Abstract: Disclosed is an improved hernia device which includes an undergarment brief having front, side, rear and crotch portions defining spaced leg openings wherein the front portion has one or two truss pads supported from its inner surface to protrude inwardly of the brief to engage and support abdominal hernia areas of the body of a wearer; with the truss pads independently held in position and urged toward the body of the wearer by a pair of straps having inner ends secured to the center of the front portion and extending in opposite directions with distal ends independently and adjustably secured to side portions forward of opposite lateral side centers of the hips of the wearer. Also disclosed is the use of a two piece seat or rear panel having a heavier upper portion of heavier material which assists in providing back support while carrying and distributing tension which may be transferred by the tension straps.

Abstract: A user wearable wrist support formed of low temperature moldable, formable plastic, normally closed-cell foam laminated between surface sheets of fabric. The wrist support comprises a curvate clasp having a generally self-supporting C shaped cross section, with the clasp encircling the wrist of the wearer. The clasp is secured in position by a strap. A palmar stay extends transverse of the clasp onto a palmar pad integrally extending from a side of the clasp. In one embodiment the clasp is provided with outwardly extending wrist support rests alongside the stay for supporting the clasp on a planar surface. In another embodiment the support comprises two sheets of plastic material of different densities and hardness sandwiching and embedding a stay therebetween. The device is fabricated by first creating a sheet of foam laminated with at least one surface fabric sheet. Blanks for forming the clasp are cut from the foam sheet and subjected to selective compression, heat, and molding to form the support.

Abstract: A hernia belt which is provided in two parts, comprising an abdominal belt portion, having a pair of leg straps which extend downwardly for passing between the legs of a wearer, and a separate back belt portion, which extends around the back of the wearer. Virtually the entire face of the exterior of the abdominal belt portion is formed of hook or loop material, which engages with mating loop/hook surfaces on the ends of the back belt portion. The combination of the abdominal belt portion having virtually its entire surface covered with hook/loop material, and a back belt portion with hook/loop material at its ends, makes it possible to provide virtually universal or “fits all” hernia support.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elbow support having a C-shaped clasp body with at least one foam compression pad extending into the interior of the body for adjustable compression into the forearm of a wearer. An elongated compression strap is attached to an outer surface of the clasp body and extends around the clasp. The strap has a buckle at one end and a releasable securable device at the other end. The end with the releasable secureable device loops through the buckle and doubles back on itself for releasable attachment. This assists in securing the clasp body on the forearm and providing the adjustable compression. The elbow support is fabricated by an improved method. Pursuant to this method, a clasp body blank is cut from a sheet of thermosetting closed cell foam which is laminated with fabric. The cut clasp body blank is selectively compressed to form a compressed clasp body, from which integrally protrudes at least one compression pad in a substantially uncompressed form.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ankle support which includes a low temperature, formable plastic, closed-cell foam sewn to a soft orthopedic appliance to provide the desired rigidity and conformability, and a method of making the same. The closed-cell foam is in a skeletal configuration comprising a relatively wide collar for encircling the leg of a wearer and supporting a plurality of relatively narrow elongated stiffeners depending therefrom substantially normal thereto. At least one of the stiffeners terminates in a J-shape. In producing the new brace, a polyolefin foam is laminated with nylon fabric on both of its surfaces. The laminated foam is then cut to desired blank shape. This blank is then sewn to the fabric of the soft brace, also in flat blank shape. The soft brace is then sewn into its sock configuration. The combined foam sheet and attached soft brace blanks in a sock configuration are then mounted upon a male die and subjected to low temperature heat and pressure forming.

Abstract: A back support comprising a back support belt having flaps with fastening material for releaseably securing the flap ends in overlying relationship. Side pulls extend from the back portion of the support belt and also are provided with fastening material for securing the ends of the side pulls to the support belt and to each other. The side pulls are formed of overlying inner and outer portions in a known manner. The support belt has mounted thereon quick lock release buckles for attaching to the back support accessories, such as a standard apron having waist ties. The quick lock release buckles have male and female halves and pass through type securements on the separable halves. Preferably one of the securements is a double pass through type on the male halves in order to provide adjustability in securing the waist ties of a standard apron. Another feature of the invention is the provision of a means for holding the side pulls adjacent the secured flaps when the back support belt is mounted on a wearer.

Abstract: A thumb wrist splint with a main body portion which includes a plurality of straps for encircling the wrist and securing the same firmly to the wrist with desirable palmar and dorsal stays. A sewn thumb spica/splint is fabricated, and finished by normal binding around the periphery. The thumb strap loop is fixed to the splint and a removable securable anchor is also applied to the spica/splint. The spica/splint is a VOLARA® grade polyolefin closed foam material which is desirably laminated to nylon cloth on one side. The sewn thumb spica is secured to the main body portion. Thereafter, the entire blank, as just described, is positioned over an anvil intended to form a curvilinear pattern to the thus encapsulated VOLARA® so that it will conform to the upper portion of the wrist. Once secured in place on the wrist by means of the straps around the wrist portion, the thumb strap is secured.

Abstract: Disclosed is an accessory base for use with lifting belts. Typically, lifting belts have flaps extending from a lumbar section containing loop fastening material on the exterior sides, and side pulls containing hook fastening material on the interior sides, whereby the hook fastening material on the side pulls can matingly engage the loop fastening material on the exterior sides of the flaps. In effect, the side pulls and flaps utilized according to the present invention for the "sandwiching-type" securement of the accessory base between the side pull and the belt flaps. The accessory base has a hook fastening portion on its inside and a loop fastening portion on its outside to the end that the accessory base can secure itself to the underlying belt flaps, and then be locked in place by the side pulls in sandwich effect.