Abstract:
Home-use apparatuses for removing heat from body-fat rich tissues and related devices, systems, and methods. One embodiment of the disclosed technology includes a belt which can be worn around a part of the user&#39;s body were the user desires to lose body fat. The belt has a pocket which holds a cold pack. The cold pack cools the user&#39;s skin and reduces body-fat rich cells in the area where cooling in applied. Because the belt is made of light, flexible material and has no burdensome mechanical or electric parts, the user retains flexibility and mobility while wearing the belt.

Description:
[0001]    No federal grant money was used to support the research that contributed to the invention. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present application relates to home-use apparatuses for removing heat from body-fat rich tissues and related devices, systems, and methods. In particular, embodiments of the present invention include apparatuses that are simple, portable, easy to use, and that may be recharged or regenerated by a conventional freezer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Body fat can accumulate in many parts of the human body, especially in subcutaneous tissue directly beneath the skin. This tissue, sometimes called adipose tissue, forms a layer of lipid-rich cells which contain a higher concentration of lipids compared to other, non-lipid-rich cells. Accumulation of too many of these lipid-rich cells in the human body is generally undesired because it contributes to an outward appearance that is generally thought to be unattractive, it contributes to the appearance of cellulite on the skin, and it is associated with health risks. 
         [0004]    A variety of invasive and noninvasive procedures have been used for removing excess body fat. Invasive procedures include surgeries such as liposuction, laser-assisted liposuction, and mesotherapy. Some disadvantages to these invasive procedures are expense, need for hospitalization, need for anesthesia, and a period of recovery after the procedure. Some traditional noninvasive procedures for removing excess body fat include topical agents, weight-loss drugs, exercise, and dieting. These methods may take a long time before producing a noticeable effect on body fat. Exercise and dieting require willpower and exertion, which can make it difficult for individuals to continue them long enough to remove the desired amount of body fat. Individuals who are injured or sick may not be able to exercise. Also, topical agents and weight-loss drugs can produce allergic reactions in some people or have other undesirable side effects. Furthermore, it may not be possible to target fat loss in a certain area of the body using systemic weight loss methods. 
         [0005]    Newer methods for reducing body fat include methods that apply electromagnetic radiation to the tissue, as in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0036300 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,063, and methods that use high intensity focused ultrasound as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,258,674 and 7,347,855. Methods have now been developed that use cooling to reduce body fat, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,341, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2005/0251120, and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0238051. These methods take advantage of a property of lipid-rich tissue that allows it to be destroyed by cooling at temperatures which do not damage the surrounding non-lipid-rich tissue. Some of these cooling methods require expensive and complicated electronic and/or mechanical systems. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1A  is an illustration of a human having applied lotion to a part of the human body (in this case, the abdomen) in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1B  is an illustration of a human having applied the lotion and a plastic wrap to a part of the human body (in this case, the abdomen) in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1C  is an illustration of a human having applied the lotion, the plastic wrap, and a cold pack to a part of the human body (in this case, the abdomen) in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1D  is an illustration of a human having applied the lotion, the plastic wrap, the cold pack, and a belt to a part of the human body (in this case, the abdomen) in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1E  is an illustration of a frontal view of the human from  FIG. 1D , having applied the lotion, the plastic wrap, the cold pack, and the belt to a part of the human body (in this case, the abdomen) in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is an illustration of a side view of a belt with a pocket containing a cold pack in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is an illustration of an interior-surface-facing view of the belt of  FIG. 2A  containing the cold pack in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2C  is an illustration of an exterior-surface-facing view of the belt of  FIG. 2A  containing the cold pack in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2D  is an illustration of a cross sectional top-down view of a human abdomen with lotion that has been applied to a pocket of a belt, and the belt circumscribes the human abdomen and a cold pack is disposed inside the pocket. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is an illustration of a step in a method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the step comprising positioning a belt behind a human back. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is an illustration of a step in a method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the step comprising wrapping a first end of the belt around a human abdomen. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3C  is an illustration of a step in a method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the step comprising wrapping the second end of a belt around the human abdomen. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is an illustration of a step in a method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure with a top-loading pocket of a belt, the step comprising removing a cold pack from the top-loading pocket. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  is an illustration of a step in a method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the step comprising positioning the cold pack of  FIG. 4A  between the pocket and the belt. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4C  is an illustration of a step in a method disclosed in  FIG. 4B  in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Overview 
       [0021]    Numeric ranges recited herein are inclusive of the numbers defining the range and include and are supportive of each integer within the defined range. Unless otherwise noted, the terms “a” or “an” are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. All documents, or portions of documents, cited in this application, including but not limited to patents, patent applications, articles, books, and treatises, are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety for any purpose. Unless otherwise specified, the steps of a method may be conducted in any order. 
         [0022]    Several specific embodiments of methods and apparatuses in accordance with the disclosed technology are described below. The described embodiments include many details to enable a person of skill in the art to practice the embodiments. However, many of the details of the disclosed specific embodiments may not be necessary to practice other embodiments of the disclosed technology. The disclosed technology may include methods and apparatuses that are covered by the claims but not specifically disclosed in the specification. 
         [0023]    References throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” and the like mean that the disclosed features may be contained in a particular embodiment of the disclosed technology. All such references may refer to separate, specific embodiments, and these references do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. Any disclosed steps, features, structures, characteristics, and details may be combined in any suitable way, and the disclosed technology includes all such combinations that are covered by the claims. 
         [0024]    One embodiment of the disclosed technology includes an apparatus for holding a cold source in heat transfer contact with the human skin. The apparatus may include a belt which straps the apparatus to the part of the human body where fat loss is desired. The cold source may be a passive cooling device, such as a cold pack. 
         [0025]    Another embodiment includes a method for reducing body fat by applying cold to a part of the human body. This method may include the steps of applying a passive cooling device, such as a cold pack, to the skin, holding the cold pack in place by strapping it on with a belt, and waiting for a period of time before removing the belt and cold pack. Other, more specific descriptions of apparatuses and methods that are also embodiments of the disclosed technology are given below in this specification. 
         [0026]    Methods for reducing body fat by using cold are hypothesized to work because of the phenomenon that at certain low temperatures, lipid-rich cells are selectively reduced in comparison to other, non-lipid-rich cells. The exact mechanism through which lipid-rich cells are selectively reduced is unknown, but it is believed that the cold causes the lipid-rich cells to shrink, die, or be removed by the body. This is possibly accomplished by altering the cells in a way that triggers an apoptotic cascade. Apoptosis is also known as “programmed cell death” and is natural mechanism by which the body causes cells to self-destruct. Apoptotic cell death is different from necrotic cell death (another mechanism by which cells in the body can die) in that apoptotic cell death does not cause inflammation in the surrounding tissue, but necrotic cell death does cause inflammation. Therefore, removing lipid-rich cells by inducing apoptosis may reduce body fat without causing symptoms of inflammation, such as pain and swelling. 
         [0027]    Selective cold-induced apoptosis of lipid-rich cells might occur through one or a combination of several suspected mechanisms. One possible mechanism involves crystallization of the lipids within the adipocytes, which damages the cells internally and triggers apoptosis. This crystallization occurs at temperatures which do not cause crystallization of non-lipid-rich cells. According to another possible mechanism, cooling causes a phase transition in the cell&#39;s bi-lipid membrane, and this disrupts the membrane and triggers apoptosis. In another possible mechanism, cooling causes the cell membrane to stop transporting ions correctly, and this causes an ion imbalance across the cell membrane, leading to apoptosis. Also, local cold exposure is believed to cause increased metabolism of fat in the exposed area. Any of these mechanisms or a combination of them could encourage body fat reduction. Each of the specific embodiments disclosed below uses locally applied cooling to cause fat loss by one or more of these mechanisms, or by other, unknown mechanisms. 
       2. Representative Embodiments 
       [0028]      FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 1E  show steps in a method for reducing body fat by applying local cooling in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 1A  shows the step of applying a layer of lotion  100  to an area of the human body where body fat loss is desired (in this case a body part such as an abdomen  105 ).  FIG. 1B  shows the step of wrapping one end of plastic wrap  102  around the abdomen  105  so that it overlaps the plastic wrap  102 .  FIG. 1C  shows the step of applying a cold pack  104  to the abdomen  105  so that the distance between the cold pack  104  and the abdomen  105  is sufficiently short so that the cold pack  104  can accept the transfer of heat from the abdomen  105 .  FIG. 1D  shows the step of wrapping a belt  106  around the cold pack  104 , the plastic wrap  102 , the lotion  100 , and the abdomen  105  to hold the cold pack  104  in place, that is, keep the cold pack  104  in the relatively same location. The belt  106 , the cold pack  104 , the plastic wrap  102 , and the lotion  100  together form an apparatus  108  for reducing body fat by local cooling.  FIG. 1E  shows a frontal view of a user of the apparatus  108  after the user has performed the step of wrapping a belt  106  around the cold pack  104 , plastic wrap  102 , lotion  100 , and abdomen  105 , and forming a complete apparatus  108  for reducing body fat by local cooling. 
         [0029]    In at least one embodiment the apparatus  108  comprises plastic wrap  102 ; examples of plastic wrap  102  include thin plastic film such as Saran Wrap® plastic wrap. In at least one embodiment, the user can perform, in order, the steps of applying lotion  100  to the desired body part, wrapping plastic wrap  102  around the body part, applying a cold pack  104  to the body part, and wrapping a belt  106  around the cold pack  104 , plastic wrap  102 , lotion  100 , and body part. In another embodiment, the user can first apply lotion  100  to the plastic wrap  102 , and then apply the plastic wrap  102  with lotion  100  to the desired body part. In yet another embodiment, the plastic wrap  102  may come with lotion pre-applied so the user can apply the plastic wrap  102  with lotion without needing to perform the step of applying lotion  100 . In some embodiments any thin material such as aluminum foil is substituted for the plastic wrap  102 . 
         [0030]    In at least one embodiment the user performs the steps of applying all four components: lotion  100 , plastic wrap  102 , cold pack  104 , and belt  106 . But in at least one other embodiment the user only performs the steps of wrapping the body part with the plastic wrap  102 , applying the cold pack  104 , and wrapping with the belt  106  but does not perform the step of applying lotion  100 . In yet another embodiment the user performs only the steps of applying a cold pack  104  and wrapping a belt  106  so that it surrounds the cold pack  104  and overlaps itself, but not the step of applying lotion  100  or the step of wrapping the lotion and body part with plastic wrap  102 . In another embodiment the user can apply a layer of lotion  100  to a body part  105  such as an abdomen, apply a cold pack  104  to the layer of lotion, and wrap the cold pack and body part  105 , such as an abdomen, with a belt  106 , without wrapping the abdomen with plastic wrap  102 . 
         [0031]    In at least one embodiment, the user first performs the step of wrapping a belt  106  around the desired body part, and then performs, in any order, the steps of applying lotion  100  to the body part, sliding plastic wrap  102  between the body part, such as an abdomen  105 , and the belt  106 , and sliding a cold pack  104  between the body part and the belt  106 , so that the plastic wrap  102  is between the cold pack  104  and body part. In another embodiment, the user first applies lotion  100  to the body part, then wraps a belt  106  around the body part, then slides plastic wrap  102  and a cold pack  104  between the body part and the belt  106 , such that the plastic wrap  102  is between the body part and the cold pack  104 . 
         [0032]    Without detracting from the possibilities of order and selection of steps to be performed in specific embodiments as explained above, using all four components (lotion  100 , plastic wrap  102 , cold pack  104 , and belt  106 ) may provide several advantages. Lotion may enhance the heat transfer between the user&#39;s skin and the cold pack, both because lotion may have a high heat transfer coefficient and because it can eliminate air bubbles between the plastic wrap and skin and provide a better seal and better contact for heat transfer. The lotion may also contain additives to provide additional effects. This might include additives configured to decrease the surface temperature of human epidermis cells, additives configured to increase metabolic activity in humans, additives configured to decreasing the sensitivity of human epidermis to temperature changes, additives configured to suppress appetite, and combinations thereof. For example, nonlimiting examples of additives may include oils derived from plants, oils derived from fruits, oils derived from citrus fruits, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, eucalyptus, clove oil, oil of wintergreen, cinnamon, cinnamon aldehyde, menthol, oxygenated p-menthane derivatives, p-menthane alcohols, camphor, monomenthyl succinate, monomenthyl glutarate, menthol ethylene glycol carbonate, menthone glycerin acetal, WS-1, esters of WS-1, N-substituted amides of WS-1, WS-3, WS-14, menthyl succinate, menthyl lactate, 3-1-menthoxypropane-1,2-diol, menthone glycerol ketals, N-substituted p-methane carboxamide, menthol, peppermint essential oil, menthol essential oil, grapefruit essential oil, ethanol, and combinations thereof. Using plastic wrap may also provide the advantage of protecting the skin from direct contact with the cold pack, which could damage the skin cells where the cold pack is applied if the cold pack is too cold. The plastic wrap may slow down heat transfer sufficiently to allow the skin to be cooled safely. Plastic wrap also provides the advantage of protecting the cold pack and belt from lotion that has been applied to the skin, so that the cold pack and belt remain clean and do not need to be washed between uses. 
         [0033]    The lotion, plastic wrap, cold pack, and belt used in the embodiments described above may have any of the features, structures, characteristics, or details disclosed in other embodiments in this specification, including apparatuses disclosed in embodiments below. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2A  shows a side view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed technology. For directional reference, from the viewpoint of  FIG. 2A  the longitudinal axis extends out of the page and back into the page, the vertical axis extends in the up and down directions, and the lateral axis extends in the left and right directions. A belt  200  includes a pocket  202  defining an interior space  206 . The upper edge  210  of the belt comprises an upper hem  207  that is affixed to an upper edge of a pocket (pocket upper edge  215 ) which is affixed to the interior surface  208  of the pocket  202 . The upper hem  207  of the upper edge  210  folds over the pocket upper edge  215 ; the pocket upper edge  215  is affixed to the interior surface  208 . The lower hem  213  of the lower edge  212  folds over the pocket lower edge  217 ; the pocket lower edge  217  is affixed to the interior surface  208 . The belt  200  has an upper edge  210 , a lower edge  212 , an interior surface  208 , and an exterior surface  220 . The upper edge  210  comprises the upper edge of the interior surface and the upper edge of the exterior surface. The lower edge  212  of the belt  200  also comprise the lower edge of the interior surface  208  and lower edge of the exterior surface  220 . The upper edge  210  and the lower edge  212  extend along the longitudinal axis. A cold pack  104  is disposed inside the interior space  206  of the pocket  202 . The pocket  202  is fixedly attached to the belt  200  along the upper edge  210  and lower edge  212  of the interior surface  208 . The exterior surface  220  is covered by a loop fastener  226  of a hook and loop fastener. In some embodiments the pocket is made from a fabric material. In some embodiments the pocket is completely detachable from the belt. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2B  shows an interior-surface-facing view of the belt  200 . For directional reference, from the viewpoint of  FIG. 2B  the longitudinal axis extends in the left and right directions, the vertical axis extends in the up and down directions, and the lateral axis extends out of the page and back into the page. The belt  200  has a first end  216  and a second end  218 . In some embodiments the edges and ends of the belt  200  define the perimeter of the belt  200 , including an upper edge of the belt  200  (belt upper edge  210 ), a lower edge  212  of the belt  200  (belt lower edge  212 ), and the first end  216  and second end  218 , which are all finished with a hem  250 . In this particular embodiment, the hem  250  is not exclusively composed of fabric of the belt  200 . The hem  250  ranges between 0.1 cm and 15 cm in height and in some embodiments is around 1 cm in height; the hem  250  is taken from the edges that form the perimeter of the belt  200  and folded over the pocket  202 . In an embodiment the pocket  202  is affixed to the interior surface  208  of the belt  200 , then affixed to the interior surface  208  of the belt  200 . In some embodiments the hem  250  runs along the portions of the belt that are in contact with the pocket  202 . In some embodiments an industrial sewing machine is used to stitch the pocket upper edge  215  to the interior surface  208  of the belt  200  and to the hem  250 . Rayon thread, polyester thread, or the thread of some other material can be used to form stitches  219  which affix the pocket upper edge  215  to the interior surface  208  of the belt  200  and to the hem  250 ; however, other materials such as glue or staples can be used to affix the pocket  215  to the interior surface  208  of the belt  200  and to the hem  250 . The pocket  202  is disposed at or near the middle of the belt  200 , between the first end  216  and second end  218 . In this particular embodiment, the pocket  202  is a rectangular sheet of transparent plastic that has a length of 31.5 cm and a height of 18.2 cm at the ends and 20 cm at the middle section. In some embodiments the thickness of the plastic is 0.001 mm; in other embodiments the thickness is 10 mm; in other embodiments the thickness is 0.2 mm; any thickness of plastic can be used so long as heat can be transferred from a cold pack that is situated behind the plastic to a body part that is contacting the other side of the plastic. In this particular embodiment the pocket  202  is a plastic sheet that is attached to the belt upper edge  210  and belt lower edge  212  by placing the plastic sheet between the upper  210  and lower  212  edges of the belt  200  and sewing seams through the belt upper edge  210 , the plastic sheet, and the belt lower edge  212 . The pocket  202  has a first edge  224  (pocket first edge  224 ) and a second edge  222  (pocket second edge  222 ). In this embodiment the pocket first edge  224  and the pocket second edge  222  of the pocket  202  are not attached to the belt  200 , thereby forming openings at the first edge  224  and second edge  222  which open into the interior space  206  inside the pocket  202 . The cold pack  104  is disposed inside the interior space  206 , in some embodiments at or near the middle of the pocket  202  and between the openings at the first edge  224  and second edge  222 . A hook fastener  214 , such as Velcro® hoops, of a hook and loop fastener is disposed near the first end  216  of the belt  200 , on the interior surface  208  of the belt  200 . In some embodiments the belt  200  is made of neoprene fabric, which imparts to the belt  200  stretchability. In some embodiments a middle region  201  of the belt  200  is the area of the belt  200  facing the pocket  202 ; in some embodiments the middle region  201  of the belt has a height which is greater than the height of the first end  216  and the height of the second end  218  of the belt  200 . In some embodiments tapered sections  103   a ,  103   b  of the belt  200  taper to a smaller height than the height of the middle region  201  so that at least one of the heights selected from the group consisting of the height of the first end  216  and the height of the second end  218  is less than the height of the middle region  201 . Tapered section  103   a  of the belt may be located between the first end  216  and the middle region  201 ; tapered section  103   b  may be located between the second end  218  and the middle region  201 . The tapered sections  103   a ,  103   b  allow the first end  216  and the second end  218  to have smaller heights than the middle region  201  the belt  200 . In some embodiments tapered sections  103   a ,  103   b  are replaced with a vertical sections of the belt upper edge  210  and the belt lower edge  212  such that the middle region  201  is connected by a vertical, non-tapering section of the belt upper edge  210  to the first end  216 , by a vertical, non-tapering section of the belt upper edge  210  to the second end  218 , by a vertical, non-tapering section of the belt lower edge  212  to the first end  216 , and by a vertical, non-tapering section of the belt lower edge  212  to the second end  218 . In other embodiments the middle region  201  has a greater width than the pocket  202 ; in other embodiments the middle region  201  has a smaller width than the pocket  202 . The narrower dimension, that is the smaller heights, of the first end  216  and the second end  218  allows the first end  216  and the second end  218  to have greater stretchability. In other embodiments the middle region  201 , the first end  216 , and the second end  218  are the same height and the belt does not have tapering sections  103   a ,  103   b.    
         [0036]      FIG. 2C  shows an exterior-surface-facing view of the belt  200 . For directional reference, from the viewpoint of  FIG. 2C  the longitudinal axis extends in the left and right directions, the vertical axis extends in the up and down directions, and the lateral axis extends out of the page and back into the page. A loop fastener is comprised of more than one loop. In a preferred embodiment a loop fastener  226 , such as Velcro® loops, covers the exterior surface  220 , allowing for the hook fastener  214  to attach to the loop fastener  226  at any location along the length of the belt  200 , allowing the belt  200  to be wearable by various users with various waist sizes. (The belt can be configured for different body parts of men, women, adolescents, and children. When determining the dimensions of the belt, one may consult demographic data to determine the average size of specific body parts for different segments of the population, such as the average circumference of a thigh belonging to a female who is between 18 and 25 years of age. The belt may then be designed to be of sufficient length so that it can wrap at least one and a half times around the thigh of an obese female who is between the ages of 18 and 25 years of age.) In this particular embodiment, a hook fastener  214  has a length of between 1 to 2 inches and is located on the interior surface  208  at the first end  216 . However, in other embodiments the loop fastener  226  does not extend along the entire exterior surface  220  of the belt but forms a particular region of the belt  200 . In some embodiments the interior surface has a loop fastener and the exterior surface comprises a hook fastener. In other embodiments the loop fastener and hook fastener are replaced with any type of fastener such as buttons or zippers and may be detachable. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2D  shows a top-down, cross sectional view of the belt  200  which is wrapped around a human abdomen. The hook fastener  214  is attached to the loop fastener  226 , securing the belt  200  around the human abdomen. The belt  200  holds the cold pack  104  in place against the front of the abdomen, or belly area. A layer of lotion  100  is applied to the pocket  202 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2D  the second end  218  is first wrapped around the body part so that the lotion  100  of cold pack  104  is positioned on the human abdomen and the cold pack  104  is within close proximity of the abdomen so that heat may be transferred from the abdomen to the cold pack  104 . Although the abdomen is shown as an illustrative example of a body part  105 , many other body parts could be used with the methods and apparatus that are disclosed herein. For example, the apparatus could be wrapped around a thigh or a forearm or even the neck. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3A  through  FIG. 3C  show steps in a method for reducing body fat by applying local cooling in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed technology.  FIG. 3A  shows the step of holding a belt  200 , such as the apparatuses disclosed in  FIG. 2 , in a position ready to be wrapped around a human body part  105  (in this case, the abdomen).  FIG. 3B  shows the step of wrapping the belt  200  around the body part  105 .  FIG. 3C  shows the step of fastening the belt  200 . In this embodiment, the belt  200  may be fastened by affixing a hook fastener  214  to a loop fastener  226  and securing the belt  200  around the abdomen  105 . The belt  200  may be made from neoprene, which imparts to the belt stretchability. This allows the user to stretch the belt  200  slightly before fastening the belt  200 . The slightly stretched belt  200  will then stay in place securely on the body part  105 . The security and flexibility of the belt  200  allow the user to move the body part  105  while wearing the belt  200  not having to fear that the belt  200  will move out of its place or restrict the movement of the user. In some embodiments the surface skin temperature is reduced to 40 degrees. In other embodiments, the surface skin temperature is reduced to less than 61 degrees but greater than 40 degrees. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4A  through  FIG. 4C  show steps in a method for reducing body fat by applying local cooling in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed technology. In this particular embodiment, the belt  200  has a pocket with an opening at the top edge, so that the user can slide a cold pack  104  into the pocket from the top while wearing the belt.  FIG. 4A  shows the step of removing the cold pack  104  from the pocket.  FIG. 4B  shows the step of rotating the cold pack  104  approximately 180 degrees around a vertical axis so that the side of the cold pack  104  that was contacting the interior surface of the belt  200  is contacting the body part.  FIG. 4C  shows the step of waiting for a period of time while wearing the belt  400  with the cold pack  404  inserted. In some embodiments, users wear the belt  400  with the cold pack  404  inserted for one minute before taking off the cold pack; in other embodiments, users wear the belt  400  with the cold pack  404  inserted for 10 minutes before taking off the belt  400  with the cold pack  404  inserted; in other embodiments the user wears the cold pack for up to 50 minutes before taking off the belt  400  with the cold pack  404  inserted; in other embodiments, the user wears the belt  400  with the cold pack  404  inserted for at least 50 minutes at least five different times during a day; in some embodiments the users wear the belt  400  with the cold pack  404  inserted only once a week; in other embodiments, the user wears the belt  400  with the cold pack  404  inserted every day. 
         [0040]    In one embodiment, the user fastens the belt  400 , then waits for at least three minutes but no more than fifty minutes, then removes the cold pack  404  from the pocket in the belt  400 , flips the cold pack over, reinserts it into the pocket, and then waits an additional at least three minutes but no more than fifty minutes. In another embodiment, the user wears the belt with a first cold pack  404  for a period of time, then removes the first cold pack  404  from the pocket  202  and inserts a second cold pack in its place. In yet another embodiment, the user places multiple, but not more than three, cold packs into the pocket  202 . The user can flip the multiple cold packs over after a period of time, or remove the multiple cold packs all together and replace them with other multiple cold packs. Or the user can replace the cold packs at staggered intervals, removing one or two at a time and replacing them with one or two other cold packs. By using combinations of the waiting periods, numbers of cold packs, flipping of cold packs, and replacing of cold packs as described in the embodiments above, the user can achieve a particular temperature at the surface of the skin of the body party on which the belt is worn, and maintain the temperature nearly constant for any period of time. Or, by using a single cold pack without replacing or flipping it, the user can cause the surface of the skin to slowly increase in temperature as the cold pack  404  increases in temperature over time. 
         [0041]    In this particular embodiment the cold pack  404  is a segmented cold pack, such as Techni Ice. Various other types of cold packs  404  may be used in other embodiments. For example, the cold pack  404  could be a portion of dry ice, a dry ice pack, a gel pack, ice, blue ice, a dehydrated refrigerant sheet, a plastic bag comprising ice substitute, and combinations thereof. Various types of cold packs  404  may provide various benefits, such as having different phase transition temperatures, temperature profiles, flexibility, heat capacity, and reusability. A segmented cold pack such as Techni Ice provides the advantage that the segments may be cut apart in such a way as the shape the ice pack for a particular body part. For example, a user could cut the segmented ice pack into an “L” shape when applying it to a knee or elbow joint. In some embodiments the user applies lotion and then inserts a cold gel pack into the pocket of the apparatus, contacts the pocket of the apparatus to a body part such as an abdomen, and secures the belt. A gel pack is a pliable bag containing a gel material that can be cooled or frozen; gel packs are reusable and pliable. See for example the 3M® Hot Cold Pack or the Caldera® Therapy Gel Pack. Other examples of cold packs include bags comprising plastic and a cap that can be filled with ice. Another example of a cold pack is a bag of frozen vegetables, such as peas. Even another example of a cold pack is an amount of ice or an amount of ice contained within a plastic sealable bag. 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the user inserts a thermometer between the belt and the skin to measure the temperature of the skin. In one embodiment, the temperature of the skin is between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In another embodiment, the temperature of the skin is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. 
         [0043]    The disclosed technology can be used to reduce body fat by applying local cooling to any part of the body where fat loss is desired. Thus, embodiments of the disclosed technology include belts configured to be worn on any part of the human body. For example, a belt could be worn to provide local cooling to the abdomen, back, neck, waist, torso, trunk, hip, buttock, chest, arm, forearm, thigh, knee, face as measured from the chin to the first cheek to the portion of the scalp above the forehead to the second cheek and to the chin, legs, and calf. In some embodiments the belt has a length greater than 4% but less than 170% of the circumference of the body part on which it is intended to be worn. In one particular embodiment, the belt is 8 inches high and 40 inches long. Belts in accordance with the disclosed technology may have other lengths and heights, depending on the body part on which it is intended to be worn and the size and age of the user. Belts may be configured to fit any body part of any user, male or female, of any age, at any height and weight. 
         [0044]    A preliminary test study was completed with five to six subjects who used the apparatus on their abdomen with a Techni-Ice cold pack for approximately 30 min before rotating the Techni-Ice cold pack so that the side which was facing away from the abdomen was then facing the abdomen. The average decrease in waistline size of subject&#39;s who used the belt was 2 inches; all subjects also lost some weight. In the test study, the waistline of each subject decreased so that it was noticeable that the subject had lost at least 2 inches. At least one of the subjects noticed the decrease in the size of the subject&#39;s waistline after 5 days; at least one of the subjects noticed the decrease in the size of the subject&#39;s waistline after 2 weeks. One subject lost 7 pounds and the size of the subject&#39;s waistlines decreased approximately 2 inches after using the belt for 6 weeks. Another subject lost 2 inches of waistline and 4 pounds of body weight after using the belt on two separate occasions in the same area with a 14 day interval between the occasions. This was the results after using the product only once every 14 days in same area. During the preliminary study, subjects contacted one of three body areas with the pocket of the belt: the abdomen, the left side of the waist known in the vernacular as a “love handle”, and the right side of the waist known in the vernacular as a “love handle”. The pocket of the belt was cold because the pocket of the belt was in direct contact with a cold pack that had a surface temperature that was less than skin surface temperature. 
         [0045]    It should be appreciated that the apparatuses and methods of the present invention are capable of being incorporated in the form of a variety of embodiments, only a few of which have been illustrated and described above. The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.