Abstract:
An internal tourniquet system may comprise as many as eight tourniquets strategically positioned, two per extremity, so as to optimize the inversely proportional relationship between the force applied to the tourniquet and the blood flow from the laceration on the extremity farther from the body than the positioned tourniquet. Each garment is equipped with internal channels to position the tourniquets and each garment is equipped with removable covering flaps for ease of access to the tightening and securing mechanism on the tourniquets. Each garment may also be supplied with a lever or bar and a storage location on the garment in order to apply more torque if necessary to the tourniquet banded site. And each garment may also be supplied with such flaps that are able to secure the lever or bar in position, once to blood flow has ceased to an acceptable level.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    N/A 
       STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    N/A 
       REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    N/A 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention generally relates to wearing apparel and particularly to garments and garments worn by users engaged in hazardous occupations or activities and where injury to the extremities is a possibility. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    The current tourniquet system is carried by a user or a medic for a group of users, or other groups in hazardous conditions; however, in this configuration, the entire group has to stay within each other&#39;s sightline and the hazardous area must remain small. In addition, the medic himself cannot be injured or the first aid kit lost or destroyed. 
         [0008]    In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 2,702,551 issued to G. G. Hobson on Feb. 22, 1955 discloses garments with one tourniquet per extremity equipped to the outside of the garment. This configuration allows for tourniquet use, however, there is the risk of snagging to the user&#39;s garment, the risk that the injured user won&#39;t possess the force necessary to halt the blood loss when the tourniquet is placed in a less than optimal area, and only one choice in positioning the tourniquet thus having to cut off essential blood supply to more of the extremity than the injury requires. The configuration also doesn&#39;t allow for a method of securing the tourniquet once the required force is applied. While the patent additionally discloses a suggested alternate configuration wherein the tourniquet bands are placed inside the clothing, the patent doesn&#39;t disclose the method for securing the tourniquet bands, and plainly states that the large loops of the tourniquet should still be accessible through holes in the garments, thus destroying any attempt to maintain the smooth exterior of the user&#39;s garment. 
         [0009]    In view of the above described deficiencies associated with tourniquet systems applied to garments, the present invention has been developed to alleviate these drawbacks and provide further benefits to a user. These enhancements and benefits are described in greater detail herein below with respect to several embodiments of the present invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments alleviates the drawbacks described above with respect to the current methods and systems for dealing with severe lacerations and incorporates several additional beneficial features. The general objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved internal tourniquet system for garments worn by users in high risk activities. The garment may be a article of clothing or may be a specialized uniform or suit like a pilots pressurized suit or a wet suit. It might also be a protective covering worn over conventional clothing. 
         [0011]    Currently, around 70% of all fatalities on the battlefield are users with extremity trauma who died of exsanguinations. Unfortunately, medical care is not always immediately available and the user or his buddy has to tend to his own or his friend&#39;s wounds. This has been the case over the last couple of years where use of improvised explosive devices has sharply increased. The users have armor that protects their torsos; however, since the extremities are left unprotected the users are more likely to suffer a severe laceration in those extremities. The large loss of blood from these lacerations can be avoided with the quick application of a well-placed tourniquet. 
         [0012]    In some situations, as described above, the injured, weakened user may have to apply the tourniquet himself and the invention places the tourniquets in particular locations such that the least amount of pressure is required to arrest the largest amount of blood flow. On the upper extremities, the first tourniquet band&#39;s centerline must lie proximal to the superior position of the bicep and the second tourniquet band&#39;s centerline, on the same upper extremity, must be within about two centimeters below the elbow of the wearer. On the lower extremities, the first tourniquet band&#39;s centerline must lie within about two centimeters distal to the inguinal crease and the second tourniquet band&#39;s centerline must lie two centimeters distal to the tibial tuberosity. 
         [0013]    The invention would add a much needed medical supply to each user&#39;s garment without sacrificing the comfort of the user, the weight of the garment, or the user&#39;s ability to move through his environment stealthily. The tourniquet is positioned inside the garment such that it will be in the optimal position for use and the webbing used to maintain the position of the tourniquet is light, and non-chafing. The tourniquet itself is made with tactical-grade nylon or a similar material and is positioned between the webbing and the interior of the garment. The tightening and locking mechanism is made of a light-weight metal or durable polymer or similar material and placed below the flap of the garment for easy access. The flap also acts to protect the tourniquet during times of disuse and acts maintain a smooth appearance to the user&#39;s garment. 
         [0014]    The current invention could also be extremely useful in wetsuits, for implementation after shark attacks, or ski diving garments wherein the wearer is being dropped into an area not easily accessible by ground, or hazmat suits where the user might be in contaminated conditions. Variants could also include a pneumatic tourniquet that the wearer could trigger to apply increasing compressing pressure at a desired tourniquet location without any manual force or an attached transmitter that would activate when the internal tourniquet system is used to alert the medical field to the user&#39;s location and particular injury. 
         [0015]    An object of this invention is to provide a garment having a total of eight tourniquets incorporated into the inner surface of the garment with webbing that is non-chafing and light; an object of this invention is to have tourniquets incorporated into the inner surface of the garment at strategic locations requiring the least amount of pressure applied to result in the lowest amount of blood loss from the extremity; an object of this invention is to provide a garment having tourniquets incorporated into the inner surface of the garment with flaps available at the site of each tourniquet&#39;s tightening and securing mechanism in order to allow for easy access to the tourniquet, to protect the tightening and securing mechanism from the environment during non-use and to maintain the smooth appearance of the user&#39;s garment. An object of this invention is to provide a garment with an additional lever or bar, while continuing to maintain the smooth appearance of the user&#39;s garment, to allow additional torque to be applied by the injured user or second party if necessary 
         [0016]    The present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof, to be read by way of example and not of limitation in conjunction with the apparatus and the method described. The beneficial effects described above apply generally to the examples disclosed herein of the internal tourniquet system. The specific components and configurations through which these benefits are delivered will be described in detail herein below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view disclosing the preferred embodiment of the internal tourniquet system formed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view disclosing the internal tourniquet system-equipped short-sleeved shirt formed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a vertical sectional view disclosing a suggested location for the storage location of the lever or bar. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a cross section of one particular embodiment of the internal tourniquet system formed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a cross section of one particular embodiment of the internal tourniquet system&#39;s channel formed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cross section of one particular embodiment of the internal tourniquet system&#39;s channel formed in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tourniquet tightening and securing mechanism in its secured position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the tourniquet tightening and securing mechanism in its unsecured position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tourniquet tightening and securing mechanism in its unsecured position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tourniquet tightening and securing mechanism in its unsecured position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1 through 10  illustrate particular embodiments of the internal tourniquet system that is the current invention.  FIG. 1  depicts the preferred embodiment of the current invention in a garment that comprises a full-sleeved, button-down shirt  1  with exterior surface  48  and two-pocket pants  13  with exterior surface  49 . It is understood that the shirt  1  is merely for exemplary purposes and the garment could be of other types depending on the needs of the person in a high risk activity. For instance the garment might take the form of a various garments such as a flight suit, diving or swimming wet suit, battlefield outerwear, fire fighter outerwear or police outerwear. 
         [0029]    The shirt  1  and pants  13  preferably include a total of eight flaps  3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10  for accessing the internal tourniquet system but could include more or less flaps and tourniquets. The flaps are releasable secured to the garment by hook and loop fasters or other suitable quick release connectors. Flaps  3  and  5  are located such that the tourniquet band, See FIGS.  4  and  7 - 10 , of the internal tourniquet system is centered at the level of superior position of the bicep. Flaps  6  and flap  4  are located such that the tourniquet band of internal tourniquet system is centered at two centimeters below the elbow of the wearer. Flaps  8  and  7  are located such that the tourniquet band of internal tourniquet system is centered at two centimeters distal to the inguinal crease and flaps  9  and  10  are located such that the tourniquet band of internal tourniquet system is centered at two centimeters distal to the tibial tuberosity. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  discloses an alternate embodiment of the current invention illustrated in a garment that includes a short-sleeved, button-down shirt  24  with two flaps  25 ,  26  for accessing the internal tourniquet system. Flaps  25  and  26  are located such that the tourniquet bands of the internal tourniquet system is centered at the level of superior position of the bicep. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  discloses a suggested location and orientation for the storage location of the lever or bar  11  on the outer surface  49  of the garment during times when it isn&#39;t employed as assistance in tightening a tourniquet  23 . The storage comprising of a generally rectangular webbing member  12   a  sown or otherwise secured to the other surface  49  of the garment and having an outer surface  12  and an inner surface  14 , an upper edge  17 , a lower edge  18 , a right edge  19  and a left edge  20 . The inner surface  14  of the webbing secured to the outer surface  49  of the garment at the lower edge  17 , the right edge  19  and the left edge  20  in any suitable manner such that a channel is formed of the same size or slightly larger than the lever or bar  11  and leaving unsecured the upper edge  17  for insertion of the lever or bar  11  and storage during times of disuse. The webbing having a flap with outer surface  15  and inner surface  16 , a lower edge  21  and an upper edge  22 . The inner surface  16  secured to the outer surface  49  of the garment at the upper edge  22  in any suitable manner such that the lower edge  21  of the inner surface  16  of the flap overlaps the upper edge  17  of the outer surface  12  of the webbing. At the point of overlap, the lower edge  21  of the inner surface  16  of the flap and the upper edge  17  of the outer surface  12  of the webbing, having a securing means, such as convention hook and loop fasteners or other suitable quick release connection, to secure the lever or bar  11  in the storage location. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  discloses a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of the internal tourniquet system. The innermost continuous ring is the webbing or band  40  which has an outer surface  31  and an inner surface  32 . The webbing  40  has an upper edge  41 , see  FIG. 6 , and a lower edge  42 . The fabric of the garment has an inner surface  28 . The inner surface of the webbing  32  is secured at the upper edge  41  and the lower edge  42  to the inner surface of the garment  28  in any suitable manner that may include sewing or adhering or molding such that a channel  43  is formed of a slightly larger than the tourniquet band  44  and continuing the entire circumference of the inner surface of the garment  28 . The tourniquet band  44 , with outer surface  29  and inner surface  30  is located within the channel  43  in such a manner that the outer surface of the webbing  31  is adjacent but in no way would noticeably impede the movement of, the inner surface of the tourniquet band  30  such that when the tourniquet is tightened or loosened, it is free to move within the channel  43 . The channel makes the tourniquet more comfortable and less irritation or noticeable but does not interfere with the use of the tourniquet. In the same manner, the outer surface of the tourniquet band  29  is adjacent to the inner surface of the fabric of the garment  28  wherein the inner surface of the garment  28  in no way impedes, in any noticeable manner, the movement of the outer surface of the tourniquet band  29 . The tourniquet  23  has a tightening and securing mechanism  34  located such that the outer surface of the tourniquet band  29  lies beneath and loops through the tightening and securing mechanism  34  in a manner that allows for the tourniquet band circumference to be decreased in diameter thus producing a higher radial pressure on the extremity to staunch any current blood flow and allows for the decreased circumference to be maintained without constant torque from an outside source. The tightening and securing mechanism  34  lies beneath a portal  35  in the garment  39  through which the internal tourniquet system can be accessed. The portal has an upper edge  53  (See  FIG. 6 .), a lower edge  52  (See  FIG. 6 .), a left edge  55  and a right edge  54 . The distance between the left edge  55  and the right edge  54  of the portal can be as large as or larger than the width of the tightening and securing mechanism  34 . The width of the tightening and securing mechanism  34  is defined as the distance between the right edge of the mechanism  60  and the left edge of the mechanism  61 . The portal  35  is protected by a flap  37  with inner surface  46  and outer surface  47  an upper edge  58  (See  FIG. 6 .), a lower edge  59  (See  FIG. 6 .), a right edge  56  and left edge  57 . The flap inner surface  46  overlaps with the outer surface of the garment  49  below the lower edge of the portal  52  (See  FIG. 6 .) and the flap left edge  57  and flap right edge  56  overlap the left edge  56  and right edge  57  of the portal, respectively. At the point of overlap of the lower edge of the inner surface  46  of the flap with the outer surface of the garment  49  there is a temporary securing means  51  (such as A hook and loop fastener) to secure the flap  37  and protect the internal tourniquet system when not in use and to allow quick access when tourniquet use is required. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  discloses a vertical sectional view of the channel  43  taken along line  5 - 5  where the tourniquet band  44  is located internal to the garment  39 . The webbing  40  has an upper edge  41  a lower edge  42  an inner surface  32  and an outer surface  31 . The inner surface of the webbing  32  is secured at the upper edge  41  and the lower edge  42  to the inner surface of the garment  39  in any suitable manner such that a channel  43  is formed of the same size or slightly larger than the tourniquet band  44  and continuing the entire circumference of the inner surface of the garment  28 . The tourniquet band  44 , with outer surface  29  and inner surface  30  is located within the channel  43  in such a manner that the outer surface of the webbing  31  is adjacent but in no way would noticeably impede the movement of, the inner surface of the tourniquet band  30  such that when the tourniquet is tightened or loosened, it is free to move within the channel  43 . In the same manner, the outer surface of the tourniquet band  29  is adjacent to the inner surface of the fabric of the garment  28  wherein the inner surface of the garment  28  in no way impedes, in any noticeable manner, the movement of the outer surface of the tourniquet band  29  while at the same time the webbing  40  and the fabric of the garment  39  are means of protecting the integrity of the tourniquet band  44  positioning the tourniquet band  44  within the garment. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  discloses a vertical sectional view of the flap  37  taken along line  6 - 6  which overlays and protects the tourniquet tightening and securing mechanism  34  accessible through the portal  35 . The webbing  40  is connected to the garment  28  in the same manner as that described in  FIG. 5 . Except  FIG. 6  discloses the tightening and securing mechanism  34  located such that the outer surface of the tourniquet band  44  lies beneath and loops through the tightening and securing mechanism in the manner described in  FIG. 4 . The distance between the upper edge  53  and lower edge  52  of the portal can be a large or larger than the height of the tightening and securing mechanism  34 . The height of the tightening and securing mechanism is defined as the distance between the upper edge  62  of the tightening and securing mechanism and the lower edge of the tightening and securing mechanism  63 . The portal  35  is protected by a flap  37  with inner surface  46  and outer surface  47  an upper edge  58  and lower edge  59 . The inner surface of the flap  46  is secured to the outer surface of the garment  49  at the upper edge  53  in any suitable manner such that the lower edge  59  of the inner surface  46  of the flap overlaps the lower edge of the portal  52  and lies adjacent to the outer surface of the garment  49 . At the point of overlap, the lower edge  59  of the inner surface  46  of the flap and the outer surface of the garment  49  have a temporary securing means, such as a hook and loop fastener to secure the flap  37  when the invention is not in use and allow easy access to the tightening and securing mechanism  34  when needed. 
         [0035]    An important feature is that the tourniquet system of the invention can be applied with one hand. This is made possible by the mounting of the tourniquet in the garment in the correct location and making it accessible with one hand and making it possible for a person to tighten with one hand to stem blood flow. When the tourniquet is not secured on the clothing it may be difficult to attach, apply and tighten the loose tourniquet with only one hand. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  discloses another embodiment of a tourniquet of the current invention wherein the tightening and securing mechanism  34  attached to the tourniquet band  44  contains two openings  65  and  66 . The height of the openings  65  and  66  is defined by the distance between the upper edge of the tourniquet band  67  and the lower edge of the tourniquet band  68 . The openings  65  and  66  must be high enough to allow the tourniquet upper  67  and lower  68  edges to be accepted. In the same manner the width of the openings  65  and  66  is defined by the distance between the inner surface  30  and outer surface  29 . The openings must be wide enough to allow the tourniquet band&#39;s inner  30  and outer  29  surfaces to pass through with no noticeable resistance. The distance between the upper  62  and lower edge  63  of the tourniquet tightening and securing mechanism  34  must only be slightly larger than the height of the openings  65  and  66 . The tightening and securing mechanism  34  may be made of carbon fiber or any similar material designed to withstand the average forces and fatigue likely to be realized by the tourniquet tightening and securing mechanism  34 . 
         [0037]    The tourniquet band  44  shown in  FIG. 7  may be made of nylon or any similar material designed to withstand the average forces and fatigue likely to be realized by the tourniquet. This embodiment details the tourniquet band  44  wherein the inner surface of the tourniquet band  30  lies adjacent to the outer surface of the mechanism  69  until opening  66 . The band  44  is then passed through opening  66  such that the outer surface of the band  29  is adjacent to the inner surface of the mechanism  70 . The band  44  is then passed through opening  65  such that the bands inner surface  30  is again adjacent to the outer surface of the mechanism  69 . The left edge  71  and right edge  72  of the tourniquet band are arranged such that a significant amount of the inner surface  30  of the tourniquet at the left edge  71  overlaps the outer surface  29  of the tourniquet at the right edge  72 . At the point of overlap a temporary securing means  73  (such as a hook and loop fastener) is used to close the tourniquet band  44  when not in use and to release, tighten and re-secure when in use. 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  discloses another embodiment of the tourniquet of the current invention. The tightening and securing mechanism  34  is formed in the same manner however the tourniquet band  44  is arranged in a different configuration. In this embodiment the left edge of the tourniquet band  71  is passed through opening  66  such that the inner surface of the band  30  is adjacent to the inner surface of the mechanism  70 . The left edge  71  is then passed through opening  65  such that the inner surface  30  of the left edge  71  of the band is now adjacent to a portion of the inner surface of the band  30  farther from the left edge  74 . At this point the tourniquet band is secured to itself in any suitable manner such that a loop  75  is formed near the left edge  71  of the tourniquet wherein the tightening and securing mechanism  34  is contained within the loop  75 . The outer surface of the tourniquet band  29  adjacent to the point where the tourniquet is secured to itself  74  contains one end of a temporary securing means  76  (such as a hook and loop fastener). Along the inner surface  30  of the tourniquet band near the right edge  72  lies the matching end of the temporary securing means such that the right edge is passed through the tightening and securing mechanism opening  66  in a manner that before passing through the band&#39;s right edge  72  outer surface  29  is adjacent to the inner surface of the mechanism  70  and after passing through the inner surface  30  of the right edge  72  overlaps the temporary securing means  76  such that the temporary securing means may be used to tighten, secure, release and re-secure the tourniquet as needed. 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  discloses another embodiment of a tourniquet for the current invention wherein on tightening and securing mechanism  34  is formed in the same manner as  FIGS. 7 and 8 . However, the tourniquet band  44  is affixed to the mechanism  34  in a differing manner. In this embodiment the inner surface  30  of the left edge  71  is passed over the outer surface  69  of the mechanism. The left edge  71  is then passed through opening  65  in a manner such that the inner surface  30  of the left edge  71  then becomes adjacent to the inner surface  70  of the mechanism until it meets and overlaps another portion of the inner surface  30  of the band. At the point of overlap the inner surfaces are secured to each other in any suitable manner such that a loop  77  is formed containing wholly half of the tightening and securing mechanism  34 . 
         [0040]    Near the outer surface  29  of the right edge  72  of the tourniquet band lie two opposing ends of a temporary securing system (such as A hook and loop fastener)  78 ,  79 . The tourniquet is activated by passing the right edge  72  of the band through the opening  66  such that after passing through opening  66  the outer surface  69  of the right edge  72  adjacent to the outer surface  69  of the tightening and securing mechanism. The outer surface  29  of the right edge  72  should pass beyond the right edge of the mechanism  60  and overlap the outer surface of the band  29  where the opposing temporary securing means  79  is located in order to secure the tourniquet when needed. 
         [0041]      FIG. 10  discloses another embodiment of the tightening and securing mechanism of the current invention. The mechanism is formed in the same manner as noted in  FIG. 7-9 . However, an additional opening  77  in between openings  65  and  66  with the same height as those in  FIGS. 7-9  is present. Opening  77  must have a width at least as great as twice the distance between the inner surface  30  and outer surface  29  of the tourniquet band and must allow two tourniquet bands  44  to pass through at the same time with no noticeable resistance. Loop  75  as in  FIG. 7  is again created using openings  65  and  77 . However, the right edge  72  (See  FIG. 8 .) of the tourniquet band is passed through opening  77  such that the outer surface  29  of the right edge  72  is adjacent to the outer surface  69  of the tightening and securing mechanism. The right edge  72  is then passed through opening  66  such that the outer surface  29  of the tourniquet band is now adjacent to itself and the inner surface of the tourniquet band  30  is adjacent to the inner surface  70  of the tightening and securing mechanism. Placed upon the overlap of the outer surface  29  of the right edge  72  of the tourniquet band before and after the band has been threaded through the openings  77  and  66  is a temporary securing means  78 ,  79  such that the overlap may be tightened, secured and released when needed. 
         [0042]    While the releasable bands shown in  FIGS. 7-10  are preferred, a convention band that required twisting by the use of bar  11  or other suitable lever could be used. The medical use of the tourniquet system to treat a patient would be the generally the same as with any conventional tourniquet but the invention would make the tourniquets immediately available for use to stop life threatening blood loss. 
         [0043]    The use of the tourniquet system of the invention would be as follows. If an appendage of a wearer of the garment was injured and a tourniquet force was needed to stop bleeding the medic or person treating the injured wearer would simply lift the flap  7  to expose the tourniquet band  30 . The medic would then apply tourniquet pressure to the bank  30  to stop the blood loss. The type of pressure applied would be the same as with other standard tourniquets based on the need of the patient. If needed the flap  15  could be released to expose the bar  11 . The bar  11  could be removed from the pouch  12  and inserted in the tourniquet and twisted to apply additional pressure as in conventionally done with tourniquets. 
         [0044]    In all  FIGS. 7-10  the lever or bar  11  may be inserted between the inner surface  29  of the tourniquet band and the outer surface  31  of the mesh at the portal  35  and twisted either clockwise or counterclockwise in an effort to tighten the tourniquet band  44  to an even further degree. Once tightened the lever or bar  11  may then be secured in place by securing flap  37 . 
         [0045]    Although a system and method according to the present invention have been described in connection with the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but, on the contrary, it is intended to embrace such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the foregoing description. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.