Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Lug
The invention concerns a flexible, flat composite
body containing sand or the like for external application
in the treatment of bodies.
In the meaning of the present invention, the
treatment of bodies includes the treatment of both human
and animal bodies, with obviously forms of embodiment
suitable for the particular application being used. The
treatment may have a therapeutic purpose, or it may be
cosmetic or intended to induce relaxation.
In medical science, the application of compresses,
tapes or wrappings to parts of the body to be treated is
widely known. These bandages consist of several layers
of linen or gauze. They're saturated as needed with hot
or cold water to either heat the part of the body involved
or to cool and extract heat from it. In many cases,
active ingredients, such as linseed, potato chips, flowers
of hay and the like are packed into the tapes. Windings
of this type have a low heat capacity and consequently
the thermal effect is rapidly attenuated. The application
must be renewed often.
It has been proposed in DOS 27 42 030, to use,
in a treatment with constant, decreasing or increasing
temperature medical all-purpose packs which release a
dry or humid heat and contain a subdivided, sieve-like
system of chambers/ consisting of a textiles material
and filled in part with sand as the carrier of therapeutic
substances. The packs may be used with or without there-
peptic subst~ces dissolved in water. The packs consist
of small fabric bags, subdivided at intervals of approxi-
mutely 6 cm into several chambers by means ox transverse seams. To prevent the formation of cavities by the seams
between the chambers and the skin, the chambers are only
filled loosely with sand. This is to insure that the
pack is resting uniformly against the skin. The effect
~2~7~
is, however, only partially achieved, since due to the loose sand
filling, the sand shifts and the effect on the heat on the skin be-
comes irregular. Furthermore, if the textile wall is damaged, the
sand runs out. Efficient production line production of the packs
is not possible because the sand must be filled in after the
chambers have been made, and the latter can be sealed after this
only.
The present invention seeks to provide a flexible, come
posit body for the -treatment of bodies, which has certain ad van-
taxes over the above described state of the art thereby making inapplicable in a more universal manner and capable of being produced
more efficiently. according to the present invention there is
provided a composite body made from an actively needle-bondable
fiber layer and a counter layer needle-bonded to each other through
an intermediate layer containing rock particles, such as sand, chips
or the like and which intermediate layer further comprises a
physiologically active ingredient.
Preferably, the fiber layer and the counter layer are
needle-bonded together with a stitch density of 2 - 200 stitches/
cm . Further forms of embodiment of the composite body according to
the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.
The needle-bonding of rock or sand particles between a
fiber layer and a counter layer offers a number of advantages. Firs-t,
it makes possible efficient production on a conveyor belt, wherein
the individual layers are placed continuously on a conveyor belt,
needle-bonded and wound into a roll or cut into plates or sections.
Subsequently, the composite body may be cut into any flat shape
desired, and the sand particles are prevented from running out at
-- 2 --
C
the cut edges by the inserted holding fibers. It is further
possible to cut orifices into the sheet, for example, for face
masks. When sand with A large variation in grain sizes is used,
there is no separation by grain size because the numerous
holding fibers inserted in a distribution over the entire surface
prevent the grains of sand from laterally shifting.
- pa -
I
Composite bodies prepared by needle bonding
with granular material particles incorporated therein
are known from OH PUS 4 96 462 and DOS 28 55 059. However,
the material particles incorporated consist of active
ingredients, such as activated charcoal, fertilizers and
the like having a relatively low density which do not have
the heat capacity of rock particles. The latter have the
additional advantage of a relatively high weight per unit
area, whereby a uniform pressure is applied to the skin
of the body. In contrast to the active ingredients, such
as activated charcoal, floccules, fibers, which by
their nature do not resist the passage of the felting
needles since they either crumble easily or are readily
pierced by the needles, it was surprising to find that
felting needles may be inserted through a layer of rock
particles. There existed an assumption that the needles
would be destroyed by the sand grains. It was found,
however, that this is not the case because the sand
particles give way on the elastic fiber backing. It was
further surprising to discover that the grains of sand
do not run between the fibers of the actively needle-
bondable layer of fibers. Needle bonding densities the
fiber layer to the extent that the sand does not run out. -
A further advantage is obtained, when orate at Sue
example active ingredients are distributed in the granular
or powder form in the Mayer of rock particles. Since
active ingredients, such as for example hay flowers,
camomile flowers, almond bran, are very light, separation
in the case of loose aggregation in the chambers very
often occurs in the known composites. However, this does
not take place in the composite bodies according to the
invention. Another advantage achieved simultaneously is
that the active ingredients remain in a uniform distribution,
even if the composite body is deformed, shaken or set on
its edge.
Examples of embodiments of the invention shall
be explained in detail with the aid of the draying, in
~29~
which partial segments of the composite bodies are
schematically shown.
In the drawing:
. Figure 1 shows a composite body in cross section,
Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of the
composite body in cross section,
Figure 3 shows a further form of embodiment in
cross section, at an intermediate stage of the production
of the composite body,
Figure 4 shows the same composite body in a
cross section after completion,
Figure 5 shows a further form of embodiment
in a cross section,
Figure 6 shows the same composite body in a top
view.
In the form of embodiment of the composite body
according to Fig. 1, a layer 1 of rock particles is enclosed
between an actively needle-bondable layer 2 of fibers and
a counter layer 3. The layers 2 and 3 are needle bonded
to each other through the intermediate layer 1. Needle
bonding may be effected by a needle process known in the
needle felting industry, such as described for example
by R. Krcma in "Handbook of Textile Composites",
Dicier Fachverlag Press, Frank~urt/Main, 1970, p.
198-202. In this method, felting needles with a triangular
needle shaft and lateral counter hooks directed toward
the point of the needle are most frequently used
Other forms, such as fork needles and loop
needles, are also used. The stitch-bonding needles
30 mentioned in the book by R. Krcma, may also be used in
the needle bonding of the composite body. The felting
needles-grip in the course of their insertion in the fiber
layer 2 individual fibers or bundles of fibers and twist
them into the counter layer 3. The fiber layer 2 must for
35 this purpose be actively needle-bondable, i.e. it must be
possible to seize fibers from this layer, with a part of
the fiber remaining anchored in the layer
It is not only the two layers 2 and I that Lee
:
~Z9~7~
joined with each other, but also the rock particles of
the intermediate layer 1 are prevented from lateral
shifting by the holding fibers 4, inserted in large
numbers and in a distribution over the entire surface
area of the composite body. It is possible thereby to
cut the composite body into any flat shape desired, with-
out losing appreciable amounts of the rock particles
through the cut edges.
It is further feasible to divide the composite
body produced in the sheet form by weld cutting into
individual, commercial sizes. If thermoplastic fibers
are used, in particular the edges of the individual
pieces may be reinforced by welding. If desired, a strip
of a thermoplastic material may be welded onto the edge
in the shape of a U, by the effect of heat and pressure,
whereby the composite body is given a more pleasing
appearance.
The layer 1 of rock particles may consist of
natural rock materials, for example sand, having by
definition a grain size of 0.02 to 2 mm. But coarse
sand and even gravel and finely gained chips may also be
used, if they do not entirely prevent the insertion of
the felting needles. Advantageous common properties
of these materials are their relatively high heat
retention, their relatively high weight with respect to
a given layer thickness and their inert behavior toward
wetting fluids in application and the active ingr ens
potentially added for body treatment.
Loam or a sandy clay or talcum are also suit
able for use in layer 1.
The counter layer 3 may consist of different
materials. It must not split during the insertion of
the needles and must be able to hold the holding fibers
4 inserted elastically, for example by clamping or twixt
in, i.e. the counter layer must be passively needle-
bondable. For example, sheets of synthetic plastics of
aloft, elastic material, fiber layers of sufficient
density, which are further densifiea and felled by the
~Z;~34~
needle process so that they retain the rock particles,
together with adhesively bonded giber composites, are
suitable. The counter layer 3 may be actively needle-
bondable which makes it possible to needle-bond the
composite body additionally from the counter side. It
it further possible to place a synthetic plastic sheet
or the like as the counter layer a further actively
needle bondable layer of fibers and to needle-bond the
composite body from both sides.
The layer of fibers, used either as the layer
2 or as the counter layer 3, may be predensified by a
so crate needle bonding process or it may be bonded
to a carrier layer, such as a sheet of a synthetic plastic,
a fiber composite or the like, in order to facilitate hand-
lying in production or to prevent the running of fine
part lies prior to the needle bonding of the composite
Cody. A great variety of textile fibers may be considered
as the fiber material. It may consist of a thermoplastic
synthetic fibers, such as polypropylene or polyester
fibers, which may be thermoplastic ally deformed welded or
cut. For special applications, for example where the
outer layer is to be contacted directly with the skin of
the body, absorbent liners, such as cotton, cellulose or
viscose may be used. Water swelling or water soluble
fibers, such as polyvinyl alcohol fibers and the like, may
further be used to prepare wet deformable composite bodies.
The latter are suitable for example for facial masks, cut
prom afloat blank and adapted after wetting to the shape
of the face.
As shown in Figure 2 r a synthetic plastic sheet
S of a fibrous composite may be used as the counter layer.
As shown in the figure it is provided with bowl like
depressions or nubs 6, which may be obtained for example
by deep drawing while it is in the hot, plastic state
The depressions 6 are filled with rock porticoes 7. In
this example the layer of rock particles is thus not
coherent but is divided into numerous portions. The
needle stitches may be distributed in a unfurl density
I
over the entire surface of the composite body, but they
may also by-pass the depressions 6. In the first case
the depressions 6 will be perforated in the form of a
sieve, with the holding fibers 4 inserted, for example
in the case of jetting by body fluids, such as perspiration,
blood serum, conducting the liquid through the counter
layer by capillary action. In the second case, the
depressions 6 remain intact. They may further be filled
selectively with different particles of materials, for
example alternating several adjacent rows with sand
and a row of active ingredients used in the body treat-
mint, such as hay flowers, linseed, almond bran and the
like.
In the form of embodiment of the composite
body shown in Fig. 3 and 4 rows or strips 9 of rock
particles 10 are placed on an actively bondable fiber
layer 8. They represent an interrupted intermediate
layer, through which the needles are inserted. An
actively needle-bondable fiber layer 11 is placed on the
rows of the rock particles 10 and the composite body
needle bonded from the top in strips between the rows
9 (holding fibers 12 in Fig. 3). The composite body
is thereupon again needle-bonded, this time from the
side ox the counter layer 8 and with a uniformly dense
distribution of the stitches (holding fibers 13 in Fig.
4). By this mean, the two covering layers 8 and 11 are
needle bonded more densely in the areas between the rows
9, than through the rows 9 themselves. By the suitable
choice of the density of the holding fibers 12 and 13 r
the flexibility of the composite body may be controlled,
for example a higher flexibility in the direction trays-
tersely to the rows, than parallel to it, may be produced.
The areas of the rows 9 which in use are in contact with
the skin, have a softer touch than the more densely
bonded areas between the rows 9.
The form of embodiment according Jo jig. and
Fig. 4 is also suitable for the alternating arrangement of
rows 9, one of which consists of sand and the other of
I
particles of the active ingredient.
Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show a composite body, with
a configuration similar to that of the example of Fig.
1. Identical reference symbols are used for identical
parts. The composite body is merely drawn in the inverse
position, it the fiber layer 2 is on the bottom, the
counter layer 3 on top. Upon the latter, a further layer
14 of particles, such as dry clay, ingredients used in the
treatment of the body, odor ants, or the like is placed.
The layer 14 is needle-bonded by means of a further fiber
layer 15, possibly predensified, to the composite body.
As seen in the top view of Fig. 6, the area of the layer
14 may be limited in an adaptation to a specific application.
Additional layers of particles, such as the layer 14,
may be bonded adjacently to or over each other.
The active ingredients may be present in a
very general manner in the form of granules, powders,
floccules or fibers. They may be present, as described
hereinabove, separately from the rock particles, or they
may be mixed in with the rock particles. In the latter
case, the rock particles serves delineates for the active
ingredients, or to better distribute them over the entire
area of the composite body.
Binders bondable by activation may also he
used as the rock particles. Gypsum may be used for
example as the binder. In this manner, for example ban-
dazes for setting bone fractures may be prepared. The
composite body is saturated with water immediately prior
to its application to the injured member, adapted to said
member and the latter immobilized until the gypsum has
set. By the addition of binders, composite bodies with
unilateral flexibility may be produced. As an example,
the form of embodiment according to Fig. 3 and 4 is cited.
The an isotropy of the flexibility of the composite body
described in the example may be reinforced by the addition
and activation of a binder to the rock particles 10, where-
by the rows 9 are rigidized, while the interstices remain
flexible.
-8
L7~L
Finally, facial masks, for example for cosmetic
applications, may be prepared by deep-drawing or by wet
shaping. In this case, loose bonding may be of advantage.
They may be rigidized by means of binder mixed in with
S the rock particles and activated after shaping. The
eye and nose portions may be set free by the simple
cutting ox swamping of orifices. It is an important
advantage of the composite body of the invention that
the rock particles and possibly the particles of the active
ingredients are prevented from dropping out by the hold-
in fibers 4 inserted.
If thermoplastic fibers are used, the sections
may be cut for example by means of hot punching irons,
wherein the fibers are simultaneously welded together
at the cut edges, so that the edges cannot fray out.
The use of sand, especially of washed quartz
sand, together with a sterilizable fiber material, such
as cotton or polypropylene, offers the advantage that the
material may be prepared in a hygienically satisfactory
manner and that it is completely inert in relation to
body treating fluids. Disinfectants may be added. When
used as a face mask, the usual active ingredients for
facial treatment may be added. Massaging may be effected
through the composite material, with the latter not losing
its coherence, as the usual fang packs and the like.
The composite body may be removed from the skin as a whole,
without leaving residues.
A composite body according to the invention,
made in small widths or cut into sections, Moe further
be used as a bandage or wrap. By virtue of the rock
particles needle-bonded into the composite body, which
in this case should have a smaller grain size, for
example of the order or Al to 1.0 mm, such a bandage
or a wrap is not only capable of holding humidity and
releasing it uniformly to the body, it is also possible
to heat the composite body prior to application, for
example in hot water, whereupon the bandage and particularly
the wrap is able to release heat and humidity to the
go
Jo
surface of the body over an extended period of time.
According to an example of embodiment not shown
in the drawing, a heating pad may be prepared in a simple
manner with the aid of the composite body according to
the invention. Such a heating pad consists for example
of two composite bodies according to the invention placed
flat on each other, between which is arranged a sheet
with resistance wires welded in. In place of this sheet,
however, a conventional heating pad insert may also be
provided between the two composite bodies.
According to a preferred embodiment, the two
composite bodies according to the invention are fixedly
connected with each other at three of their edges in the
manner of a sack, while at its fourth edge is prude
with devices to close this sack-like configuration, such
as snap buttons, a zipper or the like The heating part
of this heating pad may be taken out to wash or clean
the composite body forming the cover and reinserted after
cleaning. By the incorporation of the rock particles in
the two composite bodies, the heat retaining capacity of
the heating pad may be increased, i.e. a heating pad may
be provided which releases heat even when current is
not supplied to the pad.
Depending on the size of the heating pad, it
may be designed as a heating blanket.
Lowe composite bodies accord no to the invention
may be used dry to release heat, to weight surgical wounds,
etc., or they may be applied wetted with aqueous liquids.
The wetting liquid may consist of water or a dispersion
of active ingredients in water, e.g. plant extracts,
aluminum acetate a dispersion of almond oil, odor ants.
An example of the preparation of a composite
body according to Figure 1 is as follows:
The fiber layer 2 and the counter layer 3
were made identically from the same material in the
following manner: A fiber mixture of 200 g/m2 of polyp
ester fibers with a fiber titer of OWE and 17 dtex and the
staple length of 90 mm, was placed onto carrier sheet of
--10--
I I
polyethylene and having a thickness of 0.1 mm. The
fibers were prebonded to the sheet by means of conventional
felting needles with 45 stitches/cm2~ Such a prebonded
fiber layer was placed with the fiber beards upward on
the feeder table of the needle machine and a layer of
washed quartz sand with a grain size of 0.5-0.75 mm and
in an amount of 7 kg/m2, was sprinkled on it. The layer
was then covered with an identically prebonded fiber
layer, with -the fiber beards downward. The entire
composite body was needle-bonded with conventional
25 gauge felting needles and with 30 stitches/cm2. A
composite body with an approximate weight per unit area
of 7.4 kg/m2 was obtained.
An example of the preparation of a composite
body according to Figure 2 is as follows:
As the counter layer 5 a numbed sheet of polyp
ethylene with cylindrical depressions (nubs) of a
diameter of 1 cm and a depth of 5 mm, 7700 nubs is
used. The nubs were filled level with quartz sand and
then covered with a layer of polypropylene fibers, 17
dtex, staple length 90 mm, 200 g/m2. The composite
body was needle-bonded with conventional I gauge felting
needles with 30 stitches/cm2. A composite body of
approximately 1.8 kg/m2 weight per unit area was obtained.
The nubs were perforated by the needle stitches. No sand
could fall out.
An example of the preparation of a composite
body according to Figure 3 and 4 it as follows:
As in the example for Figure 1, two identically
prebonded fiber layers 8 and 11, were prepared Onto
the layer 8, quart sand was placed, as before in an
amount of 5 kg~m2 parallel strips adjacent to each
other and then needle-bonded by means of conventional
felting needles -- but in an arrangement of rows -- with
30 stitches~m2, adjacent to the rows of sand. The composite
body was then turned over and again needle bonded by means
of conventional feting needles, but with the usual uniform
distribution of the felting needles on the needle hoard,
with 30 stitches/cm2.
--11--
