Apparel – Guard or protector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-13
2001-03-06
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
C002S455000, C002S465000, C002S267000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195809
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention is an improvement over that disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,997 dated Feb. 17, 1998 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. This invention relates generally to a garment with an improved protective pad for protecting the hip joint area of the wearer from injury due to falls. More particularly, it relates to an improved force dissipating energy absorbent hip pad particularly for use by geriatric patients and offering protection of the greater trochanter from a variety of impacts which ultimately creates fractures in the patient. In particular, the present invention provides protection of the greater trochanter from injury due to certain types of falls. It will be understood, of course, that the device of the present invention is not intended to eliminate the occurrence of falls, but, on the other hand, it is intended to either reduce or eliminate damage to the wearer which may otherwise be occasioned as a result of a fall.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
At a time when health care costs are continuing to escalate, medical research continues to focus on preventative medicine. The study of geriatrics has revealed that elderly individuals have an increased risk of hip fractures and also risk death related to hip fracture disease. Included within the elderly group are members of several select groups who are at greater risk. Among some of these greater at-risk groups are: persons, particularly females, over age 50, persons with chronic medical conditions, persons with impaired acuity, persons with osteoporosis, and persons with bodies having low muscle/fat content. The most frequent cause of hip fractures results from a fall, including light falls, with these falls frequently involving impact or trauma to the greater trochanter.
In the past, various devices have been constructed to reduce the occurrence of hip injuries due to falls or related events. These devices include hip pads used by athletes while playing soccer, hockey, baseball and also by skiers. Devices have also been constructed to prevent or reduce damage from such an injury among the elderly. These devices often contain a recess in the pad wherein the recess must be aligned in position directly in line with the greater trochanter region. These pads have normally been taped or strapped in place causing slight discomfort to the elderly person. When strapped in place, the pads have a tendency to slip becoming misaligned with the greater trochanter. When slipped, the pads decrease the effectiveness of protecting the greater trochanter from fractures. Further, these devices are often difficult to place in position so as to directly surround the greater trochanter area. Skilled medical assistance may be required to properly position and secure such a pad to the hip. The hip pads of the present invention may be easily secured in place, and may be manufactured in a variety of sizes without significantly increasing the costs of manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a comfortable, self-centering and user-friendly garment with a hip pad for use in geriatric patients for protection of the greater trochanter from impact which frequently leads to hip fracture problems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-fitting garment which retains the configured hip pad in place in the desired region adjacent the greater trochanter.
Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible, self-centering, energy-absorbent hip pad that dissipates and spreads an impact force away from the greater trochanter region.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an energy-absorbent hip pad that is easy to use and does not require skilled medical assistance to properly position the pad.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an energy-absorbent hip pad with ventilation to allow the hip pad to dissipate absorbed body heat.
In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects and advantages are achieved by providing a form-fitting garment that contains a molded, flexible planar member (hip pad) of predetermined inverted “U” geometric shape or configuration, with a cross-slit extending through the thickness of the hip pad.
The hip pad may be constructed with an outer frame-like pad of inverted “U” configuration and surround a central opening, the pad allowing for a certain amount of shifting of the garment and pad without compromising the effectiveness of the pad, and without creating stress points in the pad directly over and/or surrounding the area of the greater trochanter. The garment may be worn underneath other clothing or may be fashioned to be worn as outer apparel. On each side of the garment is a preformed pocket for retaining the hip pad. The pocket may be made from the same material as the overall garment but must have a certain degree of resilience to hold the hip pad in the same relative position within the pocket while being worn.
The form-fitting garment allows the pads to be properly positioned without requiring adhesives or straps, thereby making the application of this protection comfortable to the user. Further, because the protection is within the garment and is self-positioning, the user may be slightly disoriented and yet be able to properly arrange the protective garment in place. The form-fitting garment may be proportioned in various sizes to accommodate various configurations of the human body while utilizing the same hip pad. Because of their configuration, the pads conform to the individual's body structure thereby creating a comfortable fit.
The form-fitting garment, with its properly positioned pockets, retains the hip pads in substantially the same relative position with respect to the hip. In this manner, the outer frame-like structure of each hip pad is positioned or centered over and surrounds the greater trochanter region. The central opening is preferably positioned over the apex of the greater trochanter. The outer frame-like pad redirects energy from an impact away from the area directly above the greater trochanter. In this manner, the hip pad aids in dissipation of the impact forces, and absorbs and redirects at least some of the energy from these forces away from the greater trochanter. Thus, by wearing the garment, some injury and some possible hip fractures are avoided.
When worn, the hip pad normally absorbs thermal heat generated and transmitted by the user's body. In the preferred embodiment, a central opening allows for ventilation. This allows the heat absorbed by the hip pad to be dissipated into the air.
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Robb III, “Hip Fracture Disease: Coping with a Contemporary Epidemic”,The Journal of Musculoskeletal Medicine, Dec. 1993, pp. 12-16.
Wallace et al., “Iowa FISCSIT Trial: The Feasibility of Elderly Wearing A Hip Joint Protective Garment to Reduce Hip Fracture
Calvert John J.
Haugen Law Firm PLLP
Patel Tejash
Prevent Products Inc.
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