Support garment or tape and method of making the same

Abstract

A method of producing a variable compression garment. The method includes: identifying, in a base textile having a first elongation and memory characteristic, a first region having a second elongation and memory characteristic; applying to the base textile, in the first region, a first layer of an elastomer; drying the first layer of the elastomer to adhere the first layer of the elastomer to the base textile; applying to the base textile, in the first region, at least a second layer of the elastomer; drying the second layer of the elastomer to adhere the second layer of the elastomer to the first layer on the base textile; and baking the first and second layers of the elastomer to cure the first and second layers of the elastomer.

1 . A method of producing a variable compression garment, comprising:
 identifying, in a base textile having a first elongation and memory characteristic, a first region having a second elongation and memory characteristic,   applying to the base textile, in the first region, a first layer of an elastomer, drying the first layer of the elastomer to adhere the first layer of the elastomer to the base textile,   applying to the base textile, in the first region, at least a second layer of the elastomer,   drying the second layer of the elastomer to adhere the second layer of the elastomer to the first layer of the elastomer on the base textile, and   baking the first and second layers of the elastomer to cure the first and second layers of the elastomer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 determining number of layers of the elastomer needed to provide the second elongation and memory characteristic, and   after drying the second layer of the elastomer, applying an additional number of layers of the elastomer and drying each additional layer of the elastomer before applying a next additional layer of the elastomer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 determining a direction and/or gradient of the second elongation and memory characteristic, and   determining at least one pattern for the first, second, and any additional, layers of the elastomer to provide the direction and/or gradient, wherein applying the first, second, and any additional, layers of the elastomer comprises applying the first, second and any additional layers of the elastomer in the at least one pattern that has been determined.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the direction and/or gradient comprise at least two directions or gradients 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one pattern comprises at least one pattern chosen from the group consisting of a pattern of interlocking shapes, a pattern of parallel lines, and a pattern of crossing lines. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further including:
 identifying a second region of the base textile having a third elongation and memory characteristic,   determining number of layers of the elastomer needed to provide the third elongation and memory characteristic, and   before the baking, applying to the base textile, in the second region, at least one second-region layer of the elastomer, and drying each second-region layer before applying a next second-region layer.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including:
 determining a direction and/or gradient of the third elongation and memory characteristic, and   determining at least one second-region pattern for the at least one second-region layer of the elastomer, wherein applying the at least one second-region layer of the elastomer comprises applying the sat least one second-region layer in the at least one second-region pattern that has been determined.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the baking comprises baking for at least 4 hours at a temperature of between 70 and 90 degrees centigrade. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is a silicone-based or a non-silicone-based polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the first, second, and any additional layers of the elastomer, or the at least one second-region layer of the elastomer comprises printing the at least one second-region layer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein printing comprises capillary film screen printing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein drying the first, second, and any additional layers of the elastomer, or the at least one second-region layer of the elastomer comprises flash drying at 140 degrees centigrade for at least 6 seconds. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, before applying the first, second, and any additional layers of the elastomer, or the at least one second-region layer of the elastomer, applying a base layer of a primer material to the base textile and drying the primer layer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one second-region pattern comprises a 3D pattern for providing the direction and/or gradient of the second and third elongation and memory characteristics that have been determined. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base textile comprises at least 80% of a material selected from the group consisting of f cotton, polyester, and nylon, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to applying to the base textile in the first region, a first layer of an elastomer, cutting the base textile to form a panel of a compression garment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to applying to the base textile, in the first region, a first layer of the elastomer, cutting the base textile form a panel of the variable compression garment and joining the base textile panel with additional panels to form the variable compression garment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after the baking, cutting the has textile form a panel of the variable compression garment, wherein the panel includes at least one of the first and second regions, and joining the panel with additional panels to form the variable compression garment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to applying to the base textile, in the first region, the first layer of the elastomer, cutting the base textile to form a panel of the compression garment, and joining the panel with additional panels to form the variable compression garment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the variable compression garment is selected from the group of garments consisting of a shirt, shorts, tights, sleeves, socks, underwear, a joint brace, and a support. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the compression garment comprises a medical support garment including at least one of a joint brace, a knee support, a calf support, an ankle support, a shoulder support, an elbow support, an arm support, a wrist support, a hand support, and a figure support. 
     
     
         22 . A variable compression garment produced using the method of  claim 1 .