Abstract:
Front and rear leg wraps for applying cold or heat compressive therapy to the legs of a horse are provided. Each include a series of horizontally extending pockets along the length of the wrap. The pockets are fitted with refrigerant bags containing a quantity of refrigerant material. The quantity of refrigerant material contained in the refrigerant bags can be varied to control the amount of cold or heat therapy is applied. The front and rear leg wraps include gussets to permit the wraps to closely conform to the complex anatomy of the horse legs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/093,635, filed Sep. 2, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FILED OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to therapeutic devices for the legs of animals, and more particularly, relating to cooling or heating compressive wraps for the legs of a horse having an improved construction. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is desirable to apply a hot compressive force or a cold compressive force to the legs of a horse depending upon the required treatment. There exists numerous devices of a myriad of constructions for either applying compressive force along or in combination with cold or heat therapy. However, there remains a need for a leg wrap of an improved construction that is configured to wrap around and conform to the complex anatomy of the front and rear legs of a horse and to apply either cold or heat therapy to the leg. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention addresses this need by providing equine therapeutic leg wraps, each of an improved construction and specifically configured for either the front or rear leg of a horse, and a novel arrangement of refrigerant material that more closely conforms to the different complex anatomy of the front and rear legs. 
         [0005]    To achieve these and other advantages, in general, in one aspect, an equine therapeutic leg wrap for applying either cold or hot compressive therapy to an animal&#39;s limb, is provided. The equine theraputic leg wrap includes an elongated wrap of a flexible material configured to encircle an animal&#39;s limb. The elongated wrap has a series of transversely extending and longitudinally juxtaposed slender pockets. The elongated wrap including further includes one or more longitudinally extending gussets located intermediate the longitudinal side edges of said elongated wrap. A plurality of refrigerant bags of a slender construction and of a flexible material contain a quantity of refrigerant material sealed therein. A single refrigerant bag extending lengthwise in each of said pockets. A series of transversely extending and longitudinally spaced straps are each attached at one end to said elongated wrap and terminating at a free end and are of a length to encircle said animal&#39;s limb. Each strap and the elongated wrap has complementary hook-and-loop fasteners for releasably securing said free end of each of said strap to said elongated wrap to secure said elongated wrap to said animal&#39;s limb. The quantity by weight of said refrigerant material in contained in each of said refrigerant bags ranges from a high weight of refrigerant material to a low weight of refrigerant material. The refrigerant bag containing the highest weight of refrigerant material is located at a top of said series of pockets, and the refrigerant bag containing the lowest weight of refrigerant material located at a bottom of said series of pockets. 
         [0006]    In general, in another aspects, each of said refrigerant bags can be divided into separate and vertically sealed longitudinally extending compartments. The one or more longitudinally extending gussets can include a pair of bottom gussets transversely spaced and longitudinally aligned and being located approximate a bottom end of said elongated wrap. The one or more longitudinally extending gussets can further include a transversely centered gusset positioned above said pair of bottom gussets, and a pair of top gussets transversely spaced and longitudinally aligned and being located approximate a top end of said elongated wrap. The pair of top gussets can extend from said top end of said elongated wrap. The refrigerant material can be of a gel material. The refrigerant bag containing the highest weight of refrigerant material can contain 200 grams of said refrigerant material, and said refrigerant bag containing the lowest weight of refrigerant material can contain 150 grams of said refrigerant material. The refrigerant bag containing the highest weight of refrigerant material can contain 180 grams of said refrigerant material, and said refrigerant bag containing the lowest weight of refrigerant material can contain 90 grams of said refrigerant material. The elongated wrap can be about 73 cm in height, and can be about 56 cm in width when laid open. The elongated wrap can be about 87 cm in height, and can be about 74 cm in width when laid open. 
         [0007]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
         [0008]    Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0009]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0010]    For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic environment view of equine therapeutic leg wraps in use and applied to the front and rear legs of a horse; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic laid open view of a front-right leg wrap; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic laid open view of a rear-right leg wrap; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of a refrigerant bag; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of the cross-section section of a refrigerant bag taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  a simplified diagrammatic illustration of front leg wrap; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a simplified diagrammatic illustration of a rear leg wrap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic environmental view of equine therapeutic front and rear leg wraps  10  and  10 ′, respectively, of the invention. The leg wraps  10  and  10 ′ are illustrated in use and secured to the front and rear leags  14  and  16 , respectively, of a horse  18 . 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 2 , there is shown a front-right leg wrap  10  laid open and viewn from the exterior, the front-left wrap being a mirror image thereof. In  FIG. 3 , there is shown a rear-right leg wrap  10 ′ laid open and viewn from the exterior, the rear-left wrap being a mirror image thereof. The front leg wrap  10  is of a length to extend from the radius/ulna or the forearm down and around the coronary band and the bulbs of the heels. In an embodiment, the front leg wrap  10  is about 73 cm in length, and about 56 cm in width when laid open. The rear leg wrap  10 ′ is of a length to extend from the tibia/fibula or gaskin muscle to the coronary band and the bulbs of the heels. In an embodiment, the rear leg wrap  10 ′ is about 87 cm in height, and about 74 cm in width when laid open. 
         [0021]    Legs wraps  10  and  10 ′ comprise an elongated wrap of a flexible material configured to encircle the front and rear legs, respectively, of a horse. Leg wraps  10  and  10 ′ defining a series of transversely extending and longitudinally juxtaposed slender pockets  20 . Pockets  20  positioned side-by-side along the length or height of leg wraps  10  and  10 ′ from a top end  22  and to a bottom end  24 . Separate and individual refrigerant bags  26  are disposed one in each pocket  20 , and extend lengthwise within the pocket it is disposed. 
         [0022]    A series of transversely extending and longitudinally spaced straps  28  are attached at one end  30  to wraps  10  and  10 ′ and terminating at a free end  32 . Straps  28  are of a length to encircle the animal&#39;s limb. The straps  28  and wraps  10  and  10 ′ having complementary hook-and-loop fasteners (hook portion  34  and loop portion  36 ) for releasably securing the free end  32  of each of strap to the wrap  10  and  10 ′ in order to secure wrap  10  and  10 ′ to leg of the horse. The locations hook portions  34  and the loop portions  36  can be interchanged. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 2 , wrap  10  includes a pair of bottom gussets  38 . Bottom gussets  38  are positioned between longitudinal side edges  40  and  42  of wrap  10 , and are transversely spaced and longitudinally aligned. Bottom gussets  38  are located approximate bottom end  24  of wrap  10 . Bottom gussets  38  permit wrap  10  to closely conform to the bottom region about the hoof and bulbs of the heal of front leg  14  of a horse to which the wrap  10  is applied. Additionally, wrap  10  includes a pair of opposed and obliquely arranged edge gussets  39 . 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 3 , likewise, wrap  10 ′ includes a pair of bottom gussets  38 . Bottom gussets  38  are positioned between longitudinal side edges  40  and  42  of wrap  10 , and are transversely spaced and longitudinally aligned. Bottom gussets  38  are located approximate bottom end  24  of wrap  10 . Bottom gussets  38  permit wrap  10  to closely conform to the bottom region about the hoof and bulbs of the heal of rear leg  16  of a horse to which the wrap  10 ′ is applied. Additionally, wrap  10 ′ includes a transversely centered gusset  44  positioned above the pair of bottom gussets  38 . Additionally, wrap  10 ′ includes a pair of top gussets  46  transversely spaced and longitudinally aligned. Top gussets  46  are located approximate a top end  22  of wrap  10 ′. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of a refrigerant bag  26 . Refrigerant bag  26  is elongated and slender and is constructed of a flexible material permitting the refrigerant bag to be wrapped around the leg of horse. The refrigerant bag  26  can be divided longitudinally into a plurality of separate compartments  50 . Compartments  50  are divided by vertical seams or welds  52 . Welds  52  provide a vertical fold which further permits the refrigerant bag  26  to fold around or encircle the leg. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of the cross-section section of a refrigerant bag  26 . The refrigerant bag  26  contains a quantity of refrigerant material  54 . The refrigerant material  54  is capable of being heated or cooled for the application of heat or cold therapy to the leg. The refrigerant material  54  is a gel material that resists freezing and thus stays fluid when cooled. A suitable refrigerant material  54  can contain polyacrylate, polypropylene glycol, nylon/polyethylene, mixtures thereof, or another suitable refrigerant. 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a simplified diagrammatic illustration of leg wrap  10 , the quantity of refrigerant material  54  within refrigerant bags  26  can be ranged from a high quantity by weight of refrigerant material in a bag to a low quantity by weight of refrigerant material in a bag. By varying the quantity of refrigerant material  54  contained in each refrigerant bag  26  the time of hot or cold therapy applied at a given location along the length of the leg can be varied. In an embodiment, the refrigerant bag  26  with the highest quantity of refrigerant material can be located at the top of the series of pockets  20 , and the refrigerant bag with the lowest quantity of refrigerant material is located at a bottom of the series of pockets. In an embodiment, the refrigerant bag  26  containing the highest weight of refrigerant material  54  contains 180 grams of refrigerant material, and the refrigerant bag containing the lowest weight of refrigerant material contains 90 grams of refrigerant material. In an embodiment, pockets A-I include a refrigerant bag  26  containing 180 grams of refrigerant material, pocket J includes a refrigerant bag containing 130 grams of refrigerant material, and pockets K and L include a refrigerant bag containing contain 90 grams of refrigerant material. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a simplified diagrammatic illustration of leg wrap  10 ′, the quantity of refrigerant material  54  within refrigerant bags  26  can be ranged from a high quantity by weight of refrigerant material in a bag to a low quantity by weight of refrigerant material in a bag. By varying the quantity of refrigerant material  54  contained in each refrigerant bag  26  the time of hot or cold therapy applied at a given location along the length of the leg can be varied. In an embodiment, the refrigerant bag  26  with the high quantity of refrigerant material is located at the top of the series of pockets  20 , and the refrigerant bag with the low quantity of refrigerant material is located at a bottom of the series of pockets. In an embodiment, the refrigerant bag  26  containing the highest weight of refrigerant material  54  contains 200 grams of refrigerant material, and the refrigerant bag containing the lowest weight of refrigerant material contains 150 grams of refrigerant material. In an embodiment, pockets A-D includes a refrigerant bag containing 200 grams of refrigerant material, pocket E includes a refrigerant bag containing 190 grams of refrigerant material, pocket F includes a refrigerant bag containing 150 grams of refrigerant material, pockets G-J includes a refrigerant bag containing 130 grams of refrigerant material, and pockets K-N includes a refrigerant bag containing 150 grams of refrigerant material. 
         [0029]    A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.