CA2269197A1

CA2269197A1 - Neck band

Info

Publication number: CA2269197A1
Application number: CA 2269197
Authority: CA
Inventors: Diana Karapetian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-15
Filing date: 1999-04-15
Publication date: 2000-10-15

Description

TITLE: NECK BAND
The present invention relates to medical garments generally, and in particular relates to adjustable elasticized neck bands for the removal of double chins and other undesirable neck features.
Expensive and physically demanding procedures such as dieting, exercising and plastic surgery are frequently used to help alleviate undesirable aging features such as double chins, thyroid bumps and wrinkles. While contouring masks have been devised for post operative jaw support or for the correction of snoring, no simple device appears available for the reduction of jowl or wrinkles.
What is desired therefore is a novel apparatus which overcomes the limitations and problems of prior art double chin removal devices and methods. Preferably, it should be inexpensive, simple to use, and have lasting effects. It should adapt to all types and sizes of heads. It should also be comfortable, easy to maintain clean, and it 'should last a long time.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side view of the neck band installed on a person's head; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the neck band.
NECK BAND
Contouring Bandage 21 bottom 22 front 23 top 24 upper rear lower rear 26 bandage seam Tie Strings 31 string seam 32 bow tie Reference is first made to Fig. 1 which shows a preferred embodiment of the neck band (indicated generally by reference numeral 10) having basically a contouring bandage 20 and tie strings 30.
The contouring bandage can be made from a single piece of cloth or fabric which, once cut to size, may be sewn together at bandage seam 26 (see Fig. 2) to form a substantially tubular garment. The bandage has a front edge 22 which normally fits around

-2-the front part of the head of the wearer. It also has a back edge consisting of upper rear edges 24 and lower rear edges 25 which join at substantially right angles at upper points generally located above the ears. The perimetric edges of the bandage are normally re-inforced using an overcast stitch. The contouring bandage is preferably made of stretchable and breathable material such as found in bras: it may include polyester, nylon, Lycra or others. The bandage is symmetrical in shape with left and right portions equal in shape and size. As such, the garment may be made to be reversible, depending on the fabric used. The contouring bandage may be made of two or more different sizes to adapt to different size heads. It is shaped to maintain stability on the wearer's head during most activities.
The generally tubular garment fits over the head as shown in Fig. 1 with top portion 23 at the top of the head and bottom portion 21 at the bottom of the head under the chin area. At the lower ends of the upper rear edges are string seams 31 where the tie strings are sewn onto the contouring bandage. The tie strings are made of simple cotton or cotton blend ribbon fabric. To adjust the tension of the stretchable garment around the chin, the tie strings are pulled up and tied together at the desired length.
The garment, when worn properly one hour or so a day for several close days, firms up the chin and neck skin in a long lasting way. It may also be used in conjunction with skin lotions to help heal scars, skin stitches and other skin problems around the chin area. The garment can easily be hand-washed or machine-washed. It may be worn for extended periods of time without irritation.
The above description is intended in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and variations to the specific configurations described may be apparent to skilled persons in adapting the present invention to other specific applications. Such variations are

-3-intended to form part of the present invention insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of the claims below. For example, different sizes and shapes of the contouring bandage and its parts may be used. The material composition and color of the device or of any of its parts thereof may also easily be changed as may be determined to improve robustness, esthetics, or otherwise. The type of attachment or tie string may also vary without negatively affecting the intended purpose.

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