US5168577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Elbow and knee sleeve with seams on opposite surfaces
Assignee: Pro Orthopedic Devices Inc
•
Filing: 1992-04-01
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Granted: 1992-12-08
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Expires: 2012-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A sleeve with the horizontal seam worn on the medial side of the elbow or knee and a vertical seam worn on the lateral side of the joint disclosed. Placing the seams on opposite sides of the sleeve prevents bunching of material on the medial side opposite the knee or elbow when the limb is bent. The vertical seam on the lateral side of the knee or elbow reduces irritation in the particularly sensitive areas on the medial side which would occur if the vertical seam were on the medial side of the limb. The elbow sleeve is made of a double laminate with an elastomeric material such as neoprene on the outside and a polymer material such as nylon on the inside. The outside surface on the elbow brace is patterned to produce a roughened textured surface so the ball may be carried in the crook of the arm without slippage. The knee brace is made of a triple laminate with elastomeric material such as neoprene sandwiched between two layers of nylon. Alternatively, the elbow sleeve can also be made of a triple laminate with elastomeric material sandwiched between two layers of nylon.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald D. Detty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:53
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/05; A41D13/08; A41D13/06; A41D13/065; A41D13/055; A41D13/0556; A41D13/0568
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A sleeve for application to a joint on the body of a user, such sleeve comprising: (a) a piece of material having right and left and bottom and top edges with an area of said material removed, said area lying between, and being equidistant from, said right and left edges; (b) a horizontal seam, closing said area of removed material, said seam being generally perpendicular to said right and left edges and being generally parallel to said top and bottom edges, said seam lying between, and having ends which are equidistant from, said right and left edges respectively; and (c) a vertical seam connecting said right and left edges together to form a generally cylindrical sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A sleeve for application to a joint on the body of a user, such sleeve comprising: (a) a piece of material having right and left and bottom and top edges with an area of said material removed, said area lying between, and being equidistant from, said right and left edges; (b) a horizontal seam, closing said area of removed material, said seam being generally perpendicular to said right and left edges and being generally parallel to said top and bottom edges, said seam lying between, and having ends which are equidistant from, said right and left edges respectively; and (c) a vertical seam connecting said right and left edges together to form a generally cylindrical sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said area is elliptical in shape with major axis generally parallel to said top and bottom edges and a minor axis generally perpendicular to said top and bottom edges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sleeve of claim 2 wherein said material, for use as an elbow brace, comprises a laminate having an inner layer and an outer layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sleeve of claim 3 wherein said inner layer comprises a polymer material and said outer layer comprises an elastomeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sleeve of claim 4 wherein said outer layer comprises neoprene, with a patterned surface, and said inner layer comprises nylon with a smooth surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The sleeve of claim 5 wherein said sleeve further comprises a hem sewn at said top and bottom edges formed by folding said top and bottom edges of said inner layer over said outer layer and stitching said folded edges to said outer layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 5 wherein said sleeve further comprises a means for covering said vertical seam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said material comprises a laminate with an inner layer and an outer layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sleeve of claim 8 wherein said inner layer comprises a polymer material and said outer layer comprises an elastomeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 9 wherein said sleeve further comprises a means for covering said vertical seam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 3 wherein said sleeve further comprises a means for covering said vertical seam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said sleeve comprises a knee brace and said material is a laminate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sleeve of claim 12 wherein said laminate comprises three layers, said layers comprising two outer layers of polymer material with an inner layer of elastomeric material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 13 wherein said outer layers comprise nylon and said inner layer comprises neoprene.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 14 wherein said sleeve further comprises a means for covering said vertical seam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sleeve of claim 15 wherein said means for covering said vertical seam comprises a binding of elastic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sleeve of claim 1 wherein said sleeve comprises an elbow brace and said material comprises a laminate with two outer layers and one inner layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sleeve of claim 17 wherein said outer layers comprise a polymer material and said inner layer comprises an elastomeric material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 18 wherein said outer layers comprise nylon and said inner layer comprises neoprene.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for manufacture of a sleeve to be worn at a joint on the body of a user comprising the steps of: (a) providing a piece of material with right and left edges and top and bottom edges; (b) cutting said material and removing a section of said material which is centered between, and equidistant from, said right and left edges; (c) sewing the periphery of an opening created by removing said section, closed to form a horizontally disposed seam which is generally perpendicular to said right and left edges and which has ends each of which is equidistant from said right and left edges respectively; (d) folding said material so that said right and left edges are coincident with each other; and (e) sewing said right and left edges together to form a vertical seam thereby creating a cylindrically-shaped sleeve which when worn by said user positions said vertical seam on the lateral side of said joint and positions said horizontal seam on the medial side of said joint, diametrically opposite said vertical seam.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for manufacture of a sleeve to be worn at a joint on the body of a user comprising the steps of: (a) providing a piece of material with right and left edges and top and bottom edges; (b) cutting said material and removing a section of said material which is centered between, and equidistant from, said right and left edges; (c) sewing the periphery of an opening created by removing said section, closed to form a horizontally disposed seam which is generally perpendicular to said right and left edges and which has ends each of which is equidistant from said right and left edges respectively; (d) folding said material so that said right and left edges are coincident with each other; and (e) sewing said right and left edges together to form a vertical seam thereby creating a cylindrically-shaped sleeve which when worn by said user positions said vertical seam on the lateral side of said joint and positions said horizontal seam on the medial side of said joint, diametrically opposite said vertical seam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 20 wherein, for use of said body sleeve as an elbow brace, said method further includes the step of laminating a sheet of polymer material to a sheet of elastomeric material to produce said material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 further including the step of covering said vertical seam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of laminating said sheet of polymer material to said sheet of elastomeric material comprises laminating a sheet of nylon to a sheet of neoprene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 20 wherein, for use of said sleeve as an elbow brace, said method further comprises the step of laminating a sheet of elastomeric material between two sheets of polymer material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said step of laminating a sheet of elastomeric material between two sheets of polymer material comprises laminating a sheet of neoprene between two sheets of nylon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 20 wherein, for use of said body sleeve as a knee brace, said method further includes the step of cutting out areas at said left and right edges to form an opening to allow the patella of the user to protrude when said sleeve is worn.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 26 further including the step of laminating a sheet of elastomeric material between two sheets of polymer material to produce said material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said step of laminating a sheet of elastomeric material between two sheets of polymer material comprises laminating a sheet of neoprene between two sheets of nylon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-08 | 1996-06-08 | 1996-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-08 | 2000-06-08 | 2000-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-08 | 2004-06-08 | 2004-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |