US2497443A - Form fitting heating pad - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1950 J. N, gATMAN 2,497,443

FORM FITTING HEATING PAD Filed Feb. 1, 1946 Fla/enfor- Patented Feb. 14,1950

UNITED STATE FORM FITTING HEATING PAD osephine N. Eatman, St. Augustine, Fla. v 7

Application February 1, 1946, Serial No. 644,750

1 Claim. 1

' This invention relates to heating pads for the human body.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for heating certain selected portions of the human anatomy, while permitting freedom of movement of the wearer of the device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a heating element for the human body, which may be worn at work or at play, and retained firmly and securely in place against the said body.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide devices of the above character which shall be adapted to be heated by filling the devices with hot water, or in a different embodiment by electrical heating, electrical energy being derived from a portable battery secured at the waist of the wearer.

It is well known that many women are afflicted with periodic pains, which are often alleviated by the application of heat to the lower abdomen or back. It is a particular object of the invention to provide devices for applying heat to the lower abdomen or back, without interfering with the normal activities of the wearer of the devices.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear upon further study of the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a device, constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross-section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a modification of the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational View of a modification of a device especially adapted for application to the back of the body; and

Figure 5 is a device heated by electricity for application to the human body.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral l represents a belt adapted to be secured about the human body at the waist, to which may be secured at two points the upwardly extending arms 2 of a V-shaped container 3, which is of generally flat construction, and hollow for the reception of the water. The device 3 may be constructed of aluminum and may be corrugated at 4 in the face of the device 3 which is worn adjacent to the body. Aluminum is a material having relatively high heat :conductivity, whereas rubber and similar materials, of which such devices have previously been constructed, are heat-insulating, and greatly reduce the efficiency of the devices. By corrugating the surface of the container contacting the body of the wearer, portions of the container over the entire area of the body-contacting surface thereof are brought into intimate contact with the body and this factor along with the high-heat conductivity of the material of which the container is constructed, provides an eflicient transfer of heat from the contents of the container to the body.

The container 3 has a V-shape, generally conforming to the shape of the lower abdomen of the human body, has a total breadth not materially less than the breadth of the abdomen, a width of its portions materially less than the total breadth thereof, and a thickness materially less than the width of any portion. This shape not only provides a container which will overlie the maximum amount of the abdominal area to which it is desired to apply heat without involving unnecessary weight and bulkiness, but also, because of the rigid nature of the material of which the container is formed and the aboveindicated shape, closel contacts the body over the entire body-contacting surface thereof.-

A Second belt 5 is secured adjacent to the point of the container device 3 and has for its purpose to retain the lower portion of the device 3 flat against the body, retaining the same firmly in this position in all attitudes and positions of the body of the wearer.

The numeral 6 designates an inlet for water with an appropriate screw-on cover.

Figure 4 of the drawings represents a device In of the general character of the device 3 but shaped and adapted to be secured to the back of the wearer, and secured to the body of the wearer by belts I I and I2.

Referring specifically to Figure 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modification of the device illustrated in Figure 1, but in which the device, designated 20, is secured to the body by the belts 2| and 22. The device 20 is compartmented, as at 23 and 24, the compartments being separated by a partition 25. Each compartment is provided with an access opening and screw-on cover cap 26.

Figure 5 represents a device adapted to be substituted. for the water heated species of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive-and in which an insulating member 30 is secured to a belt 3|, and has embedded therein an electrical heating element 32 which is energized from a battery or batteries 35 of the dry cell type secured in a container 33 carried 3 by the belt, the batteries being connected to the heater 32 by means of wires 34.

Having described and illustrated several embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that various modifications of the invention, in respect to details of construction, may be resorted to Without doing Violence to the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claim.

What I claim is:

Apparatus for applying heat to' a portion of the human body comprising a thin-walled, hollow, substantiall V-shaped container, a belt secured to the upper ends of the legs ofsaid container and adapted to surround the body of the wearer at the waist, a second belt attached to said container at the apex thereof and adapted to surround the body of the wearer below the waist, said belts together holding said container firmly against the bodyof the wearer, said container having a total breadth not materially less 'thanthe breadth of-the lower portion of the abdomen of the wearer, the width of its leg portions being materially less than its total width and the container having a thickness materially less than the width of any of its portions, and having a flat, corrugated Wall adapted to contact the body of the wearer to facilitate the transfer of heat from the contents of said container to the body of the wearer.

JOSEPHINE N. EATMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 90,191 Potter May 18, 1869 734,213 Barnes July 21, 1903 783,827 Gasaway et a1. Feb. 28, 1905 1,159,160 Beringer Nov. 2, 1915 1,603,001 Carter Oct. 12, 1926 1,629,626 Jirasek May 24, 1927 117391525 Walters Dec. 1'7, 1929 2,038,275 Fogg Apr. 21, 1936 2,136,043 Delaney Nov. 8, 1938 2,298,361 Freund Oct. 13, 1942

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