Above knee shrinker

1. An above knee shrinker for applying therapeutic compression to a wearer's leg residual limb, said above knee shrinker comprising:

a waist belt dimensioned for snugly receiving the waist of the wearer;

a tubular fabric receptacle dimensioned and configured to be worn on the residual limb and apply a compressive force to the residual limb when the shrinker is donned,

said receptacle presenting top and bottom ends and being open adjacent each of the ends so that the residual limb can be inserted into the receptacle adjacent the top end,

said receptacle being coupled to the waist belt adjacent the top end so that snug securement of the waist belt about the wearer's waist restricts vertical displacement of the receptacle along the residual limb when the shrinker is donned,

said receptacle being dimensioned so as to be longer than the residual limb,

said receptacle including a U-shaped edge projecting from the top end so as to present a U-shaped perineal opening, with said perineal opening being adjacent the torso end of the residual limb when the shrinker is donned,

said U-shaped edge including a pair of spaced apart upright sections extending from the top end and a bottom section that is spaced from the top end and interconnects the upright sections;

said receptacle being knitted at least principally of core-spun yarn,

said receptacle including a plurality of laid in elastic threads; and

a constricting element operable to constrict the receptacle so as to facilitate doubling over of the receptacle,

said constricting element receiving the receptacle to define a main tubular portion and a doubled over tubular portion that cooperatively present a distal constricted margin of the receptacle generally at the constricting element, with the constricting element engaging a distal end of the residual limb when the shrinker is donned to restrict migration of the receptacle up the residual limb,

said doubled over tubular portion covering at least part of the main tubular portion, wherein the bottom end of the receptacle is spaced between the top end of the receptacle and the distal constricted margin,

said constricting element being vertically moveable along the receptacle to adjust a length of the doubled over portion of the receptacle.

2. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said top end and said U-shaped edge cooperatively defining a residual limb opening through which the residual limb is inserted when the shrinker is donned,

said perineal opening forming part of the residual limb opening.

3. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 , each of said upright sections being generally linear and when the shrinker is donned.

4. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 3 , said bottom section having an arcuate shape.

5. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said constricting element operable to constrict the receptacle generally adjacent to the distal end of the residual limb when the shrinker is donned.

6. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 5 ,

said constricting element including a ring received over the receptacle,

said ring being adapted to engage and bear against the distal end of the residual limb when the shrinker is donned.

7. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said receptacle being predominantly formed of multi-directional stretchable material.

8. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said core-spun yarn comprising a spandex core and a fiber sheathing.

9. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 8 ,

said core-spun yarn comprising about 95% fiber sheathing and 5% spandex.

10. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

each of said threads being laid into at least every fourth course of the knitted corespun yarn.

11. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 10 ,

each of said elastic including spandex.

12. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said receptacle including a belt-receiving channel adjacent the top end,

said channel being dimensioned to removably receive the waist belt,

said waist belt presenting two separate belt ends, and including an adjustable self-fastening mechanism.

13. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 12 ,

said adjustable self-fastening mechanism comprising strips of hook and loop fastening material adjacent the belt ends.

14. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said receptacle being formed by a continuous circular rib-knit construction so as to be seamless.

15. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said receptacle being stitched of a one-by-one rib stitch knitting pattern.

16. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said receptacle being knitted in connected loops of substantially uniform pattern and number per square inch throughout the receptacle, whereby the shrinker exhibits generally uniform compression against the residual limb.

17. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said receptacle being formed of a dyeable fabric material.

18. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said receptacle being formed of a latex-free material.

19. The above knee shrinker as claimed in claim 1 ,

said receptacle being formed of an anti-fraying material.