Abstract:
A splint, in particular for the wrist, includes a substantially rectangular main band adapted to be closed in a tubular shape around the part of the body to be protected, a plurality of laces having an end integral with one side of the main band, at least one gripping element joined to the other end of the laces and adapted to be fastened on the upper surface of the main band. The splint further includes a comb-shaped insert, provided with teeth spaced apart from each other so as to form gaps wherein the laces can be inserted. A fastening strip is connected to the teeth of the insert and is adapted to be fastened on the upper surface of the main band.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention refers to the field of items for healthcare and orthopaedic use for the rehabilitation and the prevention of injuries. It refers in particular to a splint (or brace) for the wrist and to a production method therefor. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Various types of splints are known on the market, which comprise a main band, which is closed in a ring, in a tubular shape, around the part of the body to be protected. 
     To allow the adjustment of the closure and the tightening of the splint, some types of splint have laces, which are joined to the main band. A fastening strip, which can be coupled to the main band, is mounted slidably on the laces. At the ends of the laces gripping elements, which can be coupled to the main band, are provided. 
     The adjustment of the splint on the user&#39;s limb takes place as follows:
         first, the main band is wrapped in a ring around the part of the body to be protected;   then, the slidable fastening strip is pulled, adjusted in position and fastened on the solid band; and   lastly, the gripping elements of the laces are pulled to tighten the laces and fastened on the main band.       

     The procedure for producing such a splint entails the following steps:
         initially the main band with the laces is made;   the free ends of the laces are inserted into the respective holes in the fastening strip; and   subsequently the ends of the laces are gathered together in groups and joined to the respective gripping elements.       

     It is obvious that the stage of inserting the laces into the holes of the fastening strip is somewhat complex, long and costly. In fact this stage is generally carried out manually, by inserting the laces one at a time into the holes of the fastening strip. The application of the gripping elements to the ends of the laces is also complex. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, by providing a splint that is comfortable, versatile, adjustable and at the same time cheap and simple to make. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide such a method for manufacturing a splint that is cheap, practical and easy to carry out. 
     Advantageous embodiments of invention are apparent from the dependent claims. 
     The splint according to the invention comprises:
         a substantially rectangular main band, adapted to be closed in a tubular shape around the part of the body to be protected,   a plurality of laces having one end integral with one side of said main band,   at least one gripping element joined to the other end of said laces and adapted to be fastened on the upper surface of the main band.       

     The gripping element can be gripped by the user to tighten the laces and to close the main band in a tubular configuration around the part of the body to be protected. 
     The splint further comprises:
         a comb-shaped insert, provided with teeth spaced apart from each other so as to form gaps within which the laces can be inserted, and   a fastening strip connected to said teeth of the insert and adapted to be fastened on the upper surface of the main band.       

     The comb-shaped insert can be applied to the laces simply, rapidly and automatically, avoiding the operations of manual insertion of the laces into holes in the fastening strip. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       Further characteristics of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description that follows, referring to a purely exemplifying and therefore non limiting embodiment thereof, illustrated in the appended drawing, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view illustrating a main band from the side destined to face towards the user&#39;s skin and, exploded, an insert of a splint-closing strip according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the insert of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the main band from the outward facing side, in which the insert is coupled to the laces of the main band of the splint according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the main band of  FIG. 3  closed in a tubular shape; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view, like  FIG. 4 , in which a closing strip joined to the insert is shown. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The splint according to the invention, denoted as a whole with the reference numeral  1 , is described with the aid of the figures. Even if a wrist splint (wrist support) is shown in the figures, the invention can also extend to other types of splints, such as knee supports, ankle supports, corsets and the like. 
     The splint  1  comprises a main band  2 , substantially rectangular in shape, adapted to be closed in a ring, so as to form a tube surrounding the part of the patient&#39;s body to be protected. The main band  2  is obtained from a multi-ply sheet consisting of a plurality of layers of material coupled to each other preferably by flame coupling. Said multi-ply sheet comprises:
         a bottom layer  20 ′ ( FIG. 1 ) of non-allergenic material destined to come into contact with the user&#39;s skin,   an intermediate padding layer of shock-absorbing and breathable material such as, for example, an open cell foamed plastic material, such as polyurethane (PU), and   a top layer  20  ( FIG. 3 ), destined to face outwards, made of Nylon fabric suitably treated so as to form a surface adapted for a Velcro-type coupling.       

     The main band  2  thus has an upper surface  20  with a plurality of loops adapted to couple, in a fastening relationship, with a plurality of matching hooks of a Velcro-type fastening element, as will be described hereunder. 
     Three side straps ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ) protrude transversally from one side of the main band. 
     The first side strap  3  is shorter than the other two side straps  4  and  5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , respective gripping elements  30 , in the form of a circular tab, are placed at the ends of each side strap ( 3 ,  4 ,  5 ), on the surface destined to face towards the user&#39;s skin. The gripping elements  30  can be applied to the end of the side straps  3 ,  4  and  5  by sewing or by gluing. Each gripping element  30  has an outer surface with a plurality of Velcro-type fastening elements (hooks) adapted to engage with matching fastening elements (loops) on the upper surface  20  of the main band  2 . 
     Long slits  40  are formed in the second and in the third side strap ( 4 ,  5 ) by die cutting or by slicing, so as to define laces  50 , which extend to the gripping element  30 . By way of example, as shown in the drawings, two slits  40  are formed in the second side strap  4  so as to form three laces  50  and three slits  40  are formed in the third side strap  5  so as to form four laces  50 . 
     A slit  21  of such a size as to allow the thumb of a hand to be inserted is formed by die cutting in the middle portion of the main band  2 , to the front and level with the side strap  3 . The slit  21  extends lengthwise along the main band  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , two longitudinal pockets  7  and  7 ′, which extend substantially for the whole length of the main band  2 , are applied by sewing to the upper surface  20  of the main band  2 , on one side and on the other with respect to the slit  21 . The pockets  7  and  7 ′ have in their rear end respective openings  70  for insertion of metal plates to stiffen the structure. 
     The palmar stiffening plate destined to be positioned beneath the palm of the hand is inserted into the pocket  7 ′ proximal to the laces  50 . The palmar plate has a curved portion of smaller width destined to be disposed level with the first side strap  3 . 
     The dorsal stiffening plate destined to be positioned on the back of the hand is inserted into the pocket  7  distal to the laces  50 . The dorsal plate is flat and straight. 
     The pockets  7  and  7 ′ are made of a material having a Velcro-type outer surface (plurality of loops) like the upper surface  20  of the main band, adapted to be engaged by the gripping elements  30 . 
     As shown better in  FIG. 2 , the splint according to the invention comprises an insert  6  which is substantially comb-shaped. The insert  6  comprises a base plate  60  from which a plurality of teeth ( 61 ,  62 ) extends. The two end teeth  62  are substantially rectangular, whereas the intermediate teeth  61  are tapered in the shape of an isosceles triangle. In this manner triangular gaps  63 , which end in respective C-shaped seats  64  formed in the base plate  60 , are formed between the teeth  61  of the insert. 
     The insert  6  is made by injection moulding of plastic material, such as, for example, polyamide (Nylon). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the insert  6  is applied to the side straps  4  and  5 . That is to say, the teeth  61  of the insert are inserted into the slits  40  in the side straps, whereas the laces  50  of the side straps can slide in the gaps  63  in the insert. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the gripping elements  30  of the side straps  4  and  5  are secured to the upper surface  20  of the main band and the insert  6  is pulled so that the laces  50  engage, in a snap coupling relationship, in the C-shaped seats  64  of the insert ( FIG. 4 ). It should be noted that the width of the C-shaped seats  64  is slightly greater than the width of the laces  50 ; in this manner the laces  50  are free to slide in the seats  64  of the insert. 
     In this situation the teeth  61  and  62  of the insert protrude outwards. At this point a fastening strip  65  is applied to the teeth of the insert. The fastening strip  65  can be secured to the teeth of the insert  6  by sewing, so as to surround all the teeth  61  and  62 . 
     The fastening strip  65  has an outer surface  66  provided with Velcro-type fastening elements (hooks) adapted to engage with the fastening elements (loops) on the upper surface  20  of the main band  2 . The insert  6  can slide on the laces  5 ,  5 ′[ 50 ; N.d.T.] so as to be able to adjust the position of the fastening strip  65 . 
     The production method of such a splint proves extremely simple and rapid. 
     In fact the starting point is a multi-ply sheet obtained by flame coupling of three layers. The multi-ply sheet is die cut so as to obtain the main band  2 , the side straps  3 ,  4  and  5 , the slits  40  defining the laces  50  and the central slit  21 . The gripping elements  30 , the pockets  7  and  7 ′ and the insert  6  are applied to the die-cut sheet, inserting the teeth  61  of the insert into the slits  40  between the laces. Lastly, the fastening strip  65  is secured on the teeth  61  and  62  of the insert. 
     This procedure can be completely automated and does not require manual operations. 
     The finished splint  1  is slipped over the user&#39;s wrist so that the thumb of the hand enters the slit  21  in the splint. The user then takes the fastening strip  65  with the other hand and fastens it to the upper surface  20  of the main band  2 , substantially level with the pocket  7 ′, so as to surround the wrist with the main band  2  and the laces  50 . 
     Subsequently the user grips the end of the third side strap  5  so as to tighten the four laces  50  as much as possible and then blocks the gripping element  30  of the third side strap  5  on the upper surface  20  of the main band  2  level with the pocket  7 ; then he grips the end of the second side strap  4  so as to tighten the group of three laces  50  as much as possible and then blocks the gripping element  30  of the second side strap  4  on the upper surface  20  of the main band  2 . 
     Lastly the user grips the end of the first side strap  3 , so as to tighten it as much as possible and then blocks the gripping element  30  of the first side strap  3  on the upper surface  20  of the main band  2 . 
     It should be noted that during the application of the splint  1 , the bottom surface of the laces  50  can come into contact with the user&#39;s skin. This is not a problem since the bottom surface of the laces is made of the same non-allergenic material as the bottom surface  20 ′ of the main band  2 . 
     Numerous changes and modifications of detail within the reach of a person skilled in the art can be made to the present embodiment of the invention without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.