Elastic binder

Claim 2

An elastic binder for applying support to parts of the body which are damaged or wounded, comprising: a. a plurality of elastic strips which are elastic along their lengths and substantially inelastic along their widths, the lengthwise edges of said strips being substantially parallel; b. means for continuously securing adjacent lengthwise edges of each pair of elastic strips so as to form a plurality of combined strips; c. means for securing the combined strips along their lengths at measured intervals, such that the combined strips overlap and are capable of substantial transverse movement relative to each other; and d. means secured at the ends of the elastic strips for fastening the strips together in a body-encircling form.

Claim 3

The elastic binder of claim 1, wherein the means for securing adjacent lengthwise edges of each pair of elastic strips comprises stitching a narrow elastic band to the adjacent lengthwise edges to form a plurality of combined strips.

Claim 4

The elastic binder of claim 1, wherein the means for securing adjacent lengthwise edges of each pair of elastic strips comprises overlapping the adjacent lengthwise edges and stitching them together to form a plurality of combined strips.

Claim 5

The elastic binder of claim 3, wherein a narrow elastic band is stitched on both sides of the lengthwise adjacent edges of each pair of elastic strips so as to secure each pair of plastic strips together, and wherein the two narrow elastic bands secured on each side of adjacent lengthwise edges of the elastic strips are stitched together along their length and between the edges of the elastic strips, so as to form a double lip.

Claim 6

The elastic binder of claim 1, wherein the means for securing at least two of the combined strips along their lengths comprises stitching the combined strips together at measured intervals along the length of the strips.

Claim 7

The elastic binder of claim 5, wherein the combined strips are overlapped so that two elastic strips are superimposed upon each other, and wherein the free lengthwise edge of one overlapped strip is stitched to the other combined strip at measured intervals, such that the combined strips are capable of substantial movement relative to each other in a direction transverse to the lengthwise direction of the strips and along the length of the strips.

Claim 8

The elastic binder of claim 6, wherein there are two combined strips and wherein the superimposed elastic strip which does not have its free lengthwise edge stitched to the other combined strip is cut along its free lengthwise edge, such that the width of the elastic strip is substantially reduced along a portion of the elastic strip, wherein the cut-out portion of the strip is placed directly over the wound and external to the wound when the body garment is applied to the body member.

Claim 9

The elastic binder of claim 7, wherein the free lengthwise edge of the superimposed elastic strip is formed in a parabolic curve so as to reduce the width of the strip by about one-half at the central portion of the strip.

Claim 10

The elastic bInder of claim 1, wherein the ends of the elastic strips are tapered, resulting in the ends of the complete garment being tapered, such that the elastic binder provides a snug fit about the body member.

Claim 11

The elastic binder of claim 1, wherein the means secured at the ends of the elastic strips are adjustable for varying the circumferential size of the binder.

Claim 12

The elastic binder of claim 1, wherein the inner surfaces of the elastic strips are lined with a soft lining material.

Claim 13

An elastic binder for applying support to parts of the body which are damaged or wounded, comprising: a. a plurality of elastic strips which are elastic only about their lengths and are secured to each other end-to-end so as to form panels of two elastic strips secured end-to-end; b. means for securing the adjacent lengthwise edges of each pair of said panels so as to form a plurality of combined panels; c. means for securing the combined panels at intervals along their length, such that one panel in each combined panel is superimposed on another panel and capable of movement relative to each other in a direction transverse to the length and along the length of the panels; and d. means secured to the free ends of the panels for fastening the panels together in a body-encircling form.

Claim 14

An elastic binder for applying support to parts of the body which are damaged or wounded, comprising: a. a plurality of elastic strips which are elastic only about their lengths and are secured to each other end-to-end so as to form panels of two elastic strips secured end-to-end; b. means for securing the adjacent lengthwise edges of each pair of said panels so as to form a plurality of combined panels; c. means for securing the combined panels at intervals along their length, such that one panel in each combined panel is superimposed on another panel and capable of movement relative to each other in a direction transverse to the length and along the length of the panels; and d. means secured to the free ends of the panels for fastening the panels together in a body-encircling form.

Claim 15

An elastic binder for applying support to body members which are damaged or wounded, comprising: a. four body-encircling strips which are substantially inelastic along their widths and elastic along their lengths; b. four elastic bands which are the same length as the strips and of much narrower width, stitched on both sides of the adjacent lengthwise edges of each pair of elastic strips so as to form first and second combined strips, whereby the combined strips overlap, such that one elastic strip on the first combined strip overlaps a single elastic strip on the second combined strip, whereby the free lengthwise edge of the superimposed strip of the first combined strip is stitched to the center of the second combined strip at measured intervals, and whereby the free lengthwise edge of the superimposed strip of the second combined strip is cut in the form of a parabolic curve so as to reduce the width by one-half at about the center part of the strip; and c. hooks and eyes secured at the ends of the combined strips for fastening the strips together in a body-encircling form, wherein the ends of the strips are tapered so as to snugly fit the body member.

Claim 16

An elastic binder for applying support to body members which are damaged or wounded, comprising: a. four body-encircling strips which are substantially inelastic along their widths and elastic along their lengths; b. four elastic bands which are the same length as the strips and of much narrower width, stitched on both sides of the adjacent lengthwise edges of each pair of elastic strips so as to form first and second combined strips, whereby the combined strips overlap, such that one elastic strip on the first combined strip overlaps a single elastic strip on the second combined strip, whereby the free lengthwise edge of the superimposed strip of the first combined strip is stitched to the center of the second combined strip at measured intervals, and whereby the free lengthwise edge of the superimposed strip of the second combined strip is cut in the form of a parabolic curve so as to reduce the width by one-half at about the center part of the strip; and c. hooks and eyes secured at the ends of the combined strips for fastening the strips together in a body-encircling form, wherein the ends of the strips are tapered so as to snugly fit the body member.