Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to devices for use
in treating selected parts of a body, more particularly,
the invention relates to devices comprising envelopes con-
taining fluids which may be selectively heated or cooled,
for use in treating selected parts of the human body. The
invention further relates to a method of treating a
particular part of the human body.
Various devices for treating the human body
and others are known. Such include Padelford's U. S. patent
2,237,971 dated April 8, 1941; Freund's U. S. patent
2,29~,361 dated October 13, 1942, Lefohn's U. S. patent
2,477,883 dated August 2, 1949; Padelford's U. S. patent
2,101,628 dated December 7, 1937; Williamson's U. S.
patent 1,964,655 dated June 26, 1934, Whitmarsh's U. S.
patent 1,126,601 dated January 26, 1915 and Duffield's
U. S. patent 2,783,807 dated March 5, 1957.
Substantial drawbacks are deemed to exist in
respect of the prior art devices, such include their re-
latively complicated and thus expensive construction, parti-
cularly ones of garment like design also the requirement
that they need to be filled and emptied. This could
prove a problem if liquid were not readily available for
use. In the case of the prior art breast treating device
of aforementioned Freund, the patented device structure is
not only bulky and complicated, amounting to in fact an
especially designed brassiere, but does not provide en-
tirely satisfactory breast treatment. The brassiere like
structure of Freund does not, apart from not being aesthetic-
cally pleasing, allow the breast nipple to be untreated.
Other disadvantages of the prior art devices will become
apparent from the specification hereinafter.
It is therefore a principle object of the
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present invention to provide an improved device of the
type discussed which overcomes the aforementioned dis-
advantages.
In one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a device, intended to be placed in a refrigerator for
cooling or immersed in heated liquid for heating, for use in
treating a selected part of the human body comprising in com-
bination, a sealed envelope portion formed by a pair of flex-
ible plastic membranes having smooth uninterrupted o~ter sur-
faces, said membranes being sealed together adjacent the per-
ipheral edges thereof utilizing a similar known plastic join-
ing process including that of heat sealing, so as to form said
envelope: a quantity of liquid and air in said evelope, said
liquid and air being of such proportions that said envelope
remains pliable, said liquid ~eing introduced into said
envelope prior to the final permanent sealing of said en-
velope to thereby provide a permanently sealed and permanently
filled device.
In a further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method of treating a human female
breast comprising the steps of: a) providing a device
having a cone-like shaped envelope, said envelope con-
taining liquid permanently sealed therein and said
device including an aperture in the apex area thereof
for entry of the breast nipple therethrough, b) cooling or
heating said device to a selected temperature, and c) placing
said cooled or heated device upon the breast to be treated,
allowing the nipple to protrude through said aperture and
retaining said device in said location for a selected
period of time.
In a further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a method of treating a human female
breast comprising the steps of: a) providing a device
having a cone-like shaped envelope, said envelope con-
taining liquid permanently sealed therein and said device
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including an aperture in the apex area thexeof for
entry of the breast nipple therethrough, b) providing
a form having a cone-shaped outer surface adapted to
be received within the cone-like shaped envelope por-
tion of the device for use in shaping said device so
as to conform the same substantially to the shape of
the breast to be treated; c) cooling or heating said device
to a selected temperature while on said form; and d)
removing said cooled or heated device from said form and
placing the same upon the breast to be treated permitting the
nipple to protrude through said aperture and retaining
said device in said location for a selected period of
time.
In a further aspect of the present invention
there is provided methods as recited above
including the step of retaining said device in place
on the breast by a conventional type brassiere.
The invention is illustrated by way of example
in the accompanying drawings wherein:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of a device for use
in treating a selected part of the human body in accordance
with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the device shown in
Figure l;
Figure 3 is,a plan view of a further device in
accordance with the present invention for use in treating
the facial part of the human body:
Figure 4 is a side view of the device shown
in Figure 3,
Figure 5 shows a further embodiment in.accordance
with the present invention, being a device for use in
treating the human female breast, including a form for use
in the shaping the device,
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Figure 6 is an end view of the device shown in
Figure 5 taken along line 6 - 6 with the form removed, and
Figure 7 is an oblique view of a further device
shaping form, being an alternative to that shown in Figure 5.
Referring now in detail to the drawings. Figure 1
discloses a device 10 having a sealed envelope 20 formed by a
pair of membranes 30 and 40 which are sealed together adjacent
their respective peripheral edges 50 and 51 so as to form en-
velope 20. Envelope 20 (as in the case of all the envelopes
of other embodiments described) contains a selected quantity
of liquid 60 and air 60a being of such proportions that envelope
20 remains pliable, at least at room temperature. Liquid 60 is
introduced into envelope 20 prior to the final permanent seal-
ing of envelope 20 and to thereby provide a permanently sealed
and permanently filled device 10. Liquid 60 although not essen-
tial, is preferably water, which is capable of readily being
heated or cooled together with the device prior to application
to the body portion to be treated.
The device of Figure 1 further includes extending
portions 70 and 80 which extend outwardly from envelope 20 on
respective opposite sides thereof to provide means for se-
curing device 10 and accordingly envelope 20 in a selected
position on the body to be treated. As will be apparent
from Figure 1, extending portions 70 and 80 comprise membranes
30 and 40 which are joined and sealed across their opposing
faces inwardly of their respective peripheral edges, to pro-
vide a strap. Accordingly, the sealing of envelope 20 includes
sealed edge portions 50a and 51a. A buckle 81 is provided
and secured by suitable known means adjacent the terminal
free end of extending portion 80 for cooperation with the
terminal free end 71 of extending portion 70. Membranes
30 and 40 may be of any suitable flexible material in-
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cluding plastic material which will withstand selectedtemperatures of heat and cold without cracking or other-
wise deteriorating. Plastic material of well Xnown
suitable type is a preferred material since it may be
readily joined one piece to another by for example heat
process, to form a positive sealed joint therebetween.
As in the case of all the devices in accordance
with the present invention, it will be evident they may
be used for treating bodies other than human ones includ-
ing for example animals.
Referring now to Figure 3, such device shown
is constructed in similar manner to that of the device
shown in Figure 1 and discussed in detail hereinbefore.
As in the case of the device of Figure 1, it may be
constructed using a pair of membranes 30a and 40a sealed
together in aforementioned similar manner to provide
envelope 20a contoured as shown to provide a facial mask
including a pair of apertures 90 for viewing therethrough
when the mask is in wearing position. Extending portions
70a and 80a comprising straps, may include as shown, the
extended membranes 30a and 40a which are partially joined
together within their peripherally sealed edges i.e. along
lines 70b and 80b located within the relatively wider
surface areas of the straps, such may simplify manufacture.
Attention is now directed to the further embodi-
ment disclosed in Figures 5 and 6, namely breast treating
device 100. Again, such may be constructed in similar
manner to the aforementioned devices using a pair of mem-
branes 30b and 40b suitable sealed together to provide
a sealed envelope portion 20b of cone-like shape. The
inner surface 101 is adapted to conform substantially
with the shape of a human female breast. ~evice 100
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further includes aperture 102 adjacent the apex area
thereof, aperture 102 being of sufficient diameter to
permit entry therethrough of the nipple of the breast,
such resulting, as further discussed hereinafter, in
the desired non-treatment of the nipple by the device.
In order to facilitate manufacture and if desired, mem-
brane 30b for example may also include envelope sealed
edge 102. Thus, the cone-like shaped device 100 may
be constructed using a number of suitably developed
membranes including in accordance with that disclosed
which includes sealed peripheral edges 103, 104, 105
and 106.
A form 110, seen in Figure 5, is provided
for use in shaping device 100. Form 110 as further
seen has a cone-shaped outer surface 111 adapted to
be received within the cone-like shaped envelope 20b
whereby the apex portion 112 protrudes through apex
102 of envelope 20b Thus cone-shaped outer surface
111 abuts inner surface 101 so as to conformly mould
envelope 20b, substantially to the shape of cone-
shaped outer surface 111. The combination of form 110
and device 100 may be placed in for example a refri-
gerator for cooling, cooled to a selected temperature
and thereafter removed for application to a breast,
as discussed further hereinafter. Form 110 may be of
any suitable type including as shown in Figure 5, of
the inflatable type. Thus form 110 may be constructed
in similar manner to that of the devices discussed
above, namely of plastic sheet material providing an
envelope which is blown up with air to thus provide
the cone-shaped shown. An air valve 113 of suitable
type is provided in the base of form 110 for receiving,
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retaining and releasing air from the form. An obvious
benefit in regard to the inflatable form is that it
takes up less carrying and storage space.
Attention is directed to Figure 7 showing alterna-
tive design of form llOa which may be used in place of form
110. Form llOa, having a resting base portion llOb, is a
rigid structure, which may be moulded from plastic materials.
In order to facilitate manufacture, the apex portion llOc,
shown in dotted line in Figure 7, may be omitted if desired.
As will be evident, the embodiment of Figure 7 represents a
stand upon which device 100 may be placed, prior to, for
example, cooling the same.
From the foregoing it will be evident there is
provided by the present invention, various devices which
may be used in the treatment of selected parts of the human
body and which may be selectively heated or cooled and
thereafter applied to the body and retained thereon for a
selected period of time. The benefits derived from the use
of hot and cold compress type devices on various parts of
the body are well known. By way of example, in the case
of female breast feeding, it is sometimes desired to change
the viscosity of the breast milk and/or induce increased
flow and removal of the breast milk. Such may be readily
and conveniently accomplished by the present breast treat-
ing device. The devices in accordance with the present
invention are simple, inexpensive to produce and provide
convenience in use including requiring no liquids, no
filling and no emptying. Furthermore, as particularly
seen in respect of the breast treating device, are very
convenient in use. In this regard, the breast treating
device in accordance with the present invention may
be, for example, cooled to a selected temperature, there-
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after placed on the breast so that the breast nippleprotrudes through the aperture provided and the device
retained in place for a selected period of time by a
conventional type brassiere. Such is particularly
convenient requiring no special design of brassiere
to be purchased and worn. Furthermore, the wearer
may continue to benefit from the aspect provided by
the conventional type brassiere while wearing the
treating device.
