WO2005049148A2

WO2005049148A2 - Gymnastics band

Info

Publication number: WO2005049148A2
Application number: PCT/EP2004/013235
Authority: WO
Inventors: Werner Mannschedel
Original assignee: Coltene/Whaledent Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2003-11-20
Filing date: 2004-11-22
Publication date: 2005-06-02
Also published as: JP2007511304A; CA2545521A1; US20070219073A1; BRPI0416754A; WO2005049148A3; DE10354390A1; MXPA06005541A; EP1684876A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a gymnastics band made of a flexible elastic material for reinforcing the muscular system, ligaments and tendons of the locomotor system, used in particular in medical therapy. The gymnastics band according to the invention comprises at least one thermoplastic elastomer material and is characterized in that it is constructed from at least two layers made of different materials and/or that it comprises at least one thermoplastic elastomer material (a) and another material (b) which is different from the thermoplastic elastomer and/or that it has recesses in the form of grooves along the longitudinal direction of the band on at least one side.

Description

Gymnastics and

The present invention relates to a gymnastic band made of a flexible, elastic material for strengthening the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the movement apparatus, which is used in particular in medical therapy.

Conventional exercise bands are made of rubber (rubber) or latex. However, latex has a number of disadvantages. It is known that some people are allergic to latex, which is the case when using latex-containing exercise bands, e.g. local skin irritation, such as eczema. Furthermore, latex has a rather sticky consistency and is therefore frequently dusted with powder or the like in order to prevent the gymnastic band from sticking together. Powdering latex is very harmful from a health point of view, since the powder itself can act as an allergy-causing substance on the skin. In addition, when the exercise band is used, the powder easily passes into the air and, often loaded with latex particles, can be inhaled into the lungs of the user, so that powder and / or latex in the lungs can trigger systemic allergic reactions. Another disadvantage of latex is that many people find its smell unpleasant.

When pulling apart or stretching, latex is further characterized by a non-linear force-displacement characteristic which, as is known by medical therapists, leads to only auxotonic strain on the muscles, that is to say that with increasing stretching of the gymnastic band, that of the gymnastic band Elongation opposite tensile resistance increases disproportionately. However, this is not always desirable because it limits the amount of movement of Joint parts can be severely restricted when the exercise band is stretched if the muscle strength is insufficient to stretch the exercise band sufficiently.

In order to ensure a sufficient range of motion for weaker muscles, a gymnastic band with a lower tensile resistance must therefore be selected, which for the same material has so far only been produced by varying the thickness of the gymnastic band or by changing the Shore hardness of the rubber-like material. Conversely, an exercise band with a tensile resistance that is too low for a particular muscle can easily get small tears, which can lead to a sudden and sudden tearing of the exercise band, which in turn can lead to injuries.

The object of the present invention is to provide an exercise band with which the disadvantages mentioned at the outset can be avoided.

This object is achieved by the features of claims 1, 2 or 4. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The present invention relates to an exercise band for strengthening muscles, ligaments and tendons of the musculoskeletal system, which is made from a flexible, elastic band material. The exercise band comprises at least one (preferably at room temperature) thermoplastic elastomeric material (a) and a further material (b) that is different from the thermoplastic elastomer.

In particular, the material (b) comprises silicone or teflon. The materials (a) and (b) are preferably present in different layers.

More preferably, at least one layer comprises silicone or Teflon and another layer of the thermoplastic elastomer different from silicone or Teflon.

Alternatively or additionally, the exercise band comprises at least one thermoplastic elastomeric material and has grooves on at least one side (i.e. on one or both sides) in the form of grooves along the longitudinal direction (along the direction of stretch) of the band.

According to the invention, the gymnastic band is made from a band material which comprises at least one - preferably at room temperature (i.e. at approximately 21 ° C.) - elastic thermoplastics or thermoplastic elastomers, hereinafter referred to as thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer material.

Examples of thermoplastic elastomers are: e.g .: styrene block copolymers (TPE-S), SEBS, thermoplastic copolyesters, polyether esters (TPE-E), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPE-U), polyether polyamide block copolymers (TPE-A). Such thermoplastic elastomers are in themselves, i.e. even without the addition of other materials, thermoplastic and elastic.

Thermoplastics generally have a lower elasticity than elastomers. According to the invention, however, thermoplastics can also be used which are provided with elastic properties by adding appropriate materials known per se, such as fillers and / or plasticizers. The thermoplastic elastomers used according to the invention fillers and / or plasticizers such as waxes, aerosil (highly disperse silica), dyes, lubricants (oleic acid amide, erucamide), antioxidants (hydroquinones, pyrocatechols, gallates etc.) or barium sulfate can generally be added.

The use of a thermoplastic elastomer advantageously makes it possible to dispense with the use of latex which triggers allergies or the powder applied thereon. Since thermoplastic elastomers do not age as quickly as latex, there is also the advantage that the exercise band is subject to a considerably lower risk of tearing if it is overstretched, so that injuries can be avoided.

According to the invention, the thermoplastic elastomers can be mixed with other, in particular elastic, materials (preferably with crosslinked materials). Preferred here are e.g. addition or condensation crosslinked silicones (especially under platinum catalysis addition crosslinked silicones), EADM rubber, NBR rubber and other irreversibly crosslinkable materials.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the exercise band is constructed in layers and has at least two layers made of different materials. Such a layered structure of the gymnastic band enables the stretch properties or the tensile resistance of the gymnastic band to be influenced in a particularly simple manner by selecting suitable layer materials. This can also increase the chemical resistance of the thermoplastic elastomeric materials to oils and solvents (such as those found in nail polish removers or Disinfectants are available) and they are also stabilized against elevated temperatures. A layer made of at least one thermoplastic elastomer is particularly advantageous, which is combined, for example, with a layer of Teflon or a layer made of silicone and / or mixtures thereof. The thermoplastic elastomer is preferably coated on both surfaces with a layer of another material (in particular silicone or Teflon). It is also possible to coat one side of the band with a material, for example silicone, and the other side of the band with another material, for example Teflon. The thermoplastic elastomer is particularly preferably completely covered or covered with a layer of another material (preferably silicone and / or Teflon). This can be done, for example, by coating in an immersion bath or during extrusion. This coating improves the chemical resistance and thus the durability of the strip material. The tape can thus also be disinfected more easily in order to avoid the risk of contact infection by users.

The layer which contains a thermoplastic elastomer preferably has a layer thickness of 50 μm to 2 mm, particularly preferably from 100 μm to 1 mm and in particular from 200 μm to 600 μm. The further layer (s) can have a thickness of 5 μm to 2 mm; If the layer containing the thermoplastic elastomer is coated with Teflon, the Teflon layer preferably has a thickness of 10 μm to 15 μm. If the tape comprises a first layer which contains a thermoplastic elastomer and a second layer which contains silicone, the layer thickness of the second layer is preferably 5 to 100% of the layer thickness of the first layer. More preferably, the gymnastics band of the present invention has an absorbent surface on one or both sides, which is designed in particular as flocking with absorbent fibers or as an applied fleece. Examples of absorbent fibers are cellulose, synthetic fibers or viscose. The absorbent surface can be produced, for example, by electrostatic flocking or by pressing a fleece onto the hot thermoplastic elastomer (for example after extrusion). The absorbent surface is preferably not applied to the thermoplastic elastomer with the aid of an adhesive.

The tape material can only comprise a thermoplastic elastomer or a mixture of thermoplastic elastomers.

According to a preferred embodiment, the gymnastic band of the present invention comprises in one layer a mixture of at least one thermoplastic elastomer (a) and a material (b) different from a thermoplastic elastomer. A weight ratio (a): (b) of 30:70 to 95: 5% by weight is preferred, in particular 85:15 b ± s 95: 5% by weight.

Examples of the materials mentioned other than thermoplastics are: silicone (in particular addition- or condensation-crosslinked silicones), Teflon, acrylonitrile-buitadiene rubber (NBR), EPDM rubber (e.g. Santoprene), polyurethanes, polystyrenes and other irreversibly crosslinkable materials form three-dimensional structure. The term silicone, for example, refers to higher molecular weight connections, with a three-dimensional structure alternately composed of silicon and oxygen atoms. Silicon atoms in Silicones that do not reach their electron octet through the formation of bonds to oxygen are saturated with organic residues R. The framework can be linear or highly branched. One example is polymeric compounds of repeating units of the general formula R ₂ SiO, where the radicals R can be the same or different and are conventional radicals known to those skilled in the art. Examples of the radicals R are hydrogen, methyl, vinyl or phenyl groups.

By means of the grooves present in a preferred embodiment, the associated "weakening" of the band material allows the tensile resistance of the gymnastic band to be reduced in an extremely advantageous manner when it is stretched. In other words, a certain, desired force-displacement characteristic can be imparted to the gymnastic band as it is stretched by the surface structure. For example, the surface structure can be used to impart a linear force-displacement characteristic to the gymnastics band.

The preferably provided grooves also result in the contact area of the surface plane of the exercise band being reduced. Since thermoplastic elastomers can also have sticky properties, the grooves can advantageously also prevent the gymnastic band from sticking together by reducing the surface level that acts as sticky.

Furthermore, increased longitudinal structures between the grooves prevent a sudden (abrupt) tearing of the band with a force comparable to a smooth band and thus contribute significantly to the protection of the user / patient. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the two surfaces of the band has a multiplicity (at least 2) of depressions (grooves) which extend from the surface plane of one side in the direction of the opposite side. These depressions can each have a rectangular, in particular square or round, cross section perpendicular to the surface plane. The depressions (grooves) advantageously run along the stretching direction of the band.

According to a further embodiment, the exercise band can have a honeycomb surface structure. Such a surface gives the tape properties similar to that of a fabric, i.e. that it has a high tensile strength with high flexibility and low tendency to bulge and fold. This is achieved by the "bridges" of a gymnastic band designed in this way between the honeycombs. The webs advantageously extend at right angles to one another, so that the depressions in the surface plane have a rectangular, in particular square, cross section. This gives the band an essentially uniform stretching behavior. Alternatively, the depressions can each have a hexagonal, in particular equilateral, hexagonal cross section in the surface plane.

The two surfaces or the surface structures of the gymnastic band according to the invention can be the same or different.

The wells can, for example, by. Embossing of the gymnastics band produced. Alternatively, it is possible, for example, to provide the recesses already during the production of the gymnastic band, for example by means of corresponding elevations when molding or extruding.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the gymnastic band according to the invention comprises at least one longitudinal reinforcement strip made of a material different from the band material in order to further reduce the risk of sudden tearing. This preferably tear-resistant reinforcement strip can e.g. have a length corresponding to the length of the tape at maximum stretch; e.g. be arranged in a zigzag shape or in loops in or on the belt.

Again, the exercise band of the present invention preferably includes an indicator that indicates the amount of force applied. The indicator can e.g. a color indicator or a strain gauge, as used in scales. The indicator can be made of a piezoelectric material. The use of this indicator advantageously allows the force applied to be controlled and thus enables dosed therapy.

The gymnastic band according to the invention can, as is also usual with conventional latex gymnastic bands, be produced by melting or subsequent solidification. According to the invention, however, it is preferred to produce the gymnastic band by means of the much cheaper extrusion. For this purpose, the strip material should preferably be an extrudable material.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a strip material is used which, when stretched in the strip direction, is essentially one without the use of additives has linear force-displacement characteristic. This means that when the gymnastic band is stretched, the tensile resistance increases substantially proportionally with the stretching of the gymnastic band; the tape therefore preferably essentially fulfills Hooke's law. A band material with such behavior can be used in a particularly advantageous manner to strengthen muscles, ligaments and tendons of the musculoskeletal system: as already mentioned above, in contrast to conventional gymnastics bands, it enables a greater range of motion of joint parts, which in particular increases the mobility of joints under load can be trained. In addition, the lower increase in tensile resistance compared to conventional gymnastic bands with stretching of the gymnastic band avoids the risk of undesired overloading of the user's musculoskeletal system, for example in the case of previously damaged or weak tendons, such as after a tendon tear. As a result, not only can renewed damage to the tendon, for example due to microscopic tears that otherwise occur, be avoided, but the course of therapy can also be favorably influenced.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the ends of the gymnastic band according to the invention can be designed as loops which e.g. can be produced by fusing. Alternatively, the ends of the tape can be joined together (e.g. by fusing the ends) to create an endless loop. If necessary, the gymnastic band can be provided with handles at the ends.

As has been shown, the gymnastic band according to the invention has excellent properties with regard to tear strength and stretching behavior. In addition, the exercise band can be manufactured inexpensively by extrusion. The invention will now be illustrated using exemplary embodiments, reference being made to FIG. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation in cross section in the band direction of an embodiment of the exercise band according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a section of a gymnastic band according to the invention in cross section in the direction of the band, the cut being made perpendicular to the band plane. The gymnastics band 1 is made of the thermoplastic elastomer TPE-S and manufactured by extrusion. Both surfaces of the exercise band are provided with a surface structure. The surfaces have a multiplicity of depressions 4 which, starting from the surface planes 2, 3 of the two sides, extend in the direction of the opposite side. The depressions 4 have a groove shape, the grooves extending along the band direction of the exercise band 1. The grooves 4 are formed by the grooves 4 adjacent elevations 5. The surface structures of the two sides of the exercise band were created by embossing the exercise band produced by extrusion. The surface structure in the form of grooves allows a targeted weakening of the tensile resistance of the gymnastic band 1 when stretched.

Claims

Expectations

1. gymnastic band for strengthening muscles, ligaments and tendons of the musculoskeletal system, which comprises at least one thermoplastic elastomeric material (a) and another material (b) different from the thermoplastic elastomer.

2. Gym band according to claim 1, characterized in that the materials (a) and (b) are present in different layers.

3. gymnastic band for strengthening muscles, ligaments and tendons of the musculoskeletal system, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, which comprises at least one thermoplastic elastomeric material, characterized in that it has depressions in the form of grooves along the longitudinal direction of the band on at least one side.

4. Exercise band according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the material (b) comprises silicone and / or Teflon.

5. Gymnastic band according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one layer with absorbent fibers.

6. Exercise band according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an indicator which indicates the amount of stretching force.

7. Gymnastic band according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material has an essentially linear force-displacement characteristic when stretching in the band direction.

8. Gym band according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material is extrudable.

9. Gymnastic band according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one reinforcing strip made of a material different from the band material along its longitudinal direction.