THERMAL COMPRESS SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

• US 20110178585A1
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seth Biser
• Original Assignee: Seth Biser
• Inventors: Biser, Seth A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0004 Eyes or part of the face surrounding the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0219 Gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling

Abstract

An eye compress kit includes a thermally adjustable gel pack, a strap and at least one moistened, disposable fibrous non-woven fabric sheet. The thermally adjustable gel pack is configured to be applied against an eye region of a user'"'"'s body. The gel pack includes a casing that defines a chamber holding a thermally activatable gelatinous substance. The strap is configured to secure the gel pack against the user'"'"'s eye region and to exert compressive forces to the gel pack. The at least one moistened, disposable fibrous non-woven fabric sheet is adapted to be positioned between the gel pack and the user'"'"'s eye region wherein the fabric sheet is removable from the outer surface of the gel pack.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. An apparatus, comprising:

an external frame having at least one attachment mechanism removably attachable to a gel pack, the external frame being fabricated from a material having a rigidity sufficient to support at least a portion of a gravitational weight of the gel pack such that the external frame does not buckle when the gel pack is attached to the external frame and the external frame is in a substantially vertical orientation secured against an eye region of a user;

a first strap having an end portion configured to be coupled to a first region on the external frame; and

a second strap having a first end portion configured to be coupled to a second region on the external frame and a second end portion configured to be coupled to the first strap,

the first strap and the second strap defining a V shape when the end portion of the first strap is coupled to the first region of the external frame, the first end portion of the second strap is coupled to the second region on the external frame, and the second end portion of the second strap is coupled to the first strap.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the end portion of the first strap is coupled to the first region on the external frame, the first end portion of the second strap is coupled to the second region on the external frame, and the second end portion of the second strap is coupled to the first strap.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a cover fittable to the external frame, the cover configured to at least partially block external light from reaching the eye region of the user when the cover is fitted to the external frame and the external frame is fitted to the eye region of the user.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a cover removably coupled to the external frame, the cover configured to at least partially block external light from reaching the eye region of the user when the cover is coupled to the external frame and the external frame is fitted to the eye region of the user.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a cover attached to the external frame, the cover configured to at least partially block external light from reaching the eye region of the user when the cover is attached to the external frame and the external frame is fitted to the eye region of the user.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the end portion of the first strap is removably coupleable to the first region on the external frame, the first end portion of the second strap is removably coupleable to the second region on the external frame, and the second end portion of the second strap is removably coupleable to the first strap.

45. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein at least one of the first strap and the second strap are permanently coupled to at least one of the external frame or the other of the first strap or the second strap.

46. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first strap and the second strap are monolithically foamed.

47. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein at least one of:

the end portion of the first strap is configured to be rotatably coupled to the first region on the external frame,

the first end portion of the second strap is configured to be rotatably coupled to the second region on the external frame, and

the second end portion of the second strap is configured to be rotatably coupled to the first strap.

48. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the end portion of the first strap is rotatably coupleable to the first region on the external frame, the first end portion of the second strap is rotatably coupleable to the second region on the external frame, and the second end portion of the second strap is rotatably coupleable to the first strap.

49. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein at least one of the first strap and the second strap are non-rotatably couplable to at least one of the external frame or the other of the first strap or the second strap.

50. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising a gel pack having of a nylon membrane.