Patent Abstract:
This orthopedic orthosis, includes a textile article with first and second faces; the orthosis can be fitted in place such that either the first and second faces can equally well contact a patient limb. The orthosis has at least one fastening tab including an active face with fastening elements that may cooperate with first or second securing means arranged respectively on the first the second faces of the textile article, and an inactive face opposite the active face, said fastening tab being fixed non-removably via its inactive face on a zone contiguous to an edge of the textile article, so as to be able to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to this edge, between a first position, in which the active face catches by contact on the first securing means, and a second position, in which the active face catches by contact on the second securing means.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a reversible orthosis, of the type comprising a textile article which has opposite first and second faces and which is intended to be fitted around a part of the body of a user in order to support and/or immobilize this part of the body. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     The reversibility of an orthosis can be made possible in particular by its not having a wrong side and thus being able to be worn either with its first face or second face in contact with a user&#39;s body. Thus, a reversible orthosis can be used equally well either for a left part or right part of the user&#39;s body. 
     The invention relates in particular to an orthopedic vest for supporting and immobilizing the shoulder, but can be used for other orthoses, for example for wrist orthoses. 
     Reversible orthopedic vests are already known which are placed around a user&#39;s thorax, shoulder and arm and are held in position by fastening systems with loops and hooks of the Velcro® type. 
     A vest of this kind is described, for example, in document U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,724. So that this vest can be effectively be reversible, it is necessary to provide each of the faces of the textile article with adhesive bands. This increases the cost of the vest, but it also poses another problem. Namely, when the vest is fitted on a user, one pair of bands with loops and hooks is not used, the unused pair depending on which shoulder, left or right, is fitted. This has the result that the first of the bands not used can be in contact with the user&#39;s skin, which detracts from the comfort experienced by the user, and, on the other hand, the second unused band is exposed on the outside of the vest and can for this reason catch on different objects or materials. 
     To overcome this disadvantage, it is possible to provide a flap that is equipped with a band complementing the unused band and intended to cooperate with it. This solution therefore requires an additional element, which poses a number of disadvantages. First, the increased quantity of textile and of textile bands of the Velcro® type used leads to an increase in the cost of the vest. Moreover, the flap stiffens the vest and, for this reason, the latter proves less effective and less comfortable because it is more difficult to adapt to the user&#39;s anatomy. Finally, the additional thickness created detracts from the esthetic quality of the vest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above. 
     To this end, the invention relates to an orthopedic orthosis which can support and/or immobilize at least one limb of a patient, comprising a textile article with first and second faces, either of which first and second faces can equally well come into contact with the limb or limbs of the patient. 
     The orthosis is more particularly characterized in that it additionally has at least one fastening tab comprising an active face with fastening elements that are able to cooperate with first or second securing means arranged respectively on the first face and the second face of the textile article, and an inactive face opposite the active face, said fastening tab being fixed non-removably via its inactive face on a zone of the textile article contiguous to one of the edges of said textile article, so as to be able to pivot, about a pivot axis substantially parallel to this edge, between a first position, in which the active face catches by contact on the first securing means, and a second position, in which the active face catches by contact on the second securing means. 
     In this way, the active face of the tab can be oriented in the required manner, in order to be placed opposite the surface on which it is to be fastened. Thus, the orthosis is completely adaptable to the left or right half of the human body by virtue of its shape and the reversibility of the textile article, but also by virtue of the ability of the fastening means to pivot. The tab forms a kind of continuation of the first face or second face depending on the direction of use of the textile article. 
     The tab can comprise substantially identical first and second wings extending on either side of the pivot axis, the first wing being able to be folded back against the first face of the textile article, in the first position of the tab, and the second wing being able to be folded back against the second face of the textile article, in the second position of the tab. 
     The entire active surface of the tab is used irrespective of the direction in which the textile article is arranged, that is to say irrespective of the orientation of the tab. 
     According to a first embodiment, the tab is fixed on a band of the textile article delimited on one side by the edge of the textile article and on the other side by the pivot axis of the tab. This method of fixing is particularly robust. 
     According to a second embodiment, the tab is fixed substantially on the edge of the textile article, said edge forming the pivot axis of the tab. This results in a perfectly symmetrical structure, without excess thickness, and in easy pivoting of the tab. 
     The tab can be fixed on the textile article by sewing, welding or bonding. 
     According to one possible embodiment, the tab extends along substantially the entire length of the edge of the textile article. Alternatively, it would be possible to provide several bands spaced apart from one another along the edge. 
     For example, the fastening elements are formed by hooks, and the first and second securing means arranged respectively on the first face and second face of the textile article are formed by loops, establishing a self-adhering fixation system of the Velcro® type. This arrangement proves particularly comfortable for the patient since he then has a textile with loops arranged against his skin, which has a pleasant and gentle feel. 
     The first and/or second securing means comprise a band attached to the textile article or are formed by the actual textile of the textile article; this arrangement proves extremely practical because it does not result in additional thickness. 
     According to one possible embodiment, the textile article is intended to form an orthopedic vest for supporting and immobilizing the shoulder, and comprises: 
     a first panel intended to cover the rear area of the user&#39;s thorax; 
     a second panel forming a lateral continuation of the first panel and intended to cover the front area and rear area of the shoulder and of the arm; 
     a third panel forming a lateral continuation of the second panel, remote from the first panel, and intended to cover the front area of the thorax; 
     a fourth panel forming a continuation of a portion of the lower part of the third panel and intended to serve as a rest for the forearm. 
     At least one fastening tab can be fixed near the edge of the first panel remote from the second panel and/or the edge of the fourth panel remote from the third panel, said tab being intended to cooperate with securing means formed on the third panel. 
     The orthosis can additionally comprise a belt extending laterally from the lower part of the third panel in the same direction as the second panel, and a fastening tab fixed near the edge of the belt remote from the third panel, said tab being intended to cooperate with securing means formed on the first panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       To ensure that it is clearly understood, the invention is described in further detail below with reference to the attached figures which depict, by way of non-limiting examples, several possible embodiments of orthoses according to the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a textile article intended to form an orthopedic vest, a corner of the textile article having been curved back for clearer illustration; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a strap intended to be joined to the textile article from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the detail III from  FIG. 1 , showing the fastening tab according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , the fastening tab having pivoted relative to its pivot axis; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are schematic representations of the join between the tab and the textile article, according to the first embodiment and second embodiment, respectively; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  show the steps involved in fitting the vest from  FIG. 1  in place; and 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are schematic representations showing a user fitted with the vest from  FIG. 1 , seen from the front and from the back, respectively. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a textile article  1 , in a plan view, which will form an orthopedic vest when fitted in place on a user. 
     The textile article  1  is generally flat and has a first face  2  and an opposite second face  3 , the latter being partially visible in the corner shown partially folded back for this purpose. 
     The textile article  1  in the first instance comprises a substantially rectangular first panel  4  intended to cover the rear area of a user&#39;s thorax and delimited in particular by an upper edge  5 , a lower edge  6  and a free edge  7 . 
     The textile article  1  also comprises a second panel  8  forming a lateral continuation of the first panel  4  remote from the free edge  7  and intended to cover the front area and rear area of the shoulder and of the arm. The second panel  8  forms an inwardly curved bend at its lower part and is delimited in particular by a curved upper edge  9  and a curved lower edge  10 . In addition, a curved line  11  extending between the upper edge  9  and lower edge  10 , substantially at the center of the second panel  8 , forms a hump  12  located in the upper part of the second panel  8 , substantially centered laterally. In  FIG. 1 , the hump  12  protrudes upward relative to the general plane of the textile article  1 . The concavity of the hump  12  can be inverted such that the hump  12  can protrude downward relative to the general plane of the textile article  1 . It is particularly by virtue of this inversion of the concavity that the vest can be adapted to the left or right shoulder of a user. 
     A third and substantially rectangular panel  13  forms a lateral continuation of the second panel  8  remote from the first panel  4  and is intended to cover the front area of the user&#39;s thorax. The third panel  13  is delimited in particular by an upper edge  14 , a lower edge  15  and a free edge  16 . The distance between the upper edge  14  and the lower edge  15  of the third panel  13  is greater than the distance between the upper edge  9  and lower edge  10  of the second panel  8 . The third panel  13  thus comprises a lateral edge  17 , of small height, opposite the free edge  16  and not joined to the second panel  8 . 
     A fourth panel  18  continues a portion of the third panel  13  at the latter&#39;s lower part and is intended to serve as a rest for the user&#39;s forearm. The fourth panel  18  has the general shape of a trapezoid whose bases form the upper edge and lower (free) edge  19  of the fourth panel  18 , the upper edge being coincident with the lower edge  15  of the third panel  13 . The fourth panel  18  is additionally delimited by a lateral edge  20  situated substantially in a continuation of the lateral edge  17  of the third panel  13 , and a lateral edge  21 . The distance between the lateral edges  20 ,  21  of the fourth panel  18  is less (for example of the order of two thirds) than the distance between the free edge  16  and lateral edge  17  of the third panel  13 . 
     Finally, the textile article  1  comprises a belt  22  extending laterally from the edge  17  of the third panel  13  toward and substantially as far as the first panel  4 , substantially parallel to the lower edge  15  of the third panel  13 . The belt has an upper edge  23  and a lower edge  24  and also a free edge  25  remote from the lateral edge  17 . 
     The first and second faces  2 ,  3  are made of a material having loops, in the manner of the loops in a fastener of the Velcro® type. For example, the textile article  1  can be made of polyurethane foam covered with a “down” or duvetine of polyamide loops. Alternatively, the first and second faces  2 ,  3  could be without loops and, instead, could be provided with affixed tapes which themselves would have loops. 
       FIG. 2  shows a strap  26  comprising a first rectangular panel  27  and a second substantially rectangular panel  28  tapered to a point, these panels being joined by a curved transverse line  29  which gives the strap an elbow shape. At its ends, and on the same side, the first panel  27  has two zones  30  provided with fastening elements in the manner of hooks of a Velcro® system. 
     In a manner specific to the invention, the free edge  7  of the first panel  4 , the free edge  19  of the fourth panel  18 , and the free edge  25  of the belt  22  of the textile article  1  each comprise a fastening tab  31  extending along the entire length of said edge. The fastening tab  31  joined to the belt  22  will now be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , it being understood that the other tabs and their method of fixing are similar. 
     The tab  31  is a flat rectangle and has an active face  32  comprising fastening elements of the hook type as in a Velcro® system. The opposite face, called the inactive face  33 , has no such fastening elements. The tab  31  is fixed via its inactive face  33  to the textile article  1 , in this case the belt  22 , near the edge in question, in this case the free edge  25 . 
     According to a first embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the tab  31  is fixed to a band  34  of the belt  22 , of width d, limited on the one hand by the edge  25  and on the other hand by a line  35  parallel to the edge  25 . The fixation is in this case effected by a seam  36  of zigzag configuration. A straight seam could also be used. 
     The band  34  is not fixed to the tab  31  in a centered position, but instead in such a way that the line  35  is situated substantially at the center of the tab  31  and thus defines two wings  37 ,  38  of equal length  1 . By virtue of the flexibility of the textile article  1  and of the arrangement of the seam  36 , the tab  31  is able to pivot about the line  35 , as is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In a first extreme position, the tab  31  is arranged in such a way that the inactive face  33  of the first wing  37  is folded back against the first face  2  of the textile article  1 , and, in a second extreme position, the tab  31  is arranged in such a way that the inactive face  33  of its second wing  38  is folded back against the second face  3  of the textile article  1 . 
     Thus, all of this is arranged as if the fastening elements of the active face  32  could be displaced from the first face  2  to the second face  3  of the textile article  1  depending on requirements, that is to say depending on whether one wishes to secure the first face or second face of the textile article  1 , and this simply by pivoting the tab  31 . It is therefore not necessary to provide fastening means on each of the faces  2 ,  3  of the textile article. In addition, when the tab  31  is in the first extreme position, the second face  3  of the textile article  1  is without any fastening means (and vice versa in the second extreme position), and this avoids the risks of accidental fastening. 
     According to a second embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the tab  31  is fixed to the edge  25  of the belt  22  by button points. In this case, the edge  25  is situated at the center of the tab  31 , thereby defining two wings  37 ,  38  of equal width  1 , and the tab  31  is able to pivot about the edge  25 . 
     The tab  31  can be fixed to a zone of the textile article  1  comprising loops, either in a flat position, the totality of the active surface  32  being in contact with the same face of the textile article  1 , or in an astride position, the active faces  32  of the two wings  37 ,  38  being folded back toward one another and enclosing between them the textile article  1 . 
     The way in which the textile article is fitted in place on a user will now be described. 
     In a first step, the concavity of the hump  12  is oriented in the direction suitable for the injured shoulder that is to be immobilized. In the figures, the shoulder in question is the left shoulder, and the hump  12  has to be oriented as shown in  FIG. 1 . The face of the textile article  1  which will be oriented toward the user (the inside of the vest) is then the second face  3 . 
     In a second step, the hump  12  is placed on the shoulder, the third panel  13  covering the front of the thorax, the fourth panel  18  descending over the thighs, and the first panel  4  covering the back ( FIG. 7 ). The first panel  4  is wound around the user and folded back against the third panel  13  on which it is fixed, by cooperation between the hooks of the tab  31  and the loops of the textile of the third panel  13 . For this purpose, the tab  31  is oriented such that its active face  32  is opposite the third panel  13 . 
     Similarly, the belt  22  is wound around the user&#39;s waist and fastened, at the back, to the first panel  4 . 
     The user then places the arm corresponding to the injured shoulder against his chest, then the fourth panel  18  is folded back toward the third panel  13 , surrounding the arm ( FIG. 8 ), and fastened via the tab  31  to the third panel  13 . 
     The user can then fix the strap  26  around his elbow, said strap  26  being fixed, via the zones  30 , under the fourth panel  18 , beneath the forearm, and also on the second panel  8 , on the shoulder. 
     To fit the same textile article  1  in place on the other shoulder, it suffices first to invert the concavity of the hump  12 , then to place the textile article symmetrically to what has been described above (the second face  3  then being oriented outward from the vest and partially exposed) and to modify the orientation of the fastening tabs  31  simply by pivoting them about their pivot axis. 
     Thus, the invention affords a decisive improvement to the prior art by providing a reversible orthosis whose fastening means are themselves reversible. 
     It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example, and instead it encompasses all the alternative embodiments. 
     The invention could therefore be employed for orthoses other than shoulder orthoses (for the wrists in particular).

Technology Classification (CPC): 0