Skin protection device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a skin protection device comprising: a flexible cover having a first end and a second end. The cover comprises two sides extending between said first and second ends. The sides comprise seal sections capable of mutual engagement to form a seal. Each seal section includes a surface that is longitudinally serrated or undulating, wherein serration or undulation is provided on both sides of the section, a first female serrated or undulating side and a second male serrated or undulating side which when placed together form a mating pair and the seal. Each seal section is an extrusion as one part with a flat base and a plurality of serrations or undulations, folded and secured around the sides of the cover so that the flat base is in contact with both surfaces of the cover.

Claims

1. A skin protection device comprising: a flexible cover having a first end and a second end with two sides extending therebetween, wherein each of said sides comprises a seal section, wherein each of said seal section is capable of mutual engagement with itself to form a seal, wherein each said seal section includes a surface that is longitudinally serrated or undulating, wherein serration or undulation is provided on both an upper surface of the seal section and a lower surface of the seal section opposite the upper surface to provide a first female serrated or undulating surface and a second male serrated or undulating surface which when placed together form a mating pair and the seal, wherein the skin protection device is configured such that when it is wrapped around a part of a user's body, the serration or undulation of one of the first female serrated or undulating surface and the second male serrated or undulating surface of each seal section contacts the user's skin in order to form a seal with the user's skin, and wherein the skin protection device is configured to overlap itself by any length while still being capable of forming the seal.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each said seal section is an extrusion as one part with a flat base and a plurality of serrations or undulations, wherein each seal section is folded and secured around one of the sides of the cover so that the flat base is in contact with the upper surface and the lower surface of the cover.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises hydrochromic means.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the female surface comprise a plurality of troughs and the male surface comprises a plurality of corresponding peaks, and wherein a first trough is deeper than a second trough.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the seal sections are arranged in use to adhere to skin through friction.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein each said seal section comprises a nub and a corresponding lacuna locking means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the following figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device before use;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detail side view of a seal section from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view from above of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the device wrapped around a part of a patient; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a seal section, in lateral cross section, being attached to a cover.

(8) With reference to the figures the skin protection device 10 comprises a cover 11 with a first face 1 and a second face 4. The cover has peripheral, seal sections 12, 13 which each have a first surface 2 and a second surface 3. The first face (i.e. surface) 2 of each of the seal sections is arranged to engage with a second face 3 of that respective peripheral section, to make the seal. The cover 11 may be reversed and each face, 1 or 4, may have different properties. For example, one face 1 or 4 may be provided with a thermochromic, reflective and/or luminescent coating, to be used exterior, or one face 1 or 4 may include antibacterial, hypoallergenic, hygienic or drug based properties to be used interior.

(9) In an embodiment, the cover thickness is no greater than 0.04 mm, and preferably no greater than 0.017 mm, so as to be easily stowed and to be comfortable and flexible in use.

(10) The seal section 12, 13 width (i.e. the transverse dimension) is at least 5 mm, preferably 5-10 mm and preferably no greater than 20 mm so as to enable adhesion of the seal to itself or the user. Preferably the section thickness is no greater than 3 mm, i.e. the dimension from a point on one side of the seal section to the corresponding point on the other side of the seal section is less than 3 mm. The depth with serrations is at least 5 mm and no greater than 10 mm, i.e. the peak to peak dimension is greater than 5 mm and less than 10 mm.

(11) The seal sections 12, 13, each comprise serrations, or undulations. The serrations, or undulations, in preferred embodiments are dimensioned with reference to FIG. 2, wherein a relatively larger trough 7 corresponds with an undulation or serration 8. A series of relatively smaller troughs and peaks follow subsequently, wherein the next trough contains a lacuna 6 corresponding to a nub 5 on the corresponding peak.

(12) The seal section 13 in the embodiment shown in lateral cross section in FIG. 2 comprises three longitudinally extending peaks on one surface 3 of the seal section and three corresponding longitudinally extending troughs on the other, opposing, surface 2 of the seal section 13. The seal section 13 may comprise any number of corresponding longitudinally extending peaks or troughs.

(13) When the skin protection device 10 is wrapped around a part of a user's body (as shown in FIG. 5) a portion of one surface 3 of the seal section 13 will be received in the opposite surface 2 of the seal section 13 to thereby form a seal.

(14) FIG. 6 shows the process of attaching one of the seal sections 12, 13 to the flexible cover 11. FIG. 6a shows a lateral cross-section of the extruded seal section 12, 13. The seal section is extruded as a single piece which comprises a female and a male surface 2, 3. As a result of the seal section 12, 13 being extruded the cross-sectional shape is constant along its length. Half way along the cross-section of the seal section a thin, v-shaped portion 14 (see FIG. 6d) is provided. This v-shaped section 14 acts as a hinge about which the seal section 12, 13 can be folded. Additionally, the v-shaped section provides a recess for receiving an edge of the flexible cover 11.

(15) To attach the seal section 12, 13 to the flexible cover 11, the cover is received in the v-shaped recess 14 and the seal section is folded about the v-shaped section so that a flat base of the extruded seal section 12, 13 is in contact with the opposing surfaces of the cover 11 along one side (as shown in FIGS. 6b and 6c). Once folded about the cover 11 the seal section 12, 13 may be secured onto the cover by welding, adhesive or another known attachment means.

(16) The invention has been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that variations may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

(17) With respect to the above description, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(18) Therefore, the foregoing description is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, 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 and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims.