Patent Publication Number: US-2012046513-A1

Title: Magnetic Hot / Cold Pack

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a hot/cold pack and more particularly to a hot/cold pack that has integrated magnets. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Human beings are looking for ways to treat injuries or pain. One such method of treating or therapy is to use cold, an item that draws heat away from the body. Cold is generally used for immediate treatment of acute injuries because it reduces swelling and pain. The cold is a vaso-constrictor because it narrows blood vessels. Cold therapy is also helpful in treating some overuse injuries or chronic pains in athletes. 
     Another such method of therapy is heat therapy. Heat is generally used for chronic injuries or injuries that have no inflammation or swelling, such as sore or stiff muscles or joint pain. The heat increases circulation and is used stimulate blood flow or increase the elasticity of the muscles. 
     Another such method is magnetic therapy. One theory of magnetic therapy is that triggers it faster blood flow which results in more oxygen being applied to the specific area of the body because of the faster flow. With more oxygen, the natural healing ability of the person is increased. 
     Unfortunately conventional systems result in the user having to select only one of the three treatments (i.e., the user can select in the alternative adjusting the temperature either with heat or cold or applying magnetic therapy.) 
     SUMMARY 
     In contrast to the conventional hot and cold therapy gel pack, the pack of the instant invention has the synergy of both temperature and magnetic property. In addition, the pack allows for accurate positioning of the pack related to the area of treatment. 
     In an embodiment of a pack, the pack has a flexible pouch having a pair of planar sheets. The sheets each have a top, a bottom, and two opposite side edges. The sheets are secured together along their top, bottom, and side edges to form a compartment. A gel is carried in the compartment of the pouch. The gel is capable of being cooled and retaining the lack of heat. A plurality of magnets is carried in the compartment of the pouch. 
     In an embodiment, the gel is a non-toxic biodegradable gel. 
     In an embodiment, the magnets are permanent magnets. In an embodiment, the permanent magnets are formed of a rare-earth alloy. 
     In an embodiment of a pack, the pack has a flexible pouch having a plurality of sheets to form at least one compartment. A gel is carried in the compartment of the pouch. The gel is capable of being adjusted to various temperatures and retaining the non-ambient temperature for a period of time. A plurality of magnets are carried in the compartment of the pouch. 
     In an embodiment, the gel is capable of being heated and retaining the heat. In an embodiment, the gel is capable of being cooled and retaining the lack of heat. In an embodiment the gel is a non-toxic biodegradable gel. 
     In a method of therapy of a body, the method includes providing a pack having a flexible pouch including a plurality of sheets to form at least one compartment that carries a gel. The pack is placed against the body such that the plurality of magnets carried in the compartment of the pouch are in proximity to the body to allow for magnetic therapy. The temperature of the body is adjusted in proximity of the pack by the gel pouch. 
     In a method, the pack including the gel is heated before applying to the body. In a method, the pack including the gel is cooled before applying to the body. 
     In a method, the pack is designed for and applied to the neck. In another method, the pack is designed for and applied to the lower back. In another method, the pack is designed for running along the spine. 
     These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of its preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a pack according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the pack of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pack on the neck of a human; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a pack on the back of a human; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a pack for being placed in engagement with the back along the spine. 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a side view of pack  20  according to the invention is shown. The pack  20  has a flexible pouch  22  with a pair of planar sheets  24 , only one seen in  FIG. 1 . The planar sheet  24  has four edges  26 , a top edge  26   t , a bottom edge  26   b , and a pair of side edges  26   e . The pack  20  has a plurality of magnets  28 , which are shown in hidden line. In the embodiment shown, the pack  20  has five magnets  28 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a section view of the pack  20  of  FIG. 1  is shown. Both of the planar sheets  24  are shown. Two of the magnets  28  are shown in section in the FIG. The pouch  22  of the pack  20  has the pair of planar sheets  24  that are secured together at the four edges  26 . In one embodiment, the planar sheets  24  are welded together. 
     The pouch  22  contains a gel  32 . The gel  32  is capable of being cooled and retaining the lack of heat. In an embodiment, the gel  32  is a non-toxic biodegradable gel. In an embodiment, the non-toxic biodegradable gel is p-600 gel ice refrigerant such as marketed and sold by Cold Ice of Oakland, Calif. It is recognized that this particular biodegradable gel  32  can also be heated and retain the heat. In certain embodiments, the material in the pack  20  including the magnets  28 , such as hematite, can be microwaved. There are disposable heat and cold packs. It is recognized that the magnets  28  can be placed in disposable packs  20  where two chemicals are mixed by breaking a vial to create a chemical reaction to either heat or cool the pack  20 . 
     In an embodiment, the magnets  28  are permanent magnets. In an embodiment, the permanent magnets  28  are formed of a rare-earth alloy. 
     The pack  20  can be heated or cooled prior to applying the pack  20  to the body. While the pack  20  is shown as a square or rectangular in  FIG. 1 , it is recognized that the pack  20  can be shaped in other forms. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the pack  20  has a shape to be used around the neck  36  of the user  34 . The pack  20  has a shape and is tapered with a notch  38  at the spine to allow the pack to contour to the user&#39;s neck. The pack  20  has a plurality of magnets  28  that are positioned to one magnet for each vertebrae in a criss/cross pattern to run the length of the spine, which as we all know is the center of the nervous system. 
     In a method of therapy of a body including providing a pack  20  having a flexible pouch  22  including a plurality of sheets  24  to form at least one compartment that carries a gel, the pack  20  is placed against the body  34  such that a plurality of magnets  28  carried in the compartment of the pouch work on the body in proximity to the plurality of magnets yielding magnetic therapy. The temperature of the body is adjusted in proximity of the pack by the gel pouch. 
     The magnets  28  work because the body itself conducts electrical energy. The magnets then arranged in positive to negative sequences help to channel the body&#39;s natural energy and thus supplying fresh oxygen and blood to pathways that might otherwise be blocked due to inflammation or to much negative “che”. 
     The magnets  28  are applied to a specific area of the body such as the neck  36  or back. The magnets  28  influence particles in the blood resulting in the blood moving faster and transfer of more oxygen to the area of the bottom. With more oxygen, the natural healing ability of the person is increased. 
     Another theory is that the magnets  28  trigger the endorphins which results in the person having a higher pain threshold; the person will not be experiencing pain as long as the magnet is applied to the body. At the same time, the pack  20  is either heating or cooling the area to treat the area. 
     With respect to the gel  32 , the heated pack and the cooled pack serve two different purposes. As indicated below, the treatment of a portion of the body could be with either a heated pack, a cooled pack, or alternating packs. 
     Generally a use applies treatment for pain or sores. Acute pain is of rapid onset and generally short-lived. Chronic pain, whereas, develops slowly and is persistent and long-lasting. 
     A heated pack  20  is used to apply heat to the body for pain relief and health. It is sometime used for those with arthritis and stiff muscles and injuries to the deep tissue of the skin. Heat may be an effective self-care treatment for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Heat applied superficially to the skin directly increases the temperature of the skin and the tissue immediately underneath the skin. 
     The therapeutic effects of heat include increasing the extensibility of collagen tissues; decreasing joint stiffness; reducing pain; relieving muscle spasms; reducing inflammation, edema, and aids in the post acute phase of healing; and increasing blood flow. The increased blood flow to the affected area provides proteins, nutrients, and oxygen for better healing. As indicated above with the magnets  28 , the magnet also increases blood flow. 
     As indicated above, the cold therapy with ice is the best immediate treatment for acute injuries because it reduces swelling and pain. Cold therapy is also helpful in treating some overuse injuries or chronic pain in athletes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a pack  20  on the back  40  of a human  34  is shown. In addition to cooling or heating the back, the pack  20  has the magnet  28  specifically located so that when the pack  20  is placed on the back, the magnets  28  are associated with vertebrae criss/cross positive to negative one for each vertebrae. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a front view of an alternative embodiment of a pack  20  for being placed engagement with the back  40  of a human  34  along the spine  42  of  FIG. 4  is shown. The pack  20  has a long narrow flexible pouch  22  which contains the gel  32  and a plurality of magnets  28 . The pack  20  has a pair of wraps  46  and  48  for securing the pack  20  to the human body  34 . The lower wrap  46  is a wide belt that can go around the waist of human body  34  and has a hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro®, for securing the belt to the body. The upper wrap  48  is narrower and can go around the neck of the human body and be secured with a hook and loop fastener. In the alternative, the upper wrap  48  can be formed similar to the pack  20 . 
     Each of the magnets  28  is long and narrow. The magnets are placed in the pack  20  in a zigzagging pattern so that the end of a magnet  28  is in close proximity to the end of the adjacent magnet  28 . When the pack  20  is positioned on the body  34 , the pack  20  and the zigzagging pattern of the magnets  28  results in the magnet  28  overlying the spine  42  from the cervical to the coccyx. In a preferred embodiment, there are 32 magnets, one for each vertebrae. 
     While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     It is recognized that the gel  32  can be two chemicals wherein one of the chemicals is in a vial which is broken in the pouch to mix the chemicals. Depending on the chemicals, the pouch  22  of the pack  20  either rises in temperature or cools relative to ambient temperature.