Microwave-heatable exercise putty in a container with temperature indicator

• US 5,786,578 A
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christy, George M., Robert M Parker
• Original Assignee: Christy, George M., Robert M Parker
• Inventors: Parker, Robert, Christy, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US08/885,502
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 219/720, 219/710, 219/759, 219/762, 523/137, 607/78, 607/101, 607/102, 116/216, 116/219, 374/141, 374/150, 374/161, 374/162
• US Class Current: 219/720
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00189 using resistance provided by plastic deformable materials, e.g. lead bars or kneadable masses resilient force-resistors made of material having high internal friction A63B21/028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/64 Heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/16 for hands or fingers for teaching typing G09B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3436 Doneness indicators, e.g. to indicate whether the food is cooked
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups

Abstract

A microwave-heatable therapeutic exercise putty mass is packaged in a microwaveable container having at least one transparent wall. The putty mass within the container is in heat transfer proximity with transparent wall of the container. A thermochromic heat sensitive semiconductor material (strip, label or coating) is affixed to the transparent wall in intimate heat transfer contact with the putty mass. The thermochromatic material provides a visual first indication through the transparent wall when the putty mass has been microwave heated to a heat exercise therapy acceptable temperature range of about 40 to about 47 degrees C. and a visual second indication through the transparent wall when the putty mass has been microwave heated to a temperature range of about 54 to about 60 degrees C. or above which is non-acceptable for heat exercise therapy.

Claims

1. A microwave-heatable therapeutic exercise putty mass packaged in a microwaveable container having at least one transparent wall, said putty mass being in heat transfer proximity with said transparent container wall, and thermochromic heat sensitive semiconductor material affixed to said transparent wall within said container and in intimate heat transfer contact with said putty mass, said thermochromic material providing a visual first indication through said transparent wall when said putty mass has been microwave heated to a therapy acceptable temperature range of about 40 to about 47 degrees C. and a visual second indication through said transparent wall when said putty mass has been microwave heated to a temperature range of about 54 to about 60 degrees C. or above which is non-acceptable for heat therapy.

2. A microwave-heatable therapeutic exercise putty mass packaged in a microwaveable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thermochromic material provides a visual first indication when said putty mass has been microwave heated to a temperature of about 47 degrees C. and a second visual indication when said putty mass has been microwave heated to a temperature of about 54 degrees C.

3. A microwave-heatable therapeutic exercise putty mass packaged in a microwaveable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thermochromic heat sensitive semiconductor material affixed to said transparent wall within said container is in a form selected from the group including:

strip forms;

label forms;

membrane forms and coatings.

4. A microwave-heatable therapeutic exercise putty mass packaged in a microwaveable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the microwaveable container is a transparent plastic container having a cup-like base portion and a removable top portion and said thermochromic heat sensitive material is affixed to the inner surface of the bottom wall of said base portion of said container and said thermochromic material is visible through said bottom wall.

5. A method for microwave-heating a therapeutic exercise putty to an acceptable therapeutic temperature in the range of about 40 degrees C. to about 60 degrees C. comprising:

a) packaging a mass of therapeutic exercise putty in a microwaveable container having at least one transparent wall, said putty mass being in heat transfer proximity with said transparent wall;

b) affixing thermochromic heat sensitive semiconductor material to said transparent wall within said container and in intimate heat transfer contact with said putty mass, said thermochromic material yielding a visual first indication when the temperature of said material reaches about 40 to about 47 degrees C. and yielding a visual second indication when the temperature of said material reaches about 54 to about 60 degrees C.;

c) heating said container and said contained putty mass in a microwave oven for a period of time and under microwave power conditions estimated to heat said container and putty mass to a temperature of at least about 40 to about 47 degrees C.; and

d) inspecting the transparent wall of said container to determine whether said contained putty mass has been heated to a therapy acceptable temperature of at least about 40 to about 47 degrees C. as established by said visual first indication of said thermochromic material and not more than a non-acceptable therapy temperature of over about 54 to about 60 degrees C. as established by said visual second indication of said thermochromic material.

6. The method for microwave-heating a therapeutic exercise putty to an acceptable therapeutic temperature as claimed in claim 5 wherein said thermochromic material provides a visual first indication when said putty mass has been microwave heated to a temperature of about 47 degrees C. and a second visual indication when said putty mass has been microwave heated to a temperature of about 54 degrees C.

7. The method for microwave-heating a therapeutic exercise putty to an acceptable therapeutic temperature as claimed in claim 5 wherein said therapeutic exercise putty is packaged in a microwaveable container having a transparent cup-like base portion and a removable top portion and said thermochromic heat sensitive material is affixed to the inner surface of the bottom wall of said base portion of said container and said thermochromic material is visible through said bottom wall.

8. The method for microwave-heating a therapeutic exercise putty to an acceptable therapeutic temperature as claimed in claim 5 wherein said thermochromic heat sensitive material is in a form selected from the group including:

strip forms;

label forms;

membrane forms; and

coatings.

9. The method for microwave-heating a therapeutic exercise putty to an acceptable therapeutic temperature as claimed in claim 5 wherein said thermochromic material provides a visual first indication in the form of a color, numerical temperature indication or word indication of acceptability when the temperature of said material reaches about 47 degrees C. and said thermochromic material provides a visual second indication in the form of a color, numerical temperature indication or word indication of non-acceptability when the temperature of said material reaches 54 degrees C.