CONTACT THERAPEUTIC DEVICE

Abstract: This invention relates to a contact therapeutic device for practising physical therapy such as magnetotherapy, thermotherapy, etc. by bringing the device into contact with a human body. The contact therapeutic device of this invention has a heat generation portion inside a casing and the casing or a cover put thereon contains a far-infrared radiation substance. The far-infrared radiation substance is excited by the heat from the heat generation portion to emit far-infrared rays and penetrates and heats sufficiently the inside of the human body. In the contact therapeutic device of this invention, a uniforming layer which makes uniform the distribution of mild heat is disposed in the casing or the cover, and contains the far-infrared radiation substance. Therefore, the heating action by the far-infrared rays becomes uniform and the human body can be heated over a wide range without any non-uniformity.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention: The present invention relates to a contact therapeutical apparatus for giving physical treatments such as magnetic and heat therapies by contacting to a human body. More specifically, the present invention relates to a contact therapeutical apparatus comprising a case body which in use contacts to a human body, a magnetic field generator which is disposed in said case body, and an infrared radiating source covering the case body. Technical background: EP-A-0 228 537 discloses a therapeutical apparatus with a case including a number of magnetic coils and at least one infrared emitter, for instance an infrared diode, positioned inside the coil or at the case. US-A-4 377 618 discloses an infrared radiator capable of emitting heat rays in the range of infrared ray wavelengths by application of heat. This infrared radiator comprises a heat distributing layer on the surface of an instrument body containing a far infrared radiating material. I have, in this past, proposed a magnetic field generating therapeutical apparatus constructed by connecting a plurality of sealed cases containing a magnetic field generator consisting of an iron core wound with coils. The apparatus is so designed that when an AC current is applied to the coil, the magnetic field generator generates an alternating field which is applied to the body to improve various symptoms such as stiffness and so on. In the magnetic field generating therapeutical apparatus, the magnetic field generator generates vibration and heat when energized, thus in addition to the magnetic therapeutical effect, massaging and warming effects can be brought to a body. However, since heat generated in the magnetic field generator of aforesaid apparatus functions mainly on the surface of the body and lacking in warming the inside thereof, the warming effect is not sufficient. The present invention has been devised in view of the problems aforementioned, therefore, it is an object thereof to provide a novel contact therapeutical apparatus having a superb warming effect by exerting an idea on the case body containing a heat generating portion or a cover member covering the case body. It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel contact therapeutical apparatus capable of warming the body uniformly to give the warming effect more effectively and comfortable feeling. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The therapeutical device according to the present invention is characterized in that the magnetic field generator consists of an iron core wound with coils and the infrared radiating source comprises a far infrared radiating material which is excited by the heat generated in the magnetic field generator. According to the present invention, when heat is generated in the magnetic field generator it is contacted to the case body or cover member, thereby the far infrared radiating material is excited to radiate far infrared rays. The far infrared rays radiating are applied to the body to warm inside the body to give effective warming effects. Since the far infrared radiating material is heated by the heat generated from the magnetic field generator of the apparatus and radiates the far infrared rays, a special heat source is not required, which results in simple production at low cost. In the present invention there is provided a layer for uniformly distributing heat on the surface of the case body contacting to the body, or the same layer for uniformly distributing heat is provided inside the cover member covering the case body, and at the same time, the far infrared radiating material is contained in the layer for uniformly distributing heat. According to the present invention, heat is distributed uniformly to warm the body evenly in a wide area, thereby more effective warming effect and comfortable feeling can be obtained. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front view of a magnetic field generating therapeutical apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a horizontally cutaway sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a plan view looking one half-body case from inside, Figure 4 is a front view showing the configuration of a magnetic field generator, Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a case body showing the construction of a layer for uniformly distributing heat, Fig. 7 is a plan view of a case body showing another forming process of a layer for uniformly distributing heat, Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing part of the embodiment of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a partly broken front view of a cover member covering a magnetic generating therapeutical apparatus, Fig. 10 is an enlarged view showing enlarged surface of materials constituting a cover member, Fig. 11 is an enlarged view showing enlarged surface of a cover member in which layers for uniformly distributing heat are formed, Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of Fig. 11, Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a cover member, and Fig. 14 is a plan view showing the state where a cover member of Fig. 13 is mounted on a therapeutical apparatus. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Though the drawings show an example in which the present invention is embodied in a magnetic field generating therapeutical apparatus, it is not limited thereto, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be applied in other various physical therapeutical apparatus as far as they include an internal heat generating portion. Figs. 1 and 2 show the entire configuration of the magnetic field generating therapeutical apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which magnetic field generators 2 are disposed respectively in a plurality of plastic cases 1. Each case body 1 is pivotally connected in a row and on the case bodies 1, 1 positioned at opposite ends, belts 13, 13 are mounted for interconnection. The case body 1 is formed by a pair of half-body cases 11, 12 whose opening surfaces are brought face to face and secured by screws 6 at several locations. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, on side end faces of the case body 1, either pivots 14, 14 or bearing holes 15, 15 are formed vertically to interconnect each case body 1, 1 pivotably by engaging the pivot 14 to the bearing hole 15 between the adjacent case bodies 1, 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the magnetic field generator 2 comprises a laminated iron core 20 including legs 22, 23 at opposite ends of a base 21, and coil bobbins 31, 32 engaged to respective legs 22, 23. The coil bobbins 31, 32 are constructed by winding coils 37, 38 around plastic spools 35, 36 having collars 33, 34 on opposite ends. When an AC current is applied to the coils 37, 38, an alternating field is generated from tips of the legs 22, 23. As shown in Fig. 3, on the inner surface of one half-body case 12, positioning pieces 41, 41 for positioning the magnetic field generator 2 are projected integrally, thereby the base 21 of the laminated iron core 20 is positioned inside the two positioning pieces 41, 41. The other half-body case 11 constitutes fixing means for the magnetic field generator 2 for forming a depression (not shown) on its inner surface for supporting the collars 33, 34 of the spools 35, 36, and the plate surface of the half-case body 11 constitutes a magnetic field active surface 16 which contacts to a human body. On the magnetic field active surface 16 of the half-body case 11, a far infrared radiating material such as zirconia, zircon, titania, alumina, cozilite and silica is coated to form a radiation layer 17. Though the far infrared radiating material is excited by heat to radiate far infrared rays, besides coating the far infrared radiating material on the surface of the case body 1 as the present embodiment, this material may be mixed with forming materials of the case body 1. Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a layer 5 for uniformly distributing heat for distributing heat uniformly on the magnetic field active surface 16 of the half-body case 11 is formed. The layer 5 for uniformly distributing heat shown in the figure is, as shown in Fig. 6, formed by disposing a depression 42 throughout the entire magnetic field active surface 16 on the half-body case 11, filling a convection fluid such as air, water and oil or magnesium oxide having a good heat conductivity therein, and covering the opening with a transparent cover 18 by sticking or welding integrally. Figs. 7 and 8 show another forming process of the layer 5 for uniformly distributing heat. In the figure, a mounting depression 44 having slide grooves 43, 43 on both sides thereof is formed on the magnetic field active surface 16 of the half-body case 11, and a mounting case 19 having the layer 5 for uniformly distributing heat 5 therein is disposed removably with respect to the mounting depression 44. It is to be understood that the layer 5 for uniformly distributing heat is formed with air, water, oil, magnesium oxide and so on as same as aforementioned. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 8, though case body 1 by mixing it with the materials of case body 1 or coating it on the surface thereof, it is not limited thereto, the far infrared radiating material may be mixed in the layer 5 for uniformly distributing heat. Fig. 9 shows the entire configuration of the magnetic field generating therapeutical apparatus, in which a covering member B covers the apparatus A. The apparatus A is constructed as same as those shown in Figs. 1 to 4, wherein necessary corresponding parts are shown by like reference characters to omit its explanation. The cover member B is constituted by a cylindrical bag having a length responsive to the connected length of a plurality of case bodies 1, 1. On both openings of the cover member B, there are provided fastening straps 71, 71 to cover the therapeutical apparatus A as if wrapping it in the bag. Though the cylindrical bag 7 is made of cloth such as woven or unwoven fabrics, it is not limited thereto, it may be formed with resin or rubber materials as far as they are soft and agreeable to the touch. On the surface of cover member B, powdered materials containing the far infrared radiating material such as zirconia, zircon, titania, alumina, cozilite, silica, etc. are coated in a given pattern by printing as shown in Fig. 10 to form radiating portions 72 which are projected slightly. Though the far infrared radiating material is excited by heat to radiate infrared rays, besides printing on the cloth surface as the present embodiment, the cloth may be impregnated with the far infrared radiating material or woven by threads impregnated or coated with the far infrared radiating material. Figs. 11 and 12 show another embodiment of the cover member B, wherein a layer 75 for distributing heat uniformly is formed. The layer 75 shown is constituted by overlapping two sheets of synthetic resin 74, 74 to construct the cover member B, forming a number of compartments 73, 73 between the sheets by means of thermal fusion or the like and filling a convection fluid such as air, water, oil, etc. or magnesium oxide having a good heat conductivity into each compartment 73. In the aforesaid embodiment, though the entire therapeutical apparatus A is generally covered by the cover member B, it is not limited thereto, it may be covered partially. Figs. 13 and 14 show the embodiment wherein the therapeutical apparatus A is covered partially and the layer 75 for uniformly distributing heat aforementioned is provided in the cover member B. The cover member B shown comprises a skin-contact portion 77 abutting the side of active surface 16 of the half-body case 11 in series, and mounting portions 76a, 76b which are connected at the rear of each case body 1, on overlapping surfaces of the mounting portions 76a, 76b, face fasteners (not shown) which engage and disengage one another are provided. In the skin-contact portion 77, as same as the embodiment of Figs. 11 and 12, a number of compartments 73 are formed between the sheets, into which air, water, oil, magnesium oxide, etc. is filled to form the layer 75 for uniformly distributing heat. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY When using the magnetic field generating therapeutical apparatus, first, it is fastened about and fixed to a human body such that one or a plurality of case bodies 1 are contacted to portions of the body where stiffness or pain are generated or to the portion of fractured bone. Then, when a power is applied, coils 37, 38 of each magnetic field generator 2 are energized and their superposed magnetic fluxes are produced from the end faces of legs 22, 23 of the laminated iron core 20. Thereby, heat is generated at the iron core 20 and coils 37, 38, which is conducted to the case body 1 and cover member B. As a result, the case body 1 and cover member B are warmed and the far infrared radiating material is excited to radiate far infrared rays. The far infrared rays radiated acts on the body to warm therein and improves the warming effect. When the layers 5, 57 are provided on the case body 1 and cover member B, they distribute the heat generated uniformly on the surfaces of the case body 1 and cover member B by the convection and heat conduction. Accordingly, heat is applied to the body evenly in a wide area to improve the warming effect and comfortable feeling.

Claims: A contact therapeutic device comprising a case body (1) which in use contacts to a human body, a magnetic field generator (2) which is disposed in said case body (1), and an infrared radiating source covering the case body (1), characterized in that the magnetic field generator consists of an iron core (20) wound with coils (37, 38) and the infrared radiating source comprises a far infrared radiating material which is excited by the heat generated in the magnetic field generator (2). A contact therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein said far infrared radiating material is coated on either of the surface of said case body (1) or the surface of a cover member (B) covering the case body (1). A contact therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein said far infrared radiating material is mixed in materials forming said case body (1). A contact therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein said far infrared radiating material is mixed in cloth forming a cover member (B) covering the case body (1). A contact therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein said case body (1) includes a layer for uniformly distributing heat on the surface contacting to the body. A contact therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein a cover member (B) covering the case body (1) includes a layer for uniformly distributing heat therein.

Inventors: HAYASHI MITSUHARU, MASUDA ISAMU, MASUDA, ISAMU, HAYASHI Mitsuharu Nihonkenkozoshinkenkyukai Co.Ltd
Applicants: NIHON KENKOZOSHIN KENKYUKAI KK, NIHONKENKOZOSHINKENKYUKAI CO. LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A61N5
IPC codes: A61N2, A61N5, A61F7