Localized body heat applicator device

#The invention relates to a portable therapeutic device, one especially adapted to be worn by a user while therapeutic heat is being applied to a portion of the user's body.

#There have been provisions for application of heat to an individual's body utilizing heat sources worn by the user, in the past. Such devices have usually been for the purposes of keeping the user warm, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,079,486 and 3,084,241. However there have been suggestions in the past (see co-pending application Ser. No. 972,346 filed Dec. 22, 1978, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,218) for applying heat to body portions for therapeutic purposes. Heretofore, however, proposed devices have had a number of problems associated therewith that limited their applicability for applying therapeutic heat to body portions. In particular, prior proposed devices have been incapable of providing sufficient amounts of heat over sufficient periods of time to be really useful for therapeutic purposes. Also, proposed devices have incorporated the power sources directly with the heat applying structures, making the mounting thereof on body portions cumbersome, and interfering with normal physical activities. Other problems inherent in prior proposed devices include costs of manufacture, difficulties of manufacture, or lack of adaptability.

#According to the present invention a portable therapeutic heating device is provided which overcomes most of the drawbacks inherent in the prior art proposals. A device according to the present invention is capable of heating a body portion so that the skin temperature reaches 102.degree.-108.degree. F., and is capable of supplying heat for periods of about four to five hours, long enough to have significant therapeutic benefits. The device according to the invention is utilized so that it does not interfere with normal activity, and can be worn by the user while performing most normal functions. The inventive device can be constructed from off-the-shelf components, and utilizes batteries that are readily rechargeable. In order to protect the batteries, an indicator is provided for indicating when the voltage of a battery utilized reaches a predetermined value below the rated value of the battery. The inventive device is also simple and easy to construct and utilize, with minimum chances of damage and with maximum adaptability.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary device according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the device of FIG. 1 in use for applying heat to a user's elbow;

#FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating many of the main electrical components of the device of FIG. 1;

#A portable therapeutic heating device according to the present invention is shown generally at 10 in the drawings. The two main components of the device 10 include a battery pack 12 adapted to receive at least one battery therein, and means for applying heat to a localized portion of the body so that the skin temperature of that body portion reaches about 102.degree.-108.degree. F., said means comprising a flexible heating unit 14 having a plurality of distinct sets (e.g. 15, 16, 17--see FIG. 3) of electric resistance heating elements associated therewith.

#The device 10 further comprises electrical interconnection means for operatively electrically interconnecting a battery (or batteries) 18 received by the battery pack 12 to the heat applying means 14 electric resistance heating elements sets 15-17, the electrical interconnection means being dimensioned so that the heat applying means 14 may be positioned on body parts remote from the center of gravity of the body while the battery pack is mounted approximately at the body center of gravity (see FIG. 2). Preferably the electrical interconnection means comprises a flat tape 19 (see FIGS. 1 and 4 in particular) which may comprise a four conductor wire 24 gauge 1936 bundle with PVC that is very flexible comprising the insulation. A cross-section of the electrical interconnection means 19 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The device 10 further comprises a selector switch 20 operatively associated with the electrical connection means 19 and attached to the battery pack 12 for selecting which of the sets 15-17 of heating elements will be energized by a battery (18) received by the battery pack to thereby vary the amount of heat applied by the heating means to a body part. The device 10 further comprises means for providing ready attachment of the battery pack to the approximate center of gravity of one's body, such as belt clip 22, and means for providing ready attachment of the flexible heating unit to a body part in therapeutic heat application association therewith so that the temperature of the body part can be elevated to 102.degree. -108.degree. F. by the heating means, such as the VELCRO strips 24 attached to the sides of the flexible heating unit 14.

#The battery pack 12 includes a casing 25, which preferably is formed in two halves 25', 25", as illustrated in FIG. 5. The casing halves 25', 25" are preferably made of plastic, such as molded from ABS with a junction line 26 therebetween. The half 25" has a belt clip 22 associated therewith, and the casing halves are provided so that the junction line 26 is vertical when the casing 25 is mounted by the belt clip 22 at a user's approximate center of gravity. The casing 25 includes at least one cutout 28 (see FIG. 1) formed therein, the cutout being provided in the casing 25 at the interface of the top surface 29 with a side surface 30. The selector switch 20 is mounted in the cutout 28 so that no portion thereof extends beyond a surface providing a continuation of the top 29 and side 30 surfaces of the casing 25 at the cutout 28. Thus, when the casing is viewed from the side, as indicated in FIG. 5, the selector switch 20 cannot be seen. In mounting the selector switch in this way maximum protection is provided therefor and there is minimum possibility that it can catch on extraneous articles, or the like, and damage them or allow them to effect damage to it.