CA1237481A

CA1237481A - Therapeutic cloth wrapping

Info

Publication number: CA1237481A
Application number: CA000445937A
Authority: CA
Inventors: E.R. Clare Holmes
Original assignee: Med Servi-Systems Canada Ltd
Current assignee: Med Servi-Systems Canada Ltd
Priority date: 1984-01-24
Filing date: 1984-01-24
Publication date: 1988-05-31

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A therapeutic cloth wrapping for humans or animals comprising a cloth cut to a predetermined desired shape. A
flat, flexible elongated magnet with its poles lying on its opposite flat surfaces is enveloped by and secured within the cloth. The plane of the magnet is oriented similarly to that of the cloth. The magnet is secured within the cloth at a location such that, when the wrapping is normally in place on an animal or human, for which it is designed, the desired pole of the magnet lies proximate to and aligned with one or more predetermined acupuncture meridians. Such a wrapping may take the form of, for example, leg or hock protectors and blankets for horses, or vests for humans.

Description

~3~

BA5KGRO~ND_OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a therapeutic cloth wrapping for human or animals, and more particularly cloth wrappings containing magnets which are positioned in a predetermined manner to provide therapeutic benefi~ to the wearer when worn in a predetermined manner. The present invention will be described particularly in the context of benefits which it can provide for both horses and humans. No doubt the invention may be adapted for application to other animals.
Of particular significance to the present invention have been problems in treating ailments of animals and particularly horses. With the increased emphasis on racing horses at an earlier age before the tissues ~especially the bones, ligaments and tendons), have a chance to mature, increased stresses are applied to these tissues resulting in considerable damage being done. This increased stress has resul~ed in fascial tears, stretched tendons, stretched ligaments, bone ~hips, osteochrondritic lesions as well as slab fractures. All of these conditions may be slow to heal and may lead to an osteo-arthritis in the animal as it becomes older.
When the tissue becomes traumatized, essentially theee are four signs: hea~ swelling, redness and pain on palpation.
These are the four classic signs of inflammatory responge in ~5 the body. Inflammation has received considerable study over the last fifty years and to-date, while we know considerably more about it, the exact mechanism is not fully understood. It appears to be a rather complex biochemical/biophysiolo~ical reaction. The biochemical components of the reaction include the release of histamines, bradykinnins, SRS-A as well as killikinnins. These are short chain polypeptides that are responsible for initiating and propagating the complex chemical reaction we know as inflamma~ion. Coupled with this reaction is also a neurophysiological reaction. The neurophysiological reaction involves the constant firing of C fiber nerves as well as spasms established by the alpha and beta motor components of the nervous system. Coupled with these two reactions is the obvious leakage of intra-cellular fluids to the extra-cellular compartment of ~he biological system. This in fact changes the ionic strength and the osmolarity of the fluids both within the cell and extra-cellularly. This change in osmolari~y creates a change in the magnetic polarization of the biological sys~em and as well sets up a small electrical charge. This leakage of fluids to the cell is part and parcel of the biochemical neurophysiological reaction known as inflammation.
The biochemical and neurophysical aspect of inflammation all tend to be circular in na~ure and production of one leads to production of ~he other. The cycle has a potential of being self-potentiating.

2~ To protect and support the tendons of a horse a~d further protect the horse from sprains or bruises resulting ~3~

from objects striking the legs or joints of the animal, leg wraps for the lower portions of a horse's leg and hock protectors of various constructions and styles have been developed. For example, see the hock protector described and illustrated in ~yman U.S. Patent No. 3,209,516 issued October 5, 196~, and the leg wraps described and illustra~ed in Schubert U.S. Patent No. 3,193,984 issued July 13~ 1965 and Pontarella U.S. Patent No. 3,851,447 issued December 3, 1974.
Other patents of general background interest directed towards protective devices to be used for the protection of parts and limbs of the human body or for therapeutic treatment are Canadian Patent No. 1,070,051 of Porner issued January 22, 1980 and Canadian Pa~ent No. 1,136,017 of Benckhuijsen issued November 23, 1982.
Therapeutic benefits of magnetism have been s~udied and, although the subject is of some controversy in the medical profession, there is a growing awareness of the beneficial effects of the interaction of magnetism with different parts of the body, such as the soothing of pains or the reduction of inflammation. More recent discoveries in ~his area have determined that the body's reaction to magnetic fields will vary depending on the polarity of the magnetic field to which the body is exposed. Thus, for example, it has been discovered that the north pole of a magnet affects body tissues as follows:
ta) vaSo-constriction ~b) increased alkalinity (c) sedation or inhibition (d) increase in potassium ions (e) decreasa in abnormal calcium ions On the other hand, the south pole affects tissues in the following ways:
(a) vaso~dilation (b) increased acidi~y (c) stimulation (d) increase in sodium Why magnetism so affects ~he body is not fully understood, although it is believed that tissue cells, nerve cells, blood cells and cells in generally are governed by biological electrical energy which in turn is affected by magnetism. Generally speaking the south polar field of a magnet st~engthens biological systems while the nor~h pole affords relief of pain and has the ability to slow infections, nerve pain and swellings. In this regard, the work of Leonard J. Allan of Margate, Kent, England has been pioneering.
Patents have been granted in recent years on medical treatment devices for humans comprising waist or wrist bands in which a plurality of circular magne~s forming a matrix are secured. (See Nakayama U.S. Patents Nos. 3,921,620 issued November 25, 1975 and 3,943,912 issued March 16, 1976.) It is an objec~ of the present invention to provide a therapeutic cloth wrapping for humans or animals which provides ~herapeutic benefi~s ~o the wearer through the use of properly ~L~3~7~

posit~oned and properly controlled magnetic fields.

SUMM~RY OF THE PRESENT IN~ENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a ~herapeutic cloth wrapping for human or animals comprising a cloth cut to a predetermined desired shape. A flat, flexible elongated magnet with its poles lying on its opposite flat surfaces is enveloped by and secured within the cloth. The plane of the magnet is oriented similarly to that of the cloth. The magnet is secured within the cloth at a location such that, when the wrapping is in place, the desired pole of the magnet lies proximate to and aligned with one or more desired acupuncture meridians.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sides of the wrapping are colour coded to identify which side exposes i5 the south pole of the magnet and which side exposes the north pole thereof.
The therapeutic cloth wrappings according to the present invention may be adapted as a leg wrap or a hock wrap for horses, a blanket for horses or a vest for humans~ to mention only a few of the applications of the invention herein defined. The specific construction of such embodiments of the invention, and their specific uses and benefits will be described in more detail hereinaf~er.

7'~

BRI~F DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will beccme apparen~ upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a therapeutic cloth wrapping according to the present invention in the form of a leg wrap for horses;
FIGURE 2 is a section view oE the leg wrap of FIGURE 1 taken through line II-II in FIGURE l;
FIGU~E 3 is a partial view in phantom of the front legs of a horse on one of which has been properly secured a leg wrap according to FIGURE l;
FIGURE 4 is a side view of a wrap for a horse's hock according to the present invention;
FIGURE 5 is a perspec~ive view of a horse on which a horse blanket according to the presen~ invention is secured; and FIGURE 6 is a view from the rear of a vest for humans according to the present invention.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with example embodiments, it will be understood that i~ is not intended to limit the invention to such embodimen~s~ On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatîves, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invetion as defined by the appended claims .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, similar features have been given similar reference numerals.
Turning to FIGURE 1 there is shown a leg wrap 2, according to the present invention, specifically designed to wrap about either the front or rear leg of a horse, to be worn svery day as a stable bandage for the relief of musculo-skeletal soreness and lameness found in the athletic horse (eg.
race horses). The wrap is made from a pair of polyester pieces of cloth, of peripheral shape as illustrated, and similarly cut and stitched together along their edges. One such piece 4 is for example white and the other, 6, blue. A fla~ ceramic magnet 8, of strength of about 400 gauss, having dimensions of abou~ one-eighth inch in ~hickness and one inch in wid~h, is stitched in position between polyester pieces 4 and 6 parallel to sides 9 and 10 of leg wrap 2, but closer to side 10 than side 9 as illustrated. Sides 9 and 10 are pref~rably each of abou~ nine inches in length, the distance between sides 9 and lO being about seventeen inches and the distance between points ll and lZ being about fourteen inches. The width of wrap 2 between sides 9 and 10 increasas uniformly Erom those sides to ~he points 11 and 12, the line joinins those points being about six inches away from side lO. Magnet 8 is stitched within leg ~ ~ 3'7 wrap 2 so that its center is about five inches from edge 9~
Magnet 8 is construc~ed so tha~ its south and north poles lie along its flat sides. This magnet is secured within leg wrap 2 so that its south pole side 1~ is exposed towards or is facing the blue side 6 of the leg wrap, and the north pole 16 is exposed to or faces the white side 4 of wrap 2. As can be seen in FIGURE Z, quilt batting 18 is secured between polyester pieces 4 and 6 on either side of magnet 8 by appropriate quilting stitching 20 to prevent shifting of the batting.
Magnet 8 is positioned in a predetermined fashion within leg wrap 2 so that, when it is wrapped about the lower leg of a horse, either the so~th or north polar ~ace of the magnet will be positioned on the inside of the leg, normally in a generally parallel orientation to, and proximal to or o~er acupu~cture meridian lines which contain acupuncture points corresponding to main acupuncture points of the body. In particular the 1I4, SI2, LulO meridian lines and ~he Hourey point are intended to be affected by the magnetic field from magnet 8, these meridian lines being affected by such magnetic field when the leg wrap is wound so that ~he magnet is positioned at the inside of the horse's front leg, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The magnet is positioned, in a vertical sense, between the horse's knee and fetlock joint.
Under normal conditions, leg wraps 2 may be used as stable bandage~ providing protection for the horse's legs and 3i~'~8~

providing pressure to restrict accumulation o body fluids in the front legs, as in the case of traditional horse's leg wraps. When a leg wrap 2 is wrapped about each fron~ leg of a horse with magnet 8 positioned as described above, the effects of the south polar field (blue side 6 against the horse's leg) is one of strengthening, while the effect o~ the north polar field (white side 4 of leg wrap against the horse's leg~ is one which promotes healing. More specifically, it has been found that the south polar field, when exposed in ~his fashion, increases blood circulation of the horse, disperses fluid, increases protein and increases acidity while the north polar field reduces swelling, acts to sedate pain, draws fluid, dissolves cholesterol, arrests protein activity, decreases abnormal calcium and increases alkalinity. Thus, while under normal conditions the south polar field of the magnet on the horse's leg would be positioned proximal to the meridian lines as previously indicated, in case of bruise or injury to another portion of the horse's lags, the leg wrap may be positioned so that the north polar field of the magnet is proximal to the bruise or injury to promote hsaling thereof. While these legs wraps have been described in conjunction with the front legs of a horse, it will be readily understood that they may have equally beneficial therapeutic effects when wrapped about lower portions of the rear legs of a horse, again wîth ~he magnets vertically oriented and proximal to acupuncture meridian lines running through the rear legs of the horse.

In a similar fashion, hock protector 22, as shown in FIGURE 4, has been developed for protection and strengthening of the hocks of horses. The hock protector is made of white polyester piece 4 and blue polyester piece 6 within which a 5pair of flat ceramic magnets, as described previously, are secured as illustrated, the north pole side exposed towards or facing the white polyes~er piece 4 and the south polar face exposed towards or facing the blue side. The hocX protec~or îs contoured as a cap, to fit snugly about the hock of a horse's 10leg, and is secured therein by straps 24 having bristles 26 on one side, which are releasably received by bristle hooks 23 secured to the side edges of hock protector 22. Again the magnets within the hock protector are intended to be positioned proximal to or over acupuncture meridian lines corresponding to 5those which were previously referred to with respect to leg wrap 2. The hock protector acts in a similar way as described with respect to the leg wrap, when either the south magnetic field (blue polyester piece 6) or north magnetic field (white polyester piece 4) is facing the horse's hock. Also hock 20protector 22 is preferably provided with guilting between polyester pieces 4 and 6, as in the case of leg wrap 2.
In yet another application of the invention as applied to horses, a horse blanket 30, as shown in FIGURE 5, has been developed. A pair of elongated ceramic magnets 34, of a 25construction similar to that described in respect of leg wrap Z
and hock protec~or 22, are spaced on either side of the center line of the horse blanket as illustrated, the magnets being positioned about one and a half inchas from the center of the blanket. The blanket is similarly made of a white polyester fabric 4 and a blue polyester fabric 6 between which are secured these magnets 34 and appropriate quilting. The magnets again have their poles orien~ed in a similar fashion, south towards the blue fabric and north towards the white.
These magnets 8 are thus positioned to be over or proximal to the acupuncture bladder meridian. The portion of the bladder meridian extending from approximately cervical vertebra six (6) to coccageal vertebras are known in acupuncture as the association points. These points are important in acupuncture for treatment as well a~ diagnosing disturbances in energy flow within the meridians. Hence by treating the association points on the back, the energy flow through the meridian can be balanced and brought back to homeostasis. As well, the magnetic strip at the posterior end of the blanket will also effec~ gall bladder meridian twenty-nine (29) and thirty (30), two very important points in treating stifle lameness in the horse. In addition, in the front portion of 32 of blanket 30, extending below the horse's head and neck, are a pair of magnets 35, of a construction similar to magnets 8 and similarly oriented with respect to polar faces and fabric colour. These magnets are secured within blanket 30 so that, when the blanket is normally worn by a horse, they will lie over or proximal to the Li 12 and Lu 1 - ~ ~37'~

(lung) acupuncture meridian on the horse's chest. Appropriate straps 36 are provided on the blanket to assist securing it in position on a horse.
The blanket is reversible, the side on which it is worn depending upon the desired effect of the magnets for either treatment, (for example, in the case of pain) or strengthening (for general well-being of the horse). The blanket may also be used as well in circumstances where a normal horse blanket would otherwise be used.
The ~herapeutic cloth wrappings of the present invention have been found also to have similar use and application to humans. Thus there have been developed knee bandages and elbow bandages having similar ma~nets secured therein, in a similar fashion to the wraps which have been previously described for horses, to be worn by humans, the magnets again being normally positioned, when the ~raps are worn, in a particular prede~ermined manner with respect to acupuncture meridian lines of the wearer.
A particular application, for humans, is the vest 40 illustrated in FIGURE 6. In the case of such vests, similar magnets 8 are secured between the fabric of the vest, with similar poles facing the same direction, the mag~ets extending along the back each positioned about three inches from the center line of the back of the vest, as illustrated, to lie over the acupuncture meridian bladder passing through ~he human back when the vest is worn. Wi~h the vest, the bladder ~2~7~

meridian is again the target area for therapy. This applies likewise to the horse blanket where the same meridian îs the association point and the same aim of therapy. As well, the vest is designed to get large intestine meridian point twelve (12) and large intestine point thirteen (13) and to a degree, gall bladder points twenty (Z0), twenty-one (21), twenty-two (22), twenty-three (23) and twenty-four (24), four very important pain points with respect to the shoulder and upper extremities. Again vest 40 is intended to be reversible, and is made from different coloured fabric so that the user can distinguish between the treatment side of the vest (north polar exposure) and the strengthening side of the vest (south polar exposure).
Thus ~here has been provided in accordance with the invention a therapeutic cloth wrapping that fully satisfies ~he objects, aims and advantage6 set forth above. While the invention has bee described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordin~ly, it is intsnded to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A therapeutic cloth wrapping for human or animals comprising a cloth cut to a predetermined desired shape, a flat flexible elongated magnet with its poles lying on its opposite flat surfaces enveloped by and secured within the cloth, the plane of the magnet being oriented similarly to that of the cloth and the magnet being secured within the cloth at a location such that, when the wrapping is normally in place on the human or animal for which it is designed, the desired pole of the magnet lies proximate to and aligned with one or more desired acupuncture meridians.

2. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim wherein the sides of the wrapping are colour coded to identify which side exposes the south pole of the magnet and which side exposes the north pole thereof.

3. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim provided with a magnet of about 400 gauss strength.

4. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 3 wherein the magnet is formed from ceramic magnetic tape about one inch in width and one-eighth inch in thickness.

5. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 2 particularly adapted for a front leg of a horse, the wrapping having a pair of parallel sides with a single magnet secured within the cloth parallel thereto closer to one of the sides than the other.

6. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 5 wherein the wrapping is about seventeen inches in width between the parallel sides, and wherein the parallel sides are both approximately nine inches in length.

7. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 6 wherein the wrapping increases uniformly in width between the parallel sides to a maximum width of about fourteen inches along a line parallel to the edges and positioned about six inches away from one of these sides, the magnet being secured within the cloth near to this line between this line and the nearer side thereto.

8. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 7 wherein the wrapping comprises two different coloured, similar shaped pieces of polyester fabric stitched along their edges, and having stitched within quilt batting on either side of the magnet.

9. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 1 for use as a hock protector for horses, the wrapping being contoured as a cap shape to fit about the hock of a horse's rear leg and provided with means to secure it in position about the hock.

10. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 9 provided with a pair of magnets each about four inches long, positioned end to end within the wrapping with similar poles facing similar surfaces of the wrapping.

11. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 10 provided with straps having bristles releasably securable to bristle hook pieces along the edges of the wrapping to permit releasably securing the cap in place on the hock.

12. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 10 wherein the wrapping comprises two different coloured, similar shaped pieces of polyester fabric stitched along their edges, and having batting quilted within.

13. A therapeutic cloth wrapping for animals consisting of a blanket for a horse, a pair of magnets extending in parallel fashion the length of the blanket to sit on the horse's back on either side of the center thereof and spaced from each other a distance of approximately three inches, similar poles of the magnets facing similar surfaces of the blanket.

14. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 13, the blanket being provided with a portion to extend across the horse's front below its neck, this portion and the rest of the blanket defining a hole for the horse's head and neck, a pair of magnets being secured within this front portion spaced on either side of the center thereof in parallel fashion and separated from each other by a distance of approximately five inches, the magnets being in proximately vertical orientation when the blanket is worn by a horse and having similar poles to those of the other magnets facing similar surfaces of the blanket.

15. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 13 further provided with straps to keep the blanket in position when worn by a horse.

16. A therapeutic cloth wrapping according to claim 14 wherein the wrapping comprises two different coloured, similar shaped pieces of polyester fabric stitched along their edges, and having batting guilting within.

17. A therapeutic cloth wrapping for humans in the form of a vest, in accordance with claim 2, a pair of elongated magnets being secured within the cloth of the back portion of the vest, the magnets being secured in position parallel to each other extending along a major proportion of the back of the vest at a distance of about three inches from the center of the back, the magnets being positioned with similar poles facing similar surfaces of the vest.