Gel and cushioning devices

Abstract

Articles of apparel for an amputee's residuum and for non-amputees who desire or require padding or joint support.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering having an open end for introduction of said stump and a closed end opposite said open end, said covering having an inside and an outside and comprising a foamed or non-foamed gel composition having a Shore 00 durometer of from 1-100 and comprising a styrene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene isoprene/butadiene block copolymer or mixtures thereof and, optionally, up to 90% by weight, of mineral oil based on total weight of copolymer and oil.  
     
     
         2 . The covering as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said covering is a sleeve member having a form fit shape, said gel having a thickness profile such that the gel is thicker at the closed end of the sleeve member than at the open end or vice versa.  
     
     
         3 . The covering as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising docking means for attaching said covering to a prosthetic device.  
     
     
         4 . The covering as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said covering further comprises fabric which coats part or all of said gel on at least one side thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The covering as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said covering further comprises fabric which coats part or all of said gel on at least one side thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The covering of  claim 4 , wherein said gel is partially or wholly covered with fabric on both sides thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The covering of  claim 5 , wherein said gel is partially or wholly covered with fabric on both sides thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The covering of  claim 4 , having fabric on the outside thereof and further comprising said gel or a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoset elastomer on the outside of said fabric arranged so as to be capable of forming an air-tight seal with a prosthetic hard socket when worn by an amputee.  
     
     
         9 . A covering for enclosing an amputation stump arranged in a recessed achillies configuration.  
     
     
         10 . A polymeric gel comprising 25-65 wt. % of a styrene isoprene/butadiene block copolymer and 35-74 wt. % mineral oil and having a Shore 00 durometer of from 1-100.  
     
     
         11 . A reinforced covering for enclosing an amputation stump, said covering having an inside and an outside and comprising a foamed or non-foamed gel composition having a Shore 00 durometer of 1-100 and a reinforcing material having an elasticity lower than said gel and arranged in said covering so as to protect a wearer and/or said covering from stress and/or abrasion when worn.  
     
     
         12 . The covering of  claim 11 , wherein said gel is partially or wholly covered on at least one side with fabric.  
     
     
         13 . The covering of  claim 11 , said covering having a form-fit shape.  
     
     
         14 . The covering of  claim 11 , said covering having a tubular shape.  
     
     
         15 . An open-ended cushion sleeve for use by an amputee or non-amputee, said open-ended sleeve being cylinder-shaped and having an inside and an outside, said sleeve comprising a foamed or non-foamed gel composition having a Shore 00 durometer of from 1-100 and comprising a styrene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene or styrene isoprene/butadiene block copolymer and, optionally, up to 90% by weight, of mineral oil based on total weight of copolymer and oil.  
     
     
         16 . The sleeve as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a reinforcing material having an elasticity lower than said gel and arranged in said sleeve so as to protect said amputee or non-amputee and/or said sleeve from stress and/or abrasion when worn.  
     
     
         17 . The sleeve as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said sleeve further comprises fabric which coats part or all of said gel on at least one side thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The sleeve as claimed in  claim 15 , having said gel or a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoset elastomer arranged so as to be capable of forming an air-tight seal with a limb or prosthetic hard socket when worn.  
     
     
         19 . The sleeve as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the elasticity of said sleeve is higher circumferentially than axially.  
     
     
         20 . A cushioned fabric, comprising fabric coated with a foamed or non-foamed gel composition having a Shore 00 durometer of from 1-100 and comprising a styrene-ethylene/propylene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene or styrene isoprene/butadiene block copolymer and, optionally, up to 90% by weight, of mineral oil based on total weight of copolymer and oil.  
     
     
         21 . A method for producing an article to be worn on the body, comprising shaping a cushioned fabric comprising fabric coated with a foamed or non-foamed gel composition having a Shore 00 durometer of from 1-100 and comprising a styreneethylene/propylene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene or styrene isoprene/butadiene block copolymer and, optionally, up to 90% by weight, of mineral oil based on total weight of copolymer and oil, and connecting a portion or portions of said cushioned fabric to itself, to another shaped cushioned fabric, or to another material constituting the article to be produced.