AU2008200832B2 - Hot and Cold Therapeutic Garment - Google Patents

Abstract

-9 Abstract A therapeutic garment 10 comprises a curved portion 12 of generally planar configuration adapted to rest about the shoulders and upper back of the wearer. A collar portion 14 of generally planar configuration is joined to the curved portion by a flexible join 16 and is adapted to rest about the neck of 10 the wearer. Each of the curved and collar portions 12 and 14 is made of a flexible fabric formed into hollow sections and is filled with a heat transfer material capable of applying heat or coldness to the affected muscles. Typically the heat transfer material is a granular heat transfer material, such as wheat kernels. The curved portion 12 and collar portion 14 of the garment 15 are adapted to rest comfortably against the neck and shoulders in direct contact with the trapezius muscles, especially the upper and middle fibres. Drawing suggested to accompany the Abstract: Figure 1. C0) - - N ;s

Description

P/00/009 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention title: "HOT AND COLD THERAPEUTIC GARMENT" Applicant: BEWICK (WA) PTY LTD Associated Provisional Application No.: 2007901021 -2 "HOT AND COLD THERAPEUTIC GARMENT" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a therapeutic garment that is worn about the 5 shoulders to apply hot or cold therapy to the muscles of the neck and upper back and relates particularly, although not exclusively, to such a garment filled with kernels of wheat. Background to the Invention The therapeutic benefits of applying heat or coldness to tired, strained or 10 injured muscles are well attested to by many sports people and others who suffer back or neck pain, or other muscular injuries. Wheat packs have become a popular method of applying heat or coldness to the affected muscles or body part. Wheat kernels have excellent insulating properties and therefore are able to retain heat for a long period of time. Thus when a bag or 15 pack of wheat kernels has been heated in a microwave oven and is applied to the affected area, the kernels will slowly release the heat providing continuous relief for up to several hours. The wheat bag or pack can also be placed in a freezer to lower the temperature of the wheat kernels, and then can be applied to the affected area with similar therapeutic benefits. 20 One area of the body commonly affected by tightness (musculature) and hence targeted for heat therapy, is the neck and upper shoulder area, more specifically, the trapezius muscles (the large triangular muscles extending over the back of the neck and shoulders) especially the upper and middle fibres. Most wheat pack and wheat bag designs currently available only cover 25 either the neck or the upper shoulder muscles, not both. They usually rely on gravity to keep them in place, or some may be fastened with hook and loop fastener straps to prevent them from falling off. The present invention was developed with a view to providing a therapeutic garment capable of applying heat therapy to both the neck and upper 30 shoulder muscles at the same time. The garment may use wheat kernels or another suitable material to transfer heat or coldness to the affected area.

-3 References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere. Summary of the Invention 5 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a therapeutic garment for applying thermal therapy to the neck and shoulders, the garment comprising: a curved portion of generally planar configuration adapted to rest about the shoulders and upper back of the wearer; 10 a collar portion of generally planar configuration joined to the curved portion by a flexible join and adapted to rest about the neck of the wearer, the curved portion and collar portion together being adapted to cover the fibres of the trapezius muscles, especially the upper and middle fibres; each of the curved and collar portions being made of a flexible fabric formed 15 into hollow sections and being filled with a heat transfer material capable of applying heat or coldness to the affected muscles. Preferably each of the curved and collar portions comprises a plurality of pockets for containing said heat transfer material, wherein the heat transfer material is held in a more uniformly distributed arrangement within said 20 curved and collar portions. Advantageously said pockets are formed in the curved portion by a plurality of generally straight join lines radiating from the collar portion, and curved join lines extending around the shoulders, formed in the fabric. Typically said join lines are sew lines sewn into the fabric. Preferably the garment further comprises first and second elongate portions 25 which hang down onto the chest of the wearer when correctly worn. Preferably the first and second elongate portions each have a pocket filled with said heat transfer material at their free ends, which help to counterbalance the weight of the garment. Preferably the first and second elongate portions are attached to the collar portion of the garment. 30 Typically said heat transfer material is a granular heat transfer material. Preferably said granular heat transfer material is wheat kernels.

-4 Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but 5 not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention. Brief Description of the Drawings 10 The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of several specific embodiments of therapeutic garment, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an underside view of a preferred embodiment of the 15 therapeutic garment according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the garment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a person wearing the garment of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a back view of a person wearing the garment of Figure 1; and, 20 Figure 5 posterior view of the neck and shoulders illustrating the location of the trapezius muscles. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments A preferred embodiment of a therapeutic garment 10 in accordance with the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, comprises a curved portion 12 of 25 generally planar configuration adapted to rest about the shoulders and upper back of the wearer. A collar portion 14 of generally planar configuration is joined to the curved portion by a flexible join 16 and is adapted to rest about the neck of the wearer. Each of the curved and collar portions 12 and 14 is made of a flexible fabric formed into hollow sections and is filled with a heat 30 transfer material capable of applying heat or coldness to the affected -5 muscles. Typically the heat transfer material is a granular heat transfer material. Preferably a thick fabric with a soft exterior surface is employed, such as corduroy, which is a thick cotton fabric with velvety ribs. Suitable 5 synthetic fabrics may also be used. Preferably the granular heat transfer material is wheat kernels; however any suitable granular heat transfer material may be used, including synthetic beads. Alternatively a liquid heat transfer material may be used, in which case the flexible fabric is a water proof fabric or plastics material. 10 The therapeutic garment 10 is designed to cover the sides and back of the neck, the shoulders and upper back. In particular, the garment is designed to apply heat or coldness to the trapezius muscles in the neck and shoulders. Figure 5 illustrates the location of the trapezius muscles 24, which are the large triangular muscles extending over the back of the neck and shoulders. 15 The curved portion 12 and collar portion 14 of the garment are adapted to cover the fibres of the trapezius muscles, especially the upper and middle fibres. The flexible join 16 between the curved and collar portions 12 and 14 ensures that the garment 10 rests comfortably against the neck and shoulders in direct contact with the target muscles. 20 Preferably each of the curved and collar portions 12 and 14 comprises a plurality of pockets 18 for containing the granular heat transfer material, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 1 and 2. The pockets 18 ensure that the granular heat transfer material is held in a more uniformly distributed arrangement within the curved and collar portions 12 and 14. Advantageously 25 the pockets 18 are formed in the first portion by a plurality of generally straight sew lines 20 radiating from the collar portion 14, and one or more curved sew lines 22 extending around the shoulders, sewn into the fabric. The more even distribution of wheat kernels within the garment 10 also ensures a more uniform weight distribution across the shoulders and upper back. This not 30 only helps to hold the garment comfortably in place, but also applies a gentle stretch through the upper trapezius muscles, without being too heavy.

-6 Preferably the garment further comprises first and second elongate portions 26 which hang down onto the chest of the wearer when correctly worn. Preferably the first and second elongate portions 26 each have a small pocket 5 28 filled with granular material at their free ends, which help to counterbalance the weight of the curved portion 12 of the garment 10. In this embodiment the first and second elongate portions 26 are attached to the collar portion 14 of the garment. The first and second elongate portions 26 may simply be left hanging straight down onto the chest, or they may be 10 crossed over as shown in Figure 3, or even tied together with a single loop. The bulk of the elongate portions 26 is devoid of wheat kernels as it is generally not necessary to target the anterior chest muscles (as they are not usually susceptible to the tightness associated with stress). Furthermore, heat rising onto the facial area tends to be uncomfortable and leads to feeling 15 overheated. Likewise, for similar reasons, the curved portion 12 preferably does not extend around onto the front of the shoulders or chest. Now that a preferred embodiment of the therapeutic garment have been described in detail, it will be apparent that it provides a number of advantages over the prior art, including the following: 20 (i) Superior coverage of areas which benefit most from heat therapy. (ii) Even weight distribution allowing the wearer to sit up, stand up and move about with the garment remaining comfortably in place. (iii) Empty pockets at the front minimise uncomfortable facial heating. It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various 25 modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. For example, the elongate portions could be replaced with a simple cord tie. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific 30 embodiments described and is to be determined from the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. A therapeutic garment for applying thermal therapy to the neck and shoulders, the garment comprising: a curved portion of generally planar configuration adapted to rest about the shoulders and upper back of the wearer; 10 a collar portion of generally planar configuration joined to the curved portion by a flexible join and adapted to rest about the neck of the wearer, the curved portion and collar portion together being adapted to cover the fibres of the trapezius muscles, especially the upper and middle fibres; each of the curved and collar portions being made of a flexible fabric formed 15 into hollow sections and being filled with a heat transfer material capable of applying heat or coldness to the affected muscles.

2. A therapeutic garment as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the curved and collar portions comprises a plurality of pockets for containing said heat transfer material, whereby the heat transfer material is held in a more 20 uniformly distributed arrangement within the curved and collar portions.

3. A therapeutic garment as defined in claim 2, wherein the pockets are formed in the curved portion by a plurality of generally straight join lines radiating from the collar portion, and curved join lines extending around the shoulders, formed in the fabric. 25

4. A therapeutic garment as defined in claim 3, wherein the join lines are sew lines sewn into the fabric.

5. A therapeutic garment as defined in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising first and second elongate portions which hang down onto the chest of the wearer when correctly worn. 30

6. A therapeutic garment as defined in claim 5, wherein the first and second elongate portions each have a pocket filled with said heat transfer material at their free ends, which help to counterbalance the weight of the garment. -8

7. A therapeutic garment as defined in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the bulk of the first and second elongate portions is devoid of heat transfer material. 5

8. A therapeutic garment as defined in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the first and second elongate portions are attached to the collar portion of the garment.

9. A therapeutic garment as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said heat transfer material is a granular heat transfer material.

10 10. A therapeutic garment as defined in claim 9, wherein said granular heat transfer material is wheat kernels.

11. A therapeutic garment for applying thermal therapy to the neck and shoulders, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 15 Dated this 22 nd day of November 2012 20 Bewick (WA) Pty Ltd by its Patent Attorneys Janet Stead & Associates 25 30 35