초록 ▼

A garment designed to help in the physiological and psychological rehabilitation of a hemiplegic patient. Disposed on the shirt sleeves and the pants legs of the garment are graspable elements, such as hoops or handles. Within each of the shirt sleeves and pants legs are reinforced areas that are jo

A garment designed to help in the physiological and psychological rehabilitation of a hemiplegic patient. Disposed on the shirt sleeves and the pants legs of the garment are graspable elements, such as hoops or handles. Within each of the shirt sleeves and pants legs are reinforced areas that are joined to the graspable elements. The reinforced areas branch out across the material of the shirt sleeve or the pants leg. As a result, when a pulling force is applied to the graspable element, the force is transferred throughout the sleeve or leg by the reinforced areas. This enables a sleeve to be pulled onto an arm or a pants leg to be pulled onto a leg by applying a pulling force to just one position, thereby providing the ability for a person to use a partially disabled arm when dressing. In a preferred embodiment, small weights are positioned within the garment at various points along the sleeves and pants legs. The weights provide an increased tactile sensation to the arms and legs as the arms and legs are moved. The enhanced tactile sensation promotes improved proprioception, thereby helping a hemiplegic patient recognize and control the position of their limbs when moving his/her limbs. Color coding is provided on the garment to facilitate exteroception.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A garment comprising:a body section for covering a portion of the torso of a person's body:a limb section that defines a generally cylindrical shaped opening adapted to be worn around the limb of a person, wherein said limb section has a first end coupled to said body sec

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A garment comprising:a body section for covering a portion of the torso of a person's body:a limb section that defines a generally cylindrical shaped opening adapted to be worn around the limb of a person, wherein said limb section has a first end coupled to said body section, a second end and a center region disposed in between said first end and said second end;at least one fabric reinforcement structure having a predetermined length, wherein said at least one fabric reinforcement structure is sewn to said limb section along its predetermined length, said at least one fabric reinforcement structure including at least one fabric element that substantially circumvents said generally cylindrical shaped opening in said center region of said limb section, thereby producing a reinforced region within said limb section;at least one graspable element coupled at a fixed position to an exterior surface of said limb section in said reinforced region, wherein said at least one graspable element has a hoop configuration through which at least one finger can be passed, whereby a pulling force applied to said at least one graspable element is directly transferred to said reinforced region, thereby distributing said pulling force to said limb section proximate said reinforced region.