kinesio tape

1. A body kinesio tape comprising at least a stretch base material and an adhesive layer on one surface of said base material, wherein in said adhesive layer, a plurality of recessed grooves extending in the tape width direction are arranged at a spacing in the tape longitudinal direction and there is provided an array configuration composed of pattern arrays in which the length of said recessed grooves changes stepwise repeating a gradual increase and decrease in the tape longitudinal direction.

2. The body adhesive tape according to claim 1, being obtained by cutting a sheet on which said pattern arrays are disposed parallel with each other at a predetermined spacing in the tape width direction into a desired width.

3. The body adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between adjacent recessed grooves decreases stepwise from the shortest recessed groove toward the longest recessed groove.

4. The body adhesive tape according to claim 2, wherein the spacing between adjacent recessed grooves decreases stepwise from the shortest recessed groove toward the longest recessed groove.

5. The body adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between adjacent recessed grooves increases stepwise from the shortest recessed groove toward the longest recessed groove.

6. The bodykinesio tapeaccording to claim 2, wherein the spacing between adjacent recessed grooves increases stepwise from the shortest recessed groove toward the longest recessed groove.

7. The body adhesive tape according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said base material, which is a non-adherent, is exposed through the bottom surfaces of said recessed grooves.

Tape is currently utilized in various fields such as folk remedies, meridian straightening, reflexology, slimming, functional restoration of fascia and muscles, functional restoration of bones and joints, positional correction of tendons, body massage, body insulation, body protection, relief of stiffness such as shoulder stiffness, pain, and inflammation, etc., taping applications, beautification, and treatment of affected body parts.

Such body adhesive tape has been improved in terms of materials, configurations, and/or functions, etc., so as to be able to exhibit the above-exemplified desired effects. For example, there has been proposed some body adhesive tape in which the shape and/or configuration of an adhesive layer is devised.

Patent Document 1 discloses a tape capable of providing stimulus to skin with no strain when stuck to an affected part. This tape is characterized in that a plurality of slit portions extending in the tape longitudinal direction is formed in the tape width direction.

Patent Document 2 discloses a tape having a similar function as that in Patent Document 1, in which slit portions having a predetermined length and extending in the tape longitudinal direction are formed intermittently in the width direction.

Patent Document 3 discloses a breathable :// /" kinesio tape less likely to be peeled off during sweating. With this tape, a sinuous linear clearance through which creases of a base material are exposed is formed in an adhesive layer.

Patent Document 4 discloses a tape effective against shoulder stiffness, headaches, cramps, joint pain, and muscle pain. This tape is characterized by including two adhesive layers, the first and second adhesive layers being apart from each other at a predetermined distance.
First, the present invention provides a body adhesive tape including at least a stretch base material and an adhesive layer on one surface of the base material, wherein in the adhesive layer, a plurality of recessed grooves extending in the tape width direction are arranged at a spacing in the tape longitudinal direction and there is provided an array configuration composed of pattern arrays in which the length of the recessed grooves changes stepwise repeating a gradual increase and decrease in the tape longitudinal direction.

The width of the recessed grooves extending in the tape width direction changes with expansion and contraction of the tape in the longitudinal direction, and the thickness of the adhesive layer also changes, which therefore results in a change in the depth of the recessed grooves. For example, the width Wb of the recessed grooves in a state where the tape is expanded is greater than the width Wa of the recessed grooves in a state where the tape is not expanded (Wb>Wa), while the depth Db of the recessed grooves in a state where the tape is expanded is smaller than the depth Da of the recessed grooves in a steady state where thekinesio tapeis not expanded (Db<Da).

The present invention positively utilizes changes. in the width and depth of the recessed grooves associated with expansion and contraction of the tape. Specifically, when the tape is applied to a target part (e.g. neck, elbow, knee, wrist, or lumbar) of a body in a steady state (with no expansion), the convex surface portions of the adhesive layer are attached to the skin. When the body part is bent (e.g. the elbow or knee is bent), the tape becomes expanded and therefore the width of the recessed grooves is increased, while the depth thereof is reduced. Then, when the body is brought back into the original state again, each recessed groove has a function of holding and lifting the skin during the process of reduction in width. This function provides stimulus to fascial and/or muscular tissue under the skin and also increases blood flow and/or lymphatic flow.

The body kinesio tape may be obtained by cutting a sheet on which the pattern arrays of the recessed grooves are disposed parallel with each other at a predetermined spacing in the tape width direction into a desired width. In this case, the body adhesive tape forms an array pattern of a group of recessed grooves in which the pattern arrays are adjacent wholly or partially to each other in accordance with the length of the recessed grooves and/or the width of the tape (cut positions).

In the pattern arrays of a group of recessed grooves, the recessed grooves may be arranged to have the same spacing therebetween. Alternatively, the tape may be devised, in accordance with the intended use and/or application thereof, in such a manner that the spacing between adjacent recessed grooves decreases stepwise from the shortest recessed groove toward the longest recessed groove, or vice versa, that the spacing between adjacent recessed grooves increases stepwise from the shortest recessed groove toward the longest recessed groove.