Universal ice-pack holder for application to joints and muscles

• US 5,080,095 A
• Filed: 04/19/1990
• Issued: 01/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Tungate
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Tungate
• Inventors: Tungate, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US07/510,618
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 128/402, 128/403, 128/400, 128/379, 128/380, 128/157, 128/165, 128/77, 82/530, 383/901
• US Class Current: 604/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/103 refillable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 383/901 Hot water or ice bag

Abstract

A universal ice-pack holder for removably holding an ice-pack or like device against various joints and body parts of a human body. The ice-pack holder includes first and second flexible, elongated strap sections with first and second flexible, transverse strap sections secured between the first and second flexible, elongated strap sections. The first and second elongated strap sections and the first and second transverse strap sections define a central support section which covers an upper surface of an ice-bag or like device. Looped sections of fastener material are further secured to upper portions of the first and second elongated strap sections while a plurality of independent, hooked sections of fastening material are secured to the lower portions of the first and second elongated strap sections. The first and second elongated straps are articulated around a joint or body part in a circular fashion whereby the hooked sections of fastening material are operable to engage with the looped sections of fastening material to hold the ice-pack or like device securely in place. The ice-pack holder may be applied or removed quickly, easily and efficiently with a minimum amount of of discomfort to the wearer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a therapeutic device to various areas of a human body, comprising:

central support means adapted to removably support and secure said therapeutic device in abutting contact with a desired area of said human body;

said central support means having at least first and second elongated, strap means each having inner and outer ends, said outer ends of said first and second strap means extending outwardly of said central support means in generally opposite directions for further helping to removably secure said therapeutic device in abutting contact with said desired area of said human body;

said central support means further having an opening adapted to engage a portion of said therapeutic device to thereby further help removably secure said theraputic device to said desired area of said human body;

said opening in said central support means further being disposed inbetween and adjacent said inner ends of said first and second strap means, wherein said first and second strap means extend along generally parallel paths from opposite sides of said opening; and

fastening means for fastening said outer end portion of each said first and second elongated strap means with each other or with portions of said central support means after said elongated strap means have been secured against said desired area of said human body, whereby said fastening of each elongated strap means to said central support means causes said central support means to hold said therapeutic device securely against said desired area of said human body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said central support means further comprises third and fourth strap means for further helping to secure said therapeutic device against said desired portion of said human body, said third and fourth strap means further each being secured to said first and second strap means, whereby said first, second, third and fourth strap means operate cooperatively to provide an integral central support structure for holding said therapeutic device securely against said desired part of human body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises:

a plurality of looped fasteners secured to said central support section; and

a plurality of detachable hooked fasteners secured to portions of said first and second elongated, oppositely facing strap means, said hooked fasteners being operable to couple with said looped fasteners to thereby secure said end portions of said first and second elongated, oppositely facing strap means with said central support means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second elongated, oppositely facing strap means and said central support means comprise integrally formed elastic straps.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said opening in said central support means comprises an opening formed centrally in said central support means for enabling a portion of said therapeutic device to protrude therethrough, thereby facilitating secure, removable placement of said therapeutic device.

6. A universal ice-pack holder adapted to secure an ice-pack to an area of a human body, comprising:

first flexible, elongated strap means having inner and outer ends for circumscribing a first portion of said area and further helping to secure said ice-pack to said area;

second flexible, elongated strap means having inner and outer ends for circumscribing a second portion of said area and further helping to secure said ice-pack to said area;

first and second transverse strap means disposed intermediate said first and second flexible, elongated strap means and secured to said first and second flexible, elongated strap means for further helping to secure said ice-pack to said area, said first and second flexible, elongated strap means and said first and second transverse strap means forming an integral, central support section having a centrally disposed opening therein;

said outer ends of said first and second flexible, elongated strap means extending outwardly of said central support section in opposite directions thereof and generally parallel to each other, said flexible, elongated strap means further extending outwardly from opposite sides of said centrally disposed opening;

a plurality of first fastening means associated with said central support section for helping to secure said ice-pack to said area; and

a plurality of second fastening means disposed on portions of said flexible, elongated first and second strap means for removably fastening with said first fastener means after said flexible, elongated strap means are positioned around said area, said first and second fastening means thereby operating cooperatively to removably secure said ice-pack against said area.

7. The ice-pack holder of claim 6, wherein said first and second flexible, elongated strap means and said first and second transverse strap means each comprise elastic straps operable to substantially follow a contour of said ice-pack and said area when said ice-pack holder is securing said ice-pack to said area.

8. The ice-pack holder of claim 6, wherein each said first fastening means comprises an elongated strip of fastening material having a large plurality of hook portions protruding therefrom, each said elongated section of fastening material being securely affixed to its associated first strap means, and wherein said second fastening means comprises a plurality of looped surface fastening materials secured to end portions of said flexible, elongated first and second strap means, said looped surface fastening materials and said hook surface fastening materials being operable to removably couple portions of said first and second flexible, elongated strap means with said elongated strips of fastening material having hooked portions, thereby securing said flexible, elongated first and second strap means around said area and with said central support section to thereby secure said ice-pack to said area.

9. The ice-pack holder of claim 8, wherein said sections of said hooked surface fastening material and said looped surface fastening material are stitched to said first and second flexible, elongated strap means.

10. A universal ice-pack holder adapted to hold an ice-pack having a neck portion securely to an area of a human body, comprising:

a first elastic, elongated strap having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion;

a second, elastic, elongated strap having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion;

a first elastic, transverse strap disposed inbetween and coupled to said first end of said first elastic, elongated strap and said intermediate portion of said second elastic, elongated strap;

a second elastic, transverse strap disposed inbetween and coupled with said intermediate portion of said first elastic, elongated strap and said first end portion of said second elastic, elongated strap, said first and second elastic, elongated straps and said first and second elastic, transverse straps thereby forming a central support section having a generally square-shaped opening, said generally square-shaped opening being operable to allow said neck portion of said ice-pack to protrude therethrough;

said second end portions of said first and second elastic, elongated straps extending outwardly of said central support section in generally opposite directions, said first and second elastic, elongated straps further extending outwardly in generally parallel fashion from opposite sides of said generally square-shaped opening;

a first elongated strip of fastening material having a hooked surface stitched to said first end portion and said intermediate portion of said first elastic, elongated strap;

a second elongated strip of fastening material having a hooked surface stitched to said first end portion and said intermediate portion of said second elastic, elongated strap;

at least a first strip of fastening material having a looped surface stitched to said second end portion of said first elastic, elongated strap, said first strip of fastening material being operable to detachably couple with said hooked surface of said first elongated strip of fastening material; and

a second section of fastening material having a looped surface, said second section of fastening material being secured at said second end portion of said second elastic, elongated strap, said looped surface of said second strip of fastening material being operable to detachably couple with said hooked surface of said second elongated strip of fastening material, whereby said detachable coupling of said first strip of fastening material having said hooked surface and said first fastening material having said looped surface, and said detachable coupling of said hooked surface of said second strip of fastening material and said looped surface of said second strip of fastening material operate cooperatively to help removably secure said ice-pack and to said area of said human body.