Patent Application
20250235346
The present invention relates generally to therapy devices, and more particularly to a positioning device for use with hot and cold temperature packs.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
When suffering from soft tissue injuries such as pulled muscles, sore neck, or inflammation, it is common to apply heat or cold to the affected area. As such, there are many commercially available types of hot or cold thermal therapy packs that are manufactured in a countless array of different shapes and sizes. However, regardless of the size, each of these packs are typically constructed in the same manner and include a malleable plastic pouch that contains a reusable gel or a single-use chemical agent that selectively generates sustained heat or coldness. Upon activating the pouch, the main body is positioned directly onto the skin of the affected area of the patient's body.
Although the use of thermal therapy packs is extremely common, it can be quite difficult for some users to correctly position the pack against the desired portion of their body, such as their back, feet, neck or ankles, for example. Additionally, once the pack is correctly positioned, the user must physically hold the outside of the pack against their body, thus causing their hands or fingers to be simultaneously exposed to the coolness or heat generated by the pack.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a device having a handle and an elongated arm that can allow users to position a thermal therapy pack against any portion of their body so as to overcome the drawbacks noted above.
The present invention is directed to a positioning device for thermal therapy packs. One embodiment of the present invention can include an elongated extension arm having a fixed length or a user-adjustable length. A handgrip can be positioned along one end of the extension arm for permitting a user to position the device in any number of different orientations, and a frame for engaging a thermal therapy device is positioned on the opposite end of the extension arm.
In one embodiment, the frame can include a plurality of walls that define a central opening having a shape and size that is complementary to the shape and size of a thermal therapy device in a flat orientation. A plurality of connectors can be positioned along the walls for suspending the thermal therapy device within the opening.
In one embodiment, the frame can include a generally cylindrical-shaped member having a plurality of connectors for receiving and securing a thermal therapy device in a rolled orientation against the outside surface of the cylindrical-shaped frame.
This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
As described throughout this document, the term “about” “approximately” “substantially” and “generally” shall be used interchangeably to describe a feature, shape, or measurement of a component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.
As described herein, the term “removably secured,” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated.
As described throughout this document, the term “complementary shape,” and “complementary dimension,” shall be used to describe a shape and size of a component that is identical to, or substantially identical to the shape and size of another identified component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.
As described herein, the term “connector” includes any number of different elements that work alone or together to repeatedly join two items together in a nonpermanent manner. Several nonlimiting examples of connectors include, but are not limited to, opposing strips of hook and loop material (e.g., Velcro®), attractively oriented magnetic elements or magnetic and metallic elements, thread-to-connect, twist-to-connect, and push-to-connect type devices, buckles, clamps, clips, hooks, snaps, and buttons, for example. Each illustrated connector and complementary connector can be permanently secured to the illustrated portion of the device via a permanent sealer such as glue, adhesive tape, or stitching, for example.
As shown and described below, the thermal therapy positioning device 10 can include, essentially, an elongated extension arm 11 having a grip 15 along one end and a frame 20 along an opposite end. The frame can function to removably or permanently receive a thermal therapy pack, for positioning along the body by a user grasping the handle.
The extension arm 11 can function to provide physical separation between the grip 15 and the frame 20. In one embodiment, the extension arm 11 can be telescopic in nature, so as to allow the user to adjust the length of the device. To this end, the extension arm can include a fixed arm section 11a that is secured to the frame 20, and a sliding arm section 11b that extends from the grip 15. As shown, the sliding arm section can also extend from and retracts into the fixed arm section 11a as shown by arrow A. In one embodiment, a tensioning ring 12 can be provided along the end of the fixed arm section and can act to secure the sliding arm section at a user defined length. Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the extension arm includes a fixed length (see
The grip 15 can function to provide a comfortable handle onto which a user may grasp and utilize the device 10. In one embodiment, the grip 15 can be constructed from a semi-malleable and high friction material such as rubber or foam, for example, so as to allow a user to securely grip the device even when their hands are moist. Of course, any number of other construction materials such as wood or plastic, for example, are also contemplated.
In one embodiment, a grip strap may be provided. As shown, the grip strap may include two strap members 16 and 17 that are positioned along each end of the grip. Each of the strap members can include connectors 18 such as opposing strips of hook and loop material, for example, to permit a user to connect the strap members together in a dimension that conforms to the user's hand. Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the strap is constructed as a single element, and/or wherein the strap is located at other locations along the grip or arm section.
The frame 20 can function to receive and engage a thermal therapy pack, and can include a plurality of walls 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d which form a hollow central area 22. The frame can be manufactured to include dimensions that are complementary to any number of commercially available therapy packs 5 such as 6″×7.5″ or 4.5″×10″, among others, for example, and can include any number of different and/or complementary shapes such as square, oval, or round, for example.
As shown, a plurality of connectors 23 such as illustrated clamps can be positioned along the walls of the frame. Each of the clamps can transition between the open position shown at
By positioning the thermal therapy pack 5 within the central opening in a flat orientation, a user can simply rotate the device to alternately position the bottom surface or the upper surface of the thermal therapy pack against the target area of their body. Such a feature is beneficial, as manufacturers recommend rotating between the top and bottom surfaces of therapy packs periodically to evenly apply the heat or coldness generated by the pack.
As noted above, the frame 20 can include any number of different shapes and sizes, as such
Although described above as including connectors for removably engaging commercially available thermal therapy packs, other embodiments are also contemplated. To this end, some embodiments contemplate the inclusion of a custom-made therapy pack that is provided as an integral component of the device 10 so as to be permanently connected onto the frame.
As described herein, the extension arm 11 and frame 20 and/or 30 may each be formed from materials that are, for example, relatively strong and stiff for their weight. Several nonlimiting examples include but are not limited to various plastic/polymers (e.g., high-density polyethylene (HDPE), rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC), malleable polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), various natural materials (e.g., wood) and/or various composite materials (e.g., carbon fibers in a polymer matrix, fiberglass, etc.,).
Additionally, one or more elements of the device 10 can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means such as, for example, screws, glue, compression fittings and plastic molds, among others. Although the above embodiments have been described as including separate individual elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individually identified elements may be formed together as one or more continuous elements, either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled or machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections thereof.
As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Likewise, the term “consisting” shall be used to describe only those components identified. In each instance where a device comprises certain elements, it will inherently consist of each of those identified elements as well.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
