Therapeutic heating pad and muff structure

#This invention relates to electric heating pads, and, more particularly, to a therapeutic heating pad which produces a hot moist heat which acts as a fomentation to the body member to which it is applied. In one embodiment the therapeutic pad is constructed or held in a tubular configuration to form a muff into which the body member is inserted for treatment.

#The prior art discloses a variety of heating pads showing various heating element constructions arranged to provide uniform heating, flexibility and the like. These pads in general are used at low heats, many providing a four position selector switch or a continuous setting potentiometer to obtain a comfortable, pleasing heat for the user.

#The Underwriter's Laboratories and other testing companies set forth various standards for materials, construction and testing of heating pads. For example, the 1983 edition of the American National Standards Institute/Underwriter's Laboratories Standard known as ANSI/UL 130 contains 33 pages of such standards including product marking. One of the items to which a lot of attention has been directed is the maximum temperature that the pad obtains, dictating, on one hand, laboratory standards for testing the reliability of thermostats, and requiring, on the other hand, innovation on the part of the designer in properly locating these thermostats.

#The presently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the laminate structure broken away to reveal the details of the individual laminas embodied in the subject invention;

#FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 further identifying the individual laminas of the laminate structure embodying the invention;

#The therapeutic pad 10 according to the invention is constructed in a laminate form from individual rectangular shaped lamina sheets. Contrary to most conventional heating pad constructions, the laminate structure of this invention is not a symmetrical construction with a central heating element surrounded by one or more envelopes so that the heat radiates from both faces. The construction of laminate 12 has been specifically designed to restrict flow through the laminas in one direction and convey heat flow through the laminas in the other direction toward the body member to which the pad has been applied.

#Fabric lamina 14 is a decorative cloth having a colored pattern design with good wear qualities for durability. Fabric 14 serves as the outer cover of the pad 10. The serially next lamina is batting 16 formed from a material meeting flammability specifications and preferably is manufactured from a polyester material. The primary purpose of batting lamina 16 is to act as a thermal insulation barrier. The serially next lamina is a metallic foil 18 which serves as a reflector surface. The metallic foil is preferably formed as a foil-cloth composite retaining all of the heat reflective properties on one side but adding all the advantages of a fabric as the foil is deeply imbedded into the fabric providing a flexible and durable composite. Such a foil-cloth or foil-fabric product is sold under the Trade name, FABRIFOIL, manufactured by the Duracote Corporation.

#I have found that a stable unitary based structure can be formed for mounting of the electrical element lamina by quilting the fabric, batting, and foil-cloth laminas together forming quilted base 20.