Abstract:
A sling for support of the arm, comprising an elongated cloth body having a relatively wide central region and relatively narrow end regions, and further having an arm extending outwardly from adjacent the central region. The body is mounted on one shoulder and supports the opposite arm, without the need for any separate arm-containing pouch or pocket. Hook and loop fasteners are provided to secure the ends of the body to each other, and to secure the arm to the body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the type of arm sling used primarily for injuries or diseases relating to the shoulder girdle (the muscles and bones--such as the humerus--at or connecting to the shoulder region). Such injuries or diseases include fractures, dislocations, bone cancer, and the like. The arm sling supports the arm so that it does not exert weight on the injured or diseased region. Arm slings of the present type are also frequently employed relative to arms that are paralyzed, to prevent them from dangling and flopping. The indicated type of sling is to be distinguished from the ones that were formerly--and are sometimes presently--employed for treatment of shoulder separations. 
     Slings of the type here discussed are often characterized by lack of comfort, by unsightliness, by difficulty of mounting and adjustment, and by inability to achieve adequate adjustment, support or immobilization. Such slings are particularly onerous when the wearer must wear them for long periods of time, such as for months or even years. 
     The classical Boy Scout sling (which is similar to the slings made by sailors in the days when sailors wore neckerchiefs extensively), is also characterized by discomfort and inadequate support. A Boy-Scout sling goes around the neck, that is to say, rests on top of both shoulders on opposite sides of the neck. It is, at best, a temporary expedient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Applicants have discovered that a sling, preferably made from a few pieces of cloth, but which does not go around the neck and/or rest on both shoulders, is surprisingly effective, comfortable, adjustable, easy to mount and remove, simple to adjust, etc. The sling holds its shape, does not bite into the body of the wearer at any point, and is attractive looking as distinguished from clinical-looking. 
     Furthermore, the present sling has a second portion which, in a few seconds, can be adjusted to ensure that the forearm will not slide out of the underlying supporting portion of the sling. 
     Once the sling is adjusted for any wearer, it may be removed and repositioned without necessity for disconnection of any fastener, and without necessity for further adjustment. The sling is readily washed, perferably in its adjusted condition, which achieves the further benefit that the long secton of cloth does not wrap around the agitator portion of the washer. 
     The second portion of the string performs the additional function of aiding in initial mounting and adjustment. 
     In addition to the above, the present invention provides pillow or other supporting means at the shoulder, and (soon after surgery, for example) between the forearm and the stomach region of the wearer. Means are also provided to connect the sling to a belt or belt loop, in order to achieve an added degree of immobilization. 
     A major characteristic of the sling is that an edge, which is uppermost when behind the body, curves around the side of the body adjacent the arm being supported, and then becomes lowermost. Such edge then passes under the arm of the wearer at a location adjacent the wrist. It then bends upwardly and defines one side of a sling portion which extends upwardly across the chest to the shoulder on which the sling is supported. Another feature of the invention relates to a major adjustment and connecting means located at or near the shoulder region. Such asjustment and connecting means also operates as an indicator to show the patient, or a person aiding the patient, exactly how to put the sling on. Another indicia is provided at the midregion of the sling, to show the patient (or an assistant) where the elbow should be located. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing the sling mounted on a patient, and further showing the optional means which extends around the belt of the patient and connects to the supporting region of the sling; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the showing of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the sling when disposed in a single plane; 
     FIG. 4 shows the first part of the sling-mounting procedure (for a sling that has not yet been adjusted to a patient), the body of the patient being indicated in FIG. 4 (and also FIG. 5) in phantom line, so that the patient&#39;s body is treated as being transparent; 
     FIG. 5 shows a later part of the sling-mounting procedure; 
     FIG. 6 shows the optional pillow or cushion which goes between forearm and stomach; and 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view illustrating the pillow of FIG. 6, the forearm being shown, by phantom lines, in section. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the preferred embodiment, hook and loop fastener and adjustment means, such as the one having the brand name VELCRO, are employed. Furthermore, to aid in the description, one portion of each fastener will be described as the one having (or being) the &#34;hook&#34;, while the other will be described as the one having (or being) the &#34;loop&#34;. It is emphasized, however, that these may, in practice, be interchanged, and that the indicated convention is merely used to aid in the description of the invention. 
     The entire sling, excepting only the fastener means, is preferably formed of cloth. As a preferred example, each portion of the sling comprises two parallel layers of soft but strong cloth, the layers being seamed together at the edge regions and with the edges bent inwardly so as to prevent fraying. 
     The layers of the two cloths should be sewn so that the bottom side of the sling is cut on the width of the material, and the top side is cut on the length of the material. This prevents a &#34;creeping effect&#34;. In other words, the woof threads extend longitudinally of the body 10, as shown in FIG. 3, on the bottom side of the sling. Conversely, in the top layer of the material, as shown in FIG. 3, the warp threads extend longitudinally of the body 10. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the sling comprises a single elongated body 10 having a relatively wide intermediate region 11 adapted to receive the forearm of the patient, and also having two relatively narrow connector regions 12 and 13 that extend in opposite directions away from the intermediate region. Connector region 12 is relatively long, while connector region 13 is relatively short. 
     The shapes of the edges of the illustrated preferred form will next be described, all in reference to FIG. 3 which shows the apparatus when lying flat. (Thus, when the invention is described in reference to FIG. 3, such words as &#34;lower&#34; and &#34;upper&#34; relate to that figure only, having no reference to elevation when the sling is on the patient). 
     Lower edge 16 of connector region 12 is very gradually concave, and the concavity continues to the vicinity of point 17. At or relatively near such point, there starts a convex lower edge 18 of intermediate region 11 of the sling. The degree of convexity of edge 18 is substantially greater than is the degree of concavity of edge 16. Convex edge 18 continues to the vicinity of point 19, at which there starts the gradually concave lower edge 21 of connector region 13. 
     To summarize, therefore, the lower edge of the elongated body is preferably gradually concave at connector regions 12 and 13, and less-gradually convex at intermediate region 11. 
     The upper edge, numbered 22, of connector region 12 is gradually convex, and diverges toward the right in relation to the lower edge 16 of such region. In the vicinity of point 23, the convex edge 22 meets a second and much more prominent convex upper edge which is numbered 24. Convex edge 24 forms the upper edge of intermediate region 11, and is much more elevated than is upper edge 22 of connector region 12. Convex edge 24 merges toward the right with the upper edge 26 of connector region 13, such upper edge being relatively straight or slightly concave. 
     The most prominent or &#34;peak&#34; region of edge 24 is offset, toward the right, relative to the most prominent portion of edge 18. Edges 21 and 26 converge to the right, relatively rapidly, because connector region 13 is much less long than is connector region 12 which has the gradually diverging (toward the right) edges 16 and 22. 
     The two convex edges 22 and 24 define between them a concave region generally adjacent point 23. Edges 22, 24 and 26 connect smoothly to each other, as do edges 16, 18 and 21. 
     Still referring to FIG. 3, a laterally-projecting arm 28, also preferably formed of cloth, is seamed to the elongated body 10 at a region between concave edge 16 and convex edge 18. Stated otherwise, the arm 28 is seamed to the lower body edge generally at the junction between intermediate region 11 and connector region 12. In the illustrated form, the right side of arm 28 intersects the lower edge of the body in the vicinity of point 17. 
     As illustrated, arm 28 is less long than connector region 12, but longer than connector region 13. 
     The lengths of body 10 and arm 28 vary in accordance with the size of the patient, for example coming in children&#39;s, small, medium, large, and extra large sizes. There need not be an infinite number of size variations, because the fastener means described below permit substantial degrees of adjustment. 
     Proceeding next to a description of the fastener and adjustment means, there is a relatively long section 30 of loop at the outer end of connector region 13, and on the top side of the body 10 as viewed in FIG. 3. A corresponding hook section 31 is mounted at the outer end of connector region 12 and on the underside of body 10 as viewed in FIG. 3. 
     To connect and adjust the arm 28, a relatively long strip 32 of loop is mounted at the outer end of arm 28 and on the upper side thereof, as shown in FIG. 3, the strip extending longitudinally of the arm and spaced inwardly from both edges thereof. A strip 33 of hook is mounted transversely on the underside of body 10, at the connector region 13 of such body. The strip 33 inclines upwardly and toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 3, and is oriented to mate with loop 32 when the sling is in mounted condition. 
     Reference will next be made, primarily, to figures other than FIG. 3. For simplicity of description, the word &#34;patient&#34; will be used, although it is recognized that in most or many instances a nurse or aide will actually perform the function because of the disability of the patient. 
     To mount and adjust the sling as thus far described, without becoming confused, the patient requires only two (or, for many, only one) indicia or reference points. One is the hook 31; the other is a marker 33a (illustrated to be a &#34;V&#34; sewn on the upper side of body portion 11, as viewed in FIG. 3) between arm 28 and the &#34;peak&#34; of lower edge 18 as viewed in FIG. 3. 
     Assuming that it is the right arm which requires support, the hook 31 is disposed on the left shoulder and facing upwardly, it being emphasized that the body 10 is then hanging behind the body of the patient. Stated otherwise, body 10 of the sling is in a generally vertical orientation behind and adjacent the patient&#39;s body when the patient is standing, and the end of connector portion 12 is bending forwardly over the left shoulder of the patient with the hook means 31 facing upwardly (exposed). 
     To ensure that the cloth body will not twist, the patient grasps arm 28 at its outer end, using his right hand, and keeps such arm 28 horizontally by effecting a slight pulling action toward the right. This also pulls the pendent body 10 to the right, and exposes the loop 30 to the patient&#39;s view. The patient then grasps the lower end of region 13 with his left hand, and releases arm 28 with his right. He then places his right elbow on the indicia 33a at intermediate region 11, while bending connector region 13 upwardly-forwardly of his horizontal right forearm. The loop 30 is then moved upwardly (by means of the left hand) and pressed against hook 31 to form a connection near the shoulder as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. 
     The right forearm of the patient is thus effectively suspended as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The right elbow is near the indicia 33a. It is emphasized that the showings of FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate the inclined edge region 24. Such edge region is disposed between the forearm and the body of the patient. Stated otherwise, the edge 24 is behind the forearm, and forms the upper edge of that region 11 of the sling which supports the forearm. 
     It is emphasized that part of edge 24 is forwardly adjacent the wrist. From there, the edge 24 bends rearwardly below the forearm, and inclines upwardly toward the right side of the torso of the patient. Referring next to FIGS. 2 and 4, the remaining portion of edge 24 is shown as bending around the torso at a region below point 23. 
     To describe the above in another manner, one of the edges of the body 10 (designated by the numbers 16-18-21) forms a continuous loop when the apparatus is mounted as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The other edge of the body 10 (indicated by the reference numbers 22-24-26) does not merely loop but twists or reverses position at a region between the elbow of the patient and the right side of the patient. At such region, it (portion 24) extends in contact with the patient&#39;s side and then inclines downwardly behind the forearm before bending below the wrist region and upwardly-forwardly of the wrist. 
     Referring next to FIGS. 1 and 5, the cloth arm 28 is then bent around the upper arm of the patient, and loop strip 32 is pressed against hook strip 33 at the exact position desired to achieve comfort and relative immobilization. 
     There is thus provided a very comfortable, effective, attractive arm support. The support or sling is easily moved off and on the patient without disconnecting any of the connected regions, and is then repositioned on the patient so as to resume the desired properly-adjusted and positioned condition. The sling may usually be machine-washed while adjusted, and the connections prevent the long body of the sling from wrapping around the agitator. 
     To further enhance comfort, a small pillow cushion 34, having hook portions 35 and 36 thereon, is secured to the end of connector region 12 (on the side thereof opposite hook 31) by loop means 38 and 39. Such pillow rests on the patient&#39;s shoulder, beneath the hook-loop connection. 
     Relatively soon after an operation, a second and larger pillow or cushion 41 is secured at the underside of intermediate region 11. The position of pillow 41 is such that it is interposed between the forearm and the stomach region of the wearer. 
     The forearm may also be secured to the patient&#39;s belt 46 by a strap 47 and associated hook and loop fastener means on the strap and on the region 11 of the body 10. Such hook and loop fastener means on strap 47 and on the body are indicated at 48-51. 
     The strap may pass around the belt, as shown in FIG. 1, or it may pass through one of the belt loops shown at 52. Or, the strap may pass both around the belt and through the belt loop 52. 
     In the illustrated preferred form, pillow 41 is attached to strap 47, removably, by a hook-loop fastener 52a. 
     It is pointed out that the strap 47 may be employed without the adjacent pillow or cushion 41, and vice versa. 
     The identical described sling, except for the pillows, may be used for support of the left arm instead of the right. To accomplish this, the same procedure as is described above is followed, except that the sling is caused to be upside down, and on the opposite shoulder, in comparison to what was previously stated. Thus, the opening part of the sequence is performed by placing the hook means 31 facing downwardly--instead of upwardly--and on the right shoulder instead of the left. It is, however, preferred (for convenience and lack of duplication of VELCRO fasteners for the pillows) that one sling be provided for support of the right arm, and a corresponding (but reverse) sling be provided for support of the left arm. Such corresponding (but reverse) sling has connections for a pillow or pillows. 
     The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.