GB2568382A

GB2568382A - Device for heating a back of a person

Info

Publication number: GB2568382A
Application number: GB1815582.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hulusi Hasin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-09-27
Filing date: 2018-09-25
Publication date: 2019-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-25
Also published as: GB2568382B; GB201815582D0; GB201715617D0

Abstract

A device (1) for heating a back/lumbar region of a user (24, Fig 7) comprises a mat 2 including at least one foot holding portion 16 (e.g. a pocket 16 or holder 30, Fig 8) for holding at least a portion of at least one foot of the user and a heating mechanism 3 defining a heating area 26. When the mat is laid out substantially flat, the heating area of the heating mechanism is positioned closer to a longitudinal centre of the mat than the at least one foot holding portion such that it is adjacent the back/lumbar region of the user. The heating mechanism may comprise a mat like structure with at least one heating element 19 and may be integrated into the mat or removably held within a heating mechanism holder in the mat.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for heating a back of a person.

Many people suffer from back pain, and heating pads may be used to provide relief from the pain. To use a heating pad, it may be placed on the ground and a person lies on top of the heating pad so that their back is above the pad. If the person has a pain in their lower back then a problem with this Is that when the person lies down, their spine is arched which means that there is a gap between the heating pad and their lower back. Thus, much of the heat from the pad fails to reach the person’s lower back because of the gap.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device to alleviate the above-mentioned problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for heating a back of a person, comprising: a mat including: at least one foot holding portion for holding at least a portion of at least one foot of a person using the device; and a heating mechanism defining a heating area, wherein when the mat is laid out substantially flat, the heating area of the heating mechanism is positioned closer to a longitudinal centre of the mat than the at least one foot holding portion.

When the mat is laid out substantially flat and a person using the mat has at least one foot held by the at least one foot holding portion, the heating mechanism may be configured to provide heat to the lower back of the person when the person lays their back on the mat and brings their knees up. The at least one foot holding portion is configured to prevent the person’s feet from sliding forward which would lower their knees causing the person’s spine to arch and provide a gap beneath the lower back. Since, the at least one foot holding portion enables a person to keep their knees up, their spine remains straightened ensuring that their lower back is substantially flat above the heating mechanism of the device. Thus, heat can be effectively applied to the person's lower back. Heat can also be effectively applied to the lumbar of the spine.

The heating mechanism extends over a region spanning the longitudinal centre of the mat.

The heating mechanism may form an integral part of the mat.

Alternatively, the device may include a heating mechanism holder for holding the heating mechanism. The heating mechanism may be held by the heating mechanism holder. The heating mechanism may be removable from the heating mechanism holder. This enables the mat to be washed without damaging the heating mechanism.

The mat may comprise a pair of layers joined together at least partially along their perimeter with a region between the layers forming the heating mechanism holder. The heating mechanism may substantially fill the region between the layers when the heating mechanism is held by the heating mechanism holder. The region between the layers may be configured to be closed by a releasable fastening mechanism.

The heating mechanism may comprise a flexible mat like structure having at least one heating element.

The heating mechanism may include a control unit for controlling the temperature of the heating mechanism.

The at least one foot holding portion may comprise a pocket. The foot holding portion may be configured to hold a pair of feet of a person using the mat. Alternatively, the mat may include a pair of foot holding portions, each foot holding portion is configured to receive a separate foot of a person using the mat.

The mat may comprise an absorbent material. The absorbent material may absorb sweat from a person using the mat.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for heating a back of a person in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention showing a heating mechanism of the device separated from a mat of the device;

Figures 2 and 3 are details A and 8, respectively, of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the mat;

Figure 5 is a view of the heating mechanism being inserted into the mat;

Figure 6 is a view of a person lying flat on the device;

Figure 7 is a view of the person positioned correctly on the device:

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified mat; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a device with an integral heating mechanism.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a device 1 for 10 heating a back of a person according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a mat 2 and a heating mechanism 3.

The mat 2 comprises first and second rectangular layers 4, 5 which have the same dimensions. Each layer 4, 5 has first and second longer edges and first and second shorter edges. The first and second longer edges 6a, 7a and 15 the first shorter edge 8a of the first rectangular layer 4 are respectively joined to the first and second longer edges 6b, 7b and the first shorter edge 8b of the second rectangular layer 5. A region between the layers 4, 5 forms a heating mechanism holder 10, and the region is configured to be closed by a releasable fastening mechanism in the form of snap fasteners 11 between the second 2 0 shorter edges 9a, 9b of the rectangular layers 4, 5. Other releasable fastening mechanisms may be used such as a zip or Velcro®.

A third rectangular layer 12 of the same width but of a much shorter length than the first and second rectangular layers 4, 5 is laid over one end portion of an outer surface of the first layer 4. Three 13, 14, 15 of the edges of 25 the third layer 12 are joined to the first layer 4 so as to form a pocket 16 with an opening 17 facing towards a longitudinal centre of the first layer 4 of the mat 2 when the mat 2 is laid cut flat. A longitudinal centre-line C of the mat is shown in Figure 1. The pocket 16 forms a feet holding portion for holding the feet of a person using the device 1 as will be explained in more detail later.

The layers 4, 5, 12 comprise an absorbent material that can absorb sweat from a person using the mat 2.

The heating mechanism 3 comprises a flexible rectangular mat like heating structure or heat mat 18 having a length I and a width w. The mat like heating structure 18 has a heating area 26 for providing heat to a person’s back. The heating area 26 in this embodiment has a width of no more than two thirds of the width of the mat like heating structure 18 with there being a distance of at least one sixth of the width on either width side of the heating area 26. The heating area 26 may have a width of no more than a half of the width of the mat like heating structure 18 with there being a distance of at least one quarter of the width on either width side of the heating area 26. In this embodiment, the heating area 26 has a length of no more than half the length of the mat like heating structure 18 with there being a distance of at least one quarter of the length on either length side of the heating area 26. The heating area 26 may have a length of no more than a third of the length of the mat like heating structure 18 with there being a distance of at least one third of the length on either length side of the heating area 26. The heating area 26 has a heating element 19. The heating element 19 in this embodiment is serpentine and winds across the heating area 26. The heating element 19 could have other arrangements such as a spiral that spirals from the outside of the heating area 26 to the centre of the heating area 26.

A first cable 20 is attached to the heating element 19 and extends from the mat like heating structure 18. The first cable 20 is a power cable for connecting the heating element 19 to a source of power such as the electricity mains. A second cable 21 is also attached to the heating element 19 and extends from the mat like heating structure 18. The second cable 21 is connected to a control unit 22 for controlling the temperature of the heating element 19 of the heating mechanism 3. The control unit 22 has a display 23 which may be a light emitting diode display that displays the temperature selected. Alternatively, the control unit may be wirelessly connected to the heating element. The control unit may comprise an application on a smart phone.

In use, referring particularly to Figures 5 to 7, the rectangular mat like heating structure 18 is inserted into the heating mechanism holder 10 and substantially fills the region between the first and second layers 4, 5. The stud fasteners 11 are fastened together to hold the heating structure 18 in the mat 2 with the cables (only control cable 21 shown in Figs. 5 to 7) extending through a gap between the second shorter edges 9a, 9b of the first and second layers 4, 5. The mat 2 is laid out substantially fiat with the serpentine heating element 19 winding across the heating area 26. The power cable 20 is connected to the power source and the person uses the control unit 22 to set the required temperature for the heating element 19.

The person 24 lies flat on their back on the mat 2 keeping their body straight. In this position, the spine of the person 24 is arched so that there is a gap 25 beneath the lower back. The person 24 brings or raises their knees up so that their lower back is in the correct position being substantially flat above the heating element 19, with pressure being relieved from the tower back. The person 24 tucks their feet in the pocket 16 to stop their feet from sliding forward which would cause their spine to arch. The device 1 enables heat to be effectively applied to the person's back to relieve back pain providing a soothing effect.

The heating mechanism 3 can be removed from the heating mechanism holder 10 by unfastening the stud fasteners 11 and pulling out the mat like heating structure 18 from the holder 10.

In a modification shown in Figure 8, instead of having one pocket for holding both feet of a person using the mat on the outer surface of the first layer, there are two pockets 30 wherein each pocket is configured to receive a separate foot of a person using the mat 31.

Also, instead of having one or two pockets, straps or other forms of foot holding portions could be used.

In another modification shown in Figure 9, the heating mechanism 40 forms an integral part of the mat 41 wherein the serpentine heating element 42 of the heating area 43 is part of the mat 41.

Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention, The heating mechanism may have one or more heating elements having any suitable configuration for providing heat to a person’s back. The heating area may include one or more such heating elements.

Claims

1. A device for heating a back of a person, comprising:

a mat including:

at least one foot holding portion for holding at least a portion of at least one foot of a person using the device; and a heating mechanism defining a heating area, wherein when the mat is laid out substantially flat, the heating area of the heating mechanism is positioned closer to a longitudinal centre of the mat than the at least one foot holding portion.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, including a heating mechanism holder for holding the heating mechanism.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, including the heating mechanism held by the heating mechanism holder.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heating mechanism is removable from the heating mechanism holder.

5. The device as claimed in claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the mat comprises a pair of layers joined together at least partially along their perimeter with a region between the layers forming the heating mechanism holder.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the heating mechanism substantially fills the region between the layers when the heating mechanism is held by the heating mechanism holder.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the region between the layers is configured to be closed by a releasable fastening mechanism.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating mechanism forms an integral part of the mat.

9. The device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein when the mat is laid out substantially flat and a person using the mat has at least one foot held by the at least one foot holding portion, the heating mechanism is configured to provide heat to the back of the person when the person lays their back on the mat and brings their knees up.

10. The device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heating mechanism comprises a flexible mat like structure having at least one heating element.

11. The device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heating mechanism includes a control unit for controlling the temperature of the heating

12. The device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the foot holding portion is configured to hold a pair of feet of a person using the mat.

13. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the mat includes a pair of foot holding portions, each foot holding portion is configured to receive a separate foot of a person using the mat.

14. The device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one foot holding portion comprises a pocket.

15. The device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mat comprises an absorbent material.