Abstract:
A self adhesive protective padding device having a plurality of pads able to be adhered precisely to the hip and lower back areas of the body, wherein the padding being light weight and disposable, consisting of multi-layer air-filled material, is designed to protect the body from hip and bone fracture due to falls.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a protective device. It is particularly concerned with protection of the femur head, the iliac crest, the lower lumbar region, the coccyx, and the sacrum of the person using the device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Hip fractures are a health problem of enormous proportion. Approximately 250,000 hip fractures occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated annual cost of over seven billion dollars in medical and nursing services. In the United States, the average cost of a hip fracture for all age groups in 1984 was $29,800.  
         [0003]     Over 98% of hip fractures are caused by falls. Growing evidence suggests that the strongest determinant of hip fracture risk in the event of a fall is the kinematical state of the body at the moment of impact. A simple fall from a standing height has several times the potential energy required to fracture a healthy hip.  
         [0004]     In order for a fall from a standing height to cause a hip fracture, four conditions must be met: (1) The subject must be oriented to land on the hip; (2) Protective responses must be inadequate to reduce the energy of the fall below the critical threshold; (3) Local shock absorbers such as fat and muscles around the hip must be inadequate to reduce the energy of the fall below the critical threshold; and (4) Bone strength in the proximal femur must be insufficient to resist the residual energy of the fall that is transmitted to the hip.  
         [0005]     Due to the inevitability of the first condition and the immutability of the fourth condition, previous protective devices have focused on the second and third conditions. These devices seek to prevent injuries to the lower lumbar, hip and pelvis regions through the use of various padding agents such as gel or closed-cell foam.  
         [0006]     Previous devices have utilized thick pads that are placed inside pockets of a garment. The pockets often shift positions in relation to the user&#39;s body causing discomfort, poor protection, and restriction of movement. Other devices use belts or connecting members to hold pads in place with the same problematic results.  
         [0007]     The problem with these devices is that they are bulky, expensive, and limited in mobility, generally targeting geriatric patients. In today&#39;s active society falling occurs in all ages and genders and across a wide range of traditional and new “extreme” sports such as in-line skating, skiing, skateboarding, field hockey, extreme Frisbee, basketball, ice skating, mountain biking, gymnastics, volleyball, etc.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides an inexpensive, disposable, lightweight and easy-to-use device that appeals to all ages and genders. The present invention relates to a device for protecting various areas of a user&#39;s body. It is particularly concerned with a device for protecting the hipbones, femur, lower lumbar region of the spine, coccyx, and sacrum through the use of self-adhesive pads.  
         [0009]     The key to the present invention is the lightweight, self-adhesive pads that make up the device. In order for protective devices to appeal to all users and not just older users, the devices must be lightweight, easily fitted, cost-effective and non-bulky with ample freedom of movement.  
         [0010]     The present invention allows pads to be precisely placed in a manner consistent with the user&#39;s bodily dimensions as the pads may adhere directly to the skin or garments of the user. Because the pads adhere to the location of primary placement, the pads will not shift position during use, thus increasing the likelihood of adequate protection and appeal to all users.  
         [0011]     Young users also express distaste for devices that must be stepped into, such as a protective pair of shorts. The present invention eliminates that problem by allowing users to simply press the pads into position.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment, the present invention uses extremely lightweight pads comprised of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) held together by a means such as pre-wrap, soft foam, or any suitable adhesive. The LDPE and HDPE layers contain air bubbles and/or air-filled tubules. When a user impacts with the ground or perhaps an opponent, the air bubbles rupture, thus dispersing the impact force and signaling that the pad has outlived its usefulness and should be replaced.  
         [0013]     Unlike foam or gel pads, the “air bubble” pads&#39; lightweight nature allows users to increase protection without sacrificing speed and ease of movement. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The present invention will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the Preferred and Alternate Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of the device.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of an embodiment of the device.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a pad in one embodiment of the device 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     In describing the preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in the figures and/or described herein, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the present invention in a preferred embodiment uses five pads  11 ,  12 ,  13  and a mesh netting  14  for connecting the pads. In the preferred embodiment, two hip pads  12  substantially cover the iliac crest, anterior superior iliac spine, and posterior superior iliac spine. Two femur head pads  13  substantially cover the greater trichinae region. The rear pad  11  covers the lower lumbar spinal process, the transverse processes of the sacrum, and the upper area of the coccyx. The pads are connected to each other by the mesh netting  14 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows the general composition of the pads  11 ,  12 ,  13 . The first layer  31  is the inner layer that faces the body of the user. The first layer  31  is an adhesive such as Kinesio-Tex tape for securing the pad to the user&#39;s body or clothes. Although the preferred embodiment uses Kinesio-Tex tape, any substance capable of adhering to the user&#39;s body or clothes may be used. In the preferred embodiment, the second layer  32  is a thin, foam sheet made out of polyethylene. The mesh netting  14  is connected to the foam. Although the preferred embodiment uses a polyethylene second layer  32 , any suitable substance such as polystyrene or Cushion-Lite™ may be used.  
         [0021]     In the preferred embodiment, the third layer  33  is a sheet of low-density polyethylene having small bubbles  41  dispersed inside the polyethylene such that the layer  33  is similar to everyday “bubble wrap.” The small bubbles function to absorb the shock of an impact upon the user. Although the preferred embodiment uses low-density polyethylene for the third layer  33 , any suitable substance such as polystyrene, high-density polyethylene, or blends thereof may be used. And although the preferred embodiment uses bubbles filled with ambient air, the bubbles could be filled by any substance capable of absorbing shock such as gel, or pressurized air.  
         [0022]     In the preferred embodiment, the fourth layer  34  is a sheet of high-density polyethylene having larger bubbles  42  relative to the third layer  33  dispersed inside the polyethylene such that the layer  34  is similar to everyday “bubble wrap.” Although the preferred embodiment uses high-density polyethylene for the fourth layer  34 , any suitable substance such as polystyrene, low-density polyethylene, Air Cushion™ or blends thereof may be used.  
         [0023]     In the case of the rear pad  11  and the hip pads  12 , the fourth layer  34  also has convoluted, air-filled tubules  43  for providing protection against the forces of impact upon a user. In the case of the femur head pads  13 , the fourth layer has at least one concentric, air-filled tubule that is placed over the femur head for dispersing the force of an impact upon a user. Although the convoluted tubules and the concentric tubules in the preferred embodiment are filled with ambient air, any suitable substance such as gel or pressurized air may be used.  
         [0024]     In the preferred embodiment the rear pad  11  extends vertically upward from the upper end of the coccyx to the lower lumbar spinal process. The rear pad  11  extends horizontally to substantially protect the transverse processes of the sacrum. Convoluted tubules  43  are placed along the periphery of the pad and air bubbles  42  fill the space between the periphery of the convoluted tubules  43 .  
         [0025]     In the preferred embodiment the hip pads  12  extend horizontally around the user&#39;s waist so as to substantially cover the iliac crest, anterior superior iliac spine, and posterior superior iliac spine. Convoluted tubules  43  horizontally extend along the length of the pads  12 . Air bubbles  42  are dispersed around and between the convoluted tubules  43 . Although the preferred embodiment shows two convoluted tubules being used, the number may vary as needed.  
         [0026]     In the preferred embodiment the femur head pads  13  have a “keyhole” shape. The upper portion of the pad is circular with a rectangular depending lower portion. Concentric tubules  44  are placed in the center of the upper, circular portion of the pad  13  in a “bullseye” array. Air bubbles  42  are placed along the periphery of the pad and surrounding the “bullseye.” The number of concentric tubules  44  used in the “bullseye” array can be varied, two being the preferred number in this embodiment.  
         [0027]     In the preferred embodiment, the five pads  11 ,  12 ,  13  are connected to each other by a mesh netting  14 . The mesh netting allows a user to carry the pads around as a single device. Although the preferred embodiment includes all five pads, the mesh netting may be easily cut, allowing the user to utilize only those pads he/she needs to. In fact, the mesh netting need not be used at all as its main purpose is simply to hold the pads together for carrying purposes.