Patent Publication Number: US-2012037164-A1

Title: Sodium tallowate soap cushion

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/373,096 filed on Aug. 12, 2010. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 
     Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to an apparatus and method for relieving discomfort arising from body aches and pains, including Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), Leg Cramps, Athritis, Joint pain, Fibromyalgia, Body aches &amp; pains. The invention comprises a foam cushion that may be placed on a mattress, sofa, or other furniture and covered with a sheet. Alternatively, said cushion can be part of the mattress, sofa, or other resting surface. The invention further comprises compartments in which soap containing high amounts of Sodium Tallowate (apprx. 70%) is inserted. When the soap is inserted into the compartments, vapors are believed to assist in the alleviation of body aches and pains. The portion of the body experience discomfort may be rested on the cushion or be in close proximity to the soap. The cushion comprises numerous compartments spread throughout the cushion so that the user can utilize more than one soap and tailor the location of the soap to target certain body parts. 
     24 million people in the USA suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). RLS is a poorly understood and debilitating disorder which is characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move legs at rest. RLS is often described by sufferers as a fidgety, burning, creeping, jumpy or tingly sensation. Many feel like insects are crawling inside their legs and symptoms are often quite painful. Most people that suffer from RLS also suffer from severe leg cramps. Both disorders seem to occur together and are usually experienced at night while lying in bed. People with these disorders experience sleeplessness, insomnia, mental distress, reduced concentration, and decreased performance. This is because most people with these conditions only get an average of 2 hours sleep. 
     The most common form of therapy are Narcotics which have side effects more harmful then RLS itself. The most prescribed drugs are Requip, Miroplex, Pergoglide and Quinine (which was banned by the FDA). In addition to Narcotics, many sufferers will self-medicate and/or experience heavy use of sleeping pills. 
     As an alternative to narcotics, sufferers of these conditions have discovered a home remedy in the form of soap. The medical community is uncertain as to the use of soap as a relief for body discomfort, yet many have experience relief from it. Some soaps appear to work better than others, but it is believed to be Sodium Tallowate, an ingredient in soap, that produces a response in the body that alleviates body pain resulting from RLS and leg cramps. It is also conceivable that the key ingredient is the lye content found in Sodium Tallowate that helps to relieve body aches and pains. Thus, the use of soap in proximity to the human body has increasingly become a home remedy as an alternative to conventional medicine. 
     Sodium Tallowate is believed to provide relief in one of two manners and/or a combination of both. First, Sodium is an electrolyte. It helps prevent cramping because it is absorbed through the skin (similar to the effects that Gatorade has in crampe relief when ingested). Second, Sodium is Ionic, which means that it is held together by charged bonds. Ions play important roles in the body&#39;s physiological processes. Sodium is important for osmoregulation and fluid maintenance in the human body. It plays a pivotal role in enzyme operation and muscle contraction. These ionic bonds may have a positive effect on the body&#39;s electrical charge, nerve impulses and metabolic functions. 
     Known are application Ser. Nos. 11/059,857 and 11/316,053 filed by Ough. Ough comprises a patch and a treatment method for the treatment of human discomforts includes transdermal administration of components from soap in the area of discomfort. The patch includes a permeable layer placed against the person, and an impermeable outer cover, and may include tails by which the patch is attached to the person. Fragments of soap or scent extract from soap are held in close proximity to the area being treated. 
     Rather than utilizing a patch, the present invention can cover a broader area of the body as the size of the cushion can be as large as the size of a mattress, sofa, chair, or pet bed (as the invention can also be used to treat animals). Moreover, more than one compartment is preferred so that the location and the number of soaps can be tailored to the user&#39;s areas of discomfort. Thus, the inventive apparatus can accommodate a higher than usual amount of Sodium Tallowate. Finally, when soap is inserted into a compartment within the cushion, and a leg or other body part is placed over the compartments, the temperature within the cushion increases to approximately 85% (generated by the body&#39;s normal temperature of 98.6 degrees), which assists in the release of sodium vapors for absorption into the body. 
     The preferred dimensions of the inventive cushion are 1″ thick×12″ width×24″ length. In this way, users can place the inventive cushion comprising compartments on top of a mattress or chair. If built into and incorporated into the top surface of a bed mattress or a chair, the dimensions would be that of the corresponding bed or chair. Both the invention cushion or mattress, as well as its compartments may comprise various shapes, e.g., round, square, rectangular, triangular, etc. A compartment, for example, may take the form of 3″×3″ cubes, and 1″ thick or circles approximately 2.80 inches in diameter. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention is a cushion comprised of multiple sets of large compartments. Inside of each large compartment are four circular sub-compartments into which disc-shaped soaps comprising Sodium Tallowate are inserted. The four circular sub-compartments form four corners of a square, and in the center exists an empty space in which sodium vapors can form from the body&#39;s heat. The accumulated vapors are then absorbed in the body part resting above the large compartment. 
     When the invention is a cushion and not a mattress, a user would ideally remove a bed sheet from the corner of a bed to reveal a conventional mattress. The user would then place the inventive cushion on top of the mattress in a location where a body part would be treated, e.g., in the foot/calf area of the bed. At least one hard soap comprising Sodium Tallowate would be inserted into at least one compartment of the inventive cushion. The user then places the bed sheet over the inventive cushion. The user then rests his feet/calves over the inventive cushion covered with the bed sheet. The user can then sleep in this manner. The user&#39;s skin never actually touches or comes in contact with the soap, although there is no known side effect from skin contact with soap comprising Sodium Tallowate. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention relates to an apparatus and method for relieving discomfort arising from body aches and pains, including Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), leg cramps, athritis, joint pain, Fibromyalgia, etc., and comprises a cushion that may be placed on a mattress, sofa, or other furniture and covered with a sheet. Alternatively, said cushion can be part of a mattress, sofa, or other resting surface, including a cushion for animals. The inventive cushion further comprises compartments in which hard soaps containing high amounts of Sodium Tallowate (apprx. 70%) are inserted. Vapors formed by the body&#39;s proximity to the hard soap forms sodium vapors which are believed to assist in the alleviation of body aches and pains. 
     Preferably, the cushion comprises multiple sets of large compartments, inside of which are four circular sub-compartments and a central compartment. Hard disc-shaped soaps comprising Sodium Tallowate are inserted into the four circular sub-compartments and vapors accumulate in the central compartment. The accumulated vapors are then absorbed in the body part resting above the large compartment. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the preferred embodiment of the inventive cushion with multiple compartments and subcompartments 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the preferred embodiment of the inventive cushion  100  comprised of at least one compartment  200 . Within each compartment are subcompartments  300  into which a hard soap (not shown) comprising high amount of sodium tallowate (e.g., 70%) are inserted. The shape and depth of the hard soap and the subcompartment should be substantially the same to avoid shifting of the soap when the inventive cushion  100  is in use. When a user&#39;s body part rests on top of the inventive cushion  100  or its subcompartments  300 , the body heat forces the release of sodium tallowate vapors (not shown) from the hard soap. The vapors accumulate in a central subcompartment ( 400 ), and from there are absorbed into the user&#39;s body part directly above the cushion  100 . Preferably, a sheet (not shown) would be placed on top of the cushion  100  to separate the user&#39;s body part from the hard soap inserted inside the subcompartments  300 . 
     The preferred length of the inventive cushion  100  is 24 inches and the preferred width is 12 inches. Preferably, the inventive cushion  100  is at least 1 inch thick. However, the dimensions and shape of the inventive cushion  100  can vary depending on the surface on which the inventive cushion  100  is placed. It may be round if used as a pet cushion or square if placed on a chair. The inventive cushion  100  can be placed on top of a mattress or chair cushion, or may be incorporated into a mattress or chair cushion. 
     Furthermore, the inventive cushion may comprise only compartments with no subcompartments, inside of which a hard soap comprising sodium tallowate is inserted. In this embodiment, there is no separate compartment for vapors to accumulate. Nevertheless, can still form from the body&#39;s heat and be absorbed into the body part above the compartment.