US3116736A

US3116736A - Body support

Info

Publication number: US3116736A
Application number: US25348A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sydney S Alberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-04-28
Filing date: 1960-04-28
Publication date: 1964-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-07
Also published as: BE603092A; GB988573A; CH386619A

Description

s. s. ALBERTS BODY SUPPORT Jan. 7,1964

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28. 1960 ATTORNEY s. s. ALBERTS BODY SUPPORT Jan. 7, 1964 Filed April 28; 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PIC-5.9

FIG.8

Jan. 7, 1964 I s. s. ALBERTS 3,116,736

' BODY SUPPORT Filed April 28, 1960 I v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Office ddliijdb Patented Jan. 7, 1964 3,116,736 BQDY SUPPORT Sydney S. Albert's, 44 E. 32nd St, Yonkers, NY. Filed Apr. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 25,34s 12 Claims. (Cl. 128-524) This invention relates to devices for supporting certain portions of the human body and more especially for applying external pressure for the control of varicose veins and other pathological conditions. In areas of the body, such as the vulval area, where configuration renders impossible the use of conventional devices such as bandages, tapings or elastic stockings there has heretofore been available no adequate means or device for meeting these requirements.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device which will aiford the required support and by which a steady, continuous and regulated external pressure may be applied to the vulval area of the body in order to control varicose veings during pregnancy and for use in the treatment of such conditions as cystocele, rectocele and the like.

It is imperative that the required upward pressure be applied without tendency for the pressure-applying member or members to fold upwardly and enter between the labia majora, as that would occasion extreme discomfort. A specific problem, therefore, is to provide a construction which will overcome any such tendency, and which at the same time will not cause chafing.

In accordance with the invention a centrally positioned strip, or element, and two crossed strips, or elements, all of flexible material, are arranged in contact with one another, the central strip being advantageously placed above, or inside of, the two crossed strips. The central strip is of an appropriate width to span the labia majora and extend in the length wise direction thereof from the front of the body somewhat above the vulva back towards the buttocks. Advantageously, all three of these strips are of elastic material but, if desired, any or all may be nonelastic or non-elastic in part.

The other two strips are of approximately equal width, but advantageously are somewhat narrower than the central strip. They cross one another at an acute angle, the angular extent of which depends upon the size and configuration of the wearer and enables the device to conform to persons of considerable difference in size and shape.

Both the central strip and the two crossed strips are supported at their opposite ends and advantageously are supported independently of each other, although they may be connected by one or more stitch lines. The means of support is constituted of an appropriate structure encircling the body such, for example, as a belt-like device, or a girdle.

The front and back ends of the central strip or element are connected to the belt-like member or girdle by suitable straps which are advantageously elastic but which may be non-elastic, or non-elastic in part. The straps at the back are approximately vertical. These straps at the front constitute a part of the belt-like device whereas when a girdle is used the front straps are attached at the opposite side portions of the girdle. The lower ends of these straps are attached to the front and back ends of the central strip or element by connectors which advantageously may be non-elastic, or non-elastic in part. A strap fastener, such as a clasp or buckle is included in each of the straps both front and rear in order that the device may be properly adjusted to the body and under such tension as to supply the required upward pressure.

The front and back end potrions of the two crossed strips or elements are supported in a similar way to the central strip and advantageously by elastic connection to the same two straps at the front and the same two straps at the back which support the central element or strip. Means may be provided for varying the relative tension applied to the ends of the central strip with respect to the two crossed strips. Advantageously separate connectors are attached between the back end of the central strip or element and the two rear vertical supporting straps. If desired, however, these connectors may be omitted, and the back end of the central element attached by stitching to the pair of crossed elements or strips.

To obtain full advantage of the invention the device comprises the three elements above described, and the single element is placed above the two crossed elements. Under certain circumstances, or with certain individuals, success in applying the desired external pressure can be achieved with the single element disposed below or outwardly of the two crossed elements or strips.

The invention will be better understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following description of several embodiments of the invention.

in these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a supporting device for use during pregnancy, having a belt-type body encircling member and with all parts in stretched and operative position;

PEG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the parts of the supporting device in developed or flat condition before applying tension;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a detail of FIG. 1;

PEG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4 as indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the parts in stretched condition;

FIG. 7 is a view of the supporting device of FIG. 3 curved to approximately the position it occupies when applied to the body and before applying tension;

FIG. 8 is a view of a modified form of the supporting device;

FIG. 9 shows another modification of the supporting device;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 showing a further modification;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a girdle-type of body encircling member;

12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing a modification;

FIG. 12a is a fragmentary view showing the attachment of the crossed straps;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, but illustrating the use of the supporting device for a different purpose, namely, for the treatment of cystocele and recto-cele;

FIG. 14 is a view of a modified form of the supporting device of FIG. 13.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGS. 1 to 7, the supporting device which is indicated generally by numeral 20 comprises two principal elements, namely, a central element or strip 21 and two similar

crossed strips

22 and 23. Desirably these three strips are all of elastic webbing of a heavy type such as surgical elastic stretchable lengthwise but not widthwise. Advantageously, th central strip Zll is somewhat wider than the other two strips so that it will span, or cover, the labia majora, and its length is somewhat longer than the vulva.

The belt-like body encircling member 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of a back portion 25 of heavy elastic material and of a suitable width so as not to cut into the flesh, this member being made in two sections interconnected by a hook-and-eye connector 26 to facilitate application and adjustment. Two straps 2'7 and 23 are joined to the respective opposite ends of member 25 by adjustable hook-and-eye fasteners one of which is 3 shown at 2 in FIG. 2. Each of the

straps

27 and 28 has a double end portion which extends forwardly and downwardly on the body through a ring 3% and is then secured by means of a clasp member 31 so as to be adjustable in length. Rings 36 are not visible in FIGS. 3 and 6 which view the parts from above and laid out fiat.

The forward end of central strip 21 (lower end in FIGS. 3 and 6 and upper end in FIG. 7), and the corresponding ends of the two crossed

strips

22 and 23 are joined to the

front straps

27 and 23. The latter two strips being crossed project generally in the direction of the respective straps 27 and 2S and are provided each with connecting members or

connectors

32 and 33 which carry adjacent their upper ends the respective rings 3@ to which

straps

27 and 23 are respectively attached.

Connectors

32 and 33 are alike and each consists of a piece of elastic webbing narrower than the

crossed strips

22 and 23 and folded on itself with its ends stitched at 34 to the upper end of one of the

crossed strips

22 and 23. Near the folded end (the upper end in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7) of each connector 32 and 3 3 the two strips are firmly secured together by two parallel lines of stitching 35 which are spaced apart appropriately to secure one of the rings thereto and leaving an extension 36 above the ring which serves to prevent the metal ring from coming in contact With the flesh of the wearer.

The connecting members or connectors 37 which support the front end of the central strip or element 21 are advantageously of single pieces of elastic with one end secured to the

respective connectors

32 and 33 near the rings 30, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6. Connectors 37 in these figures are secured by means of one of the stitching lines which hold rings 3t whereas FIG. 7 shows a slightly modified arrangement where connectors 37 are secured by a separate stitching 38 at a point spaced a short distance from stitching 35.

Advantageously, the amount of tension applied to central strip 21 should be adjustable with respect to the tension applied to the crossed strips 22 and 23. Accordingly the opposite ends of connectors 37 are attached to member 21 each by means of a buckle or clasp 39. Referring to FIG. 7 buckle 39 is secured to the end of central strip 21 by means of a loop at of fabric which is stitched to member 21. The connector 37 passes through the buckle and has a short extension 41 therebeyond, the length of which depends upon the adjustment of the tension. It will be understood that if desired connectors 37 may be stitched directly to the end of element 21 thereby omitting the buckle and the adjustment feature.

It will be noted that the two connectors 37 are not in alignment with central element 21 when under tension, but on the other hand, diverge from one another symmetrically with respect to the center line of the central element because of their connnection to the

straps

27 and 28 at the sides of the body. This is an important feature of the invention because when the device is in position and properly adjusted to produce the required upward pressure, the diverging pulls at the front end of the central element 21, and also at the back end, as will appear later, not only maintain a direct tension lengthwise of element 21, but also place this element under tension sidewise. This contributes to the maintenance of the central element 21 in crosswise fiat condition shown in FIG. 7 so as to prevent tendency of the center thereof to fold upwardly and enter between the labia majora.

The support of the back end of central element 21 and also of the rear ends of crossed

strips

22 and 23 is not unlike that of the front end, and only a brief description is, therefore, required. Depending from the back portion 25 of the body encircling member 24 there are two approximately

vertical straps

42 and 43. These may be mere loops of fabric passing through rings 44 at their lower ends and stitched to back portion 25, or they may each include a buckle such as buckle 31 for purposes of adjustment. Such a buckle is indicated at 45 in FIG. 2.

The two rings 44 are attached to the respective connectors 46 for the back end of each of the crossed strips 22 and 23 and also to connectors 47 for the back end of element 21. Connectors 46 are like

connectors

32 and 33 at the front of the device, and connectors 47 are like connectors 37 except they are somewhat longer. Like the connectors at the front,

connectors

45 and 47 may be of elastic material throughout or they may be elastic only in part. This applies also to

straps

27, 28, 42 and 43.

Referring now to FIG. 4 the supporting device is desirably provided with an absorbent pad 48, usually disposable, and removably held in position on the upper or inner surface of the supporting structure. In FIGS. 1 and 4 pad 48 rests upon central element 21 and is held in position thereon by means of two loops 4-9 which are provided near each end of element 21. The pad is provided with extensions 56) at each end which are narrower than the width of the pad and which are placed within loops Extension 50 at the front end of the pad may advantageously be somewhat longer than the extension at the back end.

In FIG. 8 a modification of the construction of the supporting device is shown. Like supporting device 20, that shown in FIG. 8, comprises three elements, the central strip 21a and two crossed

strips

22 and 23. The connection of these elements at the front to the side straps 27 and 23 is as described previously. At the back, however, only the crossed

elements

22 and 23 are connected to the

vertical straps

42 and 43, the back end of central element 2111 being secured to the two crossed

strips

22 and 23 by a line of stitching 51.

The modification shown in FIG. 9 is exactly like that shown in FIG. 8 except for the fact that the central strip 21b is attached to the two crossed

strips

22 and 23 by a single line of stitching 52 which extends crosswise of strip 21b and joins the three thicknesses at the point of intersection of crossed

strips

22 and 23. If desired, a third line of stitching such as indicated at 53 and arranged parallel with any one of the angular edges of either of the crossed strips may be used. This additional line of stitching 53 may be used in place of the stitching 52 or both may be employed together. Also, if desired the three elements may be stitched together along the remaining angular edges of the two crossed strips.

In FIG. 10 the modification consists principally of the reversal of parts of the supporting device of FIGS. 1 to 7, that is to say, central strip or element 21, instead of being placed inwardly of or above the crossed strips 22 and 23 is placed exterior-1y or below these crossed strips. The constructions are identical, and are supported or connected to the body encircling member in exactly the same way as previously described, with one exception. The connectors 32a and 33a for the two crossed

strips

22 and 23 are of formed elastic cut or specially woven in trapezoidal shape so as to vary in width from the width of the crossed strips to the width of the narrower straps, these special connectors having extensions 54 which are of the same width as the

straps

27 and 28 so as to be readily attached thereto. At the back specially formed connectors 46a are also provided which have extensions 55 that are of the same width as the

vertical straps

42 and 43 of the body encircling member.

Connectors

37 and 47 are used for the central element 21.

It will be understood that such specially formed connectors may be employed with the other forms of the supporting device shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, if desired. Also it Will be understood that assemblies, such as central element 21 with its connectors 3737 and 47-47 (FIG. 3), and crossed

strips

22 and 23 with their

connectors

32 and 33 at one end and 46 at the opposite end may, if desired, each be fabricated in one piece instead of the parts being made separately and stitched together.

It will be understood that with any of the modifications of FIGS. 8, 9 or 10, the buckles 39 may be introduced into the connectors for the front of the central element so as to be able to adjust the tension and upward pressure produced by this element with respect to the tension and upward pressure produced by the two crossed elements.

Referring again briefly to FIG. 9, it will be understood that, if desired, the supporting device 28 of FIGS. 1 to 7, and also the device of FIG. may have the central strip or element 21 and the two crossed strips or

elements

22 and 23 secured together either by the single line of cross stitching 52 or by the single line of angular stitching 53 or by any arrangement or combination of these connecting lines of stitching referred to in the description of FIG. 9.

The modifications shown in FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14 will now be described.

In FIG. 11 the body encircling member 24 is replaced by a body encircling member in the form of a girdle 56 of any appropriate construction which provides for enlargernent of the front area thereof required during the development of the pregnancy. Any of the supporting devices previously described may be associated with this girdle 56. As shown, the

connectors

33 and 47 for the front ends of the two crossed strips and the central strip respectively terminate in a ring 30. A side strap 280! extends from the upper rear portion of girdle 5s downwardly and forwardly and its lower end portion is in the form of a loop which passes through ring 32 and is folded upwardly and connected to strap 28 by means of a buckle 31, as before.

Strap 28a is stitched to girdle 56 from the center of the back to the point indicated approximately at 5'7 and from thereon downwardly and forwardly the strap is free. The strap advantageously includes a hook-and-eye connection 29 just as in FIG. 2 so that once the buckle 31 has been adjusted properly the device may be removed and reapplied by use of the hook-and-eye connection. It will be understood that a similar strap 27 (not shown) is arranged on the opposite side of girdle 56.

At the rear, girdle 56 has two vertical straps 42a (not shown) and 43a which are secured firmly to the girdle and depend for a short distance below its lower edge. The lower portion of each of these straps is in the form of a loop which passes through ring 44a and is adjustably secured at its end by means of a buckle. Ring 44a is at the upper terminus of the two

rear connectors

46 and 47 which are attached respectively to one of the crossed strips or elements 22 of the support and the central element 21.

It will be understood that the body encircling member 24 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be used during the early stages of the pregnancy without the girdle, if desired, but that in the later stages a girdle is usually required, and may be worn in addition to the body support construction of FIGS. 1 and 2. By combining the body support with the girdle, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, only one garment is required and some discomfort is eliminated.

Now referring to FIG. 12 the girdle 56a has a rear portion 59 to which the back end of the central element or strip 21c (FIG. 12a) and the back ends of the two crossed strips 22c and 23c are directly attached as by a line of stitching 60 or other suitable means. While the length of the central strip 210 is about the same as previously described in connection with FIGS. 3, 6, 8 and 9, the rear portions of the two crossed strips 22c and 230 are removed so that these strips are shorter than in those figures. In other words, the line of stitching 60 is located at about the same position with respect to the two crossed strips as the line of stitching 51 in FIGS. 8 and 9 so that strips 220 and 23 cross one another at about the lengthwise center line of strip 210.

In FIG. 12 portions of the crossed strips 22 and 23 only are shown, the central strip being concealed beneath them. The arrangement of the side straps 27a and 28a and their connection to the front ends of the three elements of the support are identical with the construction shown ti and described in FIG. 11. Girdle 56a is shown as being provided with front and back stocking supporters 61 and 62 and the girdle of FIG. 11 may be similarly provided, if desired.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate supports for use in connection with the treatment of other pathological conditions such as cystocele and rectocele. In FIG. 13 a girdle 56b is shown which is similar to girdle 56a except that front expansion by the use of two-way stretch elastic material, or otherwise, need not be provided for. This girdle also has a portion 59 at the rear to which the three elements 210, 22c and 230 of the body support as described in connection with FIGS. 12 and 12a are connected. The forward ends of the three elements of the body support are connected to side straps 27a and 28a as previously described in connection with FIG. 12. Also front and rear stocking supporters 61 and 62 are shown.

In FIG. 14 the girdle 56b is replaced by a belt 63 which has a hook-and-eye adjustable connector 64 at the back. The body support consists of the same three elements of the supports previously described, namely, a

central strip

21, 21a and 21b (FIGS. 3, 8 and 9) and the two crossed

strips

22 and 23. At the front, instead of the downwardly and angularly directed side straps 27 and 28, two

vertical straps

64 and 65 are provided. These are permanently secured at their upper ends to belt 63 and are looped through rings 32a and adjustably secured by buckles 31a.

The connecting members or connectors between the front ends of the three elements and rings 30a are similar to those previously described. At the rear of belt 63 two vertical straps 42a and 43a are provided and secured permanently to the belt at the upper ends and are looped through the rings 44a. The rear ends of the crossed strips 22 and 23 may be extended to rings 44a, or may be joined thereto by connectors as desired. Connectors 47a are used between rings 44a and the rear end of central element 21.

While it is advantageous to employ fairly heavy elastic material, such as surgical elastic, for all of the elements of the supporting device and body encircling members except the girdles, in some cases adquate support may be achieved by the use of lighter materials. In special cases even two-way stretch material may be used even for the central element 21 and the two crossed

strips

22 and 23 of the supporting device.

The body support of the present invention comprising the three

elements

21, 22 and 23, and the described arrangements for regulating the tension applied to them have been found to produce adequate external pressure for the alleviation of varices on the labia majora with a surprising degree of comfort, and with surprisingly little chafing. The pressure is applied to the convex surfaces in the vulval area without tendency to penetrate the entrance or produce separation of the labia majora. Moreover, the arrangement of the single central element or strip 21 and the two crossed strips 22 ad 23 enables the device to be adjusted readily to persons having very great differences in size and configuration of body. When the three elements are mutually unattached to one another, as in FIGS. 1 to 6, 10 and 11, the two crossed

strips

22 and 23 may be shifted angularly as indicated by the dotand-dash lines in FIG. 6 to any reasonable extent to conform to the requirements of the particular individual. The two crossed

strips

22 and 23 cross one another at approximately the center of the crotch and also at about the center of the cnetral strip 21. Where the three

elements

21, 22 and 23 are interconnected as in the construction of FIG. 9, or of the construction of FIG. 8, a considerable degree of adjustment is obtainable merely by the bending and curving of the elastic, particularly the two crossed strips.

T .e various parts of the support of the present invention including the central element, or strip, the two crossed strips, the belt back portion 25, the side straps 27 and 28, the connections or

connectors

37, 46 and 47, and, in fact, every part of the device may be of elastic material, or material which is elastic in part, or they may be of non-elastic material, depending upon the characteristics of the individual wearer or the circumstances of the particular case to be treated. Furthermore, any desired combination of elastic, non-elastic or partly elastic materials may be used, that is, some of the parts may be of elastic material and others of non-elastic material, or material elastic only in part, depending upon the circumstances of the particular case.

It will be understood that although a number of modifications of the invention have been illustrated and described, still further changes may be made without departing from the invention, the scope thereof being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A support for the vulval area of the body comprising a central strip of flexible material of appropriate width to cover the labia majora and two strips of flexible material crossing one another at an acute angle and in external contact with the surface of said central strip, means for encircling the bod, and connectors attached to the opposite ends of said three strips and supported from said body encircling means, the connectors supplying supporting tension to these strips to cause them to exert upward pressure against said area when the support is on the body of the wearer.

2. A support as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body-encircling means is a girdle providing support for an extending vertical area of the abdomen of the wearer and the central strip and the two crossed strips are secured to the girdle at the back.

3. A support as set forth in claim 1, wherein the central strip is disposed below the two crossed strips when the support is applied to the body of a wearer.

4-. A support as set forth in claim 1 having in addition a soft flexible pad wider than the central strip and at least as long as the central strip and means removably securing said flexible pad to the upper surface of the central strip.

5. A support for the vulval area of the body comprising a central strip of flexible material of appropriate width to cover the labia majora and two strips of flexible material crossing one another at an acute angle and in exterior contact with the lower surface of said central strip when said support is in place on the body of a wearer, each of said crossed strips and the central strip forming a part of an assembly includina supporting connectors at its opposite ends, at least a portion of said assembly being elastic lengthwise, and means for encircling the body of the wearer, said means including attachments to the opposite ends of said assembly, the attachments suppling supporting tension to the assembly to cause said assembly to exert upward pressure against said area when the support is on the body of the wearer.

6. A support as set forth in claim 5, in which said assembly includes two connectors at each end of the central strip, said connectors projecting from the central strip in diverging symmetrical relation to the center line of the central strip, thereby exerting both lengthwise and crosswise tension on said central strip.

7. A support as set forth in claim 6 having in addition means providing independent lengthwise adjustment of said attachments with respect to one another to regulate the tension applied to said central and crossed strips so as to afford control of the upward pressure against tlte vulval area.

8. A support as set forth in claim 5, in which the central strip and the two crossed strips are interconnected by stitching.

9. A support as set forth in claim 5, in which the central strip and the two crossed strips are interconnected by a transverse line of stitching disposed substantially centraliy of all three members.

1i). A support as set forth in claim 5, in which the central strip and the two crossed strips are interconnected by at least one line of stitching extending parallel with and close to one edge of one of the crossed strips.

11. A support for the vulval area of the body comprising a central strip of flexible material of appropr ate Width to cover the labia majora and two strips of flexible material crossing one another at an acute angle and in exterior contact with said central strip when the support is in place on the body of a wearer, at least a portion of each of said crossed strips being elastic lengthwise, and means for encircling the body of a wearer and including connectors, to be positioned at the front and back of the body of a wearer, to the opposite ends of the crossed strips, each of said connectors having an extension from the end of each crossed strip to the adjacent end of the central strip, the central strip being shorter than the crossed strips so that said extensions project in diverging symmetrical relation to the center line of the central strip, thereby exerting both lengthwise and crosswise tension on the central strip.

12. A support as set forth in claim 11 having in addition means providing independent lengthwise adjustment of said connectors to regulate the tension applied to said central and crossed strips so as to afford control of the upward pressure against the vulval area.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 632,727 Kuyath Sept. 12, 1899 671,999 Hage Apr. 16, 1901 718,149 Pell Jan. 13, 1903 763,683 Magoris June 28, 1904 1,019,501 Love et a1. Mar. 5, 1912 1,450,953 Fontaine Apr. 10, 1923 2,615,445 Holmes Oct. 28, 1952 2,713,340 Meminger July 19, 1955 2,779,330 Reid Jan. 29, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 116,736 January 7, 1964 Sydney S. Alberts It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading. to the printed specification line 3, for

"Sydney Sc Alberts, 44 E., 32nd St v Yonkers N Y," read Sydney S. Alberts Yonkers, N. Y. (44 E., 32nd St New York 7 16, N. Yo) column 6 line 67 for "cnetral" read central Signed and sealed this 26th day of May 1964.,

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W; SWIDER Attesting Officer

Claims

1. A SUPPORT FOR THE VULVAL AREA OF THE BODY COMPRISING A CENTRAL STRIP OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL OF APPROPRIATE WIDTH TO COVER THE LABIA MAJORA AND TWO STRIPS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL CROSSING ONE ANOTHER AT AN ACUTE ANGLE AND IN EXTERNAL CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF SAID CENTRAL STRIP, MEANS FOR ENCIRCLING THE BODY, AND CONNECTORS ATTACHED TO THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID THREE STRIPS AND SUPPORTED FROM SAID BODY ENCIRCLING MEANS, THE CONNECTORS SUPPLYING SUPPORTING TENSION TO THESE STRIPS TO CAUSE THEM TO EXERT UPWARD PRESSURE AGAINST SAID AREA WHEN THE SUPPORT IS ON THE BODY OF THE WEARER.