Headband with tension indicator

• US 20040117891A1
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hannula, Don, Coakley, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/171.5
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 20/00 Wristbands or headbands, e.g. for absorbing sweat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

A headband with a tension indicator having an elastic segment sized to fit around a wearer'"'"'s head; and a non-elastic segment being smaller than and attached with the elastic segment. The non-elastic segment is sized to span a portion of the elastic segment when the elastic segment is stretched, and the non-elastic segment is larger than the portion of the elastic segment it spans when the elastic segment is not stretched. The non-elastic segment is attached with the elastic segment in such a manner that the non-elastic segment projects out from the surface of the elastic portion when the headband is not sufficiently tight, thus creating a loop which provides a visual indication that the headband needs re-tightening.

Claims

1. A headband, comprising:

an elastic segment sized to fit around a wearer'"'"'s head; and

a non-elastic segment being smaller than and attached with said elastic segment, said non-elastic segment sized to span a portion of said elastic segment when said elastic segment is stretched, said non-elastic segment being larger than said portion of said elastic segment it spans when said elastic segment is not stretched.

2. The headband of claim 1 further comprising a closure mechanism coupled with said elastic portion.

3. The headband of claim 2 wherein said closure mechanism is a hook and loop closure, a snap, a button, an adhesive, a pin, or combinations thereof.

4. The headband of claim 1 wherein said elastic segment is rectangular shaped having a long and a short dimension, and said non-elastic segment is attached along a set of its edges with said elastic segment, wherein said set of edges are generally parallel to said short dimension.

5. The headband of claim 1 wherein said non-elastic segment is attached with said elastic segment in such a manner that said non-elastic segment projects out from the surface of the elastic portion when said headband is not sufficiently tight, thus creating a loop which provides a visual indication that the headband needs re-tightening.

6. The headband of claim 1 wherein said non-elastic segment is formed with a fold or a crease, which causes said non-elastic portion to project out from the surface of the elastic portion in a pronounced fashion as the elastic segment retracts.

7. The headband of claim 5 wherein said non-elastic segment is sized to not project out from the surface of the elastic portion when said headband is sufficiently tight thus indicating an adequate level of tension corresponding with delivering a pressure in the range higher than the venous pressure and lower than the capillary pressure to the forehead of the wearer.

8. A headband, comprising:

an inelastic segment sized to fit around a wearer'"'"'s head; and

an elastic segment being smaller than and attached with said inelastic segment, said elastic segment sized to span a portion of said inelastic segment when said elastic segment is stretched, said elastic segment being smaller than said portion of said inelastic segment it spans when said elastic segment is not stretched.

9. The headband of claim 8 further comprising a closure mechanism coupled with said elastic portion.

10. The headband of claim 9 wherein said closure mechanism is a hook and loop closure, a snap, a button, an adhesive, a pin, or combinations thereof.

11. The headband of claim 8 wherein said inelastic segment is rectangular shaped having a long and a short dimension, and said elastic segment is attached along a set of its edges with said inelastic segment, wherein said set of edges are generally parallel to said short dimension.

12. The headband of claim 8 wherein said elastic segment is attached with said inelastic segment in such a manner that said non-elastic segment projects out from the surface adjacent to a user'"'"'s forehead when said headband is not sufficiently tight, thus creating a loop which provides a visual indication that the headband needs re-tightening.

13. The headband of claim 12 wherein said non-elastic segment is sized to not project out from said surface when said headband is sufficiently tight thus indicating an adequate level of tension corresponding with delivering a pressure in the range higher than venous pressure and lower than capillary pressure to the wearer'"'"'s forehead.

14. A headband for holding an oximetry sensor on the forehead of a patient, comprising:

an elastic segment sized to fit around a patient'"'"'s head and over an oximetry sensor located on the forehead of a patient; and

a non-elastic segment being smaller than and attached with said elastic segment, said non-elastic segment sized to span a portion of said elastic segment when said elastic segment is stretched, said non-elastic segment being larger than said portion of said elastic segment it spans when said elastic segment is not stretched.

15. The headband of claim 14 further comprising a closure mechanism coupled with said elastic portion.

16. The headband of claim 15 wherein said closure mechanism is a hook and loop closure, a snap, a button, an adhesive, a pin, or combinations thereof.

17. The headband of claim 14 wherein said non-elastic segment is attached with said elastic segment in such a manner that said non-elastic segment projects out from the surface of the elastic portion when said headband is not sufficiently tight, thus creating a loop which provides a visual indication that the headband needs re-tightening.

18. The headband of claim 17 wherein said non-elastic segment is sized to not project out from the surface of the elastic portion when said headband is sufficiently tight thus indicating an adequate level of tension corresponding with delivering a pressure in the range higher than the venous pressure and lower than the capillary pressure to the oximetry sensor applied to the forehead of the patient.