INSULATIVE DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS FOR TREATING SYMPTOMS OF LUNG AND OTHER AILMENTS

Abstract

An insulative device including an inner layer configured to contact a wearer's body, an outer layer coupled to the inner layer and configured to face away from the wearer's body, a pad disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer and the pad configured to cover a region of the wearer's torso corresponding approximately to the location of the lungs of the wearer, and wherein the inner layer includes a wicking material and the pad includes a sweat absorbing material so that sweat is wicked away from the body, absorbed in the pad, and prevented from evaporating near the wearer's body keeping the region around the lungs warm while allowing the rest of the wearer's body to stay cool so that symptoms of lung ailments are reduced.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/593,166, filed Jan. 31, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, as if recited in full, for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The presently disclosed innovations relate to insulative devices, and related methods, for treating lung ailments. Some disclosed devices keep a portion of a wearer's body warm and comfortable, as by wicking sweat away from the body. As but one example, an innovative insulative device can be positioned adjacent a region of a wearer's upper torso (e.g., chest, upper back, or both) or thorax, for example, adjacent the lungs, to help alleviate one or more symptoms of an illness, such as, for example asthma or a cold.

It is well known to keep the body warm by wearing plural layers of clothing material. For example, a person's body can be covered with multiple layers of T-shirts, sweaters, pajamas, and/or a jacket. A problem with plural layers of clothes is that such extra layers can be cumbersome and make the user uncomfortable, particularly when lying in bed or sleeping. This discomfort can result in the user having a hard time falling asleep or participating in an activity. Additionally, extra layers of clothes tend to warm the entire body and may cause the user to sweat excessively and have a hard time falling asleep or participating in activities.

When sleeping, one or more blankets are commonly used to keep a person warm. However, extra blankets typically warm a large area of the body. Blankets are also prone to being kicked off while the user is sleeping, leading to the user not having any insulation (or insufficient insulation) from a blanket, for example, as is thought to be common with infants and children. Moreover, plural layers of blankets (and/or loose clothing) may present a danger of suffocation to infants.

Many textiles and combinations of materials have been developed to provide comfort to a wearer's body while performing activities, as well as when sleeping. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,582 describes a pillow that allows air circulation and that has sweat absorbing features.

However, no known prior art design provides selective insulation, warmth, comfort, and absorption integrated in a snug fitting insulative device as disclosed herein for treating symptoms of lung ailments. Thus, there remains a need for a wearable device or article of clothing configured to selectively insulate a portion of a wearer's chest to alleviate discomfort associated with symptoms of lung ailments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The innovations disclosed herein overcome the foregoing and other deficiencies in the prior art. Representative embodiments of the disclosed innovations are shown in the appended drawings, which form a portion of this disclosure, wherein the same or similar features share common reference numerals in the drawings and following detailed description.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified front elevation view of a first embodiment of an insulative device having a single insulative member.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the insulative device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an insulative device having an insulative member coupled to a garment.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an insulative device having an insulative member integrally coupled within (i.e., integrated in) a body portion of a garment.

FIG. 5A shows a simplified front elevation view of a second embodiment of an insulative device having first and second insulative members coupled to a garment.

FIG. 5B shows a rear elevation view of the insulative device shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 shows a side elevation view of the insulative device shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 7A shows a front elevation view of a third embodiment of an insulative device without shoulder straps and having first and second insulative members.

FIG. 7B shows a rear elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 shows a side elevation view of the insulative device shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an insulative device without shoulder straps and having one insulative member positioned relative to the garment such that the member is positioned adjacent a wearer's anterior thorax when the garment is worn.

FIG. 10 shows a side elevation view of the insulative device shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11A shows a simplified front elevation view of another embodiment of an insulative device having an insulating member coupled to a shirt.

FIG. 11B shows a side elevation view of the insulative device shown in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12 shows a simplified front elevation view of another embodiment of an insulative device having an insulating member associated with a bodysuit.

FIG. 13A shows a simplified front elevation view of another embodiment of an insulative device having first and second insulative members, as well as fasteners/retainers positioned adjacent a side of the insulative device.

FIG. 13B shows a rear elevation view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13C shows a side elevation view of the device depicted on FIGS. 13A and 13B.

FIG. 14 shows a plan view of the embodiment of the insulating device shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C in an open configuration (i.e., with the fasteners unfastened).

FIG. 15 shows a simplified side elevation view of a torso of a wearer wearing a strapless insulating device shown of the type in FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 16 shows a simplified front view of an upper torso with the device shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15.

FIG. 17A shows a simplified side elevation view of a torso of a wearer wearing an insulating device of the type shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 17B shows a rear elevation view of the insulating device shown in FIG. 17A.

FIG. 18A shows a simplified side elevation view of a wearer with another embodiment of an insulative device having one or more (e.g., two) openings, each opening configured to operatively receive a respective sensor.

FIG. 18B shows a front view of a wearer with another embodiment of an insulative device having one or more (e.g., two) openings, each opening configured to operatively receive a respective sensor.

FIGS. 19, 20, 21, and 22A and 22B show various views of an insulative device of the type shown in FIGS. 13A, 15 and 17 positioned on a flat surface in an open configuration.

FIG. 19 shows a plan view of an outer surface (as worn) of the device.

FIG. 20 shows a plan view of an inner surface (as worn) of the device.

FIG. 21 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the device positioned as shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22A shows a schematic side elevation view of the device.

FIG. 22B shows an isometric view of the device.

FIG. 23 shows a front elevation view of the device shown in FIGS. 19, 20, 21, and 22A and 22B being worn.

FIGS. 24A and 24B show side-elevation and front-elevation views, respectively, of a sports- bra-type garment having an insulative device of the type shown and described herein.

FIG. 25 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of an insulative member.

FIG. 26 shows a planview of the insulative member shown in FIG. 25 with the insulative layer exposed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Each of the insulative devices shown in FIGS. 1-26 is configured to selectively insulate a portion of a wearer's body adjacent to the lungs, e.g., a portion of the upper torso. The respective insulative devices can retain heat between an insulative member and the user's body, and in some instances, can wick moisture away from the wearer's skin. In some embodiments, an anatomically contoured device can allow for a portion of the human body around the lungs to stay warm while the rest of the body stays cool. By insulating a specific body portion and providing a snug fit of an insulative device to a user's body, disclosed insulative devices permit a user to achieve selective warming of a body portion, which is believed to provide the user relief from lung ailments that is unattainable using prior-art garments. Additionally, selective insulation of the body portion can be accomplished without need for the wearer to continuously hold the device or assistance from another. As used herein, “selective warming” means “warming of a discrete portion or region of a wearer's body.” As used herein, “selective insulation” means “insulation positioned adjacent a discrete portion or region of a wearer's body.”

A portion of the body that can be selectively warmed can include a portion of the torso or any other discrete body portion or region. It is believed that the application of disclosed devices to one's upper torso may alleviate the symptoms of a respiratory illness, such as the common cold, or flu coughs. For example, symptoms, such as chills, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and congestion, may be alleviated. A snug fit of the insulative device can also inhibit air from circulating between the insulative device and the user's body.

The term “snug fit” is used herein to mean an the item is worn or otherwise disposed tightly on the wearer's body to achieve a contour corresponding to the wearer's body without any substantial gaps between the garment and the wearer's skin (e.g., a gap measuring about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches, such as between about 0.375 inches and about 0.875 inches). Some embodiments may be designed to meet children's sleepwear requirements, for example requirements pertaining to tight-fitting sleepwear garments specified by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (e.g., 16 C.F.R. Parts 1615 & 1616).

In some instances, disclosed insulative devices may be used as “warm-ups”, such as used prior to participating in an athletic event, for example in place of or in addition to a conventional sweat-shirt. Even in this application, the insulative device provides selective insulation. In some embodiments, the materials used for the insulative device provide a soft feel and may have a comforting effect on the user.

Some embodiments of the insulative device may be applied by wearing the device on the chest or on the back. In other possible embodiments, the device may be held in place by a piece of garment such as a top, T-shirt, sweat shirt, and/or held in place by friction. Optionally, the insulative device may be integrated in or on an article of clothing, as shown in several of the drawings.

In some embodiments, an insulative member may cover a portion of the upper torso as a generally rectangularly shaped member extending in a circumferential direction around a wearer's torso and having a first width (e.g., a longitudinal width) sufficient to extend approximately from the wearer's collar bone to the wearer's abdomen, for example ending approximately at the transpyloric plane of the wearer's body, and having a second width (e.g., a circumferential width) sufficient for opposed sides of the member to be coextensive with (or at least approximately coextensive with) the anterior axillary lines on opposed sides of the body of the wearer (e.g., to be within about two inches, such as between about 0.75 inches and about 1.25 inches, of each of the opposed anterior axillary lines).

The insulative member, sometimes referred to as a “cough pad”, can cover any one or more, or all, selected parts of the upperbody and can vary in thickness for example it can become thin at or near a perimeter edge or in an area near where it attaches to a corresponding garment or fastener. The pad can extend from a position adjacent (i.e., approximately coextensive with) or coextensive with the left anterior axillary line to a position adjacent the right anterior axillary line around the front (chest) or around the back. The pad can extend from a position adjacent or coextensive with the left midaxillary line to a position adjacent or coextensive with the right midaxillary line around the front (chest) or around the back. The pad can extend from a position adjacent or coextensive with the left posterior axillary line to a position adjacent or coextensive with the right posterior axillary line around the front (chest) or around the back. The pad can extend around the whole of the upper body, for example from a position adjacent or coextensive with the midaxillary line to a position adjacent or coextensive with the mid axillary line. The pad can extend between any combination of the above positions, for example from a position adjacent or coextensive with the left or right axillary line to a position adjacent or coextensive with the other axillary lines (anterior, mid and posterior). In each of these embodiments, the pad can extend between a position adjacent or coextensive with about two inches (e.g., between about 0.25 inches and about 2.5 inches) above or below the pectoralis major (or about two inches below the serratus anterior) and about two inches above or below the obliquas externas.

In other embodiments, a similar insulative member may cover one or more selected portions of the back of a wearer. Embodiments of the disclosed innovations caninclude a portion configured to cover selected anatomy above and/or below the lung area, for example, the device can extend to a position adjacent or coextensive with the neck or to a position adjacent or coextensive with above or below the waist line, for example the lower back. The insulative device caninclude a unitary structure having inner and outer layers, and a thin layer of insulative material position between the inner and outer layers. As used herein “unitary” means having the character of a unit, not divided or discontinuous structurally.

In some embodiments, the insulative device includes an inner layer configured to contact a wearer's body, an outer layer coupled to the inner layer and configured to face away from the wearer's body, and an insulative pad disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer. The insulative pad may cover a selected region on a wearer's body corresponding approximately to a location of the lungs of the wearer.

As used herein, the term “inner layer” refers to a layer of a layered garment configured to face the body of a person wearing the device. Similarly, “outside layer” or “outer layer” refers to a layer of a layered garment configured to face away from the body of a person wearing the device. An inner layer can be configured to draw moisture away from the wearer's skin, as by wicking, allowing evaporation or other transport mechanism. An adjacent insulative pad can include a sweat absorbing material configured to absorb sweat and/or prevent sweat from evaporating near the wearer's skin, enhancing a rate at which moisture is drawn away from the wearer's skin and keeping the chest area (or other selected region covered by the pad) warm, and the person comfortable. The insulative pad can absorb sweat and allow the sweat to evaporate from a position spaced from the wearer's body, preventing evaporation of the sweat from cooling the selected region of the wearer's body.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an insulative device 2 including a garment 3, for example of a general tubular or cylindrical configuration, and a single insulative member 5. Garment 3 has a frontal portion 7 configured to be positioned over a front side of the torso of a wearer, and a back portion 9 to cover a portion of the back of a wearer. Insulative member 5 is disposed at frontal portion 7 of garment 3. The device further includes a retainer configured to hold the insulative element in place on the body of the wearer, for example, respective shoulder straps 10a and 10b may be coupled to garment 3 at a left side and a right side of the tubular structure and configured to extend from frontal portion 7 of garment 3 over the shoulders of a wearer towards predetermined positions 13a and 13b at back portion 9 of garment 3. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, straps 10a and 10b are coupled to frontal portion 7 of garment 3 at locations 15a and 15b respectively within the circumference of insulative member 5. Straps 10a and 10b extend from frontal portion 7 to back portion 9 and are configured to be worn over the shoulders of a wearer.

Inner Layer/Wicking Material

Some embodiments of disclosed insulative devices use an inner layer 8 (FIG. 4) of a wicking material and an adjacent layer 4 of an absorbent material that absorbs the sweat that is wicked away from the body. Generally, a layer of a wicking material pulls sweat or moisture away from the user's body. Possible materials that may be used as an inner layer 4 may include lightweight fabrics made of natural or synthetic fibers, for example, a thermoconductive fabric such as a silk-weight wicking polyester e.g., wickaway, and fabrics offered under trademarks COOLMAX™, DRY FIT™, COOL DRY™, COOL PASS™, or other fabrics that offer moisture control and air control. Some suitable materials may be flame retardant or have flame retardant properties/materials incorporated in them.

In other embodiments, the insulative device 5 can include a shell layer filled with an insulative material.

Insulative Member

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the insulative device can include an insulative member 5 having a laminated construction of an inner layer 4, an insulative layer 8, and an outer layer 6. Similar to the inner layer, the outer layer may include a unidirectional wicking material to wick moisture out of the insulative layer to allow it to evaporate. With such an arrangement of materials, the insulative device 2 can position the evaporatively cooled region spaced apart from the wearer's chest, ensuring that the chest remains warm despite an evaporating sweat. The insulative layer 8 can provide has a relatively large temperature gradient to prevent the cooling effect of evaporation from cooling the user.

The insulative layer may be made of natural or synthetic materials including sweat absorbing or “wicking” materials such as cotton, wool, polyester, OMNI HEAT® (available from Columbia Sportswear Company, Portland, Oreg.), THINSULATE® (available from 3M, St. Paul, Minn.), CROSLITE™ (available from Crocs, Niwot, Col.), feathers, beads, rubber, paper, acrylic, cellulose, fiberglass, rock-wool, foam, layers of cloth, etc. In some embodiments, a batting material may be used as an insulative material that consists of, for example, 100% polyester fill. Optionally, the insulative material may be impregnated with antimicrobial chemicals or the pad may be filled with many different materials, for example therapeutic herbs, etc.

Some embodiments have batting sewn to the shell or inner layer along all sides of the insulative member. In some embodiments, the thickness of the batting material operative ranges from about ⅛ inch to about 10 inches. For example, FIGS. 19, and 20 show a systematic illustration of an embodiment, wherein the batting material is about 1 inch thick.

Other embodiments may have a pad with a fill material that is loosely packed and thus can conform to the user's body. The loose fill also can reduce discomfort that may otherwise occur from applying the device to the user's body. In other embodiments, the device may include two shell layers 4, 6 and a polyester fill. Further embodiments may have a zipper allowing a volume of fill material to be selectively varied by a user. The amount of fill material may be added so that the insulative device will conform to a person's body in a selective manner, and will provide a selected degree of insulation to a wearer's body, thereby providing a user-configurable device and a selectable degree of relief from a lung ailment.

Optionally, the insulative device may have an outer protective material applied to the pad. In some embodiments, the device may include decorative surface patterns, such as different stitching patterns, and/or fabrics in different color, materials, textures, or applied decorations.

Fasteners

Some insulative devices can be held in place on the body of a user via fasteners, or retainers. In some embodiments, a retainer can include any type of garment or clothing item that is adapted to hold the insulative member in a desired position. For example, the garment may be made as a single stretchable structure or the garment may have belts and/or straps to secure an insulative device to the user's body. Optionally, straps can extend around the body, between the legs, over the shoulders or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, fasteners include elastic materials like a rubber band, or strips of leather, cotton, wool, etc. configured to hold the device in place. One or more connections can go on the front, side, or back portions of the user's body. Optionally, one or more connections can be positioned adjacent or at the pad at a front portion of the device so that the pad protects the user from noticing the connection point. Some fasteners use portions of an elastic material(s) such as LYCRA™ (available from DuPont, Wilmington, Del.) to ensure a snug fit of the insulative device to the user's body. Some embodiments may have shoulder portions covering some portion of the shoulders, for example, straps of a soft cushiony material that feel comfortable against the body and that have the ability to conform with movement of the body and that hold the pad snug against a user's body. Other embodiments may have straps that flare out at the attachment portion to the tubular structure, for example as shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments, the portions may be interconnected so as to form a single unit. Optionally, the fasteners may be adjustable, for example to by using clips, buckles, cinch cords, etc. Straps can also be configured with a pocket allowing a pad to be selectively inserted. Such a pocket feature is useful if a user wants to remove the pad without having to take off the strap, T-shirt or other layer of clothing.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 18 have a tubular structure 17 with a frontal portion 7 configured to conform to a wearer's chest and a back portion 9 configured to conform a wearer's back.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of an insulative device 2 having a pad 8 that is held snugly in place with a garment 3 and straps 10, for example elastic bands. Device 2 has an insulative member 5 including an inner layer 4, an outer layer 6, and an intermediate layer or pad 8 of an insulative material positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. At the chest, pad 8 forms a front panel of the device configured to cover a portion of the upper torso from approximately the wearer's sternum to the wearer's collar bone and from the front of one underarm region to the front of the other underarm region. See FIGS. 15-17A. An inner layer 4 extends as an elastic band 14 around the user's thorax. Device 2 is further held in place with over-the-shoulder straps 10a and 10b. The over-the-shoulder straps may have any suitable width that makes the insulative device comfortable to the wearer.

Elastic band 14 may be contoured along the sides of the device such that band 14 extends under the user's arm, as shown in FIG. 2 with arrow 16, for example by cutting and finishing the device in a predetermined shape. The offset at the side portion and the back portion of device 2, indicated in FIG. 2 as the difference between distance A and distance B, allows pad 8 to fit comfortably over a relatively large area of the wearer's chest region, for example extending upward towards the wearer's collar bone while also, accommodating the arms of the user.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a garment 3 with recessed contours along the upper edge 11 of the tubular structure, e.g., extending along the wearer's left and right sides. The contours of upper edge 11 may be symmetrical on both sides of the insulative member 5. The curvature of edge 11 starts slightly outward from the point of strap attachment near an edge of the insulative member, for example corresponding approximately to the anterior axillary line of the body of the wearer. The upper edge 11 of garment 3 has the shape of a gentle U-shaped curve going downward along the side of the tubular structure 17 and a lowermost region positioned adjacent to the midaxillary line of a user. In other words, the width of garment 3 becomes small along the sides, i.e., from a front portion with longitudinal width A to a side and/or a back portion with a longitudinal width B.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8, insulative device 202 has a tubular structure 217 with an upper edge 211 gradually decreasing from longitudinal width C to longitudinal width D. Upper edge 211 thereby follows a generally linear reduction in height as measured from front to back of device 202.

In some embodiments, the insulative member 5 (FIG. 1) has a separable construction such that the member is separable from an inner section of a stretchable tubular structure. For example, FIG. 3 shows insulative member 5 that is inwardly offset to the body-facing side of device 2 and that is attached to tubular structure 17 by sewing around the perimeter of pad 8. Another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, has a pad 8 integrated in a tubular structure and positioned between an inner layer 4 and an outer layer 6 to form an insulative member 105. In other embodiments, an insulative pad can be positioned at an outer location of the support structure.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6 show a second embodiment of an insulative device 102 having two pads 5, 12. Pad 5 is positioned at frontal portion 7 of device 102 and pad 12 is positioned at a back portion 9 of device 102. For the back, pad 12 covers roughly the same area, corresponding to, and generally parallel to, the area of the chest covered by pad 8. Straps 10a and 10b extend over the wearer's shoulders and can be attached to pads 8 and 12, for example by sewing at locations E and F at an outward facing portion of pad 8 or outer layer 6. In other embodiments, an insulating device 1002 may have a pad sewn into a clothing item, for example into a camisole or a sports bra configuration, as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B.

FIGS. 7A through 10, 13A through 17B, and 19 through 23, show other embodiments of insulative devices, various retainer configurations, omitting shoulder straps configurations. An insulative pad can be held snugly in place around the upper torso of a wearer with an elastic or other resiliently extensible material, which may be an extension of an inner layer 4 that wraps around the wearer's body. Optionally, a rubberized or silicone strip (not shown) at the body-facing or outward facing side of the garment can be configured to hold the tubular structure in place on the body or against a shirt/top.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8, device 202 has two elastic bands 18 and 20. First band 18 is positioned adjacent a wearer's body at upper edge 19 of garment 3. Second band 20 is positioned adjacent the wearer's body at bottom edge 21 of garment 3. Elastic bands 18 and 20 urge the garment against wearer's body, holding pad 14 snug against the user's body. Device 202 has two insulating pads 8 and 12 at frontal portion 7 and back portion 9, respectively, of tubular structure 217. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a device 302 having a tubular structure 317 having a pad 308 at a frontal portion 7 only.

In other embodiments, for example as shown in FIGS. 13A, 14, 16, 17 and 19 through 23, insulative devices 602 and 902 can include a single strip or band 22 of a stretchable material may be used, for example, an elastic band. Band 22 may have a longitudinal width about equal to or greater than pad 8, allowing band 22 to form a snug fit over pad 8 and around the user's torso. Band 22 may have an elongated generally rectangular structure with a top edge 52, a bottom edge 54, and respective first and second side edges 56 and 58. Matingly engageable fasteners 24a and 24b can be respectively disposed adjacent opposed edges 56 and 58 and configured to form a tubular structure around a wearer's body such that the fasteners engage with each other when donned. Band 22 may be an extension of inner layer 4 configured to wrap around a wearer's body and close around the body with fasteners 24a and 24b engaged. For example strips of a hook-and-loop fastener material may be attached to ends 26, 28 of a single elastic band 22. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13A to 14, band 22 can be closed into a tubular structure by fasteners. In a working embodiment, fasteners 30, 32, and 34, for example, are three pieces of a VELCRO® material, are attached at each respective open ends 56 and 58 of band 22. In other embodiments, one or more strips of a hook and loop material can be affixed adjacent each respective open end of the elastic band, allowing the band to be closed in on itself to form a generally tubular structure. For example, the fasteners may be positioned at selected locations lengthwise allowing the effective length L of the device to be selectively adjusted by a user to provide a snug fit around the wearer's body portion. As an example, generally parallel strips of a VELCRO® material may be disposed in a transverse direction at the respective closing ends. Other embodiments may include closures formed with snaps, buttons, zipper, or the like.

FIGS. 19, 20, 21, 22A, 22B, and 23 show an insulating device 902 with first and second pieces of VELCRO® 60 and 62 attached to the respective outer corner at each respective end 26, 28 of band 22. Other embodiments can have continuous strips of fastener material, or any number of pieces of fastener material configured to allow adjustments of the device to provide a desired snug fit. In other possible embodiments, different configurations are possible or different fasteners may be used, such as buttons, hooks, snaps, zipper or drawstring may help give a snug fit.

Some embodiments may have hidden seams so that the sensation of the connection is essentially eliminated and comfort to the user is increased. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13A through 15, band 22 forms a tubular enclosure with closing ends 26, 28 configured to meet at a position adjacent to pad 5 so that the feeling of the connection is reduced or eliminated.

Optionally, the edges of the device may be reinforced and/or softened, for example by stitching or folding material or by adding a strip of a suitable edge material.

FIG. 15 indicates with arrows 42, 44 how elastic bands at the top and bottom of inner layer may hold device 702 in place. FIGS. 16 and 17 show an embodiment of an insulative device wherein pads 5 and 12 are held in place adjacent a tubular structure 46 and elastic bands 48, 50 at the top and bottom perimeter of the tubular structure.

In other possible embodiments, an insulative member or a pad may be sewn into the front and/or back of a garment, for example as shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows an insulative device 402 including a generally rectangular insulative member 5 disposed at a location corresponding to the frontal thorax of a wearer.

The cough pad can cover any or all parts of the upperbody and can vary in thickness for example it could become thin at the edges or in areas near where it attaches to the strap. The pad can go from the left anterior axillary line to the right anterior axillary line around the front (chest) or around the back. The pad could go from the left midaxillary line to the right midaxillary line around the front (chest) or around the back. The pad could go from the left posterior axillary line to the right posterior axillary line around the front (chest) or around the back. The pad could also go around the whole of the upper body for example from the midaxillary line to the mid axillary line. The pad could go in any combination of the above starting at the left or right axillary line and end at any of the other axillary lines (anterior, mid and posterior). For each embodiment, the pad can extend between about several inches above or below the pectoralis major (or several inches below the serratus anterior) and about several inches above or below the obliquas externas.

Such a configuration provides temperature regulation for a specifically selected portion of the wearer's body which is lacking from prior art devices and conventional clothing. Similar embodiments can be incorporated into other configurations, for example, tank top, pajama top, etc. Optionally, a pad may be disposed in a shirt's pocket.

In some embodiments, the size of the insulative device may be sized to conform to a body of an infant, a child or an adult. For example, an insulative member or pad may be sewn into a front and/or a back of an infant's one-piece bodysuit, for example a child “onesie.” The bodysuit may have a form that wraps under the users body between the legs. FIG. 12 shows an insulative device 502 having a generally rectangular pad 36 sewn into the front of a bodysuit 38. Pad 36 may be disposed at a location corresponding to a child's frontal thorax, similar to the location described above in connection with FIG. 11, to warm the child's lungs while allowing the rest of the wearer's body to remain free of insulation. The bodysuit may have sleeves 40, either short or long. The bodysuit may also cover the whole body, such as a footed “onesie.”

Some embodiments of the device are generally designed to correspond to a height and a width of the user's chest. However, the insulative device may have any suitable shape, for example, a rectangle with rounded edges, a circle, an oval, a triangle, a quadrahedral, a rhombus, or conforming to a contour of a portion of a person's body. In some embodiments, the pad of the device may be dimensioned so that it is barely noticeable to a user and does not interfere with a wearer's regular activities. For example, FIGS. 13 through 15 and 17 show an example embodiment of a device sized to correspond to a portion of the wearer's chest having dimensions measuring approximately 10 inches in the length by approximately 12 inches wide. In some embodiments, loose fill of the device allows the device to be compressed, therefore a larger device can be applied to a smaller body. Some embodiments may include a pad having dimensions of about 5 inches by about 10 inches. Other embodiments may measure about 14 inches by about 14 inches.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the insulative device is worn snug against the user's skin. In other embodiments, however, the insulative device may be worn over a user's clothes and may be structurally adapted for such use. A layered structure as described herein can be worn over other clothes.

The disclosed innovations further contemplate an insulative device that may be attached to a user's head as a pillow to prevent the pillow from falling off, for example, as a travel pillow used by a user on an airplane. Such embodiments, may allow for a more fully filled pillow.

The disclosed innovations further contemplate methods of treating lung conditions such as a cough or other asthmatic symptom by placing the device adjacent a wearer's chest. For example, the insulative device can be placed between the user's shirt and chest or shirt and back, and held in place. The device conforms to the user's body and keeps the chest warm by reducing conductive, convective, and/or radiative heat loss. The device further reduces heat loss by absorbing sweat and preventing the sweat from evaporating adjacent the user's body.

It is believed that a benefit of using an insulative device is that it allows a portion of the user's core and chest to be relatively warmer than the rest of the body. By allowing the rest of the body to be cool and unencumbered, the user can feel more comfortable. This comfort can increase the user's ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. It is believed that by warming the lungs, the blood vessels dilate, aiding in the transport of blood through the lungs. In warm conditions, oxygen dissolves more readily into the blood making the lungs more efficient. When warm, the airways can open allowing for better air flow. If the lungs are warmer, it is believed mucus in the lungs becomes more fluid making it easier for a wearer to dispel excess mucus from the lungs. It is believed that these factors alleviate one or more symptoms of asthma or allergies or other ailments that affect breathing.

Other benefits of using an insulative device can include a user falling asleep more readily and being less likely to wake up in the middle of the night. In contrast to some of the prior art methods and devices, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,582, the disclosed innovations do not inhibit a person's movement and are configured to remain in a selected position on the user's body during the activity or while sleeping.

Presently disclosed innovations also contemplate embodiments that have or can accommodate sensors attached to a wearer, for example to monitor body temperature or humidity. The sensors may be accommodated in the device by a slot or aperture 91 in the insulative member 5 of the device (FIGS. 18A and 18B). An aperture in the insulative member allows placement of sensors directly on the user's skin or allows wires for sensors, such as sensor for an EKG, to extend through layers of the insulative members to the outside of the insulative device. For example, as shown in FIGS. 18A, an insulative device 802 may have a monitor device 90 coupled to or separate from the insulative device 92 at the inner layer 4 of a frontal insulative member 5, a connecting wire 94 extending through the insulative member 5 and inner layer 4 and outer layer 6 and leading to an antenna 96 or a battery pack disposed outside or adjacent on the outer layer 6 of the insulative member 5.

Some insulative devices may have one or more heating elements integrated in or attached to the device. For example, an electrically powered (or exothermic chemical reaction) heating element configured to dissipate heat can be removably positioned in a pocket (not shown) in the pads. Other embodiments may include ventilation holes and/or zones of materials with different properties, for example zones of a stretchy mesh material or zones of materials with different moisture absorbing properties. Some embodiments may be disposable or washable, others may be used with or without an insulative device cover.

Methods for making such an insulative device can include providing material for an inner layer, a pad, and an outer layer, and forming the layers, for example, as described above. The layers may be integrated into a unitary structure and configure the device so that it can cover and insulate a specific portion of the wearer's body. A cross-section illustrating possible layers of an insulative device are shown in FIGS. 25 and 26. The disclosed innovations further contemplate a method for using an insulative device as described above.

Technologies disclosed herein can also be used to treat ailments other than lung ailments, including sore muscles, tight muscles, bruises, and joint pain. It is believed that disclosed technologies can assist in healing such ailments by keeping an area around the effected body part warm thus helping blood flow to the effected body part. Disclosed technologies can also protect the aliment from further damage by protecting the area from coming in contact with external objects. For example in everyday use to protect a bruised hip a user could wear an insulative device as described herein over the hip so that if they bump the hip against a foreign object the device can provide partial protection from the impact. Insulative devices are not meant as a replacement for pads used in sports activities like football.

Insulative devices can be used to cover and warm a sore back. Here you get the insulation of a local area to keep it warm, or can be used to cover a sore muscle thus keeping it warm and helping healing.

All patent and non-patent literature cited herein is hereby incorporated by references in its entirety for all purposes.

Persons skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts and actions which have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings to explain principles of the inventive subject matter, and that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims contained therein.

Claims

1. An insulative device for a selected portion of a body, the device comprising:

an inner layer configured to contact a wearer's body;

an outer layer coupled to the inner layer and configured to face away from the wearer's body;

an insulative pad disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer and the pad configured to selectively cover a limited region of the wearer's torso corresponding approximately to a location of the lungs of the wearer;

wherein the inner layer comprises a wicking material and the pad comprises a sweat absorbing material so that sweat is wicked away from the body, absorbed in the pad, and prevented from evaporating near the wearer's body keeping the region of the wearer's body around the lungs warm while allowing the rest of the wearer's body to stay cool.

2. The insulative device of claim 1, further comprising a retainer configured to hold the device in place on the body of the wearer.

3. The insulative device of claim 1, wherein the region of the wearer's torso comprises a frontal thorax region of the wearer's torso.

4. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the region of the wearer's torso comprises a back thorax region of the wearer's torso.

5. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the pad is sized to cover a portion of the wearer's torso from a position adjacent the wearer's sternum to a position adjacent the wearer's collar bone and from a position in front of one underarm to a position in front of the other underarm.

6. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the pad has a longitudinal dimension measuring about 10 inches and a circumferential dimension measuring about 12 inches.

7. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the inner layer, the outer layer, and the pad constitute a unitary structure.

8. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the retainer comprises a plurality of shoulder portions extending between respective front and back portions of the device when donned by a wearer.

9. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the retainer comprises matingly engageable fasteners allowing the insulative device to be selectively fitted around the wearer's body.

10. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the retainer comprises a slip-resistant material or a gripping material applied to the inner layer so that the insulative device is held in place on the body of the wearer when donned.

11. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the inner layer and/or the outer layer comprise an elastic material.

12. The insulative device of claim 1 further comprising an outer protective material.

13. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the pad is coupled to one or both of the inner layer and the outer layer stitching.

14. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises a plurality of zones having respectively different moisture absorbancy properties.

15. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the device defines an aperture configured for sensor wires to extend through the insulative device.

16. The insulative device of claim 1 wherein the device defines a plurality of ventilation holes.

17. A method for alleviating symptoms of lung ailments, the method comprising:

positioning an insulative device on a wearer's upper torso, the insulative device comprising an inner layer configured to contact a wearer's body, an outer layer coupled to the inner layer and configured to face away from the wearer's body, an insulative pad disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer and the pad configured to cover a region of the wearer's torso corresponding approximately to a location of the lungs of the wearer, wherein the inner layer comprises a wicking material and the pad comprises a sweat absorbing material so that sweat is wicked away from the body, absorbed in the pad, and prevented from evaporating near the wearer's body keeping the region of the body warm while allowing the rest of the wearer's body to stay cool, and wherein the insulative device conforms to the wearer's body; and

insulating a wearer's body from approximately the sternum to the collar bone and from the front of one arm pit to the front of the other arm pit; and

keeping the lungs warm by reducing radiating heat loss and by reducing convection heat loss so the symptoms of lung ailments are reduced.