Abstract:
A bandage for restricting movement of an arm of a person is disclosed. At least one body panel formed of an elastic breathable material, where the at least one body panel has a left end, a right end and a bottom end, where the left end has a first closure mechanism, where the right end has a second closure mechanism. The at least one body panel is configured to wrap around a torso of the person, where the first closure mechanism and the second closure mechanism connects to each other to hold the at least one body panel onto the torso of the person. A sleeve formed of an elastic breathable material coupled to the bottom end of the at least one body panel, where the sleeve is configured to receive an arm of the person, where the arm is held in place by the sleeve.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an arm restricting bandage system. More particularly a person is able to utilize the arm restricting bandage to prevent the person from mobilizing his or her arm while utilizing the body for stabilization. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Oftentimes when human beings are active such as participating in sports or in normal activities they may injure themselves. They may injure themselves by fracturing or breaking their arms, legs or other parts of their bodies. In order to enable the arms, legs or other parts of their bodies to heal a cast may be used to place the arms or legs into for a period of time. In some cases, a sling may be the best possible device that may be used to help the arm heal. In order to heal arms and/or legs a cast may be used to immobilize the arms and/or legs for a period of time. In certain cases, a sling may be the best possible device used to help the arm heal when casting cannot be performed. 
         [0003]    Slings are good for immobilizing arms for a short period of time while still making it possible for the person to move her arm. However, the problem with the sling is that it has a tendency to pull on the neck of the wearer of the sling and may take the neck out of alignment which causes more problems for the wearer. Also, it would be difficult for a person to conduct normal activities with a sling, such as writing or using utensils to eat food. Further, another problem with the sling is that it allows the arm to move away from the body, raise the arm overhead so children can simply move the arm out of the sling easily making it difficult for a child to use the sling properly. 
         [0004]    Therefore, there is a need for a device that enables a person to safely and simply immobilize a portion of his or her body that doesn&#39;t cause his or her neck to be out of alignment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned technical background, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an arm restricting bandage that immobilizes at least one arm. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment of the invention, a bandage for restricting movement of an arm of a person is disclosed. At least one body panel is formed of an elastic breathable material, where the at least one body panel has a left end, a right end and a bottom end, where the left end has a first closure mechanism, where the right end has a second closure mechanism, The at least one body pan&amp; is configured to wrap around a torso of the person, where the first closure mechanism and the second closure mechanism connects to each other to hold the at least one body panel onto the torso of the person. A sleeve formed of elastic breathable material coupled to the bottom end of the at least one body panel, where the sleeve is configured to receive an arm of the person, where the arm is held in place by the sleeve. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment of the invention, a bandage for restricting movement of an arm of a person is disclosed. A plurality of body panels formed of an elastic breathable material, wherein each of the plurality of body panels have a left end, a right end and a bottom end, wherein the left end and the right end have fastening members to connect the left end to the right end. The plurality of body panels are configured to wrap around a torso of the person, wherein the fastening members hold the plurality of body panels onto the torso of the person. A sleeve is formed of an elastic breathable material coupled to the bottom end of one of the plurality of body panels, wherein the sleeve is configured to receive an arras of the person, wherein the arm is held in place by the sleeve. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an arm restricting bandage laid open in accordance with the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 1A  in a overlapping position of the loop material disposed over the vertical strip in accordance with the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1C  is an embodiment of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 1B  wrapped around a torso of a person in accordance with the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1D  is an embodiment of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 1B  showing a back portion wrapped around a torso of a person in accordance with the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of another arm restricting bandage in a laid open position in accordance with the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 2A  in an overlapping position of the loop material disposed over the vertical strip in accordance with the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2C  is an embodiment of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 2B  wrapped around a torso of a person in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 2D  is an embodiment of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 2B  showing a back portion wrapped around a torso of a person in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The presently preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings, where like components are identified with the same numerals. The descriptions of the preferred embodiments are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an arm restricting bandage laid open. The arm restricting bandage  100  has a main body panel  102  that is made of a first body panel  101 , second body panel  103  and a third body panel  105 . Even though there are three body panels  101 ,  103  and  105  utilized in this invention there may be 1, 2, 4, 5, 10 up to 100 or more body panels that make up the main body panel  102 . The first body panel  101 , second body panel  103  and the third body panel  105  have a generally elongated rectangular shape when they are laid open as shown. In another embodiment of the invention, the first body panel  101 , second body panel  103  and third body panel  105  may have any shape such as a square shape, circular shape, triangular shape, elliptical shape or any type of shape. The main body panel  102  including first body panel  101 , second body panel  103  and third body panel  105  may be made of any suitable elastic or non-elastic, breathable material such as an ACE bandage. ACE is a registered trademark of 3M Corporation having corporate headquarters in St. Paul, Minn. Main body panel  102 , first body panel  101 , second body panel  103  and third body panel  105  are used for body core stabilization. Core stabilization refers to the trunk of the body core being strong and able to support the rest of the muscles as they move. If the core is not stable because the muscles are weak, then one may lose balance more easily. The main muscles involved in core stability are the inner core muscles of the abdomen and pelvis. These muscles mostly support the spine and body while other muscles do the work of moving the rest of the body. 
         [0019]    First body panel  101 , second body panel  103  and third body panel  105  have a length in the range of 12-40 inches and a width in the range of 5-20 inches. The first body panel  101  has a left end  101   a,  a right end  101   b,  and a bottom end  101   c.  Second body panel  103  has a left end  103   a,  a right end  103   b,  a top end  103   c  and a bottom end  103   d.  Bottom end  101   d  is connected to the top end  103   c  by stitching these two ends together. Even though stitching is utilized to connect the bottom end  101   d  to the top end  103   c  any other method of connecting these ends together such as a hook/loop feature may be utilized. Third body panel  105  has a left end  105   a,  a right end  105   b,  a top end  105   c  and a bottom end  105   d.  Bottom end  103   d  is connected to the top end  105   c  by stitching these two ends together. Left end  101   a,  left end  103   a  and left end  105   a  all include a vertical strip  107 . Right end  101   b,  right end  103   b  and right end  105   b  all include a loop material  109 . Even though stitching is utilized to connect the bottom end  103   d  to the top end  105   c  any other method of connecting these ends together such as a hook/loop feature may be utilized. 
         [0020]    A sleeve  111  is connected to the bottom end  105   d  where the sleeve  111  is stitched to the bottom end  105   d  of the third body panel  105 . The sleeve  111  has an opening  111   a  that goes through the entire sleeve  111  where a person can insert his or her arm consisting of his or her hands, wrist and forearm through the sleeve  111 . Opening  111   a  has a range of 4-15 inches circumferentially from the bottom end  105   d  to fit the hand, wrist and the forearm. This sleeve  111  includes a first portion  113   a,  second portion  113   b,  third portion  113   c  and fourth portion  113   d  elastic breathable bandages that are circularly connected to the bottom end  105   d  to form the opening  111   a.  First portion  113   a,  second portion  113   b,  third portion  113   c  and fourth portion  113   d  have a total length in a range of 6-16 inches to fit the hand, wrist and the forearm. The person can insert her arm into the sleeve  111  but she can still move her hand. Sleeve  111  that holds the arm is sewn to the bandage of the third body panel  105  of the main body panel  100  on the body core so it only allows you to move the arm minimally away (out, up and/down) from the body where a sling does not limit the arm from moving it from your body. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 1A  in an overlapping position of the loop material disposed over the vertical strip. Main body panel  102  is in an overlapping position where the left end  101   a  left end  103  and left end  105   a  include the vertical strip  107 . Vertical strip  107  may be referred to as a first closure mechanism  107 . ( FIG. 1A ). In another embodiment of the invention, the vertical strip  107  may be a horizontal strip  107  of a hook material. The right end  101   b,  right end  103   b  and right end  105   b  include the loop material  109 . ( FIG. 1A ). Loop material may also be referred to as a second closure mechanism  109 . When the vertical strip  107  is connected with the loop material  109  in the overlapping position it becomes a hook and loop fastener such as the trademark VELCRO used to secure the main body panel  102  onto a torso  117  of a person  115  ( FIG. 1C ). VELCRO is a trademark of Velcro USA, located at 406 Brown Avenue, Manchester, N.H. 03103. In another embodiment of the invention, any type of conventional fasteners may be used in place of the vertical strip  107  and the loop material  109 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 1C  is an embodiment of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 1B  wrapped around a torso of a person in accordance with the invention. A person  115  has the arm restricting badge  100  wrapped around her torso  117  onto the side of the person  115 . Person  115  would be an adult that can adjust the hook  107  and loop  109  material. Person  115  would be able to place her arm  119  consisting of her hands, wrists and forearm through the opening  111   a  of sleeve  111  where the hands, wrists and forearm would be immobilized in the sleeve  111 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 1D  is an embodiment of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 1B  showing a back portion wrapped around a torso of a person in accordance with the invention. Person  115  has the arm restricting bandage  100  wrapped around her torso  117 . The person  115  would be a child who would need another person to put the hook  107  on top of the loop  109 . On a back  121  of the person the hook  107  and  109  loop feature is shown. Another person adjusts the hook  107  and loop  109  to comfortably fit around her torso  117 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of another arm restricting bandage in a laid open position in accordance with the invention. The arm restricting bandage  200  has a main body panel  201  that has generally elongated rectangular shape when laid open as shown. In another embodiment of the invention, the main body panel  201  may have any shape such as a square shape, circular shape, triangular shape, elliptical shape or any type of shape. The main body panel  201  may be made of any suitable elastic or non-elastic, breathable material, such as an ACE bandage. The main body panel  102  may be used for body core stabilization. Main body panel  201  has a length in the range of 12-40 inches and a width in the range of 5-20 inches. Left end  201   a  includes a vertical strip  205 . Right end  201   b  includes a loop material  203 . The main body panel  201  has a left end  201   a,  a right end  201   b,  and a bottom end  201   c.  A sleeve  211  is connected to the bottom end  201   c  where the sleeve  211  is stitched to the bottom end  201   c  of the main body panel  201 . The sleeve  211  has an opening  211   a  that goes through the entire sleeve  211  where a person can insert his or her arm including hands, wrist and forearm through the sleeve  211 . Opening  211   a  has range of 4-15 inches circumferentially from the bottom end  201   c  to fit the hand, wrist and the forearm In addition, this sleeve  211  includes a first portion  207   a  and a second portion  207   b  consisting of elastic breathable bandages that are circularly connected to the bottom end  201   c  to form the opening  211   a.  First portion  207   a  and the second portion  207   b  have a total length in a range of 6-16 inches to fit the hand, wrist and the forearm. Sleeve  211  that holds the arm is sewn to the bandage of the main body panel  201  on the body core so it only allows you to move the arm minimally away (out, up and/down) from the body where a sling does not limit the arm from moving it from your body. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 2A  in an overlapping position of the loop material disposed over the vertical strip in accordance with the invention. Main body panel  201  is in a wrapped position where the left end  201   a  includes a vertical strip  205 . ( FIG. 2A ). Vertical strip  205  may be referred to as a first closure mechanism  205 . In another embodiment of the invention, the vertical strip  205  may be a horizontal strip  205  or a hook material. The right end  201   b  includes a loop material  203 . ( FIG. 2A ). Loop material may also be referred to as a second closure mechanism  203 . When the vertical strip  205  is connected with the loop material  203  it becomes a hook and loop fastener such as the trademark VELCRO used to secure the main body panel onto a torso of a person. In another embodiment of the invention, any type of conventional fasteners may be used in place of the vertical strip  205  and the loop material  203 . As stated above, sleeve  211  includes the first portion  207   a  and the second portion  207   b  consisting of elastic breathable bandages that are circularly connected to the bottom end  201   c  to form the opening  211   a.    
         [0026]      FIG. 2C  is an embodiment of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 2B  wrapped around a torso of a person in accordance with the invention. A person  215  has the arm restricting badge  200  wrapped around her torso  213 . The person  215  would be able to place her arm  209  consisting of her hands, wrists and forearm through the opening  211   a  of sleeve  211  where the hands, wrists and forearm would be immobilized in the sleeve  211 . Also, the person  215  would be an adult that adjusts the hook  205  and the loop  203  material to comfortably fit on her torso  213 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2D  is an embodiment of the arm restricting bandage of  FIG. 2B  showing a back portion wrapped around a torso of a person. Person  215  has the arm restricting bandage  200  wrapped around her torso  213 . On the back  217  of the person  215  the hook  205  and loop  203  feature is shown. Another person would be able to adjust the hook  205  and loop  203  to comfortably fit around the torso  213  of the person  215 . The person  215  would be able to place her arm  209  consisting of her hands, wrists and forearm through the opening  211   a  of the sleeve  211  where the hands, wrists and forearm would be immobilized in the sleeve  211 . 
         [0028]    This invention provides a simple and effective bandage and method to immobilize an arm of a person, such as the person&#39;s hand, wrist and forearm. The bandage allows a person to simply immobilize a portion of his or her body that does not allow large movement of the arm away from the body. In addition, this bandage prevents a child from slipping her arm out of the bandage herself, while not causing his or her neck to be out of alignment. The person is able to utilize a flexible arm restricting bandage that is elastic, breathable and flexible so she can accomplish normal everyday tasks while still keeping her arm immobilized sufficient for it to heal properly. 
         [0029]    Although the present invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, many modifications and variations of this invention can be made as will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from its spirit and scope as set forth in the following claims.