Elastic wrap

• US 20030124277A1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Fish, Jeffrey Eldon, Agarwal, Naveen, Brunner, Michael Scott, Williamson, Bruce Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/034,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20030124277A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/35.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0098 ways of manufacturing heating or cooling devices for therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0231 hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0242 heated by microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0276 with separate compartments connectable by rupturing a wall or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/108 Cold packs, i.e. devices to be cooled or frozen in refrigerator or freezing compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F24V 30/00 Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0008 the heat storage material being enclosed in plate-like or laminated elements, e.g. in plates having internal compartments
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb

Abstract

The present invention provides wraps that comprise a first thermal portion that contains a thermal agent, a second thermal portion that also contains a thermal agent, and an elastic portion connecting the first thermal portion to the second thermal portion.

Claims

1. A wrap comprising:

a first thermal portion containing a thermal agent,

a second thermal portion containing a thermal agent, and

an elastic portion connecting the first thermal portion to the second thermal portion.

2. The wrap of claim 1 wherein the elastic portion is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 50 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 10 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

3. The wrap of claim 1 wherein the elastic portion is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 50 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 5 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

4. The wrap of claim 1 wherein the elastic portion is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 100 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 10 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

5. The wrap of claim 1 wherein the elastic portion is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 100 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 5 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

6. The wrap of claim 1 wherein the elastic portion is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 200 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 10 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

7. The wrap of claim 1 wherein the thermal agent is selected from the group consisting of iron oxidation mixtures, phase change materials, ceramic beads, natural grains, minerals, gels, hydrogels, water and water-containing compositions.

8. The wrap of claim 1 wherein the thermal agent is capable of being heated by microwaves or is capable of being cooled by refrigeration.

9. The wrap of claim 1 further comprising a third thermal portion containing a thermal agent and an elastic portion connecting the third thermal portion to the first thermal portion or the second thermal portion.

10. The wrap of claim 1 wherein the elastic portion between the first thermal portion and the second thermal portion comprises an elastic nonwoven material and the first portion and the second portion comprise pockets that are attached to the elastic nonwoven material.

11. The wrap of claim 10 wherein the first thermal portion and the second thermal portion comprise pockets that are attached to the elastic nonwoven material along only a portion of their perimeters.

12. The wrap of claim 11 wherein said first elastic portion and the second elastic portion each comprise a pocket that contains a thermal agent and having at least one edge that is attached to the elastic nonwoven material.

13. The wrap of claim 1 further comprising a closure.

14. A roll of elastic thermal wrap comprising:

an elastic sheet comprising a first end defining a width of the sheet and the sheet having a length that is greater than the width, and

a plurality of thermal cells disposed on or attached to a surface of the elastic sheet

wherein the thermal cells move relative to each other upon application of an elongating force to the elastic sheet and the elastic sheet is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 40 percent upon application of the elongating force to the elastic sheet and the elastic sheet returns to within 10 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

15. The roll of claim 14 further comprising a closure proximate to one end of the elastic sheet.

16. The roll of claim 15 wherein the closure is a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener and can fasten to a surface of the elastic sheet.

17. The roll of claim 14 further comprising a line of perforations or a line of weakness extending across the width of the elastic sheet.

18. The roll of claim 17 further comprising a second line of perforations or second line of weakness extending across the width of the elastic sheet.

19. The roll of claim 17 further comprising a first closure proximate one end of the elastic sheet and a second closure proximate the line of perforations or the line of weakness.

20. The roll of claim 14 wherein the roll can wrap around a rod having a diameter of less than 2 centimeters and can stretch to at least twice its original length by the application of a force within the range of normal human forces and will return to substantially the original length upon removal of the force.

21. A thermal wrap comprising

a thermal agent,

a first elastic sheet,

a second elastic sheet joined to the first elastic sheet to form a plurality of pockets containing thermal agent.

22. The wrap of claim 21 wherein the wrap is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 50 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 10 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

23. The wrap of claim 21 wherein the wrap is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 50 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 5 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

24. The wrap of claim 21 wherein the wrap is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 100 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 10 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

25. The wrap of claim 21 wherein the wrap is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 100 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 5 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

26. The wrap of claim 21 wherein the wrap is stretchable and elongatable by at least about 200 percent upon application of an elongating force and will return to within 10 percent of its original length upon release of the elongating force.

27. The wrap of claim 21 wherein the first elastic sheet and the second are joined by a series of discrete bond points.