WO1990005509A1

WO1990005509A1 - Universal gel pack applicator

Info

Publication number: WO1990005509A1
Application number: PCT/US1988/004147
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael M. D. O'brien; Lori Leishman
Original assignee: Bax Associates
Priority date: 1988-11-21
Filing date: 1988-11-21
Publication date: 1990-05-31

Abstract

A gel pack applicator (10) including rectangular pocket enclosure (11) having a length approximately twice that of its width and an insulated outer panel (13). A pair of elongated attachment strips (12) are attached at the non-opening end (15) in parallel spaced relation. A non-directional, adjustable attachment is provided by latch surface (19) and hook surface (20) for attaching attachment strips (12) to the opening end (16) of the rectangular pocket enclosure (11).

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION: UNIVERSAL GEL PACK APPLICATOR

D E S C R I P T I O N BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field. This invention generally relates to apparati for the application of therapeutic hot or cold treatments to the human body, and in particular it relates to an applicator for applying a hot or cold gel pack to the human body.

Background Art. The gel pack, invented by Jacob Spencer, disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,885,403, has become the preferred apparatus for providing a heat source or sink for the therapeutic treatment of the human body. Several devices have been devised for holding a gel pack in contact with the human body. PELTON, U.S. Patent No. 4,055,188, teaches a device which is typical of such gel pack holding apparati.

Pelton teaches a therapeutic wrap consisting of an elongated, flexible, resilient bandage having a pocket for carrying a gel pack. Pelton incorporates an elastic bandage to provide the necessary resilience for holding the gel pack in contact with the body. One disadvantage to this is that in applying the gel pack to the small limb areas, head, neck and face is that the elastic bandage must be wrapped tightly to keep the gel pack in place. In fact, the bandage has to be wrapped so tightly that it tends to restrict the circulation in these body areas. This is clearly an unacceptable situation, especially in the head and neck areas. Additionally, in applying the Pelton device to a small limb area, such as the ankle, the bandage must be wrapped around the foot and ankle several times.

Typically these bandages are well in excess of a meter long. In small limb applications^ the Pelton device provides a bulky, uncomfortable and unduly restrictive bandage. A further problem of devices typified by the Pelton apparatus, is a lack of insulation on the outer facing surface of the gel pack pocket. This lack of insulation promotes an excessive rate of heat absorption or loss and limits the effective treatment time of the ap- paratus.

What is needed is a gel pack applicator, capable of applying both hot or cold gel packs which includes a gel pack pocket having an insulated outer surface and a means for holding the gel pack pocket in contact with the small limb areas, head, neck and face of the human body, without undue restriction.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gel pack holder having an insulated outer surface and an adjustable, direction independent and nonelastic attachment means for holding the gel pack pocket in contact with the small limb areas, head, neck and face of the body. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION These objects are accomplished by a rectangular pocket enclosure having a length approximately twice that of its width and an insulated outer panel. A pair of elongated attachments strips are attached at the non- opening end in parallel spaced relation and have a nondirectional, adjustable attachment means for attach¬ ing to the opening end of the rectangular pocket enclosure. The opening end is further provided with a closure means for enclosing a gel pack within the pocket. The elongated attachment strips are manufac¬ tured from a nonelastic material and configured such that when the gel pack is applied to the body, the strips can be wrapped around the body part at virtually any angle and secured to the other end of the rectan¬ gular pocket enclosure at any point along their length. The adjustable attachment is advantageously provided by hook and loop surfaces on the elongated attachment strips and outer surface of the insulated panel. Attachment strip extenders are provided to increase the effective length of the attachment strips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective representational view of a universal gel pack applicator.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective representational view of a gel pack and universal gel pack applicator.

Fig. 3 shows the universal get pack applicator applied to the ankle portion of the human body. Fig. 4 shows an attachment strip extender.

Fig. 5 shows universal gel pack applicator applied to the neck portion of the human body. Fig. 6 shows the universal gel pack applicator applied to the face portion of a human body.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION Universal gel pack applicator 10 is shown in Fig. 1 having a rectangular pocket enclosure 11 with elongated attachment strips 12 attached thereto. Elongated attachment strips 12 are attached to closed end 15 of rectangular pocket enclosure 11. Rectangular pocket enclosure 11 has a first rectangular insulated textile panel 13 defining the outer surface of rectangular pocket enclosure 11. First rectangular insulated textile panel 13 advantageously reduces the rate of heat loss or absorption of an enclosed gel pack to the environmen .

Referring now also to Fig. 2, the various com¬ ponents of the universal gel pack applicator are shown in an exploded view. The rectangular pocket enclosure 11, which is shown in Fig. 1, is constructed from first rectangular insulated textile panel 13 and second rectangular textile panel 14. Panels 13 and 14 are sewn or otherwise joined together along coincident sides 17 and one end, defined as closed end 15. ^' The rectangular panels 13 and 14 are advantageously sized having a length which is twice as great as the width. Standard gel packs, such as gel pack 1, are generally produced having similar length to width dimension ratios.

Elongated attachment strips 12 advantageously have a length approximately equal to that of the length of rectangular pocket enclosure 11. Elongated attachment strips 12 are further provided with latch surface 18 along the length of their inner surface. Hook surfaces 19 are provided at open end 16. Latch and hook surfaces 18 and 19 together provide a non-directional, adjustable attachment means for securing universal gel pack applicator 10 to a portion of the human body. Closure means 20 is provided on the inside surfaces of open end 16 for closing rectangular pocket enclosure 11 and enclosing gel pack 1 therein.

In use, universal gel pack applicator 10 has either a cooled or heated gel pack 1 installed within rectan¬ gular pocket enclosure 11. Universal gel applicator 10 is then placed with second rectangular textile panel 14 contacting the treatment area. Elongated attachment strips 12 are then wrapped around the adjacent body part and secured to open end 16 via latch and hook surfaces 18 and 19. Fig. 3 shows universal gel pack applicator 10 applied to the ankle area of a patient. Elongated attachment strips 12 are advantageously wrapped around the ankle and rectangular pocket enclosure 11 in different directions and multiply secured to hook surface 19 at convenient angles. The advantage of the non-directional attachment means of the present inven¬ tion is readily demonstrated by this particular con¬ figuration. Using the non-elastic, non-directional, adjustable attachment means of the present invention, the universal gel pack applicator 10 can be applied to the ankle area without risk of loss of circulation to the toe extremities.

Fig. 4 shows an attachment strip extender 12a constructed from an elongated textile strip 21 having a latch surface 18 on its inner surface. Tab 22, having a hook surface 19, is secured to one end of strip 21 for engaging the latch surface 18 of the elongated attach¬ ment strip 12 of Figs. 1-3. Extender 12a is provided to increase the effective length of elongated attachment strips 12 to facilitate securing gel pack applicator 10 around larger portions of the human body, as is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Referring now to Fig. 5, universal gel pack applicator 10 is shown in a configuration for treating the neck and jaw area of a patient. Elongated attach¬ ment strips 12 and extenders 12a, shown in Fig. 4, are advantageously crossed behind the patient's head and secured to open end 16. This particular configuration is especially useful for treating cosmetic surgery patients. Fig. 6 shows a similar configuration wherein universal gel pack applicator 10 is applied to the face of the patient. Again, elongated attachments strips 12 and extenders 12a are advantageously crossed behind the patient's head and secured to open end 16. The ability of elongated attachment strips 12 and/or extenders 12a to cross one another in this manner allows universal gel pack applicator 10 to be applied to areas of human body which were previously untreatable by the devices in the prior art.

While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

Claim No. 1. A universal gel pack applicator characterized by: a rectangular pocket enclosure for holding a gel pack, said rectangular enclosure having a dimensional length, defined by its sides, at least twice its dimensional width, as defined by its ends, and having a closed end and an open end for receiving said gel pack; a pair of elongated attachment strips, disposed in parallel spaced relationship each having a first end attached to the closed end of said pocket enclosure; and non-directional adjustable attachment means affixed to said elongated attachment strips and to one of the outer surfaces of the pocket enclosure, for attaching said elongated attachment strips to said pocket en- closure at any point along said elongated strips and at any angle with respect to said gel pack enclosure.

Claim No. 2. The applicator of Claim 1 wherein said rectangular pocket enclosure further characterized by: a first rectangular insulated textile panel; a second rectangular textile panel being ap¬ proximately the same size as said first textile panel and disposed juxtaposition said first textile panel, said first and second textile panels being connected at coincident edges of both sides and one end; closure means disposed on said first and second textile panels for joining the unjoined coincident edges of said first and second panels and enclosing a gel pack therein.

Claim No. 3. The applicator of Claim 2 wherein said first textile panel is insulated to reduce the rate of heat absorbtion or loss of an enclosed gel pack.

Claim No. 4. The applicator of Claim 1 wherein said rectangular pocket enclosure has an insulated side to reduce the rate of heat absorbtion or loss of an enclosed gel pack.

Claim No. 5. The applicator of Claim 1 further characterized by an elongated attachment strip extender having a textile strip with a latch surface thereon and a tab connected to one end of said strip having a hook surface thereon and disposed opposite said latch surface, said extender being attached to a second end of said elongated attachment strips for extending the effective length of said elongated attachment strips.

Claim No. 6. A universal gel pack applicator is characterized by: a first rectangular insulated textile panel having a length twice as great as its width; a second rectangular textile panel being ap¬ proximately the same size as said first textile panel and disposed juxtaposition said first textile panel, said first and second textile panel, said first and second textile panels being connected along three of its four coincident edges; a pair of elongated attachment strips each having one end attached to one of the connected coincident edges and a length approximately equal to the length of said first and second panels; and non-directional adjustable attachment means affixed to said elongated attachment strips and said first textile panel for attaching said elongated attachment strips to said first textile panel at any point along said elongated strips and at any angle with respect to said first textile panel.

Claim No. 7. The applicator of Claim 6 further characterized by an elongated attachment strip extender having a textile strip with a latch surface thereon and a tab connected to one end of said strip having a hook surface thereon and disposed opposite said latch surface, said extender being attached to a second end of said elongated attachment strips for extending the effective length of said elongated attachment strips.