US1686865A - Electric-heat applicator - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 9, 1928. 1,686,865 A. KLOTZ ELECTRIC HEAT APPLICATOR Filed Feb. '7, 1927 Patented 0a. 9, 1928.

ALFRED KLOTZ, OF MUNICH, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC-HEAT ABPLICATOR.

Application filed February 7, .1927, Serial No.

The present invention has reference to therapeutic apparatus for generating and then'locally or generally applying radiating light and heat to the human body, and it relates more specifically to a collapslble, readily portable device for generating and properly diffusing and reflecting luminous and thermal rays, and the particular Object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character for generating and directing a safe, steady stream of penetrating, therapeutically potent rays, which then directly impinge upon the body parts thus irradiated for direct heating thereof, whereas in prior apparatus they are primarily used for-heating the circumambient air and then only indirectly act on the parts under treatment. A further object of the invention is to provide a heat applicator of this type which is cheap and simple in operation, not liable to get out of order even .in unskilled hands, which can readily be carried about and for instance, can be set up in the patients bed without danger and without disturbin the patient, and which uses relatively little current and for this reason can be attached to the standard house circuit, the heating element requiring not more current than an ordinary sadiron.

According to my invention I combine a heating unit of rod shape with an elongated mirror or reflector, which latter is designed to collect the heat rays emanatin from the heat unit and to bend them back onto the body part to be treated. The heating unit preferably is mounted along the focal line of the concave reflector, so that the rays are thrown back in substantial parallelism. In order to prevent localized undue heating of the tissues by the rays emanating from the underside of the heating unit, I arrange an additional, narrower reflector within the main reflector, spaced underneath the heat unit, which bottom reflector intercepts these lower rays and throws them up against the upper reflector, from where they are then reflected downward again past the narrow reflector. By this reflector arrangement all energy is collected and usefully reflected onto the parts to be treated in an indirect manner without any direct, harsh, injurious direct irradiation of the body portion under treatment.

My invention will best be understood when 166,323, and in Germany September 12, 1925.

ing drawing, in which a preferred embodiment is illustrated by way of example. Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the applicator; Fig. 2 is a cross-section therethrough 011 line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus; Fig. 4 illustrates a detached, single heating element; Figs. 5 and 5 respectively show front and side views of the locking means for the supporting side panels.

The curved oblong mirror or reflector 1 of suitable material, preferably polished brass, may be smooth-faced or, for the purpose of enhancing its operative superficial area, may be of corrugated 0r zig-zag cross-section, as shown by way of, example in Fig. 2. The elongated rod-like heating unit is preferably built up of a plurality of heat coils 3 upon which the resistance wire 4 is wound in well known manner. The number of such series-connected coils 3 depends upon the length of the reflector, though, normally, two such heat coils suflice. They are mounted for g ready exchange or replacement, in case different voltages are to be used or a burnedout coil is to be replaced by a new one. For this purpose each coil is provided at each end with a metal contact pin 5, which pins are in current-conducting contact with the heat wire 4 and are clampingly held between the socketed end screws 6 and the intermediate double-ended socket abutment 7. For exchanging a coil the respective end screw is eased'until the contact'pins can be removed from their sockets. The complete heat unit is insulatedly suspended in the bracket arms 8 Which extend convergingly from the reflector 1, and its two terminals are connected by cables 13 with the plug socket 14. The heat unit is preferably arranged along the focal plane of the reflector and is adjustable relative thereto in bracket arms 8.

Below the heat unit there is mounted on the brackets 8 a relatively narrow reflector 2 parallel to the upper main reflector 1. This bottom'reflector 2 serves to prevent direct suitable manner on the irradiation of the treated parts .by the rays emanating from the lower zone-0f the heat unit. In Fig. 2 the doubly reflected rays are indicated in their course by arrowed interrupted lines. This lower-reflector, furthermore, serves as safe ard against possible injury to the patient y dropping parts of a reaking heat member.

The lower reflector, likewise, is arranged and adjustable in such manner that the heat unit extends along its focal plane.

The described parts are hooded by a case or cover 9, preferably of heat-retaining material, and the front and rear ends are closed in by end walls 16 and 116 respectively, on the one of which, as shown wall 16, the contact socket 14 isinsulatedly mounted. To the two lower longitudinal edges of the case 9 are hingedly secured the supporting side body 9 there are provided clamping rosettes 12 at the four corners. These clamps 12 each comprise two complemental radially corrugated discs of spring metal which resiliently cooperate in snap-fashion, the one disc being secured to the side panel, and the complemental disc to the case in the pivotal axis thereof.

Handles 15 are provided on the case. Whennot in use the applicator is collapsed as shown in Fig. 3, when it can readily be carried about and storedunderneath the bed or upon a closet shelf. For use the side panels are opened up, asshown in full lines in Fig. :2, and the device is straddlingly placed over the stretched out patient, or over only a limb of the sit-ting patient. A cover is then placed over the appliance and around the patient to prevent access of cold air, and the current is then turned on.

Whilst I have described my invention in a preferred embodiment, I desire it to be understood that --modifications, obviously, may be made and that no limitations are intended other than may be imposed by the scope, of the appended claims.

What I claim is 2- .1. A heat applicator of the character set forth, comprising an elongated downwardly deflecting main reflector, an insulating case therefor open below, bracket members convergingly extending from said reflector, an elongated upwardly deflecting secondary reflector of less width than the first said reflector adjust-ably mounted on said bracket members, an elongated heat element mounted on said bracket members intermediate said two reflectors in their coincident focal planes, side panels hingedly secured to the "two longitudinal edges of said case, and

means for maintaining the side panels in their relatively adjusted positions.

2. A heat applicator of the character described comprising an elongated inverted U- shaped casing normally ,open at its bottom and provided with end walls, a correspondingly shaped main reflector upon the interior of said casing, a heating element arranged within the main reflector, a smaller reflector arranged within the main reflector below the heating element and in the focal plane of the main reflector, and doors hinged to the lower edges of the side walls of the casing and movable outwardly and inwardly to open and close the normally open bottom thereof.

3. A heat applicator of the character described comprising. an elongated downwardly reflecting main reflector, an insulating case therefor open at its base, bracket members depending from the main reflector, an elongated upwardly reflecting secondary reflector of less width than the main reflector supported by said bracket members, an

elongated heating element mounted on said bracket members between said reflectors and 1 thereof. V

' ALFRED KLOTZ.

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