Abstract:
A hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack is disclosed. The pack comprises a first pouch with salt and a second pouch with sand disposed on top of the first pouch. The pack provides good heat/cold retention and ability to evacuate fluids from the affected area.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack and specifically the pack that utilizes salt and sand, or mixture thereof, as heat storage and moisture absorbing substances. 
         [0002]    Application of hot and/or cold to a patient by way of compresses or packs has been used for therapeutic purposes for centuries. Such remedies remain a standard medical practice for reducing inflammation and pain. In essence, application of heat and cold causes increasing blood flow to various parts of the anatomy. Application of cold is generally recommended shortly after an injury, such as a sprain, to reduce swelling and retard inflammation. Application of heat is recommended thereafter due to its desirable therapeutic effects, such as increasing the extensibility of the collagen tissue; decreasing joint stiffness; pain relief; relieving muscle spasms; reducing inflammation and edema; increasing blood flow. 
         [0003]    Conventional hot/cold therapy packs use jelly-like moist material, or other material capable of good heat retention, that can be heated or cooled and applied to the affected area. However, it may be desirable to evacuate moisture and fluids from a swollen area, which cannot be accomplished by jelly-based and the like hot/cold therapy packs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This invention provides an improved hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack that has both good heat/cold retention and ability to evacuate fluids from the affected area. In one embodiment, the hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack comprises a first pouch applied to the affected area filled with salt and a second pouch on top of the first pouch filled with sand. The grains of sand are larger than the grains of salt. Moisture from the affected area is absorbed by salt and then absorbed by sand from salt, and then evacuated from sand to the air by way of evaporation. 
         [0005]    Further, the specific heat capacity of salt is slightly different from that of sand, resulting in slightly different cooling rates between sand and salt. This causes a tempering effect on the hot/cold pack. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack comprises a pouch applied to the affected area filled with a mixture of substantially 50% salt and 50% sand. Similarly, the grains of sand are larger than the grains of salt. Moisture from the affected area is absorbed by salt/sand mixture and then evacuated from the salt/sand mixture to the air by way of evaporation. The salt/sand mixture also provides a tempering effect on the hot/cold pack. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack according to the first embodiment of this invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack according to the second embodiment of this invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack according to the second embodiment of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    This invention will be better understood with the reference to the drawing figures  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 . The same numerals refer to the same elements in all drawing figures. 
         [0011]    Viewing now,  FIG. 1 , numeral  10  indicates a first sealed pouch. First sealed pouch  10  is applied to the affected area of a patient, for example, swelling caused by a sprain. First sealed pouch  10  comprises a first granular material indicated by numeral  20 . 
         [0012]    Numeral  30  indicates a second sealed pouch. Second sealed pouch  30  is disposed on top of first sealed pouch  10 . Second sealed pouch  30  is shaped and sized substantially identically to first sealed pouch  10 . Second sealed pouch  30  comprises a second granular material indicated by numeral  40 . 
         [0013]    Numeral  50  indicates a membrane. Membrane  50  separates first sealed pouch  10  and second sealed pouch  30 . Membrane  50 , first sealed pouch  10  and second sealed pouch  30  are made from a liquid permeable fabric, which is in this embodiment cotton but may be any other liquid permeable fabric known to the persons most knowledgeable in the pertinent arts. Cotton has excellent moisture absorbing properties and prevents dust from first granular material  20  and second granular material  40  from coming out. 
         [0014]    Second granular material  40  comprises granules that are larger than granules comprising first granular material  20 . In this embodiment, first granular material  20  is salt and second granular material  40  is sand. Only salt that can be heated by microwave and basic oven and does not harden or melt is appropriate for this embodiment. Salt selected from the group comprising sodium chloride salt and sodium silicoaluminate salt is perfect for this embodiment and other similar salts may be used. 
         [0015]    For heat application, the hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack is heated. A microwave can be used for heating. For cold application, the hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack is cooled. A freezer can be used for cooling. In either case, the hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack is applied to the affected area with first sealed pouch  10 . 
         [0016]    In this embodiment, the grains of sand in second sealed pouch  30  are larger than the grains of salt in first sealed pouch  10 . Moisture from the affected area is absorbed by salt and then absorbed by sand from salt, and then evacuated from sand to the air by way of evaporation. Further, the specific heat capacity of salt is slightly different from that of sand, resulting in slightly different cooling rates between sand and salt. This causes a tempering effect on the hot/cold pack. 
         [0017]    Numeral  60  indicates a removable outer case. Removable outer case  60  envelops first sealed pouch  10  and second sealed pouch  30 . Removable outer case  60  is made from cotton and is removed and washed after each use. 
         [0018]    Viewing now, simultaneously,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , numeral  70  indicates a sealed pouch. Sealed pouch  70  is applied to the affected area of a patient, for example, swelling caused by a sprain. Sealed pouch  70  comprises a mixture of substantially 50% of a first granular material and substantially 50% of a second granular material indicated by numeral  80 . Granules comprising the second granular material are larger than granules comprising the first granular material. In this embodiment, the first granular material comprising mixture  80  is salt and second granular material comprising mixture  80  is sand. This mixture of salt and sand in one pouch works similarly to separate pouches of salt and sand described with respect to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, sealed pouch  70  is made from a liquid permeable fabric, which is in this embodiment cotton but may be any other liquid permeable fabric known to the persons most knowledgeable in the pertinent arts. 
         [0019]    In this embodiment, sealed pouch  70  is partitioned into a plurality of cavities. In  FIGS. 3 and 4  there are four cavities indicated by numerals  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c  and  70   d . Such partitioning of sealed pouch  70  into cavities  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c  and  70   d  allows the hot/cold reusable therapeutic pack to better maintain its shape. 
         [0020]    While the present invention has been described and defined by reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention, such reference does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the pertinent arts. The depicted and described preferred embodiments of the invention are exemplary only, and are not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.