GB2196855A - Magnetic therapeutic device - Google Patents

Description

1

SPECIFICATION

Magnetic therapeutic device The present invention relates to an arrangement of magnets which may be- used as magnetic therapeutic devices designed to apply magnetic lines of force to the human body, thereby relieving physical discomforts such as pains, numbness and heaviness, or improving one's health. The present invention also pertains to an arrangement of magnets which may be employed for handicraft, toys, domestic articles, learning materials, etc. , by making use of the magnetic attraction thereof.

It is well known that magnetism has an effect on the human body and relieves physical discomforts, for example, stiffness and pains, as well as being effective in improving one's health, and a large number of magnetic therapeutic devices that utilize the magnetic effect, for example, magnetic necklaces, magnetic bracelets, magnetic mattresses, magnetic bands, and magnetic pellets attached to re- spective adhesive bands (hereinafter referred to as "adhesive magnetic plasters"), have heretofore been placed on the market and used.

However, the already-known magnetic thera- peutic devices suffer from the following problems. For example, a magnetic necklace or the like applies magnetic lines of force to a fixed portion, i.e., the user's neck, while a magnetic mattress enables magnetism to be applied to the whole body of the user, but the magnetic lines of force produced by the magnetic mattress is relatively weak, and portions of the user's body on which magnetism effectively acts are limited to those which are near the magnets installed on the mattress.

On the other hand, adhesive magnetic plasters which have recently spread rapidly can be stuck to any position on the body so as to apply magnetic lines of force directly to the affected part. However, since the magnetic pole which is in contact with the skin is limited to one pole (the north pole in many cases), it is impossible to produce a strong magnetic field at the affected part, so that the magnetic lines of force which act on the affected part are considerably weak. Even if a large number of adhesive magnetic plasters are stuck to one affected part, since the magnetic poles which are in contact with the skin are of the same polarity, the magnetic lines of force are not intensified but may be canceled by each other instead. Thus, it is impossible to expect a strong magnetic therapeutic effect from such conventional adhesive magnetic plasters. In addition, since this type of therapeutic means is put in contact with the skin for a long period of time, the skin may have a rash.

Further, most of the above-described con- ventional magnetic therapeutic devices employ 130 GB2196855A 1 ferrite magnets or the like that have an ordinary level of magnetic force, and the magnetic flux density at the surface of contact with the human body is usually 1,000 gauss or less.

Even when a rare-earth magnet which has strong magnetic force is employed, the magnetic flux density is 2,000 gauss at the most, and usually 1,500 gauss or less.

In addition, the area of contact of the mag- netic pole with the user's body is relatively small, i.e., 1 CM2 or less, and therefore the action of magnetic lines of force on the body is weak. Accordingly, it has generally been recognized that the magnetic lines of force which are produced by these devices have no immediate therapeutic effect but are effective when used for a long period of time.

A variety of treatments have already been proposed for magnetic therapy that utilize magnets, and it is conventional practice to employ a single magnet which has a pair of north and south poles. In the simplest method, the north pole of the above-described single magnet is brought into contact with the skin of the affected part and secured by means of an adhesive band or the like. However, as various magnetic therapeutic methods that utilize magnets have been proposed and examined, there is a growing tendency to ad- mit that a treatment in which the, north pole of a single magnet is brought into contact with the skin of the affected part and the south pole of another single magnet is placed adjacent to said north pole is also, effective.

As described above, since it has heretofore been recognized that the therapeutic effect which is produced by magnetic therapeutic de vices is slow and these devices are effective when used for a relatively long period of time, there have heretofore been restrictions on the increase in number of kinds and uses of the prior art.

The present inventors made exhaustive studies to find a method which enables a great improvement in the therapeutic effect by means of magnetic lines of force so that physical discomforts can immediately be relieved. As a result, the present inventors have found that a magnetic therapeutic device is made exceedingly effective in exerting a therapeutic action on the user's body by enlarging the area of that surface (hereinafter referred to as the - contact surface---) of the device which is to be brought into contact with the user's body to such an extent that it could not be thought of in the prior art, and further employing a pair of magnets having strong magnetic force, thereby increasing the magnetic flux density of the magnetic therapeutic device.

The first form of the present invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding.

The present inventors have further found that a magnetic therapeutic device having an enlarged contact surface which is obtained by 2 GB2196855A 2 combining together a plurality of magnets hav ing strong magnetic force in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed is superior in terms of the therapeu tic effect on the human body and that the use 70 of a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices is exceedingly effective in exerting a therapeutic action on the user's body. The second form of the present invention has been accom plished on the basis of this finding.

The present inventors have further found that a magnetic therapeutic device which has a contact surface enlarged by placing a plural ity of magnets having strong magnetic force in a row with like magnetic poles facing each other across a magnetically permeable material is excellent in terms of the therapeutic effect on the human body and that the use of a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices of the type described above is exceedingly effective in ex erting a therapeutic action on the human body. The third form of the present invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding.

The present inventors further continued the 90 examination and have found that it is possible to obtain an even more excellent therapeutic effect by arranging a magnetic therapeutic de vice so that a magnetic pole face which is to be brought into contact with the human body 95 is formed in the shape of a plurality of projec tions which define alternately disposed north and south poles. The fourth form of the pre sent invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding.

From another point of view, the above-de scribed magnetic therapeutic devices are not necessarily free from disadvantages which may be experienced when the devices are handled. Therefore, the present inventors thor- 105 oughly examined these magnetic therapeutic devices to obtain a magnet which may be used for magnetic adhesion as well as mag netic therapy and which is easy to assemble, disassemble and detach as well as being con- 110 formable with a variety of objects with con siderabie flexibility. As a result, the present inventors have found that, if a composite magnet which is formed by combining to gether four magnets of the same rectangular 115 parallelepiped configuration in accordance with a specific method, or a composite magnet which is formed by combining together a plu rality of composite magnets of the type de scribed above, is employed, when such a 1 composite magnet is assembled, or when a pair of composite magnets or a plurality of pairs of composite magnets are employed as one set, the unit magnets unmistakenly attract to adhere to each other without any repulsive 125 force acting therebetween no matter how they are brought into contact with each other, and the handling thereof is therefore facilitated considerably. The fifth form of the present in vention has been accomplished on the basis 130 of this finding.

The present inventors further examined the above-described composite magnet and have found that it is not always necessary to combine together four unit magnets and if a prime number (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, etc.) of unit magnets are combined together and this combination is provided with a simple mark, e.g., a mark of distinguishable color or a projection, so as to be distinguishable, the composite magnet can exhibit the same function as that of the above-described composite magnet consisting of four unit magnets, and in addition, when this composite magnet is employed for medical treatment, it is possible to obtain advan- tageous effects which could not be obtained from the prior art. The sixth form of the present invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding. 85 The present inventors further made exhaustive studies to similarly improve plate magnets which are generally used in many ways, and have found that not only four but also a plurality of unit magnets can be combined and stacked up as desired with the magnetic pole faces kept attractive to each other at all times no matter which sides of the unit magnets face each other by arranging each unit magnet in such a manner that a plurality of north and south pole faces are alternately disposed on the surface of the magnet. The seventh form of the present invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel magnetic therapeutic device which has been greatly developed as compared with the prior art on the basis of the abovedescribed findings.

The magnetic therapeutic device provided by the present invention is of a novel type which is not found in the prior art, and the present invention may be carried out in the following seven practical forms (hereinafter referred to as the "first to seventh inventions", respectively):. 1. A pair of high-power magnets having enlarged contact surfaces. 2. A plurality of high-power magnets arranged in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed. 3. A plurality of high-power magnets arranged in a row in such a manner that the like poles of each pair of adjacent magnets face each other across a magnetically permeable ma- terial. 4. A contact surface formed in the shape of a plurality of projections which define alternately disposed north and south poles. 5. Four magnets having the same rectangular parallelepiped configuration, the magnets being combined together in such a manner that the north and south pole faces are alternately disposed in point symmetry with each other with respect to the center of the combined four magnets.

3 GB2196855A 3 6. A composite magnet formed by arranging a prime number of magnets having the same rectangular parallelepiped configuration in such a manner that the north and south pole faces which are made distinguishable from each 70 other are alternately, disposed.

7. A plate magnet having a surface on which are alternately disposed a plurality of north and south pole faces.

The above-described seven inventions are not necessarily independent of each other, but they are related to each other. Therefore, these practical forms should be appropriately selected and combined together in accordance with a particular use so that the combination may be most effective.

The arrangements of the practical forms of the present invention will be successively de scribed hereinunder in detail.

First Invention: The magnetic therapeutic device according to the first practical form of the present invention comprises a pair of high-power magnets 25 having wide contact surfaces, the contact surfaces of the magnets which face each other having opposite polarities. More preferably, each of the magnets which constitute a pair of halves is partially or entirely covered with a 30 protective member and connected therewith in one unit. The surface of each of the halves which is to be brought into contact with the human body (said surface will hereinafter be referred 35 to as the "contact surface") must be at least 1 CM2 wide. In general, the area of each contact surface is appropriately selected to be 2 CM2 or more and less than 200 CM2, preferably 5 CM2 or more and less than 100 CM2. If 40 the area of the contact surface is small, the action of magnetism on the human body is weak and therefore a relatively long time is required for treatment, whereas, if the contact area is excessively wide, although the action 45 and effect of magnetism are strong, it becomes troublesome to handle the magnetic therapeutic device, unfavorably. In general, the contact area is preferably selected to be less than about 100 CM2.

In treatment, the pair of halves of the mag- netic therapeutic device are usually held in both hands and applied to the affected part, and it is therefore preferable to form each half in the shape of a rod, a prism or the like which enables each half to be readily held 120 with one hand. A handle may be provided on each of the halves. The magnetic flux density at the contact surface of each half which is to be brought into contact with the human body is required to be 500 gauss or more in order to produce effects which are superior to those offered by the prior art. However, it is neces sary in order to obtain even more excellent therapeutic effects to set the magnetic flux density at at least 1,000 gauss, generally 2,000 gauss or more, and preferably 2,500 gauss or more. Further, in order to enhance the effect of magnetic lines of force on the human body, it is effective practice to employ a pair of high-power magnets having enlarged contact surfaces which characterize the present invention in such a manner that the contact surfaces of the magnets which face each other have opposite polarities.

Any type of magnet that has strong magnetic force may be employed in the present invention, and there is no specific restriction on the kind of magnet. However, highperformance rare-earth magnets which are generally employed may suitably be used as the highpower magnets. Among them, rareearth element-Co magnets and rare-earth element--Fe-B magnets may advantageously be employed.

It is, as a matter of course, possible to employ other types of magnet provided that the magnets employed have s;rong magnetic force, for example, platinum-Fe magnets, platinum-Co magnets, alnico magnets, and ferrite magnets. Sintered rare-earth magnets are particularly effective from the viewpoint of magnetic force, and plastic magnets which have excellent formability may, of course, be employed as long as they have strong mag- netic force.

The magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention can exhibit satisfactory therapeutic effects even in the form of a pair of high-power magnets alone, provided that the magnets have sufficiently wide contact surfaces. However, if each of the magnets is covered with a protective member and connected therewith in one unit, it is advantageous from the viewpoint of use, handling and therapeutic effect. In this case, the whole of each magnet including the contact surface may be covered with a protective member, depending upon the kind of protective member employed. However, in some cases, it is convenient that the contact surface alone is exposed. The protective member is made of a magnetically permeable material and/or a nonmagnetically permeable material.

In the case where a magnetically permeable material is employed for the protective mem ber, if the protective member is arranged so as to cover the whole of the magnet except for a part or the whole of the contact surface, the protective member advantageously forms a magnetic circuit to increase the magnetic flux density at the contact surface of the magnet. Examples of magnetically permeable materials which can advantageously be employed in the present invention include iron, iron-con- taining alloys such as steel, nickel, nickel-containing alloys, cobalt, cobalt-containing alloys, and combinations of these materials, although not necessarily limitative thereto. In this case, if the contact surface of the magnet is thinly coated with a non-magnetically permeable ma- 4 GB2196855A 4 terial such as plastics, leather, paper or cloth, the magnetic therapeutic device becomes soft to the touch when it is used on the human body, thus giving a favorable feel to the pa tient. If the coating is excessively thick, the magnetic flux density at the contact surface disadvantageously lowers to a substantial ex tent. An appropriate thickness of the coating is generally 2 mm or less, although it depends on the material employed.

In the case where a non-magnetically per meable material is employed for the protective member, each of the pair of magnets is par tially or entirely covered with the protective member and connected therewith in one unit.

When the contact surface is covered with a non-magnetically permeable material, if the protective member is excessively thick, the magnetic flux density at the contact surface unfavorably lowers to a substantial extent as described above.

Examples of non-magnetically permeable ma terial which may appropriately be employed for the protective member include metals such 25. as stainless steel, copper, a coppercontaining alloy, aluminum, and an aluminum-containing alloy, plastics, rubbers, cloth, paper, leather, wood and ceramics.

Practical examples of plastics which may ap propriately be employed in the present inven- 95 tion are polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl chloride resin, polyester, polyamide, acrylic re sin, polycarbonate, polyurethane, and ABS re sin, while practical examples of rubbers are natural rubbers and synthetic rubbers such as 100 buladiene-styrene rubber, butyl rubber, chloro prene rubber, and silicone rubber.

The protective member may be used in vari ous forms. The simplest method of using a non-magnetically permeable material for the 105 protective member is coating the whole of the high-power magnet with the material, or coat ing all the surfaces of the magnet except for a part or the whole of the contact surface thereof. The coating reinforces the high-per formance magnet so as to prevent it from being damaged during handling, and also en ables the magnet to be softly applied to the skin of the user under treatment, thus facilitat ing the therapeutic operation, advantageously. 115 The protective member may be provided by various coating methods, for example, ordi nary spray coating using liquid paint, baking, and electrostatic coating. When a plastic ma terial is employed for the protective member, 120 a coating can be formed advantageously and beautifully by fluidization dip coating using a plastic powder.

It is also possible to form the protective member by the use of plating techniques such 125 as dry or wet metal plating technique or com posite plating technique. In the case where the high-power magnet is covered with a nonmag netically permeable material, for example, a metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum-containing alloy, copper, or a copper-containing alloy, plastics, leather, paper, or cloth, it is possible to bond a foil, film or sheet of these materials to the magnet using an adhesive. It is also possible to put the magnet in a casing or bag of appropriate configuration which is formed from a material selected from the above-described group. In such a case, that portion of the casing or bag which faces the contact surface of the magnet may be opened. The magnet may also be used in the entirely enclosed state. It will be even more convenient if the protective member is arranged so as to be used also as a magnet accommodating case.

From these points of view, it will be considerably convenient and advantageous if the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention is further arranged as de- scribed below.

Namely, a pair of high-power magnets are respectively accommodated in magnet accommodating portions which are formed as described below in outer protective members made of, for example, wood or a plastic material, to form a magnetic therapeutic device consisting of a pair of halves. The magnets may be accommodated in the outer protective members after they have been covered with magnetically permeable protective members, or after they have been coated with a nonmagnetically permeable material, for example, paint or a plastic materials, or after they have been covered with sheets of aluminum or soft steel. The magnet accommodating portions are formed in the respective outer protective members in such a manner that, when the pair of halves are put together with their contact surfaces facing each other, a magnetic therapeutic device that consists of the pair of halves can be assembled. If the shape and size of each outer protective member are appropriately selected, it is possible to make the protective member easy to hold with a hand during treatment. Alternatively, a handle may be provided on the protective member, or it is also possible to detachably provide a band, an elastic string or the like on the protective member so that the device can readily be attached to the affected part.

It will be convenient and favorable in terms of the appearance of the device, if the pair of halves are so arranged that, when they are assembled together in one unit with their contact surfaces facing each other, the general shape of the device is columnar or prismatic. The protective members which define the magnet accommodating portions may be formed using any formable material regardless of whether it is magnetically permeable or not.

When a metallic material is employed for the protective members, there is no specific restriction on the kind of metal employed, and any formable metallic material may be em- ployed. It is, however, advantageous to select GB2196855A 5 a metal from those which are generally used, for example, iron, iron- containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel, copper, copper- containing alloys, aluminum, and aluminumcontaining alloys. Further, plastics and rubbers can also advantageously be employed.

In addition to the above, wood, woven fabric, paper, leather or ceramics can also be employed as a formed protective member or a constituent part of the protective member.

More specifically, an appropriate combination of a metal and a plastic material or wood enables formation of a protective member which is easy to use, excellent in the appear- ance and therefore gives a favorable impression on the user of the device.

The effective functional mechanism of the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention has not yet sufficiently been clarified. However, it has been found that, in the conventional magnetic therapeutic devices, the area of contact with the human body is exceedingly small, i.e., 1 CM2 or less, and the magnetic flux density at the contact surface is usually 1500 gauss or less at the most, whereas, in the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention the magnetic flux density at the contact surface of one half of the device is much higher than that of the prior art, i.e., 2,000 gauss or more in general, and 2,500 gauss or more in one preferred embodiment, and the contact area is also much wider than that of the prior art, i.e., 2 cm2 or more in general. Further, it may be considered that the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention exhibits great therapeutic effects which have not heretofore been expected because a pair of high-power magnets are used in such a man- ner that opposite magnetic poles face each other across the affected part or the magnets are placed side by side on the affected part in order to enhance the intensity of the magnetic field that acts on the human body during treatment.

In contrast to the conventional magnetic therapeutic devices which have been used only for exceedingly narrow affected parts of the human body, the magnetic therapeutic de- vice according to the present invention enables the peripheries of the affected part to be also magnetically stimulated. It is therefore conjectured that the activated tissues around the affected part have a favorable effect on the treatment of the affected part.

Second Invention:

The magnetic therapeutic device according to the second practical form of the present invention comprises a plurality of high-power magnets arranged in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed, thereby providing an enlarged contact surface. More preferably, the abovedescribed magnetic therapeutic device is paired with another device having the same arrangement in such a manner that the contact surfaces of those portions of these devices which face each other have opposite polarities.

In the present invention, a plurality of highpower magnets which constitute a magnetic therapeutic device are combined together in such a manner that the north and south poles of the magnets which are adjacent to each other directly or indirectly are alternately disposed, and there is no specific restrictions on the number of magnets employed and the way in which they are combined together. However, if two high-power magnets are com- bined together in one unit in such a manner that the north pole of one magnet is placed side by side with the south pole of the other magnet and a plurality of said units are assembled together as desired, the magnetic therapeutic device is able to be used for affected parts having various sizes, which is even more advantageous in practical use.

In the present invention, there is no specific restriction on the area of the contact surface, but the contact area is required to be at least 1 CM2 and it is appropriately selected to be 2 CM2 or more and less than 200 CM2. If the area of the contact surface is small, the action of magnetism on the human body is weak and therefore a relatively long time is required for treatment, whereas, if the contact area is excessively wide, although the action and effect of magnetism are strong, it becomes troublesome to handle the magnetic therapeutic de- vice, unfavorably. In general, therefore, the contact area is preferably selected to be less than about 100 CM2.

In the first invention, the present inventors have proposed a magnetic therapeutic device comprising a pair of high-power magnets each having a single wide contact surface. However, since the optimal contact area depends on each individual user and the kind of affected part, it is necessary in order to con- form to any cases to provide a large number of magnetic therapeutic devices having a wide variety of areas. In this point, since the present invention enables a plurality of magnets to be combined together as desired, it will readily be understood that, if there are prepared, for example, three different kinds of magnet which have contact areas of 1 CM2, 2 CM2 and 3 CM2, respectively, it is possible to obtain any contact area within the range from, 1 to 10 CM2, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 CM2. Accordingly, if a few different kinds of magnet are prepared in advance, the device is conveniently capable of conforming to affected parts of any size. Further, since the magnets can be stacked up, it is also possible to adjust the intensity of the magnetic force.

The magnetic flux density at the contact surface of each magnet which is to be brought into contact with the human body is 6 required to be 500 gauss or more in order to produce effects which are superior to those offered by the prior art. However, it is necessary in order to obtain even more excellent therapeutic effects to set the magnetic flux density at at least 1,000 gauss, generally 2,000 gauss or more, and preferably 2,500 gauss or more.

Any type of magnet that has strong mag- netic force may be employed in the present invention, and there is no specific restriction on the kind ofmagnet employed, in the same way as in the first invention. If a plurality of high-power magnets are combined together so that a wide contact surface is provided, the device is able to exhibit a satisfactory therapeutic effect. However, if the whole of the combination of the magnets is covered with a protective member in one unit, it is advan- tageous from the viewpoint of use, handling and therapeutic effect. The kind, arrangement and use of the protective member are com pletely the same as those in the above-de scribed first invention.

The effective functional mechanism of the 90 magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention may be considered to be the same as that of the first invention in regard to the fact that the contact area is enlarged.

However, since in this invention a plurality of high-power magnets are combined together in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed, a plurality of mag netic circuits are formed, and it is therefore considered that the magnetic lines of force act 100 inside the patient's body through the contact surface stronger than in the case of using a single magnet.

Further, it may be considered that the mag netic therapeutic device according to the pre- 105 sent invention exhibits great therapeutic ef fects which have not heretofore been ex pected because a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices are used in such a manner that oppo site magnetic poles face each other across the 110 affected part or the magnets are placed side by side on the affected part in order to en hance the intensity of the magnetic field that acts on the human body during treatment.

Another great feature of the present inven- 115 tion resides in that it is possible to apply a magnetic treatment to an optimal area-since a plurality of magnetic therapeutic devices are appropriately combined together as described above.

Third Invention:

The magnetic therapeutic device according to the third practical form of the present in- vention comprises a plurality of high-power magnets connected together in the magnetization direction in such a manner that the like poles of each pair of adjacent magnets face each other across a magnetically permeable material, thereby providing enlarged contact GB2196855A 6 surface. More preferably, the above-described magnetic therapeutic device is paired with another device having the same arrangement in such a manner that those portions of these devices which face each other have opposite polarities.

In the present invention, a plurality of highpower magnets which constitute a magnetic therapeutic device are combined together in such a manner that the like poles of each pair of adjacent magnets face each other across a magnetically permeable material, and there is no specific restrictions on the number of magnets employed and the way in which they are combined together. However, all the highpower magnets employed need to have substantially the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions. Dimensions in the longitudinal (magnetization) direction are not neces- sarily needed to be the same. As to the cross-sectional configuration, for example, a circular, elliptical or square configuration may be employed, but a square or rectangular cross-sectional configuration is generally convenient.

More specifically, the cross-sectional configuration of the magnets must be substantially the same as that of the magnetically permeable material, while the length of each magnet may be selected as desired within such a range that the magnetic flux is not saturated in relation to the outer peripheral surface.

As to the magnetically permeable material that is interposed between the like poles of each pair of adjacent magnets, it is possible to employ a metal selected from among iron, nickel, cobalt, and alloys containing these metals, but it is generally advantageous to employ iron or soft steel.

Since the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention enables appropriate selection of the dimensions of constituent high-power magnets, it is possible to increase as desired the number of constituent magnets for the same configuration and dimensions of magnetic therapeutic devices.

Generally speaking, for magnetic therapeutic devices of the same configuration and dimensions, the larger the number of constituent highpower magnets, that is, the larger the number of magnetic circuits, the greater the effect. Accordingly, the therapeutic effect of the present invention is greater than those which are offered by the first and second in- ventions, since the magnetic therapeutic de- vice according to the present invention has a larger number of magnetic circuits per unit area than those of the devices according to the first and second inventions.

In the present invention, the area of the sur face which is to be brought into contact with the human body needs to be at least 1 CM2 and said area is suitably selected to be 2 CM2 or more and less than 200 CM2, which is the same as in the first and second inventions.

7 GB2196855A 7 In the first invention, the present inventors have proposed a magnetic therapeutic device comprising a pair of high-power magnets each having a single wide contact surface. However, since the optimal contact area depends on each individual user and the kind of affected part, it is necessary in order to conform to any cases to provide a large number of magnetic therapeutic devices having a wide variety of areas. In this point, since the present invention enables a plurality of magnets to be combined together as desired, if there are prepared, for example, one kind of magnetically permeable materials which have the same cross-sectional configuration and a few different kinds of magnets having different contact areas, the device is conveniently capable of conforming to affected parts of any size.

The configuration of the therapeutic device, 85 the magnetic flux density at the contact sur face, and the kind of magnets employed in this invention are similar to those in the above-described first and second inventions.

In the present invention, if a plurality of high-power magnets are merely combined to gether so that a wide contact surface is pro vided, the device is able to exhibit a satisfac tory therapeutic effect. However, if the whole of the combination of the magnets is covered 95 with a protective member in one unit, it will be advantageous from the viewpoint of use, handling and therapeutic effect, which is the same as that in the case of the above-de scribed first and second inventions. The kind, 100 arrangement and use of the protective mem ber are also completely the same as those in the first and second inventions.

The effective functional mechanism of the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention may be considered to be the same as the first invention in regard to the fact that the contact area is enlarged. How ever, 'since in this invention a plurality of high power magnets are combined together in such a manner that the like poles of each pair of adjacent magnets face each other across a magnetically permeable material, a plurality of magnetic circuits are formed and strong mag netic lines of force extend circumferentially from the magnetically permeable material inter posed between each pair of adjacent magnets.

It is therefore considered that the magnetic lines of force act inside the patient's body through the contact surface stronger than in the case of using a single magnet. Further, it is possible to apply a magnetic treatment to an optimal area since a plurality of magnets are appropriately combined together in the same manner as in the second invention.

Fourth Invention:

The magnetic therapeutic device according to the fourth practical form of the present in vention comprises a contact surface which is 130 to be brought into contact with the human body, said surface being formed in the shape of a plurality of projections which define alternately disposed north and south poles.

The projecting magnetic poles may be formed on the contact surface by, for example, divisionally magnetizing an integrallyformed piece, or assembling together unit magnets each having a pair of north and south poles or unit maghets each having a plurality of pairs of poles. It is also convenient to adopt a method in which the magnet portion and the projection portion are first formed separately from each other and then combined together in one unit. If the projection portion is made of a magnetically permeable material and combined with the magnet portion, the magnetic therapeutic device is conveniently handled and the therapeutic effect is even more remarkable. In addition, the following various methods may be applied to the present invention.

Since the magnet according to the present invention has projecting magnetic poles which define north and south poles alternately disposed on the contact surface which is to be brought into the human body, the projection portion bites deep into the contact portion of the patient's body, that is, the affected part or the therapeutic point, and the projection portion stimulates the body and causes magnetic lines of force to act on the affected part strongly. More specifically, it is considered that, since the magnet according to the present invention has a plurality of projecting magnetic poles, the magnetic flux density in the vicinity of each projection is increased as compared with the magnet structure which has no projection, and at the same time, the projecting poles form a plurality of magnetic circuits. Thus, the therapeutic effect of the device according to the present invention is much superior to that offered by the prior art.

When the present invention is practiced, a satisfactory therapeutic effect can be expected if there are provided several to several tens of projecting magnetic poles per contact area of 1 CM2 although there is no specific restriction on the number of projecting magnetic poles as long as they are producible. In particular, when four projecting magnetic poles are formed on the contact surface, it is convenient for production and handling. In this case, the area of the contact surface which is to be brought into contact with the human body may be set as desired in accordance with the area of the treated portion of the patient's body. There is no specific restriction on the configuration of the contact surface, and it may have the shape of a circle, ellipse, ring (doughnut-shape), rectangle, hexagon or octagon, in addition to the above-described square configuration. There are no specific restrictions on the configuration and number of projections either, but it is generally appropriate to 8 GB2196855A 8 set the height of the projections at 10 mm or less. As to the configuration of the projec tions, it is possible to adopt conical, columnar and pyramidal configurations as well as frus tums thereof, such as a frusto-conical configu ration. It is particularly convenient for stimula tion to therapeutic points if each projecting magnetic pole has the shape of a rounded cone having a diameter of about 1 to 2 mm and a height of about 3 to 7 mm. There is no specific restriction on the spacing between the projecting magnetic poles, and it is generally preferable to uniformly distribute the projecting magnetic poles on the contact surface at spacings of about 3 to 7 mm. In the case 80 where the projecting poles have the shape of a frustum, if the spacing between each pair of adjacent poles is reduced, the projecting poles may define a structure which is similar to a plate having a flat surface which is provided with slits. Even in this case, the magnetic flux density is higher than that in the case of a flat surface having no slits. In addition, since such truncated magnetic poles can readily be pro duced, this magnet structure is advantageous.

The above-described projections and the mag netic poles are not necessarily needed to be in one-to-one correspondence to each other, and a plurality of projections may define each north or south magnetic pole. In some cases, such an arrangement is even more convenient for production.

As described above, the magnet according to the present invention can be produced by divisionally magnetizing a single magnet in such a manner that a plurality of north and south magnetic poles are alternately disposed, and it is also possible to form the magnet according to the present invention by combin ing together a plurality of unit magnets each having a single pair of north and south poles or a plurality of unit magnets each having a plurality of pairs of poles (e.g., four magnetic poles), and assembling them in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately 110 disposed on the contact surface. In this case, the unit magnets may be connected together in one unit by a generally known method or the methods mentioned in the description of the second invention. More specifically, it is 115 possible to advantageously use a method in which the unit magnets are secured to each other using an adhesive, a method in which the magnets are covered with a sheet of a non-magnetically permeable material, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum-containing alloy, copper, or a copper-containing alloy, and a method in which the magnets are secured by being coated with a pro- tective member which may be formed from a material selected from among plastics, rubbers, leather, paper and woven fabric. Practical examples of plastics and rubbers are the same as those mentioned in the description of the first invention, and many plastics and rub- 130 bers can be employed in this embodiment.

In the case where the magnet according to the present invention is formed by divisionally magnetizing a single magnet also, a protective member may advantageously be used in the same manner as that mentioned in the description of the first invention with a view to facilitating the handling of the magnet.

It is also effective means to cover an appro priate portion of the magnet surface, e.g., the bottom surface, with a foil, film, plate or the like of a magnetically permeable material selected from among iron, nickel, cobalt and alloys containing these metals for the purpose of increasing the magnetic flux density at the contact surface and protecting as well as rein forcing the magnet. It is also possible to employ a plastic magnet to constitute the whole, and this arrangement is even more advan- tageous from the economical point of view. Although the above-described magnet according to the present invention is formed from unit magnets combined together in one unit, i is not always necessary to form the whole structure from unit magnets only, but the arrangement may be such that the projection portion alone is formed from a magnet and the substrate is formed from a magnetically permeable material, or the arrangement may be such that the projection portion is formed from a magnetically permeable material and the substrate is formed from a magnet. In the former case, if each of the projections is defined by, for example, a frusto-conical magnet having either the north or south pole, projecting magnetic poles can be disposed on the substrate with a desired distribution and at desired spacings, whereas, in the latter case, it is possible to provide a desired number of projections on the same one pole and therefore this arrangement may be even more effective for treatment according to the conditions of the affected part. If the projection portion is formed from a magnetically permeable material having a large saturation magnetization value such as soft steel, the magnetic flux density at the projections may be increased to enhance the therapeutic effect as compared with the arrangement in which the whole structure is formed from unit magnets combined together in one unit. The projection portion is not necessarily needed to be formed from a magnetically permeable material, but it is also possible to produce the projection portion using stainless steel, an aluminum-containing-alloy, a plastic material or a ceramic material so that stimulation to the affected part and the action of magnetic lines of force thereon are shared between the two portions. Such an arrangement enables stimulation to be given to the human body in an increased number of ways, for example, it is possible to softly apply the magnet to the affected part. If the height of the projection portion is set at a relatively small value, there 9 GB2196855A 9 is substantially no lowering in the effect of magnetic lines of force produced by the mag net which defines the substrate. By varying said height, it is possible to control the inten sity of the magnetic lines of force and also produce other various advantageous effects.

For example, if the above-described arrange ment is applied to the soles of slippers or shoes, it is possible to produce an effect which is similar to that obtained by "stepping on a green bamboo", and the action of mag netic lines of force is added to this favorable effect. Therefore, it is possible to expect an improvement in the user's health and an en hancement of his physical strength. If a similar arrangement is applied to a headband, belly band, corset or the like which are continu ously put in contact with the human body, the above-described favorable effects can be ex pected. For these uses, it is particularly advan tageous practice to form the whole structure using the above-described plastic magnet.

In the case where the magnet according to the present invention is formed from a plural ity of unit magnets, a material which is se lected from among various magnetically per meable materials and non-magnetically perme able materials may be interposed between each pair of adjacent magnets. In some case, such an arrangement increases the magnetic flux density or enables the flux density to be controlled, advantageously.

There is no specific restriction on the kind of magnet which may be employed in the pre sent invention, and it is possible to select any magnet from among those which are generally placed on the market and used, such as ferrite magnets, alnico magnets, rare-earth magnets and plastic magnets employing them. Among them, rare-earth magnets are particularly ad vantageous since they have strong magnetic force and therefore it is advantageously pos sible to reduce the size.

When the magnet according to the present invention is used for magnetic therapy, it may be pressed against the affected part by hand.

When the contact surface of the magnet is relatively small, the magnet may be secured to the affected part using an adhesive band or the like, thus advantageously enabling the magnet to be used for a long period of time.

Fifth Invention:

The composite magnet according to the fifth practical form of the present invention com- 120 prises four magnets of substantially the same rectangular parallelepiped configuration which are arranged in such a manner that the north and south pole faces are alternately disposed in point symmetry with each other with re spect to the center of the combined four mag nets as viewed along a plane which is perpen dicular to the magnetization direction. More preferably, a plurality of said composite mag nets are combined together three-dimension- 130 ally, each composite magnet being used as a unit. More specifically, four magnets of the same configuration are combined together in such a manner that the north and south pole faces are disposed as shown in the drawings described later. Usually, four magnets are bonded together in one unit, but it is also possible to magnetize a single rectangular parallelepiped magnet in such a manner that the north and south pole faces are alternately disposed in point symmetry with each other with respect to the center of the magnet, to thereby finish a magnet having the same arrangement as that of the above- described composite magnet. This alternative form is also included in the technical field of the present invention. In the case where a plurality of composite magnets according to the present invention which have the above- described ar- rangement are used in one set, when any two of the composite magnets are put together in such a manner that their respective surfaces which are of the same kind, that is, which have the same area are brought into contact with each other, these surfaces inevitably attract each other and no repulsive force acts therebetween. More specifically, since each composite magnet is a rectangular parallelepiped, it has three different kinds 'of surface each consisting of two surfaces. In the case of the present invention, when two composite magnets are put together, no matter which sides of the magnets face each other, attractive force always acts between their respec- tive surfaces which are brought into contact with each other as long as these surfaces are of the same kind. Although it is a commonly accepted idea that two magnets inevitably attract and repel each other at their predeter- mined surfaces, respectively, two composite magnets according to the present invention always attract each other and no repulsive force acts therebetween, which is a remarkable phenomenon mon idea.

Magnets have heretofore been employed for a variety of uses for the purpose of utilizing the attractive force or magenetism produced thereby, and it is general practice to use a single magnet in the case where very strong attractive force or magnetic force is not needed. When strong atractive force or magnetic force is required, or when a wide attractive area or magnetic force acting area is needed, a single magnet cannot satisfy the requirements, and a plurality of magnets are used in combination. In such a case, a plurality of magnets may be combined together in such a manner that unit magnets that have a predetermined size are produced and these unit magnets are assembled, one by one, with their north or south poles disposed alternately and adjacent to each other. When the required level of attractive force or the necessary size of magnetic force acting area is attained, the that overthrows the corn- GB2196855A 10 unit magnets are connected together in one unit by various methods so as to be used as a single composite magnet. In this case, a magnetically permeable material such as iron, nickel or an alloy thereof may be interposed between each pair of adjacent unit magnets to form necessary magnetic circuits in order to control the level of magnetic action on the object or facilitate the attracting and separat ing operations. In regard to these points, this invention is the same as the above-described second and third inventions.

However, when a plurality of unit magnets which are prepared according to the methods mentioned in the description of the second and third inventions are combined together so as to be used as a composite magnet, it is necessary to check the magnetization direction (i.e., the north and south poles) of each unit magnet, inconveniently. In particular, when unit magnets have a large size, or when they are rare-earth magnets which have strong mag netic force, the weight of each unit magnet and the levels of attractive and repulsive forces thereof must be estimated and it is troublesome to handle them. Accordingly, the composite magnet cannot readily be assem bled, disassembled and detached.

In either case of conventional single mag nets or composite magnets assembled by the above-described method, if two unit magnets are handled without distinction therebetween, repulsive force acts between the surfaces of the same kind, while attractive force acts be tween the surface of different kinds. This means that, as the number of unit magnets to be combined together increases, the assembly becomes more troublesome. In other words, when strong attractive force or a wide mag netic force acting area is needed in actual use, the handling of unit magnets is even more troublesome. When a magnet is used as a magnetic therapeutic device for medical treat ment that utilizes magnetism, it is common practice to employ a pair or set of composite magnets each consisting of a plurality of unit magnets for the purpose of enhancing the therapeutic effect. In such a case, unit mag nets are appropriately combined together or detached from each other in order to impart strong magnetic force to each composite magnet or provide an area of action (contact area) which may be suitable for a particular affected part. Therefore, repulsive force or at tractive force which acts between the unit magnets is strong and the handling of the unit magnets is even more troublesome. In many cases, magnetic therapeutic devices are used by persons who have week eyesight and rela tively weak physical strength. Therefore, it is 125 difficult for them to combine together unit magnets which are heavy and have strong re pulsive or attractive force, and it is likely that they will mistakenly have their hands or skin nipped or pinched between unit magnets. Ac- 130 cordingly, it has heretofore been desired to develop a magnetic therapeutic device which is easy to handle. In these circumstances, the present inventors made exhaustive studies and have accomplished the present invention which overcomes all the problems which have been experienced when the prior art is handled '

When a plOality of composite magnets ac- cording to the present invention are to be used in one set, the magnets are assembled into a necessary size by successively combining them together in such a manner that the respective surfaces having the same area are brought into contact with each other so as to attract and adhere to each other.

The feature of composite magnets according to the present invention resides in that attractive force always acts between the opposing surfaces of two magnets and no repulsive force acts therebetween no matter which sides of the magnets face each other, as long as the these surfaces are those which have the same area. The principle on which the present invention is based is not very difficult to understand. More specifically, when two composite magnets each of which defines a smallest unit consisting of four magnets of the same configuration are placed side by side with the surfaces of the same area facing each other, the north and south pole faces are inevitably disposed alternately around the center of each composite magnet, and everv when it is rotated through 180' within the same plane, the arrangement of the pole faces is the same as that before the rotation. In other words, there is no change in the circumstances. Accordingly, when these composite magnets are brought into contact with each other, they always attract and adhere to each other since the north and south pole faces inevitably face each other regardless of the direction of each magnet. Although the other two different kinds of surface are not perpen- dicular to the orientation direction of the magnetic field, two surfaces of the same kind are similarly in the north and south relation to each other. Therefore, when two composite magnets are brought into contact with each other at these surfaces (those which have the same area), the surfaces inevitably attract and adhere to each other. However, in the case of two composite magnets in which the four magnets are combined together in such a manner that the north and south poles are in mirror image relation (i.e., line symmetry) to each other, these composite magnets magnetically adhere to each other while being offset from each other to a considerable extent rather than being aligned with each other as in the case of the above. Therefore, when a plurality of composite magnets according to the present invention are used in one set, it is preferable to form the set from composite magnets each consisting of unit magnets 11 GB2196855A 11 which are combined together in point symme try with each other. In the case where compo site magnets of the type described above are combined together three-dimensionally, that is, in the X-, Y- and Z-directions, when the sur faces of the same area are placed along the same plane, the pole faces having opposite polarities inevitably face each other, and the magnets therefore attract and adhereto each other without any fear of repulsive force act ing therebetween.

Thus, the composite magnets according to the present invention have the unique nature that they always attract and adhere to each other and no repulsive force acts there between. Accordingly, the present invention may be used in many fields. More specifically, the composite magnets according to the pre sent invention may be used as means which are much convenient than the conventional magnets, for example, connecting, fastening and clamping means for industrial use, learning materials, toys, playthings, sports equipment, etc. Further, when the composite magnet ac cording to the present invention is used, for example, as a magnetic therapeutic device that utilizes magnetism, the level of attractive force and the size of magnetic force acting area of the magnet can be adjusted as desired in ac cordance with a particular object and purpose, and it is easy to handle unit magnets when the magnet is assembled, disassembled or de tached. Thus, the magnetic therapeutic device is considerably convenient. The composite magnet according to the present invention is expected to be used in various other fields.

There is no specific restriction on the kind of magnet which can be employed in the pre sent invention, and any magnets which are generally placed on the market may be used, for example, ferrite magnets, alnico magnets, and rear-earth magnets. Among them, rare earth magnets are particularly advantageously employed since they have strong magnetic force and therefore it is possible to reduce the size. There is no specific restriction on the size of unit magnets, provided that they are producible, and the size of unit magnets may be selected as desired in accordance with each individual use. However, if the size of unit magnets is excessively large, they may undesirably limit the range within which they can be combined together to obtain the re quired level of magnetic force. Accordingly, the size of unit magnets is preferably selected 120 to fall within the range from several millimet ers to several tens of millimeters.

The composite magnet according to the pre sent invention is particularly advantageously used as a magnetic therapeutic device since it can overcome various disadvantages of the prior art. In this case, there is no specific restriction on the size of each of the four unit magnets, and the size of unit magnets may be determined so as to be suitable for a particu- 130 lar treatment. For example, if the affected part to which the device is to be applied is limited to an exceedingly narrow range, it is preferable to use a composite magnet which is ar- ranged to be as small possible. By so doing, when the device is to be applied to an affected part which is slightly larger than the above, it is possible to immediately cope with the situation by adding an appropriate number of unit magnets to the previously arranged composite magnet in accordance with the size of the affected part, which is considerably convenient. When the affected part which needs medical treatment is relatively wide, or when there is a need for a magnet having a relatively wide contact surface, if several different kinds of unit composite magnet which have the same area are prepared, they can be combined together appropriately and it is therefore possible to reduce the number of unit magnets to be used. In any case, since the composite magnet according to the present invention has a plurality of magnetic circuits, the magnet provides stronger magnetic force and hence stronger attractive force than those of a single magnet having the same area. In other words, to obtain the same level of magnetic force, the area can be reduced correspondingly, and therefore it is convenient from the economical point of view.

In the case where the composite magnet according to the present invention is used as a magnetic therapeutic device, it is preferable to enable the position of the center of the magnet to be readily distinguished when the device is brought into contact with the affected part since many persons who use such devices have weak sight as described above. For this purpose, a plurality of small projec- tions may be provided on the reverse side of the device with respect to the contact surface and in the vicinity of the center of the combination of unit magnets, so that the center of the device can readily be distinguished and the device can accurately be brought into contact with the essential point of the affected part. The above-described arrangement is particularly effective in the case where a plurality of composite magnets each consisting of four unit magnets are combined together horizontally and the contact surface is therefore relatively wide. Although there is no specific restriction on the number of projections, it is usually convenient if four projections are provided in the center. The provision of such projections offers another advantage. Namely, in many cases, it is difficult to separate the stacked composite magnets from each other, but the provision of the projections enables the stacked magnets to be separated from each other considerably easily. If such projections are provided on the contact surface and they are pressed against the affected part, the therapeutic point is stimulated thereby, thus producing a favorable effect similar to that 12 GB2196855A 12 mentioned in the description of the fourth in vention. The projections are preferably formed in the shape of a rounded cone having a dia meter of about 2 to 4 mm and a height of about 1 to 2 mm. There is no specific restric tion on the method of providing the projec tions. For example, such projections may be provided on a protective member, e.g., an alu minum sheet, which covers a composite mag net so that the projections may be disposed at a predetermined position. The protective member is preferably coated with a plastic material or the like for the same reason as that for the protective member which will be described later.

A composite magnet according to the pre sent invention which defines a unit consists of four unit magnets which may be connected together by a generally known method or the methods mentioned in the description of the second invention. More specifically, it is pos sible to advantageously use a method in which the unit magnets are secured to each other using an adhesive, a method in which the magnets are covered with a sheet of a non-magnetically permeable material, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, an alumi num-containing alloy, copper, or a copper-con taining alloy, and a method in which the mag nets are secured by being coated with a pro- 95 tective member which may be formed from a material selected from among plastics, rub bers, leather, paper and woven fabric. Practi cal examples of plastics and rubbers are the same as those mentioned in the description of 100 the first invention, and many plastics and rub bers can be employed in this embodiment.

The protective member may be used in vari ous forms. The simplest method of using a non-magnetically permeable material for the 105 protective member is coating the whole of the composite magnet with the material. The coating reinforces the composite magnet so as to prevent it from being damaged during handling, and also enables the magnet to be 110 softly applied to the skin of the user under treatment, thus facilitating the therapeutic op eration, advantageously.

In addition, it is also possible to employ various other coating methods such as metal plating, composite plating, and fluidization dip coating of a plastic powder, as well as an accommodating method using a protective member, as mentioned in the description of the first invention.

It is also possible, when the composite magnet according to the present invention is formed, to interpose a foil, sheet or the like of a magnetically permeable material selected from among iron, nickel, cobalt and alloys containing these metals between each pair of adjacent unit magnets constituting the compo site magnet for the purpose of increasing the magnetic flux density at the contact surface and reinforcing the magnet.

Sixth Invention:

The composite magnet according to the sixth practical form of the present invention comprises a prime number of magnets having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped configuration in which the respective surfaces of the magnets which are perpendicular to the magnetization direction have the same shape, the magnets being combined together in such a manner that the north and south pole faces are alternately disposed. In an alternative form, a plurality of said composite magnets are combined together threedimensionally to constitute a composite magnet. More specifically, a prime number (2, 3, 5. ..) of magnets having the same shape are combined together in such a manner that the north and south pole faces are alternately disposed as shown in the accompanying drawings (described later).

It is also possible to magnetize a single rectangular parallelepiped magnet in such a manner that the north and south pole faces are alternately disposed, to thereby finish a magnet having the same arrangement as that of the abovedescribed composite magnet. This alternative form is also included in the technical field of the present invention. In the case where a plurality of composite magnets according to the present invention which has the above-described arrangement are used in one set, the composite magnets can be combined together in such a manner that, when their respective surfaces which are of the same kind, that is, which have the same area, are brought into contact with each other, these surfaces inevitably attract each other and no repulsive force acts therebetween.

In the case of the present invention, when a prime number of rectangular parallelepiped unit magnets are arranged in a row, two different kinds of combination of magnetic poles are usually formed. If these two different kinds of combination are made distinguishable from each other by means which will be described later, they can be handled in the same way as that of the composite magnet according to the fifth invention which consists of four unit mag- nets.

Since each composite magnet is a rectangular parallelepiped, it has three different kinds of surface each consisting of two surfaces. In the case of the present invention, when two composite magnets are put together, no matter which sides of the magnets face each other, attractive force always acts between their respective surfaces which are brought into contact with each other as long as these surfaces are of the same kind. Although it is a commonly accepted idea that two magnets inevitably attract and repel each other at their predetermined surfaces, respectively, when two different kinds of composite magnet according to the present invention which are 13 GB2196855A 13 made distinguishable from each other are combined together, they always attract each other and no repulsive force acts therebetween. Accordingly, it is possible to readily handle the composite magnets according to the present invention.

When a plurality of composite magnets according to the present invention are to be used in one set, the magnets are assembled into a necessary size by successively combining them together in such a manner that the respective surfaces having the same area are brought into contact with each other so as to attract each other as described above.

The feature of the composite magnets ac- cording to the present invention resides in that attractive force always acts between the opposing surfaces of two different kinds of combination of magnetic poles and no repul sive force acts therebetween no matter which 85 sides of the magnets face each other, as long as the these surfaces are those which have the same area. The principle on which the present invention is based is not very difficult to understand. More specifically, when two composite magnets each of which defines a smallest unit consisting of a prime number of magnets of the same configuration are placed side by side with the surfaces of the same area facing each other, the north and south pole faces are inevitably disposed alternately, and even when it is rotated through 180' within the same plane, the arrangement of the pole faces is the same as that before the rotation. Accordingly, when these composite 100 magnets are brought into contact with each other in such a manner that the pole faces having opposite polarities face each other by virtue of the above-described distinguishing means, they always attract and adhere to each other. Although the other two different kinds of surface are not perpendicular to the orientation direction of the magnetic field, two surfaces of the same kind (i.e., the same area) are similarly in the north and south relation to 110 each other. Therefore, when these surfaces are brought into contact with each other, they always attract and adhere to each other. In order to ensure the distinction between the two different kinds of combination, it is pre- 115 ferable, for example, to put different colors only to the respective upper surfaces of unit magnets as shown in the accompanying drawings (described later) so as to serve as the above-described distinguishing means, thus enabling a plurality of composite magnets to be readily combined together.

When these two different kinds of composite magnet are used as unit composite mag- nets and combined together three-dimension- 125 ally, i.e., in the X-, Y- and Z-directions, the composite magnets always attract each other if they are placed along the same plane with their respective surfaces of the same area 65 facing each other and without any error in said distinction, and it is therefore possible to form a composite magnet having a desired size. It is also possible to use the composite magnet thus arranged as a unit and combine together a plurality of such composite magnets to form a larger composite magnet. In particular, when each of the unit magnets has a pair of pole faces on either side thereof, a pair of such unit magnets can be combined together to form a composite magnet having four poles faces on either side thereof, and a larger composite magnet can be formed using said composite magnets as units. In such a case, it is necessary to adopt distinguishing means such as that described above.

Thus, if the distinguishing means is provided, the composite magnet according to the sixth invention is able to be handled and used in the same way as that of the composite magnet according to the fifth invention. For example, the composite magnet according to this invention may similarly be used as a magnetiq therapeutic device. If several different kinds of unit magnet having surfaces of the same areas, e.g., 1 MM2, 2 MM2 and 3 MM2 or 1 CM2, 2 CM2 and 3 cm2, are prepared with a view to providing a magnet having a suitable contact area in accordance with the area of the affected part which needs medical treatment, it is possible to combine together an appropriate number of unit magnets, so that it is possible to minimize the total number of unit magnets to be used.

In any event, since the composite magnet according to the sixth invention has a plurality of magnetic circuits, it is able to give stronger magnetic force and hence stronger attractive force than those of a single magnet having the same area. In other words, to obtain the same level of magnetic force, the area can be reduced correspondingly, which is advantageous from the economical point of view.

Since the composite magnet according to this invention may have magnetic circuits which are different from those in the case of the composite magnet according to the fifth invention which consists of four unit magnets, even more superior therapeutic effect may be produced as shown in Therapeutic Examples (described later) although the functional mechanism of the present invention has not yet been clarified. The composite magnet according to the present invention which defines a unit is composed of a prime number of unit magnets, and two different kinds of combination of magnetic pole faces are inevitably produced as described above. For example, when three unit magnets are combined together, two different kinds of combination of pole faces, i.e., N-S-N and S-N-S, must be made distinguishable from each other by some effective means. If, for example, two different colors, e.g. , red and white for N and S, respectively, are painted on the alternate upper surfaces of the unit magnets which upper sur- 14 GB2196855A 14 face are perpendicular to the magnetization di rection, the two different kinds of combination can readily be distinguished from each other by examining the upper surfaces only. It is a matter of course that, when a rectangular par- 70 allelepiped is turned upside down, the other kind of pole face appears on the upper side of the parallelepiped, and therefore, it suffices to prepare only one kind of unit magnets. It is convenient practice for handling unit magnets 75 that they are divided into two groups after the production and two groups are respectively painted with two different colors (for example, the north pole faces alone may be painted, or the north and south pole faces may be painted with two different colors, respec tively), and when unit magnets are combined together in one unit, they are covered with a transparent protective member. When an opa que protective member is employed, it is pre ferable not to cover the whole of the compo site magnet but to leave one side of the pro tective member exposed in order to enable distinction. In addition to the use of different colors, it is possible to appropriately utilize other means, for example, provision of a groove or a projection only on the north pole face.

Unit magnets may be connected together in one unit by any method selected from those mentioned in the description of the first to fifth inventions, for example, a method in which an adhesive is employed to rigidly se cure the combined unit magnets. Also, various kinds of protective member may be used in 100 order to reinforces the composite magnet and also to enable the magnet to be softly applied to the skin of the user under treatment, thus facilitating the therapeutic operation, advanta geously, as mentioned in the description of the foregoing inventions. In addition, it is also possible to employ various other coating methods such as metal plating, composite plating, and fluidization dip coating of a plastic powder, as well as an accommodating method 110 using a protective member, as mentioned in the description of the first to fifth inventions.

In the sixth invention, it is a particularly sim ple way of connecting unit magnets together in one unit to cover the combined unit magnets, which have already been provided with distinguishing means, with a transparent protective member. Among various protective means, a protective member which is formed by fluidization dip coating of a transparent plastic powder is particularly convenient. In the case of using an opaque protective member, it is necessary to enable two different kinds of composite magnet to be distinguisha- ble from each other. In any case, some con- 125 sideration is needed to prevent the distingu ishing means from being obstructed by the protective member.

Seventh Invention:

The plate magnet according to the seventh practical form of the present invention cornprises a magnet having substantially plateshaped configuration, the magnet being magnetized in a direction perpendicular to its surface in such a manner that a plurality of north and south pole faces are alternately disposed on said surface. In an alternative form, a plurality of said plate magnets are used as units and stacked up to define a composite plate magnet.

The magnetic pole faces may be formed by combining together unit plate magnets having the same configuration, or divisionally magnet- izing a single plate magnet so that a plurality of magnetic poles are formed on the surface of the magnet.

More specifically, the magnetic pole faces may by formed by employing a plurality of unit plate magnets of the same polygonal configuration, for example, a triangular, rectangular, square, rhombic, parallelogram-shaped or hexagonal configuration. It is also possible to combine together unit plate magnets having different configurations. In short, the present invention includes magnet structures in which a plate magnet is divided by a plurality of boundary lines in such a manner that the divided regions are disposed around one point.

Accordingly, there is no specific restriction on the configuration of the magnetic pole faces, and it is possible to employ various configurations, for example, polygonal, circular, elliptical and doughnut-shaped configurations. In short, it is possible to combine together a plurality of unit plate magnets, provided that they are able to cover a magnetic pole face having a particular configuration without any gap, and it is also possible to divisionally magnetize a sin- gle plate magnet so as to provide a plurality of magnetic poles.

In the case where a plurality of plate magnets according to the present invention which have the abovedescribed arrangement are used in one set, when any two of the plate magnets of the same configuration are stacked up, attractive force always acts therebetween no matter which sides of the magnets are brought into contact with each other. Even when the two plate magnets do not have the same configuration, if their boundary lines between the north and south poles are coincident with each other, they always attract and adhere to each other and no repulsive force acts therebetween.

Although it is a commonly accepted idea that two magnets inevitably attract and repel each other at their predetermined surfaces, respectively, two plate magnets according to the present invention always attract and adhere to each other and no repulsive force acts therebetween, which is a remarkable phenomenon that overthrows the common idea. Accordingly, when a plurality of plate magnets according to the present invention are used in GB2196855A 15 the form of a stack, it is possible to obtain the required level of magnetic force and at tractive force simply by stacking them up as desired. If any desired two plate magnets are put together, attractive force always acts ther ebetween no matter which sides of the mag nets are brought into contact each other.

Thus, when plate magnets according to the present invention are put together, they always attract and adhere to each other and no repulsive force acts therebetween no mat ter which magnetic pole faces of the magnets are brought into contact with each other, pro vided that the plate magnets have the same configuration or the boundary lines between the magnetic poles of the magnets are coinci dent with each other. The principle of this phenomenon may be considered as follows.

When two magnets having the same configu ration are brought into contact with each other, the most stable energy condition of the system is usually reached when the opposite poles (north and south poles) of the opposing surfaces are in close contact with each other.

Therefore, when the north and south poles are disposed in opposing relation to each other, they attract and adhere to each other and the two magnets eventually become sta bilized in this stationary state. Accordingly, as the respective north and south pole faces of two single magnets having the same configu ration are moved toward each other, they at tract to adhere to each other and become sta bilized smoothly. On the other hand, as the like magnetic pole faces, i.e., the north poles, or the south poles, are moved toward each other, they repel each other and never come to close contact with each other, so that the two magnets can not become stabilized. In this case, if either one of the magnets is al lowed to move, it rotates through 180', and the opposing magnetic pole faces of the two magnets attract and come to close contact with each other and the magnets eventually become stabilized. This shows that both re pulsive and attractive forces act to bring the two magnets into the most stable condition.

In the plate magnet according to the present invention, a plurality of north and south pole faces are alternately disposed on the plate surface. Accordingly, when the magnetic pole faces of any two plate magnets are moved toward each other, no repulsive force acts in such a manner as to cause one magnet to rotate through 180' as described above, but the plate magnets move within a plane which is parallel to the magnetic pole faces and then - smoothly become stabilized in the close con tact state in the position where the opposite poles face each other. In other words, the plate magnets can be stacked up smoothly. In this case, for the magnetic pole faces having the same area, as the number of north and south poles on the magnetic pole faces in creases, the opposing magnetic pole faces of 130 two plate magnets come to close contact-with each other and become stabilized even more smoothly. If the number of said north and south poles increases infinitely, two plate magnets will be able to come to close contact with each other and become stabilized without any need to move from the position where the magnetic pole faces are first disposed in opposing relation to each other. For example, a disk-shaped plate magnet has a possibility of rotating through 360'/n (n: the number of magnetic poles). More specifically, when the number of magnetic poles is 2, 4 and 8, the magnet may rotate through 180', 90' and 45' at maximum, respectively. Accordingly, as n increases, the range within which the magnet may rotate decreases.

When the present invention is practiced, there is no specific restriction on the configu- ration of the magnetic pole faces, and various configurations such as circular, elliptical, annular (doughnut-shaped), square, rectangular, hexagonal and octagonal configurations may conveniently be employed. There are no spe- cific restrictions on the size and area of the magnetic pole faces either, provided that they are producible, and the size of unit magnets may be selected as desired in accordance with each individual use. However, if the size of the magnetic pole faces is excessively large, they may undesirably limit the range within which they can be combined together to obtain the required level of magnetic force. Accordingly, the diameter of the magnetic pole faces is preferably selected to fall within the range from several millimeters to several tens of millimeters. In many cases, the area of the magnetic pole faces is also restricted by the uses of the plate magnet which may be employed for medical treatment, handicraft, toys, household articles, learning materials, clothing, etc., which are the applicable fields of the present invention.

There is no specific restriction on the confi- guration of the plate magnets according to the present invention, provided that they have substantially plate-shaped configurations. However, a plate magnet having a thickness which is less than a half of the minor axis is gener- ally employed. It is a matter of course that a plate magnet which is as thin as a film is useless. Therefore, it is necessary to produce a plate magnet having a size and thickness which are suitable for a particular use, When a circular or annular (doughnut shaped) configuration is adopted as a configu ration of the magnetic pole faces of the plate magnet according to the present invention, it is preferable to alternately dispose the north and south pole faces in point symmetry with each other with respect to the center of the magnet as shown in Figs. 45 and 46 (described later). Such an arrangement enables two plate magnets to attract and come to close contact with each other even more 16 GB2196855A 16 smoothly even when the number of magnetic poles is relatively small, and is therefore parti cularly advantageous as compared with other arrangements. There is no specific restriction on the configuration of north and south pole faces which define a plurality of poles. How ever, when a plate magnet is formed by com bining together a plurality of unit magnets, a configuration whichis obtained by equally di viding a polygon such as a triangle, square or sector into n portions (n: an even number) is advantageous. In the case where a magnetic pole face is formed by divisional magnetization also, the above-described configuration is pre ferable because it is readily subjected to divi sional magnetization.

The plate magnet according to the present invention is particularly advantageously used as a magnetic therapeutic device, since it is possible to overcome various disadvantages of 85 the prior art.

More specifically, various treatments have heretofore been proposed for magnetic ther apy that utilizes a magnet, and in the pro posed methods it is common practice to em- 90 ploy a single magnet having a pair of north and south pole faces. In the simplest treating method, the north pole of this single magnet is applied to the skin of the affected part and secured using an adhesive band or the like.

However, as various magnetic therapeutic methods have been proposed and examined, there is a growing tendency to admit that a therapeutic method in which the north pole of a single magnet is brought into contact with 100 the skin of the affected part and the south pole of another single magnet is placed adja cent to said north pole is also effective.

When the plate magnet according to the present invention is used as a magnetic thera- 105 peutic device, since the contact surface of the magnet is defined by a magnetic pole face on which are formed a plurality of north and south pole faces, the device has excellent therapeutic effects and is easy to handle. In 110 addition, since it is possible to adjust the intensity of magnetism at the contact surface and the number of north and south pole faces according to need, the device is considerably effective for magnetic therapy.

Another great feature of the plate magnet according to the present invention resides in that it can be utilized as a substrate for a magnetic therapeutic device according to the fourth invention in which the projection portion 120 is formed from a magnetically permeable material.

The plate magnet according to the present invention which defines a unit can be pro- duced by divisionally magnetizing a single magnet in such a manner that a plurality of north and south magnetic poles are alternately disposed on each magnetic pole face of the magnet, and it is also possible to form the plate magnet according to the present inven- tion by combining together a plurality of unit magnets each having a single pair of north and south poles in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed on each magnetic pole face. In this case, the unit magnets may be connected together in one unit by a generally known method or the methods mentioned in the description of the foregoing inventions. More specifically, it is possible to advantageously use a method in which the unit magnets are secured to each other using an adhesive, a method in which the magnets are covered with a sheet of a non-magnetically permeable material, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum-containing alloy, copper, or a copper-containing alloy, and a method in which the magnets are secured by being coated with a protective member which may be formed from a material selected from among plastics, rubbers, leather, paper and woven fabric. In addition, it is also possible to employ various other coating methods such as metal plating, composite plating, and fluidization dip coating of a plastic powder, as well as an accommodating method using a protective member, as mentioned in the description of the foregoing inventions.

It may also be effective means in formation of the plate magnet according to the present invention to interpose a foil, sheet or the like of a magnetically permeable material selected from among iron, nickel, cobalt and alloys containing these metals between each pair of adjacent unit magnets constituting the plate magnet and also to cover the surfaces of the magnet except for the contact surface with such a foil, sheet or the like for the purpose of increasing the magnetic flux density at the contact surface and reinforcing the composite magnet.

Thus, the plate magnets according to the present invention have the unique nature that they always attract each other and no repulsive force acts therebetween. Accordingly, the present invention may be used in many fields. More specifically, the composite magnet according to the present invention may be used as means which are much convenient than the conventional magnets, for example, connecting, fastening and clamping means for industrial use, learning materials, toys, playthings, sports equipment, etc. For example, the plate magnets may be employed in place of buttons, hooks or fasteners for fastening clothing by variously designing them so as to be fashionable, and this enables little children, old people and physically handicapped persons to readily fasten clothing. In this case, two plate magnets according to this invention come to close contact with each other without any offset since both attractive and repulsive forces act simultaneously, whereas a pair of single magnets are difficult to bring into contact with each other without any misalignment even if 17 GB2196855A 17 they have the same configuration. This is one of the features of the present invention, and the plate magnet is therefore suitable for uses in which things always need to come to close contact with each other to remain stationary in the same position. The plate magnet is also advantageously used as a magnetic therapeutic device that utilizes magnetism. More specifically, the magnet enables the level of attrac- tive force and magnetic force to be adjusted as desired in accordance with the purpose, and it is considerably easy to assemble, disassemble and detach the magnet when handled as a magnetic therapeutic device. Thus, vari- ous uses are expected in addition to those described above.

There is no specific restriction on the kind of magnet which may be employed in the present invention, which is the same as in the case of the above-described fifth and sixth inventions, and it is possible to select any magnet from among those which are generally placed on the market and used, such as ferrite magnets, alnico magnets, rareearth magnets and plastic magnets employing them. Among them, rare- earth magnets are particularly advantageous since they have strong magnetic force and therefore it is possible to reduce the size.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 to 6 show in combination the structure of a magnetic therapeutic device accommodated in a protective member in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the general structure of the magnetic therapeutic device; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of one half of the magnetic thera- 110 peutic device; Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the magnetic therapeutic device; and Figs. 4 to 6 are sectional side views of the magnetic therapeutic device in a state wherein 115 the halves are brought in contact with each other.

Figs. 7 and 8 show examples of the use of the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention.

Figs. 9 to 12 show, in perspective, front and rear views, examples of the structure of another embodiment of the present invention which is formed by placing a plurality of mag- nets in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed.

Figs. 13 to 15 show the composite magnet according to the present invention which is accommodated in a protective member.

Figs. 16 and 17 show examples of the use of the composite magnets according to the present invention.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a composite magnet according to the present invention which is formed by placing unit magnets having strong magnetic force in a row through a magnetically permeable material interposed between each pair of adjacent unit magnets.

Fig. 19 shows an example of the use of the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention which is formed using the composite magnet shown in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 shows an example in which the magnet according to the present invention which has projections is defined by a diskshaped magnet formed by integral molding process.

Fig. 21 shows an example in which the projection portion of the magnet is separately formed using a magnetically permeable material.

Fig. 22 shows an example in which the magnet is formed by combining together projecting magnetic poles each having a frusto- pyramidal configuration.

Fig. 23 shows an example in which a plurality of projections of the magnet are formed from a magnetically permeable material.

Fig. 24 shows an example in which the magnet shown in Fig. 22 is used for the hu- man body as a magnetic therapeutic device. Fig. 25 shows a smallest unit of a composite magnet, the unit consisting of four unit magnets. 100 Fig. 26 shows a composite magnet formed by placing two unit composite magnets side by side. Fig. 27 shows a composite magnet formed by stacking two unit composite magnets. 105 Fig. 28 shows a composite magnet formed by combining together four unit composite magnets both horizontally and vertically. Figs. 29 to 32 show examples in which variously combined composite magnets according to the present invention are used for magnetic therapy. Fig. 33 shows a composite magnet consisting of two unit magnets. Fig. 34 shows a composite magnet formed by placing side by side two composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 33. Fig. 35 shows a composite magnet consisting of three unit magnets. Fig. 36 shows a composite magnet formed by stacking two composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 35.

Fig. 37 shows a composite magnet which is formed by combining together four unit composite magnets both horizontally and vertically, each unit composite magnet consisting of five unit magnets.

Figs. 38 to 41 show examples in which the abovedescribed various composite magnets according to the present invention are used for magnetic therapy.

18 GB2196855A 18 Fig. 42 shows a square plate magnet ac cording to the present invention.

Fig. 43 schematically shows the way in which plate magnets of the type shown in Fig.

42 are placed side by side in such a manner 70 that their planes extend vertically.

Fig. 44 schematically shows the way in which plate magnets of the type shown in Fig.

42 are stacked in such a manner that their planes extend horizontally.

Fig. 45 shows various forms of disk-shaped plate magnets.

Fig. 46 shows various forms of ring-shaped plate magnets.

Fig. 47 shows various forms of magnets 80 which are formed by combining together vari ous kinds of polygonal unit magnets.

Fig. 48 shows an example of a magnet which is formed by stacking plate magnets having different configurations.

Fig. 49 shows an example in which a plural ity of plate magnets are stacked up to define a magnetic therapeutic device and brought into contact with the affected part.

Figs. 50 and 51 show examples in which 90 these plate magnets are combined together to define a magnetic therapeutic device and brought into contact with the affected part.

Preferred embodiments of the present inven- tion will be described hereinunder in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is a matter of course that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6, the magnetic therapeutic device according to the first inven- 100 tion consists of a pair of halves A and B having substantially the same configuration and the same size, each of the halves A and B having a structure in which a magnet 1 having strong magnetic force is accommo- 1 dated within a magnet accommodating portion 3 of a protective member 2 in such a manner that the contact surface 4 of the magnet 1 is exposed. In this case, the contact surface 4 of one of the pair of facing halves A and B is 110 defined by the north pole, while the contact surface 4 of the other half is defined by the south pole. The surface of each protective member 2 on the side where the contact surface 4 of the associated magnet 1 is exposed is formed into a flat surface 6 so that the facing contact surfaces 4 of the two magnets 1 can be brought into close contact with each other. As shown in Fig. 3, each of the con- tact surfaces 4 of the magnets 1 is disposed so as to slightly project from the contact surface 6 of the protective member 2 as shown by the reference numeral 5 with a view to enabling the contact surfaces 4 to be readily brought into contact with the affected part, and when disposed in opposing relation to each other, these two surfaces have a minimum gap defined therebetween. Accordingly, it is preferable to arrange the device so that, when the pair of halves A and B are brought into contact with each other, a slight air gap 7 is left between the protective members 2 as shown in Fig. 4. The air gap 7 functions to enable the magnets 1 to be readily brought into direct and close contact with each other by means of the attractive force from the magnets 1. It is also possible to adopt the arrangement shown in Fig. 6. More specifically, a spacer 7' may be interposed into the gap 7 so that there will be no air gap between the contact surfaces 6 of the protective members 2. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the contact surfaces 4 of the magnets 1 are slightly recessed from the contact surfaces 6 of the protective members 2 so that a slight gap is defined between these two surfaces. Thus, it is preferable to arrange the device so that, when the pair of members 2 are brought into contact with each other, a slight gap 7 is left between the magnets 1 as shown in Fig. 5. This gap 7 functions to prevent damage of the magnets 1 which might otherwise be caused when the magnets 1 are forced to collide with each other by means of their attractive force at the time when they are brought into contact with each other.

The above-described pair of magnets having strong magnetic force may have a prismatic configuration or other configurations, for example, flat plate-shaped or disk-shaped configurations on which the magnetization direction and pole faces have already been determined. The protective members function not only to protect the respective magnets but also to facilitate handling of the device. Accordingly, it is effective practice to form the protective members into a shape which is convenient to handle, but it basically suffices to form the protective members so that they are capable of protecting the outer surfaces of the respective magnets except for the contact surfaces. For example, the protective members may have a prismatic, hemispherical or plateshaped configuration in addition to the semicylindrical configuration shown in the abovedescribed embodiment. Although in the abovedescribed embodiment each magnet has only one contact surface which is not covered by the associated protective member, each mag- net may have two contact surfaces. In this case, the pair of halves have completely the same structure in which two contact surfaces are defined by the north and south poles, respectively. The magnets and the protective members may be connected together by a known means according to need, for example, bonding using an adhesive.

The following is a description of the use of the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention.

In general, the contact surface of one half 10 of the device which is composed of two magnets having strong magnetic force is lightly pressed against a badly painful part 9 of the user's body 8 in opposing relation to 19 GB2196855A 19 the contact surface of the other half 10' so that the strongest magnetic lines of force act on the affected part 9 as shown in Fig. 7. In place of being disposed so as to sandwich the affected part 9, the pair of halves 10 and 10' may be placed side by side so that their respective contact surfaces are brought into contact with the affected part 9 as shown in Fig. 8. In either procedure, strong magnetic lines of force act on the affected part, so that the discomfort in the affected part can be relieved very quickly. Physical discomforts which can be relieved by the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention in- clude stiffness, pains, numbness, heaviness, etc., and the device can be employed to ease discomforts in any position of the user's body. It is a matter of course that a therapeutic effect is also produced by applying the device to a related therapeutic point rather than by applying it directly to the affected part.

The composite magnet which constitutes the. magnetic therapeutic device according to the second invention is formed by arranging a plurality of magnets having strong magnetic force in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed as shown in Figs. 9 to 12. In the example shown in Fig.

9, two high-power magnets which have substantially the same shape and size are placed side by side longitudinally in such a manner that the north pole of one magnet faces the south pole of the other magnet, The magnetic therapeutic device consisting of the two magnets is normally covered with a non-magnetically permeable metal sheet, e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, or copper, for the purpose of securing the magnets and protecting their sur- faces, and the surface of the covering is coated with a plastic material to finish. In this case, the magnets which are to be combined together are not necessarily needed to have substantially the same shape and size, but it is possible to use two magnets which have different dimensions, provided that the respective contact surfaces have the same size.

In the example shown in Fig. 10, a composite magnet is formed by laterally arranging twomagnet units each defined by a combination of two magnets having strong magnetic force shown in Fig. 9.

The composite magnet shown in the example illustrated in Fig. 11 is formed by vertically arranging two units in a manner similar to the above. This arrangement is suitable for the use in which a pair of such composite magnets are disposed so as to sandwich the affected part.

Fig. 12 shows a further example in which the composite magnet is formed using four units so as to further enhance the magnetic force.

The magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention may be formed by combining magnets having strong magnetic force in various ways in addition to the examples shown in Figs. 9 to 12. It is preferable to adopt an optimal arrangement in ac- cordance with the need. There are no specific restrictions on the way of combining together magnets and the configuration and size of the composite magnet, provided that the final configuration and size of the device are con- formable to the purpose.

In many cases, each of the units of magnets having strong magnetic force is coated for the purpose of securing and protecting the component magnets as described above and used in this state as a magnetic therapeutic device. However, it is also possible to adopt a structure in which, as shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, a high-power magnet unit 1 is accommodated within a magnet accommodating portion defined in a protective member 2 in such a manner that a contact surface 4 alone is exposed. In this case, the magnet unit 1 may be secured to the accommodating portion 3 in the protective member 2 by a known connect- ing means, for example, bonding using an adhesive.

In the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention, the use of two magnets in a pair as shown in Fig. 1 is even more effective and, in such a case, it is necessary that the facing contact surfaces of the two magnets have opposite polarities. In this case, the surface of each protective member 2 on the side where the contact surface 4 of the associated magnet 1 is exposed is formed into a flat surface 6 so that the facing contact surfaces 4 of the two magnets 1 can be brought into close contact with each other.

For example, the protective members may have a prismatic, hemispherical or plateshaped configuration in addition to the semicylindrical configuration shown in the abovedescribed embodiment. Although in the abovedescribed embodiment each magnet has only one contact surface which is not -covered by the associated protective member, each magnet may have two contact surfaces. In this case, the pair of devices have completely the same structure. The magnets and the protec- tive members may be connected together by a known means according to need, for example, bonding using an adhesive. However, it is preferable to connect them together either directly or indirectly using fixing screws since, by so doing, higher bond strength is obtained and the protective members are made replaceable.

In the arrangements shown in Fig. 14 and 5, the contact surface 4 of the high-power magnet 1 is slightly recessed from the contact surface 6 of the protective member 2 so that a slight gap is defined between these two surfaces. Thus, it is preferable to arrange the device so that, when the pair of members are brought into contact with each other, a slight gap 7 is left between the magnets 1 as shown in Fig. 5. This gap 7 functions to prevent damage of the magnets 1 which might otherwise be caused when the magnets 1 are forced to collide with each other by means of their attractive force at the time when they are brought into contact with each other.

When the contact surface 4 of the magnet 1 slightly projects from the contact surface 6 of the protective member 2 as shown in Figs. 15 and 6, or when the contact surfaces 4 and 6 are flush with each other, a spacer may be interposed so that a slight gap 7 is left, or the contact surfaces 4 and 6 may be flush with each other.

Although in the above-described embodiment each of the high-power magnets has a prismatic configuration, the magnet may have other configurations, for example, a flat plate- shaped configuration on which the magnetization direction has already been determined. The protective members function not only to protect the respective magnets but also to facilitate handling of the device. Accordingly, it is effective practice to form the protective members into a shape which is convenient to handle, but it basically suffices to form the protective members so that they are capable of protecting the outer surfaces of the respec- tive magnets.

The following is a description of the use of the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention.

In general, the relatively wide contact sur- face 11 of the magnetic therapeutic device 10 is lightly pressed against the affected part 9 of the user's body 8. Unlike the conventional magnetic therapeutic devices, the device according to this invention has the north and south poles alternately disposed on the contact surface and therefore enables magnetic lines of force to act on the user's body even more strongly, and this permits the magnetic therapy to work within a short period of time in combination with the use of a wide contact surface.

In the case where a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices are used in one set, the contact surface 11 of one magnetic therapeutic device 10 is lightly pressed against the affected part 9 of the user's body 8 in opposing relation to the contact surface of the other magnetic therapeutic device 10' so that the strongest magnetic lines of force act on the affected part 9 as shown in Fig. 7. In place of 120 being disposed so as to sandwich the affected part 9, the pair of magnetic therapeutic devices 10 and 10' may be placed side by side so that their respective contact surfaces are brought into contact with the affected part 9 as shown in Fig. 8.

In either procedure, strong magnetic lines of force act on the affected part, so that the discomfort in the affected part can be relieved very quickly. Physical discomforts which can GB2196855A 20 be relieved by the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention include stiffness, pains, numbness, heaviness, etc., and the device can be employed to ease dis- comforts in any position of the user's body. It is a matter of course that a therapeutic effect is also produced by applying the device to a related therapeutic point rather than by apply ing it directly to the affected part.

The composite high-power magnet which constitutes the magnetic therapeutic device ac cording to the third invention consists of a plurality of high-power magnets which are ar ranged in a row in the magnetization direction in such a manner that the like poles of each pair of adjacent magnets face each other across a magnetically permeable material as shown in Figs. 18(A) and 18(B).

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 18(A), a plurality of high-power magnets 1 having substantially the same shape and size are placed in a row in the magnetization direction with a magnetically permeable material 2 interposed between each pair of adjacent magnets 1. In this case, the cross-sectional configuration of the magnetically permeable material 2 is normally substantially the same as that of the magnet 1.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 18(A), the composite magnet is formed by placing in a row five high-power magnets having the same configuration through four magnetically permeable materials each interposed between a pair of adjacent magnets, the materials having the same cross-sectional configuration as that of the magnets. In this case, there is no specific restriction on the size of the high-power magnets, provided that they are producible. Further, each of the magnets is not necessarily needed to have the same dimensions, but it is only necessary for the magnets to have substantially the same cross-sectional configuration. The same is the case with the magnetically permeable materials. More specifically, all the plurality of materials are not necessarily needed to have the same dimensions, but it is preferable to arrange the magnetically permeable materials so that the magnetic flux density at the surface of each material is less than the saturation level.

Fig. 18(B) shows a magnetic therapeutic device which is to pair with the device shown in Fig. 18(A). The magnetic therapeutic device shown in Fig. 18(B) is formed by combining together high-power magnets 3 and magnetically permeable materials 4 in such a manner that the corresponding magnets 3 of the two devices respectively shown in Figs. 18(A) and 18(B) have opposite magnetic poles. In actual use, each of the magnetic therapeutic devices is normally covered with a non-magnetically permeable metal sheet such as stainless steel, aluminum or copper for the purpose of securing the magnets and the magnetically permea- ble materials and protecting the surface of the 21 1 GB2196855A 21 device, and the surface of the covering is coated with a plastic material or the like to finish. Usually, each of the magnetic therapeutic devices shown in Figs. 18(A) and 18(B) can be used alone in the finished state. However, the use of them in a pair is even more effective.

The magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention may have a structure in which the composite magnet 1 is accommodated in a magnet accommodating portion 3 defined in a protective member 2 in such a manner that the contact surface 4 is exposed as shown in Figs, 1 and 2. In this case, the composite magnet 1 may be secured to the accommodating portion 3 in the protective member 2 by a known connecting means, for example, bonding using an adhesive.

The use of two magnetic therapeutic de- vices in a pair as shown in Figs. 14, 5, 3 and 4 is even more effective and, in such a case, it is necessary that the facing contact surfaces of the two devices have opposite polarities. In this case, the surface of each protective mem- ber 2 on the side where the contact surface 4 of the associated magnet 1 is exposed isformed into a flat surface 6 so that the facing contact surfaces 4 of the two magnets 1 can be brought into close contact with each other.

In the arrangements shown in Fig. 14 and 5, the contact surface 4 of the high-power magnet 1 is slightly recessed from the contact surface 6 of the protective member 2 so that a slight gap is defined between these two surfaces. Thus, it is preferable to arrange the device so that, when the pair of members are brought into contact with each other, a slight gap 7 is left between the magnets 1 as shown in Fig. 5. This gap 7 functions to pre- vent damage of the magnets 1 which might otherwise be caused when the magnets 1 are forced to collide with each other by means of their attractive force at the time when they are brought into contact with each ot, her.

When the contact surface 4 of the magnet 1 slightly projects from the contact surface 6 of the protective member 2 as shown in Figs.

* 3 and 4, or when the contact surfaces 4 and 6 are flush with each other, a spacer may be interposed so that a slight gap 7 is left as shown in Fig. 6, or the contact surfaces 4 and 6 may be flush with each other.

Although in the above-described embodi ment each of the high-power magnets has a prismatic configuration, the magnet may have 120 other configurations, for example, a flat plate shaped configuration on which the magnetiza tion direction has already been determined.

The protective members function not only to protect the respective magnets but also to fa- 125 cilitate handling of the device. Accordingly, it is effective practice to form the protective members into a shape which is convenient to handle, but it basically suffices to form the protective members so that they are capable 130 of protecting the outer surfaces of the respective magnets. For example, the protective members may have a prismatic, hemispherical or plate- shaped configuration in addition to the semi-cylindrical configuration shown in the above-described embodiment. The following is a description of the use of the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention. 75 In general, the relatively wide contact surface 11 of the magnetic therapeutic device 10 is lightly pressed against the affected part 9 of the user's body 8 as shown in: Fig. 19. Unlike the conventional magnetic therapeutic devices, the device according to this invention has the north and south poles alternately formed at the contact surface by the magnetically permeable portions of the device and therefore enables magnetic lines of force to act on the user's body even more strongly, and this permits the magnetic therapy to work within a short period of time in combination with the use of a wide contact surface. In the case where a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices are used in one set, the contact surface 11 of one magnetic therapeutic device 10 is lightly pressed against the affected part 9 of the user's body 8 in opposing relation to-the contact surface of the other magnetic thera- peutic device 10' so that the strongest magnetic lines of force act on the affected part 9 as shown in Fig. 7. In place of being disposed so as to sandwich the affected part 9, the pair of magnetic therapeutic devices 10 and 10' may be placed side by side so that their respective contact surfaces are brought into contact with the affected part 9 as shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. 20 and 21 show one embodiment of the magnetic therapeutic device according to the fourth invention which has a disk-shaped contact surface. In this embodiment, four conical projecting poles 1 which define alternate north and south poles are formed on the con- tact surface. The vertex of each conical projecting poles 1 is somewhat rounded with a view to lessening the stimulation to the skin of the user's body. In the example shown in Fig. 20, the contact portion having projecting poles shown by the reference numeral 1 is defined by a magnet which is formed by integral molding process. However, it is a matter of course that such a structure can be formed by combining together two unit magnets each having a pair of north and south poles, In this embodiment, a soft steel plate 2 which is a magnetically permeable material is bonded to the bottom of the magnet in order to increase the magnetic flux density in the vicinities of the projecting poles 1 which are to be brought into contact with the human body.

In the example shown in Fig. 21, although the configuration of the magnetic therapeutic device is the same as that of the example shown in Fig. 20, that is, the device has four 22 GB2196855A 22 projecting poles 1, the portion of the device tally and vertically a total of four unit compo which is to be brought into contact with the site magnets each arranged as shown in Fig.

human body, i.e., the portion including the 25.

projecting poles 1, is formed from a soft steel The present invention enables a desired which is a magnetically permeable material. 70 composite magnet to be formed by appropri Ferrite magnets and rare-earth magnets which ately connecting unit composite magnets with are generally used are sintered magnets and their like surfaces facing each other as illus therefore brittle and difficult to machine. Ac- trated. When a composite magnet thus ar cordingly, if the device is composed of two ranged is set, if unit composite magnets are portions, that is, a disk-shaped sintered mag- 75 combined together as desired with their like net portion and a projecting pole portion, surfaces facing each other, attractive force which are formed separately from each other, acts invariably.

the projecting pole portion which is difficult to Figs. 29 to 32 show practical examples in machine can advantageously be produced us- which the composite magnet according to the ing a magnetically permeable material such as 80 present invention is used for magnetic ther iron or an ironbased alloy which can be readily apy.

machined. In this case, the base 2 is formed Fig. 29 shows an example in which two unit from a rare-earth magnet. composite magnets each composed of four Fig. 22 shows a further embodiment in which the contact portion consists of six pro jecting magnetic poles 1 each having the shape of a frustum of rectangular pyramid, the poles 1 being arranged so as to define alter nate north and south poles. This embodiment is formed by combining together six unit mag nets each having one north or south pole.

If the magnetic therapeutic device is formed using unit magnets each having a pair of north and south poles in such a manner that they are able to be assembled and disassembled as desired when the device is to be used, it is possible to vary the number of unit magnets to be used in accordance with the conditions of the affected part, which is considerably convenient.

Fig. 23 shows an example in which project ing magnetic poles 1 which define a contact portion are formed from a magnetically perme able material, while a base 2 is defined by a rare-earth magnet. In this example, a plurality of projections constitute in combination each of the north and south poles.

Fig. 24 shows one example of the use of the magnet for medical treatment, in which the reference numeral 1 denotes the magnet, 110 2 projections, 3 a piece of adhesive tape, and 4 the user's body.

Fig. 25 shows a smallest unit used to form the composite magnet according to the fifth invention. The unit consists of four rectangular 115 parallelepiped magnets having the same configuration. The four magnets are arranged in such a manner that north and south poles are alternately disposed around the center of the unit as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the 120 magnetization direction as illustrated. Fig. 26 shows a composite magnet which is formed by horizontally combining together two unit composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 60 25. Fig. 27 shows a composite magnet according to the present invention which is formed by vertically stacking up two unit composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 25. Fig. 28 shows a composite magnet which is 65 formed by combining together both horizon- magnets as shown in Fig. 25 are brought into contact with the affected part from both sides, respectively. In this case, the two composite magnets are inevitably disposed in such a manner that attractive force acts therebetween, and there is therefore no possibility of the affected part being sandwiched between those surfaces of the magnets which repel each other.

Fig. 30 shows the way in which the affected part is sandwiched between a pair of composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 27, that is, two composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 29 are stacked up. Fig. 31 shows the way in which a composite magnet shown in Fig. 26 is used for the affected part, the composite magnet being covered with a protective member so as to combine the component magnets together in one unit. In this case, small projections are provided near the center of the magnets combined together in one unit so that even a weak-sighted person can distinguish the central position of the device. Fig. 32 shows an example in which four composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 25 are used in such a manner that two stacks of two composite magnets are placed side by side.

As described above, the composite magnet according to the present invention enables unit magnets to be produced with free selection of the kind, size and magnetic force level of the magnets. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately select the area of action of magnetism, the level of magnetic force, etc. in accordance with the purpose and need in actual use. In addition, the unit composite magnets can be assembled and disassembled as desired and are easy to handle conveniently, so that the composite magnet according to the present invention can be used considerably advantageously.

Fig. 33 shows a smallest unit of the composite magnet according to the present invention, that is, a magnet structure consisting of two unit magnets. The hatched lines drawn on the north pole indicate that a color which is 23 GB2196855A 23 different from the color of the south pole is put to the surface of the north pole. Fig. 34 shows a composite magnet formed by horizontally combining together two unit composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 33, that is, the two unit composite magnets are placed side by side. Thus, the surface of this composite magnet has a checkered pattern. Fig. 35 shows a composite magnet which is similarly composed of three unit magnets. Fig. 36 shows a composite magnet which is formed by vertically combining together two unit composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 35, that is, the two unit composite mag- nets are stacked up. Fig. 37 shows a composite magnet which is formed by combining together both horizontally and vertically a total of four unit composite magnets each consisting of five unit magnets. The surface of the composite magnet similarly has a checkered pattern formed by two different colors. Thus, the composite magnet according to the present invention enables selection a desired size and a desired level of magnetic force by three-dimensionally combining together a desired number of unit composite magnets. Since the two different colors are respectively put to the north and south poles, it is possible to readily combine together a desired number of unit composite magnets.

Figs. 38 to 41 show examples in which the composite magnet according to the present invention is used for magnetic therapy.

Fig. 38 shows an example in which the af- fected part is sandwiched between a pair of composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 35 which consists of three unit magnets. It is essential to combine together the two composite magnets in such a way that they attract each other on the basis of the colors which are put to the different magnetic poles, respectively.

Fig. 39 shows an example in which the affected part is similarly sandwiched between a pair of composite magnets of the type shown in Fig. 36.

Fig. 40 shows an example in which two composite- magnets of the type shown in Fig. 35 are placed side by side on the affected part, while Fig. 41 shows an example in which is used the composite magnet shown in Fig. 37.

Figs. 42 to 47 show basic configurations of the plate magnet according to the seventh in- vention. Fig. 42 shows a plate magnet which is formed by combining together square unit magnets in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately placed in a checkered pattern. Fig. 43 schematically shows an example in which two plate magnets of the type shown in Fig. 42 are combined together by being placed vertically in such a manner that they attract each other, while Fig. 44 shows an example in which three plate mag nets of the type shown in Fig. 42 are com- 130 bined together by stacking them up. Figs. 45 and 46 respectively show disk-shaped and ring-shaped (doughnut-shaped) plate magnets each of which is formed by divisionally mag- netizing a diskor ring-shaped material in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed.

Fig. 47 show examples of plate magnets which are formed by combining together vari- ous polygonal unit magnets in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed. Fig. 48 shows an example in which two plate magnets having different configurations are stacked in such a manner that the boundary lines between the north and south poles of the two magnets are coincident with each other. Fig. 49 shows an example in which a plurality of plate magnets are stacked up to define a magnetic therapeutic device and brought into contact with the affected part, while Fig. 50 shows an example in which plate magnets are placed side by side on the affected part, and Fig. 51 shows an example in which the affected part. is sand- wiched between a pair of stacked plate magnets.

As described above, the plate magnet according to the present invention enables unit magnets to be produced with free selection of the kind, size and magnetic force level of the magnets. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately select the area of action of magnetism, the level of magnetic force, etc. in accordance with the purpose and need in actual use. In addition, since it is possible to dispose a desired number of north and south poles by divisionally magnetizing a single magnet having a desired size, the plate magnet can advanta geously be used for various purposes.

Therapeutic examples carried out using- the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention will next be described.

Therapeutic Example 1:

A man of sixty years who could not walk without the help of his stick because of a pain left in his knee after the operation for arthritis was treated with a magnetic therapeutic de vice according to the present invention which employed a 2-17 samarium-cobalt magnet having an energy product of 20 IVIGOe as a magnet having strong magnetic force, the magnet being coated with polyethylene having a thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm by fluidiza- tion dip coating. The area of contact of the magnet portion was 15 CM2 (10 CM X 1.5 cm) and the magnetic flux density at the contact surface was 3,000 gauss. The magnet was accommodated in a wooden protective member having a columnar configuration as shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

The treatment was carried out y sandwiching the affected knee between a pair of halves of the magnetic therapeutic device. When 2 minutes had elapsed after the start of the 24 GB2196855A 24 treatment, the patient became able to walk about 5 m without the help of his stick, and after 3 minutes of treatment, he was able to walk at a quick pace without feeling any pain 5 in his knee.

Therapeutic Example 2:

A man of forty-five years who had been suffering from lumbago for more than one week was treated with a magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention which employed a 2-17 samarium-cobalt magnet having an energy product of 20 IVIGOe as a magnet having strong magnetic force, the magnet being coated with polyethylene having a thickness of 0.25 mm by fluidization dip coating. The area of contact of the magnet portion was 18 CM2 (9 CM x 2 cm) and the magnetic flux density at the contact surface was 3,100 gauss. The magnet was accommodated in a wooden protective member having a columnar configuration as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

The treatment was carried out by placing a pair of halves of the magnetic therapeutic device side by side and pressing them against the affected part as shown in Fig. 8. When 3 minutes had elapsed after the start of the treatment, the pain had disappeared com- pletely, and the pain did not recur.

Therapeutic Example 3:

Two 2-17 samarium-cobalt magnets having an energy product of 20 MGOe were em- ployed as magnets having strong magnetic force and assembled together as shown in Fig. 9.

The contact area of the magnet portion was 20 CM2 (10 CM x 2 cm) and the magnetic flux density at the contact surface was 3,000 gauss. An aluminum sheet was bonded to the back of the magnet, that is, the reverse side thereof with respect to the contact surface, for reinforcement, and the magnet was then coated with polyethylene having a thickness of 0.2 mm by fluidization dip coating. The coated magnet was accommodated in a wooden protective member as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 to form a magnetic therapeutic device accord- ing to the present invention.

A man of fifty-six years who had been suffering from a pain in his shoulder joint was treated with the above-described magnetic therapeutic device according to the present in- vention. The treatment was carried out in such a manner that the contact surface of the therapeutic device was lightly pressed against the affected part and maintained in this state. When 10 minutes had elapsed after the start of the treatment, the pain lessened, and after minutes of treatment, the patient felt substantially no pain.

Therapeutic Example 4:

Four 2-17 samarium-cobalt magnets having 130 an energy product of 20 MGOe were em ployed as magnets having strong magnetic force and assembled together as shown in Fig. 10.

The contact area of the magnet portion was CM2 (10 CM x 3 cm) and the magnetic flux density at the contact surface was 3,100 gauss. An aluminum sheet was bonded to the back of the magnet, that is, the reverse side thereof with respect to the contact surface, for reinforcement, and the magnet was then coated with polyethylene having a thickness of 0.2 mm by fluidization dip coating. The coated magnet was accommodated in a wooden pro- tective member as shown in Figs. 13 and 15 to form a magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention.

A man of sixty years who could not walk without the help of his stick because of a pain left in his knee after the operation for arthritis was treated with a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices according to the present invention arranged as described above. The treatment was carried out by sandwiching the affected knee between a pair of halves of the magnetic therapeutic device. When 3 minutes had elapsed after the start of the treatment, the patient became able to walk about 5 m without the help of his stick, and after 5 minutes of treatment, he was able to walk at a quick pace without feeling any pain in his knee.

Therapeutic Example 5:

A man of fifty years who had been suffering from lumbago for more than five days was treated with a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices according to the present invention which were the same as those employed in Therapeutic Example 4 except that the devices used in this example had no wooden protective members and the polyethylene coating was exposed.

The treatment was carried out by placing a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices side by side and pressing them against the affected part. When 3 minutes had elapsed after the start of the treatment, the pain had disappeared completely, and the pain did not recur.

Therapeutic Example 6:

Five 2-17 samarium-cobalt magnets having an energy product of 24 MGOe were employed as magnets having strong magnetic force and assembled together as shown in Fig. 18(A). The contact area of each of the magnets was 1.5 x 1.5 cm. Iron was employed as magnetically permeable materials, and the area of the contact surface of each permeable material was 1.5 x 1.0 cm. The magnetic flux density at the contact surface was 2,800 to 3,200 gauss. An aluminum sheet was bonded to each of the surfaces except for the contact surface for reinforcing purposes, and the magnet was then coated with polyethylene having a thickness of 0.15 GB2196855A 25 mm by fluidization dip coating. The coated magnet was accommodated in a wooden protective member as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 to form a magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention.

A man of sixty years who had been suffering from lumbago was treated with the abovedescribed magnetic therapeutic device.according to the present invention. The treatment was carried out in such a manner that the magnetic therapeutic device was lightly pressed against the affected part. When 30 minutes had elapsed after the start of the treatment, the patient felt substantially no pain.

Therapeutic Example 7:

A man of fifty-five years who had been suffering from a pain in his knee for more than ten days was treated with a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices according to the present invention, the pair of devices consisting of the one used in Therapeutic Example 6 and a magnetic therapeutic device such as that shown in Fig. 18(13), that is, a pair of magnetic therapeutic devices having completely the same arrangement. The treatment was carried out in such a manner that the affected part was sandwiched between the pair of magnetic therapeutic devices. When several minutes had elapsed after the start of the treatment, the pain disappeared.

Therapeutic Example 8:

A man of fifty-four years who had been 100 suffuring from heaviness in his left shoulder was treated with the magnetic therapeutic de vice shown in Fig. 21. As the magnet 2, a samarium-cobalt rare-earth magnet was employed, and the contact projecting portion was made of a soft steel having a height of 6 mm. The treatment was carried out in such a manner that two magnets according to the present invention arranged as described above were stuck to the affected part using an adhesive band. When two hours had elapsed after the start of the treatment, the heaviness in the patient's left shoulder lessened considerably. The patient's skin was relatively sensi- tive to adhesive plasters and therefore, after a commercially available magnet had been stuck for one day, the portion of his skin which had been covered with the adhesive band became itchy. However, since the treating time was exceedingly short in this example, there was no itch due to the adhesive band.

Therapeutic Example 9:

A man of fifty-seven years who had been suffering from a dull pain in the muscle near his left knee when moved was treated with the magnetic therapeutic device shown in Fig. 22. The contact area was 10 x 15 mm, while the height of the frusto-pyramidal projec- tions was 7 mm. A neodymium-iron magnet (rare-earth magnet) was employed, and the device was applied to the affected part using an adhesive band. After three hours of treatment, there was substantially no pain in the muscle.

Therapeutic Example 10:

A woman of fifty-one years who had been suffering from a pain in her left shoulder was treated with a composite magnet (the contact surface: 2 x 9 cm) formed by combining together three unit magnets defined by rareearth magnets each having a size of 2 x 3 x 1.5 cm in such a manner that shown in Fig.

35. When the composite magnet was lightly pressed against the affected part for 10 minutes, the pain lessened considerably, and after 15 minutes of treatment, the patient felt no pain.

Therapeutic Example 11:

A woman of the same age as the above who had also been suffering from a pain in her left shoulder was treated with a combina- tion of two composite magnets of the same type as that employed in Therapeutic Example 10, the magnets being placed side by side (the contact surface: 4 x 9 cm). When 7 minutes had elapsed after the start of the treatment, the pain lessened considerably, and after 10 minutes of treatment, the patient felt no pain.

Therapeutic Example 12:

A woman of sixty-three years who had been suffering from lumbago and also a pain in her right shoulder was treated with two different types of composite magnet according to the present invention. More specifically, the affected shoulder was treated with a combination of two composite magnets (the contact area: 4 x 9 cm) which were the same as those employed in Therapeutic Example 11, while her lower back was treated with a composite magnet (the contact surface: 2 X 15 cm) formed by stacking two unit composite magnets each consisting of five unit magnets which were the same as those employed in Therapeutic Example 10 in such a manner that shown in Fig. 41. After 15 minutes of treatment, the patient felt no pains in her shoulder and lower back.

Therapeutic Example 13:

A man of forty years who had been suffering from a pain in his right arm was treated with a pair of composite magnets of the same type as that employed in Therapeutic Example 10 in such a manner that the affected part was sandwiched between the pair of composite magnets as shown in Fig. 38. When 5 minutes had elapsed after the start of the treatment, the pain lessened considerably, and after 8 minutes of treatment, the patient felt no pain.

26 As has been described above, the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention is of a quite novel type which is able to be assembled into a desired size in accordance with a particular affected part, to apply strong magnetic force to the affected part, and to be readily handled. Accordingly, the range within which the magnetic therapeutic device can be used for medical treatment is advantageously wide, and it is possible to apply it to an affected part at any position of the user's body. Since a plurality of magnetic circuits are produced on the contact surface of the device, the magnetic lines of force from the device act on the user's affected part even more effectively, so that it is possible to relieve any kind of physical discomfort within an extremely short period of time. Thus, the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention has a considerably great therapeutic effect. The use of the device is safe and simple, so that even unexperienced persons can readily use it. In addition, even when the device is used for medical treatment for an unnecessarily long time, no ill effect is produced, advantageously.

The magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention which has a plurality of projections on the contact surface favorably acts on the affected part, particularly, the therapeutic point, as well as applying magnetic lines of force thereto, thus producing even more excellent therapeutic effects than those offered by the conventional magnetic thera- peutic devices. If the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention is applied to slippers, shoes, bellybands, etc. which are always used in close contact with the human body, it is advantageously possible to improve the user's health and strengthen his body.

The composite magnet according to the present invention can be arranged in such a manner that the respective surfaces of unit mag- nets or unit composite magnets of the same kind always attract each other and do not re pel, and it is therefore possible to assemble, disassemble and detach the composite magnet as desired according to need.

A pair of plate magnets according to the 115 present invention always attract each other no matter which sides of the magnets are brought close to each other, and no repulsive force acts therebetween. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately and readily assembly 120 a magnet having characteristics conformable to a particular purpose, and the present inven tion is therefore applicable to various uses that utilize magneticattraction. For example, the magnets may be employed for industrial 125 use, toys, playthings, learning materials, cloth ing and household articles.

Since the composite and plate magnets ac cording to the present invention can be handled safely and easily and can be com- 130 GB2196855A 26 bined or stacked in any desired number so as to select a level of magnetic force and an area of contact surface which are suitable for a particular purpose, the present invention is considerably effective in performing an efficient magnetic treatment.

It should be noted that, since the magnetic therapeutic device according to the present invention uses a permanent magnet, the device can be used semi-permanently and the therapeutic effect is long lasting.

Although the present invention has been described through specific terms, it should be noted here that the described embodiments are not necessarily exclusive and various changes and modifications may be imparted thereto without departing from the scope of the invention which is limited solely by the appended claims.

Claims (63)

1. A magnetic therapeutic device comprising a pair of high-power magnets having wide contact surfaces, the contact surfaces of said magnets which face each other having oppo- site polarities.

2. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 1, wherein said magnets are rareearth magnets. 95

3. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 1, wherein the area of each contact surface is 1 CM2 or more and less than 200 CM2.

4. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 3, wherein the area of each contact surface is 2 CM2 or more and less than 100 CM2.

5. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 1, wherein each of said magnets is partially or entirely covered with a protective member.

6. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 5, wherein said protective member is made of a magnetically permeable material an- d/or a non-magnetically permeable material.

7. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 6, wherein said protective member is made of at least one magnetically permeable material selected from the group consisting of iron, an iron-containing alloy, nickel, a nickelcontaining alloy, cobalt, and a cobalt-containing alloy.

8. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 6, wherein said protective member is made of at least one non-magnetically permeable material selected from the group consistin of leather, wood, plastics, rubber, paper, woven fabric, ceramics, and a non-magnetically permeable metal.

9. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 8, wherein said nonmagnetically permeable metal is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of a stainless steel, copper, a copper-containing alloy, aluminum, and an aluminum-containing alloy.

27

10. A magnetic therapeutic device -according to Claim 5, wherein said protective member is defined by a coating.

11. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 10, wherein said coating that defines said protective member is formed by fluidiza- tion dip coating of a plastic powder.

12. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 5, wherein said protective member is defined by either metal plating or composite plating.

13. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 13, wherein the material for said metal plating is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, chromium, copper, aluminum, gold, and silver-.

14. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 5, wherein the pair of protective members are arranged so that, when the pair of magnets are put together with their contact surfaces facing each other, said protective members define a unitized configuration.

15. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 1, wherein each of said magnets has a prismatic configuration, and when the pair of 90 protective members accommodating the re spective magnets are put together with their flat contact surfaces facing each other, said protective members define a columnar shape.

16. A magnetic therapeutic device compris ing a plurality of high-power magnets arranged in such a manner that the north and south poles are alternately disposed, thereby provid ing an enlarged contact surface.

17. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 16 which comprises a plurality of units combined together as desired, each of said units being formed by disposing two high-power magnets in such a manner that the north pole of one of said magnets is placed side by side with the south pole of the other magnet.

18. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 16 which comprises a pair of said magnetic therapeutic devices, the contact surfaces of those portions of said devices which face each other having opposite polarities.

19. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 16, wherein said magnets are rare- earth magnets.

20. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 16, wherein the area of each contact surface is 1 CM2 or more and less than 200 CM2.

21. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 16, wherein each of said magnets is partially or entirely covered with a protective member and connected therewith in one unit.

22. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 21, wherein said protective member is made of a magnetically permeable material and/or a non-magnetically permeable material.

23. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 21, wherein said protective member is defined by a coating.

GB2196855A 27

24. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 23, wherein said coating that defines said protective member is formed by fluidization dip coating of a plastic powder.

25. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 21, wherein, when a pair of said magnetic therapeutic devices are put together with their contact surfaces facing each other, a unitized configuration is defined by said de- vices including said protective members.

26. A magnetic therapeutic device compris-ing a plurality of high-power magnets arranged in a row in such a manner that the like poles of each pair of adjacent magnets face each other across a magnetically permeable material, thereby providing an enlarged contact surface.

27. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 26 which comprises a pair of said magnetic therapeutic devices, those portions of said devices which face each other having opposite polarities.

28. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 26, wherein said magnets are rareearth magnets.

29. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 26, wherein said magnetically permeable material is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron, an iron- containing alloy, nickel, a nickel-containing alloy, cobalt, and a cobalt- containing alloy.

30. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 26, wherein the area of each contact surface is 1 CM2 or more and less than 200 CM2.

31. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 26, wherein each of said magnets is partially or entirely covered with a protective member.

32. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 31, wherein said protective member is made of a magnetically permeable material and/or a non-magnetically permeable material.

33. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 31, wherein said protective member is defined by a coating.

34. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 33, wherein said coating that defines said protective member is formed by fluidiza- tion dip coating of a plastic powder.

35. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 31, wherein, when a pair of said magnetic therapeutic devices are put together with their contact surfaces facing each other, a unitized configuration is defined by said devices including said protective members.

36. A magnetic therapeutic device comprising a magnetic pole face which is to be brought into contact with the human body, said pole face being formed in the shape of a plurality of projections, which define alternately disposed north and south poles.

37. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 36, wherein the projection portion and the magnet portion (substrate) are first 28 GB2196855A 28 produced separately from each other and then combined together in one unit.

38. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 37, wherein the projection portion is made of either a magnetically permeable material or a non-magnetically permeable material.

39. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 37, wherein said projection portion is defined by a magnet, while said substrate is made of a magnetically permeable material.

40. A magnetic therapeutic device according to any one of Claims 36 to 39, wherein the number of said projections is four.

41, A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 36 which comprises a combination of a plurality of unit magnets each having a pair of north and south poles.

42. A magnetic therapeutic device according to any one of Claims 36 to 41, wherein said magnet is partially or entirely covered with a protective member and connected therewith in one unit.

43. A composite magnet comprising four magnets of substantially the same rectangular parallelepiped configuration which are arranged in such a manner that the north and south pole faces are alternately disposed in point symmetry with each other with respect to the center of the four magnets as viewed along a plane which is perpendicular to the magnetization direction.

44. A composite magnet according to Claim 43 which comprises a combination of a plural- ity of said composite magnets each of which is used as a unit.

45. A magnetic therapeutic device comprising the composite magnet defined in Claim 43 or 44.

46. A composite magnet according to Claim 43, wherein a plurality of small projections are provided near the center of the surface of said composite magnet.

47. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 45, wherein said composite magnet is partially or entirely covered with a protective member and connected therewith in one unit.

48. A composite magnet comprising a prime number of magnets having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped configuration in which the respective planes of said magnets which are perpendicular to the magnetization direction have the same shape, the north and south pole faces being made distinguishable from each other so that the north and south pole faces are alternately disposed.

49. A composite magnet according to Claim 48, wherein said north and south pole faces are made distinguishable from each other by using different colors.

50. A composite magnet according to Claim 48 which comprises a combination of a plurality of said composite magnets each of which is used as a unit.

51. A magnetic therapeutic device comprising the composite magnet defined in any one of Claims 48 to 50.

52. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 51, wherein said composite magnet is partially or entirely covered with a protective member and connected therewith in one unit.

53. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 51, wherein said composite magnet in which the north and south pole faces are made distinguishable by using different colors is covered with a transparent protective mem ber.

54. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 53, wherein said protective member is formed by fluidization dip coating of a tran sparent plastic powder.

55. A plate magnet comprising a magnet having a substantially plate-shaped configuration, said magnet being magnetized in a direction perpendicular to its surface in such a manner that a plurality of north and south pole faces are alternately disposed on said surface.

56. A plate magnet according to Claim 55 which has a disk- or ring-shaped configuration and in which the north and south pole faces are alternately disposed on the surface of said rnagnet in point symmetry with each other with respect to the center of said magnet.

57. A plate magnet according to Claim 55 which comprises a combination of a plurality of unit magnets having the same polygonal configuration.

58. A plate magnet according to Claim 55 which comprises a combination of a plurality of unit magnets having different polygonal configurations.

59. A plate magnet according to Claim 58 which comprises a stack of a plurality of said plate magnets each of which is used as a unit.

60. A magnetic therapeutic device comprising the plate magnet defined in any one of Claims 55 to 59.

61. A magnetic therapeutic device according to Claim 60, wherein said plate magnet is partially or entirely covered with a protective member and connected therewith in one unit.

62. A magnetic therapeutic device, substah- tially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

63. A composite magnet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC I R 4TP Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.