Cold compress

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 a compress in accordance with the present invention designated generally as 10.
The compress comprises three elements, a bandage 12, a panel 14, and a plurality of straps 16.
The bandage 12 is laminated and preferably comprises a layer of closed cell foam polymeric material 18 sandwiched between and bonded to layers of fabrics 20 and 22.
See FIG.
4.
Layer 18 may be substantially thicker than the layers 20 and 22.
It is important that layer 18 be a closed cell layer.
Layer 20, which is the layer adapted to be in contact with the skin, is an absorbent layer of towelling fabric such as terry cloth having longitudinal stretch.
Layer 22 is preferably a woven layer of nylon or LYCRA (trademark) which is woven from spandex fibers having stretch in the longitudinal direction.
Layer 22 preferably reflects cold that tends to escape through the closed cell layer back toward the terry cloth layer and slows the tendency of the bandage to warm to room temperature.
The outer surface of layer 22 reflects heat and similarly slows the warming of the bandage.
By way of example and not by way of limitation, preferred thicknesses for the layers are as follows: layer 22 preferably has a thickness of 1/32", layer 18 preferably has a thickness of 3/16", and layer 20 preferably has a thickness of 1/16".
Layers 20 and 22 are preferably bonded to layer 18 by application of heat and pressure.
While layer 22 preferably has stretch in the longitudinal direction, it may optionally have stretch in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.
As shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, the bandage 12 is provided at opposite ends with a transverse panel 24 of VELCRO (trademark) material.
Panel 24 may be stitched or otherwise fastened to the top surface of bandage 12.
Each panel 24 is adapted to be releasably engaged with an associated mating transverse panel 26 of VELCRO material stitched or otherwise fastened to the end of panel 14 and the end of the plurality of straps 16