A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application. No. 62/857,936, filed Jun. 6, 2019, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS TO RELIEVE PAIN.
The entire content of 62/857,936 is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates generally to a pain relief system, especially to a menstruation pain relief device generating heat, compression pressure and massaging elements to alleviate discomfort, including abdominal, and back pain.
Heating pads have long been used to help relieve the pain and discomfort caused by sore muscles. However, heating pads are usually an immobilizing method of applying heat to oneself as they generally require being within reach of an electrical outlet. In addition, most heating pads in the market today cannot be conveniently worn without having to hold them by hand over areas of pain to apply pressure, or heat, and relieve a given body area.
Furthermore, very few people are comfortable being seen in public using therapeutic devices, so most people do not feel comfortable using them outside their homes and in public places such as work or public events.
These are some common problems that women face when suffering from painful menstrual cramps. These cramps are caused by the blood supply to the uterus being constricted while the muscles in the lower abdominal area contract. The application of heat and pressure to this area is often used to treat this pain because it increases blood-flow and reduces muscle stiffness, thus effectively soothing the pain without any need for medication. Moreover, menstruation also causes back pain, which this apparatus soothes in a similar fashion. In addition, a vast number of women will miss work, school or important functions because they don't have a suitable portable option to relieve the pain.
Over the years, many attempts have been made without success, to address these issues. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,275 to Yates (1999) demonstrates the design for a belt-like body heating apparatus. The belt employs portable methods of heating that focuses primarily on the distribution of said heat throughout the entire body by means of warming chemicals (one time use liquid/gel packets that heat up for a certain amount of time) being placed in pouches on the belt. This is both wasteful and harmful to the environment and the packets must be replaced every time the device is used.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,191,550 to Lee (2012) discloses an apparatus to relieve menstrual cramping which includes one or more pads having an inner and outer side, each outer side being semi-rigid and each inner side being flexible. The outer side of each pad is connected to one or more straps having first and second ends. A fastener is attached to the first end of each strap and a corresponding second fastener attaches to the second end of each strap. The apparatus includes a variable compression drive located proximate to one pad to create a compression force through each strap when the first and corresponding second fasteners connect. The drive includes an outer drum shell, an inner rotator having an inner diameter that is treaded, a motor which communications with the inner rotator, and a threaded shaft which engages the inner diameter of the inner rotator. A tab attaches the threaded shaft to the strap. This device is bulky, cannot be concealed under regular garment, and does not provide any pressure or massaging comfort to the person in pain. In addition, only portions of the device are heated making this difficult to use when a user suffers from pain which is not localized in one small area.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,624 to Jefferson, et al. (1986) is a further example, and discloses a heating pad massager that is a massaging and heating pad combination for application to the body in which both massaging vibration intensity and temperature may be controlled, primarily intended for use in the relief of the pain and discomfort of cramps and muscle tension and other suffering attendant to the menstrual cycle. However, this device requires the user to keep the device plugged into an electrical outlet at all times and does not allow the user to heat the entire surface of the heating pad.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,608 to Kohn (1997) discloses an undergarment apparatus and method for reducing menstrual cramping. The undergarment apparatus and method for reducing menstrual cramping includes an elastic panel mounted to at least one of a front portion and a rear portion of an underpant brief in a manner exerting inward pressure across a lower torso region of an individual wearer. At least one movable pressure bearing insert is formed for positioning between the elastic panel and the lower torso region at a plurality of positions along the elastic panel. The elastic panel cooperates with an apex portion or small area side of the pressure bearing insert to exert substantial localized point pressure on a relatively small area of the torso region for mitigation of menstrual cramping. However, this device requires the user to manually move the pressure inserts and lacks any sort of heating element.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. App. No. US2011004839A1 to Lee (2011), discloses a compression undergarment for relief of menstrual pain and a related method. As with the '624 patent, this device requires the user to manually change compression pads and does not provide heat for the user.
As can clearly be ascertained from the above examples, the solutions so far have not been satisfactory for users. However, the present disclosure aims to solve the above problem thanks to a portable, wireless and discreet heating pad which can be worn under clothing, thereby overcoming the limitations imposed by the prior art.
In one design of the present disclosure, it is embodied as a pain relief system which can be discreetly worn in public and under garments. The pain relief system can be heated throughout its entire surface and can be worn around a person's abdominal region, particularly the waist. Optionally, the surface area of the main body can be divided into sections, which can also be heated independently of each other.
In addition, the pain relief system is equipped with controllable heating elements throughout the entire system allowing the user to apply heat to the entire circumference of their waist if they desire, or just specific sections. Thus, thanks to a controller, a user can choose which section(s) to heat and control heat settings for maximum pain relief and comfort.
In some embodiments, the heating elements are enclosed with, or my be integral to, compression pads to create compression and gentle force on the areas of pain and to move the heating elements closer to the same. Preferably, the compression pads are made from open cell polyurethane foam.
The system also includes an adjustment means operable to allow a person to tighten or loosen the main body to fit their body comfortably.
The system can also tapered at the bottom allowing a user to heat lower parts of the abdomen, lower back, or both, which tend to be particularly sore for women during menstruation. In one possible embodiment, the lower portion of the device extends lower on a person's back to address back soreness as well. In other embodiments, a flap extends below the main body of the system to cover the user's lower abdomen and sits between the users hips so that the user may sit without the flap folding up.
To further relieve pain, the system also includes optional massaging elements and inflatable bladders that can be filled with air to create compression and a gentle force on the areas of pain. Inflating the inflatable bladders also brings the heating elements closer to the sore areas.
In addition, the system can be wireless and rechargeable using one or more battery packs. This way, a user does not need to stay close to a wall plug in order to apply heat to their pain areas.
In another possible embodiment the pain relief system comprises a main body formed of one or more sections adapted to surround a person's waist, at least one compression element adapted to create a compression force on the person's abdomen, a heating element within the one or more sections, wherein the heating element is operable to heat the entire area of the one or more sections of the main body, and an adjustable belt means to maintain the system in engagement over the person's waist.
In another possible embodiment, the heating element within the section is adapted to heat the section independently of or in conjunction with the other sections.
In another possible embodiment, wherein the belt means comprises at least one of a group consisting of a hook and attachment, Velcro, magnets, a zipper, snaps, a manual belt, or a hook and handle combination.
In another possible embodiment, at least one massaging element is adapted to massage a given body area.
In another possible embodiment, a tapered bottom cutout is arranged corresponding to a person's lower abdomen area.
In another possible embodiment, the system is formed of a suitable fabric material and wherein the suitable fabric material is thin and adapted to stretch.
In another possible embodiment, the system is covered with a detachable fabric material shell.
In another possible embodiment, the system is wirelessly connected to a power supply.
In another possible embodiment, the system is rechargeable.
In another possible embodiment, the system further includes a controller assembly comprising a controller attached to the system adapted to control heat, compression, and massage features of the system.
In another possible embodiment, the controller is operable to accept user commands via a remote-control interface.
In another possible embodiment, the system further comprises a flap extending below the main body, wherein the flap is adapted to cover a person's lower abdomen area.
In another possible embodiment, the belt means comprises at least one of a group consisting of a hook and attachment, Velcro, magnets, a zipper, snaps, a manual belt, or a hook and handle combination.
In another possible embodiment, the detachable fabric material shell is attached to the system using at least one of a group consisting of snapping elements, magnetic elements, a zipper, or Velcro.
In another possible embodiments, the compression element is comprised of at least one of a group consisting of polyurethane foam, an inflatable bladder adapted to create a compression force on the person's abdomen when inflated, or fabric.
In another possible embodiment the pain relief system comprises a main body formed of one or more sections adapted to surround a person's waist, at least one inflatable bladder adapted to create a compression force on the person's abdomen when inflated, a heating element within said one or more sections, wherein said heating element is operable to heat the entire area of the one or more sections of said main body, and an adjustable belt means to maintain the system in engagement over said person's waist.
As will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art, numerous changes and modifications can be made to the design of this disclosure without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The same elements or parts throughout the figures of the drawings are designated by the same reference characters, while equivalent elements bear a prime designation.
Referring now to the drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon,
The system operates wirelessly, and without having to be connected to a wall plug for power. In one wireless embodiment, as shown in
In these and other possible embodiments, the system is formed of a suitable fabric material which is thin and flexible allowing the system to be worn under garment and discreetly in public.
In another embodiment, such as the one shown in
In the illustrated embodiment of
In one embodiment, the inflatable bladder 118 can be inflated or deflated manually, whereas in other embodiments, the bladder can be controlled electrically thanks to a controller, or a combination of both manual and electrical inflation and deflation can be used, which allows the user to choose the method of inflation or deflation, and the level of inflation of the bladder, thereby controlling the compression applied.
In one embodiment, a user can wrap the pain relief system 100 around their waist and lower abdomen as shown in
In some embodiments, the system includes an automatic shut-off option which can be pre-programed or set by a user. In one specific embodiment, the auto shut off option can be set to 1 hour, 2 hours or 3 hours, or incrementally by 30 minutes intervals.
In this and other embodiments, a front section flap116 extending below the main body 119 of the pain relief system 100 to cover the sections of the user's abdomen where the user's ovaries may be located can be added or used to replace the tapered bottom cutout. In some embodiments, the front section flap 116 may be narrow enough to sit between the user's hips to reduce the risk of the front section flap116 folding up when the user sits because it will not be sitting at the point where the user's hip joint bends.
Also illustrated in
In these and other embodiments, multiple battery pockets 117 may be used to house multiple batteries, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the system has a detachable fabric material shell which is attached to the system using at least one of a group consisting of snapping elements, magnetic elements, a zipper, or Velcro. In another embodiment, the system and system are enveloped in detachably removable cover which can be reused and washed separately before reuse.
In another embodiment, the system and system comprise a flap extending below the main body, where the flap is adapted to cover a person's lower abdomen area.
In an alternative embodiment, the present disclosure is embodied as a pain relief system and system which includes a main stretchable body formed of one or more sections adapted to surround a person's waist, an inner portion to be placed against a person's body and an outer portion facing outwardly. The system and system may further include an extension lobe arranged corresponding to a person's lower abdomen area and adapted to be placed against the person's lower abdomen area. The system and system further include at least one heating element within one or more sections, where the heating element is operable to heat the entire area of the one or more sections of said system.
In some embodiments, the heating element is operable to heat the entire area of the one or more sections of the system. In other embodiments, the heating elements is one or more wired heating elements disposed as an S shaped element to cover the entire surface area of one or multiple sections of the heating and pain relief system. In other embodiments the heating elements extend throughout a substantial surface area of the system stopping shortly at the perimeter of the pain relief system and do not cover the perimeter or any stitching at the top and bottom of the pain relief system.
In another embodiment, the compression elements are couplably removable to the system and can be inserted in pockets within the system, be integrally and structurally connected to the system or be removed if a user wants to remove them. In one particular embodiment, the compression elements are a compression foam, an inflatable bladder, a compression pad, a therapeutic compress, and/or a polyurethane foam pad adapted to create a compression force on the person's abdomen.
In one particular embodiment, the compression element is disposed between the outer portion and the heating element to exert a relieving pressure on the person's waist and abdomen and adapted to render said heating elements closer to a person's body to relieve pain. Additional adjustable means are structurally coupled to the system to maintain the system in engagement over said person's waist.
In one embodiment, the system and apparatus include massaging elements, heating elements and compressions elements which can be operable independently of or in conjunction with one another. In this embodiment, the user can either inflate a bladder for compression or deflate the bladder, or remove the compression pad manually to control the compression element. The heating and massaging elements and compression elements in non-manual embodiments can be controlled via a controller by the user.
In another embodiment, the system and apparatus also include a battery electrically coupled to the heating element rendering the apparatus rechargeable. In some embodiments, the user can connect the device to an external power outlet for charging while in other embodiments, the system and apparatus are wirelessly rechargeable.
The present disclosure can also be embodied as a method for relieving menstrual cramping pain, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a pain relief apparatus 100 on a person's waist; arranging an extension lobe 110 of the pain relief apparatus of a person's lower abdomen; tightening said pain relief apparatus on a person's waist using the apparatus's adjustable means 103; powering said apparatus to apply heat on said person's body (with controller assembly 111 for example and a remote control 111).
In another embodiment, the method also includes the steps of inflating an inflatable bladder with air 140, 118. (See.
In one embodiment, the present disclosure is embodied as a pain relief system 100 including a pain relief device with a main body 119 formed of one or more sections 101. The main body 119 is adapted to surround a person's waist as shown in
In most embodiments, whether the system and the main body are split into multiple sections 101 or at least one main section covering the entire body, it is one objective of the present disclosure that the heating elements cover the entire section 101. In some embodiments, the heating elements stop short of the perimeter and edge, in other embodiments, the heating elements cover the center and most of the surface area of the heated section.
In one embodiment, the heating element is a wired heating element 108 twisted in an S-shape to cover the majority of a section as shown in
In one embodiment, the system includes two sections, one covering the front of a person and abdomen: this section is heated throughout and includes compression elements whereas the second section does not include any heating elements or compression elements.
In another embodiment as shown in
In another embodiment as shown in
In yet another embodiment as shown in
In one embodiment, the system also includes adjustable means 103 to maintain the system 100 and main body 119 in engagement over the person's waist; and when the compression element is placed between the outer portion 130 and the heating element 108, the compression element renders the heating element closer to the person's waist and applies a relieving compression force on a person's body.
In another embodiment, the system's compression elements 140 can be a compression foam, an inflatable bladder, a pressure pad, a therapeutic compress, a polyurethane foam and/or a compressible material or a combination and equivalent thereof adapted to create a compression force on the person's body.
In one particular embodiment, the compression element 140 is removably couplable to the main body. That is, the compression elements can be inserted into the main body or removed according to user's discretion. In one particular embodiment, the compression element can be inserted in pockets and in section pockets as shown in
In one embodiment, the heating element or heating elements 108 within a section can heat one or more sections independently of another or can all heat up all sections in conjunction with one another. For example,
In another embodiment, the adjustable means can be a hook and loop attachment, Velcro®, one or more magnets, a zipper, snaps, a manual belt, and/or a hook and handle combination thereof which would allow a user to tighten and secure said system on the person's body. In one embodiment, the main body is made out of stretchable material such that a user can tighten the system to their liking, an use the adjustable means to make sure that the system stays in place.
In one particular embodiment, the system 100 includes a an extension lobe 110 arranged corresponding to a person's lower abdomen area where the system 100 is adapted to heat a person's lower abdomen and adapted to exert pressure on said lower abdomen area to relieve a lower abdomen pain, especially menstrual cramp pain.
In another embodiment, the system 100 also comprises one or more massaging element 109 adapted to massage a given body area and where the massaging element are disposed within the one or more sections 101 of the main body 119 as shown in
In one embodiment, the system 100 is formed of a thin and stretchable fabric material such that a user can stretch the system and the main body of the system on the person's waist and body and where the system is concealable under a person's clothing as shown in
In another embodiment, the system 100 and main body 119 is enveloped in a detachable shell adapted to be washed and reused. In one particular embodiment, as shown in
In another embodiment, the system 100 also includes at least one battery 125 electrically coupled to the heating element. In embodiments which include inflatable bladder as compression elements and/or massaging elements, the compression elements and massaging elements are also connected to the battery or batteries 125 for power.
In one particular embodiment, a single battery 125 can provide enough power to power one or more heating elements, compression elements, and/or massaging elements. In another embodiment, the battery 125 can be received in battery pockets 117 and stored in those pockets disposed on outer portion of the system 130.
In another embodiment, all the heated elements from all sections are connected to the one battery. In an alternative embodiment, where the system 100 only includes two main sections 101, one in the front portion of the system 150 to cover the front and abdomen of the person and one in the back portion 160 to cover the backside of a person, the embodiment includes two batteries where one operate the heating elements of the front portion and another battery to operate the heating elements of the back portion.
In an alternative embodiment where 2 batteries operate the front and back portion and heating elements of the front and back portions, the batteries are set in pockets 117 disposed on the side portions of the main body.
In another embodiment, the system 100 is rechargeable. Here, the battery or batteries can be taken out and charged or the batteries are on the main body and a user can connect the System 100 to an external power source thanks to USB connections, a plug or other electrical connections through a rechargeable adapter 102 as shown for illustrative purposes in
In one embodiment, the user can charge the batteries by removing them from the belt and recharging them, plugging them to an external power source via USB or other for recharging or while the belt is on user can plug the system/system to a power source such as computer/car charger etc.
In one embodiment, the system 100 also incudes a controller assembly 111 including a controller 111 removably attached to the main body adapted to control a heat, a compression, and a massage feature of the system 100. In a particular embodiment as shown in
In one embodiment, the present disclosure is embodied in a pain relief system 100 which includes a main stretchable body 119 formed of one or more sections 101 adapted to surround a person's waist, an inner portion 120 to be placed against a person's body and an outer portion 130 facing outwardly. The system 100 also includes an extension lobe 110 arranged corresponding to a person's lower abdomen area and adapted to be placed against the person's lower abdomen area. The system also includes at least one heating element 108 within the one or more sections, wherein said heating element is operable to heat the entire area of the one or more sections. Here, where the embodiment includes an extension lobe 110, the heating elements and/or compression elements can extend all the way to the bottom of the extension lobe to provide heat, pressure and pain relief to a person's lower abdomen and to cover a woman's ovaries and relief menstrual cramps and pain. The system 100 also includes at least one couplably removable compression element 140 disposed between said outer portion 130 and said heating element 108 to exert a relieving pressure on the person's waist and abdomen and adapted to render the heating elements 108 closer to a person's body to relieve pain. The system also includes adjustable means 103 to maintain the system 100 and the main body 119 in engagement over the person's waist.
In another embodiment, the removably compression element 140 is either a compression foam, an inflatable bladder, a compression pad, a therapeutic compress, and a polyurethane foam pad or a combination thereof adapted to create a compression force on the person's body.
In another embodiment, the system also includes massaging elements 109; and the heating elements 108, the massaging elements 109 and the compression elements 140 are operable independently of one another or in conjunction with one another as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the system 100 includes one or more batteries 125 electrically coupled to the heating element where the system is rechargeable.
In one embodiment where the system 100 also includes a shell or detachable fabric material shell, the shell/detachable fabric can be attached to the main body 119 using snapping elements, magnetic elements, a zipper, and/or Velcro® or a combination thereof.
In another embodiment the system 100 also includes a flap or extension lobe 110 extending below the main body 119, such that the extension lobe is adapted to cover a person's lower abdomen area. In some embodiments, the extension lobe also includes heating elements extending to the edge of the extension lobe as shown in
In one embodiment, the heating element within the one or more sections, where the heating element is operable to heat a substantial area of the one or more sections of the system. Here the substantial area is defined as the majority of a given section, and the majority of its surface areas.
In a particular embodiment, the system also includes a remote controller 111 and the system is operable to accept user commands via remote-control interface.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosure in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62857936 | Jun 2019 | US |