FR2576781A1 - HEATED BANDAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A FLEXIBLE AND LIGHTWEIGHT ELECTRIC HEATING BANDAGE, USABLE ON THE HUMAN BODY, IN PARTICULAR WITH A VIBRATION MASSAGE DEVICE. ELECTRICAL WIRES OF RESISTANCE 12 ARE ARRANGED IN A COIL PATTERN AND ARE SEALED TOGETHER WITH A THERMOSTAT 13 BETWEEN TWO SHEETS OF FLEXIBLE COMPOSITE MATERIAL, IN PARTICULAR A LOOP FABRIC, THE BASE FACES OF THE SHEETS ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER BY BENDING THEM TOGETHER. OF THE FABRIC ARE PLACED ON ALL THE EXTERNAL SIDES OF THE BANDAGE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE MAINS SUPPLY THROUGH A 16 SOCKET AND A TRANSFORMER TO OPERATE WITH A VOLTAGE OF 12 TO 24 V; THE BANDAGE MAY BE FIXED BY MEANS OF VELCRO 17 HANGING TAPES AROUND A SELECTED PART OF A HUMAN BODY, POSSIBLE IN COMBINATION WITH A VIBRATION MASSAGE DEVICE. APPLICATION TO THE MEDICAL FIELD.

Description

HEATED BANDAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING

  The present invention relates to a light, flexible and thin electric heating bandage and method and apparatus for its manufacture. It relates more particularly to a bandage that can be used in combination with a vibrating massager device that can be used on

  parts of a person's body.

  Several types of heating pads for localized heating of a person's body have been developed, some of which have been equipped with control modules and vibrators and are known in the prior art. Exemplary configurations of such known heat pads are given in Clark, U.S. Patent No. 1,015,991, which discloses a resistive conductor embedded in a watertight flexible insulating material, for example, double sheets. vulcanized rubber. Also, U.S. Patent No. 1,317,659 discloses a heating pad formed of three layers of flexible fabric that are stitched together to surround electrical conductors and form pockets for

contain radioactive ores.

  U.S. Patent 1,376,987 to Wirt discloses a method of manufacturing electric heaters by embedding a strong serpentine conductor between two thin sheets of cloth which are provided with inner layers of unvulcanized rubber . The conductor is placed between the rubber sheets, which are then vulcanized together by applying heat and

  pressure to wrap the wire.

  U.S. Patent 1,594,053 to Evans discloses a heating pad in which a heating element is held between asbestos layers and is provided at its edge with a plug for fixing the a power supply cable, the asbestos layers being covered by a removable fabric and strips being fixed on

buffer.

  United States Patents 3,102,186 and 3,213,521

  Owers describe an electric blanket with a heating element

  embedded in layers of polyvinyl chloride with outer fabric covers, a high frequency electric welding process is used to secure the layers of plastic together along a plurality of weld lines to obtain

a padding effect.

  U.S. Patent 3,202,801 to Saluri discloses a heating pad and a corresponding control consisting of a heating element embedded in a pad which is provided with a cover

  sewn on it so as to form elongated pockets intended to contain

  a heat retention material.

  U.S. Patent 3,623,485 to Price discloses a heating pad having a closable covering and a strip, a surface of the covering being formed of a velvety material with free closed loops which is secured by Velcro hooks

(registered trademark) on the tape.

  U.S. Patent No. 3,895,638 to Ito, discloses a

  heating pad apparatus having a temperature control unit

  ture and duration that can be disconnected from the plugging of the heating pad.

  ghost. U.S. Patent 3,621,191 to Cornwell discloses an electrically heated glove and shoe and wherein heating wires are embedded in a heat-conductive plastic member and positioned within the glove. or from

  footwear, and low voltage current is provided through the

  diary of a plug molded in the article.

  U.S. Patent No. 4,042,803 to Bickford discloses an extensible support and body heating device having heating elements embedded therein and an AC power supply and control device. -continuous current which are connected using a plug to a connector provided on the element

heating.

  U.S. Patent 4,279,255 to Hoffman, described

  a device for localized application of heat to a body, comprising

  both Velcro strips and that is provided with a battery pack

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  can be recharged by current supplied by a normal line or by an automobile electrical system by means of a cigarette lighter adapter. U.S. Patent 4,396,011 to Mack et al. Discloses an electric heating pad and a belt used in combination with a vibration device in cooperation with a control console for heating and massaging. part of the

human body.

  However, it has been found that the known heating pads have

  certain undesirable limitations with regard to their flexibil-

  and their usefulness. All known heating pads, except that described in US Patent No. 4,042,803 to Bickford, are insufficiently thin and flexible to allow them to wrap around different body parts while maintaining good contact. tight with the skin to allow a good transfer of heat and vibrations. The extensible material disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,042,803 is flexible but does not permit the attachment of a vibrator to the heating pad. The Velcro coating of US Patent 3,623,489 permits the attachment of a vibrator anywhere using the principles defined in US Pat. No. 4,396,011, but there is no need for a vibrator in any location. does not get a good transfer of heat and vibration between the heating pad and the skin. Consequently, it is necessary to have a more compact and more flexible bandage which overcomes the disadvantages of the devices of the prior art and which can be used more

convenient and more useful.

  Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a very thin heating pad capable of conforming to the profile of different body parts while simultaneously allowing the attachment of vibration equipment directly to any outside surface of the heating pad. Another object of the invention is to provide a very thin heating pad having two opposing sheets of a composite laminate material comprising a fabric loop material having a substantially nonporous inseparable substrate, the use of such

  composite structure improving the transfer of heat and vibration

to the body.

  The present invention relates to a light, thin and flexible electric heating bandage and a corresponding control unit adapted for use on the human body and which can be advantageously employed in combination with a vibration massage device which is electrically connected to the control unit. The lightweight flexible heating bandage comprises a flexible heating element consisting of a resistance wire hermetically sealed between two

  thin sheets of a flexible composite material. This compound material

  site comprises a flattened loop fabric having an insitu substrate

  substantially non-porous parable, which may be formed for example of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or rubber. The bearing surfaces of the two composite sheets are bonded together by an adhesive around the resistance wire and are connected in series with thermostats of material that the loop surfaces of the fabric are directed outward. The strong wires provided in the bandage are held in place in a serpentine pattern and are electrically insulated.

  on the other side by the adhesive which connects the two non-porous

  its of the composite material. This structure is formed by sealing

  together the composite sheets, as will be described later.

  Both ends of the resistance wire terminate in a double-plug connector which is secured between the two sheets of composite material and on a peripheral edge of the heat band to allow the wire to be connected to a source of electrical power placed on the outer side of the heating bandage. The power source comprises a temperature controller and a transformer, or optionally an adapter cord operable with a controller.

electric car system.

  A vibration massage module usable with the heating pad is equipped, as described in US Pat. No. 4,396,011 issued to the Applicant, with Velcro fastening strips for attaching the massage device to the device. the fabric loop side of the heating bandage. The vibration massage device is connected to the heat control unit by a plug and a plug and, therefore, the heating bandage can be used with or without the massage device. The heat controller includes a switch which is provided in the preferred embodiment with four positions, namely "off", "low", "medium" and "high". The "strong" position corresponds to a direct link with a

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  source at 12 V, the "average" position corresponds to a direct connection with a 10 V tap-off of a transformer and the position

  "low" is established by switching the source to 12 V via

diode of a diode.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heating bandage has the general shape of a wide turban-like belt, both sides of which are provided with Velcro-compatible loops on their entire surface. In this embodiment, a Velco tie strip, placed at one or both ends of the broadband-shaped bandage, allows a user to wrap around portions of his body of variable circumference. The wide belt shape can be obtained with one or more pieces of the bandage, each of which can be connected to an adjacent piece by Velcro strips. All pieces do not need to have a resistance wire to provide heat to the body. After winding the heating bandage around a selected portion of the body, the fabric loops extending over the entire outer surface of a vibration aid equipped with a Velcro fastening system can be attached anywhere on the

  area. This allows, in combination with the thinness of the bandage,

  very effectively apply massage vibrations to a specific area

selected.

  In another embodiment, the heating bandage has the general shape of a rectangular or square band having Velcro loops on both sides. In this embodiment, the bandage is secured around selected portions of the body using a belt

  separate which is provided with Velcro fastening strips.

  It is obvious that the invention can be made with special shapes to fit specific parts of the body (knee, elbow, etc.) and that it can also be attached to the body by means of a belt or belt equipped with a Velcro fastening system. he

  It is also obvious that only one surface of the bandage

  fabric loops, said surface constituting the outer surface

  after setting up the bandage, so that a vibrator can

  be attached anywhere on this surface.

  The heated bandage under consideration provides heating up to the equi-

  Thermal free and it has a number of new features and advantages over conventional heating pads and bandages that are controlled by thermostats. Its flexible structure

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  ultra-thin maximizes the heat transfer to virtual

  any part of a person's body. Heated buffers and bandages with a thick, less flexible structure can not effectively accommodate small circumferential body parts, such as the neck, limbs, and extremities, as well as the shoulder and knee joints . The close approximation of the heating element of the flexible band according to the invention, with respect to the affected zone of the body considerably reduces the heating and processing times and its thermal protectors are activated as a safety device, only when the bandage

  misuse, for example under the effect of folding or covering

  complete bandage. The heat level is controlled by a voltage variation switch that allows the bandage to reach a

  thermal equilibrium for three distinct heating levels and percep-

  patible. The use of low voltage to achieve heat balance in the bandage eliminates the need for temperature control thermostats with stepped or abrupt action, such as those required in heavier pads and heavier and tensioning heaters. sector. Such thermostatic controls,

  because of their large differences in temperature, tend to

  to derive significant thermal fluctuations in this type of buffer

  while this does not occur with the present invention.

  Because the lightweight bandage according to the invention operates at low voltage, it is safer than buffers and heating bandages operating under mains voltage. At a voltage of 12 V, a frayed power cord or a cut in the surface of the pad creates no risk of electrocution, even when used in the presence of water, or for certain treatment applications.

moist heat.

  Due to the hermetic structure of the heating bandage, it can be completely immersed in liquids and it can be used to carry out wet heat treatment by spraying or immersion in water. Also because of the reduced tension, the lightweight bandage can be used in thermal therapy or as an effective seat heating device in an automobile by means of

  a connection cable to the receptacle of the cigarette lighter.

  By providing a transformer for the voltage of the appropriate sector

  Required or a transformer providing at least two output voltages, the lightweight bandage can be used in any country of the world. Because the bandage is composed of a low-voltage heating element and hermetically sealed between two composite structures formed of a plastic sheet and a fabric, it has better strength and integrity than the pads and known heating bandages, because there are no voids between the layers and there can not occur a leak in the joints or because of a perforation. Because it can be fully submerged and not encumbered by a power cable and a switch (the assembly formed by the cable and the switch is disconnected from the

  bandage), the bandage is easy to wash and sterilize.

  The unitary structure makes it possible to produce an exceptional bandage

  nally thin (in particular with a thickness of approximately 1/7

  that of the heating pads of the prior art). This characteristic

  slimming tick and removal of a separable liner cover also serve to improve the transmission of pulsations from the attachment of the massage vibrator to the user's body through

  bandage. Conversely, the classical buffers of a relative structure

  heavy weight can attenuate the massage action and this

  is amplified if the tampon is not tightly attached to the body.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will be

  highlighted in the following description, given by way of example

  non-limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a plan view of a structural structure of a heating band according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a developed, interrupted and partially cutaway view of the heating bandage of FIG. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of Fig. 2 taken along line 3-3 (at another scale); FIG. 4 shows a developed side view of the upper edge of the heating band shown in FIG. 2; FIGS. 5 and 6 show other embodiments of the heating bandage; FIG. 7 represents a plan view of a transformer and a control mode that can be used with the invention; - Figure 8 shows a side view of Figure 7;

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  FIG. 9 represents a plan view of vibratory equipment

  usable with the invention; - Figure 10 shows a side sectional view of Figure 9, taken along the lines 10-10; FIG. 11 is a diagram of the electric control circuit of the heating bandage and of an associated massage unit; FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic isometric view of an assembly assembly that can be used in the manufacture of the basic heating band according to the invention; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the resistance wire assembly frame of the arrangement shown in Fig. 12; - Figure 14 is an elevational view and in section taken along the lines 14-14 of Figure 13; - Figure 15 is a sectional view taken along the lines 15-15 of Figure 13;

  FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a resistance wire assembly;

  usable during assembly of the bandage according to the invention; Figure 17 is a sectional view of a portion of Figure 13, taken along the lines 17-17; - Figure 18 is a sectional view of a portion of Figure 13, made along the lines 18-18;

  FIG. 19 is a plan view of FIG. 13, showing the

  seems to resistance wire set up and having the

configuration of a coil.

  The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the flexible heating band 10 consists of a resistance wire 12 having a serpentine configuration and which is hermetically sealed between two sheets 14a, 14b of a flexible and thin composite material. This composite material comprises a fabric loop material (compatible

  with a Velcro fastening system) 15, provided with an insulating substrate

  and substantially non-porous 15a, which may be, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber or other suitable soft plastic which is inseparably connected to the surface compatible with the Velcro fastening system. . The brackets were omitted from all views, except Figure 3, to clarify the drawing. The resistance wire 12 is a heating wire,

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  preferably not isolated (since the substrate 15a provides the electrical insulation

  3) and it is preferably arranged in a serpentine pattern, as shown in Figure 2. The coil loops are maintained in

  electrically isolated and isolated from each other by the fact that

  substrate faces 15a are joined by gluing. It is also provided at least a small thermostat 13, sealed between the two sheets of

  plastic material, which preferably exerts an action of the progressive type

  sif and which functions as a temperature limiter for the heating bandage 10. The ends of the heating element 12 are connected to a double plug receiving socket 16, which is sealed on an edge of the plastic sheets 14a, 14b of way to receive a corresponding electrical plug. The sheets 14a, 14b of composite material of the plastic or vinyl / fabric type are thermally conductive and serve to distribute the heat from the electrical resistance wire 12 in a substantially uniform pattern over the entire surface of the bandage 10, thus avoiding that it happen points

  hot in areas adjacent to the heater wires.

  The construction of the heating bandage 10 is best seen in FIG. 2 which shows, in a partly broken view, the resistance wire 12 embedded between the sheets of composite material constituted by a plastic material and fabric loops, said sheets

having met with each other.

  The invention can be implemented in different forms. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is in the form of a wide belt, as shown in FIG. 1. The entire outer surface (both sides of the heating bandage 10) is compatible with a Velcro fastening system. and there is provided a Velcro fastening strip 17 at one end of the heating band 10 to allow the wrapping and binding of the bandage around selected parts of the body having different circumferences. Overall, the wide belt profile is in the form of two parts 18 and 19 which are joined by a Velcro strip 20 placed on one of the parts to allow additional size adjustments. Seams

  reinforcement 20a may be provided on the periphery of the banda-

age 10.

  Other forms of heating bandages are schematically represented on the surfaces 5 and 6. In both cases, the heating bandages 21a and 22a comprise fabric loop surfaces and

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  may be fixed in positions adjacent to selected parts

  23a and 24a, respectively, each of the different parts being provided with different arrangements of Velcro strips 25a, as indicated. These embodiments all provide an integral type structure that is superior to removable lap structures, such as those described in Price US Patent 3,623,495, which claims a removable lap a knitted loop fabric wrapping a separate heating pad but this structure does not provide a solid base for the bandage bindings and tends to undesirably pull the fabric from the cover to separate it from the surface of the bandage.

  heating buffer during installation.

  With reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, a power supply is supplied to the heating bandage 10 at the receptacle 16 via a

  electrical connector 20 having a plug 21 and a control unit

  22. The control unit includes a switching module

  connected to the mains and is equipped with a four-position slider switch to obtain the positions of "off", "low", "medium", "high" for the heating settings. . A "strong" heating is established by a direct connection with an output line of the transformer. The "average" heating is established by a socket

  at 10 V from the transformer. A "low" heating is obtained by branch-

  diode in the 12 V circuit to reduce power. A pilot lamp 25 is lit for all power levels. The control unit 22 is connected to a transformer 24 having a plug 26 and serving to supply a low-voltage power supply at 10 and 12 V to the heating unit from a mains AC power source. . Alternatively, the heater unit 10 may be powered directly from a 12 V DC source, for example from a cigarette lighter socket.

  using an appropriate electrical cable (not shown).

  you). The electrical circuit, to obtain three levels of heating via a power cable 20b with two conductors, allows to feed all the coil configuration of the resistance wire 12

  for each of the three levels of heating in order to obtain a

  uniform heating for the buffer. Other heat buffers

  which depend on selective excitation of different parts of the heating element to obtain different levels of heating, are affected by non-uniform surface heating (e.g.

  U.S. Patent 4,279,255 to Hoffman).

  The heat transfer to a body surface is maximized by the fact that the flexible, ultra-thin structure of the bandage makes intimate contact with virtually all the contours of a user's body, establishing high thermal efficiency and low fuel consumption. power (as compared to prior art heating pads). Because of its low thermal inertia, the heating time of the bandage according to the invention is measured in seconds, and not in minutes as for the heating pads according to the art.

  previous, which have a relatively thick structure.

  The thin and light construction of the tire according to the invention is made possible in part by its low operating voltage (for example 12 V), which imposes less stringent electrical safety conditions than when the mains voltage is applied to buffers and heating bandages according to the prior art. Because of the current

  low voltage is supplied to the bandage from a transformer

  cable (wall adapter) of an appropriate input voltage to the primary through a detachable power cord, this

  "standardized" heating bandage is applicable in all independent countries

  however, there may be differences between the mains voltages.

  Also, because of the use of a power cable which is provided at one end with a cigarette lighter socket and at the other end of a plug connector in the heating bandage, the heating band conforms to the invention can be used in an automobile for thermal therapy during a trip. A vibration massage module 30, best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, and provided with two Velcro fastening strips (not shown) along the surfaces 34, 35 and 36, can be attached to any part of the fabric loop surface of the heating bandage to allow optimum transmission of vibration from the massage device to the body of the user. The vibration massage device 30 (best described in US Pat. No. 4,396,011 mentioned above) is provided with a power cable 33 which has a plug which can be plugged into a socket.

  appropriate plug 33a of the control module 22.

  The electrical wiring diagram of the heating bandage is repre-

  11. The supply voltage arriving at 40, usually an alternating voltage of 110-120 V, is applied to a transformer 24 having a tap-off tap which is placed in the secondary winding 41 so as to constitute a The three wires are connected to the control unit 22 mentioned above, which comprises a four-pole bipolar sliding switch, provided with connections corresponding to "stop" and "off" positions. heating "low", "medium" and "strong". The "low" heating is established by a single-wave current at 12 V from a diode 45 connected in the circuit, the "average" heating is established by the 10 V tap and the "strong" heating is established by the at 12 V. From the control unit 22, double conductors 46 extend to connectors 46a which are connected to a coil-shaped resistor wire 12 and double protectors

  13, connected in series, in the heating bandage 10. Egale-

  from the control unit 22, double conductors 49 and

  connectors 49a extend to a vibration massage unit

  80 containing a DC vibration motor 82 and a bridge rectifier 84. The control circuit of the vibration massage device is described in the US patent.

  No. 4,396,011, mentioned here for reference.

  The heating bandage 10 of the present invention may be advantageous

  gaily manufactured using a new semi-continuous process, rendered

  possible by using the assembly assembly 100, shown schematically

  Fig. 12. The assembly assembly 100 includes a fixed table portion 102 having a table surface 103, a pivotable frame extension 104, and a pivotable frame 106 for holding the resistance wire assembly in position. (best seen in Figures 13 and 14). A composite material made of vinyl / fabric and of a desired width is provided in the form of a roll 110 rotatably mounted above and at one end of the table 102. A fastener 112 is attached to the composite sheet of vinyl / fabric 114 and a strip of material is unwound from the roll 110 (the fabric being directed

  downwards) by pulling the fastener 112 towards a part of anchor

  ge 116, spring loaded and attached to the distal end of the prolon-

  104. While the composite web is being pulled beyond the mid-point of the table 102, an adhesive application roll 118 is lowered to contact the composite web as it passes. it continues to be pulled in the direction of the anchoring member and fixed to this anchoring member 116 biased by spring. A blocking bar 120 then secures the composite sheet 114 to the table surface 103. A spring provided in the blocking member 116 holds the composite vinyl / fabric sheet taut on the table.

  The next step in the manufacturing process requires the use of

  the frame 106 for holding the resistance wire, the function of which

  will be explained later with reference to Figures 13 to 19.

  reference first to Figures 13 and 14, it should be noted that

  sis 106 comprises two parallel plates 130 and 132. Studs 134 are engaged and held in corresponding holes in top plate 130 and are slidably mounted in linear bearings 136 which are securely fixed to base plate 132, thus allowing a relative vertical displacement between the plates. Compression springs 138 push the plates apart from one another for reasons which will be better understood in the following. The base plate 132 is attached to a pivoting sub-frame 140 (best seen in FIG. 12) so that the frame 106 can be

  moved as described later.

  The upper plate 130 has a plurality of passage slots 142 distributed in a predetermined pattern. On the base plate 132 is fixed a corresponding number of bars 144 for protruding through respective slots 142. On the surface

  upper each bar 144 is glued a layer of elastic foam

  146 which may be covered with a textured Teflon surface, for example

  example, in order to reduce the adhesion, as will be better explained

  than in the following. The upper plate 130 is also provided with

  several rotating rollers 148 extending above the upper surface

  The upper plate 130 also comprises a set of socket positioning plugs 149, two sets of thermostats positioning plugs 150 and 151, a plurality of spring-loaded, four-pin separating pins 152, 153, 154. of

guidance 155.

  The resistance wire assembly 160 still called "harness", better

  visible in FIG. 16, is conditioned so as to have dimensions

  predetermined dimensions and is assembled with a resistance wire 162,

  thermostats 164 and 166 and a double plug socket 168. The assembly

  Bleed 160 is then placed on top plate 130 by placing plug 168 and thermostats 164 and 166 in positions adjacent to respective locating plugs 149, 150, 151 and winding wire 162 in a serpentine pattern around the rollers. 148 and guide pins 155. It is obvious that, due to the arrangement of the components, the wire will be aligned with the slots 142.

  adjacent to each set of thermos positioning pins

  150 and 151, there is provided a set of pushers 170, 171,

  mentioned by springs and pushed outwards, this assembly being better visible in FIG. 15 o a pusher 172 is in functional contact

  with the thermostat 164. The cooperation between the positioning pins

  the rollers and sets of pushers pushed out

  However, the arrangement of the components ensures that the assembly is placed on separation pins 152, 153, 154, best seen in Figures 15, 17 and 18. All the separation pins operate in cooperation with compression springs 175 and are retained in holes in the base plate 132 by the springs and stop rings 177. Each spring 175 is compressed between the base plate 132 and a washer 178 abutting against a shoulder of each separation pin. There is provided for the separation pins an annular receiving space 179 in the upper plate 130 to receive the washer 178 when the plates 130 and 132 are pushed towards each other. The separation pins 152 are provided with a disk-shaped foam layer 180, made of a material similar to the foam layers 146, while the pins 153 and 154 are not provided with the fact that they establish contact with the plug and the thermostats instead of directly touching the wire. Pins 153 and 154 have different heights above the top surface of plate 130 because of differences in size between parts

  that they are intended to compress.

  In operation, after the assembly 160 has been wound in a serpentine pattern around the individual pins and rollers and after it has been tensioned, the entire frame 106 is pivotally displaced about its hinge (not shown) so that the

  upper plate 130 is turned over in relation to the

  14 and is parallel to the adhesive coated composite material on the table surface 103. Pressing the downward pressure on the base plate 132 produces a compression of the springs 138 and 175 and causes the bars 144 and the separation pins 152, 153 and 154 to urge the wire, the thermostats and the plug against the adhesive. The teflon coating of the foam layers 146 and 180 allows this action without causing the bars and separating pins to stick to the adhesive. Also, the elasticity of the foam layers 146 and 180 and the springs 175 serves to apply fairly uniform pressure to different parts of the assembly 160. A retraction of the base plate 130 moves the assembly 160 away from the contact of the pins and rollers

  and let it sink into a serpentine position in the adhesive.

  A folding bar 175a may then be placed over the composite material by insertion into holes 177a in joints 178a of extension 104. Extension 104 is then pivotally displaced about an arc of about 170, bending Vinyl composite material / fabric stretched around the Teflon bar 175a with perfect lateral coincidence. A spongy material-coated roll 180 mounted on bars 182 of extension 104 by linear ball bearings 184 is then pulled over the entire length of bars 182, thereby providing compression and gluing of the upper and lower portions. folded composite material vinyl / fabric

  one against the other. The fastener 112 is then released and the extension

  104 is returned to its initial position in alignment with the table surface 103. A blade 190 is then turned downwards so as to sever the folded composite material separating it from the rest of the material and the locking bar 120 is opened. . The teflon bar 175a is removed, which allows the finished heating band 10 to be removed from the table 102. The edges of the heating band 10 can be removed.

  be cut to a desired shape and sewn together to increase

to bring about reinforcement.

  It should be noted that this assembly process can be automated

  partially or completely. Also Figure 12 is a representation

  purely schematic, omitting certain necessary construction details, such as edge guides, pivot pins,

  orders, etc. for the sake of simplicity and clarity of the drawing.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown and is capable of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art without one deviating from

the spirit of the invention.

Claims (10)

  1.- Flexible and thin electrical heating bandage, usable on parts of the human body, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a resistance wire (12) flexible, electrically conductive, arranged in a predetermined pattern and enclosed between two sheets (14a, 14b) of a flexible composite material, said composite material comprising a folded loop fabric secured inseparably to an electrically insulating flexible material substrate, the base sides of said composite sheets being joined together; (b) an electrical outlet (16) attached to opposite ends of said wire (12), said receptacle being sealed between said composite sheets (14a, 14b) and being accessible from outside said heating bandage (10); and (c) Velcro fastening means (17) (trade mark) affixed to the side of the fabric of said composite material to allow fixation of the heating bandage (10) in a configuration where   surrounds a selected part of the body.   2. Heated tire according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one thermal protection device connected in series with said wire (12) and fixed between said sheets composites (14a, 14b).   3.- heating bandage according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized by further comprising control means (22) for providing a plurality of low voltage outlet levels to said heating bandage (10).   4.- heating bandage according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that it further comprises a vibration massage device (30) electrically attached to said control means (22), said vibration massage device (30) having a Velcro fastening material on at least one of its surfaces in order to allow   its fixation on the loop fabric (15).   5. Heated bandage according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that it comprises a cable (33) having a plug   intended to connect said sealed socket (16) to a cigarette lighter receptacle car cigars.   6. Flexible and thin electric heating bandage, usable on parts of the human body, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a flexible, electrically conductive, resistance wire (12) arranged in a predetermined pattern and enclosed between a first and second sheets of material (14a, 14b), said first sheet (14a) comprising a flexible composite material having a folded loop fabric (15) which is fixed inseparably to a flexible and electrically insulating material substrate said second sheet (14b) comprising a flexible and electrically insulating material, said second sheet and said base side of said first sheet being joined together; (b) an electrical outlet (16) attached to opposite ends of said wire (12), said receptacle being sealed between said sheets and being accessible from outside said heating bandage; and (c) Velcro fastening means (17) affixed to one of said sheets to allow fixation of the heating bandage according to a   where it surrounds a selected part of the body.   7.- Method of manufacturing an electric heating bandage   flexible hose according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that   consists of: (a) using a roll (110) of composite material comprising a   fabric loop material comprising a flexible, sensitively   not porous and inseparable; (b) unwinding a strip (114) of said composite material on a flat surface (103) of a table (102), with said substrate facing upwards;   (c) depositing an adhesive layer on at least a portion of said processing of the composite material;   (d) placing a set or harness (160) of electrical resistance wire   said trique arranged in a predetermined pattern on said adhesive coated substrate surface;   (e) folding a portion of said composite strip (114) on said assembly   ble (160) of resistance wire to cover it; (f) compressing the resulting upper layer of said composite web material onto said bottom layer to form a watertight adhesive seal and sealing said resistance wire assembly between said layers; and   (g) cutting the composite layers connected together into separate layers   of the composite material strip remaining in the   water (110) and remove the heating bandage unit from the table.   8. A method of manufacturing an electric heating bandage according to claim 7, characterized in that said unwound strip (114) is held taut by a spring clip (112) which is fixed to a   end of the table (102) opposite the roller.   9. A method of manufacturing an electric heating bandage according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a frame (106) of the set of resistance wire or harness (160), pivotally connected to the table (102), is used to transfer said set to   resistance wire (160) on the adhesive coated surface.   10.- Method for manufacturing an electric heating bandage according to   one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said layer   the upper layer is pressed against the lower layer coated with during a rolling step.