GB2433191A

GB2433191A - A wearable heat pack

Info

Publication number: GB2433191A
Application number: GB0524606A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adelle Brenner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-02
Filing date: 2005-12-02
Publication date: 2007-06-20
Also published as: GB0524606D0

Abstract

A wearable heat pack comprising a heat source 1 that is held securely to the wearer's body by an adjustable belt 3. The wearable heat pack allows hands-free warmth or pain relief to a targeted area of the body. Preferably the heat pack 1 is encapsulated in a pocket 7 that is attached to a single belt 3. The heat pack may be a hot water bottle that can be refilled whilst encapsulated in the pocket, a microwave activated heat pack, a chemical activated heat pad or other thermal source. The ends of the adjustable belt may be secured together by a buckle, by tying the ends together 5 or other fastening means. Magnets may be secured on or within the strap. One side of the strap may have a higher thermal insulating property than the other where either side may be positioned against the user's body thereby providing two heat settings. Alternatively a cold pack may be used where low temperatures are needed to provide relief from inflammation or to assist healing.

Description

1 2433191 Wearable Heat Pack The invention relates to a wearable heat

source for hands-free warmth or pain relief.

Hot water bottles and microwave activated heat packs are widely used for warmth and pain relief but the user must hold or rest the heat source onto the body.

However, this is restrictive, as it requires the user to be immobile or use one hand to hold the heat source so everyday activities cannot be carried out at the same time.

To overcome this problem, the present invention proposes a long adjustable belt with an integrated pocket to secure a heat source firmly to the wearer's This allows for hands free, targeted heat providing warmth and natural pain relief while the wearer can continue to be mobile and carry out their usual activities.

The belt is soft and comfortable to wear and secures the heat source firmly to the body allowing full mobility, which is not possible when using a standard heat source. The belt is adjustable so that it can fit different body shapes and different parts of the body.

The heat can be used for warmth or natural, drug-free pain relief. The application of heat to an area of the body relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow to that area. This is used to help to reduce spasm and thereby relieve pain. Heat therapy is especially useful to treat menstrual cramps, lower back pain, muscle injuries and arthritis.

The heat source is preferably provided by a hot water bottle, although the heat may also be provided by other means such as a microwave activated heat pad or chemical activated heat pad.

Preferably, the invention can be used with a cold pack where low temperatures are needed to provide relief from inflammation or to assist healing.

The invention can be used to apply heat or cold to most areas of the body, including the lower back, the abdomen, the upper back and shoulders.

Electric heat pads are available that can be secured to the body with a belt or strap but these require a power cable and thus also prevent mobility.

Adhesive and disposable heat pads that are stuck directly onto skin or clothing have recently become available, but they are disadvantaged in several ways. They can only be used once; they are less easy to temporarily remove or to make positional adjustments and on removing, the wearer can experience discomfort when breaking the adhesive bond with the skin. This invention overcomes these disadvantages.

The size of the heat pack is smaller than 160 x 280 x 60. This is large enough to provide satisfying heat for warmth or pain relief while remaining small enough to be worn comfortably and allow full mobility.

Preferably, the adjustable belt and integral pocket is made from a soft material such as fabric, which wraps comfortably around the body and can be easily secured and adjusted by the wearer.

A magnet can be incorporated into the strap such that the wearer benefits from the combined thermal and magnetic pain relief (magnotherapy).

One side of the material encapsulating the heat pack can be made from a material with higher thermal insulation properties than the other, or by having multiple layers of the same material, which has the same effect of increasing thermal insulation properties of one side over the other. This has the benefit of reducing heat loss from the outward facing surface of the thermal pack, when the side with higher thermal insulation properties is worn outward facing thus prolonging the period that the thermal pack retains its heat. A second benefit is that the wearer has the option of two heat settings depending which side they wear facing their body.

An example of the invention will now be described referring to the accompanying drawings: -FIGURE 1 shows a 3/4 view of the invention -FIGURE 2 shows the invention being worn on the wearer's lower back -FIGURE 3 shows the invention being worn on the wearer's upper back body.

In figure 1, the pouch 7 in which the heat pack I is located and straps 3 constructed from two lengths of fabric which are laid on top of each other so that the perimeters align and are stitched together to form a flattened tube or sock. The flattened tube is turned inside out to hide the seam on the inside.

Rather than being a flattened tube with approximately equidistant and approximately parallel sides, the width of the tube starts off narrower than the heat pack, forming one of the straps 3, and increases to a dimension similar to the width of the heat pack for a distance similar to the length of the heat pack, before reducing back down to its original width, forming the second strap 3. There are two benefits of this feature. Firstly, the heat pack is prevented from slipping in either direction longitudinally by the reduction in width that effectively forms a shoulder 8 either side of the heat pack that is too narrow for it to fit through. A second advantage is that the reduced width of straps makes for a more discrete belt around the wearer, and a smaller more discrete knot 5.

In this embodiment, the heat pack is a hot water bottle that can be refilled by accessing and removing the cap through the orifice 2.

The heat pack 1 can be positioned strategically around the body to affect a specific area. To secure the heat pack, the wearer places the pack on the area where the thermal effect is required, wraps the straps 3 and secures them with a knot or other fastening 5.

Figure 2 shows an alternative use whereby the thermal pack is positioned on the lower back.

Figure 3 shows another alternative use whereby the heat pack is secured to the upper back.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A wearable heat pack that is held securely to the wearer's body by means of an adjustable belt.

2. A wearable heat pack according to claim 1 where the heat pack is orientated with its major axis aligned with the major axis of the belt straps.

3. A wearable heat pack according to claim I where the heat pack is a hot water bottle.

4. A wearable heat pack according to claim 1 where the heat pack is a hot water bottle that can be refilled whilst encapsulated in the holder.

5. A wearable heat pack according to claim 1 where the heat pack is encapsulated in a pocket, which is attached to a single belt.

6. A wearable heat pack according to claim 1 where the belt ends are secured by being tied together.

7. A wearable heat pack according to claim I where the belt ends are secured by a buckle.

8. A wearable heat pack according to claim 1 where the heat pack is a microwave activated heat pack.

9. A wearable heat pack according to claim I where the heat pack has dimensions less than 160 x 280 x 60 mm.

10. A wearable heat pack according to claim I where magnets are secured on or within the strap to enhance pain relief.

11. A wearable heat pack according to claim I where one side of the material has higher thermal insulation properties than the other, such that the device can be worn with either side against the users body, providing two settings.

12. A wearable heat pack according to claim 1 where the pouch in which the heat pack is located and straps are constructed from two lengths of fabric which are laid on top of each other so that the perimeters align and are stitched together to form a flattened tube or sock. The flattened tube is turned inside out to hide the seam on the inside. Rather than being a flattened tube with approximately equidistant and approximately parallel sides, the width of the tube starts off narrower than the heat pack, forming one of the straps, and increases to a dimension similar to the width of the heat pack for a distance similar to the length of the heat pack, before reducing back down to its original width, forming the second strap.