WO1991017733A1

WO1991017733A1 - Dressing cover

Info

Publication number: WO1991017733A1
Application number: PCT/SE1991/000307
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ove Johansson
Original assignee: Ove Johansson
Priority date: 1990-05-11
Filing date: 1991-04-29
Publication date: 1991-11-28
Also published as: SE9001719L; SE9001719D0; AU7881391A

Abstract

A protective device for shielding a body part against contact with water when showering comprises a bag made of plastic film (1), and a sealing band or tape (6) secured to the upper part of the bag. The bag is fitted over the body part to be protected against contact with water, whereafter the sealing band or tape is wound around the upper part of the bag and secured, either by knotting the tape or by exposing an adhesive layer (7) provided on one side of the tape and covered with a tear-off protective strip (8).

Description

DRESSING COWER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a protective device for the leakproof coverage of a body part. The protec¬ tive device includes a plastic cloth which is intended to cover the body part that is to be protected from contact with water. The protective device is intended for use when taking a shower and when wishing to cover a wound which is covered with a bandage, or when wish¬ ing to cover an injury that is encased in a plaster cast, or on any other occasion where it is desired to protect a body part against contact with water.

BACKGROUND ART

Protective body-part covering devices of the aforesaid kind normally comprise a plastic cloth which is wrapped around the body part concerned and then secured in leakproof fashion around said body part with the aid elastic bands, adhesive tape, pressure-sensitive plas- ter, etc. When wishing to protectively cover a hand or a foot that is encased in a plaster cast, a conven¬ tional plastic bag, for example of the kind obtained in grocery stores, is normally used to cover the plaster. The mouth of the bag is gathered around the body part concerned and secured with a piece of string, or is wrapped around said body part and secured in leakproof abutment therewith with the aid of adhesive tape or the like.

The use of individual pieces of plastic, domestic plastic bags, etc. as a leakproof covering or

SUBSTITUTE SHEET protective sleeve is not particularly satisfactory from the aspect of hygiene with respect to sores and wounds, and has the drawback that the person concerned must first find an appropriate piece of plastic and then find an appropriate adhesive tape, elastic band or the like, before he or she can commence covering the part of the body concerned.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a protective limb-covering device of the kind described in the introduction which includes as an integrated unit all of the elements required to obtain waterproof coverage of the body part which is to be protected against contact with water, soap, etc. when showering. Another object is to provide a disposable protective covering which can be readily fitted to the body part concerned and which is cheap to manufacture.

The protective device or covering is preferably sold in batches of predetermined numbers.

The protective device comprises basically an elongated bag which is intended to be fitted over the body part to be protected, for example an arm or a leg. The length of the bag can vary, depending on whether the whole length of the body part shall be covered or only a part thereof.

The invention is characterized in that the mouth of the bag is provided with a sealing tape which is intended to be wound around the body part concerned, and then on the outside of the bag, so as to wrap and/or press the upper edge region of the bag into tight, sealing abut¬ ment with the said body part and to fixate the bag in leakproof abutment with said body part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a view of a blank used in the manufacture of an inventive protective cover, as seen from above;

Figure 2 illustrates the inventive protective cover from above; and

Figure 3 is a schematic view in perspective illustrat- ing the inventive protective cover when fitted in use.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Figure 1 illustrates from above a blank used in the manufacture of the inventive protective device. The blank consists of a plastic cloth 1 which is water¬ proof, thin and pliable. The cloth has an upper edge 2, a lower edge 3 and two mutually opposing side edges 4, 5. Provided at the upper edge 3 of the plastic cloth is a sealing band or tape 6 which extends substantially at right angles to the side edge 4, in the manner shown. As illustrated schematically in Figure 2, the sealing tape is coated on one side with an adhesive layer 7, which is protected by a tear-off strip 8, as is also shown schematically in Figure 2.

The cloth 1 is folded from its flat state shown in Figure 1 along a folding line 9, such that the side edge 5 will lie over and be flush with the side edge 4. The folded plastic cloth will then present an upper layer 10 and a lower layer 11. The sealing tape is either disposed between these layers 10, 11 or on solely one of said layers. In the Figure 2 illustra¬ tion, the sealing tape 6 is disposed on the outside of the bottom layer 11.

The top and the bottom layers are then welded together along a seam 12, as shown in Figure 2. This seam weld will also anchor the sealing tape 6 on the layer 11. When the sealing tape 6 is disposed between both of the layers 10, 11, the tape is anchored between the mutual¬ ly superimposed side edges 4, 5. As shown in Figure 2, the seam 12 extends from the upper edge 2 of the cloth down towards the lower edge 3 and slightly inwards of the side edges 4, 5, whereafter the seam 12 changes direction and extends along the lower edge 3 and up to the fold line 9. As a result, there is formed a water¬ proof bag which is intended to be fitted over the body part that is to be protected against contact with water when showering. The bag is fitted over this body part and the protective film 8 then removed and the sealing tape 6 wrapped around said body part so as to press and/or wind the upper part 13 of the bag into sealing abutment with said body part, wherein the adhesive layer 7 functions to affix the bag on the body part in waterproof abutment therewith. The adhesive layer 7 fastens on the outer surface of the wrapped-around and/or compressed bag and may optionally also be fast¬ ened to an exposed part of the body.

As will be seen from Figure 2, in the region of the lower edge 3 the seam 12 extends in the form of a semi¬ circle from the side edges 4, 5 in towards the fold line 9. Instead of the illustrated semi-circular shape, the seam in this region may extend in the form of a large V. In this case, the cloth 1 will also have a corresponding V-shape symmetrical on both sides of the fold line 9 as seen in the directions in Figure 1.

As an alternative to the use of a sealing tape 6 provi¬ ded with an adhesive layer 7, two sealing tapes can be applied one over the other, either in the position shown in Figure 1 or between the layers 10, 11, or alternatively one sealing tape can be provided on each layer, whereafter the bag is manufactured by appropri¬ ate folding and welding steps. The two sealing tapes are then wound around the body part concerned and knotted together. The sealing tapes need not be provi¬ ded with an adhesive layer with this particular embodi¬ ment. In an alternative embodiment, however, the two sealing tapes may be provided with an adhesive layer covered by a protective tear-off strip.

The length of the bag formed is adapted to the length or extension of the body part to be protected against contact with water. The width of the bag is also adap- ted to the width of said body part. A protective device for covering a foot that is encased in plaster will thus have a much greater width than a protective device which is intended to cover a bandaged hand.

It will be understood that the illustrated and des¬ cribed embodiments can be varied and modified within the scope of the following Claims. For example, the seam 12 need not be produced by ultrasonic welding, but can be produced, for instance, by gluing, or may be sewn on a sewing machine, in which case a double seam is preferably made.

Claims

C L I M S

1. A protective device for protecting a body part against contact with water, comprising - a plastic cloth (1) which is intended to cover the body part to be protected against contact with water, said cloth having an upper edge (2), a lower edge (3) and two mutually opposing side edges (4, 5), and being folded over itself so that said side edges will lie one upon the other, such that the cloth will present a top layer (10), a bottom layer (11) and a fold line (9); a seam (12) which extends from the upper edge along the side edges (4, 5) slightly inwards thereof and down to the lower edge (3), where the seam changes direction such as to extend to the fold line (9) and therewith form a bag which is intended to be fitted over the body part concerned; a sealing band or tape (6) applied to the upper part of the bag and extending substantially at right angles to the side edges; c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the sealing band or tape is attached to one or the other of said layers or between said layers at the upper part (13) of the plastic cloth and is anchored by means of said seam (12); and in that the sealing band or tape is provided on one surface thereof with an adhesive layer (7) which, subsequent to having wound the sealing tape around said body part such as to bring the upper part (13) into sealing abutment with the body part, functions to affix the bag on said body part in sealing abutment there¬ with, said adhesive layer being optionally fastened to an exposed body part.

A protective device according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the region of said lower edge the seam (12) extends in a semi-circle from the side edges in towards the fold line.

3. A protective device according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in the region of the lower edge the seam (12) extends in a V-shape.

4. A protective device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the sealing tape or band (6) is made of a plastic material.

5. A protective device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the seam is a seam weld.

6. A protective device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the adhesive layer (7) is covered with a tear-off protective strip (8) in a known manner.

7. A protective device according to one or more of the preceding Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that two sealing bands or tapes are placed one over the other and are anchored to said layers by means of said seam.