CN1223563A - Thermal pad having a common attachment and oxygen permeable side - Google Patents

Abstract

A disposable thermal pad comprises a substantially planar laminated structure having a first side and a second side and a plurality of heat generating cells embedded between the first and the second sides. Each of heat generating cells is spaced apart and fixedly attached to the laminated structure, the laminated structure has means for providing oxygen permeability to each of heat generating cells. The means for providing oxygen permeability is located entirely on the first side of the laminated structure. The disposable thermal pad also comprises means for releasably attaching the thermal pad to an inside portion of a user's clothing, the means for releasably attaching is also located on the first side of the laminate structure so that the second side of the thermal pad may be placed directly against a user's body.

Description

Heat pad with common attachment and oxygen permeable side

Invention field

The present invention relates to that a kind of one side is attached to the medicated clothing of user and another side is directly pasting the heat pad of user skin, relate more specifically to need oxygen flow so that produce the heat pad of heat in the mat.More particularly, the present invention relates to can be used for the heat pad of relief of menstrual pain.

Background of invention

Heat pad and ice bag are to be used for lenitive usual means.Yet these lenitive devices are not easy to regularly and life-time service usually, this be because: heat energy is not just can obtain at once when needed; Heat energy can not discharge with controlled or continuous fashion; And/or in the body kinematics process, can not keep the correct position of heat energy parts.

The heat pad of prior art is normally reusable, and is being pasted medicated clothing and placing rather than directly pasting user's health.These mats can electrical heating, perhaps by placing recycling bag to heat disposable heating parcel.The heating parcel is equipped with the oxidisability chemical substance usually in single compartment or bag.The size of thermal source is very big usually, and does not directly contact with health in order to avoid control the temperature skin ambustion or cause discomfort because of being difficult to.The result who directly contacts with health not, just the benefit that makes heat be brought depends on the thickness and the heat conductivity of user's medicated clothing.The electric heating type mat has the influence that the thermoregulation ability is brought with compensation user medicated clothing, but required mobility when the electric heating type mat does not have long periods of wear.

Have several to be used for recycling packaging type heating bag on market, they are to utilize the ferrum oxidizing process to produce portable heat.Usually, the speed of the speed of chemical reaction and heat generation is controlled by the amount of oxygen that can contact with chemicals.This is achieved in that usually at least one surface that makes parcel has special oxygen permeability, and every other surface is impervious.But the major part of impermeable surface is an oxygen flow, so that oxygen is flowed to whole inclusions in the parcel equably.For example, by Innovative Dependable Products, Inc (Atlanta, the Medi-Heat that GA) sells ^TMThe board heating cushion just is made into a side and has binding agent for fixing to medicated clothing, and an opposite side is an oxygen permeation membrane.This product can be worn on the outside of medicated clothing or the inboard of medicated clothing.When being worn on the medicated clothing when outside, oxygen permeation membrane deviate from health and fixed adhesive towards medicated clothing.Yet because this product is not directly to paste health, so the medicated clothing that the user wore always separates itself and health, thereby the temperature of body surface is uncomfortable.When being worn on people's medicated clothing inboard, outside the binding agent that is used for fixing just faces, and oxygen permeation membrane faces health.When product was directly pasting people's health, health had just been blocked the infiltration of air to product, thereby the heat that uncontrollably changes oxidizing process and produced.

Summary of the invention

In one aspect of the invention, the disposable thermal pad comprises the layer structure of a substantially flat, and this structure has first side and second side, and is embedded in a plurality of heat-generating units between this first side and second side.Each all is spaced from each other these a plurality of heat-generating units and fixedly is attached on the layer structure.Layer structure has permeates device to each heat-generating units with oxygen.Provide the device of oxygen permeability all to be positioned at first side of layer structure.This disposable thermal is paid somebody's debt and expected repayment later and is comprised the device that is used for the heat pad detachably is attached to user's medicated clothing inboard.Be used for first side that the removable device that adheres to is positioned at layer structure, thereby make second side of heat pad can directly paste user's body.

These a plurality of heat-generating units should contain and can wherein be contained the mixture of Powdered ferrum, powdered active carbon, Vermiculitum, water and salt by oxygen activated exothermic chemicals.

Be used to provide the device of oxygen permeability can comprise the airtight layer of layer structure, thereby on this airtight layer, have the hole of certain pattern can allow air and exothermic chemicals contact ac.The hole of this certain pattern is positioned at the top of each heat-generating units.Sectional hole patterns is made into a certain size with the control oxygen penetration, and then the temperature that is produced in the control heat-generating units.

Being used for detachably, the device of adhesion heat pad can comprise contact adhesive.Layer structure has top edge and lower limb, and contact adhesive can be placed with the parallel strip band forms, extends to lower limb continuously from top edge between a plurality of heat production unit.Perhaps, contact adhesive is applied with strand (strand) form of narrow interruption, and they partly cover first side, is positioned at the device that oxygen permeability is provided on first side and still keeps acceptable oxygen permeability level thereby make.

Disposable thermal is paid somebody's debt and expected repayment later and can be comprised the air-locked big envelope (envelope) that surrounds the disposable thermal pad.Heat pad should sealedly be stored in air-locked big envelope, when user's preparation is used for user's medicated clothing with the heat pad till.Air-locked big envelope is opened, just can be made the oxygen activated a plurality of heat-generating units in the surrounding air, thereby produce controllable and lasting heat.

The accompanying drawing summary

Fig. 1 is the heat pad plane graph that the present invention has common attachment and oxygen permeable side, wherein discloses the pattern of heat-generating units and the adhesive bonding agent band between the unit;

Fig. 2 is the profile that Fig. 1 obtains along hatching 2-2, the separate paper (release paper) that wherein discloses the layer structure of hot pad and prevented the adhesive strings premature adhesion;

Fig. 3 is local (dotted line ring 3 parts among Fig. 2) enlarged drawing among Fig. 2, and it has more clearly illustrated layer structure.

Fig. 4 is the plane graph of woman style underpants when waist is watched, and it has shown that hot pad is placed on the anter of underpants, thus put on this underpants intermittent fever pad can be with heat supply user's abdominal part;

Fig. 5 is the plane graph of the another kind of heat pad of the present invention, has wherein shown the another kind of binder form except that band, and it comprises that part covers the binding agent on the oxygen flow surface of heat-generating units randomly;

Fig. 6 is a side view, and it has shown the adhesive means of Fig. 5 and the separate paper that prevents the adhesive strings premature adhesion; And

Fig. 7 is the profile of Fig. 1 heat pad, and it has shown folding heat pad in the packing of oxygen flow not.

Detailed Description Of The Invention

Referring now to accompanying drawing,, particularly referring to Fig. 1,2 and 3, they have shown first kind of preferred example of the present invention, and the heat pad of the layer structure with substantially flat wherein is provided.Layer structure has common attachment and oxygen flow side, and it is generally represented with 10.Heat pad 10 has first side 12 that deviates from health when wearing and second side 14 of facing health.Heat pad 10 contains a plurality of heat-generating units 16.Heat-generating units 16 contains chemical substance 18, and it is embedded in the heat pad 10 by unit forming layer 20 and buried cover soil 22.Unit forming layer 20, exothermic chemicals 18 and buried cover soil 22 have been formed heat-generating units 16.Unit forming layer 20 is airtight basically.Chemical substance 18 is activated by the oxygen in the surrounding air.Buried cover soil 22 has the oxygen flow device 24 that oxygen is offered heat-generating units 16.

These a plurality of heat-generating units 16 are spaced from each other, and each unit does not rely on other unit and works alone.Compare with single big unit, heat-generating units is separated the curve that just can make the easier adaptation health of heat pad, because chemical substance is closely wrapped in each unit.Chemical substance even also can be pressed into lamellar and place each unit, so the unit can not be crooked easily, but the material between the unit can be crooked, thereby can and body-accommodating.

Preferably, each heat-generating units 16 has the chemical substance of close volume, and has similar oxygen flow device 24.Perhaps, the volume of the chemical substance of different units, shape and oxygen flow device can be different, as long as the heat-generating units temperature is close.Relation between oxygen permeability and the temperature is set forth below.

Two side faces at heat-generating units 16 is extra material layer.On first side 12, the first outer tissue layer 26 is attached on first cover layer 22 by first adhesive layer 28.The first outer tissue layer 26 and first adhesive layer 28 should be more ventilative than buried cover soil 22.In addition, the first outer tissue layer 26 and first adhesive layer 28 should significantly not change the oxygen permeability of buried cover soil 22.Therefore, control the flow velocity of the oxygen of each heat-generating units 16 of person who lives in exile separately by buried cover soil 22.

Be that tissue layer 30, the second outer tissue layer 30 are attached on the unit forming layer 20 by second adhesive layer 32 outside second on second side 14 of heat pad 10.Preferably, the first outer tissue layer 26 and the second outer tissue layer 30 usefulness similar materials are made, and first adhesive phase 28 and second adhesive phase 32 are to make with same material.

First side 12 of heat pad 10 has attachment device 34, so that heat pad 10 detachably is attached on the medicated clothing.Attachment device 34 can be a binding agent.If binding agent, attachment device 34 can have the separate paper 36 that is attached to binding agent so, is unlikely on other objects that stick at prematurely except that required user's medicated clothing with protection binding agent 34.The viscous force of 34 pairs first outer tissue layer 26 of attachment device should be greater than the viscous force to separate paper, or greater than the viscous force to any body surface.

Perhaps, attachment device 34 can be to be attached to first film outer tissue layer 26, that scribble binding agent.Have and be used to prevent adherent spacer (standoff) if scribble the film of binding agent, exposed adhesive just when adherend surface and film are pressed together can be saved separate paper 36 so.Attachment device 34 also can comprise the mechanical fastening system that is connected in the first outer tissue layer 26, and this fixture can provide enough and connections various different medicated clothings to guarantee stationary positioned.If the use mechanical fastening system also can save separate paper 36.

Heat pad 10 has top edge 38 and the lower limb 40 relative with heat pad top edge 38.These edges are determined that by the placement of mat promptly this mat is used as the heat pad of relief of menstrual pain and is placed in women's underpants inboard to paste her abdominal part.Fig. 4 has shown the underpants 44 with crotch 46 and anter 48.After removing separate paper 36, heat pad 10 is adhered to anter 48 with adhesive strings 34.The position of heat pad 10 is preferably the belt place of top edge 38 near underpants 44.In this case, heat pad 10 is used as the heat pad of relief of menstrual pain.

Heat pad 10 also can be used as other purposes.For example, heat pad 10 can be placed on the inboard of sweatband (sweatband), and is used as the heat pad of alleviating headache when it is positioned at user's forehead.

Unit forming layer 20 can be made by any suitable material, comprises (but being not limited to): the film of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, styrene block copolymer, the non-woven fabrics of filming, laminate and coextrusion material.Preferable unit forming layer 20 is to be made by the low density polyethylene films that quantitative (basis weight) thickness is 0.001 inch (0.025 millimeter).A kind of specially suitable material be P18-1401 white PE is little scratch (microflex) embossing film (can be available from Clopay Plastic Products, Cincinnati, OH).

Buried cover soil can be made by any suitable material, includes, but is not limited to: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, styrene block copolymer film, the non-woven fabrics of filming, laminate, ventilated membrane and coextrusion material.A kind of specially suitable material be P18-1401 white PE little scratch embossing film (can be available from Clopay Plastic Products, Cincinnati, OH).

Oxygen flow device 24 in buried cover soil 22 is preferably a plurality of holes in buried cover soil 22, and they can form by the needle-penetration buried cover soil 22 with heat.The size in hole is preferably about 0.1 millimeter-0.08 millimeter of diameter, and each heat-generating units preferably has 20-60 hole.Another kind of preferred hole manufacture method is with cold needle-penetration buried cover soil 22.Perhaps, can be with vacuum forming method or high-pressure water jet forming process and form hole 24.Another kind method is to come manufacturing cell's cover layer 22 with microporous membrane or semipermeable membrane.This film can be used in combination so that process with porous carrier materials.Required oxygen flow degree is under 21 ℃ and 1 atmospheric pressure, the per 5 square centimeters of about 0.01-15cc oxygen of per minute.

Being used for heat pad 10 detachably is attached to the attachment device 34 of medicated clothing, can be any suitable bonding and application mode.A kind of preferred adhesive be DispomeltTM 34-5598 hot-melt pressure sensitive adhesive (can be available from National Starch and Chemical Company, Bridgewater, NJ).This binding agent available slot slit die head (slot die) applies or print process is applied on the first outer tissue layer 26.Under these two kinds of situations, all to allow adhesive permeation advance the first outer tissue layer 26, like this after using with heat pad 10 when user's medicated clothing takes off, binding agent can preferentially stick on the first outer tissue layer 26.The style of the binding agent of Chan Shenging can be that top edge 38 from heat pad 10 extends to lower limb 40 in this way, and the straight parallel band (as shown in Figure 1) between heat-generating units 16.More condensed binding agent is an oxygen flow not.By adhesive strings being placed between the heat-generating units 16, the oxygen that allows of oxygen flow device 24 just can not be interrupted by the ability that arrives heat-generating units 16.Separate paper 36 is preferably the paper of crossing with silicone-treated, for example Ak89147 FT separate paper (Akrosil, Menasha, WI).

Fig. 5 and 6 has shown that another kind has common attachment and the lateral heat of oxygen flow pads example, and it is generally represented with 50.Fig. 5 and 6 has shown the another kind of method that attachment device is provided, and it is with narrow strand form, spirally, melt and spray ground (melt blown) or control ground applies with hot-melt pressure sensitive adhesive.This method can be by repeat patterns or with random and discontinuous mode application of adhesive.

Heat pad 50 has first side 52 that deviates from health when wearing and second side 54 of facing health.Heat pad 50 contains a plurality of heat-generating units 56.Heat-generating units 56 contains chemical substance, and this chemical substance is embedded in the heat pad 50 by unit forming layer and buried cover soil (not indicating).Heat-generating units 56 has the oxygen flow device 64 that oxygen is offered heat-generating units 56.These a plurality of heat-generating units 56 can be spaced from each other, and each unit can not rely on other unit and works alone.

Medicated clothing attachment device 74 is on first side 52.Medicated clothing attachment device 74 is preferably contact adhesive strand or the fibril (fibril) that is attached to outer fabric.First side of heat pad 50 has the separate paper 76 that is attached to binding agent strand 74, is unlikely other objects that stick at prematurely except that required user's medicated clothing with protection binding agent strand 74.The viscous force of 74 pairs first outer fabrics of attachment device should be greater than the viscous force to separate paper 76, or greater than the viscous force to other any body surfaces.Thereby this can realize by the binding agent fusion being entered fabric generation mechanical interlocking.Binding agent fibril or strand are deposited on the outer fabric, and the obstruction degree that can make oxygen flow into heat-generating units 56 minimizes, and has therefore still kept acceptable oxygen permeability.

In more preferred example of the present invention, the first outer fabric is preferably soft flexible material.The material that is applicable to the first outer fabric 26 comprises (but being not limited to): formed film; Fabric comprises woven fabric, knitted fabric and adhesive-bonded fabric, and they can be (through-air bonded) fabrics carded, spunbond, air lay, hot sticky, wet-laying, that melt and spray and/or air-flow puncture net.The material component of the first outer fabric 26 can be Cotton Gossypii, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon etc.A kind of material that is specially adapted to the first outer fabric 26 is can (it is carded and hot sticky fabric for Landisville, NJ) 32 gram/square metre (gsm) hydrophobic polypropylene adhesive-bonded fabrics of Huo Deing from Fibertech.

Preferably, the second outer fabric 30 is soft, flexible, non-stimulated to skin materials.The material that is applicable to the second outer fabric 30 comprises (but being not limited to): formed film; Fabric comprises woven fabric, knitted fabric and adhesive-bonded fabric, and they can be fabrics carded, spunbond, air lay, hot sticky, wet-laying, that melt and spray and/or air-flow puncture net.The material component of the second outer fabric 30 can be Cotton Gossypii, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon etc.A kind of material that is specially adapted to the first outer fabric 26 be can from Veratec (Walpole, 63 grams that MA) obtain/square metre hydrophobic polypropylene, it is carded and hot sticky adhesive-bonded fabric.

Apply adhesive phase 28 and should make them not disturb oxygen to infiltrate into heat-generating units 16 at 32 o'clock.Suitable material and method of application that a kind of success is used are: can (it is available, and (Waycross, spiral coating system GA) applies available from Nordson for Milwaukee, the pressure-sensitive hot-melt adhesive of 2031 types WI) available from Findley Adhesives.

In use, heat pad 10 chemical mixture by meeting generation oxidation reaction produce heat.Chemical substance 18 is preferably the mixture of Powdered ferrum, powdered active carbon, Vermiculitum, water and salt.When such mixture is exposed to oxygen, can react, the heat of a few hours is provided.Heat-generating units 16 and manufacture method thereof are called in the patent application of " hot cell " in the name of authorization not description, this application be on June 29th, 95 at U. S. application, sequence number is 08/496,639; This application abandoned and by on February 21st, 96 part renewal application (sequence number is 08/604,694) application, that denomination of invention is identical replaced.The assignee who transfers the application has all been specified in these two pieces of applications.The one piece of patent application in back is incorporated herein by reference.

Before the use, heat pad 10 is sealed in one not in the packing 70 of oxygen flow.Heat pad 10 a preferably folding is two, and its second side 14 is inwardly folding and lateral surface 12 is exposed to the inboard of packing, as shown in Figure 7.Heat pad 10 is never taken out in the packing of oxygen flow, make oxygen and chemical substance 18 reactions.This chemical oxidation system is fine and close and portable.In case chemical reaction finishes, the heat pad just no longer can produce heat, thereby should suitably abandon in the solid waste place.Therefore, heat pad 10 is the article that can dispose.

Heat pad 10 has solved the problem of the control temperature that the prior art product run into.The prior art product is the outside that is used for the internal layer medicated clothing.When between heat pad and user's body, having one deck clothes, be impossible control the temperature that flows to body surface, because different medicated clothings has different heat conductivity.

Attachment device is placed the phase the same side at oxygen permeable layer place, and heat pad of the present invention just can be worn on the inboard of user's medicated clothing and also directly contact with user's body.This and hot pad the direct of heat-generating units contacts, and just knows the thermal resistance situation between exothermic chemicals and body surface.Like this, just can design chemical substance with the certain speed oxidation, to produce specific temperature.The temperature particular importance is because the contact temperature of ordinary people's health must just can be felt heat at least about 39 ℃.May cause the wearer injured and continue the temperature of contact above 45 ℃.Therefore, strict control temperature is vital.

In order to keep 39-45 ℃ and required oxygen penetration is low-down.Normal laundry is porous, thereby hinders flow of oxygen hardly.When heat pad of the present invention is worn on the inboard of user's medicated clothing and oxygen permeable layer and attachment outwardly the time, can not influence permeability even wear the multilamellar clothes yet.

Heat-generating units of the present invention is fixedly attached in the heat pad, and is spaced from each other.All there is the impermeable surface that allows oxygen flow into chemical substance each unit, thereby the oxidation of chemical substance is evenly and fully to carry out independently in each unit.In a preferred example, the diameter of heat-generating units is 25.4 millimeters, thick 6.4 millimeters, is equipped with 2.8 and digests material.When the heat pad is exposed to 21 ℃ and 1 atmospheric pressure, and oxygen transmission rate is when being the per 5 square centimeters of 1cc oxygen of per minute, and it can produce about 41 ℃ temperature at body surface in about 8 hours.This permeability is to realize by the hole of having pierced through 0.5 millimeter of 26 diameter on each unitary cover layer.

Claims (10)

1. a disposable heat is filled up, and it is characterized in that it comprises:

A) layer structure of a substantially flat, this structure has first side and second side, and be embedded in a plurality of heat-generating units between this first side and second side, each all is spaced from each other and fixedly is attached to layered structure these a plurality of heat-generating units, this layer structure has permeates device to each heat-generating units with oxygen, and this provides the device of oxygen permeability all to be positioned at first side of layer structure; With

B) be used for the heat pad detachably is attached to the device of user's medicated clothing inboard, this removable attachment device is positioned at first side of layer structure, thereby makes second side of heat pad can directly paste user's body.

2. disposable thermal pad as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, these a plurality of heat-generating units have can be by oxygen activated exothermic chemicals.

3. disposable thermal pad as claimed in claim 2, it is characterized in that, the airtight layer that should comprise layer structure by the device of oxygen flow, thereby there is not on the gas-permeable layer hole of certain pattern can allow air and exothermic chemicals contact ac at this, the hole of this certain pattern is positioned at the top of each heat-generating units, these holes are made into a certain size with the control oxygen penetration, and then the control temperature that heat-generating units produced.

4. as claim 2 or 3 described disposable thermal pads, it is characterized in that this exothermic chemicals contains the mixture of Powdered ferrum, powdered active carbon, Vermiculitum, water and salt.

5. as the described disposable thermal pad of arbitrary claim in the claim 1,2,3 or 4, it is characterized in that being used for detachably, the device of adhesion heat pad comprises contact adhesive.

6. disposable thermal pad as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that this layer structure has top edge and lower limb, and contact adhesive is positioned between a plurality of heat-generating units with the parallel strip band forms, and extends to lower limb continuously from top edge.

7. disposable thermal pad as claimed in claim 5, it is characterized in that, this contact adhesive is that the strand form with narrow interruption is applied, and they partly cover first side, provide the device that oozes oxygen still to keep acceptable oxygen permeability level on first side thereby make to be positioned at.

8. as the described disposable thermal pad of arbitrary claim in the claim 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7, it is characterized in that, also comprise the airtight big envelope that surrounds the disposable thermal pad, this heat pad is sealed be stored in air-locked big envelope when the user prepares that the heat pad is used for medicated clothing till, air-locked big envelope is opened, just can make oxygen activated these a plurality of heat-generating units in the surrounding air, thereby produce controllable and lasting heat.

9. disposable thermal pad is characterized in that it comprises:

A) layer structure of a substantially flat, this structure has first side and second side, and be embedded in a plurality of heat-generating units between this first side and second side with exothermic chemicals, each all is spaced from each other and fixedly is attached to layer structure these a plurality of heat-generating units, these a plurality of heat-generating units area occupied are less than about 42% of the layer structure of this substantially flat, thereby under the situation that user's overall thermal sensation is provided, can reduce this exothermic chemicals, this layer structure has permeates device to each heat-generating units with oxygen, and this provides the device of oxygen flow all to be positioned at first side of layer structure; With

B) be used for the heat pad detachably is attached to the device of user's medicated clothing inboard, this removable attachment device is positioned at first side of layer structure, thereby makes second side of heat pad can directly paste user's body.

10. disposable thermal pad as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, this exothermic chemicals is the mixture of Powdered ferrum, powdered active carbon, Vermiculitum, water and salt.

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