|
Patent Abstract
A first aid hand puppet is disclosed that has a body part having
a pouch, within which a removable element can be placed, which removable
element is preferably a cold pack or a heat pack that can be inserted
within the pouch. The puppet can be in different animal or character
shapes and when the puppet is worn on the hand of an adult and placed
over an injured area, the hot or cold pack sits in the palm of the
hand of the adult for better control and ease of use. The puppet
in the person's hand can then hug the child's injured skin area.
When the element is removed, the puppet can then be used as a toy.
Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hand puppet for use with a child who has suffered an injury
or trauma, comprising: (A) a puppet suitable for an adult's hand
being inserted therein and said puppet having a body portion and
a head portion; (B) a pouch disposed in the body portion of the
puppet such that it is contigupus to the palm of the person's hand
when inserted into the puppet; and (C) a removable element receivable
within said pouch that is capable of providing a cold or heat therapy
to a body portion of a child, whereby when the element is removed
the puppet remains usable as a hand puppet and retains the appearance
of a usable child's toy.
2. The hand puppet as defined in claim 1 further comprising a temperature
transferring material configured in the pouch generally disposed
where the palm of the hand is located when a user is wearing the
hand puppet.
3. The hand puppet as defined in claim 1 wherein the head portion
is an animal shape.
4. The hand puppet as defined in claim 1 wherein the head portion
is a character shape.
5. The hand puppet as defined in claim 1 wherein said removable
element is an ice pack.
6. The hand puppet as defined in claim 1 wherein said removable
element is comprised of one of the following: (A) cold gel pack;
(B) ice pack; and (C) a block of BLUE ICE.RTM..
7. The hand puppet as defined in claim 1 wherein said removable
element is a microwavable packet, which becomes a heating pad upon
microwaving.
8. The hand puppet as defined in claim 1 wherein said removable
element is an air-activated device, which becomes warm upon exposure
when associated packaging is opened.
Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the application of heat
or cold treatments, suitable for use with children.
[0003] 2. Background Information and Description of Prior Art
[0004] Various types of ice packs, thermal-cold compresses or pads
of cloth containing ice packs or heating elements have been known.
These devices can range in size and shape and can include cloths
for wrapping around body parts, and which are held in place by adhesive
tape, tying or other fasteners. Alternatively, an injured person
can simply hold the ice pack or heating pad on the affected area.
Such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,320,095 and 6,582,383.
[0005] However, a different challenge is faced when dealing with
children. Children may not be able to maintain an ice pack or heating
element in the proper location and may also be reluctant to allow
a caregiver to hold the ice pack or heating element in place. More
importantly, an injured child who may be experiencing pain and general
upset about the injury, can be fearful of the extent of the injury
and possible pain-inducing treatments, and thus can be difficult
to settle down or to convince that he or she should use the device.
[0006] Children often become attached to a favorite toy or object
and are likely to feel comfortable if a familiar toy or object is
nearby in the case of an injury or other stressful occurrence.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,086 describes a therapeutic pillow and
method, which has a bag-like cover filled with natural, granular
material. The filler material has a water content in the range of
5-25% by weight. The therapeutic pillow can be constructed of different
shapes, such as the shape of a toy or used by children. The filling
comprises naturally occurring grains or granular material, however,
it is fixedly placed within the inner bag-like cover, and cannot
be removed and is more similar to a beanbag type of a toy.
[0008] There remains a need, therefore, for a device for implementing
heating or cooling treatment for bodily pain or injury that is amenable
to use by a child, but which otherwise is available for the child
to play with under normal circumstances.
[0009] It is an object of the invention therefore to provide a
toy-like device that can be used for either hot or cold treatment
of a child's injury, but from which the hot or cold treatment device
can be removed. Thereafter the child can play with the toy and familiarize
themselves with the toy under less stressful, normal circumstances
when pain or injury is not an issue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the device
of the present invention which is a first aid hand puppet to be
used to sooth a child's bumps and bruises. The hand puppet can be
in different animal or character shapes such as a bunny, dog or
cat, or in the shape of a popular, recognizable "character"
or configured as a doll. In the stomach area of the puppet, a pouch
or pocket, is provided (the "belly pouch") that is sealed
by an appropriate fastener such as VELCRO.RTM.. A cold pack or a
heating element can be inserted into the belly pouch of the puppet.
The puppet can then be worn on the hand of an adult with the heat
or cold pack sitting in the palm of the hand of the adult for better
control and ease of use. The puppet then, on the hand of the adult,
can be placed snugly over the injured area of the child, or on the
forehead of a feverish child, by the adult gently grasping or cuddling
the child's injured skin area. When the injury has been treated,
the cold pack or heating pack can be removed from the puppet and
the puppet can be once again used as a toy for the child. In this
manner, the child becomes familiar with the toy and may be less
fearful of using the heating or cold pack that is hidden within
the puppet during stressful times, such as during injury or illness.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention will be more fully understood and further
advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following
detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention
and the accompanying drawings of which:
[0012] FIG. 1A is a schematic front plan view of the puppet of
the present invention placed over a human hand with the heating
or cooling element within the palm of the hand;
[0013] FIG. 1B is a side view of the device of FIG. 1A;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cutaway illustration of the puppet of the present
invention illustrating the pouch from which the heating or cooling
element is removable; and
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front view of the puppet of the present invention
having the pouch sealed and containing the heating or cooling element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
[0016] FIG. 1A is a schematic front plan, isometric illustration
of the hand puppet of the present invention. The hand puppet 10
will have an animal, doll, or character shape that is recognizable
and friendly to a young child. The illustrative embodiment is of
a bunny shape, however, the invention is equally applicable to the
other types of shapes such as animals, dolls and popular characters,
as noted, without limitation to the scope of the view.
[0017] When a child is injured or ill, a parent, caregiver or other
adult can insert his/her hand 12 into the puppet 10. The puppet
10, as will be described hereinafter, will contain a heating element
or an ice pack 14, that is located within a belly pouch 15 in a
stomach area of the animal or character comprising the puppet 10
in a location that will allow it to be cradled in the palm 16, of
the person's hand 12. This allows for better control and ease of
use of the device for attending to an injured or sick child. For
example, if the child's arm is injured, a person using the puppet
could gently wrap their fingers around the child's arm and hold
the ice pack on the injured location. The hand puppet 10 is also
illustrated in the side view of FIG. 1B in which like components
have the same reference characters as in FIG. 1A. The hand puppet
can be also placed over a child's forehead as a cold compress in
periods of illness.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 2, a portion of the puppet is illustrated
as puppet portion 20. The puppet portion 20 has a belly pouch 24
into which an item 26 is received. The item 26 is preferably a cold
gel pack, a block of Blue Ice.RTM., or another previously frozen
ice pack device, each of which are readily available commercially.
The cold pack can be removed from the freezer and placed within
the pouch 24. Alternatively, heating pads or packs, which can be
microwaved, are also available commercially. In addition, the heating
pad may be the type of air-activated device in which once the packaging
is open, the exposure to air causes the device to begin heating.
A heating device 26 can be placed within the pouch 24 of the puppet
20 and then the puppet can be held in the adult's hand and the child's
injured skin area can be hugged and warmed thereby.
[0019] In order to secure the pouch 24 in a closed position, a
suitable fastener is employed to retain the item 26 within the pouch
24. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the fastener is comprised of VELCRO.RTM.. As illustrated in FIG.
3, the puppet 30 includes the pouch 34 that houses the heating or
cooling element 36 and is fastened by a VELCRO.RTM. strip 38, which
on one end will have a loop-type configuration and at the other
a mesh that securely engages the loops. Other types of fasteners,
such as snaps and the like may be used while remaining within the
scope of the present invention. The entire assembly can then be
used to provide treatment to traumatic injuries to particular body
areas and to provide comfort or cooling in other non-injury situations.
[0020] In normal circumstances, when injury, pain or illness is
not being treated, the pouch can be removed from the puppet 30 and
the puppet 30 can then be used as a normal hand puppet or toy by
the child in the ordinary course of daily activities. In this way,
the puppet 30 can become a well-known toy for the child, and the
familiarity of the puppet will enhance the likelihood that the child
will allow an adult to treat the injury or painful site and will
feel comforted thereby when the need arises and the hot or cold
pack is inserted into the belly pouch.
[0021] It should be understood that the hand puppet may be made
of any number of appropriate materials such as that of plush toys
or soft cotton or other flexible materials that allow the transfer
of the hot or cold through the material. Alternatively, a portion
of the material that allows the transfer of the hot or cold could
be inserted within the pouch area 14 such that the temperature delivery
will occur and the remainder of the puppet 30 could be comprised
of a plush or other soft material.
[0022] The foregoing description has been directed to specific
embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, that
other variations and modifications may be made to the described
embodiments with the attainment of some or all of the advantages
of such. Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to cover
all such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit
and scope of the invention. |