Thoracic belt

Claim 2

A thoracic belt for reinforcing the thorax of a patient and comprising first and second elongate end panels of textile fabric of substantial inherent stability against stretch in use, each end panel being substantially rectangularly shaped and having opposite side edges and opposite end edges, a body-engaging facing of resilient spongelike foam material bonded to one surface of each end panEl for presenting a friction surface to obviate slippage of the belt when firmly bound about the patient''s thorax, an elastic intermediate panel of substantially isosceles trapezoidal configuration having its opposite nonparallel end edges secured by means of stitching to the proximal end edges of the respective end panels along the entire length of the edges in continuous abutting nonoverlapping relationship, and fastening means for detachably interconnecting the distal end portions of said end panels opposite from said proximal edges when the thoracic belt is placed about the patient''s thorax.

Claim 3

A thoracic belt according to claim 1, in which said body-engaging facing is formed of polyurethane foam material.

Claim 4

A thoracic belt according to claim 1, in which said intermediate panel is of substantial stretchability in a direction parallel to its opposite parallel side edges, and is substantially nonstretchable transversely of said direction.

Claim 5

A thoracic belt according to claim 3, in which said end panels are each of about the same width as the length of the nonparallel end edges of said intermediate panel substantially throughout the length of said end panels, and wherein opposite side edges of each end panel extend substantially perpendicular to the respective nonparallel end edges of said intermediate panel when the thoracic belt is not in use.

Claim 6

A thoracic belt according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprises means forming a napped surface on one face of said first end panel adjacent the distal end thereof, and a plurality of hook-shaped fiber members secured to and projecting from the opposite face of said second end panel adjacent the distal end thereof for grippingly engaging said napped surface on said first panel to fasten the distal ends of said first and second end panels in overlapping relationship.

Claim 7

A thoracic belt for encircling a patient''s body beneath the arms to provide tension around and controlled expansion of the thoracic cavity, said belt comprising a pair of elongate, substantially rectangularly shaped, end panels of textile fabric of substantial stability against stretch in use, each end panel having bonded thereto a body-engaging facing of polyurethane foam material presenting a resilient friction surface to obviate slippage of the belt when firmly bound about the patient''s thorax, an isosceles trapezoidally shaped elastic intermediate panel situated between said end panels and having its entire opposite nonparallel end edges in continuous abutting and nonoverlapping relationship the respective proximal end edges of said end panels, stitching means securing opposite end portions of said intermediate panel to proximal end portions of said end panels to maintain said abutting nonoverlapping relationship and with opposite substantially parallel side edges of said end panels extending substantially perpendicular to the respective nonparallel end edges of said intermediate panel, said intermediate panel being formed of elastic webbing including elastic strands extending substantially longitudinally only of said belt, one of said end panels having means forming a napped surface on one face thereof adjacent the distal end thereof remote from said intermediate panel, and a plurality of hook-shaped fiber members secured to and projecting from the opposite face of the other of said end panels adjacent the distal end thereof remote from said intermediate panel, for grippingly engaging said napped surface of said one end panel to fasten the distal ends of said end panels together in overlapping relationship.

Claim 8

A thoracic belt for encircling a patient''s body beneath the arms to provide tension around and controlled expansion of the thoracic cavity, said belt comprising a pair of elongate, substantially rectangularly shaped, end panels of textile fabric of substantial stability against stretch in use, each end panel having bonded thereto a body-engaging facing of polyurethane foam material presenting a resilient friction surface to obviate slippage of the belt when firmly bound about the patient''s thorax, an isosceles trapezoidally shaped elastic intermediate panel situated between said end panels and having its entire opposite nonparallel end edges in continuous abutting and nonoverlapping relationship the respective proximal end edges of said end panels, stitching means securing opposite end portions of said intermediate panel to proximal end portions of said end panels to maintain said abutting nonoverlapping relationship and with opposite substantially parallel side edges of said end panels extending substantially perpendicular to the respective nonparallel end edges of said intermediate panel, said intermediate panel being formed of elastic webbing including elastic strands extending substantially longitudinally only of said belt, one of said end panels having means forming a napped surface on one face thereof adjacent the distal end thereof remote from said intermediate panel, and a plurality of hook-shaped fiber members secured to and projecting from the opposite face of the other of said end panels adjacent the distal end thereof remote from said intermediate panel, for grippingly engaging said napped surface of said one end panel to fasten the distal ends of said end panels together in overlapping relationship.