Wet dressings heater

• US 4,419,568 A
• Filed: 07/12/1982
• Issued: 12/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Kendall Company LP
• Original Assignee: The Kendall Company (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Inventors: Van Overloop, Ronald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayewsky, Volodymyr Y.
• Application Number:
  US06/397,302
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 219/401, 219/386, 219/438, 219/439, 219/440, 219/441, 219/442, 219/521, 219/524, 219/525, 219/527, 219/530, 219/211, 219/212, 128/252, 128/403, 68/5 R, 68/5 C, 422/26, 422/300, 422/307, 604/291
• US Class Current: 219/441
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0241 Apparatus for the preparation of hot packs, hot compresses, cooling pads, e.g. heaters or refrigerators

Abstract

A heater for wet dressings comprising, a case having a base with sidewalls defining a cavity, and an insert connected to the base and defining at least one recess in the cavity to receive the wet dressings. The heater has an electrical heating element in close proximity to the insert recess for heating the wet dressings, and the temperature of the heating element is controlled in the desired range of temperature of the wet dressings.

Claims

1. A heater for wet dressing comprising:

a case having a base with sidewalls defining a cavity;

an insert within the cavity of said base and defining at least one narrow recess in said insert to receive wet dressings, said recess being capable of being heated;

an electrical heating element, electrically insulated with respect to said recess and located in close proximity to the insert recess within that portion of said cavity between the insert and the base, for heating the wet dressings;

electrical circuit means within said cavity interconnecting said heating element and a source of electric current; and

means for controlling the temperature of the heating element in the desired range of temperature of the wet dressings, said controlling means being a part of said electrical circuit means and comprising;

first means for controlling current to the heating element and for sensing the temperature associated with the heating element, said first means initially supplying current to the heating element until a first temperature is sensed substantially higher than the desired temperature range of the wet dressings, said first means interrupting current to the heating element at said first sensed temperature, said first means again supplying current to the heating element at a second sensed temperature substantially below the range of desired temperature of the wet dressings, and said first means subsequently interrupting current to the heating element when said first temperature is sensed; and

second means for controlling current to the heating element and for sensing the temperature associated with the heating element, said second means initially supplying current to the heating element until a third temperature is sensed higher than the desired temperature range of the wet dressings and lower than said first temperature, said second means interrupting current to the heating element at said third sensed temperature, said second means again supplying current to the heating element at a fourth sensed temperature below the range of desired temperature of the wet dressings and higher than said second temperature, and said second means subsequently interrupting current to the heating element when said third temperature is sensed.

2. The heater of claim 1 in which the controlling means maintains the wet dressings in a temperature range of approximately 115°

F. to 120°

F.

3. The heater of claim 1 wherein said case has a lid removably covering said recess.

4. The heater of claim 3 including means for releasably attaching the lid to said base.

5. The heater of claim 1 wherein said sidewalls include insulation means.

6. The heater of claim 1 wherein said insert includes a plurality of recesses to receive wet dressings, and including a plurality of heating elements associated with said recesses.

7. The heater of claim 1 wherein the insert includes a pair of opposed walls defining said recess, and in which the heating element is secured to and substantially covers surfaces of said walls opposite said recess.

8. The heater of claim 1 wherein said heating element comprises an electrical heater imbedded in an elastic material.

9. The heater of claim 1 wherein the controlling means comprises at least one thermostat.

10. The heater of claim 1 wherein said first and second means comprise first and second thermostats.

11. The heater of claim 10 wherein the set points of said first thermostat are approximately 100°

F. and 145°

F.

12. The heater of claim 10 wherein the set points of said second thermostat are approximately 115°

F. and 135°

F.

13. The heater of claim 1 including means for indicating when the wet dressings are in the desired temperature range.

14. The heater of claim 13 wherein the indicating means comprises a light.

15. The heater of claim 1 including means for indicating when said first means is supplying current to the heating element.

16. The heater of claim 15 wherein the indicating means comprises a light.

17. The heater of claim 1 including means for indicating when the first and second means interrupt current to the heating element.

18. The heater of claim 17 wherein the indicating means comprises a light.

19. A heater for wet dressings, comprising:

a case having a base with sidewalls defining a cavity, an insert within the cavity of the base and defining at least one narrow recess in the insert to receive wet dressings, the recess capable of being heated, electrical heating element means for said recess, means electrically insulating said heating element with respect to said recess, and electrical circuit means within said case interconnecting said heating element and a source of electric current; and

means for controlling the temperature of the heating element in the desired range of temperature of the wet dressings, said controlling means being a part of said electrical circuit means and comprising;

first means for controlling current to the heating element and for sensing the temperature associated with the heating element, said first means initially supplying current to the heating element until a first temperature is sensed substantially higher than the desired temperature range of the wet dressings, said first means interrupting current to the heating element at first sensed temperature, said first means again supplying current to the heating element at a second sensed temperature substantially below the range of desired temperature of the wet dressings, and said first means subsequently interrupting current to the heating element when said first temperature is sensed; and

second means for controlling current to the heating element and for sensing the temperature associated with the heating element, said second means initially supplying current to the heating element until a third temperature is sensed higher than the desired temperature range of the wet dressings and lower than said first temperature, said second means interrupting current to the heating element at said third sensed temperature, said second means again supplying current to the heating element at a fourth sensed temperature below the range of desired temperature of the wet dressings and higher than said second temperature, and said second means subsequently interrupting current to the heating element when said third temperature is sensed.

20. The heater of claim 19 including means for indicating when the first and second means interrupt current to the heating element, said indicating means comprising a light.

21. A heater for wet dressings, comprising:

a case having a base with sidewalls defining a cavity;

an insert within the cavity of said base and defining at least a pair of generally vertically oriented parallel recesses in said insert, each said recess being in the form of a slot and having substantial width and depth dimensions and a narrow transverse dimension so as to receive a generally flat wet dressing therein, said recesses capable of being heated;

an electrical heater imbedded in an elastic material for each said recess, each heater thus being electrically insulated from its respective recess, each recess further including opposed walls having inner surfaces, defining the slot to receive a wet dressing, and outer surfaces facing said cavity, said heater being directly secured to and substantially covering said outer surfaces of the opposed walls of the recess associated therewith;

electrical circuit means within said cavity interconnecting said heating element and a source of electric current; and

means for controlling the temperature of the heating element in the desired range of temperature of the wet dressings, said controlling means being a part of said electrical circuit means.