text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|9 Dec 1997
|Filing date
|1 Jun 1994
|Priority date
|16 Feb 1993
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Tracy E. Grim, Kevin R. O'Donnell, Alec D. Bobroff, Mark D. Holt, Joseph M. Iglesias, John M. Bourne, William K. Arnold
|Original Assignee
|Grim; Tracy E., O'donnell; Kevin R., Bobroff; Alec D., Holt; Mark D., Iglesias; Joseph M., Bourne; John M., Arnold; William K.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (25), Referenced by (143), Classifications (28), Legal Events (11)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/018,004, filed on Feb. 16, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,135.
The present invention generally relates to orthopaedic devices for the human anatomy and, more particularly, to an orthopaedic device that is compression molded to improve the fit and performance of the support.
Orthopaedic supports are typically used to stabilize and protect certain injured parts of the human anatomy. Such supports have often been used on knees, elbows, ankles, wrists, thighs and backs. These supports are intended to reduce strain on the injured body part, thereby allowing the injury to heal. Some supports have included struts and other hardware to help relieve some of the load from the injured part, and to restrict motion.
One such orthopaedic support is constructed as follows. First, the manufacturer cuts a base layer from a sheet of material, such as foam rubber. The manufacturer then sews a variety of pads onto the base layer, which may include buttresses, condylar pads, and popliteal pads. The manufacturer then sews on straps, which are used to secure the support to a limb. The manufacturer may also attach hardware to the support, or may sandwich such hardware between the base layer of material and a pad.
A number of problems arise with this common type of support. The first problem relates to the manufacturing process. To construct such a support, the manufacturer must cut the pads from a piece of material, position those pads onto the base layer, and sew the pads into place. The process of cutting, sewing, and positioning is labor-intensive and can become expensive. If a pad is improperly positioned and sewn, the entire support may need to be discarded as defective. Furthermore, material is wasted when the cutting process produces scrap pieces that must be thrown away.
A second set of problems arises with the support characteristics of this common type of orthopaedic support. First, the typical support stretches in order to roughly conform to the shape of joints and limbs. However, mere stretching cannot allow the support to closely conform to the nuances in the shape of the limb or joint, particularly in the case of knees, elbows and ankles. As a result, areas of the limb or joint are left under-supported or even entirely unsupported.
Another problem arises because the typical support has a base that is of uniform thickness and density, thereby producing uniform circumferential compression. Such compression cannot be increased or decreased to provide more or less support in selected areas of the injured limb or joint, in the absence of supplemental material straps. Consequently, such a support tends to shift position on the limb because there are no regions of high pressure to anchor it. Furthermore, a support having uniform thickness and density may allow the limb to move with equal ease in a variety of directions. Such ease of movement may increase the likelihood that a particular injury such as a patella injury will be aggravated.
A third set of problems arises with respect to the performance of the typical support. One problem is that the support material tends to bunch up whenever the limb is flexed. This bunching tends to interfere with the motion of the limb, is uncomfortable to the user, and may rub or chafe the skin and even bruise the skin. Another problem is that the edges of the typical support are die-cut, thereby exposing the user's skin to potentially allergenic support materials, such as neoprene. The edges tend to be rather rough, causing skin irritation during exercise.
An additional set of problems stems from hardware that may be attached to the typical support. Such hardware may include gel packs, inflatable bladders, pumps, straps, and struts. This hardware tends to protrude from the base of the support and can get caught on other objects. Since the hardware is typically sewn onto the base, the stitches can be ripped from the base and the hardware torn free. A special problem arises with hinged strut mechanisms, which can be twisted out of place so that the hinged strut does not properly guide and support the flexing motion of the joint.
There are a number of objects of the present invention. One object is to provide an orthopaedic support having varied thickness and material density. This support may be manufactured without having to cut and sew extra padding pieces. The varied thickness allows the manufacturer to increase or decrease the pressure provided to selected areas of the limb, including pressure that will prevent the support from shifting position. The varied density may allow the manufacturer to limit the range of limb motion in certain directions, in embodiments directed to use on a limb.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthopaedic support molded to generally conform to the contour of the part of the human anatomy that it supports. The edges may be shaped so that the skin is not exposed to allergenic or rough-edged material. The support should also not bunch up when a limb is flexed.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an orthopaedic support having grooves to accommodate hardware. These grooves allow the hardware to remain close to the base of the support, maintain the proper position of the hardware, and act as hardware locators for ease of support assembly. Moreover, the grooves particularly act as locators for removable materials, and as gel pads, straps, etc., ensuring proper placement when re-attached.
Generally stated, an orthopaedic support that satisfies the foregoing objects includes a sheet of foam material, preferably foam rubber, that has been compression molded in specific areas. These areas have a thickness and density that is different from other areas of the support and which serve to better fit the support to the body. Such supports can be manufactured for use on various parts of the human anatomy.
Embodiments of the invention may include a number of features. The support may include compression molded grooves or cavities to accommodate straps, struts, gel-filled pads, inflatable bladders, pumps, and other accessories. The support may be compression molded into a shape that conforms to the general contour of the part of the human anatomy that it supports. The support may also include a number of compression molded grooves that reduce bunching when the support is bent. Edges of the support may have molded radii for minimizing skin irritation during activity.
One specific embodiment of the invention is a knee brace, which is manufactured from a sheet of foam rubber. The knee brace includes a front side to accommodate the patella and a rear popliteal side. Compression molded grooves extend across the popliteal side to reduce material bunching when the user bends her or his knee. The knee brace may also have a variety of compression molded pads and buttresses, as well as hardware and compression molded grooves and cavities to support that hardware.
As is apparent from the foregoing description, the present orthopaedic support readily satisfies the objects of the invention. The compression molded support is manufactured without having to cut and sew extra padding pieces. The variable thickness and density provide pressure to selected areas of a limb and improve the range of motion in certain directions. The shape of the support conforms to the contour of the part of the human anatomy that it supports, and the molded edges protect the user's skin from allergic reactions and abrasion. The compression molded grooves serve to prevent bunching of the material when the limb is flexed. Furthermore, other compression molded grooves accommodate hardware, act to maintain the hardware in proper position, and serve as hardware locators during assembly of the support.
The present invention also encompasses a compression molded back brace. The brace may have a central portion that includes resilient sheet material having a predetermined thickness and density. The resilient material is compression molded in specific areas to alter the thickness and/or density of the material in those areas in order to improve the function of the brace. Lateral support straps may be connected to the central portion. A fastening element or system holds the brace in a desired position about the user and maintains a proper fit.
Various additional features may be incorporated into alternative embodiments of the back brace. The central portion may be made of layers of material stacked upon each other. The central portion may have ventilation holes to ventilate the user's back. The lateral support straps may be sewn onto the central portion, or they may be adhered with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The lateral support straps may alternatively be integral with the central portion. The back brace may have grooves compression molded into the surface to improve the performance of the brace. The brace may include compression molded indentations and/or channels to accommodate brace hardware.
The central portion of the back brace may also include an optional, compression molded bladder. The walls of the bladder may be a material such as thin urethane or a closed-cell foam. The edges of the bladder are compression molded. The bladder may be completely sealed so that air cannot flow in and out of the bladder. The interior of the bladder may include a piece of open-cell foam for pre-inflating the bladder. Alternatively, an inflation duct may be connected at one end to the bladder to allow a user to adjustably inflate the bladder.
The present invention also includes a method of manufacturing compression molded orthopedic supports. The method includes stacking sheets of material in a stack. At least one of the sheets should be a resilient material. The stack is then compression molded in selected areas to alter the thickness and density of the support to improve the function of the support.
Selected sheets may be adhered together with an adhesive. The stack may include at least one layer of substantially non-stretchable material to limit the stretchability of at least a portion of the support. The method may include the step of adding at least one pad to a selected area of the stack prior to the step of compression molding the stack. A sheet of substantially rigid material may be added to the stack to create a stay within the support.
The method may also include the step of creating a compression molded, pre-inflated bladder within the back brace. A first and second sheet of air-impermeable material are added to the stack. A foam pad is situated in between the two sheets of air-impermeable material. The first and second sheets are adjacent to one another around the periphery of the foam pad. The step of creating a compression molded, pre-inflated bladder further includes compression molding the first and second sheets to fuse the sheets together around the periphery of the foam pad.
More generally, a compression molded brace for a portion of the human anatomy is constructed from at least one sheet of resilient foam material having a predetermined thickness and density. The sheet is compression molded in certain areas to reduce the thickness and increase the density of the material in the compression molded areas. Areas of less dense material which serve as padding and areas of more dense material which serve to improve the function of the brace are thereby created. The brace may include means for securing the brace about a portion of the human anatomy and means for cushioning the portion of the human anatomy.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the brace may also include a second sheet of compression molded resilient foam material stacked in a stack along with the first sheet of compression molded resilient foam material. The means for cushioning the portion of the human anatomy may include a compression molded bladder juxtaposed in between the first and second sheets of compression molded resilient foam material. The compression molded bladder may have first and second sheets of air-impermeable material with a foam pad in between. The air-impermeable sheets are sealed about the foam pad to seal the bladder. The bladder need not be filled with a foam pad, but may be filled with other materials such as a gel, a gas, a liquid, semi-flexible particles, and foam.
A brace may have a first layer of soft, less dense foam for placement toward the skin and a second layer of firm, dense foam for placement adjacent a brace wall. Additionally, the means for cushioning the portion of the human anatomy may be an interchangeable cushion pad. The sheet of resilient material may have a compression molded indentation for selectively receiving the cushion pad.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a formed foam rubber orthopaedic knee brace;
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the formed foam rubber knee brace of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the formed foam rubber knee brace of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the formed foam rubber knee brace taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a formed foam rubber orthopaedic knee brace having grooves for straps;
FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of a formed foam rubber orthopaedic knee brace having grooves for struts and for straps;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6 showing the strut and the strut groove;
FIG. 8 is a close-up view of portion 8 of FIG. 4 showing a first outer layer of material, an inner layer of foam rubber, and a second outer layer of material;
FIG. 9 is a front view of an embodiment of a formed foam rubber knee brace having grooves for a bladder, a pump and a tube connecting the pump to the bladder.
FIG. 10 is a plot of displacement vs. load for compressed and uncompressed foam rubber;
FIG. 11 is a front view of a back brace according to the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a back view of the back brace of FIG. 11 according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken across line 13--13 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 is a front view of a first alternative embodiment of a related back brace;
FIG. 15 is a rear view of the back brace of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16--16 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 17 is a front view of a second alternative embodiment of a back brace according to the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18--18 of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is an exploded view of an ankle brace according to the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the second pad member taken along line 20--20 of FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the second pad member of FIG. 19 taken in Area 21 of FIG. 20;
FIG. 22 is a sectional view of a heel pad and strap taken along line 21--21 of FIG. 19;
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a compression molded counter strap having compression molded grooves;
FIG. 24 is a sectional view of a compression molded counter strap taken along line 24--24 of FIG. 23; and
FIG. 25 is a sectional view of a form of compression-molded bladder.
Before considering a particular preferred embodiment, it is useful to discuss the invention in general. A principal characteristic of the present support invention is regions of varying thickness and density. These regions are created by a process known as compression molding, wherein a combination of heat and pressure is applied to a sheet of material. The manufacturer varies the amount of heat and pressure that is applied in different areas of the material in order to reduce thickness in certain areas. The areas that are not compressed, or which are only slightly compressed, can constitute regions of extra padding. The material is typically a resilient open-cell material such as urethane, although the material might also be a foam closed-cell rubber such as neoprene.
The art of compression molding requires both special equipment and special skill. Therefore, a designer of a compression molded product will typically submit specifications to a commercial compression molding company, which will then manufacture the product. One such compression molding company is Rubatex Corporation of Bedford, Va.
FIG. 10 is a comparison of the stretch characteristics of compressed and uncompressed foam rubber. This figure was derived from tension tests of uncompressed, and compressed samples of neoprene that were supplied to the inventors by the Rubatex Corporation. Each of the samples had a testing length of 3 inches and a width of 1 inch. The uncompressed samples were 3/16 inch thick, and the compressed samples were 1/8 inch thick. As FIG. 10 illustrates, the compressed and uncompressed materials behave similarly at low loads. However, as the load increases, the compressed material tends to stretch more than the uncompressed material. By applying this principle to foam rubber orthopaedic support design, a designer may control the stretch characteristics of a support by varying the degree to which different regions of the support are compressed. Furthermore, because the support pressure of a foam rubber support is related to its stretch characteristics, the designer may simultaneously control the pressure that the brace exerts at different areas of an injured part of the human anatomy.
Now turning to one specific embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 shows an orthopaedic knee brace 18. The brace has been compression molded to have a number of features. Strip pads 22 protect the flesh and muscle above the knee when the user either falls down or bumps into another object. Similar pads may be placed below the knee to protect the shin. Patellar buttress 24 supports and protects the patella. Main body 28 may be compression molded to have a generally uniform thickness and density, and therefore uniform stretch characteristics as may be desired for overall support.
The knee brace also includes compression molded transverse grooves 32 located in the rear popliteal area 30. These compression molded grooves 32 are shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2. Grooves 32 allow the rear popliteal area 30 to fold accordion style when the knee is bent. This feature overcomes the long standing problem of material bunching, which prevents the knee from flexing freely with traditional knee braces. Rear popliteal area 30 may have a generally relaxed thickness in order to help the knee bend. The sheet material is sewn together along sew line 31 as shown in FIG. 2.
Raised rims 20 act to anchor the knee brace onto the knee area. As discussed previously, and as shown in FIG. 10, compressed foam rubber stretches more easily than foam rubber that is not compressed or that is compressed relatively less. Consequently, rims 20 stretch relatively less than base 28, thereby causing rims 20 to behave like elastic bands mound the portions of the leg that are above and below the knee. Thus, the knee brace of FIG. 1 is self-anchoring without the use of straps.
The compression molded features of knee brace 18 are more particularly seen in FIG. 4, which is a cross sectional view of the brace taken at Section 4--4 of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 particularly shows such features as pads 22, patellar buttress 24, and transverse grooves 32. Also shown is patellar aperture 26, which allows the user to flex her or his knee with relative freedom. Note that the compression molding technique allows sudden discontinuities in height and density between raised and non-raised portions, thereby allowing the designer to create corresponding discontinuities in the pressure that the brace exerts on the limb.
FIG. 4 also illustrates molded edge 36, which rounds the interior of the edge away from the skin to reduce both allergy problems and irritation during exercise. FIG. 8, which is a close-up view of Section 8 of FIG. 4, shows a more detailed view of molded edge 36. FIG. 8 reveals that the knee brace 18 is formed from a material having three layers. The two outer layers 52 are typically a thin nylon or brushed nylon material. The middle layer 54 is typically a closed cell rubber such as neoprene. Molded edge 36 prevents the user's skin from coming into contact with middle layer 54, which is often allergenic. Furthermore, the skin does not come into contact with a rough edge, as it would if the edge was die cut.
FIG. 3 illustrates the overall appearance of the leg and knee brace 34. Several types of channels, grooves, and indentations can be compression molded into the brace. These channels and indentations serve to hold brace hardware into place, to prevent the hardware from protruding from the brace, and to serve as hardware locators during the manufacturing process. The strap grooves 38 are an example of this type of compression molded groove, as shown in FIG. 5. The strap grooves guide or maintain straps 44 and 46 in place so that there may be no need to sew the straps onto the brace itself. Note that the level of the straps is about even with base 28 of the brace, and the straps do not protrude. Thus, it is unlikely that the straps will catch on external objects when the brace is worn.
FIG. 6 illustrates a knee brace having a compression molded channel for strut and hinge hardware, which serve to reduce the load that bears directly on the knee. The compression molded channel holds strut 48 and strut hinge 50 in place, and prevents strut 48 and strut hinge 50 from significantly protruding from the brace. FIG. 7, which is a cross sectional view taken along Section 7--7 of FIG. 6, shows strut 48 neatly resting inside strut channel 66. Strut 48 is covered by one of two outer layers 52, which are typically nylon or brushed nylon material. A second layer 68 of the same material lies underneath outer layer 52 and underneath strut 48. The base of the brace is an inner layer of material 54, which is typically foam rubber. Outer layer 52 lies flat over strut 48, such that the strut itself is not visible from the exterior of the brace. These strut channels 66 allow strut 48 to rest underneath straps 62 and 64, thereby allowing the user to secure the brace to her or his knee without interference from the strut mechanism.
FIG. 9 illustrates an air bladder, an associated air pump, and a tube to connect the air pump to the air bladder, all of which rest neatly inside compression molded indentations. The bladder 58 serves to support and protect the knee beyond what patellar buttress 24 can provide. Tube 60 connects pump 56 to bladder 58. The user may pump more or less air into the bladder to adjust the pressure that the bladder exerts upon the knee. Such air packs weigh very little, yet can add considerable support to the knee.
Similar channels and indentations can be compression molded into the brace for a variety of other types of hardware. For instance, indentations can be provided for gel packs, which are used either to protect against impact and/or for thermal therapy. A gel pack for protecting against impact may be permanently located underneath the surface of the knee brace, similar to the manner in which strut 48 is permanently buried underneath the surface of the knee brace in FIG. 7. Gel packs that are to be used for thermal therapy must be removable, and may rest inside a pouch partially defined by a compression molded indentation. In the case of heat therapy, the user first heats a gel pack, then inserts the gel pack into a gel pack pouch. Once the gel pack has cooled somewhat, the user replaces it with a freshly heated gel pack.
The following dimensions are provided by way of example and not of limitation. Referring to FIG. 1, the foam rubber sheet has an uncompressed thickness of 3/16". Pads 22, rims 20 and patellar buttress 24 are not compressed and have the same 3/16" thickness. Base 28 is compression molded to a thickness of 1/8". Transverse grooves 32 have a thickness of 1/16". Of course, numerous variations are possible. One such variation is to reduce the thickness of the entire popliteal area 30, thereby allowing the user to bend her or his knee more easily.
It should be noted that knee brace 18 is presented as just one of a multitude of possible embodiments of the invention. The invention encompasses a wide range of compression molded supports and braces for all other parts of the body. Thus, in addition to knee braces, the invention includes similar supports for elbows, thighs, wrists, ankles, backs, feet, and shins. A general method of compression molding supports may be defined as follows.
A method of manufacturing a compression molded support includes stacking at least one sheet or piece of support material, and optionally other sheets or pieces of support material, pads, bladders and/or support hardware, then compression molding the stack into a support. Generally speaking, the stack of material includes one or more inner layers of a sheet material, such as urethane foam or another resilient material, and outer layers of material such as LYCRA or brushed nylon, although these outer layers are not always necessary. A bonding step may include gluing adjacent layers or pieces of material together, or the layers may be separated by thin sheets of urethane or vinyl, which melt under the heat and pressure of the compression molding process and fuse or bond adjacent layers or pieces of material together.
The manufacturer may form a pre-inflated bladder within the support by including a sub-stack of material in the stack of support material. The substack is defined by an open-cell foam pad with a first sheet of urethane or closed-cell foam on one side of the open-cell foam pad and a second sheet of urethane or closed-cell foam on the other side of the open-cell foam pad. A rigid or semi-rigid sheet of material may optionally be stacked in between the open-cell foam pad and the second sheet of urethane or closed-cell foam to create a stay within the bladder. The stack of support materials are then compression molded in the area surrounding the open-cell foam pad, such that the first and second sheets of urethane or closed-cell foam are fused together about the open-cell foam pad, thereby creating a pre-inflated bladder within the support.
Alternatively, an inflatable bladder may be compression molded into the support. To do so, the first and second sheets of urethane or closed-cell foam may be stacked without a foam pad in between. A sheet of rigid material may be stacked in between the first and second sheets of urethane or closed-cell foam to create a stay, or the first and second sheets may be stacked directly against one another. An inflation tube is then inserted in between the sheets of urethane or closed-cell foam, with one end extending into the bladder interior and the opposite second end extending out of the stack of materials for connection with an external pump during inflation. Alternatively, the second end of the inflation tube may lead directly to a pump that is embedded in the stack of support materials. Once the inflation tube is in place, the stack of support materials is compression molded to fuse the first and second sheets of urethane together around a bladder perimeter.
Various channels, troughs, indentations and grooves can be molded into selected regions of the support for accommodating brace hardware and/or to alter the stretch characteristics in certain regions. Some of these have already been discussed in conjunction with the knee brace embodiments of the present invention. For instance, an indentation may be molded to accommodate a pump for inflating an internal bladder.
Another type of compression molded orthopedic support that falls within the scope of the present invention is a back brace that has portions that are compression molded. FIGS. 11-13 illustrate one embodiment of a compression molded back brace. The brace has an "interior" surface for placement adjacent to a user, and an "exterior" surface that faces the opposite direction, away from the user.
FIG. 11 illustrates the interior surface 101 of the brace. The brace is a belt member having a central portion 102 and a plurality of lateral support straps 104, 106, 105 and 110 connected to the central portion 102. Ventilation holes 112 extend through the central portion 102, which also includes a central cushion 114. The brace includes a fastening system or element adapted to attach the belt member in a desired position and with a desired fit around the user. A portion of this system is the hook material pad 116 which is sewn onto straps 110 and 108 with first stitching pattern 118.
FIG. 12 illustrates the exterior surface 120 of the brace of FIG. 11. Loop material pad 122 is sewn onto straps 110 and 108 with pattern of stitching 126, while loop material pad 124 is sewn onto straps 104 and 106 with pattern of stitching 118. Loop material pad 122 is part of the fastening system. The user wears the brace with the interior surface 101 of FIG. 11 against her body and central cushion 114 against her back. To fasten the brace in place, she pulls straps 104 and 106 across the front of her body so that loop material pad 122 is facing outwardly away from her body. She then pulls straps 110 and 108 across the front of her body and presses hook material pad 116 into contact with loop material pad 124, thereby fastening the brace in place. This hook and loop engagement system is commonly known as VELCRO.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 13--13 of FIG. 11. As is readily seen, central portion 102 includes several layers of different material. Interior surface 101 is made of a hook-compatible material such as brushed nylon layer 130. A layer of resilient material 132 such as urethane foam is adjacent to the brushed nylon layer 130. A bladder 134 is adjacent to layer of resilient material 132. The bladder is defined by a first layer of urethane film or closed-cell foam 136, a second layer of urethane film or closed-cell foam 138, and a layer of resilient material such as urethane foam sandwiches in between the layers of urethane film. Another layer of resilient material 140 is adjacent to the bladder. Exterior surface 120 is defined by another layer of hook-compatible material 142 such as brushed nylon.
FIG. 13 shows that the ends of straps 108 and 106, respectively, are sandwiches in between layers of resilient material 130 and 142. The straps are held in place with layers of pressure sensitive adhesive at 144, 146, 148, and 150. A variety of commercial pressure sensitive adhesives may be used, including the 921 High Tech Adhesive manufactured by the 3M Company of St. Paul, Minn.
A key feature of the present invention is the use of compression molding to vary the thickness and density of the material in selected areas to improve the function of the brace. In the embodiment of FIGS. 11-13, the various layers of material are compression molded together in regions 152 and 154 of FIG. 13. The pressure and heat of the compression molding process fuse urethane or closed-cell foam layers 136 and 138 at bladder edges 156 and 158, thereby sealing bladder 134. The compression molding reduces the thickness and increases the density of the resilient material in regions 152 and 154. The compression molding also causes the pressure sensitive adhesive to bond straps 108 and 106 to layers of resilient material 132 and 140.
FIG. 14 shows one of many possible alternative embodiments of a compression molded back brace. As with the embodiment of FIG. 11, the embodiment of FIG. 14 is a belt member 200 having a central portion 202 and a plurality of lateral support straps 204, 206, 208 and 210 sewn on the central portion 202 by stitching patterns 254 and 256. Canvas covers 258 and 260 cover the support straps where they connect to central portion 202. The brace includes a fastening system or element adapted to attach the belt member in a desired position and with a desired fit around the user. A portion of this system is the hook material pad 216 which is sewn onto straps 210 and 208 with first stitching pattern 218.
Central portion 202 includes a central cushion 214. Central cushion 214 also includes a rigid stay 250, which FIG. 16 illustrates. The stay 250 may be made of a 3/16" poly-ethylene sheet. The stay stiffens the central cushion in order to provide additional support to the back. Compression molded side bars 262 and 264 provide additional strength to the brace.
Central cushion 214 also includes compression molded buttons 252. These buttons are illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. The purpose of the buttons is to prevent the central cushion 214 from balling up or bulging against the user's back. Air is then free to move within the cushion to properly distribute the pressure against the user's back. The buttons also serve to limit the height of the bladder, particularly in embodiments employing an inflatable bladder.
FIG. 15 illustrates the exterior surface 220 of the brace of FIG. 14. Loop material pad 222 is sewn onto straps 210 and 208 with pattern of stitching 226, while loop material pad 224 is sewn onto straps 204 and 206 with pattern of stitching 218. Loop material pad 222 is part of the fastening system and interlocks with hook material pad 216 to fasten the brace onto the user.
The lateral support straps 204, 206, 208 and 210 are buttressed with a system of pull straps 270, as seen in FIG. 15. The pull strap system includes a first pair of pull straps 272, 274 and a second pair of pull straps 276, 278, both pairs secured with a lateral securement strap 280 to the middle of the back or outward surface of the central portion 202. A loop is provided at the bottom of the strap 282 so that a user can reach back and adjust the position of the brace.
The straps of the first pair 272, 274 overlap each other, converge towards one another and are sewn together and to the support straps 210 and 208 at outward location 284. The straps of the second pair 276, 278 are similarly oriented and are sewn together and to the support straps 204 and 206 at location 286. The pull straps are spaced a distance from the edges of the belt ends and towards the central portion 280. Then, when the belt ends are wrapped around the user and secured in place by the hook-and-loop fasteners 216, 226, the pull straps 272, 274, 276, and 278 pull against the central portion 280 and thereby pull the cushion 214 firmly against the sacro-lumbar region of the user's back, which is also known as the small of the back.
FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-section of the central portion 202 taken along line 15--15 of FIG. 14. The central portion is made by the method of manufacture described previously. Several layered pieces of material are compression molded together in certain areas to increase the material density and reduce the thickness of the resilient material in those areas. Central pad 214 of brace 200 includes an outward layer of brushed nylon 286, a first thin layer of urethane 288, a rigid sheet of polyethylene 250, a first sheet of urethane foam 290, a second thin layer of urethane 292, a second sheet of urethane foam 294, and an inward layer of LYCRA 296.
The first and second thin layers of urethane 288, 292, the rigid sheet of polyethylene 250, and the first layer of foam material 290 define a pre-inflated bladder. The bladder is formed by compression molding the brace about the perimeter of the foam material 290 at first and second thin layers of urethane 288, 292, which become fused together to seal foam material 290 and polyethylene 250 inside the bladder.
Central portion 202 further includes compression molded stays 262 and 264. The stays are formed in the brace by inserting strips of dense urethane foam 298, 299 in between the first layer of urethane 288 and the second layer of foam 294. Dense strips of urethane foam 298, 299 may be augmented by strips of rigid or semi-rigid material such as polyethylene in order to stiffen side bars 262 and 264.
Compression molded buttons 252 are also illustrated in FIG. 16. The buttons are highly compression molded to the point of being rigid. They may include air holes (not illustrated) punched in the center of the button in order to provide ventilation to the user.
With respect to a further embodiment of the present invention, it should be noted that the lateral support straps of the present invention need not be separate pieces attached to a central portion. Rather, the support straps and the central portion may be compression molded from one or more common sheets of resilient material. The support straps are therefore integral to the central portion of the brace.
FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate such a brace, which has a central portion 300 and integral support straps 302 and 304. Central portion 300 includes a central cushion 306 having an interior bladder. A pad of hook-type material 308 is adhered to an outer end of support strap 302 on the inward side of the brace. A mating pad of loop-type material 310 is sewn with stitching pattern 312 to an outer end of support strap 304 on the outward side of the brace, as seen in FIG. 18. Border trim 314 and 316 cover the edges of the brace.
Central cushion 306 includes a bladder 318, which is defined by an inward urethane sheet 320, an outward urethane sheet 322, and a layer of urethane foam 324 encompassed by the inner and outer urethane sheets, as seen in FIG. 18. Sheet of urethane foam 326 is next to bladder 318 toward the inward side of the brace, and sheet of urethane for 328 is next to bladder 320 toward the outward side of the brace. The bladder is sealed by compression molding around the periphery of the bladder 331 to fuse layers 320, 322 together.
Layers of LYCRA material 330, 332 define the inward and outward surfaces of the brace. Material layers 330, 332 are glued to urethane foam layers 326, 328, respectively.
Another embodiment of the present invention is an ankle brace having compression molded components, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 19-24. As FIG. 19 shows, such a brace may include first and second side wall supports 410 and 430, first and second pad members 450 and 470, and a heel pad/heel strap member 490. First and second side wall supports 410 and 430 are generally made of a somewhat rigid plastic, such as polyethylene. Attachment straps 412, 414 and counter strap 416 hold the brace secure on the ankle. Attachment straps 412, 414 attach to the first and second side wall supports with a VELCRO-type fastening system utilizing hook-type material pads 550 and loop-type material 552 on one side of straps 412, 414 or vice-versa. A VELCRO-type system may also be used to attach first and second pads 450, 470 to side wall supports 410, 430.
As seen in FIG. 19, first and second pad members 450, 470 each include a compressed upper area such as 472, a less compressed, padded area such as 474, and a pad recess such as 476. An interchangeable pad 478 may be inserted into the pad recess 476. Interchangeable pad 478 may have a flat surface, or may have a concave shape to conform to the shape of the malleolus of the ankle. Interchangeable pad 478 may be a piece of compression molded resilient foam, or may be a gel or air pad, or any other type of pad.
FIG. 20 shows second compression molded pad member 470 in cross-section. Pad 470 includes an exterior layer of dense, firm foam 480 on the outer side wall support side of the pad, and another layer of softer, less dense foam 482 on the inner side of the pad. The arrangement of the soft foam/firm foam puts the lower density foam, which is softer, next to the skin where comfort is desired. The higher density foam, which is firmer, goes next to the shell to insure that the pad does not bottom out during use.
A "Pac-Man" pad 486 is included in the stack of material layers, on the exterior side of firmer foam layer 480. "Pac-Man" pad 486 is generally oval in shape but with a section removed to make space for the portion of counter strap 416 that protrudes on the interior side of second side wall support 430. The profile of "Pac-Man" pad 486 can be seen in FIG. 19, which shows identical "Pac-Man" pad 466. Outer layer of brushed nylon 484 covers the entire pad. FIG. 21 is a detailed sectional view showing the juxtaposition of the soft layer of foam 482, the firm layer of foam 480, and the "Pac-Man" pad 486.
Heel pad and strap member 490 includes heel pad 492 and heel straps 494 and 496. Heel pad 492 includes a layer of resilient foam 498, a layer of a non-stretch or limited stretch material 500, and another layer of resilient foam 502, as shown in FIG. 22. Layer of non-stretch material 500 may be a nylon mesh, a fabric, or any other material that does not stretch or that stretches only to a limited degree. Heel pad and strap assembly 490 are covered by upper and lower layers of LYCRA or brushed nylon 508, 510.
It should be noted that this concept of adding a layer of non-stretch or limited-stretch material may be extended to any of the compression molded components in any of the embodiments discussed in the present application where non-stretch or limited-stretch characteristics are desired.
Straps 494, 496 include compression molded layers of resilient foam 498, 502 which are compression molded to have click-stop ridges 504 and compression molded notch 506. With click-stop ridges 504 and notch 506, a user may pull a ridge through a heel strap slot 418 to secure the heel strap on side wall support 410. Such ridges and notches allow the user to adjust the length of the strap. Straps 494, 496 may have several notches and click-stop ridges, if desired. Compression molding allows the heel piece to be made to have sufficient cushioning under the heel, yet thin enough in the straps in order to fit through slots in the side wall supports.
FIG. 23 shows that counter strap 416 includes outer straps 510, 512, compression molded grooves 514, 516, click-stop ridges 518, 520, and compression molded achilles tendon portion 522, which provides means to properly orient and position the strap on the achilles tendon. FIG. 24 shows that counter strap 416 comprises an upper layer of LYCRA 526, a compression molded layer of resilient foam 528, and a lower layer of LYCRA 530.
A variation of the present ankle brace embodiment involves compression molding pads 450 and 470 to side supports 410 and 430, respectively. For instance, the manufacturer may place pad 450 next to side support 410, then compression mold both together to fuse pad 450 to side support 410. A thin layer of urethane, vinyl or the like may be interposed between pad 450 and support 410 prior to compression molding. The urethane will melt during compression molding, thereby bonding pad 450 to side support 410. The process of compression molding the pad to the substantially rigid side support eliminates the need to have a VELCRO type fastening system to hold the pad and the support together.
It is considered important to further consider various alternative constructions of a compression-molded bladder. Referring to FIG. 25, an alternative compression-molded bladder construction may have walls of closed-cell foam or other gas-impermeable resilient material. FIG. 25 shows an orthopaedic support having a portion 600 with a compression-molded bladder. An important feature of this embodiment is that the bladder walls 604 and 608 are made of a resilient, air-impermeable material such as a closed-cell foam. Alternatively, solid rubber or other resilient, air-impermeable material may be used. The bladder walls are compression-molded around a bladder perimeter, also known as a bladder edge, to seal the bladder. Layers of brushed nylon or LYCRA material 602 and 610 (which may be air-permeable) are glued or otherwise bonded to the exterior of bladder walls 604 and 608. The resilient walled bladder of FIG. 25 may be also be used in place of the resilient liners 450 and 470 of the ankle brace of FIG. 19.
A bladder having resilient walls such as 604 and 608 has at least two advantages over bladders having film walls. First, resilient bladder walls reduce the number of layers of material that are needed to construct the support. The bladder wall can serve both to contain the gas within the bladder and as a source of padding. A second advantage is that the bladder walls will cushion the relevant portion of the anatomy even in the gas filling the bladder happens to escape. With a traditional bladder wall made of film, the walls of a deflated bladder would not provide any significant support to the user.
FIG. 25 illustrates an additional feature, namely, plastic shell 612 which underlies brushed nylon or LYCRA layer 610. Plastic shell 612 may be a side wall of an ankle brace (of the type shown in FIG. 19), a portion of a knee or elbow brace, a wall of a wrist brace, a stay for a back brace, or any other type of shell useful to the function of the particular brace. It should be further noted that the bladder may be pre-inflated by including a piece of open cell foam 606 in between bladder walls 604 and 608. Alternatively, the center of the bladder may be an empty space filled by means of an external pump, which is put into communication with the center of the bladder by way of an inflation tube or channel. As a further alternative, the bladder may be filled with gel, resilient beads, or other bladder filler. A rigid member may be included on the interior of the bladder for additional support.
A further embodiment of a bladder could have walls made of an open-cell foam with air-impermeable material bonded to at least one side of each wall. So, for instance, a bladder wall may be constructed of a piece or sheet of urethane foam with a thin piece of urethane material glued to the exterior side of the urethane foam in order to retain gas or other bladder filling medium within the bladder. A bladder may even have one wall made of a closed-cell foam and another wall made of another air-impermeable material, such as flexible plastic sheet material, so long as the two materials may be compression-molded together around the edge or periphery of the bladder.
In conclusion, it is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description and the accompanying drawings relate to preferred embodiments of the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example and not of limitation, the material used in the knee brace embodiments need not be nylon-covered neoprene, but could be another closed cell rubber, or an open cell foam such as urethane. The pads could be positioned in various places, such as below the knee to protect the tibial spine, tibial crest and tibial tubercle during a fall. The thickness of the base can be patterned to make the brace stretch more easily in certain directions than in other directions, and the stretch characteristics may be custom designed for particular injuries. The straps could be replaced with bands of a strong elastic material, which could be covered with nylon to make them invisible from the exterior.
The patellar buttresses could have a different shape or could be substantially larger than that shown in the drawings. Air pump 56 can be located in a variety of places. Similarly, the air pump can be an external unit that temporarily connects to the bladder to fill the bladder with air. Additionally, compression molded transverse grooves 32 may not exist in some embodiments where ease of bending is not desired. Instead, some knee braces may have a rigid member along rear popliteal side 30 to prevent any bending of the knee whatsoever.
Similar modifications may be made to the multitude of other embodiments of the present invention. With respect to the compression molded bladders, various stays or other support members may be positioned inside of the bladder before it is sealed in order to provide additional support. Various materials other than polyethylene, vinyl and closed-cell foam may be used to construct the outer walls of the bladder. The material must merely be impermeable to air and fuse during compression molding to seal the bladder. The bladder also need not be air-filled, but maybe filled with another gas, semi-rigid or flexible particles, one or more gel packs, liquids such as water, foam, or any other bladder filling known in the art. Additionally, it should be noted that more than one bladder may be compression molded into a support, if desired.
It should further be noted that the above-described back and ankle brace embodiments may incorporate various brace hardware, such as that described in conjunction with the knee brace embodiment and any other brace hardware appropriate to brace and ankle braces. The back and ankle brace embodiments may incorporate compression molded grooves such as those discussed with respect to the ankle brace. For instance, vertical grooves compression molded into the straps of the back brace can act as stays to better support the brace.
The central portion of a back brace embodiment may include a layer of non-stretch or limited-stretch material to control the stretch characteristics of the brace. Indeed, the layer of non-stretch or limited-stretch material may extend into the straps of an embodiment such as that depicted in FIG. 17, thereby limiting the stretch throughout the entire brace.
An entire line of orthopaedic supports falls within the scope of the present invention. In addition to the types of supports already discussed, the line may include wrist braces, neck braces, and a wide variety of compression-molded pads and inserts for other types of braces. These may include interchangeable receivable pads for insertion into compression-molded recesses in a support.
All of the compression-molded components of the present invention may be made from solid resilient material such as rubber. Compression molding would not significantly affect the density of such a solid material, but a desired effect could still be achieved by altering the thickness of the solid material in the compression-molded areas. As a consequence of the wide applicability of the present compression-molding technique to a variety of materials, the Load-Displacement characteristics illustrated in FIG. 10 will likely vary from material to material, with possible wide variations between certain materials.
The present invention is not limited to use on the human anatomy, but may be used on supports for various portions of the anatomy of animals. For instance, compression-molded supports may be fashioned for racehorses, dogs, cats and other animals. A particular advantage of the present invention is that the compression-molding process may be used to mold an unusual contour into a pad or support to properly fit an support an irregularly-shaped portion of the animal's anatomy.
The means for holding or securing the orthopaedic support onto a portion of the user's anatomy often includes straps, but the means may also relate to the resilient material itself which may form an elastic fit with the portion of the anatomy. Other means such as tape, adhesives, hook-and-loop material systems, laces, snaps, buttons, and any other systems known in the art.
The means for cushioning the portion of the body may include resilient material in sheet or piece form, various pads, bladders, gel packs, particle-filled pads, foams and/or compression-molded patterns, as well as other cushioning devices.
In sum, a wide variety of embodiments of body supports fall within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the detailed description.
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|1 Jul 2010
|Groehninger Frank Friedrich
|Device for stabilizing body segments
|26 Feb 2010
|2 Sep 2010
|Ossur Hf.
|Orthopedic device for treatment of the back
|14 Dec 2010
|23 Jun 2011
|Ossur Hf
|Orthopedic device
|25 Jun 2012
|28 Feb 2013
|Groehninger Frank Friedrich
|Device for stabilising parts of the body
|14 Sep 2012
|21 Mar 2013
|Townsend Design
|Knee brace with adjustable bolster
|U.S. Classification
|602/6, 602/26, 602/27, 602/19, 602/7
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|1 Jun 1994
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There is a long list of NBA players who failed to live up to their potential whether it was because of injuries or attitude or whatever. Michael Beasley is only the latest in a long line of wasted talent.
Michael Beasley's up-and-down, mostly down, career in the NBA took a sharp turn south and it is very likely Beasley will be out of the NBA shortly. The Phoenix Suns cut the mercurial forward Tuesday. The team agreed to a buy out Beasley and will likely pay him less than the full $6 million he is owed this season and the $3 million guaranteed he would have been owed next year.
Suns president Lon Babby issued a release, commenting on Beasley' departure:
The Suns were devoted to Michael Beasley's success in Phoenix. However, it is essential that we demand the highest standards of personal and professional conduct as we develop a championship culture. Today's action reflects our commitment to those standards. The timing and nature of this, and all of our transactions, are based on the judgment of our Basketball leadership as to how best to achieve our singular goal of rebuilding an elite team.
Beasley signed a three-year deal with the Suns last summer and averaged 10.1 points per game in a little more than 20 minutes per game in what will amount to his only season in Phoenix.
He ran into trouble this year, however, when he was arrested for marijuana possession in early August. It was not the first time he had run afoul of the law on marijuana charges and he certainly has been in the crosshairs of the NBA's substance abuse program. Beasley's career has fallen completely apart.
There was a time, of course, when the debate was between Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose for the top overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. The Bulls had a very serious decision to make. They clearly made the right one, leaving the Heat to take the scraps in the form of the 2008 All-American from Kansas State.
Beasley never quite lived up to his hype and his attitude and apparent drug use ketp him from being the player he could be.
At his best, Beasley was a smooth and athletic scorer for a guy his size who could have been a Carmelo Anthony lite. Beasley never became any of that.
Now he might not have a place in the league. In another era, Beasley might get a second third chance. With the way teams are getting built now — about efficiency and culture — it does not seem likely Beasley will play in the NBA again.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rent Classics of Criminology 4th edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Joseph E. Jacoby. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by Waveland Press, Incorporated.
Need help ASAP? We have you covered with 24/7 instant online tutoring. Connect with one of our Criminology tutors now.


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The sisters ALICE (1820—1871) and PHOEBE CARY (1824—1871) grew up on a farm near Cincinnati, Ohio, in an area later immortalized by Alice's Clovernook stories. There they immersed themselves in the classics of literature under the tutelage of an older sister whose death in 1833 affected them deeply. Although both published poems while still teenagers, it wasn't until 1850, after their work had been noticed by such luminaries as Edgar Allan Poe and John Greenleaf Whittier, that a book—Poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary— appeared. (Alice, who produced the majority of its contents, was always the more prolific and versatile of the two, but Phoebe is today considered the finer poet.) After their debut the sisters moved to New York City, where they became central figures in the East Coast literary milieu, contributing regularly to national periodicals and hosting a famous salon on Sunday evenings. ...
Poems By Phoebe Cary
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In addition to splendid landscapes, Chianti's popularity is also directly tied to its fine red wines produced in the region and known generally as Chianti wine. The Chianti region, extending roughly over the two main city provinces of Florence and Siena, is characterized by a combination of almost perfect weather and soil that produces a precious wine considered one of the best wines around the world.
The tradition of cultivating vines in Chianti goes back a long time in history, back to the Etruscans that inhabited the area before the Roman empire. Thanks to written evidence dating back to these times it is now known that the Etruscans not only cultivated vines and conducted experiments on grafting and creating hybrids but also produced wines that were widely appreciated.
Today, Chianti wine, depending on the area of production, is divided and recognized with the following denominations - all called Chianti + the denomination:
- "Classico", the more well-known of the Chianti wines. Production is limited to area between Florence and Siena, as seen in lighter green area on the map to the right.
- "Colli Aretini", hills towards Arezzo
- "Colli Fiorentini", hills around Florence
- "Colli Senesi", hills around Siena
- "Colline Pisane", hills towards Pisa
- "Montalbano", area in the Montalbano hills around Pistoia
- "Montespertoli", hills around Montespertoli
- "Rufina", area of hills near Rufina to the east of Florence
In 1984, Chianti obtained the denomination D.O.C.G. (Denominazione d'Origine Controllata e Garantita, or Controlled and Guaranteed Denomination of Origin), which is the highest type of protection and recognition for quality Italian wines.
If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, don't miss the opportunity to organize a wine tasting tour in Chianti or wine tasting in a wine shops in Florence.


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DC Radio Station Bans Dexter Manley
Radio station bans Dexter Manley for slurring Troy Aikman
Source: Michael David Smith, NBC Sports Pro Football Talk
Former Washington defensive end Dexter Manley won?t be welcome back on D.C. radio station WTOP after he directed a gay slur toward former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman on the air today.
According to Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post, Manley appeared on WTOP this morning and was asked about listening to Aikman handle the color commentary on Sunday?s Washington-Denver game. Manley answered by slurring Aikman.
?I think Troy was a queer,? Manley said.
When the WTOP hosts told Manley they didn?t think that was appropriate, Manley initially said he wouldn?t apologize but then backed down.


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Best route map between Montello, WI and Alanson, MI. This route take about 374 Miles.
The distance and estimated time is placed on the right depending on the status of the road.
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* You can see Montello, WI and Alanson, MI photos above. We provide this photos from Google Panoramio service.
* Montello, WI weather as celsius: °C
* Alanson, MI weather as celsius: °C
* Weather information on route, provide by Open Weather Map.
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The 2011 NBA draft was deep with role players and fringe starters. Unlike years past, this draft did not have a LeBron James, a Yao Ming or even a John Wall. Sure, Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams may make an All-Star game or two, but no one is going to talk about the impact they had on their team, their city or even the league.
For most draft picks it's all about finding the right fit to excel. Most prospects at this point in the process are good enough to play in the NBA; they just need to find the right team. If you happen to be one of those unfortunate late first-round/early second-round prospects, the option to join a team that might need you right away may sound alluring but might lead to your ultimately shortened career.
Those players drafted in the late first round and then late second round often find themselves with more time to develop. There is no one expecting them to come in and change the team. Unless you happen to be Tim Duncan going to the Spurs, going early in the first round may not be all that great either.
We will likely see some guy bust out of the NBA after a year or two, but for some of these second-round picks, the right team found them, and their careers will be better for it.


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Discolored Toenail
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Originally Posted by
If the blood is getting trapped underneath they might need to get removed. Which is not fun (I recently got one toenail removed as it was trapping in infection, and after two rounds of antibiotics the other one got worse, it's probably going this Friday)
Go. See. A. Podiatrist. And get new shoes! They're probably digging in by forced-ingrowth from small shoes.
I can't stress how much getting a toenail removed sucks, and this being from experience. If this is just your shoes being too small, it could've been prevented and I'm envious that you could've kept your toenails. Mine won't grow back in until after the summer if I'm lucky, and it can take up to a year where I won't have two big toenails.
Oh, and they can grow back in wrong and need to be permanently killed by burning the nail bed. Letting this go unchecked can potentially end in permanent loss of toenail assuming they need to be removed and assuming they don't grow in right.
edit: I wish I had more obvious warning signs for my problem, I didn't see the discoloration because the infection came from a pedicure so I had polish on. If I had caught this earlier, it would have just been epsom soaks and antibiotics. Now after two different antibiotics and constant soaking, my other toe got worse. Don't cheat yourself, see a doctor. It may not hurt, but having blood trapped under the nail I'm sure can lead to complications. It might not even be drainable anymore, I don't know. But the thought of anyone else losing toenails sickens me because it's just an unfavorable experience.
I know how that is. I used to wear small shoes and cut my toenails wrong as a teenager, I waited too long and had to get it removed. It grew back okay until it got to the tip of my toe, then it started to curve. I finally showed my mom, she got worried and took me again. After that the nail hasnt been the same. But since all that Ive been wearing looser shoes and dont clip my nails too short.
Im really mad at the prescription I got the second time. The antibiotics caused problems in my stomach that took 2 years, and tons of prevacid meds, to get rid of.
I have had something like that before, only a little smaller, and I just let it grow out. I just covered it with nail polish once a week, and waited a year. But since yours is the whole nail, Id get it checked out atleast.
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Lake Land College designated as Tree Campus-USA
May 21, 2014
Lake Land College recently has been designated as a Tree Campus-USA by the Arbor Day Foundation.
The Tree Campus-USA program recognizes college and university campuses that effectively manage their campus trees, develop connectivity with the community beyond campus borders to foster healthy forests, and strive to engage their student population utilizing service learning opportunities centered on campus and community forestry efforts.
For institutions that are designated with this honor, five standards must be met. First, a campus tree advisory committee comprised of members representing the diverse audience of those with a stake in campus trees must be established and meet regularly. Next, a campus tree care plan must be established; finances must be dedicated for the annual tree care work plan; Arbor Day observances must be held on campus, or in conjunction with the community; and service learning projects must be established as an outreach of the spirit of the Tree Campus USA initiative.
Lake Land College humanities instructor Tom Caldwell spearheaded this project last year and has been working with students and community members to achieve the designation.
"Trees are some of the most important natural resources we have," explained Caldwell. "Whether you use a tree for shading your home, as a food source, or as a landscaping focal point, good tree care is essential."
To earn the Tree Campus-USA designation, Caldwell has led a variety of projects. These projects include removing invasive tree species and replacing them with native Illinois trees; working with students on service learning projects; and enhancing certain landscapes on campus to create wind barriers, which help to reduce energy costs.
"Specifically, our goal is to raise awareness of sustainability and the important role trees play in all of our green efforts on the Lake Land College campus," said Caldwell.
To learn more about the Tree Campus-USA project at Lake Land, contact Caldwell at (217) 234-5314 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Cutline: At left, Paolo Mendez, Collegiate Veterans Alliance vice president, Peoria, and Lake Land College Master Gardener Aron Landsaw, plant a tree on the Lake Land College campus, in honor of Arbor Day. Celebrating Arbor Day is one of the key standards Lake Land meets to be designated as a Tree Campus-USA by the Arbor Day Foundation.
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We don't have much longer to wait for Top Gear USA's first on-air episode this Sunday, November 21. Apparently the production crew's pretty excited as well, having brought a fleet of some rather extraordinary taxi cabs to a weekly Cars and Coffee gathering in Irvine, Calfiornia.
All vinyl-wrapped with yellow livery, the fleet of Top Gear taxis arrived early Saturday morning at the former home of Ford's PAG headquarters. Diehard Crown Vic fans may have been disappointed, but those who prefer cars with slightly more performance potential certainly weren't. The taxi fleet included a Ferrari 458 Italia, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Porsche 911, Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, Lamborghini Murcielago, and a customized Chevrolet Camaro "Firebreather."
We didn't spot a single member of Top Gear USA's on-air trio, consisting of Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood, or Adam Ferrara, but plenty of production members were on-hand to chat about the show as well as the cars.
We'll be watching this weekend as Top Gear USA hits the airwaves for the first time, but in the meanwhile, which of these Top Gear taxi cabs would you most like to hail?


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Hi ladies.
wondering where I can get some good deals on pants for maternity! I'm normally a size 18.. sometimes a 16 I had recently lost a little weight before finding out I was pregnant and 18's were a little big sometimes.
What places are your favorite to shop at?


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Beyond Imported Magic: Essays on Science, Technology, and Society in Latin Americaby Eden Medina Marcos Cueto Ivan da Costa Marques Christina Holmes
The essays in this volume study the creation, adaptation, and use of science and technology in Latin America. They challenge the view that scientific ideas and technology travel unchanged from the global North to the global South -- the view of technology as "imported magic." They describe not only alternate pathways for innovation, invention, and discovery but also how ideas and technologies circulate in Latin American contexts and transnationally. The contributors' explorations of these issues, and their examination of specific Latin American experiences with science and technology, offer a broader, more nuanced understanding of how science, technology, politics, and power interact in the past and present.The essays in this book use methods from history and the social sciences to investigate forms of local creation and use of technologies; the circulation of ideas, people, and artifacts in local and global networks; and hybrid technologies and forms of knowledge production. They address such topics as the work of female forensic geneticists in Colombia; the pioneering Argentinean use of fingerprinting technology in the late nineteenth century; the design, use, and meaning of the XO Laptops created and distributed by the One Laptop per Child Program; and the development of nuclear energy in Argentina, Mexico, and Chile.ContributorsPedro Ignacio Alonso, Morgan G. Ames, Javiera Barandiarán, João Biehl, Anita Say Chan, Amy Cox Hall, Henrique Cukierman, Ana Delgado, Rafael Dias, Adriana Díaz del Castillo H., Mariano Fressoli, Jonathan Hagood, Christina Holmes, Matthieu Hubert, Noela Invernizzi, Michael Lemon, Ivan da Costa Marques, Gisela Mateos, Eden Medina, María Fernanda Olarte Sierra, Hugo Palmarola, Tania Pérez-Bustos, Julia Rodriguez, Israel Rodríguez-Giralt, Edna Suárez Díaz, Hernán Thomas, Manuel Tironi, Dominique Vinck
Select your format based upon: 1) how you want to read your book, and 2) compatibility with your reading tool. To learn more about using Bookshare with your device, visit the Help Center.
Here is an overview of the specialized formats that Bookshare offers its members with links that go to the Help Center for more information.
- Bookshare Web Reader - a customized reading tool for Bookshare members offering all the features of DAISY with a single click of the "Read Now" link.
- DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) - a digital book file format. DAISY books from Bookshare are DAISY 3.0 text files that work with just about every type of access technology that reads text. Books that contain images will have the download option of 'DAISY Text with Images'.
- BRF (Braille Refreshable Format) - digital Braille for use with refreshable Braille devices and Braille embossers.
- MP3 (Mpeg audio layer 3) - Provides audio only with no text. These books are created with a text-to-speech engine and spoken by Kendra, a high quality synthetic voice from Ivona. Any device that supports MP3 playback is compatible.
- DAISY Audio - Similar to the Daisy 3.0 option above; however, this option uses MP3 files created with our text-to-speech engine that utilizes Ivonas Kendra voice. This format will work with Daisy Audio compatible players such as Victor Reader Stream and Read2Go.


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In Australia, you can find a number of conferencing service for phone conferencing and also for Online Meetingand web conferencing. Most of the business owners prefer to hire telephone conference call services who are experts in the field and offer a complete set of services that would facilitate the whole conferencing in the best way. Though teleconference Australia, has developed itself a lot and now most of the conferencing services provide competitive rates and high quality services for the clients.
But still we cannot say that all of the service providers fulfill or meet all quality standards that are necessary to conduct a conference call. Though many features like, affordable pricing, support and assistance, better organization and during the conference assistance are required while a conference call proceeds. One of the most crucial and important feature or facility or element is the uptime of the line connection or the whole conference call event.
This factor is one of the most crucial factors due to the following reason:
There are a number of conferencing service provider like Eureka Conferencing, and Telstra conferencing that you can use to compare yours service provider. You can easily judge the quality and manage to select the one that has the maximum uptime to ensure quality teleconference.
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Mark Naison: Teachers are some of the most selfless, generous people in our nation. They deserve better than what they are currently getting from our political leaders and mass media
Poverty was addressed in the World Bank's "Voices of the Poor," a report based on research with over 20,000 poor people in 23 countries, that identifies a range of factors which poor people identify as part of poverty. These include Abuse by those in power; Dis-empowering institutions; Excluded locations; Gender relationships; Lack of security; Limited capabilities; Physical limitations; Precarious livelihoods; Problems in social relationships; and Weak community organizations. The articles in this section cover these issues and more.
Time to Retire the 99 Percent
Walter Brasch: It's time to retire the 99 percent. Not the people, but the slogan that identifies the Occupy Movement.
Welcome to the 2012 Hunger Games
Rob Tossberg: The odds are 99 to 1 you and I are the schmucks, working for scraps while the 1% take a pound of our flesh and look forward to eating our young.
What's Happening to the "Human" in Human Services?
Vivian Rothstein: We seem to be taking the humans out of a system that I thought was organized to make life better for actual people. As the cynics say, human services would be so much easier if it weren't for the humans.
World Bank: Drastic Reformer Needed to Right a Failing Agenda
Matt Kavanaugh: The blogsophere and Washington rumor-mill are working overtime right now on the question of who might be the next president of the World Bank.
We Need to Show Consideration for the Poor
Alvaro Huerta: Making food stamps a campaign issue is a loser for Republicans. Too many Americans now recognize how vital the program is.
David Brooks's Anti-Poverty Program: "Bourgeois Paternalism"
Joseph Palermo: After telling his readers he isn't going to blame the poor for being poor because of their bad behavior, David Brooks plows right ahead and blames the poor for being poor because of their bad behavior.
Occupiers Rally in Beverly Hills Park Wednesday Evening
On Wednesday, February 15 from 4 – 7:30 pm, Occupiers will rally at the Will Rogers Memorial Park at9650 Sunset Blvd. in Beverly Hills to call attention to the corrupting influence of money in politics.
Homeless in Los Angeles
Jerry Drucker: In all of Los Angeles County, except for Glendale, Pasadena and Long Beach, which conduct their own census counts, the 2011 census count of the homeless was 51,340, 3% less than 2009 at 52,931.
Welfare "Reform" Laws Deepen, Perpetuate Poverty
Sherwood Ross: In passing TANF, Congress and Bill Clinton made good on their promise to 'end welfare as we know it.' It's time to end welfare reform as we know it instead.
Retirement: Sitting on a One-Legged Stool
Vivian Rothstein: According to the American Association of Retired People (AARP), a frightening 35 percent of Americans over 65 currently rely only on Social Security (an average person gets benefits of $14,000/year) to survive.
The Moral Question
Robert Reich: The appropriation bill the House passed June 16 would deny benefits to more than 700,000 eligible low-income women and young children next year. What kind of country are we living in?
Smiley, West's Anti-Poverty Theme Isn't Hiding Anti-Obama Sentiment
Anthony Asadullah Samad: Poverty's important, but it must be addressed in the context of lifting the nation. The Poverty Tour, masked as a stealth anti-Obama campaign, is no way to get it addressed. For all of our sakes, let the megalomania stop and the healing begin, my friend.


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- Gerrit Reviews
Thanks Bin. Would there be any possible side-effects of increasing the default process number? I.E Any info should go into release note about this?
Side effect will be memory usage of erlang process. A memory usage increase should be expected.
Any unconfirmed effect will be view/index performance. We should not experience any significant performance degrade. But if it happens, it is more handy to adjust the process number on bin\service_register.bat if less than 5 buckets are defined.
Thanks for the quick info. Based on your input I'd think that we should update our release note with the suggested info on how/when users may want to adjust the process number on servie_register.bat. Right?
The bug is resolved but adding Siriam in the loop for future Widows reference.


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Hotels in Bau Island, Fiji
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- Most bookedToberua Island Resort
37 people looked at this hotel in the last hour
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"A truly unforgettable experience! The photos do not do it justice and the experience from start to finish was amazing! The best staff we have ever had. We will be booking here again for sure!"
A Traveller, Sep 2016, AU
Hotels within 15 miles of Bau Island
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"What a lovely place to get way. This place was so relaxing, feeding the fish from the deck, beautiful. Close to everything. Great food, lovely staff, wouldn't stay anywhere else."
N, Jul 2016, AU
Hotels within 20 miles of Bau Island
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"We had a great time here while away on a business trip. Very nice bar and restaurant with a beautiful view of the ocean. The staff were very friendly and helpful."
A Traveller, Sep 2016, AU
22 people looked at this hotel in the last hour
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"This is a basic hotel. I was in Suva for two days just to look around. It's like an upscale backpacker's place. The community kitchen is in another area. There was a couple of problems with the A/C and the lock but the staff handled everything with the usual Fiji nice attitude and slower pace. I ..."
A Traveller, Feb 2016, US
19 people looked at this hotel in the last hour
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"Didn't like the fact that you could hear the door slam to other rooms and I had problem with my door...The maintence guy was working 6am so it was disturbing..The trainer receptionist didn't give me the right message from a friend that left for me due to lack of communication..The internet prices..."
A Traveller, Dec 2014, AU
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"Staff were cool the place was pretty cool Victorian"
A Traveller, Jul 2016, NZ
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"The Delux room we stayed in was big and very comfortable.This is a very clean hotel and the staff were very helpful and friendly.Value for money."
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"I stayed in De Vos overnight. The staff was very helpful and they arranged my taxi to go the airport."
A Traveller, Nov 2015, AS
- Quest Serviced Apartments SuvaNo Guest Reviews yet
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