Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to the field of bandages and wraps and in particular to an improved limb wrap that can be used for horses, etc. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Leg bandages or “wraps” have been used on horses for years. There are many reasons for their use including protective as well as therapeutic purposes. Wrapping can provide both protection and support for a horse while working, traveling, resting or recovering from an injury. Wraps provide support for tendons and ligaments during strenuous workouts, prevent or reduce swelling after exercise or injury, protect horses&#39; legs from impacts or excessive rubbing, provide a shield for wounds against contamination, and can aid in healing. Furthermore, wraps can also be applied to a horse&#39;s tail. 
         [0003]    A wrap, or polo wrap, is generally wrapped around a horse&#39;s leg and covers some portion of the leg between the knee and the fetlock. Wraps are generally nine to twelve feet in length and four to six inches in width, although other lengths and widths are utilized. Wraps are applied by winding the material around a horse&#39;s leg and overlapping each subsequent wind by approximately half the width of the wrap (although this amount varies considerably). Methods of applying wraps also vary depending on the purpose for the wrap, type of wrap, and the person performing the wrapping. However, a standard rule in the application of equine wraps is that a poorly applied wrap or bandage can do more harm than good. 
         [0004]    It is essential that the person wrapping a leg (the “wrapper”) use proper techniques. Applied incorrectly, wraps might not only fail to do their job, they can cause discomfort, restrict blood flow and potentially damage tendons and other tissues. For example, in order to prevent tendon damage, a horse&#39;s leg should be wrapped from the inside around the front of the leg. This means wrapping clockwise on the horse&#39;s right legs and counterclockwise on the horse&#39;s left legs. For beginner wrappers, this can be confusing and difficult to remember. However, wrapping in the wrong direction even one time can have serious consequences. 
         [0005]    There are many shapes and sizes of wraps currently known in the art, but all have significant deficiencies. As mentioned above, the direction of wrapping is critically important and changes depending on whether the leg being wrapped is a left leg or a right leg. Current wraps do not assist the person applying the wrap in determining the correct direction for wrapping. Because of the time required to re-apply a wrap which has been wound in the wrong direction and the potential harm to a horse if such a wrap is inadvertently overlooked and subsequently left in place, there is a significant need for a wrap that assists the wrapper in applying the wrap in the correct direction. 
         [0006]    Many wraps are consistently sized and shaped along their entire length. While some wraps have identical ends, many have a distinct initiating end and a distinct terminating end. For example, an initiating end may have no fastening means attached thereto as the pressure from subsequent layers of the wrap will hold the initiating end in place. However, the terminating end may have an integrated fastening means attached thereto. The fastening means is used to hold the terminating end in place so that the tension and placement of the wrap is maintained. A common fastening means has two parts: a tab which is a strip of hook or loop material (e.g. material sold under the trade mark “VELCRO”) extending out from the terminating end of the wrap, and an attachment point which is a corresponding strip of loop or hook (respectively) material placed on the wrap, some distance back from the terminating end. As the final length of the terminating end of the wrap is wound around the leg, the tab will be automatically located above the attachment point. The person wrapping the leg then simply presses the tab onto the attachment point and the hook and loop materials then engage one another, effectively locking the tab to the attachment point. However, if the person applying the wrap inadvertently turns the wrap over before starting application of the wrap to the leg, the attachment point will end up facing the horse&#39;s leg instead of facing outwards so as to accept the tab. In such an instance, the leg will have to be unwrapped, the wrap turned over, and then the leg will need to be rewrapped correctly. This process is time-consuming and aggravating and can lead to poorly wrapped legs. Similar problems occur when using wraps in non-equine-related applications. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is a need for an improved wrap that addresses the above limitations and problems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Embodiments of the present invention described and claimed herein address the foregoing limitations and problems by providing an improved equine wrap. The present invention provides a clue-mark on both sides of the initiating end of a wrap in order to assist the wrapper in applying the wrap in the correct direction. Furthermore, an improved fastening means has been added which can be utilized regardless of which side of the wrap the wrapper chooses to face outwards. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, an equine wrap comprises a bandage/wrap material, a clue-mark, and an improved fastening means. The bandage/wrap material can be any suitable material currently known or yet to be discovered in the art. Examples of suitable materials include neoprene, elastic bandages known as “Ace bandages,” etc. 
         [0010]    A clue-mark to assist the wrapper in applying the wrap in the correct direction can be represented in various ways. In one embodiment, the clue-mark comprises a letter “R”, an arrow, and a letter “L”. The “R” is placed near the initiating end of the wrap such that the letter is right-side up and the initiating end terminates after the “R”. The arrow is placed under the “R” and points to the terminating end of the wrap. The “L” is placed under the arrow and is upside-down relative to the “R”. A similar clue-mark is placed on the other side of the wrap, oriented in a similar manner to the initiating and terminating ends. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the improved fastening means comprises a double-sided tab and a double-sided attachment point. Thus, regardless of which side of the wrap the wrapper chooses to face outwards, the tab and attachment point will be accessible and can secure the wrap. The tab extends out from the terminating end of the wrap and the attachment point is located on the wrap, a short distance from the terminating end. The tab is covered with either hook or loop material (commonly known as “Velcro”) and the attachment point is covered with the corresponding loop or hook material (i.e., if the tab is covered in hook material, then the attachment point is covered with loop material, and vice-versa). It is important to realize that both sides of the tab are covered in the same material. Likewise, both sides of the attachment point are covered in the same material (although the material is opposite that which covers the tab). 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, the tab extends out from the attachment point which itself extends out from the terminating end of the wrap. As the tab is wound around the leg, it comes in contact with the attachment point, as in the embodiment above. However, in this embodiment, the attachment point is not located completely on the wrap but extends outwards past the terminating end of the wrap. 
         [0013]    The present invention provides many benefits over the prior art. Because the clue-mark clearly details the direction that a wrapper is to apply the wrap for a given Left or Right leg of a horse, the improved wrap significantly reduces occurrences of wrapping in the wrong direction. Furthermore, because the tab and attachment points are in effect double-sided, the wrapper can choose either side of the wrap to face outwards and will still be able to attach the tab to the attachment point once the wrap is in place. Thus, the present invention completely eliminates having to rewrap a leg because the wrong side of the wrap was selected to face outwards; effectively, there is no ‘wrong’ side to the improved wrap. Such a problem occurs when using wraps in the human orthopedic environment and so the present invention could also have applicability there. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The aforementioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptions of a preferred embodiment and other embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap in an unrolled state. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap in a partially rolled-up state. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap applied to a horse&#39;s leg. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of another exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap in an unrolled state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    In one embodiment, an equine wrap comprises a wrap having a clue-mark and an improved fastening means. The clue-mark can be placed on one or both sides of the initiating end of a wrap in order to assist the wrapper in applying the wrap in the correct direction. The improved fastening means can be utilized regardless of which side of the wrap the wrapper chooses to face outwards. The bandage/wrap material can be any suitable material currently known, or yet to be known, in the art. Examples of suitable materials include neoprene, elastic bandages known as “Ace bandages,” etc. 
         [0020]    A clue-mark to assist the wrapper in applying the wrap in the correct direction can be represented in various ways. In one embodiment, the clue-mark comprises a letter “R”, an arrow, and a letter “L”. The letter “R” is placed near the initiating end of the wrap such that the letter can be read (i.e., it is right-side up) and the initiating end of the wrap comes to an end just to the right of the “R” (after the “R” when it is read from left to right). The arrow is placed under the “R” and points away from the initiating end of the wrap. The “L” is placed under the arrow and is upside-down relative to the “R”. A second clue-mark can be placed on the other side of the wrap, oriented in a manner similar to the first clue-mark relative to the initiating and terminating ends of the wrap. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the improved fastening means comprises a tab and an attachment point. The tab extends out from the terminating end of the wrap and the attachment point is located on the wrap, a short distance from the terminating end (the attachment point can also extend out from the wrap). The tab is covered with either hook or loop material and the attachment point is covered with the corresponding loop or hook material, respectively. It is important to realize that both sides of the tab are covered in the same material. Likewise, both sides of the attachment point are covered in the same material in order to be able to attach to the tab. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap  100  in an unrolled state. The primary components shown in  FIG. 1  include: the wrap body  110 , the tab  130 , and the attachment point  142 . The front side or first side of the wrap body  110  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The back side or second side of the wrap body  110  is not shown. The wrap body  110  has two ends, an initiating end  114  and a terminating end  112 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a clue-mark  150  is positioned near the initiating end  114 . The initiating end  114  is that end of the wrap body  110  that a wrapper applies to begin the process of wrapping a leg, tail, etc. 
         [0023]    The attachment point  142  is shown on the front side of the wrap body  110 . Another attachment point  144  is placed on the back side of the wrap body  110  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). In other embodiments, the attachment points  142  and  144  are located slightly differently (see  FIG. 4 ). The attachment points  142  and  144  are placed so that the tab  130  can be secured against the attachment points  142  and  144  at the completion of the wrapping process. Thus, regardless of their exact positions, the attachment points  142  and  144  should be located near the terminating end  112  of the wrap body  110 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tab  130  extends out past the terminating end  112  of the wrap body  110  and has two sides: a front side  132  and a back side  134 . Both sides  132  and  134  of the tab  130  have hook and loop material attached. In one embodiment, the front side  132  of the tab  130  has hook material facing outwards and the back side  134  of the tab  130  has hook material facing outwards. In this embodiment, the attachment points  142  and  144  would have loop material in order to mate up with the tab  130 . 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the front side  132  of the tab  130  has loop material facing outwards and the back side  134  of the tab  130  has loop material facing outwards. In this embodiment, the attachment points  142  and  144  would have hook material in order to mate up with the tab  130 . 
         [0026]    In yet another embodiment, one side  132  or  134  of the tab  130  has hook material and the other side  134  or  132  has loop material. In this embodiment, the corresponding attachment points  142  and  144  have opposing loop material and hook material, respectively, in order to mate up with the corresponding sides  132  and  134  of the tab  130 . It is conceivable that both hook material and loop material can be located on both sides  132  and  134  of the tab  130  as well as on both attachment points  142  and  144 . 
         [0027]    In the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , only one clue-mark  150  is displayed. However, a corresponding clue-mark  152  is located on the back side of the wrap body  110 . Clue-marks  150  and  152  are used by the wrapper to assist in applying the improved wrap  100  in the correct direction. In one embodiment, the clue-marks  150  and  152  comprise a letter “R”, an arrow, and a letter “L”. The first clue-mark  150  can be seen on the front side of the wrap body  110  in  FIG. 1 . The letter “R” is placed near the initiating end  114  of the wrap body  110  such that the letter can be easily read by the wrapper (i.e., it is right-side up) and the initiating end  114  of the wrap body  110  comes to an end just to the right of the “R” (after the “R” when it is read from left to right). The arrow is placed under the “R” and points away from the initiating end  114  of the wrap body  110  towards the terminating end  112 . In other embodiments, the arrow can be placed above or otherwise near the “R”. Regardless of its exact position, it is important that the arrow point in the same direction relative to the “R”. The “L” is placed under the arrow and is upside-down relative to the “R”. In other embodiments, the “L” is placed elsewhere. Regardless of its exact position, it is important that the “L” be oriented upside-down relative to the “R”. On the back side of the wrap body  110 , a second clue-mark  152  can be placed (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The clue-mark  152  on the back side of the wrap 110  is oriented in a manner similar to the first clue-mark  150  relative to the initiating end  114  and the terminating end  112  of the wrap body  110 . 
         [0028]    The orientation of the clue-marks  150  and  152  is important so as to inform a wrapper of the correct direction to apply the improved wrap  100 . For example, a wrapper would begin application of an improved wrap  100  by unrolling the initiating end  114  from a rolled-up improved wrap  100 . The wrapper then determines which side of the horse is to be wrapped. If the leg to be wrapped is on the horse&#39;s left side, then the wrapper places the initiating end  114  of the wrap  100  on the horse&#39;s leg such that the letter “L” on the clue-mark  150  or  152  is right-side up (i.e., the wrapper can read the letter). Once placed, the wrapper then wraps the leg by unwinding the roll and winding the wrap  100  around the horse&#39;s leg in the direction indicated by the arrow portion of the clue-mark  150  or  152 . Similarly, if the leg to be wrapped is on the horse&#39;s right side, then the wrapper places the initiating end  114  of the wrap  100  on the horse&#39;s leg such that the letter “R” on the clue-mark  150  or  152  is right-side up (i.e., the wrapper can read the letter). Once placed, the wrapper then wraps the leg by unwinding the roll and winding the wrap  100  around the horse&#39;s leg in the direction indicated by the arrow portion of the clue-mark  150  or  152 . Thus, the clue-marks  150  and  152  ensure that the improved wrap  100  is always wound clockwise on a horse&#39;s right legs and counter-clockwise on a horse&#39;s left legs. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap  200  in a partially rolled-up state. The components shown in  FIG. 2  include: the wrap body  210 , the initiating end  214 , and the clue-mark  250 . Wraps  200  are commonly stored in a rolled-up state to keep them orderly and to assist in their application (as applying ten-plus feet of loose wrap  200  can be difficult). 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an equine wrap  300  applied to a horse&#39;s leg  390 . It is preferred that the wrapper place the initiating end  114  (not shown in  FIG. 3 , see  FIG. 1 ) of the wrap  300  at some point above the lowest point that needs to be wrapped and then wrap downwards, overlapping one-half to two-thirds of the width of the wrap  300  as he or she progresses. Appropriate tension on the wrap  300  should be kept at all times. Once the wrapper reaches the lowest point on the leg that needs to be wrapped, he or she begins wrapping back upwards towards the knee or hock wrapping over the initiating end and continuing upwards. As the terminating end  112  (not shown in  FIG. 3 , see  FIG. 1 ) of the wrap  300  is reached, the wrapper simply attaches one side  132  or  134  of the tab  130  to the attachment point  142  or  144 . The terminating end  112 , front side  132 , back side  134 , tab  130  and attachment points  142  and  144  are not shown in  FIG. 3 , see  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of another exemplary embodiment of an improved wrap  400  in an unrolled state. The primary components shown in  FIG. 4  include: the wrap body  410 , the tab  430 , and the attachment points  442  and  444 . The front side or first side of the wrap body  410  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The back side or second side of the wrap body  410  is not shown. The wrap body  410  has two ends, an initiating end  414  and a terminating end  412 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a clue-mark  450  is positioned near the initiating end  414 . The initiating end  414  is that end of the wrap body  410  that a wrapper applies to begin the process of wrapping a leg, tail, etc. 
         [0032]    The attachment point  442  is shown extending out from the front side of the wrap body  410 . A second attachment point  444  is placed on the back side of the first attachment point  442 . In other embodiments, the attachment points  442  and  444  are located slightly differently (see  FIG. 1 ). The attachment points  442  and  444  are placed so that the tab  430  can be secured against the attachment points  442  and  444  at the completion of the wrapping process. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the tab  430  extends out past the attachment points  442  and  444  and has two sides: a front side  432  and a back side  434 . Both sides of the tab  430  have hook and loop material attached. In one embodiment, the front side  432  of the tab  430  has hook material and the back side  434  of the tab  430  has hook material. In this embodiment, the attachment points  442  and  444  would have loop material in order to mate up with the tab  430 . 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, the front side  432  of the tab  430  has loop material and the back side  434  of the tab  430  has loop material. In this embodiment, the attachment points  442  and  444  would have hook material in order to mate up with the tab  430 . 
         [0035]    In yet another embodiment, one side of the tab  430  has hook material and the other side has loop material; in this embodiment, the corresponding attachment points  442  and  444  have opposing loop material and hook material, respectively, in order to mate up with the corresponding sides  434  and  432  of the tab  430 . For example, if the front side  432  of the tab  430  has hook material, then the back side  434  of the tab  430  has loop material; and the front attachment point  442  would have hook material so that the loop material on the back side  434  of the tab would secure with the hook material on the front attachment point  442 . Similarly, if the wrap  400  was flipped over before application, then the back attachment point  444  would need to have loop material in order to secure with the hook material on the front side  432  of the tab  430 . 
         [0036]    The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the described articles of manufacture and methods. Many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1