Patent ID: 12232994

FIG.1shows a stabilizing rod99according to the invention. The stabilizing rod99is designed as one piece and molded from a plastic.

The bending section140of the stabilizing rod99is formed from a mesh belt structure120and a thin bending rod150lying on the mesh belt structure. The mesh belt structure120is formed from a mesh121which encloses rhombic gaps122. Due to the mesh belt structure120, the stabilizing rod99is bendable and light. The thin bending rod150restricts the stretchability or compressibility of the stabilizing rod99in the longitudinal direction, so that the stabilizing rod99can advantageously also be used as a slip-on and slip-off aid for an elastic bandage, for example, a knee bandage.

For this purpose, the stabilizing rod99has a gripping piece111a/111bat each end, which form engagement holes112a/112b. The gripping pieces111a/111bare a component of the stabilizing rod99and are formed as one piece from the material of the stabilizing rod.

FIG.2shows a further embodiment of a stabilizing rod101according to the invention. The stabilizing rod101is designed as one piece and molded from a plastic.

As inFIG.1, the stabilizing rod101comprises a mesh belt structure120and a thin bending rod150. In addition to the first mesh belt structure120with the mesh elements121and the rhombic gaps122, the stabilizing rod101also has a second mesh belt structure130, which also has rhombic gaps132formed by the meshes131. The thin bending rod150runs between the two mesh belt structures120/130. The thin bending rod150can, for example, also be hollow or have a guide channel for guiding a cord or a metal core through it.

In this embodiment, the stabilizing rod is wider but nevertheless easily bendable. At each end, the stabilizing rod101again has one gripping piece111a/111b, each forming engagement holes112a/b. The gripping pieces111a/111bare a component of the stabilizing rod101and are formed as one piece from the material of the stabilizing rod.

The knee joint bandage200shown inFIG.3consists of a stocking202made of elastic textile material, and it is provided with the two edges203and204at both ends, which help to prevent the bandage200from slipping. In addition, these edges203and204are made of a material that has a lower tension than the stocking202in order to only slightly constrict the leg of the wearer at the relevant points. On the front side of the knee joint, a profile insert is incorporated with the pad205into the stocking202, which can consist, for example, of foam or silicone and which has considerable elasticity. The pad205is covered on the inside of the stocking202by a cover which is connected at its edges206to the stocking202, for example, by gluing. In its central part, the pad205leaves a free region, into which the kneecap301fits. The kneecap301is thus encompassed by the pad205. To this extent, it is a knee joint bandage designed in a known manner. In addition to the pad205, the bandage200is provided with two stabilizing rods101and102according to the invention, which extend essentially over the entire length of the bandage200and which ensure that the bandage200applied to the leg cannot contract in terms of its longitudinal direction. These stabilizing rods101and102are stabilizing rods as shown inFIG.2. Each of the two stabilizing rods101and102is received in a pocket glued to the bandage200by means of the edge zone210or211to the material of the bandage200. Depending on the desired stabilization intensity, the bandage200can also be provided with only one stabilizing rod. Each of the two stabilizing rods101and102has at its ends a gripping piece111a/111bcontaining an eyelet112a/112bor113, which allows for the bandage200to be gripped with the finger when it is put on and pulled up or taken off and pulled down along the leg, thus facilitating the putting on or taking off of the bandage200because, when the gripping pieces111a/111bare pulled accordingly, the bandage200is carried along by said gripping pieces and the stabilizing rod101,102as a whole, making is easily possible to pull the bandage200smoothly over the foot, the calf and the knee to its final position. The stabilizing rods101and102contained in the pockets are fully encompassed by the respective pockets, in that their edge zones210and211are each designed as a narrow continuous strip which is directly connected to the material of the bandage200, for example, by welding or gluing.

The particular configuration of the stabilizing rods101,102preferred according to the invention shall be described in greater detail inFIG.2.

In this case, the bending section of the stabilizing rods101,102is located at the level of the kneecap301. Thus, when the knee is bent, precisely said bending section is also bent.

FIG.4shows a further embodiment of the stabilizing rod103according to the invention. The stabilizing rod103consists only of the bending section140, which in this case is formed only from a mesh belt structure120. The mesh belt structure120is again formed from a mesh121which encloses rhombic gaps122. The stabilizing rod103is bendable and light due to the mesh belt structure120.

FIG.5shows different embodiments of the mesh belt structure51,52,53,54,55,56,57, which can be used as an alternative to the rhombus structure shown inFIGS.1to4. In each case, a segment with four structural elements is shown. InFIGS.5A,5B,5C, and5D, the structural elements are designed as triangles60. The mesh belt structure52,53,54ofFIGS.5B,5C, and5Dalso has a thin bending rod61, which is positioned differently in the three embodiments. InFIG.5E, the structural elements of the mesh belt structure55are designed as circles70. InFIG.5F, the structural elements of the mesh belt structure56are designed as ovals80, to which a thin bending rod81is again assigned. InFIG.5G, the structural elements of the mesh belt structure57are designed as elongated curved bodies90, to which a thin bending rod91is also assigned. The outer ends of the curved bodies90can bear against one another when the rod is bent and thus function as a stop limit.