US2495316A

US2495316A - Garment or attachment for controlling the distribution, pressure, and circulation of body fluids

Info

Publication number: US2495316A
Application number: US697118A
Authority: US
Inventors: David M Clark; Earl H Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-09-14
Filing date: 1946-09-14
Publication date: 1950-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-24

Description

Jam 24, 1950 D. M. CLARK ETAL GARMENT 0R ATTACHMENT FOR, coNTRoLLTNG THE DISTRIBUTION, PRESSURE, AND CIRCULATION oF BODY FLUTDs 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed sept. 14, 1946 NVENTORS: DAVID MCLARK EARL HWooD @YM 4MM ATTORNEY Mn. 24, 1950 D. M. CLARK ETAL c-ARMENT 0R ATTACHMENT FoR coNTRoLLTNG THE DISTRIBUTION, PRESSURE, AND CIRCULATION OF BODY FLUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14. 1946 4 INVENTORS: l ig, l DAVID MCL/ARK EARL H VVooD BVM .f/ z//d *M a ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1950 D. M. CLARK ETAL Eww GRMENT 0R ATTACHMENT FOR CONTROLLING DISTRIBUTION, PRESSURE, AND CIRCULATION 0F BODY FLUTDS Filed sept. 14, 194e 4 sneeTs-sneei a INVENTORSf DAVID M. CLARK EARL H. Woon ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1950 D. M. CLARK ETAL GARNENT oR ATTACHMENT RoR coNTRoLLING THE DISTRIBUTION, PRESSURE, ANU CIRCULATION oF BODY FLUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Filed Sept. 14, 1946 INVENTORSI DAvlD M. CLARK EARL.. H. Woon YMaMY' ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1950 GARMENT 0R ATTACHMENT FOR C'ON- TEOLLNG THE DISTRIBUTION, ERES SURE, AND- CIRCULATION OF BODY David M. Clark, Worcester, Mass., and Earl H. Wood, Rochester, Minn.; said Wood assigner to -said Clark Application September 14, 1946, Serial No. V697,118

(Cl. 12S- 1) The present invention relates to an improved garment, or attachment for controlling the distribution, pressure and circulation of body fluids and thereby enable the occupant of an aircraft to withstand the abnormal forces to which his body is subjected as a result of rapid and extreme changes in the aircrafts speed and direction of night.

Experience has shown that maneuvers of fast and high powered aircraft create forces which are frequently great enough to render the occupants temporarily blind and sometimes unconscious. These forces act upon the body uids, particularly blood, and the tissues of the body so that when a fast airplane is banked and turned, oi' dived and then leveled off, these body fluids are driven down, away from the head. The resulting reduction or stoppage of blood circulation to the head, if oi sufficient magnitude and duration causes a dimming or completel loss of vision, known as blackout and if the force is great enough and is sustained long enough, complete unconsciousness may result.

Since the forces discussed above increase in proportion to the square of the velocity of the airplane and in inverse proportion to the radius of the turn, the maneuvering of fast airplanes is deiinitely limited 4by the ability'of the pilot and other occupants to withstand the forces that cause the above described severe physiological sure of body luidsas to enable the 4wearer to l successfully withstand abnormal 4forces created by rapid and extreme changes' inv the speed and direction of the aircrafts night. This garment is particularly characterized by the completeness of the protection afforded the' wearer and its simplicity and lightness permits the wearer to sit normally, unencumbered by heavy parts that would interfere with his necessary movements.

Briefly stated, the device of the present invention consists ofa garment, or an attachment, having incorporated therein a' bladder, or series of bladders, which Vare adapted to be inflated automatically-so as' to lprogressively apply pressure on the thighs, the abdomen and, if desired, the legs and arms of .the wearer.

associated body areas, and restrict the iicw ofA body iiuids to the dependent portions lof the body Y The inflated bladders are adapted to conform closely tothe,`

Z fronrthe rapid and 'extreme changes in an air; crafts speed and thek direction' oi flight.

Because of the location of' the bladders 'at criti= cal points inthe vascular system of therbody, the garment is also adapted for extremely high altitude dying", 'so as to pressurize the body and pro# vide considerable protection to the wearer from the disturbing physiological effects of extremely high altitudes. The garment may also be erm ployed for medical treatments and other and further objects and advantages of 'our invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Y F Fig'. l is a view in front elevation of the outside appearance of a protective garment in the forniA Fig'.- 5 iS a View Similar to' Fig] 1 illustrating a modied form of suit with certain bladders bute side the garment.

Figi 6 diagrammatically illustrates bladder system employed with the suit of Fig. 5.

Fig, 7 is a detailed View showing the application' of bladders to the outside of the legs with an arrangement for distributing the bladder prese" sure around the leg's.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one leg bladder attachment, as seen from the rear.

Fig'. 9 is a sectional along the line 9-9 of Fig. '7.-

Fig.` l0 illustrates the application of the pressure distributing arrangement with reference to the bladder of an upper arm area; I

Fig. 11 illustrates application of the pressure` distributing arrangement to the abdominal area. Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures. u A

Referring rst to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is shown, for purposes of illustration, as being embodied in a garment made as a complete cov= orali sui-t l,- naving certain areas thereof' lined*- area of the wearer.

The lowermost bladders 2 are positioned in the vicinity of the calves of the wearer. the intermediate bladders 3 are positioned in the vicinity of the thighs of the wearer, and the uppermost bladders 4 are positioned over the abdominal area, as will be apparent from the dotted line showing of Fig. 1. The several groups of bladders on each side of the suit I are connected in series with each other by tubes 5 so that air, or any other fluid pressure medium for infiating the bladders, will enter the right-hand and left-hand groups of bladders progressively, this progressive inflation being an important feature of the present invention. For this purpose, the lowermost bladder 2 of each group of calf bladders is connected by a tube S to a common supply tube l', which leads from a special valve that is adapted to automatically control the admission of the pressure medium to the supply tube 'I from a suitable pressure source indicated diagrammatically at 9 as a tank or pump. The tubes 6 lead off from the supply tube 1, with one tube 6 passing around the neck of the suit and then downwardly parallel to the other tube.

The top of the middlemost bladder 4 of one group of abdominal bladders is connected by a tube IIJ, passing up and around the back of the neck of the suit I to join a short tube II from the innermost bladder 4 of the other group of abdominal bladders. These two tubes I0 and I I are connected in common to a tube I2 leading back to the control valve 8 which is adapted to regulate the amount of pressure in proportion to the centrifugal or other abnormal force to which the wearer of the suit I is being subjected as a result of the sudden and extreme changes in the speed and direction of flight of the airplane.

The specific construction of the control valve 8 forms no part of the present invention, and it is sufficient for an understanding thereof to state that the valve 8 is operated automatically by a weight 8a to control the passage of pressure from the source 8 through the tubes I and I2 in response to the creation of abnormal forces during the flight of the airplane. For purposes of illustration, the valve 8 is indicated as being of the type disclosed in the pending application of David M. Clark, and Henry W. Wilder iiled July 12, 1946, Serial No. 683,098, for a protective system for aircraft occupants.

Whenever the valve 8 functions automatically in response to forces developed during the flight of the airplane, the air from the pressure source 9 is admitted to the supply tube 'I from which it passes through the tubes 6 to simultaneously enter the lowermost bladder 2 of each group of calf bladders. The air continues upwardly through all the bladders 2 and the tubes 5 to enter the lowermost bladders 3 of the thigh bladders, and then passes upwardly from these bladders to simultaneously enter the outermost bladder 4 of each group of abdominal bladders. The air under :pressure then progresses across the bladders 4 towards the middle of the abdomen to complete the progressive infiation of all the

bladders

2, 3 and 4 of the system. The net result of the above described functioning of the bladder system is that the air supply enters at, or near, the ankles of the wearer, and then progresses generally upward in the vicinity of the thighs before reaching the uppermost abdominal bladder 4, so that the wearer of the suit is subjected to a pressure wave effect starting at the ankles and ending in the abdominal area. As a result, the wearer 4 of the suit is enabled to withstand the most disturbing of the abnormal forces developed during flight of the airplane without dimming of vision, or loss of consciousness.

By reason of the inter-connection of the several groups of

bladders

2, 3 and 4 in series, with the same relation on each side of the wearers body, the pressure wave described above is applied uniformly on each side so that there is no possibility of any unbalancing effect which might result from an unsymmetrical disposition of the pressurized areas with relation to the central axis of the wearers body. After all of the bladders have become inflated through the tube 'I to the desired degree, as a result of the functioning of the valve 8, excess air, over physiological requirements for the conditions encountered, is permitted to escape through the tubes I0, I I and I2, with the amount of escaping air being adjusted by the valve 8 to maintain the necessary pressure in the entire bladder system.

As previously pointed out, the abdominal bladders 4 are connected in two separate groups on each side of the body with the pressure working inwardly from the outermost bladders to the return tubes I0 and II. This group arrangement of the abdominal bladders facilitates donning of the suit by the use of a centrally located fastener device I3 in the front of the suit as shown in Fig. 1. In view of the importance of effectively maintaining a pressurized area over the center of the abdomen, the suit provides a special construction of the central area which prevents separation of the bladders and will insure close engagement between the innermost bladders 4 of each'abdominal group, so that full pressure will always be maintained over the center of the abdomen after the suit has been donned.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each group of abdominal bladders 4 is confined in a pocket I4 constituted in part by the front of the suit I and a rear Vwall I5. The rear wall I5 of each pocket I4 extends substantially to the edge of the front fastener device I3 and it is connected to the front of the suit above and below the bladders 4 by stitching I5a. 'I'he edge of the wall I5 between its points of connection to the front of the suit is free and a panel I6 is interposed between the rear wall I5 and the front of the suit to constitute an expansible end for each pocket I4.

In order to provide for bringing the bladder pockets I4 together with their end panels I6 face to face, each rear wall I5 provides a flap I'I with the abutting edges of the flap I'I provided with the cooperating parts of a slide fastener device I8. The fastener device I8 is shown closed in Fig. 3 with the front central fastener open to show the fullness of the end panels I6 of each bladder pocket I 4, the bladders 4 then being deflated.

When donning of the suit has been completed by fully closing the front fastener device I3, as shown in Fig. 1, the end panels I6 are disposed in abutting relation. Therefore, by reason of the fullness of these panels I6, subsequent inflation of the abdominal bladders 4 will cause the innermost bladders of each group to closely engage each other, as illustrated in Fig. 4. As a result. full pressure is maintained in the center of the abdominal area which would not be possible were the abutting edges of the bladders to be confined in tight pockets on either side of the fastener device I3. I

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown a modified form of garment wherein certain of the bladders are disposed outside the garment in 00.--

operation-.with anarrangement whereby theinilatedibladders are caused to conform closely-to the limbs of the wearer, as well as to the. ab-

dominalarea. This modiedrform of suit I9 is shown as a coverall in Fig. and the arrangementof the bladders employed in connection withl this suit isishownv diagrammatically iny Fig.: 6. Theubladderarrangement consists of thigh bladders conned within a conforming. sleeve 2| encircling each thigh po'rtion, arm bladders- 22 confined within a conforming sleeve 23. encircling each Vupperarm portion, and two groups of abdominal bladders 24; disposed inside the abdominal area of the suit I9 in association with a conforming belt.25. The; uppermost thigh bladders are connected to the outermost .abdomg inalbladders 21|v by tubes` 26 andbranch tubes'A through thetubes 2`| to simultaneously enter thev lowermost bladder 20. of each group of thigh bladders. From these bladders, the air continues upwardly to the tubes to finally enter the.

outermost bladder 24 of each group of abdominal bladders, as well as the separate arm bladders 22. Admission of the air to the bladders 22 and24 completes theA progressive inflation of the system andas shown the valve 29 maintains'the` pressure without the necessity of a return tube such as is shown in Fig. 2. The net result of theabove described functioning of the bladder system is that the pressure medium enters in the vicinityl of the thighs and then progresses upwardly to thev arms and the abdominal area,

with the pressure being so regulated as vto be .y

arterially occlusive during the period ofl ex-` posure to the greatest forces.

As previously described, the thigh bladders-2U and the arm bladdersy 22 are associated with the sleeves 2| and 23 respectively so as to closely conformthe inflatedbladders to the leg o r the arm of the wearer. The same bladder conforming action is also obtained' in connection with the abdominal bladders 24 by means of the belt A25 encircling the-waist of the suit' I9 and these pressure distributing arrangements will next be described in detail with reference to Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive.

As best shown in the left-hand side of Fig. 7, the group of thigh bladders 20 is carried by the outside ofthe upper leg portion 39 of the suit 9 with the bladders extending lengthwise around the thigh portion and secured to the outside of the suit with their ends spaced apart on the undersideof the thigh of the wearer. The sleeve 2| which encloses the bladders 2U isformedof separate ilaps 3| shown turned backenV the lefthandv` leg of Fig. 7 and closed over the'bladders. 20cm the right-hand leg by means of a slide fastener. 32. The left-hand flap 3| is secured to the back of the leg portion ofthe suit by means Similarly the right-hand flap 3| provides aseries Cil 6 of straps alternately arranged wlthzthe lefthand. strapsv andextending behindthe thigh nor-V tionto a pointwhere theyare secured to the suit jacent toithe'right-handfedge of the bladdersZ;

Theabove-described arrangement is shown vin section infFig:V 9L. and in perspective in Fig. 8 looking from the rear of the suit, with the bladders 29" indicated in dotted lines. From this showingit is apparent that the straps 33 are in crisscross frelation behind the thigh of the wearer so that whenthe front fastener32 isclosed, theV flaps 3| tend to conform the bladders 20 to thel shape of the Wearers thigh. Normally, the

strapsare relatively loose when the bladders 2U are :in .a-deflated-condition as shown in-Fig. 8.

However; when admission of air pressure tothe bladders 20 infiatesthe same under conditions previously described, the front walls of the bladders 20 exert anA outside pressure on the then closed ilaps 3| of .theY sleeve 2|, as shown in the transverse sectional view of Fig. 9, taken through the thigh .ofthe wearer. This outward pressure onthe aps2| is indicated by the .small arrows in Fig. 9 and asthe lbladdersZIJ are fully inflated,

.. thispressure'results in each ap 3.| exerting a pull inthezdirectiorr ofv the large arrows in Fig. 9.

Theseipullsaaretransmittedby vthe crossed straps f 33 to opposite endsofthe bladders. 2|) withthe net'result thatzthe bladdersfare conformedftothe; wearers .thighttoi distributethe pressure over the entireffrontthigh; area and` around the sides- In order to permit'iadjustment'of each 'sleeve 2| togtheizthighs of wearers of 'different'build one flapz3|1of eachipair provides'al gusset 34 extendingzparallel to the fastener with the edges ofthe gusset" adapted tof be.` adjustably drawn together by atseries of straps 35 and cooperating buckles 36. Afterzawearer has donned the suit I9, he is abierto make theproper adjustment of the girth ofthe -sleever2'l through regulating the relative tightnessrorlooseness of the gusset 34 by means ofthe. straps 3 5 and bucklesl 3 E The above described arrangement for conforming the inflated thigh bladders 2i] to thewearer y isxalso' applied tothe armv bladders 22. through their associated sleeves 23. As shown'in Fig. l0, each bladder22 .extends part way around the arm with' a spacing .between vthe points ofl attachment of its 4endsto the upperarm portion 31 of the suit.

The associated sleeve 23 Vis shown as being made in one,` piece partiallyencircling the arm, with ends of th'esleeve 23 connected to the armV portion 3T adjacent to opposite ends ofthe bladder 22by meansof` crossed straps 38. Obviously, when the arm bladder 22 is fully inated, the outward pressure `exertedon the'encircling sleeve 23 will result in opposedY pulls on the ends of the bladder, with a resulting forming or moldingv of the bladder 22 around the upper arm of the wearer toI assure a most effective application of the-pressure. The sleeve A23 provides a gusset 39 and suitable straps 4B and buckles 4| for adjusting the girth of the'sleeve.

Aspreviously indicated, the bladders 24 for thev abdominal Aarea are secured inside the waist portion of thesuit'l9 Awith an arrangement for hold--v 11whereinthe .portionsencircled by the belt 25' are shown in dotted lines..

'The belt 25 comprises flaps 24 normally held closed by a slide fastener 43 in front of the suit. Each flap 42 extends around the waist of the suit and partially behind, and terminates in an enlargement 44, the edge of which is connected by straps 45 to the opposite side of the back of the suit. The straps 45 from each flap 42 are in crisscross relation so, that when the belt 25 is closed by the fastener 43, inflation of the bladders 24 against the flaps 42 will cause opposed pulls on the back of the suit to exert forces tending to conform the bladders 24 of each group closely to the outside of the abdominal area.

In order to increase the comfort of the wearer of the suit I9, there is provided an improved crotch construction shown in Fig. 7 consisting of outside leg gussets 46 and centrally located panels 41 extending below the waist of the suit and beneath the crotch. The fullness of these gussets 45 and panels 4l gives a freedom of action which insures the comfort of the wearer of the suit when in a sitting position, even with the thigh bladders and the abdominal bladders 24 fully inflated.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention there is provided an improved device for preventing an unnatural distribution of fluids within a human body which is subjected to abnormal forces set up when the body is accelerated in space, as when in an aircraft. l Furthermore, by reason of the inherent capabilities 'of the device, our garment or attachment may also be effectively employed by hospitals, and clinics, for the treatment of patients who are suffering from various maladies affecting the human vascular system. When so employed for purelymedical purposes, the garment is effective to either maintain a normal distribution of body fluids, or to actually increase a patients blood pressure. It has been found that the massaging effect of the applied bladders particularly when used to obtain a pressure wave, produces Very beneficial results on patients suffering from certain of the above noted maladies.

We claim:

1. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section, two independent leg-encircling sections attached to an depending from said body section, a plurality of bladders incorporated with and spaced longitudinally of each of said leg sections with each bladder disposed transversely of such section, a plurality of short tubes connecting the bladders of each leg section in a series relation, a bladder incorporated with said body section, a pair of tubes each connecting said last mentioned bladder with that bladder of a respective one of the leg section bladder groups which is nearest the body bladder, a pair of fluid-supply tubes each of which is connected to that bladder of a respective one of the leg section bladder groups which is farthest removed from said body bladder, and means to connect said two last mentioned tubes to a fluid supply source.

2. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section having a slit opening extending longitudinally thereof, fastening means carried upon said body section for closing said slitopening, a pair of bladder elements of which each is incorporated with said body section at a respective one of the sides of said slit opening, two independent leg-encircling sections attached to and depending from said body section, a plurality of bladders incorporated with and spaced longitudinally of each of said leg sections with each bladder disposed transversely of such section, a plurality of short tubes connecting the bladders of each leg section in a series relation, a pair of 8 tubes each connecting a respective one of said two body bladders with that bladder of a respective one of the leg section bladder groups which is nearest such body bladder, a pair of fluidsupply tubes of which each is connected to that bladder of a respective one of the leg section bladder groups which is farthest removed from said body bladders, and means to connect said two last mentioned tubes to a fluid supply source.

3. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section, two independent leg-encircling sections attached to and depending from said body section so as to define therebetween and at their juncture with said body section a crotch portion, said body section having a slit opening extending longitudinally thereof and toward said crotch portion, fastening means provided upon said body section for closing said slit opening, a pair of bladders each disposed adjacent a respective side of said slit opening and adjacent said crotch portion, pockets provided by said body section on each side of said slit opening for confining said bladders, with each pocket providing a free panel whose one edge portion is secured to said body section directly adjacent the slit opening, fastening means associated with the two opposite edge portions of said panels so as to cooperate with said flrst fastening means for bringing said panels in face-to-face engagement when both fastening means are closed, whereby said bladders,

when inflated, are maintained in close engage' ment along the line of said slit opening, a bladder associated with each of said leg portions, and means for connecting all of said bladders with a uid supply source.

4. A garment, comprising, an inner bodyencircling sleeve, an inflatable bladder extending transversely about said inner sleeve so as partially to encircle the same, an outer sleeve extending transversely about said bladder and said inner sleeve` so as partially to encircle the latter and being positioned so that the open end' 5. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section, two independent leg-encircling sections attached to and depending from said body section so as to define therebetween and at their juncture with said body section a crotch portion, said body section having a slit opening extending longitudinally thereof and toward said crotch I portion, fastening means provided upon said body section for closing said slit opening, a pair of bladders each disposed adjacent a respective side of said slit opening and adjacent said crotch portion, pockets provided by said body section on each side of said slit opening for confining said bladders, with each pocket providing a free panel whose one edge portion is secured to said bodyl section directly adjacent the slit opening, fastening means associated with the two opposite edgeportions of said panels so as to cooperate with-v alongthe line of saidslitv opening, a plurality of bladders incorporated with and spaced longiw tudinally of each of said leg sections with each bladder disposed transversely of said section, a plurality of short tubes connecting the bladders of each leg section in a series relation, a pair of tubes each connecting a respective one of said two body bladders with that bladder of a respective one of the leg section bladder groups which is nearest such body bladder, a pair of fluid-supply tubes of which each is connected to that bladder of a respective one of the leg section bladder groups which is farthest removed from said body bladders, and means to connect said last tWo mentioned tubes to a fluid supply source.

6. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section, two independent leg-encircling sections attached to and depending from said body section so as to dene therebetween and at their juncture with said body section a crotch portion, said body section having a slit opening extending longitudinally thereof and toward said crotch portion, fastening means provided upon said body section for closing said slit opening, a pair of inatable bladders each disposed adjacent a respective side of said slit opening and adjacent said crotch portion, an inflatable bladder extending transversely about each of said leg sections so as partially to encircle the same, an outer sleeve extending transversely about each of said leg bladders and its associated leg section so as partially to encircle the latter and being positioned so that the open end portions thereof substantially coincide with those of its associated bladder, a series of straps connecting each open end portion of a respective one of said leg sleeves to its associated leg section at a location adjacent the opposite open end portion of said sleeve to cause said sleeve to exert opposed pulls on said bladder and conform it to the contour of the leg of the wearer in response to inflation of said leg bladders, and means for connecting said bladders to a source of iiuid supply.

7. A garment comprising, a body-encircling section, two independent leg-encircling sections attached to and depending from said body section so as to dene therebetween and at their juncture with said body section a crotch portion, said body section having a slit opening extending longitudinally thereof and toward said crotch portion, fastening means provided upon said body section for closing said slit opening, a pair of bladders each disposed adjacent a respective side of said slit opening and adjacent said crotch portion, pockets provided by said body section on each side of said slit opening for conning said bladders, with each pocket providing a free panel whose one edge portion is secured to said body section directly adjacent the slit opening, and fastening means associated with the two opposite edge portions of said panels so as to cooperate with said first fastening means for bringing said panels in face-to-face engagement when both fastening means are closed, whereby said bladders, when iniiated, are maintained in close engagement along the line of said slit opening.

DAVID M. CLARK. EARL I-I. WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,228,115 Holste Jan, 7, 1941 2,361,242 Rosett -1 Oct. 24, 1944 3D 2,379,497 seumeyer July 3, 1945 2,397,710 Versoy et al. Apr. 2, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 0 Number Country Date 483,111 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1938