Patent Publication Number: US-2003221688-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for curing colds

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention concerns the ability to cure colds in human beings. Specifically, this invention is concerned with killing germs that reside in the mouth, lungs, and nasal passages of human beings.  
       [0002] The common cold affects millions of people every year. It is annoying, and at present there is no known cure. The pharmaceutical industry continues to produce and market medications for treating colds that simply ease the symptoms of the cold and do not attack the root of the cold. This invention is aimed at killing the cold-causing bacteria that reside in the respiratory systems of human beings.  
       [0003] Upon directing hot air into the mouth of an individual who suffers from cold symptoms, the hot air attacks the bacteria that resides in the respiratory system, including the nasal passages and the lungs. By attacking the bacteria, the cold is being attacked at it source. If the user begins practicing the methods as described by this invention when the user first begins to experience cold symptoms, the life of the cold will be dramatically shortened.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] The present invention provides a method of applying heat through the mouth to internal organs of the body for the treatment of colds. Heated air is applied under pressure into the mouth and inhaled into the body. The heated air is then exhaled from the body. The air is incrementally increased in temperature before it is applied into the mouth.  
       [0005] The invention provides a further method for applying heat through the mouth to internal organs such as the lungs for the treatment of colds. The heated air that is applied into the mouth under pressure and inhaled into the body is then held in the body for a period of time before the air is exhaled from the body. The air is incrementally increased in temperature before it is applied into the mouth. The air is held in the body for a period in the range of 3-6 seconds. The air is then exhaled out of the body for a period in the range of 3-6 seconds.  
       [0006] The invention further provides a method for treating colds using heated air applied to the internal organs, where a cone-shaped device is either removably secured to a user&#39;s hand, or it is held in the user&#39;s hand.  
       [0007] The invention further provides an apparatus for applying heat to internal organs of the body to kill bacteria that cause colds. The apparatus includes a heat generator having a passage for the movement of air across the heat generator, a fan or like device to move the air across the heat generator and out of an exit port in the apparatus, and a cone-shaped device removably attached to the apparatus over the exit port of the apparatus. The cone-shaped device may be attached to the heat generator using an elastic band, or the cone-shaped device is removably attached to the heat generator using fasteners. The cone-shaped device is also adapted to be hand held. Finally, the heat generator may be removably fastened to a support structure. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] The invention is described in greater detail in the following description of examples embodying the best mode of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a heat generator in a mounting bracket according to the invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a cone-shaped device and elastic band attachment according to the invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a heat generator and filter adapted for hand held use according to the invention;  
     [0012]FIGS. 4 and 4A are side views of one method for treating colds according to the present invention;  
     [0013]FIGS. 5 and 5A are side views of an alternate method for curing colds according to this invention;  
     [0014]FIGS. 6 and 6A are side views of an alternate method for curing colds according to this invention; and  
     [0015]FIGS. 7 and 7A are side views of an alternate method for curing colds according to this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES EMBODYING THE BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION  
     [0016] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, references will be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to the one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
     [0017] The invention encompasses both an apparatus and a method for the treatment of colds. One form of the apparatus for treatment of colds comprises a heat generator  10 , as shown in FIG. 1, and a cone-shaped device  12 , as shown in FIG. 2. The heat generator  10  is similar to a conventional hair dryer, and is comprised of heating coils  14 , a fan  16  for delivering air over the heating coils  14  producing heated air under pressure in a passage  18  through which the heated air travels through and out of the heat generator, an incremented or variable temperature control  20 , and a power cord  22 . The fan  16  in the heat generator  10  is activated when the power cord  22  is plugged into an electrical source, and a switch (not shown) is activated to drive the fan  16 . The fan  16  circulates air over the heating coils  14  and through the passage  18 . The heating coils  14  are controlled by the temperature control  20 . As the temperature control  20  is set to a higher level, the heating coils  14  become hotter. Likewise, as the temperature control  20  is set to a lower level the heating coils  14  produce less heat.  
     [0018] The cone-shaped device  12  is made of cotton, plastic, or any conventional material suitable for air filtration. The cone-shaped device  12  insulates the user&#39;s  32  lips from the temperatures of the heat generator  10 . The cone-shaped device  12  may be removably attached to the heat generator  10 , as shown in FIGS. 4.  4   a . In one embodiment of the invention (FIG. 2), the cone-shaped device  12  is removably attached to the heat generator  10  by way of an elastic band  24 . A clip  26  is secured to the cone-shaped device  12  and serves as a connector for the elastic band  24 . Any other suitable fasteners may be used to secure the cone-shaped device  12  to the heat generator  10  or to a user, as shown in FIGS. 6, 6 a . In a further embodiment of the invention, the cone-shaped device  12  is adapted to be hand held by attaching the cone-shaped device  12  to a handle  30 , as shown in FIG. 3.  
     [0019] The invention further includes at least four methods, as shown in FIGS. 5 through 7A, for use of the apparatus for the treatment of colds. In the first method, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A, the cone-shaped device  12  is removably attached to the exit of passage  18  of heat generator  10 . To apply heat to the cold breeding germs, the user  32  holds the heat generator  10  in one hand, and lifts the heat generator  10  with the attached cone-shaped device  12  to the user&#39;s mouth  34 , as shown in FIG. 4A. The cone-shaped device  12  directs heated air, created by the heat generator  10 , through the user&#39;s mouth  32  and throat and into the user&#39;s lungs  36 . The user  32  then holds the air in the lungs  36  for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. After the air is held in the lungs  36  for a period of time, the user  32  begins a paced exhale of the air through the user&#39;s nose  38 . The air should be exhaled for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. In an alternate embodiment of this method, the user  32  exhales the air out of the lungs  36  through the mouth  34 . The air is also exhaled for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. Throughout this first method, the user  32  is either seated, kneeling, or standing. The heated air contacts the bacteria in the mouth, throat, lungs and nose of the user, and kills the bacteria.  
     [0020] In a second method of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A, the cone-shaped device  12  is adapted to be hand held and is secured to a handle  30 . The user  32  holds the handle  30 , which supports the cone-shaped device  12 , in one hand, and holds the heat generator  10  in the other hand. The cone-shaped device  12  is raised to a position in front of the user&#39;s mouth  34 , and the heat generator  10  is raised to meet the cone-shaped device  12  near the user&#39;s mouth  34 , as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A. In this method, the heated air is transferred from the passage  18  of the heat generator  10  through the cone-shaped device  12  and into the user&#39;s mouth  34 , throat and lungs  36 . The user  32  inhales the heated air for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. After the user  32  stops inhaling, the user  32  holds the heated air in the lungs  36  for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. The user  32  then begins a systematic exhalation of the heated air from the lungs  36 . The exhalation is for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. The air is exhaled either through the user&#39;s mouth  34  or nose  38 . Throughout this method, the user  32  is either seated, kneeling, or standing.  
     [0021] In a third method of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the cone-shaped device  12  is adapted to fit around the user&#39;s head and is secured to the head via elastic band  24 . The user  32  holds the heat generator  10  in either hand. Once the heat generator  10  is activated, it is raised to meet the cone-shaped device  12  near the user&#39;s mouth  34 , as shown in FIG. 6A. The heated air is transferred from the heat generator  10  through the cone-shaped device  12  into the user&#39;s mouth  34 , throat and lungs  36 . The user  32  inhales the heated air for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. After the user  32  stops inhaling, the user  32  holds the heated air in the lungs  36  for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. The user  32  then begins a systematic exhalation of the heated air from the lungs  36  for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. The air is exhaled either through the user&#39;s mouth  34  or nose  38 . Throughout this method, the user  32  is either seated, kneeling, or standing.  
     [0022] In a fourth method according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A, the heat generator  10  is held in a support structure  28 , which is removably attached to a table  40 , such as by the screw tightening device  41 . The cone-shaped device  12  is removably attached to the heat exit end of passage  18  of generator  10 . In this method, unlike the other methods, the heat generator  10  is stationary and the user  32  moves towards and away from the best generator. Once the heat generator  10  is activated, the user  32  moves his/her mouth  34  so that it is adjacent the cone-shaped device  12 , as shown in FIG. 7A. The heated air is transferred from the heat generator  10  through the cone-shaped device  12  into the user&#39;s mouth  34 , throat and lungs  36 . The user  32  inhales the heated air for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. After the user  32  stops inhaling, the user  32  holds the heated air in the lungs  36  for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. The user  32  then begins a systematic exhalation of the heated air from the lungs  36  for a period of time in the range of 3-6 seconds. The air is exhaled either through the user&#39;s mouth  34  or nose  38 . The user  32  is preferably seated in this method, however, it is envisioned that the user  32  may also stand or kneel.  
     [0023] With each of the methods described in this invention, the user  32  should periodically drink water to prevent excessive dryness of the mouth  34 , lips and throat.  
     [0024] Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiments of the invention. However, it must be understood that these particular products, and their method of manufacture, do not limit but merely illustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.