Abstract:
A bandage with cooling capabilities includes bandage support members and a cold pack member positioned between the support members. The cold pack member may be a chemical which endothermically reacts with water, positioned adjacent to but separate from a water source inside a common package, to instantly cool the cold pack member upon activation. The cold pack member further comprises a sterile pad member positioned on the bottom side of the bandage, which may include an antibiotic, anesthetic, antipyretic, burn medicament, or combinations thereof.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a bandage with cooling capabilities, and in particular, a bandage comprising an instant cold pack capable of cooling instantly.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     In an illustrative, non-limiting implementation, a bandage with cooling capabilities is provided. The bandage comprises bandage support members and a cold pack member positioned between the support members. The cold pack member may comprise a chemical which endothermically reacts with water, positioned adjacent to but separate from a water source inside a common package, to instantly cool the cold pack member upon activation. The cold pack member further comprises a sterile pad member positioned on the bottom side of the cold pack member, which contacts a wound or burn on a user&#39;s skin. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIG. 1A  is a plan view of the bandage of the present invention;  
         [0004]      FIG. 1B  is a side-sectional view thereof:  
         [0005]      FIG. 2A  is a side sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a package for the liquid reactant; and  
         [0007]      FIGS. 3, 4  and  5  are side-sectional views of other embodiments according to the invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0008]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a bandage with cooling capabilities in accordance with an illustrative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the bandage  10  comprises a cold pack member  20  and a bandage support member  30 . In this embodiment, cold pack member  20  is an island type member, meaning it is attached to the middle of bandage support member  30 . In an alternate embodiment, cold pack member  20  can be integrally attached or sealed to two bandage support members  30 , each one attached to either side of cold pack member  20 .  
         [0009]     A cross sectional view of bandage  10  is shown in  FIG. 1B . As shown, bandage support member  30  comprises a top layer  32  and an adhesive bottom layer  34 . Adhesive bottom layer  34  further comprises paper-like release members  36 , which cover and protect the adhesive on bottom adhesive layer  34  until use. Bandage support member  30  may be made of a flexible, elastic, water resistant, non-absorbing material. Such materials may include woven or non-woven fabrics, a plastic film, a polymeric film, polyurethane, copolyester ether, synthetic rubber, natural rubber or other similar materials. Adhesive bottom layer  34  can be made of commonly known bandage type adhesives, such as, polymeric adhesives including vinyl acetate, acrylic acid, or acrylates.  
         [0010]     The non-limiting embodiment of  FIG. 1B  further shows cold pack member  20  comprising a cold pack container  40 . Cold pack container  40  has a first small cavity  42  containing a coolant material  44  in the form of granules, and a second small cavity  48  containing water. Membrane  46  separates cavity  42  from cavity  48 . Cold pack member  20  further comprises a pad member  60  laminated to the bottom of cold pack container  40 . To activate the cooling capabilities of bandage  10 , a user must squeeze, twist or rub, etc. and then shake cold pack member  20 . This action will tear or rupture membrane  46  to allow the coolant and water to mix and activate the cooling effect. The user can then place bandage  10  on a wound or burn to provide cooling relief.  
         [0011]     Cold pack container  40  is shown as being rectangular in shape, however, it can be shaped like a square, circle, oval, or other suitable shape. Bandage  10  is intended to cover small minor wounds or burns, such as burns by a hot dish, curling iron, etc., therefore, bandage  10  and cold pack member  20  can be sized accordingly. However, bandage  10  and cold pack member  20  can be manufactured in a larger size to accommodate wounds or burns covering a larger area. Bandage  10  may also be used for pain relief associated by aches and pains, such as a headache or muscle strain. In such a use, bandage  10  would provide a hands free method of cooling the head, neck or other body parts by applying and attaching the bandage  10  directly to the skin of the affected area.  
         [0012]     Cold pack container  40  needs to be made of material that is both flexible and leak proof. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, plastic, rubber, vinyl polymer, or a polyester, such as polyethylene. Although not shown, cold pack member  20  can alternatively have a thin insulating layer formed around cold pack container  40  (except for the area opposed to the wound) to increase the duration of the cooling effect.  
         [0013]     Coolant material  44  reacts with the water to initiate an endothermic reaction which produces the cooling effect. Coolant material  44 , shown in each embodiment, can be in the form of granules, powder or concentrated liquid. The duration of the cooling effect decreases as the size of the granules decreases and is a minimum when the coolant material is in liquid form. Conversely the degree of cooling effect increases with the speed of the endothermic reaction and thus decreases with increasing granule size. Depending on individual needs of manufacturers and suppliers, a proper balance and form of coolant can be found through experimentation. Suitable coolant materials  44  include ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfamate, ammonium nitrite, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, potassium nitrite, urea and methylurea. Preferably, ammonium nitrate is used as coolant  44 .  
         [0014]     To activate the endothermic reaction, water is used to react with the coolant material  44 . Typically, the water is fully or partially encapsulated by a membrane or the like as described herein. However, water can be absorbed into synthetic hydrophillic fibers or other superabsorbant fibers, wherein, limited amounts of water would be released each time a user squeezes cold pack member  20 . Therefore, the cooling amount and duration could be partially regulated by the user.  
         [0015]     Membrane  46  must be made of a thin material, which is leak proof, yet easily ruptured during use. Suitable polymeric materials include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polyvinylchloride, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, vinylidene chloride polymers, and combinations thereof. The membrane  46  can be scored or perforated to facilitate rupturing during use. Membrane  46  can be attached to the sides of cold pack container in the manufacturing stage by heat sealing, ultrasonic or radio frequency welding, adhesive welding or other commonly used technique. Membrane  46  may also be made of candyglass or cellophane with semi-serrations or ridges to break easily.  
         [0016]     Pad member  60  is the portion of bandage  10  which contacts the wound or burn. Therefore, pad member  60  must be a sterile, skin friendly material that will not stick to wounds or aggravate burned tissue. Suitable materials may include, but are not limited to, an acryllic, a hydrocolloid, a hydrogel, gauze, cotton, sponges, or a fiber capable of forming a gel on contact with exudate, which can be non-adhering to a wound or burn. Hydrogels may be desirable for use on burns because they promote the cooling effect, may help accelerate healing, provide a cushion between the burn and bandage  10  and generally, a wound exudate does not dry or stick to hydrogels. Pad member  60  may also include various antibiotics and/or anesthetics laminated or applied during the manufacturing process, including, but not limited to, neosporin, camphorated phenol, chloramphenicol, chlortetracycline, erthryomycin, or clyndamycin, as antibiotics and/or xylocaine, lidocaine, benzocaine, butacaine, ethocaine procaine, ethyl aminobenzoate, ethyl chloride, and tetracaine as anesthetics, either alone or in combinations. Further, there may be included common burn relief agents or medicaments and gels such as aloe, glycerin, pregnenolone acetate, pseudocollagen, glycolipids and evening primrose oil, either alone or in combinations, and/or an antipyretic agent.  
         [0017]     In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , cold pack container  40  contains one large cavity  50 , rather than two small cavities. Coolant  44 , shown in the form of granules, is deposited inside cavity  50  along with a water packet  52 . Water packet  52 , as shown in  FIG. 2B , is sealed on all sides so that no water leaks before use. Water packet  52  can be any shape or size, depending on the size of the bandage  10  of which it will be inserted into during manufacturing. In this embodiment, when a user twists or squeezes cold pack member  20 , the water packet  52  ruptures. Upon rupturing, the water mixes with the coolant in large cavity  50 , producing the cooling effect. Water packet  52  must be made of a material that is leak proof, yet capable of tearing upon use. Suitable polymeric materials include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polyvinylchloride, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, vinylidene chloride polymers, and combinations thereof. Water packet  52  can be scored or perforated to facilitate rupturing during use. Water packet  52  can be sealed in the manufacturing stage by heat sealing, ultrasonic or radio frequency welding, adhesive welding or other commonly used technique.  
         [0018]     Also shown in  FIG. 2A , is an inner support layer  38  positioned between top layer  32  and adhesive bottom layer  34 . The inner support layer  38  provides flexible support for the additional weight the cold pack member  20  puts on the bandage  10 . Inner support layer  38  can be made of foam or other suitable material.  
         [0019]     In another non-limiting embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , large cavity  50  contains both a water packet  52  and a coolant packet  54 . Coolant packet  54  is shown containing granules of coolant  44 , however, the coolant  44  can alternately be in the form of powder or liquid. Both the water packet  52  and coolant packet  54  must be made of a material that is leak proof, yet capable of rupturing during use. Suitable polymeric materials include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polyvinylchloride, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, vinylidene chloride polymers, and combinations thereof. Water packet  52  and coolant packet  54  can be scored or perforated to facilitate rupturing during use. Water packet  52  and coolant packet  54  can be sealed in the manufacturing stage by heat sealing, ultrasonic or radio frequency welding, adhesive welding or other commonly used technique.  
         [0020]     In an alternative embodiment, coolant packet  54  can be made of a material capable of dissolving in water. Therefore, once water packet  52  is ruptured, the water slowly dissolves coolant packet  54  to release and react with coolant  44 . In this embodiment, the cooling effect is extended due to a slower reaction time. Such dissolvable materials may include polyvinyl alcohol, paper, wax paper, clay or clay-like substances. The thicker the packet walls, the slower the mixing of coolant  44  with the water, which will prolong the endothermic reaction. Coolant packet  54  may alternatively be made of a porous material which permits water to gradually flow through the packet, causing the endothermic reaction.  
         [0021]     Turning to  FIG. 4 , cold pack container  40  contains a first small coolant cavity  42 , filled with coolant  44  and a second small water cavity  48 , similar to  FIG. 1B . However, in this embodiment, the membrane  46  runs vertically from the top of cold pack container  40  to the bottom of cold pack container  40 . As shown in this embodiment, the coolant  44  is in the form of a liquid. Since the coolant is in liquid form, the reaction will occur immediately upon use, speeding up the cooling process.  
         [0022]     In another illustrative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 5  shows large cavity  50  comprising coolant packet  54 , which contains coolant  44  and water packet  52 . In addition, large cavity  50  contains a second coolant  56 . This second coolant  56  can help to prolong the duration of the cooling effect. Preferably, second coolant  56  is urea.  
         [0023]     Both water packet  52  and coolant packet  54  can be made of rupturable material, or alternatively, water packet  52  can be made of rupturable material, while coolant packet  54  is made of a dissolvable material. The second coolant  56  may also be placed in a packet. Also, both coolant  44  and second coolant  56  may be in a varied liquid, powder or granule form.  
         [0024]     In another non-limiting embodiment, more than two coolants may be used, or a gelling agent such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, may be used to prolong the cooling effect.  
         [0025]     The previous descriptions of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Moreover, various modifications to those embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.