will cause the retention member 44 to fold back against the 
patch 42, allowing the end of the strap 38 to pass through the buckle 45. 
A touch fastener strap and a splint having buckle retention means is 
described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without 
departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the 
preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the 
invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for 
the purpose of limitation-the invention being defined by the claims.