USRE35586E - Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator - Google Patents
Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- USRE35586E USRE35586E US08/534,029 US53402995A USRE35586E US RE35586 E USRE35586 E US RE35586E US 53402995 A US53402995 A US 53402995A US RE35586 E USRE35586 E US RE35586E
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- gelling agent
- iadd
- iaddend
- cellulose
- heat pack
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
- A61F7/02—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
- A61F7/03—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling thermophore, i.e. self-heating, e.g. using a chemical reaction
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D20/00—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
- F28D20/02—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00 using latent heat
- F28D20/028—Control arrangements therefor
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
- A61F7/02—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
- A61F2007/0292—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling using latent heat produced or absorbed during phase change of materials, e.g. of super-cooled solutions
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/14—Thermal energy storage
Definitions
- This invention relates to reusable warmers for directly applying heat to areas of the human body to relieve muscle aches, pains and the like which employ a super-cooled aqueous solution (as for example, a super-cooled, super-saturated aqueous sodium acetate solution) and an activator to initiate the crystallization of the super-cooled liquid.
- a super-cooled aqueous solution as for example, a super-cooled, super-saturated aqueous sodium acetate solution
- an activator to initiate the crystallization of the super-cooled liquid.
- Reusable warmers employing a super-cooled aqueous solution and an activator have been used by sportsmen and others for years to warm parts of the human body.
- a reusable warmer is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,390 to Stanley et al. (issued Mar. 7, 1978) generally at FIG.
- a super-cooled solution such as an aqueous sodium acetate solution
- a flexible receptacle such as a bag-like receptacle.
- the solution is activated by flexing or bending the activator strip.
- the sodium acetate in the super-cooled solution crystallizes and heat (i.e. the "heat of crystallization") is evolved.
- All references herein to reusable warmer or heat packs are meant to refer to the aforementioned type of heat pack in which a .[.supercooled.]. .Iadd.super-cooled .Iaddend.solution is provided in a flexible container, which also houses a trigger or activator for initiating crystallization.
- One of the primary uses for such reusable warmers is the application of heat directly to various parts of the human body for therapeutic purposes such as to relieve muscle aches and pains, to reduce inflammation and to promote healing of damaged tissue.
- Other uses include those by sports participants (such as hunters, skiers and the like) or sports enthusiasts (such as spectators at sporting events) who use the warmers to keep various parts of their bodies warm during cold weather.
- Saddlebagging leads to uneven coverage by the reusable warmer of the body part area to be heated.
- the art has attempted to minimize saddlebagging by various means. These have included, for example, adding welds to the flexible, sealed container of the warmer so that the solution is restrained from freely flowing. Also the use of very heavy gauge plastics which will not only be more resistant to bending, but will also act to restrain flow of the super-cooled solution and keep a more flat surface have been tried.
- the prior art warmers also suffer from another substantial problem. Although present-day, reusable warmers tend to saddlebag while unactivated, once the super-cooled solution is activated and crystallization proceeds, the converse problem is presented. During the period from activation, through crystallization, to final cooling, present-day, .[.reusable-warmers.]. .Iadd.reusable warmers .Iaddend.go through a transition from water-like consistency to that of a hard, solid lump. As the phase transition proceeds, the reusable warmer becomes more and more inflexible and difficult to shape or maintain in other than a flat configuration.
- the present invention provides reusable warmers of the supersaturated solution type that are substantially free of saddlebagging. Further, the present invention provides warmers that exhibit a more sustained period of time during which the heat pack remains within a therapeutically useful temperature range. The reusable warmers of the present invention also maintain a substantial degree of flexibility during their useful heat cycle.
- a gelling agent to gel the salt solution.
- a viscosity increasing agent such as, for example, CELLOSIZE HEC-QP 52000-H gelling agent (Union Carbide Corporation).
- the present invention thus provides a reusable warmer comprising a flexible container, and located within said container, a .[.supercooled.]. .Iadd.super-cooled .Iaddend.salt solution, an activator for initiating crystallization of said super-cooled salt solution, and a gelling agent, said gelling agent being present in sufficient quantity to convert said salt solution to a gel.
- the viscosity .[.increasing, or gelling agent.]. .Iadd.increasing agent or gelling .Iaddend.agent makes the super-cooled sodium acetate solution viscous enough to delay, prevent .Iadd., .Iaddend.or inhibit the natural tendency of the solution to flow around body parts which are not flat, yet allows the reusable warmer to be flexible enough so that it readily conforms to the contours of the body part to which it is being applied, making the reusable warmer more comfortable and easier to use.
- the use of the gelling agent also causes the product, after activation, to convert to a solid that is more flexible than that of the prior art.
- the heat packs of the present invention are capable of being maintained in closer contact with irregularly shaped body parts during their heat cycle, than are those heat packs of the prior art.
- the present invention provides improved reusable warmers, such as those containing super-cooled sodium acetate solution, and an activator (sometimes called a "trigger").
- the improved warmers include a sufficient amount of a gelling agent to cause gelling of the sodium acetate or other salt solution, as by incorporating a small amount of the gelling agent (sometimes referred to as “viscosity increasing” or “thickening agents") in the super-cooled sodium acetate solution during the manufacture of the reusable warmer, which amount is sufficient to substantially inhibit the flow of the salt solution, particularly after it has been activated and is in the warm state.
- the exact type of viscosity increasing, gelling or thickening agent is not critical to the present invention and any number of commercially available viscosity increasing agents may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
- the gelling agents utilized in the subject compositions can be any agent which creates a stable gel matrix, or otherwise essentially prevents flow, in the presence of substantial quantities of dissolved salt, such as sodium acetate.
- the resultant product may be technically regarded as a pseudoplastic, but for purposes of the present invention will be considered to be a gel.
- the useful gelling agents also include what may be technically categorized as viscosifiers and rheological control agents.
- gelling agent includes conventional gelling agents, those materials which, upon contact with water, imbibe the water and thereby form hydrogels or pseudoplastics, as well as superabsorbants, which essentially prevent flow.
- Gelling agents of use in the present invention include both natural and synthetic materials.
- Cellulose derivatives are particularly useful as gelling agents in the present invention, such as cellulose ethers, including methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, polypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl propylcellulose, and hydroxybutyl methylcellulose.
- cellulose ethers including methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, polypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl propylcellulose, and hydroxybutyl methylcellulose.
- starch graft copolymers such as hydrolyzed acrylonitrile grafted starch, and polyacrylate grafted .[.starch,..]. .Iadd.starch. .Iaddend.U.S. Pat. Nos. .[.4,435,488;.]. .Iadd.4,435,488, .Iaddend.4,455,358, and 4,563,404, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose gelling agents of the type contemplated for such use herein .[.and the these patents are incorporated herein by reference.]..
- Natural and synthetic gums and gum-like materials may also be employed as gelling agents in the present invention, such as Irish moss, gum tragacanth, Viscarin GMC, Kapa- and Iota carrageenan, sodium alginate, guar, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl-hydroxy-propyl guar, hydroxy ethyl guar, alginates, carrageenan, xanthan gum, gelatin, agarose, gum arabic, carob, tragacanth, locust bean gum karaya, pectin, agar, gum acacia, tara gum, polysuccrose, polyglucose, and Zooglan (the exocellular polysaccharide isolated from Zoogloea ramigera.Iadd.).Iaddend..
- the gelling agents also may be any synthetic polymer or copolymer which is hydratable an cross-linkable in solution, such as polymers which contain one or more of the following functional groups: hydroxyl, cishydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfate, sulfonate, amino or amide.
- synthetic polymers include, but are not limited to, polyacrylates, polymethylacrylates, polyacrylamides, acrylamide methyl propane sulfonic acid copolymers, polyvinyl alcohols, maleic anhydride-based copolymers such as poly(methylvinylethermaleic anhydride), ethylene maleic anhydride, .[.and.].
- Suitable gelling agents may be selected by reference to published literature, such as the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Vol. 20, 207-230, dealing with water soluble resins, which text is incorporated herein by reference.
- gelling agents are the poly(ethylene oxide) polymers, such as those supplied under the trademark POLYOX by Union Carbide Corporation.
- HEC hydroxyethyl cellulose
- other water-soluble natural polymers such as the gums, starches, celluloses, gelatin, etc.
- suspending agents such as the gums, starches, celluloses, gelatin, etc.
- suspending agents such as the gums, starches, celluloses, gelatin, etc.
- emulsifiers or dispersants may also be employed, provided that the material causes the solution to gel or increase in viscosity sufficiently to inhibit or slow-down the flow of the solution during the heat producing phase.
- the method of making a reusable warmer is well known and does not form an essential part of the herein-described invention. Any of several methods of manufacture can be employed as, for example, that which is described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,390 at columns 2 and 3. Further, the type of activator used also is not an essential part of the present invention and any suitable activator or trigger can be used, as, for example, the activators described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,390 or 4,872,442.
- the essential element is the incorporation of a sufficient amount of a gelling agent to cause the supercooled sodium acetate solution to form a gel, such as a small amount of a viscosity increasing agent (such as, for example, Union Carbide's CELLOSIZE gelling agent), during manufacture of the reusable warmer.
- a gelling agent such as, for example, Union Carbide's CELLOSIZE gelling agent
- the amount of viscosity increasing, thickening or gelling agent used can vary depending upon the specific type of reusable warmer being made.
- the amount used should not be so small that the viscosity of the super-cooled sodium acetate-solution is so low that the solution flows to an appreciable extent and collects in low spots in the bag (and cause saddle bagging), nor should it be so great that the viscosity of the super-cooled solution is so high that the reusable warmer is not flexible and, therefore, not comfortable to use.
- a gel when reference is made herein to a gel, the term is to be understood as meaning a soft gell which remains deformable.
- the amount of gelling agent used can be less than about 5% by weight of the .[.supercooled.]. .Iadd.super-cooled .Iaddend.solution and, preferably, between about 1 to 4% by weight.
- the molecular weight of the polymer there is a relationship between the molecular weight of the polymer and its viscosity or ability to form a gel in solution.
- grades QP 52000 or 100 MH which have the highest molecular weight.
- the amount employed will be less than if the lower molecular weight grades are used.
- Reference to the published manufacturer's literature regarding the relationship between the different grades and their viscosity as 1% aqueous solutions may be made to assist in determining optimum levels of use.
- the salt used to form the .[.supercooled.]. .Iadd.super-cooled .Iaddend.solution may be any of the art-recognized salts which are capable of forming a .[.supercooled.]. .Iadd.super-cooled .Iaddend.solution.
- the preferable salt is sodium acetate because it is relatively inexpensive and innocuous.
- the amount of sodium acetate is not critical. In general, the amount of sodium acetate will range from about 40 to about 50 percent.
- the container also is not critical. Typically the container will be in the shape of a bag and will be constructed of any suitable material. Transparent films, which may be multiaminates, are preferred. The films preferably have at least one side that may be heat-sealed. It is preferred to use nylon-polyethylene laminate as the flexible film.
- the reusable warmer When the reusable warmer was activated (by flexing the activator) it provided the same level of warmth for the same period of time as did similar reusable warmers which did not contain any CELLOSIZE HEC-QP 52000-H.
- the thickened or gelatinous .[.supercooled.]. .Iadd.super-cooled .Iaddend.sodium acetate solution was stable (it did not separate into its component parts) and did not attack the container.
- the concentration of the super-cooled salt solution can be varied depending on the temperature to be achieved by activation. It was found that the gelatinous super-cooled solution cushioned and suspended the activator so that the danger of accidental activation during manufacture, shipping or storing of the reusable warmer was substantially reduced.
- a reusable warmer was assembled similar to the one in Example 1, except 2 to 3% by weight of CELLOSIZE HEC-QP 100000-H (Union Carbide Corporation) was employed instead of the CELLOSIZE HEC-QP 52000-H used in Example 1.
- CELLOSIZE HEC-QP 100000-H Union Carbide Corporation
- a viscous super-cooled sodium acetate solution formed which was gelatinous in nature.
- the gelatinous super-cooled solution was generally clear and transparent and the activator inside the reusable warmer readily could be seen.
- the reusable warmer When the reusable warmer was activated (by flexing the activator) it provided the same level of warmth for the same period of time as did .[.similar.]. the reusable warmer of Example 1.
- the thickened or gelatinous super-cooled sodium acetate solution was stable (it did not separate into its component parts) and did not attack the container.
- a reusable warmer was assembled similar to the one in Example 1, except that between 10-30% by weight of a corn starch was used as the viscosity increasing agent. During assembly of the reusable warmer, considerable care must be taken in mixing in the starch because it tended to form lumps easily. Mixing was performed using high shear mixers. The assembled reusable warmer, after heating, was not as clear as the reusable warmers of Examples 1 to 2. However, its stability was good.
- the reusable warmer of the present invention can be used as a "cold pack" by placing it in a refrigerator for a short period. It is apparent that the salt (sodium acetate) contained in the cold pack sufficiently reduces the freezing temperature of the water so that freezing does not take place. When used in this fashion the cold pack has many of the same advantages that it has when used as a reusable warmer, it holds temperature well and conforms to the area of the body to which it is applied. The stability of the cold pack when used in this fashion is highly dependent on the purity of the water and the acetate used in its manufacture; the greater the purity of the solution, the lower the temperature at which the cold pack can be used. For temperatures down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit tap water and standard.[., .]. acetate .[.is.]. .Iadd.are .Iaddend.acceptable.
- One set of three inch by four inch bags were filled with two ounces of gel solution made in accordance with Example 2 and another set were filled with two ounces of solution identical to the first set, but not containing a gelling agent. Both sets of bags had initial starting temperatures of 81° F. and were activated, attaining peak temperatures of 107° F. An infrared thermometer was then used to measure surface temperatures every two minutes, for a period of twenty minutes. During this time the bags containing the gelling agent were two-three degrees warmer at all times than the bags that did not contain a gelling agent. The foregoing demonstrates that the reusable warmers of the present invention demonstrates a more desirable heat profile during crystallization, than the reusable warmers of the prior art.
- Example 4 The same sets of bags as employed in Example 4 were tested for their ability to conform to and hold a shape during the heating cycle, by placing the bags around a 0.75 inch diameter dowl rod.
- the bags containing the gelling agent held their shape considerably better than the bags that did not contain the gelling agent. It was also found that the bags containing the gelling agent remained relatively stationary throughout the wrapping and draping process, whereas the bags that did not contain the gelling agent did not.
- the bags containing the gelling agent also had a cushion-like feel and response whereas the bags that did not contain the gelling agent had no "body" to them at all.
- xanthan gum supplied by Kelco
- the solution gelled very well, however, the color was extremely dark, forming an almost brown, opaque composition.
- the bags were subsequently activated and performed similarly to the bags of Example 4 containing the gelling agent.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (18)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/534,029 USRE35586E (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1991-06-14 | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/538,838 US5058563A (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1990-06-15 | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
PCT/US1991/004259 WO1991019946A1 (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1991-06-14 | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
US07/956,762 US5339796A (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1991-06-14 | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
US08/534,029 USRE35586E (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1991-06-14 | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
Related Parent Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US07/538,838 Continuation-In-Part US5058563A (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1990-06-15 | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
US07/956,762 Reissue US5339796A (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1991-06-14 | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
USRE35586E true USRE35586E (en) | 1997-08-19 |
Family
ID=27065934
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/534,029 Expired - Lifetime USRE35586E (en) | 1990-06-15 | 1991-06-14 | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | USRE35586E (en) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6379582B1 (en) | 2000-03-28 | 2002-04-30 | Magic Ice, Inc. | Crosslinked co-polymer composition for thermal energy storage |
US6537309B2 (en) * | 2001-03-26 | 2003-03-25 | Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research | Reusable heat pack, method of manufacture thereof, mixture for use in a reusable heatpack and process for the preparation thereof |
US20040199231A1 (en) * | 2003-04-01 | 2004-10-07 | Heatmax, Inc. | Self-contained personal warming apparatus and method of warming |
US20050197488A1 (en) * | 2004-03-04 | 2005-09-08 | Mather Patrick T. | Mechanically activated shape memory device |
US9028537B2 (en) | 2011-03-10 | 2015-05-12 | Dale E. Walters | Infant heel heat pack |
US9326888B2 (en) | 2008-05-12 | 2016-05-03 | Embrace | System and method to regulate temperature |
US9605874B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2017-03-28 | Warmilu, Llc | Phase change heat packs |
EP3438225A1 (en) * | 2017-08-03 | 2019-02-06 | i-select SA | Latent heat storage medium |
US11009298B2 (en) * | 2016-07-15 | 2021-05-18 | Neothermal Energy Storage Inc. | Thermal energy storage apparatus |
CN113265229A (en) * | 2021-06-04 | 2021-08-17 | 南方科技大学 | Phase-change gel material and preparation method and application thereof |
US11435146B2 (en) | 2019-03-07 | 2022-09-06 | Neothermal Energy Storage Inc. | Thermal energy storage apparatus |
Citations (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3804077A (en) * | 1971-08-05 | 1974-04-16 | Kay Laboratories Inc | Hot or cold pack |
US4077390A (en) * | 1976-08-02 | 1978-03-07 | Marc F. Fiedler | Reusable heat pack containing supercooled solution and means for activating same |
US4081256A (en) * | 1976-12-03 | 1978-03-28 | Readi Temp, Inc. | Endothermic composition and cold pack |
GB2011057A (en) * | 1977-12-23 | 1979-07-04 | Jones R C H | Heating or Cooling Device |
US4209413A (en) * | 1977-06-10 | 1980-06-24 | The Calor Group Limited | Thermal energy storage material |
US4295517A (en) * | 1978-06-16 | 1981-10-20 | Woldemar Guex | Reusable heat devices containing xylitol as the heat-storage material |
US4338359A (en) * | 1981-03-16 | 1982-07-06 | Apollo Technologies, Inc. | Method of facilitating low temperature discharge from a container of particulate material |
JPS57177086A (en) * | 1981-04-24 | 1982-10-30 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Heat storing material |
JPS57210297A (en) * | 1981-06-19 | 1982-12-23 | Toshiba Corp | Heat accumulation material for heater |
US4462224A (en) * | 1983-07-11 | 1984-07-31 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Instant hot or cold, reusable cold pack |
GB2134532A (en) * | 1982-08-12 | 1984-08-15 | Edeco Holdings Ltd | Thermal energy storage medium |
WO1985005440A1 (en) * | 1984-05-15 | 1985-12-05 | Edeco Holdings Limited | Heat retaining devices |
US4572158A (en) * | 1984-09-12 | 1986-02-25 | Topazon Limited | Trigger to activate aqueous salt solution for use in a heat pack and method of making the same |
US4573447A (en) * | 1985-02-19 | 1986-03-04 | Sunbelt America Corporation | Chemical heater |
US4596250A (en) * | 1984-11-14 | 1986-06-24 | Genetic Laboratories, Inc. | Moldable cooling/heating device with directional cooling/heating |
US4700706A (en) * | 1984-03-28 | 1987-10-20 | Muench Walter | Cold and warm pack for physiotherapy and the like |
US4756311A (en) * | 1985-05-15 | 1988-07-12 | Jack Frost Laboratories, Inc. | Microwavable thermal compress and method of use thereof |
JPS63230784A (en) * | 1987-03-20 | 1988-09-27 | Toshiba Corp | Latent heat storing material |
US4780117A (en) * | 1987-04-14 | 1988-10-25 | Lahey Thomas P | Time release cooling system |
US4865012A (en) * | 1984-09-04 | 1989-09-12 | Kelley Jerry S | Reusable cold pack for medical usage |
US4872442A (en) * | 1988-09-06 | 1989-10-10 | Prism Technologies, Inc. | Activator for initiating reaction in a heat pack and method for making same |
US4880953A (en) * | 1988-12-23 | 1989-11-14 | Prism Technologies, Inc. | Method of recharging a heat pack by microwave energy |
US5058563A (en) * | 1990-06-15 | 1991-10-22 | Prism Technologies, Inc. | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
US5305733A (en) * | 1993-03-31 | 1994-04-26 | Omni Therm, Inc. | Trigger to activate supercooled aqueous salt solution for use in a heat pack |
-
1991
- 1991-06-14 US US08/534,029 patent/USRE35586E/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (25)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3804077A (en) * | 1971-08-05 | 1974-04-16 | Kay Laboratories Inc | Hot or cold pack |
US4077390A (en) * | 1976-08-02 | 1978-03-07 | Marc F. Fiedler | Reusable heat pack containing supercooled solution and means for activating same |
US4081256A (en) * | 1976-12-03 | 1978-03-28 | Readi Temp, Inc. | Endothermic composition and cold pack |
US4209413A (en) * | 1977-06-10 | 1980-06-24 | The Calor Group Limited | Thermal energy storage material |
GB2011057A (en) * | 1977-12-23 | 1979-07-04 | Jones R C H | Heating or Cooling Device |
US4295517A (en) * | 1978-06-16 | 1981-10-20 | Woldemar Guex | Reusable heat devices containing xylitol as the heat-storage material |
US4338359A (en) * | 1981-03-16 | 1982-07-06 | Apollo Technologies, Inc. | Method of facilitating low temperature discharge from a container of particulate material |
JPS57177086A (en) * | 1981-04-24 | 1982-10-30 | Matsushita Electric Works Ltd | Heat storing material |
JPS57210297A (en) * | 1981-06-19 | 1982-12-23 | Toshiba Corp | Heat accumulation material for heater |
GB2134532A (en) * | 1982-08-12 | 1984-08-15 | Edeco Holdings Ltd | Thermal energy storage medium |
US4574051A (en) * | 1982-08-12 | 1986-03-04 | Edeco Holdings Limited | Thermochemical energy storage |
US4462224A (en) * | 1983-07-11 | 1984-07-31 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Instant hot or cold, reusable cold pack |
US4700706A (en) * | 1984-03-28 | 1987-10-20 | Muench Walter | Cold and warm pack for physiotherapy and the like |
WO1985005440A1 (en) * | 1984-05-15 | 1985-12-05 | Edeco Holdings Limited | Heat retaining devices |
US4865012A (en) * | 1984-09-04 | 1989-09-12 | Kelley Jerry S | Reusable cold pack for medical usage |
US4572158A (en) * | 1984-09-12 | 1986-02-25 | Topazon Limited | Trigger to activate aqueous salt solution for use in a heat pack and method of making the same |
US4596250A (en) * | 1984-11-14 | 1986-06-24 | Genetic Laboratories, Inc. | Moldable cooling/heating device with directional cooling/heating |
US4573447A (en) * | 1985-02-19 | 1986-03-04 | Sunbelt America Corporation | Chemical heater |
US4756311A (en) * | 1985-05-15 | 1988-07-12 | Jack Frost Laboratories, Inc. | Microwavable thermal compress and method of use thereof |
JPS63230784A (en) * | 1987-03-20 | 1988-09-27 | Toshiba Corp | Latent heat storing material |
US4780117A (en) * | 1987-04-14 | 1988-10-25 | Lahey Thomas P | Time release cooling system |
US4872442A (en) * | 1988-09-06 | 1989-10-10 | Prism Technologies, Inc. | Activator for initiating reaction in a heat pack and method for making same |
US4880953A (en) * | 1988-12-23 | 1989-11-14 | Prism Technologies, Inc. | Method of recharging a heat pack by microwave energy |
US5058563A (en) * | 1990-06-15 | 1991-10-22 | Prism Technologies, Inc. | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator |
US5305733A (en) * | 1993-03-31 | 1994-04-26 | Omni Therm, Inc. | Trigger to activate supercooled aqueous salt solution for use in a heat pack |
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
Cellosize Hydroxyethyl Cellulose HEC (Union Carbide, Sep. 1987). * |
Cellosize® Hydroxyethyl Cellulose HEC (Union Carbide, Sep. 1987). |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6379582B1 (en) | 2000-03-28 | 2002-04-30 | Magic Ice, Inc. | Crosslinked co-polymer composition for thermal energy storage |
US6537309B2 (en) * | 2001-03-26 | 2003-03-25 | Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research | Reusable heat pack, method of manufacture thereof, mixture for use in a reusable heatpack and process for the preparation thereof |
US20040199231A1 (en) * | 2003-04-01 | 2004-10-07 | Heatmax, Inc. | Self-contained personal warming apparatus and method of warming |
US6886553B2 (en) | 2003-04-01 | 2005-05-03 | Heatmax, Inc. | Self-contained personal warming apparatus and method of warming |
US20050197488A1 (en) * | 2004-03-04 | 2005-09-08 | Mather Patrick T. | Mechanically activated shape memory device |
US7151157B2 (en) | 2004-03-04 | 2006-12-19 | University Of Connecticut | Mechanically activated shape memory device |
US9326888B2 (en) | 2008-05-12 | 2016-05-03 | Embrace | System and method to regulate temperature |
US9028537B2 (en) | 2011-03-10 | 2015-05-12 | Dale E. Walters | Infant heel heat pack |
US9605874B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2017-03-28 | Warmilu, Llc | Phase change heat packs |
US11009298B2 (en) * | 2016-07-15 | 2021-05-18 | Neothermal Energy Storage Inc. | Thermal energy storage apparatus |
EP3438225A1 (en) * | 2017-08-03 | 2019-02-06 | i-select SA | Latent heat storage medium |
US11435146B2 (en) | 2019-03-07 | 2022-09-06 | Neothermal Energy Storage Inc. | Thermal energy storage apparatus |
CN113265229A (en) * | 2021-06-04 | 2021-08-17 | 南方科技大学 | Phase-change gel material and preparation method and application thereof |
CN113265229B (en) * | 2021-06-04 | 2022-10-14 | 南方科技大学 | Phase-change gel material and preparation method and application thereof |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US5339796A (en) | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator | |
USRE35586E (en) | Reusable warmers of the type employing a super-cooled solution and an activator | |
US4462224A (en) | Instant hot or cold, reusable cold pack | |
US5650090A (en) | Compositions for thermal energy storage or thermal energy generation | |
US4964402A (en) | Orthopedic device having gel pad with phase change material | |
AU679571B2 (en) | A compress for use in the cold and/or hot treatment of an injury | |
US5843145A (en) | Reusable hot/cold temperature pack | |
JP2581708B2 (en) | Thermal energy storage composition | |
CA2573285A1 (en) | Heating element | |
US7151157B2 (en) | Mechanically activated shape memory device | |
Feldman et al. | A heat storage module with a polymer structural matrix | |
CN104845589A (en) | Shaped composite phase-change cold-hot compress material | |
US6379582B1 (en) | Crosslinked co-polymer composition for thermal energy storage | |
GB2233081A (en) | Heating or cooling device | |
JP2019180837A (en) | Hardening-preventing cool feeling mat | |
JP2003129040A (en) | Cold insulator composition | |
NO129354B (en) | ||
TW200417361A (en) | Cold reserving bag | |
KR100291100B1 (en) | Novel latent heat/heat storage composition | |
KR102590697B1 (en) | Heated neck band using phase change material | |
JPS5947239B2 (en) | Latent heat storage material | |
JP2003171655A (en) | Heat insulator | |
JP3028746U (en) | Wearing equipment with a cool or warm function | |
CA1127383A (en) | Aqueous heat-storage compositions having prolonged heat-storage efficiencies and method of preparing same | |
JP7079149B2 (en) | Latent heat storage material composition |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TEXAS COMMERCE BANK NATIONAL ASSOC, TEXAS Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PRISM ENTERPRISES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:007919/0977 Effective date: 19960229 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PRISM ENTERPRISES, INC., TEXAS Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY;ASSIGNOR:TEXAS COMMERCE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION;REEL/FRAME:008412/0827 Effective date: 19970221 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: IBJ SCHRODER BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION, AS AGENT Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:PRISM ENTERPRISES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:008861/0925 Effective date: 19971230 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION, NEW YORK Free format text: NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS;ASSIGNOR:IBJ WHITEHALL BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION, AS AGENT;REEL/FRAME:010742/0320 Effective date: 20000330 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PRISTECH, INC.;REEL/FRAME:010795/0782 Effective date: 20000407 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FROST NATIONAL BANK, THE, TEXAS Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PRISM ENTERPRISES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:011111/0414 Effective date: 20000831 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAT HOLDER CLAIMS SMALL ENTITY STATUS, ENTITY STATUS SET TO SMALL (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: LTOS); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY |
|
REFU | Refund |
Free format text: REFUND - PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: R184); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PRISM ENTERPRISES LP, TEXAS Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:PRISM ENTERPRISES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:013525/0261 Effective date: 20011025 Owner name: PRISTECH, INC., TEXAS Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:013516/0359 Effective date: 20000831 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PRISM ENTERPRISES LP, TEXAS Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FROST NATIONAL BANK, THE;REEL/FRAME:014128/0737 Effective date: 20030501 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: COOPERSURGICAL, INC., CONNECTICUT Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:PRISM ENTERPRISES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:020125/0343 Effective date: 20071024 |