GB2037828A

GB2037828A - A Warp Knitted Elastic Support Bandage

Info

Publication number: GB2037828A
Application number: GB7942403A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Eiser AB
Current assignee: Eiser AB
Priority date: 1978-12-22
Filing date: 1979-12-07
Publication date: 1980-07-16
Also published as: BE880702A; DE2950165A1; DK538279A; ES255187Y; FI793793A; SE7813243L; IT1194604B; NO794174L; JPS5594250A; FR2444739A1; ES255187U; AU5363779A; NL7909196A; IT7928337A0

Abstract

A support bandage incorporating a warp knitted elastic fabric comprising lengthwise extending chains of meshes e.g. polyester along which extend resiliently stretchable threads 8, e.g. rubber. To prevent the bandage from stretching to such a degree when in use that it is permanently deformed, the resiliently stretchable threads pass through meshes in the mesh chains, said meshes positioned at regular intervals corresponding to a multiple of the partition of the mesh rows, from one side of the chain, through the respective mesh and out at the same side of the chain, whereby the stretchable threads become loosely interconnected with these meshes but, upon stretching of the fabric, are momentarily clamped to said fabric in said meshes. The chains are connected by non-elastic laid in threads 7, e.g. polyester. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An Elastic Support Bandage Support bandages comprising an elastic fabric are already known. Elastic textile products of this kind are either woven or knitted. In woven products, the elasticity and stretchability are achieved by spacing the threads thinly apart in the weave (loose weave) and by relaxation of the weave, and in knitted products by using rubber threads which in one known design are knitted together with all the meshes in each chain of meshes. In both cases the range of stretchability and the stretching power are difficult to control.

According to the present invention we provide a support bandage incorporating a knitted elastic fabric comprising lengthwise chains of meshes and resiliently stretchable threads arranged to extend along said mesh chains, characterised in that the stretchable threads, while being slightly tensioned, are arranged to interconnect selected meshes in the mesh chains, said meshes positioned in said mesh chains at regular intervals corresponding to a multiple of the partition between the rows of meshes, the interconnection being effected by passing the threads through said selected meshes from one side of the chain, through the respective mesh and out at the same side of the chain, whereby the stretchable threads are loosely interconnected with said meshes but, upon stretching of the fabric, are momentarily clamped thereto in said meshes.

Owing to the interconnection between the resiliently stretchable threads and the meshes at predetermined distances and because of the tightening of the meshes about the threads at the points of interconnection when the bandage is stretched, the threads will be stretched only to the extent permitted by the elongation of the meshes during use of the bandage. In other words, the knitting of the bandage may be adjusted to ensure that the elastic limit of the rubber threads is never exceeded during use of the bandage. The stretchability of the bandage can be controlled by adequate choice of the distance between the points of interconnection of the resiliently stretchable thread with the meshes. The interconnection of the stretchable threads with the meshes is easily performed during the very manufacture of the bandage, while tensioning said elastic threads slightly.

The invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawing, in which.~ Figure 1 is a broken plan view of an elastic bandage in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 illustrates on an enlarged scale the mesh pattern of said bandage.

The elastic bandage A (Figure 1) intended to be used as a support bandage is manufactured in a warp-knitting machine, the chains 1, 2 of meshes 3, 4, 5, 6 being interconnected by interconnecting threads 7. The threads of the mesh chains 1, 2which could have a density of appr. 17 meshes per centimeter-as well as the interconnecting threads 7 preferably consist of polyester having a thickness of 167 decitex. Along every second mesh chain 1 extend rubber threads 8 around which is spun a cover of nylon. The rubber threads 8, while being slightly tensioned, are interconnected with the meshes 4 in said mesh chains at regular intervals. In accordance with the embodiment illustrated, the rubber threads 8 are interconnected with every fourth mesh 4.At the points of interconnection, the rubber thread 8 passes through a mesh 4 from one side of the mesh chain 1 and emerges at the same side of the chain, and from the point of interconnection, the thread 8 extends freely to the fourth mesh 4 in the same chain with which mesh 4 the thread 8 is interconnected in the manner indicated, and so on. Upon relaxation of this knitted product the rubber threads 8 will press the intermediate meshes 3, 6, 5 in the mesh chains 1 closer together in their lengthwise extension in a slightly outwards bow. In this position the rubber threads 8 are loosely interconnected with the meshes and able to move somewhat in the lengthwise direction of the mesh chains 1. On the other hand, when the bandage is stretched during use, the rubber threads 8 are stretched and the meshes 3, 6, 5 resume their shape illustrated in Figure 1.

Upon continued stretching of the bandage the meshes are somewhat lengthened, whereby the meshes, through which pass the rubber threads 8, clamp the rubber threads to the fabric. Further elongation of the bandage is, however, prevented by the elongated meshes. Consequently, there is no risk that the rubber threads 8 -will be stretched beyond their elastic limit.

The interconnecting threads 7 are interwoven with at least those meshes 4 of the mesh chains 1 through which pass the resiliently stretchable threads 8. In this manner, the friction is somewhat increased and the threads 8 more securely clamped in the meshes 4.

The threads in the mesh chains 1, 2 and also the interconnecting threads 7 are preferably textured and consequently the product is not entirely unresilient laterally. On the other hand, in the lengthwise direction of the chains 1, 2 of meshes the product has considerable stretchability, as indicated above. Under the influence of the resiliency of the rubber threads 8 upon relaxation, the meshes resume their original position (the relaxed position).

The bandage may be more difficult to stretch if a rubber thread 8 is intertwined also with the mesh chains 2. In this manner it is possible to adjust the degree of stretchability of the bandage by introducing rubber threads in each mesh chain, every other mesh chain or every third mesh chain and so on, in the knitted fabric.

As a rule, a thickness of appr. 1380 decitex should be chosen for the rubber thread 8 but other decitex sizes are possible. Instead of rubber threads other resilient elastomer threads could be used.

As mentioned above and illustrated in the drawing, the resiliently stretchable threads 8 are interconnected with each fourth mesh in the mesh chains 1. In some types of products it might be more suitable to bind the threads 8 to every second or every third mesh, etc.

The material of the threads in the mesh chains 1 and 2 as well as that of the interconnecting threads 7 is independent of the invention. Instead of polyester some other synthetic material could be used for these threads. Also cotton threads may be used. The rubber threads 8 need not have a cover spun about them.

Claims

1. A support bandage incorporating a knitted elastic fabric comprising lengthwise chains of meshes and resiliently stretchable threads arranged to extend along said mesh chains, characterised in that the stretchable threads, while being slightly tensioned, are arranged to interconnect selected meshes in the mesh chains, said meshes positioned in said mesh chains at regular intervals corresponding to a multiple of the partition between the rows of meshes, the interconnection being effected by passing the threads through said selected meshes from one side of the chain, through the respective mesh and out at the same side of the chain, whereby the stretchable threads are loosely interconnected with said meshes but, upon stretching of the fabric, are momentarily clamped thereto in said meshes.

2. The support bandage according to claim 1, wherein a stretchable thread is arranged only in every other chain of meshes.

3. The support bandage according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the chains of meshes are mutually interconnected by interconnecting threads which interweave with at least those meshes in the mesh chains through which pass the resiliently stretchable threads.

4. The support bandage according to any one of the preceding claims, the elastic threads are interconnected with each third, fourth, or fifth mesh in the mesh chains.

5. The support bandage according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the knitted fabric is made from textured yarns.

6. The support bandage according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stretchable thread is a synthetic-fibre thread about which is spun an elastomer thread.

7. The support bandage according to claim 6, wherein the stretchable thread is a rubber thread about which is spun a nylon thread.

8. A support bandage constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the Figures of the accompanying drawing.