WO2009023924A1

WO2009023924A1 - An appendage cover

Info

Publication number: WO2009023924A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/001222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colby Roy Steer
Original assignee: Colby Roy Steer
Priority date: 2007-08-20
Filing date: 2008-08-20
Publication date: 2009-02-26

Abstract

The invention resides in an appendage cover comprising a cover member for covering at least a portion of an appendage of a person; and a tie located adjacent to and connected with an end of the cover member; wherein the tie includes a releasable tab.

Description

TITLE

"AN APPENDAGE COVER" FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an appendage cover. In particular, the invention relates to an appendage cover used to protect plaster casts when bathing or swimming. However, it should be appreciated that the appendage cover may be used for other purposes, such as protecting stiches, bandages, skin irritations, burns and fibreglass casts from water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Breaking an appendage, such as an arm or a leg, is a painful experience. In order to allow a broken limb to repair itself, it is typical to place a plaster cast around the limb that is broken to all mending of the bone. The system has been used extensively throughout the world for many years in to heal a broken limb. Whilst the placing a plater cast around a limb to allow a broken bone to heal is very effective, there are some distinct problems that are faced by a wearer of the plaster cast. A plaster cast will deteriorate if it comes into contact with water. Deterioration of the plaster cast allows the limb to move which effects the mending process of the broken bone. In extreme circumstances, a broken bone may mend inadequately and the bone is required to be rebroken and reset in a further plaster cast. This is obviously undesirable.

Accordingly, a plaster cast must be protected from coming into contact with moisture. This is a difficult task if someone wishes to maintain a normal hygiene routine of bathing. This is even a more difficult task if a person wishes to swim with a plaster cast.

If bathing or swimming, a wearer typically covers their plaster cast in with a water proof cover. One common way in which a plaster cast is covered is to place a plastic bag over the cast. Elastic bands are then located over the cast and up the limb until they reach a position adjacent the end of the bag. The elastic bands are then released so that the plastic bag is sealed with respect to a person's limb. When a person has a broken limb, especially an arm, it is very difficult to locate a plastic bag with an elastic band over your own arm. An additional person is typically required to assist in placing the plastic bag with elastic band over a plaster cast. Further, the elastic band often cuts circulation of blood to the limb which is uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in an appendage cover comprising: a cover member for covering at least a portion of an appendage of a person; and a tie located adjacent to and connected with an end of the cover member; wherein the tie includes a releasable tab. The tie may be formed from a head, a tail and a strap. The strap may include a series of ridges. The head may include a pawl. Further, the head may include an aperture. The strap may be placed through the aperture in the head so that the pawl interacts with the ridges to form a ratchet.

The release tab may connect the strap to the head. However, the release tab may be located at any point along the strap. Preferably, the release tab is frangibly connected to the strap.

In another form, the invention resides in a tie able to be used with an appendage cover, the tie comprising: an elongated strap; a tail located adjacent one end of the strap; a head located adjacent an opposite end of the strap, the strap able to be located through the head to hold the strap in a desired location; and a release tab releasably attached to the strap. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an appendage cover according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1 B is a further perspective view of an appendage cover according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a front view of a tie according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial front perspective view of a tie of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a partial rear perspective view of a tie of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of a tie of FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the appendage cover shown in

FIG 1 applied to an arm; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the appendage cover shown in FIG. 1 applied to a leg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective views of an appendage cover 10 for use in covering an appendage, such as an arm or a leg. Primarily, the appendage cover is used to cover a plaster cast that has been applied to a limb to mend a broken bone to protect the plaster cast from water. The appendage cover 10 includes a tie 20 and a cover member 40. The tie 20, shown in more detail in FIG. 2, is made from a flexible hard plastic and is integrally formed. The tie 20 includes a strap 21 , a tail 22, a head 23 and a release tab 24.

The strap 21 is elongate and has a series of ridges 25 that extend along the length of the strap 21. The tail 22 is located adjacent one end of the strap 21. The tail

22 is slightly pointed.

The head 23 is located adjacent an opposite end of the strap 21. The head 23 is formed from a body 26 that includes an aperture 27. The aperture 27 is sized to allow the tail 22 and the strap 21 to pass through the aperture 27. A pawl 28 is located within the aperture 27 such that when the strap 21 is placed through the aperture 27, the pawl 28 engages the ridges 25 of the strap 21 to form a ratchet. Further, the pawl 28 allows forward movement of the strap 21 whilst backward movement of the strap 21 is prevented as shown in FIG. 5.

The releasable tab 24 is used to connect the head 23 to the strap 21. The releasable tab 24 includes a frangible portion 29 that physically joins the strap 21 to the head 23 and a gripping flap 30 that is used to break the frangible portion 29.

The cover member 40 is in the form of a bag 41 which is made from a waterproof material. The material is typically a flexible plastic sheet but many other suitable materials may be used as would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art. It should be appreciated that the cover member 40 may be specially shaped to fit the appendage on which the cover is to be used. For example, if the cover member 40 is to be used on an arm, the cover member may be shaped in the form of a glove or mitten. Similarly, if cover member 40 is to be located over a leg, the cover member 40 may be shaped in the form of a sock.

A sleeve 42 extends around a top of the bag 41 in order to attach the tie 20 to the cover member 40. The tie 20 is threaded through the sleeve 42 to attach the sleeve 42 to the cover member 40. It should be appreciated that the cover member 40 may be attached to the tie 20 in various other manners, such as heat welding, adhering or any other suitable manner.

In order to attach the appendage cover 10 to an arm or a leg, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cover member 40 is located entirely over the plaster cast 50 located on the appendage 51. Once the cover member 40 is over the plaster cast 50, the tail 22 is placed through the aperture 27 in the head 23 and fed through the aperture 27 until the ridges 25 on the strap 21 engage with the pawl 28. The strap 21 is pulled through the aperture 27 until 2008/001222

the tie 20 is held firmly against the appendage of a user. In order to remove the appendage cover 10 from the appendage of a user, the gripping flap 30 is gripped and twisted. This causes the frangible portion 29 to break, separating the head 23 from the strap 21. The appendage cover 10 can then be simply removed from the appendage of a user.

The appendage cover 10 is simple to use. It can be applied and removed by a user without the assistance from an additional person. It creates a waterproof seal and can be used for both adults and children.

It should also be appreciated that a resilient seal may be located around the covert member and/or tie to assist in sealing the appendage cover around an appendage.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications made be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An appendage cover comprising: a cover member for covering at least a portion of an appendage of a person; and a tie located adjacent to and connected with an end of the cover member; wherein the tie includes a releasable tab.

2. The appendage cover of claim 1 wherein the tie is formed from a head, a tail and a strap.

3. The appendage cover of claim 2 wherein the strap includes a series of ridges.

4. The appendage cover of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the head includes a pawl.

5. The appendage cover of anyone of claims 2 to 4 wherein the head includes an aperture.

6. The appendage cover of claim 5 wherein the strap is placed through the aperture in the head so that the pawl interacts with the ridges to form a ratchet.

7. The appendage cover of any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein a release tab connects the strap to the head.

8. The appendage cover of claim 7 wherein the release tab is frangibly connected to the strap.

9. A tie able to be used with an appendage cover, the tie comprising: an elongated strap; a tail located adjacent one end of the strap; a head located adjacent an opposite end of the strap, the strap able to be located through the head to hold the strap in a desired location; and a release tab releasably attached to the strap.

10. The tie of claim 9 wherein a release tab connects the strap to the head.

11. The tie of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the release tab is frangibly connected to the strap.

12. The tie of claim anyone of claims 9 to 11 wherein the strap includes a series of ridges.

13. The tie of anyone of claims 9 to 12 wherein the head includes a pawl.

14. The tie of anyone of claims 9 to 13 wherein the head includes an aperture.

15. The tie of claim 14 wherein the strap is placed through the aperture in the head so that the pawl interacts with the ridges to form a ratchet.