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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field) The invention relates to a
portable therapeutic pillow which can be either heated or cooled to
relieve bodily pain and promote comfort.
2. Background Art
Hot and cold packs have long been used to ameliorate bodily discomfort. The
well known hot water bottle and ice pack have long been in human service:
for example, hot water bottles for warming the body and loosening taut
muscles; ice packs for reducing swelling and soothing sprains and strains.
Variations upon these devices proliferate in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,297, to Neumark, entitled Mattress, discloses a
mattress comprising a plurality of individual pillows for preventing
decubitus ulcers (bed sores). The pillows may be filled with grain-like
material. There is, however, no disclosure relating to heating, cooling or
moisture content of the pillows.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,346, to Swanton, Jr., entitled Electrically Heated
Therapeutic Pillow, discloses a liquid or gel filled pillow. Heating is
accomplished by electric current, flow of which is facilitated by
compression of conductive foam. U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,137, to Pedrow,
entitled Orthopedic pillow with Groove for Spine, discloses an orthopedic
pillow having a grooved structure for spinal accommodation. A bladder
similar to an ice pack or hot water bottle is also provided for warming
and cooling. U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,194, to Dixon, entitled Adjustable
Cervical Pillow, discloses a polyurethane foam pillow having a removal,
supplemental member which can be a heat pack or a cold pack.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,662, to Handelman, entitled Two Person Seat Case,
discloses a stadium seat having straps. U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,728, to Aston,
entitled Interior Container Insert For Any Pillow, Cushion or Stuffed Toy
discloses a removable, washable container adapted to be inserted into any
pillow, cushion or stuffed toy to secrete valuables therein. U.S. Pat. No.
4,985,951, to Lacotte, et al., entitled Flexible Mattress Including
Vegetable Fibers, discloses a mattress composed, in part, of coconut
fibers.
None of the prior art, however, discloses a therapeutic pillow having a
natural granular or grain-like filling having a moisture content in the
range of 5% to 25% by weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION)
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus
and method for applying heat or cold to a body part for ameliorating
discomfort. The preferred apparatus of the invention is a therapeutic
pillow comprising a removable outer sleeve, a baglike covering within the
removable outer sleeve, the baglike covering containing a filling
comprising natural granular material, and the natural granular material
comprising a water content having a range of 5% to 25% by weight.
The preferred outer sleeve is washable. The preferred washable outer sleeve
comprises terry cloth fabric.
The preferred baglike covering comprises cotton fabric.
The preferred baglike covering also comprises ears.
The preferred filling comprising natural granular material comprises
processed barley. The filling comprising natural granular material also
comprises seeds. The preferred water content of the natural granular
material comprises a range of from 9% to 16% by weight.
The preferred method of treating pain in an affected body part comprises
the steps of providing an eared baglike covering, filling the eared
baglike covering with natural granular material having a water content
within the range of 5% to 25% by weight, loosely surrounding the eared
baglike covering with a removal outer sleeve, heating or cooling the
filled baglike covering and removable outer sleeve and applying the heated
or cooled filled baglike covering and removable outer sleeve to the
affected body part.
The preferred step of filling the eared baglike covering with natural
granular material comprises the step of filling the eared baglike covering
with barley. The step of filling the eared baglike covering with natural
granular material can also comprise of filling the eared baglike covering
with seeds. The step of filling also comprises filling the eared baglike
covering with natural granular material having a water content within the
range of 9% to 16% by weight.
A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a portable
therapeutic pillow capable of selectively heating or cooling a variety of
body parts.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a therapeutic pillow
which is environmentally and anatomically safe.
Still another object of the invention is the provision of a therapeutic
pillow that does not require electrical cords or batteries.
Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a therapeutic
pillow which is of selected weight, shape, texture and mass to readily
conform to selected body parts.
A primary advantage of the present invention is its low cost and ease of
manufacture.
Another advantage of the invention is its flexibility and ease of
application.
Still another advantage of the invention is its construction of naturally
occurring materials.
Yet another advantage of the invention is its safety when heating a body
part.
Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of
applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the
detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art
upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and
attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly
pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of
the specification, illustrate several embodiments of the present invention
and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the
invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a
preferred embodiment of the invention and are not to be construed as
limiting the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elongated cylindrical embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an oblong rectangular embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spherical embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along A--A' of FIG. 1; and
FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the pillow being prepared for
application.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE
INVENTION)
Application of heat and cold have long been recognized as therapeutic for
localized ailments. Localized application of cold, for example, may
relieve stress headaches, inflammation and swelling, and the pain of
arthritis, minor burns and wounds, and the like. Cold promotes
vasoconstriction, thereby preventing swelling while promoting coagulation.
Localized application of heat, for example, may promote healing and
relieve pain resulting from arthritis, minor wounds, muscle strains,
menstrual cramps, and the like. Heat promotes vasodilation, thereby
improving blood flow to injured bodily parts.
FIGS. 1 and 4 depict the preferred therapeutic pillow 10 of the invention.
A tubular outer sleeve preferably of terry cloth, partially surrounds
therapeutic pillow 10. Sleeve 12 in addition to protecting and cooling the
pillow is washable. Further, sleeve 12 provides a convenient "tuck" for
ears 14, as will be described later. Sleeve 12 may also comprise other
natural fibers, for example, wool, cotton, and the like.
Therapeutic pillow 10 further comprises inner baglike cover 16. Inner cover
16 is also comprised of suitable natural fibers, preferably cotton, or
other natural fiber materials. Alternatively inner baglike cover 16 can
comprise of any material capable of efficiently transferring heat and
containment of filling 18. Inner baglike cover 16 is partially filled with
filling 18.
Filling 18 comprises naturally occurring grains or granular material. The
preferred filling is processed barley, but other natural grains, seeds and
natural granular material may be used. The use of such natural materials
is important in several respects.
Use of naturally occurring granular and grain-like materials provides
"live" weight and mass to the therapeutic pillow. Accordingly, therapeutic
pillow 10 can be shaped to conform to any given anatomical area, be it
arms, legs, neck, spine, and the like. Further, because of its weight and
mass, such conformable shape will tend to be maintained while in position
against the body part. Although this specification refers to a tubular
form, other forms can be utilized to conform to other body members.
Additionally, and most importantly, use of naturally occurring grain and
seeds enables provision of a predetermined range of water content. It is
water content which is believed to provide the therapeutic benefit of the
therapeutic pillow. A range of 5-25% water content by weight generally
provides desired therapeutic results; the preferred range is 9-16% water
content by weight. These ranges are considered critical to the efficacy of
the therapeutic pillow. Those ordinarily skilled in the art will recognize
that other and various materials providing these ranges of water content
may be provided as a filler.
Ears 14 are sewn or otherwise attached to inner cover 16. Ears 14 are used
for carrying, positioning, shaping and determining a given consistency for
the therapeutic pillow, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Industrial Applicability
The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting
examples.
EXAMPLE I
Assuming that it is desired to cool the affected body part, the therapeutic
pillow is placed in a freezer at least 30 minutes prior to use. The
therapeutic pillow may first be sealed in a plastic bag to prevent odor
from attaching to the pillow. When applying the pillow, the desired
consistency and firmness are first determined. The pillow is held up by
one ear, allowed the filler contents to settle to the extent providing the
desired firmness. The ear and attached inner cover are then twisted and
tucked into the outer sleeve, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The therapeutic
pillow is then directly applied to the affected body part. For example, to
relieve a stress-related headache, the cooled therapeutic pillow is
wrapped about the neck while the subject is in a supine or sitting
position.
EXAMPLE II
If it is desired to heat an affected body part, the therapeutic pillow may
be warmed, for example, in a microwave oven. Depending upon its size, the
pillow is heated no longer than 5 minutes and may be reheated hourly.
Overheating is to be avoided. Again, as with cooling, and as depicted in
FIGS. 5 and 6, the desired firmness is determined and the pillow is
applied to the affected body part.
The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success by substituting
the generically or specifically described reactants and/or operating
conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding examples.
Although the invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve
the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention
will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in
the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire
disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications
cited above, and of the corresponding application(s), are hereby
incorporated by reference.
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