Abstract:
A therapy apparatus may include: a chamber portion; a first strap portion configured for disposal about a waist of a user; and a second strap portion configured for disposal about a leg of a user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Many injuries occur to human&#39;s hips, thighs and sacroiliac joints due to the numerous connective tissues and joint structures. Cryotherapy can be applied to decrease swelling and inflammation after injuries or surgeries. 
         [0002]    This invention relates direct to application of cryotherapy to the difficult contours of the hip girdle. Due to these difficult contours of the hip, bags of ice or gel ice packs are very difficult to apply to the area. The use of bags of ice or gel ice packs may be difficult to use for many reasons. One reason is that there often nothing to secure typical forms of cryotherapy to the hip. Secondly, typical ice packs may result in unwanted moisture as ice bags melt. Similarly, gel ice packs may leak gel. Also, typical therapies may only be applied in a recumbent position. 
         [0003]    Because of these above reasons, there is a need for a therapy apparatus that may secure itself to the body, is not messy and can be applied in multiple positions. 
     
    
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       Brief Description of the Drawings 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of an exterior side of a therapy apparatus. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  depicts an isometric view of an interior of a therapy apparatus. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  depicts a posterior isometric view of a therapy apparatus. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  depicts an anterior isometric view of a therapy apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a therapy apparatus  100  for applying cryotherapy to the hip girdle. Embodiments of the therapy apparatus  100  are shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The therapy apparatus  100  may include a therapeutic wrap that can be secured to a human body. A particular implementation of the therapy apparatus  100  of  FIGS. 1-4  may be used to apply cryotherapy to a hip girdle. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of an exterior side of a therapy apparatus  100 . The therapy apparatus  100  may include an outer layer  101 . The outer layer  101  may be constructed using an expandable felt material. An upper portion of the therapy apparatus  100  may include a first strap portion  102 . A lower portion of the therapy apparatus  100  may include a second strap portion  103 . 
         [0010]    The first strap portion  102  and/or the second strap portion  103  of the therapy apparatus  100  may include at least one latching mechanism  104 . The latching mechanism  104  may include a hook side and/or a loop side of a Velcro® fabric. The latching mechanism  104  may be operably coupled to a cooperating latch receiver  105 . The latch receiver  105  may include a cooperating hook side and/or a loop side, or similar fabric which may engage the latching mechanism  104 . The coupling of latching mechanism  104  the latch receiver  105  may serve to secure the first strap portion  102  around a waist  110  of a user  111 . 
         [0011]    It should be noted that numerous other latching mechanisms  104  may be employed including, but not limited to, buttons, zippers, laces and buckles, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of an interior side of a therapy apparatus  100 . The first strap portion  102  may have a transverse dimension A which is longer than a transverse dimension B of the second strap portion  103 . The transverse dimension A of the first strap portion  102  may be of such length that the first strap portion  102  may be secured around a waist  110  of a user  111 . The transverse dimension B of the second strap portion  103  may be of such length that it the second strap portion  103  be secured around a leg  112  of a user  111 . 
         [0013]    Such a configuration may allow the therapy apparatus  100  to closely conform to the contours of a hip girdle of a user  111  by securing the therapy apparatus  100  to both the waist  110  and leg  112  of the user  111 . 
         [0014]    The therapy apparatus  100  may include an inner layer  106 . The inner layer  106  may be constructed of a porous or semi-porous material so as to provide moisture wicking from within the therapy apparatus  100  when applied to a user  111 . The inner layer  106  or, cooperatively, the inner layer  106  and outer layer  101  may include at least one chamber  108 . The chamber  108  may be configured to hold at least one ice pack  109 . A chamber  108  may be subdivided into one or more pockets defined by stitching  113  which may operably couple the inner layer  106  and the outer layer  101 . The ice pack  109  may be permanently contained within the chamber  108 . Alternately, the chamber  108  may be sealed by a releasable latching mechanism  104  (e.g. a at least one piece of Velcro® fabric disposed on an inside surface of the outer layer  101  and/or at least one piece of Velcro® fabric disposed on an inside surface of the of the inner layer  106 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a posterior depiction of the therapy apparatus  100  secured to a user  111 . The first strap portion  102  is shown wrapping around the waist  110  of the user  111 . The second strap portion  103  is shown wrapping around a leg  112  of the user  111 . The coupling of latching mechanism  104  the latch receiver  105  may serve to secure the first strap portion  102  around a waist  110  of a user  111  and the second strap portion  103  around a leg  112  of a user  111 .  FIG. 3  provides an posterior view of the therapy apparatus  100  being applied to a right hip girdle of a user  111 . In such a configuration, a chamber  108  may cover the posterior hip. 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates an anterior view of the therapy apparatus  100  secured to a user  111 . The first strap portion  102  is shown wrapping around the waist  110  of the user  111 . The second strap portion  103  is shown wrapping around a leg  112  of the user  111 .  FIG. 4  provides an anterior view of the therapy apparatus  100  being applied to a right hip girdle of a user  111 . In such a configuration, a chamber  108  may cover the anterior hip. 
         [0017]    The therapy apparatus  100  may be constructed such that the inner layer  106  and/or outer layer  101  have a structure which follows the contours of the hip girdle (e.g. tapering  114  of the inner layer  106  and/or outer layer  101  to provide flexure points aligning with the hip socket of a user  111  so as to enhance the mobility of a user  111  wearing the therapy apparatus  100 ). 
         [0018]    The materials used in constructing the therapy apparatus  100  may be of light weight so that the overall weight of the therapy apparatus  100  is insignificant to the user. Thus, the user  111  may comfortably wear the therapy apparatus  100  in any posture. For example, a user  111  may apply the therapy apparatus  100  in a sitting position, recumbent position or erect position. 
         [0019]    While the therapy apparatus  100  has been described above with respect to cryotherapy of the lateral aspects of the hip girdle, it is fully contemplated that the therapy apparatus  100  may be configured to provide cryotherapy to various other body parts by modification of the location of the chamber  108 . In an alternate configuration, the chamber  108  may be positioned more posterior, such that the therapy apparatus  100  would provide cryotherapy to the sacroiliac joint of low back In an alternate configuration, the chamber  108  may be positioned more inferiorly so as to treat thigh injuries. The various embodiments of the therapy apparatus  100  are particularly adapted as a hip wrap which allows one to treat anterior, lateral and posterior aspects of the hip girdle. 
         [0020]    Further, while the therapy apparatus  100  has been described above with respect to cryotherapy, it is fully contemplated that the therapy apparatus  100  may be configured to provide thermal therapy (e.g. the application of hot packs), medicinal therapy (e.g. the application of medicinal compresses) and any other therapeutic component for which it may be desirable to apply to a hip girdle of a user  111 . 
         [0021]    While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for the purpose of this disclosure, changes in the construction and arrangement of parts and the performance of steps can be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.