Abstract:
A sleeve is disclosed that fits over a belt such as a work belt or an exercise belt. The sleeve is fabricated from an absorbent material to absorb perspiration of the wearer to maintain sanitary conditions of the belt. Moreover, the sleeve may be fabricated from a material which lifts the belt off of the wearer&#39;s skin and allows air to flow therebetween to facilitate a cooler body temperature and resulting in less perspiration.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a sleeve for a belt used to absorb perspiration and reduce the surface temperature of the skin of the wearer. 
         [0004]    Belts are used for numerous purposes. By way of example and not limitation, an exercise belt may be used for weight lifting, aerobic exercise, football, soccer, running, walking, golf, bowling and other sport activities. Working belts are used for construction, warehouse work, moving and any lifting type of activities. Medical belts are used for back support. Stomach belts help to support a person&#39;s stomach. By way of example and not limitation, after a pregnant woman has undergone a c-section the stomach area of the new mother is weak and the use of a stomach belt helps to support such area. Other types of belts are also used for outdoor work and gardening activities. Unfortunately, during use of any type of belt, the wearer&#39;s perspiration soils the belt. Also, the belt acts as an insulator thereby causing the wearer to perspire more than usual. As a result, the belt becomes unsanitary and needs washing. However, the belt is not designed to be conveniently washed and cleaned. Moreover, the heat caused by the insulating action of the belt causes the wearer discomfort due to overheating. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The embodiments disclosed herein address the needs discussed above, discussed below and those that are known in the art. A sleeve is provided which covers a belt. The sleeve may be fabricated from a material which is capable of absorbing perspiration as well as lifting the belt off of the wearer&#39;s body. In this manner, air is allowed to flow between the belt and the wearer&#39;s body and helps reduce the skin surface temperature of the wearer as well as absorb perspiration. It is contemplated that the sleeve may be fabricated from terry cloth or other absorbent material. Moreover, the sleeve may have a pocket which can receive an absorbent material that allows air to flow and helps reduce the wearer&#39;s body temperature. Moreover, it is contemplated that a portion of the sleeve may have an elastic material  52  to help snuggly fit the sleeve over the belt and to allow the sleeve to conform to many different belt configurations. 
         [0006]    More particularly, a sleeve for a body support belt is disclosed. The sleeve may comprise first and second panels when the sleeve is laid flat. The first and second panels may be fabricated from a washable and breathable material. Each of the first and second panels may define first, second, third and fourth edges. The first and third edges may be opposite from each other. The second and fourth edges may be opposite each other. The first edges of the first and second panels may be connected to each other. The third edges of the first and second panels may be connected to each other. The second and fourth edges of the first and second panels may be free so as to form a through hole in the sleeve. The inner inner circumference of the sleeve may be about equal to or greater than an outer circumference of the body support belt. 
         [0007]    The first panel may have loops that extend outward so as to contact a wearer&#39;s body when the sleeve and the body support belt are worn by the wearer for allowing air to flow between the wearer&#39;s skin and the body support belt. By way of example and not limitation, the first panel may be fabricated from terry cloth. Alternatively, the first panel may be fabricated from a material having an open cell structure. Such material may contact a wearer&#39;s body when the sleeve and the body support belt are worn by the wearer for allowing air to flow between the wearer&#39;s skin and the body support belt. The first panel may be fabricated from an air permeable material. 
         [0008]    It is contemplated that an inner side of the first panel may have a waterproof liner. The waterproof liner may extend to an inner side of the second panel. 
         [0009]    It is contemplated that the sleeve may further comprise a pouch on the first panel. The pouch may be operative to receive a liquid absorbent material for absorbing perspiration. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the first panel may have loops that extend outward so as to contact a wearer&#39;s body when the sleeve and the body support belt are worn by the wearer for allowing air to flow between the wearer&#39;s skin and the body support belt. Alternatively, the first panel may be fabricated from a material having an open cell structure. Such material may contact a wearer&#39;s body when the sleeve and the body support belt are worn by the wearer for allowing air to flow between the wearer&#39;s skin and the body support belt. 
         [0010]    The sleeve may be positioned on a back portion of the body support belt. Moreover, the sleeve or a second sleeve may be positioned on a front portion of the body support belt. 
         [0011]    It is contemplated that the second panel is fabricated from an elastic material. 
         [0012]    It is also contemplated that the waterproof liner may extend over the top and bottom edges of the belt. 
         [0013]    In another aspect, a sleeve kit for a body support belt is disclosed. The sleeve kit may comprise first and second sleeves. 
         [0014]    Each of the sleeves may comprise first and second panels when the sleeve is laid flat. The first and second panels may be fabricated from a washable and breathable material. Each of the first and second panels may define first, second, third and fourth edges. The first and third edges may be opposite from each other. Likewise, the second and fourth edges may be opposite each other. The first edges of the first and second panels may be connected to each other. Likewise, the third edges of the first and second panels may be connected to each other. The second and fourth edges of the first and second panels may be free so as to form a throughhole in the sleeve. An inner circumference of the sleeve may be about equal to or greater than an outer circumference of the body support belt. 
         [0015]    The first sleeve may be disposed at a back portion of the body support belt. Also, a second sleeve may be disposed at a front portion of the body support belt. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a wearer utilizing a sleeve for a workout belt; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a patient utilizing the sleeve for a medical belt; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates the sleeve being fitted over a belt; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the belt sleeve; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the belt sleeve; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the belt sleeve. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Referring now the drawings, a sleeve  10  fittable over a body support belt  12  is disclosed. The sleeve  10  may be fabricated from a liquid absorbent material  44  such as terry cloth. The sleeve  10  defines a first panel  14  and a second panel  16 . The first panel  14  is disposed between the body support belt  12  and the skin surface  18  of the wearer  20 . When the body support belt  12  and the sleeve  10  are worn by the wearer  20 , air is allowed to flow between the belt  12  and the skin surface  18  of the wearer  20  to cool down the temperature of the skin surface  18 . This feature is beneficial during aerobic activities such as walking, running, etc. to help cool down the wearer  20 . Moreover, during extended aerobic activity, the wearer  20  may perspire and such perspiration may be absorbed into the first panel  14  instead of soiling the belt  12 . In this manner, it is significantly easier to wash the sleeve  10  instead of the body support belt  12 . 
         [0024]    More particularly, the first and second panels  14 ,  16  may each define first, second, third and fourth edges  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28 . The first edges  22  of the first and second panels  14 ,  16  are preferably connected to each other. Moreover, the third edges  26  of the first and second panels  14 ,  16  are also connected to each other. Preferably, the first and third edges  22 ,  26  do not have any type of protuberance such as a reverse seam or the like that may cause discomfort to the wearer  20  when wearing the body support belt  12  and the sleeve  10 . Moreover, the first panel  14  preferably does not have any type of abnormal protrusions that might interfere with the wearer  20 . The second and fourth edges  24 ,  28  of the first and second panels  14 ,  16  preferably are free so as to form a through hole in the sleeve  10 . In this manner, the body support belt  12  can be slid through the sleeve  10  and positioned appropriately as desired by the wearer  20 . In  FIG. 2 , a first sleeve  10   a  is shown as installed on the body support belt  12 . It is also contemplated that a second sleeve  10   b  may be provided. The first sleeve  10   a  may be positioned at the back portion of the belt  12  and positioned on the lower back of the wearer  20 , whereas the second sleeve  10   b  may be positioned over the front portion or fastener of the belt  12  and positioned on the stomach of the wearer  20  during use. In  FIG. 1 , the first and second sleeves  10   a,  b are shown as installed on the belt  12  at the back and front portions thereof. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  3 A and  3 B, the sleeve  10  may be fabricated from terry cloth material. The terry cloth material has a plurality of loops  30  that extend outward, as shown in  FIGS. 3-3B . When the belt  12  is worn by the wearer  20 , the loops  30  lift the belt  12  off of the body of the wearer  20 . This allows air to flow up and down, as shown by arrow  34 . This airflow facilitates reduction of skin temperature on the skin surface  18  of the wearer  20 . Additionally, the terry cloth is capable of absorbing perspiration of the wearer  20  to prevent soiling of the belt  12  during aerobic activity. Accordingly, the sleeve  10  promotes the reduction of temperature of the skin temperature of the wearer  20  as well as absorbs perspiration to prevent soiling of the belt  12  and maintain cleanliness during aerobic activities. 
         [0026]    It is also contemplated that an inner side  32  of the first panel  14  may be lined with a waterproof liner to further prevent soling of the belt  12  by the wearer&#39;s  20  perspiration yet allow air to flow so as to help reduce the temperature of the skin surface  18  of the wearer  20 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 3B , the first panel  14  may have a zipper  36  and a pocket  38 . The first panel  14  may be fabricated from first and second layers  40 ,  42  that are sewn together on three sides. The zipper  36  may be disposed on the fourth side as shown in  FIG. 3  to provide selective access to the pocket  38  by opening or closing zipper  36 . Other closure means are also contemplated such as Velcro (i.e., hooks and loops), buttons, snaps and the like. The zipper  36  may be formed on the second layer  42  or on the interior side of the sleeve  10 . In this manner, the zipper  36  does not cause discomfort to the wearer  20  during use. The zipper does not poke the wearer  20 . The pocket  38  may be stuffed with an absorbent material  44  such as a super absorbent polymer, an open cell sponge, foam and the like. The first layer  40  may be a water and air permeable material so that the wearer&#39;s  20  perspiration may be absorbed into the absorbent material  44 . Moreover, the absorbent material  44  allows air to flow through or between the belt  12  and the body of the wearer  20 . This helps to reduce the body temperature of the wearer  20  and simultaneously allows absorption of the perspiration for a more sanitary workout. The second layer  42  of the first panel  14  may be fabricated from a waterproof material to prevent the perspiration absorbed into the absorbent material  44  from soiling the belt  12 . In the discussions of the waterproof barrier  50 , it is also contemplated that the waterproof barrier  50  may extend over the top and bottom edges  46 ,  48  to prevent any sweat from falling on top of the first and third edge  22 ,  26  of the sleeve  10  from soiling or contacting the belt  12 . The extension of the waterproof barrier  50  is shown in  FIG. 3B  by dotted lines  50   a, b.    
         [0028]    The second panel  16  may also be fabricated from the same material as the first panel  14 . However, it is also contemplated that the second panel  14  may be fabricated from other materials such as an elastic material to allow the sleeve  10  to wrap tightly around the belt  12 . In particular, the inner circumference of the sleeve  10  may be smaller than the outer circumference of the belt  12 . In mounting the sleeve  10  to the belt  12 , the elastic second panel  16  is stretched open. The belt  12  is slid through the sleeve  10 . The elastic second panel  16  compresses to tighten the sleeve  10  on the belt  12 . This prevents movement of the sleeve  10  during aerobic activity. Moreover the elastic nature of the second panel  16  allows the sleeve  10  to conform to various belt shapes regardless of the shape or contour of the top and bottom edges  46 ,  48  of the belt  12 . The body support belt  12  may be a back support belt, a medical belt (see  FIG. 1A ), a stomach belt to support the wearer&#39;s  20  stomach, outdoor belt, garden work belt or any other type of belt  12 . 
         [0029]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of forming the zipper or other equivalent structure. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.