Background of the invention

The present invention relates to kinesiology tape.

From prior art, kinesiology tapes are known for treating and prevent ing sports injuries. The thin tape is elastic and conforming to the skin and com prises an adhesive on one side thereof to fasten the tape to a desired place on the skin. The base material of the tape may be cotton, polyester, or nylon, which may comprise an elastomer to provide the structure with flexibility. On a surface of the structure there is an adhesive to fasten the tape in its stretched form to a body part being supported or treated. The tape may stay in place for several days. It can also withstand moisture.

The tape may also be used to support joints and to avoid their poten tially harmful extreme positions.

By means of the tape, muscle mobility may be enhanced. By means of the tape, blood circulation may be normalized. Swelling of an injured place may be reduced with the tape.

The tape is also suitable for treating operation scars. The use of the tape adds to muscular strength and lessens muscular pain. It is suitable for pre venting sports-related injuries and treating injuries already taken place. Its use improves lymph flow of tissues and reduces swelling caused by tissue damage. The use of the tape normalises blood circulation.

Brief description of the invention

To further develop kinesiology tape, this application proposes the use of an electrically conductive structure in connection with the normal tape struc ture.

Research has found out that electricity and a magnetic field reduce the viscosity of blood and tissue fluid. By using an electrically conductive layer or separate electrically conductive threads in the tape, or by saturating the base ma terial, such as cotton or nylon, with electrically conductive particles, a healing ef fect is achieved by the tape for the damaged tissue area.

By the use of conductive thread structures wound in different direc tions in adjacent threads of the tape, a structure that not only protects a tissue against electromagnetic radiation but also a thermal effect that treats a damaged place is achieved. By using threads, a two-fold effect is consequently achieved: one that protects against electromagnetic radiation and produces a thermal effect. The kinesiology tape according to the invention has a flexible carrier layer, such as a cotton layer, nylon layer, or polyester layer. The carrier layer comprises an associated elastomer which provides the structure with resilience and flexibility.

On a one surface of the carrier layer there is an adhesive used to fasten the structure on the skin in connection with the treated or supported place.

According to an embodiment, the tape is treated with a substance, such as a liquid or paint, comprising metal particles.

In an embodiment, electrically conductive threads are used in connec tion with the structure.

In an embodiment, the threads are wound around their winding axes so that in adjacent threads the winding direction is clockwise on one thread and counterclockwise on the adjacent thread. The winding axes are straight, and a dis tance E between them is in the range of 0.5 to 10 mm.

With the use of wound threads, the benefit is achieved that they are flexible. This way the elasticity of the kinesiology tape is realized.

As an adhesive, the tape may utilize an acrylic adhesive.

Electric conductivity may also be realized by using electrically conduc tive gel on the tape, or cotton fabric saturated with electrically conductive liquid in liquid form. On the surface, a thin, electrically conductive coating of paint may also be used.

The solution according to the invention is excellently suited to rehabil itation of sports injuries and alleviating muscular pain.

In an embodiment of the invention, a tape of a suitable shape may be cut as the injury dictates from a rectangular sheet. It may be placed around a knee, for example.

Kinesiology tape may be on a roll or as sheets, which is a more appro priate form from the viewpoint of posting.

The kinesiology tape according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the claims.

Brief description of the figures

In the following, the invention is described with reference to the de scribed embodiment to which the invention is not intended to be exclusively re stricted.

List of figures:

Figure 1 shows kinesiology tape in its most common application. Figure 2 shows an embodiment where kinesiology tape is provided with longitudinal, electrically well conductive wound threads.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment where the electrically conductive threads of kinesiology tape are wound i.e. coiled, and in which the winding or coil ing directions of adjacent threads are different.

Figure 4 shows how threads are introduced as closed loops and the grounding thereof.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the tape, in which there are cutting lines marked on the tape.

Figure 6 show unwinding kinesiology tape from a roll.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows an embodiment where kinesiology tape 10, as un wound from a roll R, comprises a carrier layer 11 and thereon an elastomer layer

12 providing elasticity. In connection with the carrier layer 11 there is placed an electrically conductive structure 14. It is possible to lay the electrically conductive structure elsewhere, too, such as in connection with the elastomer layer. The elec trically conductive structure 14 is formed of conductive threads Cl, C2, Cl’, C2’... advantageously knitted in connection with the carrier layer 11. Electrically well conducting threads Cl, C2, Cl’, C2’... are knitted on the surface, which may be par allel to each other or crosswise, and they form a grid or mesh 20 which protects the injured place against electromagnetic radiation and filter certain wavelengths from the radiation.

Topmost, on at least one surface of the tape 10, there is an adhesive

13 such as an adhesive layer which makes a detachable bond on the body surface. The adhesive 13 may also have been absorbed in the carrier layer 11. When plac ing kinesiology tape 10 on the back or around a limb, for example, it is stretched whereby it supports the attachment point when set in place. The tape 10 may be removed from its locality whereby, being elastic, it restores its original length,

In addition, a temperature rise takes place in the threads Cl and C2 and Cl’ and C2’. The threads Cl, C2, Cl’, C2’... form a mesh or grid 20 which pre vents waves higher than a particular wavelength of electromagnetic radiation from passing through the mesh 20.

The structure is well suited for sports injuries to speed up recovery but is also suitable for non-injured places to support muscles/tissues and to pre vent injuries in advance. Figure 2 shows electrically well conducting threads Cl and C2 knitted in the base material, such as cotton, of the kinesiology tape. In adjacent threads, they are wound in opposite directions SI and S2, one clockwise and the other counterclockwise. Winding axes XI and X2 are at a distance E from each other. E is advantageously in the range of 0.5 to 10 mm. The winding axes XI and X2 are straight and parallel to each other. In adjacent windings the electromagnetic radi ations cancel each other out. Plenty of heat is generated. The kinesiology tape 10 thus protects against electromagnetic radiation and produces heat to the place of the body being treated and supports the damaged place.

When the electrically conductive thread Cl is wound around its wind ing axis XI in the winding direction SI, and the adjacent second thread C2 is wound around its winding axis X2 in the opposite winding direction S2, the elec trically conductive threads Cl, C2 wound in opposite directions are non-coaxial. When kinesiology tape has not got coaxial electrically conducting threads wound in opposite directions, the temperature rise in the electrically conductive threads can be kept low enough. The distance E between the winding axes XI and X2 af fects how much the electrically conductive threads warm up. When the distance E is small, the threads warm up more than when the distance E is larger. The elec trically conductive thread Cl does not touch the adjacent second electrically con ductive thread C2. There may be base material of the carrier layer between the electrically conductive thread Cl and the adjacent second electrically conductive thread C2.

So, between the electrically conducting threads Cl and C2, electrically non-conducting material may be woven. The electrically non-conducting material may be the material of the carrier layer 11. This electrically non-conducting mate rial may also act as a structure cooler. On the other hand, the amount by which the structure warms up is affected by how far the electrically conductive threads Cl and C2 are from each other. The further away from each other the electrically conductive threads Cl and C2 are, the less warming takes place in the structure.

Often, a damaged place on the body swells up and gathers tissue fluid and waste materials. Electric voltage in near-by muscles increases to a high level.

The tape according to the invention supports the damaged place and removes excess electric voltage from the muscles. The waste materials can es cape. The swelling of the area is reduced and the turning of the electromagnetic radiation caused by the muscle into managed heat in the mesh 20 treats the in jured place, improves blood viscosity, and cancels out any excess electric charge formed in the muscle, and enhances the healing of the injury and removal of waste material from the injured place. Healing of the damaged body place speeds up.

The wound threads Cl, C2, Cl’, C2’ in Figures 2 and 3 form a grid, mesh or lattice 20 as in Figure 1, which prevents radiation higher than a particu lar wavelength from accessing the injured place.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment where the electrically conductive threads of kinesiology tape are wound, or coiled, and in which the winding or coil ing directions of adjacent threads are different; one thread is wound clockwise, the adjacent thread counterclockwise. The threads may comprise in connection with them electrically non-conductive support threads that are wound in the winding direction of the electrically conductive threads along them. They provide the thread structure with rigidity as well as act as cooling threads and support threads.

The kinesiology tape 10 of Figure 3 is a rectangular structure as con cerns its base material layer 11 which may be cotton, for example. There is an elastomer 12 joined in the base material layer to provide the tape with restoring elastic resilience.

It is also possible to set other electrically conductive additional mate rials in connection with the base material 11, such as an electrically conductive structure 14, such as a paint layer, a liquid containing electrically conductive par ticles, or electrically conductive gel.

Knitted on the surface of the base material layer in question there is an electrically well conducting first thread Cl wound on loops around its longitudi nal axis Cl, the winding direction SI being clockwise.

Next to the electrically well conducting first thread Cl there is a sec ond thread C2, which is also of an electrically well conducting material. It is wound or coiled counterclockwise S2. The winding axes XI and X2 are at a dis tance E from each other, and the axes XI and X2 are parallel to each other and therefore rectilinear. The distance E is advantageously in the range of 0.5 to 10 mm, and the thickness of the threads Cl, C2; Cl’, C2’ is advantageously in the range of 0.01 to 2 mm. To support the wound, electrically conductive threads, which may also be referred to as filaments or strings, there is a wound electrically non-conductive thread or a plurality of electrically non-conductive threads. Their task is to act as support threads and cooling threads, and furthermore one of their tasks is to maintain the distance E between the electrically conducting threads Cl, C2; Cl’, C2’... Acting as support threads, they also act as cooling threads that pre vent the temperature from rising too hot and keep the temperature under control. The temperature may be advantageously kept constant and slightly below the human body temperature. The material of the electrically conducting threads Cl, C2; Cl’, C2’ may be, for example, metal, carbon fibre, silver, or copper. When using metal, it repels bacteria and prevents their growth in the injured place.

In connection with the threads Cl, C2; Cl’, C2’, electrically non conducting support threads may have been entwined to provide the total struc ture with rigidity. The support threads are electrically non-conducting.

This way, the winding directions alternate in adjacent threads. The threads may have been led as a continuous closed and grounded loop 200, 201 over the entire structure.

The threads form a mesh that prevents radiation of a particular wave length from passing through the mesh 20. It therefore filters out certain wave lengths and this protects a person using the tape against electromagnetic radia tion in two ways, so filtering out radiation and cancelling out electromagnetic fields in adjacent wound threads.

By introducing heat locally on the area of the injury, a treating effect is focused on the injury.

Electromagnetic fields in adjacent threads cancel each other out, and the electromagnetic radiation transforms into heat.

Figure 4 shows how the threads Cl and C2 are introduced as closed loops 200, 201. The loops 200, 201 and therefore wires Cl and C2 are grounded by ground wires d.

This way, the tape allows the soothing kinesiology tape 10 to be brought in contact with the injury, whereby the treatment has a heat effect as well as an effect treating and supporting the tissue. By stretching the kinesiology tape 10, an injured ankle, for example, may be well supported and compressed. The in troduction of heat promotes the shifting away of tissue fluid that has gathered in the injured area and helps the tissue recover.

The mesh formed with the threads filters out damaging wavelengths from room radiation, and consequently the ill effects of the radiation in question to the body are eliminated.

The winding directions of the threads Cl, C2 are illustrated by arrows SI and S2. The thickness of the threads Cl and C2, that is, the cross-section 0, is in the range of 0.01 to 2 mm, and the material used is, for example, carbon fibre, silver thread, or copper thread.

Figure 5 shows the preferred sheet embodiment of the tape 10. There are rectangular sheets one upon the other, and each has cutting lines tl, t2, ... for injuries of different kinds. The structure is well suited for the post office to transport.

Figure 5 shows kinesiology tape material as sheets 100.

In Figure 6, a roll embodiment R of the kinesiology tape 10 is shown. The kinesiology tape 10 is wound as a roll R and may be unwound from the roll R.

Those skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advanc es, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the above-described examples but may vary within the scope of the claims.