U.S. patent application number 10/420683 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for multicompartment ice bag for single patient use.
Invention is credited to Karapetyan, Armen.
Application Number | 20040210288 10/420683 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33029743 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040210288 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Karapetyan, Armen |
October 21, 2004 |
MULTICOMPARTMENT ICE BAG FOR SINGLE PATIENT USE
Abstract
A multicompartment ice bag for single patient use provides a
possibility to apply a cold to a small areas of the single patient
body. An improved multicompartment ice bag for single patient use
includes a multicompartment bag, comprising at least two of a
plurality of compartments, each of which includes at least one of a
plurality of compartment openings for fluid passage into
compartments, an inlet opening for fluid passage into the bag, at
least two of strings, one of which is solid and another one is of
hollow configuration providing a channel for fluid passage into the
bag, and a squeezing providing outside closing of the compartment
openings at the time of fluid freezing process.
Inventors: |
Karapetyan, Armen; (Los
Angeles, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMEN KARAPETYAN
1935 N. VAN NESS AVE.
LOS ANGELES
CA
90068
US
|
Family ID: |
33029743 |
Appl. No.: |
10/420683 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
607/114 ;
607/112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 2007/0273 20130101;
A61F 7/103 20130101; A61F 2007/0001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
607/114 ;
607/112 |
International
Class: |
A61F 007/00 |
Claims
1. A multicompartment ice bag for single patient use comprising at
least two of a plurality of compartments, each of which comprises
at least one of a plurality of compartment openings for a passage
of a fluid into said compartments of said multicompartment ice bag;
an inlet opening for fluid passage into said multicompartment ice
bag; at least two of a plurality of strings, wherein a first string
is extended from a closed side of said multicompartment ice bag and
is of a solid configuration, and a second string is extended from
an inlet side of said multicompartment ice bag and is of hollow
configuration, providing a channel for the passage of said fluid
into said multicompartment ice bag, and wherein said second string
is extended of said inlet side of said multicompartment ice bag at
the place of a location of said inlet opening.
2. The ice bag of claim 1, wherein said second string further
includes a conic form free end.
3. The ice bag of claim 1, wherein said first string is further
connected to said closed side of said multicompartment ice bag, and
said second string is further connected to said inlet side of said
multicompartment ice bag, and wherein the connection of said second
string with said inlet side is located at the place of said inlet
opening.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is generally related to an ice bag and more
particularly to ice bag containing a frozen liquid (preferably
water) intended for medical patient use to cold a small areas of
the patient body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The ice bags are in wide use. Ice cubes mostly have been
molded in trays which are filled with water an placed in a freezing
equipment. For example, the ice packs for single patient use are
generally of two types: large general purpose ice packs designed
for application to large areas of the body and small, specialized
ice packs designed for application of cold locally at particular
points. These smaller ice packs, because of their size, typically
have small openings, which are difficult to fill from an automatic
ice machine or from a scoop from an ice bin, and which often result
in the spillage of ice during filling and damage to the disposable
ice packs which tend to be of more fragile construction. Sanitation
requirements also limit the use of the ice packs in hospitals and
clinics. Many small ice packs, for example, designed for single
patient use, must be disposed of after single use due to the
likelihood of contamination of the ice machine or scoop with an ice
pack which has been in contact with a patient's body, or there is
risk of contaminating the ice supply. This is both expensive and
wasteful. The U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,347,848 and 4,523,353 describe a
single patient ice pack which can be filled and refilled from an
automatic ice machine and includes the singular ice pack of a
rectangular envelope form having two sides, an open, a closed end,
and two pairs of tie strings and extend from the open and closed
ends. A bag closed on three sides and having a throat opening at
the open end of the envelope is formed internally of the envelope
for receiving and retaining ice. A funnel dimensioned to conform
with the divergence of the throat in the bag may be inserted into
the throat for filling the bag by ice from the automatic ice
machine. A closure member is provided for sealing the throat of the
bag when the bag has been filled with ice.
[0003] Such ice bag creates uncofortability for patients
considering the sharp corners of the ice cubes filled by automatic
ice machine.
[0004] For some reasons, after the ice cubes have been molded in
trays which are filled with water and frozen in a freezing
equipment, it can be necessarily to remove the piece of ice from
the bag. A release mechanism permits the ice cubes to be removed
intact for use. The two primary release means; a lever moving
baffles and the flexible tray after result in the ice cubes
breaking. This method has been improved upon by a mold bag with
shapes molded in. The mold bag is filled with liquid and placed in
a freezing equipment. Removal of the ice cubes is accomplished by
tearing the mold bag to release the ice pieces. A problem with the
mold bag is that air can enter during any part of the process which
causes less ice to be formed and in some cases cosmetic flaws in
the resulting ice cubes. The risk of air entry is especially high
during the process of sealing the bag. What is desired is a mold
bag which can be sealed with out permitting the entry of air. This
requires a seal on the filing end of the bag it is further
desirable that the sealing be automatic. For example, the U.S. Pat.
No. 5,846,446 describes an ice making bag comprising a first left
peripheral opening binding and a first right peripheral opening
binding. The first left peripheral opening binding and the first
right peripheral opening binding form a gap therebetween. The first
binding functions to form a pocket between the first envelope top
and the first envelope bottom. The first ice making bag also
includes one first opening binding forming an air channel between
the first left peripheral opening binding or the first right
peripheral opening binding and another first opening binding. An
user holds the first ice making bag in a vertical position pouring
liquid in through the gap into the pocket formed between the first
envelope top, and a first envelope bottom and placing the first ice
making bag in a freezer to form first ice. The air channel
functions to facilitate release of air previously entrapped in the
pocket during filing.
[0005] This ice making bag is complex and requires automatic nozzle
sealing under pressure.
[0006] It is commonly known within this technical field that ice
cube bags with very strong joints, especially weldings or glueings
may be produced, providing a safe and reliable containment of the
ice cubes produced by means of the ice cube bag. Similarly it is
generally realized that it may often be quite difficult for a user
to open an ice cube bag in which ice cubes are contained, as the
foil used, especially the commonly used polyethylene plastic foil
and the rather strong joints, makes a tearing apart or opening of
the ice cube bag quite difficult. In some known ice cube bags, an
ice cube bag construction is described in which glueing is
preferably used for establishing joints in the interior of the ice
cube bag. The joints are later on relatively easy to separate again
enabling a conversion of the ice cube bag from an ice cube bag
divided into compartments into a non-compartmentalized ice cube bag
and the joints enabling a conversion of the ice cube bag from a
compartmentalized ice cube bag into a non-compartmentalized ice
cube bag may be established as weldings or alternatively as
glueings, as it should be possible for a person skilled in the art
to deduce a technique to establish weak weldings enabling such a
tearing apart of the joints for the purpose of converting the ice
cube bag from a compartmentalized into a non-compartmentalized
form. In this connection, tearing apart of the joints, especially
the glueings is not to cause any damage to the walls of the ice
cube bag, i.e. cause a proper tearing of the ice cube bag, but only
a separation of the joints previously established. The U.S. Pat.
No. 6,322,044 describes an ice cube bag comprising two sheet-shaped
foil layers defining an outer periphery. A peripheral joint extends
along the major part of the outer periphery of the foil layers,
with the exception of a peripheral area constituting an inlet
aperture of the bag. Their peripheral joint joins the foil layers
together defining an inner chamber which is divided into several
ice cube sections defined by separate joints of the foil layers. An
inlet channel extends from the inlet aperture to the inner chamber
of the bag providing admission from the surroundings to the inner
chamber of the bag through the inlet channel. Each of the separate
joints is constituted by a number of individual joints, each of
these individual joints establishing a connection between the two
sheet-shaped foil layers with such a joint strength and with such a
limited area extension that the individual joint is not broken when
the foil layers are exposed to a separation force, but provides a
tearing apart or perforation in one of the foil layers along the
periphery of the individual joints.
[0007] Such ice cube bag requires each of the foils to have a
folded part and protruding inwardly into the interior of the ice
cube bag and forming inner laid-open edges.
[0008] There are many disclosures of sealing devices designed for a
wide variety of purposes and having many different constructions.
In some devices, resilient clips are provided including portions
resiliently movable apart to receive a portion of a bag or other
enclosure therebetween. In others, the devices have been arranged
to be deformed to clamp portions of a bag or the like between
portions of the devices. The sealing device by U.S. Pat. No.
4,275,485 includes two members connected through a hinge for
clamping and sealing engagement with gathered-together material at
the end of an enclosure. The hinge facilitates installation and
accurately aligns interacting parts including a projecting
structure on one member with an opening in the other,
interengageable locking elements on side portions of the members
and sealing elements on end portions of the members. The locking
elements include a shoulder on one member engageable by a shoulder
on a projection on the other, the projection being engageable in
one embodiment for release. Additional locking elements are
positioned adjacent the hinge connection for reinforcement.
[0009] The described sealing device is complex and requires the
hinge, which facilitates installation and aligns interacting
parts.
[0010] Thus, there is a great need in the art for the improved ice
bag, providing convenient, economical, effective and safe use for
single patient.
OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present
invention are to provide convenient, economical and effective ice
bag for single patient use in the application of cold to small
areas of the body.
[0012] It is another object of the invention to eliminate necessity
of the automatic ice machine use.
[0013] It is still another object of the invention to provide
patient with possibility to use the improved ice bags in the
residence and not only in the medical clinics provided with the
automatic ice machines.
[0014] It is further object of the invention to increase the a
flexibility of the patient's ice bags and to prevent the damage to
the ice bag material at the time of the folding of the bag with the
frozen liquid (ice) inside.
[0015] It is still further object of the invention to eliminate the
patient inconvenience of the application of sharp sides of the ice
cubes formed by the automatic ice machines.
[0016] Still, further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description accompanying
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0017] In order that the invention and the manner in which it is to
be performed may be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof
will be described by way of example with reference to the attached
drawings, of which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a simplified spatial view of an improved
multicompartment ice bag for single patient use.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a simplified drawing of a multicompartment ice
bag.
[0020] FIGS. 3a, 3b are the simplified illustrations of fluid flow,
filling an improved multicompartment ice bag.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a simplified illustration of a squeezing means
use.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a simplified illustration of the improved ice bag
application to the small area of the patient body to be cold.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
prior art, the present invention provides a new single patient
multicompartment ice bag to apply a cold to a small areas of the
patient body. As such, the general purpose of the present
invention, which will be described hereinafter in greater details,
is to provide a new convenient, economical and effective individual
multicompartment ice bag for patient treatment. The improved
multicompartment ice bag has many of the advantages of the medical
ice packs mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result
in the convenience and safety of personal use, which is not
anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested or even implied by any of
prior art ice bags for single patients. For example, the single
patient ice bag with compartments is more flexible, than the ice
bag without compartments, and the surface of the multicompartment
ice bag filled in by fluid (preferably water) is smooth and does
not have the sharp angles intrinsic in the patient ice bag filled
by the ice cubes.
[0024] To attain this, the present invention generally includes a
multicompartment bag, comprising at least one of a plurality of
compartments, each of which includes at least two of a plurality of
compartment openings for fluid passage into compartments, an inlet
opening for fluid passage into the bag, at least two of strings,
one of which is solid and another one is of hollow configuration
providing a channel for fluid passage into the bag, and a squeezing
means providing outside closing of the compartment openings at the
time of fluid freezing process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Here the description of an improved multicompartment ice bag
for single patient use will be done in statics (as if the
components of the improved apparatus are suspended in the space)
with description of their relative connections to each other. The
description of the functional operations will be done
hereinafter.
[0026] An improved multicompartment ice bag for single patient use
includes a multicompartment ice bag 1, shown on FIGS. 1-5. The
multicompartment ice bag 1 can be of any convenient geometrical
form/configuration. On FIGS. 1-5 is conventionally shown the
multicompartment ice bag of rectangular form. The multicompartment
ice bag 1, having the first side 10 and second side 11, the inlet
side 12 and a closed end 13, includes at least two of a plurality
"N" (where N=2, . . . , i, . . . . n-1, n) of compartments and an
inlet opening 8 coupled with the first compartment 9 (N=1). The bag
1 includes at least one of a plurality "M" (where L=1, 2, . . . ,j,
. . . , m-1, m) of compartment rows, and at least one of a
plurality "H" (where H=1, 2, . . . , h-1, h) of compartment
columns. On FIGS. 1, 4 are conventionally shown the
multicompartment ice bag 1 with four rows (m=4) and five columns
(h=5), and the first row 14 is shown at the bottom of the bag I and
the first column 15 is shown on the right side of the bag 1. FIGS.
2, 3a, 3b illustrate the multicompartment ice bag 1 including
conventionally three rows (m=3) and six column (h=6). Each
compartment comprises at least one compartment opening 7 (on FIG. 2
is conventionally shown single compartment opening 7 for each
compartment, for example, an i-th compartment 2 and an adjacent
(n-1)-th compartment 19 include the opening 7 on their right sides
respectively). Each middle adjacent compartment (for example, i-th
compartment 2) is closed on its first side 3 and second side 4, and
includes an openings 7 on the other two sides: first open side 5
and second open side 6 respectively. The second compartment 16 has
only one closed side and includes three openings 7. The first
compartment 9 has only one closed side and includes two openings 7
and an inlet opening 8. The inlet opening 8 provides the passage of
the fluid (preferably water) into bag 1. The closed side 13 of the
multicompartment ice bag 1 can include at least one string (first
string 21), and the inlet side 12 of the multicompartment ice bag 1
can include an appropriate at least one string (inlet string 24)
respectively, as shown on FIG. 3b. On FIGS. 1-3a is conventionally
shown the bag 1 with four strings 21-24. The first string 21 is
extended of closed side 13 along the first side 10, and the second
string 22 is extended of the closed side 13 along the second side
11. The inlet side 12 includes the third 23 and inlet 24 strings
likewise extended of the inlet side 12 along the first side 10 and
second side 11 respectively. The first 21 and second 22 strings are
parallel to each other, and the pair of strings 23 and 24 are
parallel to each other too. The first 21, second 22 and third 23
strings are solid and preferably of the flat configuration. The
inlet string 24 is hollow (is formed as a tube) in order to provide
the fluid passage through the mentioned inlet string 24 via inlet
opening 8 into bag 1. The first compartment 9 is coupled with the
inlet string 24. The inlet string 24 can have a slightly conic
configuration at its end 25, as shown on FIGS. 1-4, in order to
provide the convenient fluid filling, for example, from sink's
faucet (not shown). The strings can be attached/connected (not
shown) to the ice bag 1 instead of to be extended of the ice bag 1
material, as shown on FIGS. 1-4. The multicompartment ice bag 1 can
be produced of any flexible, slightly stretchable material, such as
plastic, polyethylene, etc. The multicompartment ice bag 1 can, for
example, be manufactured of two sheets of material welded or glued
along the perimeter of the bag 1 and between adjacent compartments.
The spaces between adjacent compartment closed sides are welded or
glued with no any openings, and the spaces between adjacent
compartment open sides, having the compartment opening, are welded
or glued with the appropriate openings, providing fluid flow
passage from one compartment to another adjacent compartment of the
bag 1.
[0027] The multicompartment ice bag 1 employed for single patient
use in the application of cold to small areas of the body also
comprising a squeezing means 20. The squeezing means 20, shown on
FIG. 4, is a clipping/squeezing means intended for outside closing
of the compartment openings 7 after the multicompartment ice bag 1
is filled in with a fluid and before the bag 1 is placed for
freezing. Without squeezing means 20, the frozen fluid (ice) will
be presented in the compartment openings 7, and at the time of the
folding of the bag 1 around the area of the patient body to be
cold, the broken piece of ice inside the compartment opening can
have the sharp edge of the broken cross-section, which can damage
the material (for example, to tear the material) of the bag 1. The
squeezing means 20 prevents the forming of the ice inside the
compartment openings 7 during fluid freezing process. Also, the
squeezing means 20 can be used for the reverse fluid leakage
prevention during fluid freezing process by closing (squeezing)
fluid passage inside inlet string 24, as shown on FIG. 4.
[0028] The improved multicompartment ice bag 1 for single patient
use operates as follows below. Initially, the multicompartment ice
bag 1 is empty. The conic end 25 of the inlet string 24 is coupled,
for example, with the sink's faucet (not shown) and the fluid is
filled into compartments of the bag 1 through the inlet opening 8
and compartment openings 7, as shown on FIGS. 3a, 3b, where the
fluid flow 26 is presented by errows. Preferably, the bag 1 should
not be fully filled in, considering freezing water expansion. After
the water is filled in, the squeezing means 20 is installed over
the inlet string 24 (see illustration on FIG. 4) squeezing the
string 24, thereby eliminating the fluid reverse leakage. Also, the
squeezing means 20 are installed in appropriate manner onto the bag
1 to close all compartment openings 7 of the bag 1. After that, the
bag can be placed into freezer. When the fluid is frozen, all
squeezing means 20 from compartment openings are removed, and the
bag 1 can be folded around patient body area to be cold. The
prevention of the fluid reverse leakage through the passage into
inlet string 24 can be provided, for instance, by the knot on the
string 24, or by the use of the squeezing means 20 or any other
clipping devices, providing non-leaking clipping/squeezing of the
string 24. The strings 21 and 23, and strings 22 and 24 are coupled
in pairs respectively. The strings coupling can be provided by
knots, as shown on FIG. 5, or using the squeezing means 20,
clipping devices or any other coupling devices, such as "Velcro",
providing sufficiently reliable connection.
[0029] Thus, an improved multicompartment ice bag provides
convenient, economical and effective use ice pack by single patient
without necessity to use automatic ice machine.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION AND SCOPE
[0030] Accordingly the reader will see that, according to the
invention, I have provided a multicompartment ice bag for single
patient use, providing convenient, economical and effective single
patient ice bag intended for application of cold to small areas of
the patient body. An improved multicompartment ice bag for single
patient use has various possibilities, considering activities of
the patient treatments.
[0031] While the above description contains many specificities,
these should be not construed as limitations on the scope of the
invention, but as exemplification of the presently-preferred
embodiments thereof Many other ramifications are possible within
the teaching to the invention. For example, an improved
multicompartment ice bag for single patient use eliminates the
necessity of the automatic ice machine, providing possibility to
use the improved ice bag not only in medical offices and clinics,
but also at home, children care centers, retired houses, etc. for
single patient use more time for them to use for patients. Also, an
improved ice bag is not disposable after single use and can be used
repeatedly.
[0032] Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by examples
given.
THE DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS WORKSHEET
[0033] 1.--a multicompartment ice bag;
[0034] 2.--an i-th compartment;
[0035] 3.--a first compartment closed side;
[0036] 4.--a second compartment closed side;
[0037] 5.--a first compartment open side;
[0038] 6.--a n-th compartment open side;
[0039] 7.--an opening;
[0040] 8.--an inlet opening;
[0041] 9.--a first compartment;
[0042] 10.--a first side of the ice bag 1;
[0043] 11.--a second side of the ice bag 1;
[0044] 12.--an inlet side of the ice bag 1;
[0045] 13.--a closed side of the ice bag 1;
[0046] 14.--a first row of compartments;
[0047] 15.--a first column of compartments;
[0048] 16.--a second compartment;
[0049] 17.--a third compartment;
[0050] 18.--a n-th compartment;
[0051] 19.--a (n-1)-th compartment;
[0052] 20.--a squeezing means;
[0053] 21.--a first string;
[0054] 22.--a second string;
[0055] 23.--a third string;
[0056] 24.--an inlet string;
[0057] 25.--a conic free end of the inlet string 24;
[0058] 26.--a fluid flow.
* * * * *