Abstract:
A protective bumper device formed of: a pair of cylinders, each having outer wall surfaces which include on each of the cylinders a first sidewall surface extending in the lengthwise direction, the cylinders each having a central longitudinal axis, the cylinders being positionable with the first wall surfaces of the two cylinders respectively spaced apart and in facing relationship, a web of sheet material having top and bottom edges and opposite side edges, each of the side edges fixed to one of the first sidewall surfaces of the cylinders respectively.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention is in the field of medical devices for protection of a wound area on a person&#39;s back or chest due to surgery or injury, particular devices which establish barriers to prevent the wound area from being contacted or bumped.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Prior Art  
         [0004]     Prior art devices to protect wound areas includes soft bandages, of course, plus added layers of cotton or gauge and adhesive tape. For more elaborate protection a hard shield or other panel or layer may be added outward of the bandage with appropriate tape means to secure the further device to the patent.  
         [0005]     Unwanted contact with the wound or the wound area which may include a deep incision and stitches or staples, can result in further injury or certainly pain. Such unwanted contact may occur when the patient walks and is bumped by another person or thing, or when the patient sits and leans backward against a chair back or when the patient attempts to lie on his or her back.  
         [0006]     Depending on the wound or injury, it may be impossible or undesirable to sleep on the person&#39;s side or stomach, leaving only positions where the body is erect against a chair back or horizontal against a bed.  
         [0007]     Besides the danger of actual painful or dangerous contact with the wound area, the patients often experience high anxiety due to the fear that something like that will happen, leaving them afraid to move, or walk about or even lie down. This is particularly true of back surgery patients, but also true for many injured persons who have not had surgery.  
         [0008]     There are great numbers of additional situations where there has been no specific back injury, wound or surgery, but the person&#39;s back hurts at a specific time or chronically, and relief is needed when the person sits or reclines. Similarly, there are persons who could benefit from a protective device against unknown and/or unpredictable situations that lead to back pain.  
         [0009]     The present invention addresses the above-described concerns as described below.  
       SUMMARY OF THE NEW INVENTION  
       [0010]     For a person who has had back surgery the new invention protects the incision area of the person&#39;s back by establishing an air layer outward of the bandage covering the incision. This invention provides a simple, economic and effective solution. The new invention, furthermore is lightweight, easy to use, and is readily portable and usable both when secured to the patient&#39;s back and when secured to a chair where he or she might wish to lean.  
         [0011]     A first embodiment of this invention is a device comprising a pair of inflatable tubes constructed of thin plastic sheet material joined by a web of sheet material extending between them. When this device is used the inflated tubes are generally parallel and spaced apart. These inflated tubes have diameter which is greater than the thickness or height of the bandage. The device is placed with one tube adjacent to each side of the wound, with the web of the device overlying the wound which is usually but not always covered by a bandage. The inflated tubes serve as protective bumpers and barriers, so that when a user leans against the back of a chair the wound is not contacted by the chair back. Instead pressure contact is made only with healthy, strong areas of the back laterally outward of the wound.  
         [0012]     This device may be secured onto the chair back or onto the person&#39;s back. For securing to the person, the device may have a strap or simple adhesive strips that engage the person&#39;s back. This device is similarly applicable to a person&#39;s chest for wounds, surgery, and strains or for general protection. Also, this device can be used as a back rest or support to enhance comfort in car, plane, train and theater seats, even when there is no specific wound, surgery or other injury.  
         [0013]     The inflatable tubes may have a variety of cross-sectional shapes which include but are not limited to circular, semicircular and oval. The preferred shape is semicircular because it includes a generally flat surface for stable engagement with the surface of the back, and a smooth round exposed surface which will not catch on things like edges of furniture or clothing, when this device is secured to a person&#39;s back and/or worn under a shirt.  
         [0014]     For normal circumstances it is preferred to have the two tubular bumpers on opposite sides of the wound. The preferred structure is to have the two tubes joined by a web or bridge creating a single device where the distance between the tubes is fixed. With this arrangement the tubes cannot extend too far apart and fail to protect the wound. The web extending between the two tubes provides a further function, in that it creates an elevated roof above and spaced from the wound, and thus affords a barrier against contact from things the user might lean against or bump into or against things or people that may become dangerously close to the person&#39;s back and wound.  
         [0015]     For ease and economy of structure the web is made of the same plastic sheet material as that used for the inflatable tubes and may even be part of a contiguous sheet formed into one unitary structure. Also, the web may be perforated with substantial apertures to allow better air circulation in the vicinity of the wound and to lighten the structure and to enhance its aesthetic appearance.  
         [0016]     The web may be attached to the tubes at a variety of elevations, including at mid-height, or at the top or elsewhere to establish a desired distance from the wound. For ease and economy of construction, each tube has its own air valve as opposed to using a single valve on one tube with an air conduit between tubes.  
         [0017]     In the preferred embodiment the bumpers are straight cylinders on opposite sides of the wound. If it becomes desired to provide bumpers also above and below the wound, the device can be modified to add inflatable tubes at the top and bottom, forming a generally rectangular shape, or to use one or more tubes defining a generally circular or oval donut shape. The web or roof would still extend between opposite sides as a protective barrier.  
         [0018]     The plastic sheet may be selected from many commercial choices including PVC, and simply needs to be thin, light, flexible and airtight when sealed, and to be readily adaptable to standard heat sealing techniques, unless the manufacturer should choose to use adhesive bonding instead.  
         [0019]     The protective bumper devices of various shapes for use with wounds or injuries in a person&#39;s back or chest or for use merely for comfort, have been described above as inflatable devices made of thin flexible sheet material. Such construction has the advantages of being inexpensive in manufacture, lightweight in use and when moved or stored, and comfortable in use. It has been determined that many of the benefits afforded by this invention with the inflatable construction are also available with similar devices where the inflatable tubes are replaced with soft or firm resilient cushion-like material or firm material in the form of cylinders, rods or beams which may be plastic or rubber or fiber or any material which will partially or fully surround the area to be protected and include the structural features required to provide the shape and functions described earlier. As with the inflatable tubes these solid cylinders, rods or beams may have a great variety of cross-sections, including round, half-round, oval, square, rectangular and others.  
         [0020]     The description above broadly outlines the more important features of the invention in order that the following detailed description may be better understood. There are, of course additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that the core concept which is described and amplified in this disclosure may readily be utilized or incorporated in structures other than those of the specific embodiments described herein.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a top front perspective view of a first embodiment of the new back wound protective bumper device;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view thereof;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device attached to a chair back;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary front elevational view of a the new device in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational review of a third embodiment of the new bumper device.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7A  is a bottom plane view thereof;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of a forth embodiment of the new bumper device;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8A  is a bottom plan view thereof;  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of the new bumper device; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 9A  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     In the descriptions below similar elements of the versions embodiments are given the same reference numbers for convenience and clarity. The first embodiment  10  of the new back and chest wound protective bumper device as seen in  FIGS. 1-3  comprises a pair of inflatable bumpers  12 ,  14 , each having outer surfaces  15 ,  15 A and inner surfaces  16 ,  16 A, a web  18  extending between said inner surfaces  16 ,  16 A, and tabs  20 ,  20 A extending from said outer surfaces. Each tube  12 ,  14  in cross-section is generally semicircular, and the web  18  and tabs  20 ,  20 A are generally rectangular. This device is formed essentially of two thin plastic sheets  22 ,  24  joined along heat seal lines to define the two tubular elements  12 ,  14 , the central web  18 , and the outer tabs  20 ,  20 A. More specifically, heat seal lines  25 ,  26 ,  27  and  28  establish the elongated sides of the tubes  12 ,  14 , and heat seal lines  25 ,  29  and  27 ,  30  define the elongated sides of the tabs  20 ,  20 A. Additional transverse heat seal lines  31 ,  32  at the top and bottom respectively further define the web and tabs. Finally, there are top end pieces  33 ,  33 A and bottom end pieces  34 ,  34 A which establish the semicircular shape of the cross-section of the tubes. The end pieces are made of the same plastic sheet and are heat sealed similarly as said previously described sheets. Each tube has its own inlet/outlet valve  36 ,  36 A respectively for receiving air to inflate and releasing air to deflate. The central web  18  is optimally perforated by apertures  40  to render it lighter and to enhance the aesthetic appearance.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the device  10  in use where it is attached to a person&#39;s back  42  with small adhesive strips  43 ,  43 A.  FIG. 3  further indicates the wound area  45 , which may or may not be covered by a bandage, depending on the degree of healing already achieved. As evident in  FIG. 3  the web  18  is spaced outwardly from the wound area by a distance a, which is established by the location of the web  18  relative to the base line L-L of the semicircular form of the tubes. This web  18  thus forms a protective roof or wall spaced apart from the wound  45 , or bandages thereon. The height of this roof, as indicated by distance a, can be varied by predetermined placement of the web relative to the sidewalls of the tubes.  
         [0035]     The construction shown, comprising only two sheets  22 ,  24  and two end pieces  33 ,  33 A, is extremely simple and economical to make; however, the device could optionally be made of more separate pieces of plastic sheet, and/or the heat seals could be varied in size and placement.  
         [0036]     As seen, the inflatable tubes  12 ,  14  not only support the protective roof  18 , but serve as protective bumpers to bar anything from approaching the wound from the sides, and the bumpers and the roof bar intrusion from the area in front of the device. When placing this device on one&#39;s back, as illustrated herein, a user can lean against a chair back or against a wall or lie on a bed without danger of the wound being contacted. This prevents the likely pain or further injury that would result from such contact, and furthermore eliminates the fear and anxiety of the patient about the possibility of the wound being contacted. As noted earlier, the device is useable on or for the chest also, and usable in connection with stationary furniture and/or with seats of cars, planes and trains, whether the user is injured or merely seeks the comfort and/or support provided by this device.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate a second embodiment  50  of this device, and the use of this device secured to a chair&#39;s back  52  instead of being secured to a patient&#39;s back. The device as seen in  FIGS. 4-6  differs from that of  FIGS. 1-3  essentially in the construction of web  18 B.  FIG. 6  shows this web  18 B formed of inner strips  54 ,  55  extending from tubes  12 ,  14  respectively, each of these strips including a layer of Velcro®  56 ,  57  on its front surface. These inner strips  54 ,  55  are totally separate and independent of each other but are coupled by overlying strip  58 , which has a mating Velcro® strip  59 , which is releasably coupleable to the Velcro® strips  56 ,  57 . By this arrangement the tubes  12 ,  14  with said inner strips  54 ,  55  can be spaced apart a selected distance b, and maintained at this distance by the overlying strip  58  coupled to inner strips  54 ,  55 . Obviously, by virtue of the characteristics of Velcro® tape, this coupling is releasable to allow repositioning of the two tubes at selected distances represented by b. Thus, with this embodiment, one device can be adjusted to fit persons of different sizes.  
         [0038]     As seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , this device  50  is releasably secured to a chair back  52  by straps  60 ,  61  connected to tabs  62 ,  63 , and the person&#39;s back  64  is spaced apart from the web  18 B by distance c.  
         [0039]     A further embodiment is possible by not fully inflating the tubes, which will result in tubes that are softer and more cushiony and extend a lesser distance c from the user&#39;s back. Also possible are tubes of a smaller diameter and tubes of other cross-sectional shapes, including but not limited to round, rectangular, oval, etc. For both embodiments, releasable coupling means other than Velcro® are possible. Also in both embodiments, the valves  36 ,  36 A are standard and well known in the prior art.  
         [0040]      FIGS. 7, 7A ,  8 ,  8 A,  9  and  9 A illustrate additional embodiments of this invention. In  FIGS. 7 and 7 A the device  69  comprises a pair of crescent shaped tubes  70 ,  71  joined by an adjustable web of parts  72 ,  73 . Optional tabs  74  are for engaging and securing this device to a person or a chair.  
         [0041]     In  FIGS. 8 and 8 A the device  75  is generally circular, and a web  76  is optional. This device has similar tabs  74 .  
         [0042]     In  FIGS. 9 and 9 A the device  77  is generally rectangular and the web  78  is optional. The device has similar tabs  74 .  
         [0043]     The device  69  is made similarly as the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-6  except that the web  72 ,  73  comprises only two elements. The webs when included in the devices of  FIGS. 8 and 9  are plain flat sheets perforated with ventilation holes  80 .  
         [0044]     The drawings herein attached and described disclose embodiments of the present invention which are constructed of sheet material in configurations that are inflatable and deflatable. As discussed earlier, the back bumper concept may be achieved also with solid or resilient cushion or with firm elements that substitute for the inflatable tubes seen in  FIGS. 1-9A . In both the inflatable and the solid element embodiments the web may be made from a great variety of solid, apertured and/or size-adjustable elements.  
         [0045]     While the present invention has been described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specifics of the embodiment described herein. The present invention is intended to cover various and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.