WO2002011827A1

WO2002011827A1 - Multipurpose sports band

Info

Publication number: WO2002011827A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young-Nam Cheong
Original assignee: Cheong Young Nam
Priority date: 2000-08-08
Filing date: 2001-07-31
Publication date: 2002-02-14
Also published as: AU2001275815A1; KR200210305Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is a multipurpose sports band suitable for protecting the joints such as the wrist, ankle, elbow and knee. The multipurpose sports band comprises a band body (10) possessing an elongate configuration and having an outer pad (11) which is made of spandex or other suitable elastic material; a loop (12) formed at one end of the band body (10); a Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip secured to one surface of the band body at the other end of the band body; and a complementary Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip (13a) secured to the other surface of the band body (10) at a predetermined separation from the other end of the band body, in a manner such that the complementary Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip (13a) can be attached to the Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip.

Description

MULTIPURPOSE SPORTS BAND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sports band, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a multipurpose sports band which can be universally used to limit to some extent flexural and rotational angles of the wrist, ankle, elbow and knee and protect them from being injured, irrespective of sports played, including golf, bowling and tennis played with the hands and football played with the feet.

Background Art

Generally, sports bands have been developed so that they perform their functions in conformity with a variety of sports played. Specifically, a multitude of sports bands for protecting the wrist, ankle, elbow or knee depending upon a sport played are disclosed in the art .

In particular, in the case of sports such as golf, bowling and tennis, which are mainly played with the hands, since the hands are likely to be excessively exercised, sports bands are used in such a way as to limit to some extent flexural and rotational angles of the wrist and protect the wrist from being injured, thereby allowing the wrist to be maintained under an optimal condition.

Similarly, in the case of sports such as football, which are mainly played with the feet, sports bands are used in such a way as to limit to some extent flexural and rotational angles of the ankle and protect the ankle from being injured, thereby allowing the ankle to be maintained under an optimal condition. Besides, other sports bands are used, depending upon a sport played, to protect the joints such as the elbow and knee.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view illustrating the conventional wrist and hand support for bowling. The wrist and hand support for bowling comprises an outer pad which is made of natural or artificial leather and an inner pad which is made of spandex. The wrist and hand support has a wrist supporting section 110 for encircling the wrist. The wrist supporting section 110 is defined with a thumb aperture 120. Adjacent to the thumb aperture 120, an attachment cloth 130 is secured to the wrist supporting section 110. A pair of straps 150 and a single strap 150 are provided to both ends, respectively, of the wrist supporting section 110. Each strap 150 has a Teflon tape 140. Therefore, a user can play bowling in a state wherein the wrist and hand support is worn on the back of the hand and around the wrist .

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the conventional sports band for tennis. The sports band for tennis comprises a body 200 which is made of spandex and has a toroidal shape. Thus, a user can play tennis in a state wherein the sports band is worn around the wrist.

However, as can be readily seen from above descriptions, since the wrist and hand support and the sports band which are respectively used upon playing bowling and tennis to protect the wrist are differently configured, and this applies also to sports bands which are used to protect the ankle, in order to play a variety of sports, it is necessary to purchase diverse sports bands. As a consequence, an economic burden cannot but be imposed on a person due to purchase of the diverse sports bands. That is to say, when successively playing outdoors two or three sports, since it is inconvenient to carry sports bands for all of the sports to be played, it is the norm to play the sports without wearing the sports bands. Due to this, the joints such as the wrist, ankle, elbow and knee are likely to be excessively exercised and thereby can get injured.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose sports band which can be universally used to limit to some extent flexural and rotational angles of the wrist, ankle, elbow and knee and protect them from being injured, irrespective of sports played, including golf, bowling and tennis played with the hands and football played with the feet .

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a multipurpose sports band suitable for protecting the joints such as the wrist, ankle, elbow and knee, comprising: a band body possessing an elongate configuration and having an outer pad which is made of spandex or other suitable elastic material; a loop formed at one end of the band body; a Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip secured to one surface of the band body at the other end of the band body; and a complementary Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip secured to the other surface of the band body at a predetermined separation from the other end of the band body, in a manner such that the complementary Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip can be attached to the Velcro- brand hook and loop fastener strip. Preferably, a pair of cushioning members each having a predetermined thickness are embedded adjacent both ends of and into the band body, in a manner such that flexural and rotational angles of the back of the hand, the instep of the foot, the wrist or the ankle can be effectively limited.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a multipurpose sports band in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein the multipurpose sports band of FIG. 1 is worn around the wrist;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another state wherein the multipurpose sports band of FIG. 1 is worn around the ankle;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a multipurpose sports band in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the conventional wrist and hand support for bowling; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the conventional sports band for tennis.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a multipurpose sports band in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The multipurpose sports band according to the present invention comprises an elongate band body 10. The band body 10 has an outer pad 11 which is made of spandex for rendering a sufficient degree of contractability. A loop 12 is formed at one end of the band body 10 so that it can be fitted around a finger or a toe to be fixedly maintained. At the other end of the band body 10, a Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip 13a is secured to one surface of the band body 10. A complementary Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip 13b is secured to the other surface of the band body 10 at a predetermined separation from the other end of the band body 10, in a manner such that the complementary Velcro- brand strip 13b can be attached to the Velcro-brand strip 13a to accomplish wearing of the multipurpose sports band according to the present invention.

Describing in detail the case where the multipurpose sports band is used for protecting the wrist or ankle, the index or middle finger or the big toe is fitted into the loop 12 which is formed at the one end of the band body 10 in a manner such that the band body 10 is positioned on the back of the hand or the instep of the foot .

In a state wherein the loop 12 is fitted around a finger or a toe to be fixedly maintained, the band body 10 is worn around the wrist or the ankle in a manner such that it is wound around the wrist or the ankle by two or three turns. At this time, as described above, the band body 10 has the outer pad 11 which is made of spandex for rendering a sufficient degree of contractability. The number of turns by which the band body 10 is wound around the wrist or the ankle, is properly determined depending upon a thickness of the wrist or the ankle, and a length of the band body 10 can be adjusted depending upon its use.

After the band body 10 is wound around the wrist or the ankle by several turns, the Velcro-brand strip 13a which is secured to the one surface of the band body 10, directly faces the complementary Velcro-brand strip 13b which is secured to the other surface of the band body 10. In this state, by attaching the Velcro-brand strip 13a to the complementary Velcro-brand strip 13b, the band body 10 can serve as a sports band for the wrist or the ankle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state wherein the multipurpose sports band of FIG. 1 is worn around the wrist. In FIG. 2, in a state wherein the loop 12 is fitted around a finger, the band body 10 is wound around the wrist by several turns. Then, by attaching the

Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip 13a to the complementary Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip 13b, the band body 10 can serve as a sports band for the wrist . FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another state wherein the multipurpose sports band of FIG. 1 is worn around the ankle. In FIG. 3, in a state wherein the loop 12 is fitted around a toe, the band body 10 is wound around the ankle by several turns. Then, by attaching the Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip 13a to the complementary Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip 13b, the band body 10 can serve as a sports band for the ankle.

It is illustrated in FIGs . 2 and 3 that the multipurpose sports band is worn around the wrist and the ankle. At this time, it is to be readily understood that the multipurpose sports band can be worn around the wrist or the ankle in a state wherein a glove or a sock is put on, thereby increasing user convenience.

While it is illustrated in FIGs. 2 and 3 that the multipurpose sports band is worn around the wrist and the ankle, when the multipurpose sports band is worn around the elbow or the knee, it can serve as a sports band for the elbow or the knee .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a multipurpose sports band in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, a pair of cushioning members 14 each of which is made of a hard material and has a predetermined thickness, are embedded adjacent both ends of and into the band body 10, in a manner such that flexural and rotational angles of the back of the hand, the instep of the foot, the wrist or the ankle can be effectively limited.

When the multipurpose sports band is worn around the back of the hand, the instep of the foot, the wrist or the ankle in a state wherein the pair of cushioning members 14 are embedded adjacent both ends of and into the band body 10, as the pair of cushioning members 14 each made of a hard material are positioned on the back of the hand, the instep of the foot, the wrist or the ankle, flexural and rotational angles thereof can be more effectively limited in such a way as to multiply force. Further, it is possible to prevent the back of the hand, the instep of the foot, the wrist or the ankle from being excessively exercised.

Industrial Applicability

As a result, in the case that the multipurpose sports band according to the present invention is used for the wrist, since it is possible to limit to some extent flexural and rotational angles of the wrist, not only the wrist can be protected from being injured but also force can be multiplied upon playing sports such as golf and tennis played with the hands, and the wrist can be protected in such a way as not to feel pain upon performing a typing work using a keyboard.

Also, in the case that the multipurpose sports band according to the present invention is used for the ankle, since it is possible to limit to some extent flexural and rotational angles of the ankle, not only the ankle can be protected from being injured but also force can be multiplied upon playing sports such as football played with the feet .

Therefore, according to the present invention, a multipurpose sports band which can be universally used to limit to some extent flexural and rotational angles of the wrist, ankle, elbow and knee and protect them from being injured, is provided.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A multipurpose sports band suitable for protecting the joints such as the wrist, ankle, elbow and knee, comprising: a band body possessing an elongate configuration and having an outer pad which is made of spandex or other suitable elastic material; a loop formed at one end of the band body; a Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip secured to one surface of the band body at the other end of the band body; and a complementary Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip secured to the other surface of the band body at a predetermined separation from the other end of the band body, in a manner such that the complementary Velcro-brand hook and loop fastener strip can be attached to the Velcro- brand hook and loop fastener strip.

2. The multipurpose sports band as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of cushioning members each having a predetermined thickness are embedded adjacent both ends of and into the band body, in a manner such that flexural and rotational angles of the back of the hand, the instep of the foot, the wrist or the ankle can be effectively limited.