Cryotherapy and compression sleeve and methods of use
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12582541-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
An elastic material or other stretch material formed as a layer or cylinder and capable of holding hot or cold temperature and radiating such temperature through contact and an elastic fabric adhered to the elastic material capable of providing a protective cover and a fabric liner between a user's skin and the elastic material and, thus, functions to conform to user's body providing evenly distributed encompassing cold or hot temperature application, a fabric liner between user's skin and the hot or cold therapy, even application of compression therapy without the need for clips or buckles.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for wrapping a body part, including an elastic gel material that can be exposed to a hot or cold temperature environment and transfer the hot or cold temperature. The elastic material is configured to stretch in multiple directions so that the wrapped apparatus can conform under compressive force.
The apparatus further includes an elastic fabric part having elastic fabric portions adhered to and covering a first surface of the elastic material and adhered to and lining a second surface of the elastic material. The elastic fabric part is configured to provide a compressive force to the body part while maintaining contact around the wrapped surfaces.
In sleeve configurations, the elastic fabric part includes outer and inner fabric layer portions with a space between them that contains the elastic material. The sleeve architecture is defined by first and second sleeve end openings and a sewn seam region that connects the outer and inner fabric layer portions and extends from the first sleeve end opening to the second sleeve end opening.
The geometry can include a taper between the sleeve end openings, and the sleeve end opening diameters can be constrained such that the first sleeve end opening has a larger opening diameter than the second sleeve end opening. The described structure enables circumferential, conforming, even hot/cold temperature transfer and compression without external fasteners such as clips or buckles.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover an apparatus for wrapping a body part with an elastic gel that transfers hot or cold temperature and an elastic fabric part adhered to first and second surfaces to provide compressive force. The independent claims identify six inventive features across the claim set, with dependent refinements adding sleeve, seam, edge, perimeter-edge, opening, and taper limitations.
Hot or cold temperature-transfer elastic gel configured to stretch in multiple directions
The apparatus includes an elastic material with a first surface and a second surface, configured to be exposed to a hot or cold temperature environment and transfer said hot or cold temperature, where the elastic material consists of a single, elastic gel material configured to stretch in multiple directions.
Elastic fabric covering first surface and lining second surface to provide compressive force
The apparatus includes an elastic fabric portion adhered to and covering the first surface of said elastic material and an elastic fabric portion adhered to and lining the second surface of said elastic material, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a compressive force to the body part.
Molded elastic gel layer with defined perimeter edge
The apparatus includes an elastic material that is a molded elastic gel material formed as a layer with a defined perimeter edge, where the layer of the molded elastic gel material is configured to stretch in multiple directions.
Elastic fabric portions adjacent to and covering/lining molded gel surfaces
The apparatus includes an elastic fabric portion adjacent to and covering the first surface of said elastic material and an elastic fabric portion adjacent to and lining the second surface of said elastic material, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a compressive force to the body part.
Elastic gel layer formed with defined perimeter edge
The apparatus includes an elastic material that is an elastic gel layer formed with a defined perimeter edge, wherein said elastic gel layer is configured to stretch in multiple directions.
Elastic fabric portions adjacent to gel first surface and lining gel second surface to provide compressive force
The apparatus includes an elastic fabric portion adjacent to and covering the first surface of said elastic material and an elastic fabric portion adjacent to and lining the second surface of said elastic material, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a compressive force to the body part.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is an apparatus wrapping a body part with a hot/cold temperature-transferring elastic gel that stretches in multiple directions, combined with elastic fabric portions adhered to and covering/lining first and second surfaces to provide compressive force. Dependent claim refinements further specify sleeve construction, sewn seam regions, space relationships between outer and inner fabric layers, gel perimeter edge material-side relationships, and geometric constraints such as opening-diameter differences and tapering.
Stated Advantages
Provides circumferential, conforming, even hot/cold temperature transfer and compression.
Provides compression without external fasteners such as clips or buckles.
Documented Applications
Wrapping body parts including limbs such as ankle, knee, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and other body parts for hot or cold temperature exposure using the disclosed cryotherapy and compression sleeve.
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