Stretchable bandage

Oct. 29, 1957 w. m. scholl

STRETCHABLE BANDAGE

2,811,154

Filed July 20, 1953

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William M. Scholl

2,811,154

Patented Oct. 29, 1957

United States Patent Office elastic latex to a safe amount, and prevents the latex from exerting uncomfortable or excess binding of the patient’s body.

Still another object of the invention resides in the pro5 vision of a stretchable surgical bandage comprising a fabric sheet and a sheet of foam latex secured to one face of the fabric sheet, the foam latex being of the intercommunicative cellular variety.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a new 10 and novel method of making a surgical bandage.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the ac15 companying drawings, in which—

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the application of a bandage embodying principles of the instant invention over an elbow joint;

Figure 2 is also a fragmentary, somewhat diagrammatic ²⁰ view illustrating the same bandage as applied over a calf of a leg, in the manner it would be used in the case of varicose veins;

Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view through one form of, the bandage;

²⁵ Figure 4 is a fragmentary highly magnified view of the fabric forming a part of the bandage, showing the same in its contracted state;

Figure 5 is also a highly magnified view of the fabric, showing the same in its stretched or expanded state;

³⁰ Figure 6 is a fragmentary somewhat diagrammatic view, with parts shown in vertical section, illustrating a bandage of slightly different construction, and the method of making the same; and

Figure 7 is a greatly magnified cross sectional view of ³⁵ the bandage of Fig. 3.

As shown on the drawings:

While the instant invention may be made in various shapes and sizes, it will be herein described in the form of an elongated strip which may be packed either in roll ⁴⁰ form, or in folded form, the roll being perhaps easier for application to the body. The bandage may be directly applied to substantially any portion of .the human body. To this end I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a bandage 1 apr plied over the elbow joint of a human arm 2 in ordinary ⁴⁰ straight wrap-around formation, with some overlap between adjacent layers of the bandage. When so applied, the bandage not only maintains desired and constant tension over the elbow joint and adjacent parts, but permits 50 free flexing of the joint, and yet the layers of the bandage will not slip relatively to each other, nor will the bandage slip relatively to the arm or joint.

By way of another example of the use of the invention, I have shown the same bandage similarly applied around 55 the calf of a leg 3, in Fig. 2. When applied in this location, the bandage will conform readily to the contour of the leg, adhering to the thinner portions as well as to the calf bulge. In this location, the bandage is highly beneficial in the treatment of varicose veins and related aflffic60 tions.

Obviously, the bandage may equally as well be applied to many and various locations on the human body.

With reference now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the first form of bandage comprises a laminated structure 65 including a fabric 4, a cellular rubber layer 5, and these two layers are cemented together as indicated at 6.

Now with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the fabric sheet 4 includes a series of relatively heavy transverse strands or threads 7, and a series of finer 70 threads or strands 8 interwoven with the strands 7. The finer strands 8 are cable-like in character and preferably comprise a relatively tightly twisted thread, so that after

2,811,154

STRETCHABLE BANDAGE

William M. Scholl, Chicago, Hl.

Application July 20, 1953, Serial No. 368,910

Claims. (Cl. 128—156)

This invention relates to improvements in a stretchable bandage, and more particularly to a surgical or medical bandage highly desirable for application to various parts of the human body for the treatment of circulatory conditions such as varicose veins, varicosities, varicose ulcers, and may satisfactorily be used in case of injuries to joints, such as knee, ankles, wrists, elbows, shoulders, or around the torso, for sprains and similar afflictions, as well as for brassieres and other garments which tend to bind and support portions of the body, and other and various purposes where tension in a bandage or garment is desirable, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The instant application is a continuation-in-part of and supersedes my application entitled “Stretchable Bandage,” filed September 1, 1949, Serial No. 113,553, now abandoned.

In the past, many and various types of surgical bandages, dressings and the like have been provided, many of which were of an allegedly stretchable and durable character. Difficulty has been experienced, however, in both acquiring and maintaining proper tension of the bandage around the particular affliction or injury, and bandages heretofore utilized were subject to overstretching, loss of elasticity, and in most cases slipping out of place.

Surgical bandages heretofore used were also frequently difficult to apply and maintain, especially over a joint, while permitting flexing of the joint, with each lap of the bandage staying in the position originally intended. Again, difficulty has been experienced with stretchable bandages heretofore used in that after becoming contaminated externally or internally from exudation from the skin or an affliction, they could not be properly cleansed and restored to original condition.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a simple form of stretchable bandage having exceedingly long life, and which may be applied to provide the desired tension over any particular affliction or injury on the body of the user, and the bandage will remain in proper location.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stretchable surgical bandage that will readily conform to particular parts of the body to be bandaged so as to maintain a constant and steady tension, the same tension originally applied when dressing the injury.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a stretchable bandage of a character designed to maintain constant tension throughout its use, and which is substantially of a non-slipping character when applied to the human body.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a stretchable bandage in which at least the body contacting portion of the bandage is absorbent, and yet may readily be cleansed when necessary.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a surgical stretchable bandage which is ventilative in character when applied to the body.

Also a feature of the invention is the provision of a surgical bandage of a laminated type, comprising a stretchable fabric and a sheet of cellular latex, in which the fabric limits the stretching of the more .delicate and more

2,811,164 weaving, the. normal position of these twisted threads are as seen in Fig. 4 when the fabric sheet is in the contracted condition. When the fabric sheet is stretched, as indicated m Fig. 5, the twisted strands are taken out of their curvate position and brought into substantially parallel relationship, thus permitting a separation of the transverse threads 6 and the resultant stretching of the fabric. However, due .to the twisted character of the finer strands 8, when tension is released, these strands will inherently tend to assume their original position as seen in Fig. 4, and thus provide the contracting power for the fabric layer Obviously as soon as the strands 8 are brought into substantially parallel relationship as seen in Fig. 5, the fabric has reached its limit of stretch ability.

The cellular rubber layer 5 is preferably foam latex of the type having intercommunicating cells. This foam latex layer may be as thick as deemed desirable and in nearly every case will be noticeably thicker than the fabric but otherwise will have the same overall dimensions as tne fabric, m the contracted state. With the cells of the foam latex intercommunicating, the structure is rendered venhlative m character, since air may pass deviously through the cells, and through the rather onen weave fabric, particularly when the fabric is stretched.

The foam latex, layer 5 is united with the fabric layer 4, as above explained, by cementitious material 6 This cementitious material is also stretchable, and water resistant so that the bandage may be readily laundered when desired. The cementitious material is also not applied so as to preclude the passage of air through the latex layer and the fabric layer. To this end, the cementitious material may be applied in a manner to leave numerous fine apertures therein. Preferably the material 6 is a natural latex compound.

The foam latex layer 5 is, of course, naturally stretchable and has a natural contracting power. It is more delicate and more stretchable than the fabric 4. Consequently. when the entire bandage is stretched, the fabric limits the stretching of the more delicate foam latex layer to a safe amount, so that the layer will not be disrupted ' by overstretching, and also prevents the latex layer from exerting uncomfortable excess binding on the patient’s body. At the same time, the fabric layer does not rely ^{e !atex}J^ayer contraction, and does not rob the because the fabric, as explained above, has the ability to contract itself.

The two layers, fabrics and foam latex, are preferably united when in their relaxed or contracted conditions. This provides the. bandage with a smooth unwrinkled appearance at all times and prevents a wrinkled condition developing when the 'bandage is apolied to the body, so that the bandage will always fit the bodv firmly and smoothly. J —C «.XXV X.WXXXX ΑΧΧΧν,Ί. οςίΐμ IV Cl OUU

When the bandage is applied the foam latex sheet 5 is 55 amount to prevent disruption of the latex strip and undue preferably in direct contact with the skin of the body and '........' ‘ during application the bandage is given the desired degree of stretch or tension around the body. The foam latex Pf^{ovldes a S}?^{ft ge}.^nt!^{e c}°n^tact with the skin of the user, ir yet grips the body with a delicate and gentle friction that prevents any portion of the bandage slipping out of place after once being applied. If the bandage is applied over yr °^bj^Vi°^US-^{ly fre}®. ^of that joint is permitted, jury is properly cushioned. Whenever the bandage becomes soiled, either externally or internally, that is, on either surface, the entire bandage may be readily and thoroughly laundered. It is not essential that the bandage be applied m the illustrated overlapping, Wx_aF-_aluumi style, but the bandage may be used quite as readily in a figure 8 style over the ankle or in various manners and locations as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a method of making a band10 ^ln ? illustrated a method of making a band- 2,140,026 age of slightly different construction, in that the cemen- 75 2,649,391 titious compound 6 is omitted. In this arrangement, the fabric layer 4 is placed upon a conveyor belt 9 which may pass over a pulley 10, and then flatly over a backing member 11. Opposite the backing member, a mass of whipped or aerated foam latex 12 is placed on the fabric, and then the fabric and a portion of the latex pass under a doctor blade 13 or the equivalent which is adjusted to the desired thickness of the foam latex layer 5. The two layers then pass through any suitable form of heating device or oven, diagrammatically indicated at 14, wherein the foam latex layer is vulcanized or equivalently secured to the fabric layer. During this process, the temperature is rather rigidly controlled, although the desired temperature varies, depending upon the thickness and density of the foam latex layer, and usually ranges between 200 and 300° F.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a greatly magnified cross sectional view of. the structure of Fig. 3, but it is to be understood that insofar as the fabric and latex layer is concerned, this figure applies equally as well to the structure of Fig. 6. In this showing I have endeavored to indicate that the cells in the foam latex layer 5 are intercommunicative, which not only permits ventilation of the injured part of the body after application of the bandage, but also renders the bandage itself more absorbing.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a highly satisfactory form of surgical bandage capable of maintaining constant tension during use, which permits flexing of joints when applied thereover, which intimately fits other portions of the body, which is substantially nonslipping in character, and which is extremely light in weight. Further, the bandage is long lived, may be laundered when desired, repeatedly used, and is economical to manufacture.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.