US2723396A - Body muscle supporter - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 15, 1955 M. L. STACK BODY MUSCLE SUPPORTER Filed March 29, 1954 Fig.

Margaret L. Sfack INVENTOR.

(young 12% BODY MUSCLE SUPPORTER Margaret L. Stack, Middletown, N. Y. Application March 29, 1954, Serial No. 419,319

1 Claim. (Cl. 2-42) This invention relates to a body muscle supporter in the form of a garment for positioning around a portion of the body thereby supporting the body. This device is especially useful in'the support of the chest for assisting in the alleviation of pain in case of fractured ribs, pleurisy or other chest distresses whether they result from injuries or some disease.

An object of this invention is to provide a body muscle supporter of elastic material stretching both longitudinally and transversely for surrounding a portion of a body and Iassisting in the alleviation of pain to that part of the A further object of this invention is to provide an elastic body muscle supporter which is easily positioned around a portion of the body and which may be easily removed as desired by the wearer.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a body muscle supporter which is simple in construction, easy to use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and well adapted for its intended purposes.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is aperspective view showing a view of the body muscle supporter of the present invention positioned around the body of a person;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the body supporter with the details of the zipper and the closure flap for protecting the body of a wearer; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of the body muscle support utilized by a female wearer.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral 10 generally designates the body muscle supporter of the present invention for positioning around a portion of the body of the wearer 12. As specifically illustrated, the supporter 10 is positioned around the chest of the wearer. The supporter 10 includes a generally elongated rectangular member 14 constructed of elastic material which stretches in a longitudinal and transverse direction. The rectangular member 14 is provided with free end 16 having a slidable zipper closure generally indicated by the numeral 18. A flap 20 is provided adjacent one of the free ends 16 and bridges the connection between the free ends 16 and protects the body 12 of the wearer from injury due to. the zipper 18.

In operation, the member 14 is positioned around the body 12 and the zipper closure fastener 18 is manipulated in an obvious manner thereby connecting the free ends 16 of the member 14 to each other for forming a supporter for the chest cavity. The particular width and length of the supporter 10 may be determined by the size of the United States Patent wearer and may be provided in various standard sizes.

Due to the resilient construction of the member 14, the muscles of the chest cavity will be supported and the pain of fractured ribs or diseases such as pleurisy will be greatly alleviated.

Referring now specifically to Figure 3, it will be seen that the numeral 22 generally indicates the body of a female wearer and the elastic member 24 is provided with free end portions 26 and a closure zipper 28 similar to device in Figure 2. The body portion 24 of the supporter 10 is provided adjacent its free ends 26 and at its upper edge with a cup member 30 which is similar to a brassiere cup utilized by women. It will be seen that a cup 30 is positioned adjacent each free end 26 of the member 24 and the zipper 28 extends to the vertical upper edge of the cups 30 thereby providing a convenient body support 1!? for a female wearer 22. The operation of the body supporter for the female wearer 22 is exactly the same as for the male wearer 12.

It will be understood that the supporter 10 may be constructed of any suitable elastic material of a size dependent upon the size of the wearer and the free ends may be connected by any suitable slidable type zipper or hook fasteners or the like. In the case of female wearers, the brassiere attachment formed by the cups 30 may be constructed of any suitable material such as cotton or the like and this prevents the compression of the breasts while wearing the device. Further, the device may be used for support of any part of the body such as the abdomen or the like and may be used to alleviate pain from injuries, various diseases and congestions of the body cavity as well as post-operative support. If desirable, elastic shoulder straps may be attached to the brassiere portion and suitable garter straps may be utilized in the device of Figure 3 for the convenience of the female wearer.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A muscle supporter for the torso of a wearer comprising an elongated rectangular shaped member of highly elastic material for stretching longitudinally and transversely, said member having parallel free ends and parallel upper and lower edges for encircling a portion of the torso of the wearer thereby forming a vertical and horizontal elasticized muscle supporter, a pair of concave members attached to the upper edge of said member adjacent the ends thereof and adapted to receive the breasts of a female wearer, said concave members having free ends in alignment with the free ends of said member, continuous slidable type fastening means detachably connecting the free ends of said rectangular member and said concave members, and a shield flap attached to said rectangular member and one concave member adjacent a free end thereof for underlying the fastening means when the free ends are connected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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