Improvements in cooling gloves for swelling and pain treatment

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a hand cooling glove comprising; four finger 2, 3, 5, 6 and thumb 7 sections and metacarpal side sections 8, 9 forming a glove with a wrist opening section 10, the

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to thermal treatment of the body and in particular, the hands. Background The use of cooling applications to the body to reduce swelling are known and are commonly found in basic remedies including the use of frozen peas or ice on swelling skin after a trauma or during bodily reactions to a condition which causes the body or limbs to swell, such as pregnancy. However, the application of such remedies does not provide a suitable fit to certain parts of the body due to the shape and solutions have been sought to provide devices which are specially shaped to administer a more satisfactory fitted cooling aid to parts of the body. An area which often requires assistance to reduce swelling is the hand and this creates a need for a device which fits in the form of a glove. This is shown as one example in patent US9370207 (CROWDER) wherein a core cooling method includes a hand covering configured as a glove having a palm portion and a wrist portion. The glove also includes an outer layer and an inner liner. An access opening in the palm portion of the outer layer permits access between an outer surface of the outer layer and a pocket in a space between the outer layer and the inner liner. A cooling element is positioned within the pocket and adjacent the access opening in the palm portion of the outer layer. A tubular air passage is connected to the exterior surface of the glove and communicates with the interior of the inner liner permitting air to be withdrawn from the interior of the inner liner. Patent US6141801 (HELENICK) discloses a thermal glove fitted to a human hand having integrated with a body of the glove a thermal, gel-filled pack. The gel pack includes a sealed bladder constructed of flexible, durable material resistant to heat and rupture. The bladder encloses a thermal gel adapted for repeated heating and cooling, such as by microwave exposure or refrigeration. The gel retains and transmits heat energy or cold to the hand of a wearer and is repeatably rechargeable. In preferred aspects of the invention, the gel pack is removably placed within a pocket integrated with the body of glove and adapted to removably receive the gel pack. The pocket may include a closure to secure the pack within the pocket. In other preferred aspects of the invention, a technical glove is provided incorporating a thermal gel pack and further providing a support cuff extending up the forearm of the wearer for comfort, prosthetic and / or injury preventive use by technical workers, such as computer users and laboratory workers. Patent GB2276323 (HOWELL) discloses a pack which consists of a glove, boot and burn balaclava each consisting of a closed polythene bag having two sections with one area separately holding a role of sticky tape to hold the bag in place and a sachet of sodium chloride 0.9% which can be poured into the bag prior to the limb being inserted to cool the burn. This area is separated by a seal as a means for easy release from the main section. Patent US4671267 (STOUT) discloses Improved therapy members useful for treating of sprains, muscle aches, orthopedic and skin injuries such as burns and other wounds are provided which make use of a pliable, self-sustaining, moisture sorbing gel including a humectant such as glycerin entrapped within a synthetic resin polymer matrix (e.g., a matrix containing acrylic acid or acrylamide monomer moieties). In one preferred embodiment, a body of the gel is encased within heat and moisture-permeable stretch fabric, and securing ties or the like are provided to permit the composite to be conformed to a body part and held in place. In use, such therapy wraps are either heated (as in a microwave oven) or refrigerated, so as to provide appropriate thermal treatment; it has been found that the preferred gel of the invention retains its pliability and other physical properties over a very broad temperature range, such as -20 DEG to 305 DEG F., and therefore the wraps of the invention can be used in many treatment contexts. It has also been discovered that the gel material can be applied directly to injured skin to in effect create a temporary skin with ideal air permeability. Furthermore, the moisture absorbing and desorbing properties of the gel create a moisture equilibrium between the gel, damaged skin and the atmosphere, thus promoting rapid healing. Patent US5050596 (WALASEK, WALASEK) discloses a reusable and microwavable hot or cold therapy mitt for a user's hand has a bottom laminate, a first pocket containing a gel, a middle laminate being positioned above the first pocket, a second pocket being provided with an open air space for receiving the user's hand above the middle laminate, a layer of open-celled material being positioned above the second pocket, a layer of insulative wadding being placed above the layer of open-celled material, a third pocket being provided with dead air space for additional insulating above the layer of insulative wadding, and a top laminate being positioned above the third pocket. A strap fastens the therapy mitt securely on the user's hand. A method is also disclosed for manufacturing the therapy mitt. The bottom, middle and top laminates each have outer peripheral edges that are bonded together by a radio frequency (RF) heat-sealing step with outer peripheral edges of the layer of open-celled material and of the layer of insulative wadding. Patent US5415624 (WILLIAMS) discloses a wearable therapeutic brace having strategically located pockets that receive and contain reusable, alternatively insertable hot and cold pods which can be tailored to a specific injury management program of use. The brace body portion which may be a hand / wrist, neck / cervical collar, knee / elbow / ankle brace has a main section of elasticized material construction with adjustable fastening means and fitted pockets formed from breathable, four way stretch nylon (LYCRA) spandex for receiving the hot or cold gel filled reusable pods to be held adjacent the appropriate body part area. Patent WO2017032910 (DE LA TORRE) discloses a device for treating arthritis and osteoarthritis in extremities, which has the general form of a sheath in the form of a glove or sock comprising: an porous, inner fabric layer (14); a second layer in the manner of a paraffin-filled bladder (1) that covers the entire inner space, the inner paraffin layer (1) being surrounded by a Teflon splint (2) provided with means for straightening the fingers (nitonol wires or similar), followed by a very thin layer of latex or insulating material (4), and lastly an outer covering (6). Complementarily, the device can comprise wires or resistors (5) around each finger or parallel to the palm or back of the hand. Additionally, the device comprises a control unit (12) for activation and for controlling the temperature and currents to be applied. The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective glove for cooling the hand and reducing any swelling which has an improved method of keeping the gel cooler for longer periods. The present invention aims to provide an improved cooling glove which has an internal aluminium foil lining inside which a freezing gel with added aluminium particles is housed for extended freezing periods. Summary of the invention According to the present invention there is provided a hand cooling glove to reduce swelling which has a main outer layer comprised of four finger sections, a thumb section and a metacarpal section with wrist area. The outer layer is a waterproof material such as a cotton which has an aluminium foil lined interior covering all parts of the gloves inner-surface. The foil used is a commercial type which is very strong and flexible and is provided to retain the cold temperature inside the glove. Within the glove and its foil lined interior is a lightly smaller soft plastic vinyl glove liner which is fully inserted inside the outer layer glove providing an area between the outer layer of the foil liner and the exterior of the smaller glove liner. The glove liner is sealed around the wrist of the outer glove to prevent escape of interior gel and a cooling gel made of sodium polyacrylates is filled between the two of them, forming a gel filled cavity disposed around the interior which covers all areas around the glove and its liners. Inside the cooling gel are rounded aluminium particles of only 1mm in diameter which are spatially dispersed throughout the gel and freeze along with it when the glove is place in a freezer before use. To the palm of the outer glove and to the back of the hand is a thickened cooling gel pocket with a sealed shaped hem, as shown. These two additional pockets also freeze when the glove is place into the freezer and because they are on the outer sides of the glove, they add a thermal frozen layer to prolong the period of time that the cooling gel will remain at its lowest temperature. A further gel pocket is provided around the whole wrist of the glove, forming a soft wrist pocket for comfort and added cooling around the wrist as the pockets are deeper in thickness to that of the glove surface. The edge and rim of the opening to the wrist of the glove are sealed completely including both edges and rims of both the outer and inner glove parts forming a complete seal. The glove is placed in a freezer and removed after a period of time that would allow the gel to freeze or cool to a very low temperature and it is then placed on the hand of the user and worn to reduce swelling. Owing to the added tiny aluminium particles the gels frozen status is prolonged as the particles help retain the lower temperature by absorbing the cold and due to the gel itself encapsulating them. The foil liner to the outer surface within the main glove acts as a cold retainer and helps to also prolong the amount of time that the glove remains cold, the part of the glove liner which comes in contact with the skin of the hand is a plastic material such as a vinyl of sufficient thickness, which directly allows the most amount of cold temperature from the gel to cool the hand, while protecting the hand from too much extreme cold or cold burn due to the thickness of said liner. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hand cooling glove to reduce swelling which has all the advantages of the prior art gloves and none of the disadvantages. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new hand cooling glove to reduce swelling which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hand cooling glove to reduce swelling which is of durable and reliable construction. An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hand cooling glove to reduce swelling which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public. Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hand colling glove to reduce swelling which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, white simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. Brief description of figures Figure 1 shows a plan view of the hand cooling glove. Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of hand cooling glove. Figure 3 shows a plan view of the hand cooling glove, with a thicker liner and wider inner spacing. Figure 4 shows a plan view of the hand cooling glove, with a larger gel pocket on the backs of the hand and palm of the hand. Figure 5 shows a dimensional view of the hand cooling glove, with gel pockets on the back of the hand and palm of the hand and around the wrist. Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of a finger section of the hand cooling glove, with cooling gel and aluminium particles. Detailed description of figures A typical embodiment of the hand cooling glove is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the glove 1 into which a person’s hand is inserted; which has four finger sections 2, 3, 5 and 6 with a further thumb section 7. Metacarpal side sections 8 and 9 form the further body of the glove with a back of the hand section having a gel pocket 16 and a wrist opening section 10, as shown. The freezing gel 4 is shown inside the cavity within the glove to be further detailed. In Figure 2 the cold temperature distribution 13 of the freezing gel 4A is shown using the black arrows, this covers the entire glove and includes the finger sections 2A, 3A, 5A and 6A and thumb section 7A with the cooling process spreading to the other areas such as the metacarpal side sections 8A and 9A and the wrist band gel pocket 11 or the wrist opening section 10A with sealed rims 12 about the opening. The outer layer of the glove 14 is thicker in this example and preferably a cotton waterproof material having a thick foil liner to its inner facing side, with the smaller vinyl glove liner 19 inserted fully within the glove and all finger and thumb sections creating a cavity into which the freezing gel 4B is housed. The glove can fit with an excess of space 15 between the hand and the glove interior to add comfort. It may also fit tightly with the hand fully in contact with the glove interior at all times. This is an option to the fitting and glove chosen on purchase, as shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the glove 1C with the gel pocket to the back of the hand 16C with its sealed rim 17 holding the freezing gel 4C within. The two opposing gel pockets 16D, are shown on the back of the hand and the palm of the hand on the glove 1D, in Figure 5. The wrist gel pocket 11D provides aforementioned cooling to the wrist area to also reduce swelling common to this part of the hand. The cooling action of the freezing gel 4E is shown in a sectional view of finger section 6E. Aluminium particles 18 are evenly dispersed inside the freezing gel 4E between the outer layer of the glove 14E and the smaller glover liner 19E. This larger style provides the said excess of space 15E around the finger 20 and hand areas furthermore.

Claims

1) A hand cooling glove comprising; four finger and thumb sections and metacarpal side sections forming a glove with a wrist opening, the glove having an outer layer and inner lining between which a particle filled freezing gel is housed; to be chilled in a freezer to cool said gel and wear on the affected hand to reduce swelling, further gel pockets adorn the wrist, back of the hand and palm area for added cooling effect.2) A hand cooling glove according to claim 1 wherein said outer and inner layers are sealed around a rim on the wrist opening to prevent escape of interior gel.3) A hand cooling glove according to claim 1 wherein said outer layer of the glove is foil lined.4) A hand cooling glove according to claim 3 wherein the inner layer of the glove is made of a vinyl material.5) A hand cooling glove according to claim 4 wherein the inner layer engages the entire hand substantially.6) A hand cooling glove wherein said particles in the gel are made of tiny pieces of widely dispersed round aluminium.7) A hand cooling glove according to claim 1 wherein said glove may be larger to provide a space around the fingers and hand if required by the wearer.

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