AU2004100943B4 - A magnetic therapeutic overlay - Google Patents

Description

~*llh~~*nh nr.lrlrr rlul III u-nuv-u us4 uo:rorM rn urwynnes pat&t attorneys 61 7 33421292 T-609 P 005/017 F-430 0 o A MAGNETIC THERAPEUTIC OVERLAY c>

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SFIELD OF INVENTION O The present invention relates to methods and devices associated with the therapeutic use of magnets. The present invention has application but not exclusive application for treatment of medical conditions and in particular treatment of S incontinence and other urinary medical conditions. Reference to the treatment of Incontinence in the body of the specification Is by way of example only and the S Invention may have application to other medical conditions and fields.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Magnets and magnetic therapy have been used to treat pain, incontinence and other urinary medical conditions. Magnets have been Incorporated into clothing in order to expose the wearer to magnetic fields to treat a medical condition. By way of example several patent specifications including US6332862, US5950239, CA02309479, CN1190554, CN1146365, CN1141140 and JP2002054002 disclose articles of clothing where magnets have been sewn or incorporated.into clothing.

A problem with current clothing incorporating magnets is that they are relatively bulky and cumbersome to wear. Furthermore, little consideration appears to be given to arranging the magnets to achieve maximum therapeutic benefit. As well, undergarments incorporating magnets require regular washing and consequently, a person will require two or more of the undergarments to maintain the therapeutic treatment.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00982716 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:16 Date 2004-11-03 10-RUG-2006 10:40 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:02626s37999 P.1/23 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 0 Cl it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic device that Sovercomes at least in part one or more of the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION eC In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a magnetic Sdevice for applying a magnetic treatment, including 0 an adjustable member for adjusting the device about a body portion; Slocating means for use in positioning the device about the body portion to achieve therapeutic benefit; two or more magnets fixed to an overlay portion, each of said magnets are supported by a stiffener member; said overlay portion is adapted to wear over undergarments, wherein said overlay portion and adjustable member cooperate to wear the device over undergarments.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a garment overlay for applying a magnetic treatment including an adjustable member for adjusting the overlay about a body portion; locating means tor use in positioning the overlay about the body portion to achieve therapeutic benefit; two or more magnets fixed to an overlay portion, each of said magnets are supported by a stiffener member; said overlay portion is adapted to wear over undergarments, wherein said overlay portion and adjustable member cooperate to wear the overlay over undergarments.

In another aspect the invention broadly resides in a therapeutic garment overlay wearable over underwear including COMS ID No: SBMI-04418996 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:46 Date 2006-08-10 10-RUG-2006 10:40 From:WYNNES PFT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.17/23 -3-

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C an adjustable member for adjusting the overlay about a-body portion by ;Z lengthening or shortening the adjustable member thereby enabling the overlay Sto be fitted over the underwear irrespective of the thickness of the underwear; locating means for locating the overlay about the body portion in an Soptimal therapeutic position; Scover member for supporting a plurality of magnets and shaped to be fitted over the underwear irrespective of the thickness of the underwear, each Sof said magnets is spaced from each other by a stiffener member that maintains the spacing of the magnets and substantially prevents joining of adjacent magnets because of magnetic attraction; wherein in use the garment overlay is able to position the magnets to provide a beneficial therapeutic effect irrespective of the underwear being worn.

Said overlay portion preferably serves only to hold the magnets in position.

Said overlay portion preferably comprises of minimal material.

Said adjustable member preferably is a band that can be lengthened or shortened depending on the size of the body portion. Preferably the band is lengthened or shortened by means of adjustable fasteners. Where the body portion is the waist of the person, the band is preferably lengthened or shortened by means of detachable clips. Preferably the band has a plurality of clips to provide the wearer with a choice of adjustment. Preferably the plurality of clips form a series in alignment on the band. More preferably the clips are press studs.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04418996 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:46 Date 2006-08-10 10-RUG-2006 10:41 From:WYNNES PRT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:02683999 P.18/23 -4o The adjustable band may also be elasticized to assist with maintaining C' the desired position.

SAlternately the band may have hook and eye fasteners such as Velcro Sfor adjusting the band.

In a preferred embodiment the band can be opened to provide two free ends. In another preferred embodiment the band can include one or more Sportions that can be separated from each other. Where the band include one or more portions, insert portions may be added to lengthen the band.

SThe locating means may be associated with the band. Where the garment overlay is for overlaying underpants, the locating means is preferably a band shaped for locating over the wearer's hip bone. The adjustable member is preferably a band that can be lengthened or shortened by means of adjustable fasteners, and the locating means is the band shaped for locating the overlay over the wearer's hip bone.

Preferably said cover member has a high Cut leg so that the overlay can be filled over the the underwear.

In another aspect, the invention broadly resides in a garment overlay for positioning over underpants or similar undergarment worn by a wearer, including an adjustable band that has a plurality of fasteners for lengthening or shortening the band; and an cover member or overlay portion shaped to cover the lower torso region without covering the legs, a plurality ot magnets fixed to the cover member or overlay portion and supported in position by a stiffener, wherein COMS ID No: SBMI-04418996 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:46 Date 2006-08-10 10-AUG-2006 10:41 From:WYNNES PAT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.19/23 Ia o said band is shaped to fit around a wearer's waist and over the wearer's hip 0 CA bones for location purposes to align and orientate said magnets.

Preferably there is at least one pair of magnets laterally spaced apart Sand the spacing is maintained by the stiffener. Preferably there are three pairs of laterally spaced apart magnets on a front section of the overlay r Cf portion. Preferably there are four pairs of laterally spaced apart magnets on a

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Srear section of the overlay portion. Preferably there is a single magnet fixed at 0 the gusset section of the overlay portion. More preferably there are three 0 0 pairs of laterally spaced apart magnets on a front section of the overlay portion, four pairs of laterally spaced apart magnets on a rear section of the overlay portion and there is a single magnet fixed at the gusset section ot the overlay portion.

The overlay portion is preferably in the shape of a high leg-cut type garment with ample material to overlay an underpant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a view of the stiffener; Figure 2 is a view of the front of the garment overlay; and Figure 3 is a view of the rear of the garment overlay.

COMS ID No: SBMI-04418996 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:46 Date 2006-08-10 03-NOV-2004 06:17PM FROM-Wynnes pat&ta attorneys 61 T 33421292 T-6D9 P 00/017 F-430 N DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT O With reference to the figures, there is shown a garment overlay 10 for z positioning over a pair of underpants. The garment overlay 10 is In the shape of a high leg-cut brief where the lower torso region is covered and the legs are unrestricted and not covered.

The garment overlay 10 has an elasticized band 11 for maintaining the o position of the garment overlay 10 about the waist of the wearer. The band 11 also O has two series of complementary press studs 12, 13 on either side of the front (N portion 14 of the garment overiay 10. Each series of complementary press studs 12, 13 consists of two spaced apart pairs of press studs 15, 16 for lengthening or shortening the length of the band 11. The ability to lengthen and shorten the band length is important so that a person can wear the garment overlay 10 over clothes of different thickness and the band 10 can be adjusted to accommodate different thickness from the use of different types or number of underclothes including absorbent pads. The ability to lengthen and shorten the band length Is also Important so that the band can be positioned above the hip bone In order to correctly align and orientate the magnets 17 particularly with respect to a pair of spaced apart magnets corresponding to L2 and L3 vertebrae in the spine.

The front portion 14 Is substantially Y-shaped with three pairs of magnets 17 laterally spaced apart a predetermined distance. The spacing between each pair of magnets 17 Is predetermined to provide an optimal therapeutic treatment. The spacing between each pair of magnets 17 Is maintained by a stiffener 18 which prevents the magnets from attaching to each other. The stiffener 18 is preferably made of a plastic and more preferably polypropylene.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00982716 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:16 Date 2004-11-03 03-NOV-2004 06:17PM FROM-Wynnes pat&tm attorney 61 7 33421292 T-609 P.010/017 F-430 -6- SThe rear portion 20 is substantially Y-shaped with four pairs of laterally o spaced apart magnets 17. Each pair of spaced apart magnets 17 is supported by a Z stiffener 18. The narrowest parts of the front portion 14 and rear portion 20 are joined to form the gusset portion 21. The gusset portion 21 has a single magnet 17 supported by a stiffener 18.

The cut of the front portion 14 and rear portion 20 In association with the band 11 provide a non restrictive garment that is relatively cool and comfortable to wear S compared with other magnetic garments. Furthermore, the garment overlay 10 Is (N relatively easy to put on because there are no restrictive leg portions.

The garment overlay 10 Is manufactured by forming the garment without magnets. Having a plurality of stiffeners 18 which have a cloth cap 23 on each end and together are sewn in position on the garment. The one or more magnets 17 are then inserted into each cap 23 and the ends of each cap 23 are sewn to retain the magnets 17 In the desired position. The position of the magnets 17 is aligned with the relevant acupressure points of a person.

ADVANTAGES

The preferred embodiment of the garment overlay provides the advantage that It can be worn over different types of underclothes. Because the garment overlay can be worn as an overlay, it is not necessary to wash the garment overlay after each use as the garment overlay is not used as an undergarment., In order for the garment overlay to serve as a magnetic therapeutic device, the location means for aligning and orientating the magnets needed development to accommodate the underlying underclothes.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00982716 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:16 Date 2004-11-03 03-NOV-2004 06:17PM FROMK-ynnes patttm attorneys 6t 7 33421292 T-809 P.011/0IT F-430 S-7 0 SIt will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of O illustrative example of this Invention, all such and other modifications and variations cZ thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not Intended to S exclude other additives, components, Integers or steps.

0 0 ci COMS ID No: SBMJ-00982716 Received by IP Australia: Time 19:16 Date 2004-11-03

Claims (1)

10-RUG-2006 10:38 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.8/23 -8i- NO 0 O CLAIMS 1. A therapeutic garment overlay wearable over underwear including an adjustable member for adjusting the overlay about a body portion by lengthening or shortening the adjustable member thereby enabling the overlay \to be fitted over the underwear irrespective of the thickness of the underwear; Slocating means for locating the overlay about the body portion in an o optimal therapeutic position; co cover member for supporting a plurality of magnets and shaped to be fitted over the underwear irrespective of the thickness of the underwear, each of said magnets is spaced from each other by a stiffener member that maintains the spacing of the magnets and substantially prevents joining of adjacent magnets because of magnetic attraction; wherein in use the garment overlay is able to position the magnets to provide a beneficial therapeutic effect irrespective of the underwear being worn. 2. A garment overlay as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adjustable member is a band that can be lengthened or shortened by means of adjustable fasteners, and the locating means is the band shaped for locating the overlay over the wearer's hip bone, said cover member has a high cut leg so that the overlay can be fitted over the underwear. 3. A garment overlay for positioning over underwear worn by a wearer, I. including COMS ID No: SBMI-04418996 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:46 Date 2006-08-10 10-RUG-2006 10:39 From:WYNNES PRT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:02621837999 P.9/23 -9- 0 an adjustable band that has a plurality of fasteners for lengthening or shortening the band; a cover member shaped to cover the lower torso region without o covering the legs, a plurality of magnets fixed to the cover member and s supported in position by a stiffener, wherein said band is shaped to fit around a wearer's waist and over the wearer's hip bones for location purposes to 0 o align and orientate said magnets. 0 lu 4. A garment overlay for positioning over underwear worn by a wearer as claimed in claim 3 wherein there are three pairs of laterally spaced apart magnets on a front section of the overlay portion, four pairs of laterally spaced apart magnets on a rear section of the overlay portion and there is a single magnet fixed at the gusset section of the overlay portion; said overlay portion is in the shape of a high leg-cut type garment with ample material to overlay the underwear. A garment overlay as substantially described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. 201 DATED THIS TENTH DAY OF AUGUST 2006 GT MJ HOLDINGS PTY LTD by their Patent Attorneys Wynnos Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys COMS ID No: SBMI-04418996 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:46 Date 2006-08-10