Therapeutic blanket

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in therapeutic electric blankets designed primarily for use with animals such as horses but of course being applicable with modifications, for use with other animals and humans.

It is well known that radiant or resistive heat treatment is effective for many ailments but such treatment is difficult to localize in the desired areas particularly with an animal such as a horse in order that the most beneficial affects may be realized. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a therapeutic electric blanket which can be secured over a horse or around the limbs thereof and which includes pockets to receive the necessary heating pad and position same in the desired location.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a therapeutic blanket for animals such as horses comprising in combination an outer flexible blanket, means to detachably secure and retain same upon the animal, at least one heating pad receiving pocket on the outer surface of said blanket, a wiring harness on the outer

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- 2 surface of said blanket operatively extending to said pocket for selective connection to the associated heating pad and extending from said blanket for operative connection to a source of electrical power, and detachable cover means for covering and protecting at least the major portion of said harness.

It is preferably that a plurality of pockets be provided on opposite sides and in similar locations to add to the beneficial effect and efficiency of the blanket. These side pockets are preferably divided into compartments with the use of hook and loop fasteners such as VELCRO (TM) so that the heating pads may be moved around from one desired location to another and held in place at that desired location for the requisite amount of time.

These pockets are strategically located so as to be as efficient as possible in aiding the treatment of internal organs such as heart, liver, kidneys and the like. As well as a variety of muscular, ligament and bone ailments.

The blanket also may have a webbing covering for the electrical harness detachably secured with VELCRO thereby preventing the wires of the harness from becoming exposed and also preventing them becoming hooked on any protruding items as the animal moves around.

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The hook and loop closures provide easy access to the wiring thereby enabling the wire harness to be removed so that the blanket can be cleaned or repaired and so that any wiring can also be repaired or replaced.

It is desirable that the central harness runs along the central area covered with webbing attached with hook and loop closures with similar closures branching off the central areas so that branch wires may be extended to the various pockets on the sides for operative connection to the heating pad in that particular area.

It will of course be appreciated that the blanket may vary in size and shape and that the material used may depend upon the desired effect, and design parameters.

The pockets illustrated may also vary in number, size and location once again depending upon the desired effect and design. It is desirable but not essential that the blanket be trimmed with a webbing as this adds to the sturdiness and durability of the blanket but of course it can be made without this web trim. The heating pads used in the blanket may either be operated from 110 VAC or from 12 or 24 volt DC depending upon location and availability, and of course the the pads are easily removed for repair and replacement and ice packs or the like may be substituted for such pads.

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Another advantage of the invention is to provide a therapeutic blanket which is durable, can be used on various animals for the treatment of numerous ailments and which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds , the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the best mode known to the applicant and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a full sized blanket.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side view of a shoulder blanket or half blanket.

Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a limb or body wrap blanket with adjustable width facilities.

In the drawings like characters of reference

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- 5 indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Proceeding therefor to describe the invention in detail, reference to Figures 1 and 2 will show a full sized blanket collectively designated 10 comprising a left half 11 and a right half 12 extending from each side of a longitudinally extending central area collectively designated 13 and extending from the front edge 14 to the rear edge 15.

The material is preferably flexible and of a blanket type material depending upon the requirements and it is desirable but not essential that a sweat liner collectively designated 16 be secured to the inside surface 17 of the main blanket component as by stitching 18, said securement being by the edges of the sweat liner to adjacent the edges of the outer portion in order to prevent any other stitching being attacked by mildew or the like.

A plurality of pockets collectively designated 19 is secured to the outer surface 20 of the main blanket portion as by stitching (not illustrated) said pockets being located symmetrically upon either side of the central area and including pockets collectively designated 20 on the central area if desired.

The majority of pockets are provided with an open end 21 facing the central area 13 detachably closeable by hook and loop material such as VELCRO and indicated in phantom by reference character 22.

The pockets are also preferably divided into compartments 23 by strips of hook and loop material 24 spanning the interior of the pocket at spaced apart intervals so that they may be selectively engaged to define and separate the various pockets or compartments within the main pockets 19. This permits a conventional radiant or resistive heating pad, indicated by reference character 25, to be inserted into any one of the pockets and be retained in the desired compartment until it is desired to move same. This facilitates the exact locating of the heating pad adjacent the area being treated and enables the heating pad to be moved from place to place relatively easily.

A source of power for the heating pads may be obtained from a convenient source of electrical energy (not illustrated) either 110 VAC or 12 or 24 volts DC and conveyed to the various locations by a wiring harness 26 situated on the outer surface 20 of the blanket and extending from front to back of the central area 13. It is preferably covered by webbing 27 which is secured, at least in part, by hook and loop material to the outer

- Ί surface of the blanket. Branches 28 extend from the main harness to the various pockets 19 and are in turn covered by hook and loop material securing webbing portions 29 in order to protect the harness and branches and to prevent any of them from becoming hooked on projections which could well damage the wiring.

The blanket is held in position by strips of hook and loop material 30 as shown which, when used, extend under the body of the animal and may be secured to the corresponding portions 30A in order to retain the blanket in position.

Figures 3 and 4 show a similar construction but in the form of a half blanket or shoulder blanket and bear corresponding numbers to identify common parts.

Once again the pockets permit the adjustable placement of the heating pads in the desired locations over the shoulders or withers of the animal.

Figure 5 shows a similar construction but in smaller scale and in which the central area 13 is adjustable in width by means of longitudinally extending hook and loop elements specifically designated 31 in which the central area may be folded and held in the longitudinally pleated position by means of the hook and loop components 31 thus adjusting the overall width of the blanket or wrap

- e which may be then secured around a limb by further hook and loop elements 30 and 30A similar to those hereinbefore described. This is particularly suitable for use around the limbs of an animal or a human or can be used to localize heat in a desired location.

These blankets, together with the desired voltage available, make treatment portable and it can be used in transit.

As is well known, the use of infrared or radiant energy heat or resistive heat or cold packs is common for many ailments · either muscular or otherwise that animals such as horses may develop and the portability and flexibility of the various embodiments of the invention makes such treatment easy and effective in use.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

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