GB2580144A

GB2580144A - Thermal device

Info

Publication number: GB2580144A
Application number: GB1821090.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sivy Yann; Bloedt Laurent
Original assignee: Creation Xxi S A S
Current assignee: Creation Xxi S A S
Priority date: 2018-12-21
Filing date: 2018-12-21
Publication date: 2020-07-15
Also published as: GB201821090D0

Abstract

A polymer band 2 configured to form a loop with an internal face 4 that wraps around a body part. The band contains one or more pads 7 comprising a receptacle substantially made integral with the polymer material of the band 2. The receptacles (8, Fig 6) contain a thermal material capable of transferring thermal energy to and / or from the body part. The band can have complimentary fasteners 6 (e.g buttons or hook and loop) to allow adjustment and / or closing of the band 2 on the body part. The thermal material can be a liquid, solid or a gel, and can comprise water, a coolant material or a suitable material for heat transfer. The polymer material can comprise one of silicone, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer and/ or elastomer. The pads 7 can have a convex curvature towards the internal face 4 of the loop. Each pad 7 can be a spherical or elongated dome. The thermal material can be configured to be preheated or precooled prior to use.

Description

Thermal device

Field of Invention

The invention relates but is not limited to a device for transferring thermal energy to 5 and/or from a body part of a human or an animal. The invention also relates but is not limited to a method for manufacturing the device.

Background

Remedies for inflammatory problems (such as tendonitis or post-operation inflammation) 10 and/or muscle problems (such as hematomas or torn muscles) may include application of heat and/or cold to a body part where the problems are located.

The current devices for applying heat and/or cold are cumbersome and/or not convenient.

Summary

Aspects and embodiments of the invention are set out in the appended claims These and other aspects and embodiments of the invention are also described herein.

Brief description of Drawings

Aspects and embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a cross section of an example device according 25 to the disclosure, forming a loop; Figure 2 schematically illustrates an elevation view of a first example embodiment of the device of Figure 1 according to the disclosure, in a flat configuration, with a first length and a first width; Figure 3A schematically illustrates an elevation view of the example device of 30 Figure 2, with a second length and a second width; Figure 3B schematically illustrates an elevation view of the example device of Figure 2, with a third length and a third width; Figure 4 schematically illustrates, in an exploded elevation view, the example -2 -device of Figure 2, from an outer view into receptacles containing a thermal material; Figure 5A schematically illustrates an elevation view of a band of a second example embodiment of the device of Figure 1 according to the disclosure, in a flat configuration, from an outer view into receptacles; Figure 5B schematically illustrates the band of Figure 5A, from a view to pads configured to enable transfer of thermal energy to and/or from a body part of a human or an animal; Figure 6 schematically illustrates a cross section of a detail of an example receptacle of a device according to the disclosure; Figure 7 schematically illustrates a cross section of a detail of another example receptacle of a device according to the disclosure; and Figure 8 schematically illustrates an example method of manufacturing a device according to any aspects of the disclosure.

In the drawings, similar elements bear identical numerical references

Specific Description of Example Embodiments

Overview Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example device 1 according to the disclosure. The device 1 comprises a band 2 made of a polymer material. The band 2 extends along a length L in a plane (YOX) of Figure 1, and has a width W in a direction perpendicular to the plane (YOX), e.g. parallel to axis (OZ) of Figure 1. The band 2 has two mains faces, e.g. the faces 3 and 4 in the example of Figure 1. One face, e.g. face 4 in the example of Figure 1, may correspond to an inner face of a loop which may be formed by the band 2 in the plane (YOX). The inner face 4 of the loop may define a receiving space 5 for receiving a body part of a human or an animal. The body part may be at least a part of an arm (such as a wrist or a bicep) or at least a part of a leg (such as a thigh or an ankle), or any other part of the body of the human or the animal.

The device 1 may also comprise complementary fasteners 6 configured to provide 30 adjustment and/or closing of the loop on the body part of the human or the animal.

The device 1 also comprises one or more pads 7 (only one pad 7 is represented on the example of Figure 1, but the device 1 may comprise more than one pad 7, as will be apparent from the description below). -3 -

In Figure 1, the one or more thermal pads 7 extend on a surface of the band 2 corresponding substantially to the inner face of the loop defining the receiving space 5. It should be understood that in some examples the extension of the one or more pads 7 may be less than substantially the inner face of the loop defining the receiving space 5. 5 In other words, the one or more thermal pads 7 may extend on a surface of the band 2 which may be for example about 50% (or less) of the band 2 (as shown e.g. in Figure 2), although in some examples the one or more thermal pads 7 may extend on a surface of the band 2 which may be for example about at least 50% (such as 75% or more) of the band 2 (as shown e.g. in Figures 3A and 3B), depending on the part of the body to which 10 the device 1 is adapted. In both cases, the band 2 may extend and/or the complementary fasteners 6 may be located on either side of the one or more pads 7.

The pad 7 comprises a receptacle 8 at least substantially made integral with the polymer material of the band 2, and a thermal material 9 located in the receptacle 8. The thermal material 9 is configured to enable transfer of thermal energy to the body part of the human or the animal (e.g. for applying heat to the body part) and/or transfer of thermal energy from the body part of the human or the animal (e.g. for applying cold to the body part) through the receptacle 8, when the body part of the human or the animal is received in the receiving space 5 defined by the loop.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, each receptacle 8 may have a thickness T of polymer material, the thickness T being such that 0.4mmT515mm, as non-limiting examples.

The thermal material 9 is configured to be preheated (e.g. the device 1 may be placed in a microwave oven or in an electrical oven or in a hot water bath as non-limiting examples) and/or precooled (e.g. the device 1 may be placed in a refrigerator or a freezer as non-limiting examples), prior to the device 1 being placed on the body part of the human or the animal. The device 1 may be used when necessary, e.g. when heat and/or cold needs to be applied to the body pad.

In some examples, each pad 7 may comprise a convex curvature towards the inner face of the loop defining the receiving space 5. The convex curvature enables the band 2 to form the loop and enhances the transfer of thermal energy to and/or from the body part of the human or the animal through the receptacle, when the body part of the human or the animal is received in the receiving space 5 defined by the loop. It should be understood that other shapes may be envisaged for the receptacle 8 of the one or more -4 -pads 7.

In some examples and as described in greater detail below, the complementary fasteners 6 may comprise a plurality of complementary systems located at a plurality of 5 positions on the band 2, so as to provide the adjustment of the loop to the body part of the human or the animal.

Alternatively or additionally, the complementary fasteners 6 may comprise at least one of one or more headed pins, each forming a button, cooperating with one or more holes, and/or one or more hooks cooperating with one or more slots or rings, so as to provide 10 the closing of the loop on the body part of the human or the animal.

The device 1 may enable applying heat to the body part (resulting in e.g. vasodilatation) and/or applying cold to the body part (resulting in e.g. vasoconstriction). The device 1 may enhance recovery from exercise and/or from inflammatory problems (such as tendonitis or post-operation inflammation) and/or from muscle problems (such as hematomas or torn muscle).

Detailed Description of Example Embodiments

As illustrated in Figure 2, the band 2 comprises a first extremity 11 and a second extremity 12. The complementary fasteners 6 may comprise a line 13 comprising two headed pins 131 located at the first extremity 11 of the band 2, and the plurality of complementary systems may comprise one or more lines 14 comprising two corresponding holes 141 located at the second extremity 12 of the band 2. The line 13 and/or the one or more lines 14 may be substantially perpendicular to the plane (YOX) of Figure 2, e.g. parallel to axis (OZ) illustrated in Figure 2. In some examples, the adjustment of the loop to the body part of the human or the animal may be provided by placing the two headed pins 131 in a line 14 of holes 141 corresponding to a girth of the body part on which the device 1 is placed.

Alternatively or additionally, and as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B, the band 2 may 30 have a particular length L and a particular width W to correspond to a particular body part.

In some examples, the length L is such that 5cmsLs150cm, as non-limiting examples; and/or the width W is such that 3cmsWs150cm, as non-limiting examples. -5 -

As illustrated in Figure 2, the device 1 comprises a plurality of pads 7, such as eleven rows of five pads as a non-limiting example. As illustrated in Figure 3A, the device 1 may comprise forty-six rows of four pads 7, as a non-limiting example, and as illustrated in Figure 3B, the device 1 may comprise sixty rows of five pads 7, as a non-limiting example, depending on the particular length L and the particular width W, to correspond to the particular body part.

The plurality of pads 7 enable the band 2 to form the loop and enhance the transfer of thermal energy to and/or from the body part of the human or the animal through the 10 receptacle, when the body part of the human or the animal is received in the receiving space 5 defined by the loop.

As illustrated in Figures 2, 3A and 3B, each pad 7 may define a substantially spherical dome, but other shapes may be envisaged.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the device 1 may further comprise a lid 15 closing one 15 corresponding aperture 16 of the device 1 (as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 4). In some examples, the aperture 16 is configured to enable filling of the receptacles 8 with the thermal material 9.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the lid 15 is located on the face 3 of the band 2 corresponding to an outer face of the loop.

As illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B, the device 1 may comprise a plurality of pads 7, such as five pads as a non-limiting example. In Figures 5A and 58, each pad 7 pad defines a substantially elongated dome, but other shapes may be envisaged. In Figures 5A and 5B, the elongated dome may be elongated along a long axis perpendicular to the plane (YOX) of Figures 5A and 5B, e.g. parallel to axis (OZ) illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B. The lid closing the aperture 16 of the device 1 is not shown in Figures 5A and 5B.

Alternatively or additionally, in some examples and as illustrated in Figure 6, the pad 7 may further comprise a bag 17 containing the thermal material 9, the bag 17 being located in the receptacle 8 of the pad 7. The bag 17 may simplify filling of the receptacle 8 with the thermal material 9 and/or may avoid any leakage of the thermal material 9 out of the device 1. The bag 17 may be thin and enable transfer of thermal energy to the body part of the human or the animal and/or transfer of thermal energy from the body -6 -part of the human or the animal, through the receptacle 8.

As illustrated in Figure 7, alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, each pad 7 may be made integral with the polymer material of the band 2, except for an aperture 16 5 configured to enable filling of the receptacle 8 with the thermal material 9. The device 1 further comprises a lid 15 closing one corresponding aperture 16 of the device 1.

As illustrated in Figure 8, the disclosure also relates to a method 100 for manufacturing a device, e.g. the device 1 according to any aspects of the disclosure.

The method 100 may comprise: forming, at Si, a band made of a polymer material and configured to form a loop comprising an inner face, the inner face of the loop defining a receiving space for receiving a body part of a human or an animal; forming, at S2, complementary fasteners configured to provide adjustment and/or closing of the loop on the body part of the human or the animal; forming, at 53, one or more pads, wherein each pad comprises a receptacle at least substantially made integral with the polymer material of the band; and filling, at S4, the receptacle with a thermal material configured to enable transfer 20 of thermal energy to and/or from the body part of the human or an animal through the receptacle, when the body part of the human or the animal is received in the receiving space defined by the loop.

Step S4 may involve filling the thermal material through an aperture, e.g. the aperture 16 according to any aspects of the disclosure, and placing a lid, e.g. the lid 15 according to any aspects of the disclosure, on the aperture. The thermal material, e.g. the thermal material 9 according to any aspects of the disclosure, may be placed in a bag, e.g. the bag 17 according to any aspects of the disclosure, before being placed in the receptacle.

Any one of steps S1, S2, S3 and/or S4 may be performed via moulding, but other techniques may be envisaged. Any of the steps of the method 100 may involve, as least partly, at least one of e.g. injection, moulding, overmoulding, thermoforming, moulding by compression and/or casting, as non-limiting examples. -7 -

The complementary fasteners may be formed integral with the material of the band, or may be attached to the band.

Modifications and variations The thermal material may be under a first physical phase at room temperature (e.g. typically between about 10 degrees Celsius to about 30 degrees Celsius), the first physical phase comprising at least one of: a liquid, a solid and/or a gel, such as an aqueous gel and/or a viscous gel. Alternatively or additionally, the thermal material 9 may be under a second physical phase comprising at least one of: a liquid, a solid and/or a gel, such as an aqueous gel and/or a viscous gel, which is different from or the same as the first physical phase, at temperatures other than that of room temperature. Such other temperatures may correspond to temperatures corresponding to a hot oven (e.g. about 100 degrees Celsius to about 200 degrees Celsius, as non-limiting examples), or temperatures corresponding to a refrigerator or a freezer (e.g. about -30 degrees Celsius to about 6 degrees Celsius, as non-limiting examples).

The thermal material 9 may comprise at least one of: water and/or a coolant material, and/or a material suitable for heat transfer.

The polymer material (e.g. for the band and/or the lid and/or the receptacle) comprises at least one of: silicone, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and/or elastomer, as non-limiting examples.

The band 2 may comprise holes to allow perspiration when the body part of the human or the animal is received in the receiving space defined by the loop. -8 -

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device comprising: a band made of a polymer material and configured to form a loop comprising an 5 inner face, the inner face of the loop defining a receiving space for receiving a body part of a human or an animal; and one or more pads, wherein each pad comprises: a receptacle at least substantially made integral with the polymer material of the band; and a thermal material located in the receptacle, the thermal material being configured to enable transfer of thermal energy to and/or from the body part of the human or the animal through the receptacle, when the body part of the human or the animal is received in the receiving space defined by the loop.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more lids closing one or more corresponding apertures of the device, each aperture being configured to enable filling of the one or more receptacle with the thermal material.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein each pad is made integral with the polymer material of 20 the band, except for an aperture configured to enable filling of the receptacle with the thermal material.
4. The device of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each lid is located on a face of the band corresponding to an outer face of the loop.
5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pad further comprises a bag containing the thermal material, the bag being located in the receptacle of the pad.
6. The device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thermal material is under a first 30 physical phase at room temperature, the first physical phase comprising at least one of: a liquid, a solid and/or a gel; and/or wherein the thermal material is under a second physical phase, the second physical phase comprising at least one of: a liquid, a solid and/or a gel, which is different -9 -from or the same as the first physical phase, at temperatures other than that of room temperature.
7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the thermal material comprises at 5 least one of: water and/or a coolant material and/or a material suitable for heat transfer.
8. The device of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the polymer material comprises at least one of: silicone, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer and/or elastomer.
9. The device of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising complementary fasteners configured to provide adjustment and/or closing of the loop on the body part of the human or the animal, wherein the complementary fasteners comprise.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the complementary fasteners comprise at least one 15 of: a plurality of complementary systems located at a plurality of positions on the band, so as to provide the adjustment of the loop to the body part of the human or the animal; and/or at least one of: one or more headed pins, each forming a button, cooperating with one or more holes, and/or one or more hooks cooperating with one or more slots or rings, so as to provide the closing of the loop on the body part of the human or the animal.
11. The device according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the band comprises a first extremity and a second extremity, and wherein the complementary fasteners comprise: a line comprising at least two headed pins located at the first extremity of the band; and the plurality of complementary systems comprise one or more lines comprising at least two corresponding holes located at the second extremity of the band.
-10 - 12. The device of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein each pad comprises a convex curvature towards the inner face of the loop defining the receiving space.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein each pad defines a substantially spherical dome or a 5 substantially elongated dome.
14. The device of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the one or more thermal pads extend on a surface of the band corresponding substantially to the inner face of the loop defining the receiving space.
15. The device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein each receptacle has a thickness T of polymer material, the thickness T being such that 0.4mms-K15mm.
16. The device of any one of claims Ito 15, wherein the band has a length L, the length 15 L being such that 5cril_s150cm; and/or wherein the band has a width W, the width W being such that 3cmW\W 50cm.
17. The device of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the thermal material is configured to be preheated and/or precooled, prior to the device being placed on the body part of the 20 human or the animal.
18. A method for manufacturing a device, comprising: forming a band made of a polymer material and configured to form a loop comprising an inner face, the inner face of the loop defining a receiving space for 25 receiving a body part of a human or an animal; forming complementary fasteners configured to provide adjustment and/or closing of the loop on the body part of the human or the animal; forming one or more pads, wherein each pad comprises a receptacle at least substantially made integral with the polymer material of the band; and filling the receptacle with a thermal material configured to enable transfer of thermal energy to and/or from the body part of the human or an animal through the receptacle, when the body part of the human or the animal is received in the receiving space defined by the loop.