Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to therapeutic blankets. More specifically, the invention relates to a therapeutic blanket with channels filled with substantially spherical objects.

Background of the invention

It is known that persons who suffer from angst, unrest, or sensory disorders have difficulty in finding rest, sleeping, or relaxing. A reason for this may be that they have difficulty in feeling the boundaries of their own bodies, and they can need a physical object to focus on, preferably something that presses against the body and that they can bend and wrap around themselves. Especially for hyperactive, restless children or children with an ADHD problem or Asperger's syndrome, a physical object makes a great difference when calm, sleep, or insufficient relaxation is involved, but also children and adults with a general complaint of sleep problems, unrest, and angst can benefit from a simple and practical solution to relieve the complaint.

By pressure applied to the body, the user receives a feeling of safety, and it is believed that a number of bodily substances are released that have a calming effect, including oxytocin. If it is possible to follow the form of the body and to vary the pressure between certain points, this contributes to tactile stimulation and can increase the positive result for the user. It is already known to use filled blankets for this purpose. Some variants show a blanket that contains plastic pellets or balls. These materials all have the common feature that they are based on essentially point-like objects. In order to keep the fillings from moving to the lowest point of the blanket during use, patches, preferably with a square shape, are often used. However, such a patch filling result in a relatively thick blanket having good insulating properties. E.g. in summertime, this is not always convenient. Furthermore, the thickness of the blanket makes it difficult to fold up or handle, and cleaning and washing can be made difficult or completely impossible.

EP 0,729,340 discloses a blanket for therapeutic use having essentially square patches filled with therapy balls. The balls used have a diameter of about 50 mm, and they exert a more point-shaped pressure against the body, which is believed to increase the release of favourable bodily substances and thereby have a positive effect on the user.

There is a need for a weight blanket that can be adjusted in a better way according to the user's body and thereby gives a better and more stimulating pressure on the user.

Summary of the invention

Hence, one object of the present invention is to provide a blanket for therapeutic treatment that has better temperature regulation and handling ability. A specific object of the present invention is to provide a blanket for therapeutic treatment that is easy to fold and wash. One aspect of the present invention relates to a blanket for therapeutic treatment, the blanket (1) having a first face (21) and a second (22) face forming a supportive surface (2), wherein a plurality of channels (3) are formed between the first face (21) and the second (22) face by one or more joints (4), wherein at least one of the channels (3) are filled with substantially spherical objects (5) which adapt to the body of the user, and wherein the substantially spherical objects (5) exert a sporadic pressure on the body of the user through the supportive surface (1), characterized in that the width of the individual channels (3) is of a size that does not allow one substantially spherical object (5A) to pass another substantially spherical object (5B) within said channels.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a therapy blanket.

Detailed description of the invention

One object of the present invention is to provide a blanket for therapeutic treatment that has better temperature regulation and handling ability.

The above object is solved by creating a blanket for therapeutic treatment with channels filled with substantially spherical objects. The reason for using

substantially spherical objects is that the pressure upon the user's body should be sporadic to avoid obstruction of the blood circulation. Hence, the objects must be able to move easily in order not to apply pressure on the same point of the body. At the same time, the channels are constructed in such a way that the substantially spherical objects cannot lay on top of each other, nor can they clump together in only one region of the channel. In this way, it is easier to regulate the applied pressure on a specific region of the body. Furthermore, the blanket will not be as thick as it would be without this regulation. The reduced thickness results in a blanket that has a better temperature regulation.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a blanket for therapeutic treatment, the blanket (1) having a first face (21) and a second (22) face forming a supportive surface (2), wherein a plurality of channels (3) are formed between the first face (21) and the second (22) face by one or more joints (4), wherein at least one of the channels (3) are filled with substantially spherical objects (5) which adapt to the body of the user, and wherein the substantially spherical objects (5) exert a sporadic pressure on the body of the user through the supportive surface (1), characterized in that the width of the individual channels (3) is of a size that does not allow one substantially spherical object (5A) to pass another substantially spherical object (5B) within said channels.

Another advantage of using substantially spherical objects is that they, due to the weight of the user, displace and form according to the shape of the body of the user, whereby a comfortable position can be obtained. The substantially spherical objects can be hollow and have a shell of polymer, glass, metal or the like, and have different kinds of filling such as fluids or solid materials. In one embodiment, the substantially spherical objects are perfectly spherical, e.g. ball shaped.

The substantially spherical objects may be thermally isolating if the filling is warmed up by heat from the body of the user. The substantially spherical objects can also be solid and made from polymer, glass, metal or the like.

In another embodiment, the substantially spherical objects have a diameter in the range of 10 mm to 100 mm. The diameter of the substantially spherical objects can advantageously be varied in order to accommodate the different size of users, e.g. a child or an adult. The diameter of the substantially spherical objects can also be varied in order to exert a more or less sporadic pressure on the body of the user. To obtain the calming effect it is essential that the pressure exerted on the body of the user is sporadic.

To improve the production of the blanket, the substantially spherical objects can be connected linearly by e.g. a polymer string, which makes it easier to fill the channels. Thus, in one embodiment, the substantially spherical objects (5) are connected linearly to form a string of substantially spherical objects (6).

To be able to wash the blanket, all components of the blanket should be suitable for washing in a washing machine. Hence, in one embodiment, the substantially spherical objects (5) are suitable for washing in a washing machine.

In another embodiment, the individual channels (3) run in the lengthwise and/or widthwise direction of the blanket. In order to secure an evenly distribution of the substantially spherical objects along the individual channel, the blanket further comprises one or more structural barriers within the channels (3).

In another embodiment, the one or more structural barriers is/are a joint (7) between the first face (21) and the second (22) face of the supportive surface.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a blanket for therapeutic treatment that is easy to fold and wash. This can be solved when the joint is a stitching, since such a barrier is of limited size. Hence, the combination of the channels with the stitching barrier prevent the substantially spherical objects from clumping together and obstructing the operation when a user want to roll-up or pack up the blanket, e.g. for transportation. In one embodiment, one or more of the joints (7) is a stitching.

In another embodiment, one or more of the joints (7) is a zipper (9), thereby being able to divide the blanket into subunits (8) for easier handling. Washing is also made easier, since the subunits will more easily fit into the washing machine.

In yet another embodiment, the zipper (9) is positioned in the width wise direction of the blanket, thereby limiting its contact with the body of the user.

In still another embodiment, the channels (3) are evenly distributed over the whole surface of the blanket.

In one embodiment, the first and/or second face comprises one or more layers of fabric. In still another embodiment, the first face (21) and/or the second (22) face comprise at least one layer of insulating material.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.

The invention will now be described in further details in the following non-limiting examples. Examples

In Fig. 1, a preferred embodiment of a therapy blanket (1) according to the invention is shown. The blanket (1) has the same dimensions as an ordinary blanket, thus a length of about 200 cm and a width of about 140 cm. The blanket (1) includes the two faces (21) and (22) as two layers of fabric, between which channels (3) with a width of about 75 mm are made by sewing a number of joints (4) (stitching's/- seams). If necessary, these stitching's are doubled or tripled, in order to give firmness and smoothness to said channels (3). The channels (3) are each filled with a number of hollow balls (5) made of a polymeric material, and have a diameter of 50 mm. This diameter makes sure that the hollow balls (5A and 5B) cannot lie on top of each other, nor can clump together in only one region of the channel. In this way, it is easier to regulate the applied pressure on a specific region of the body. Furthermore, the blanket will not be as thick as it would be without this regulation. The reduced thickness results in a blanket that has a better temperature regulation.

To improve the production of the blanket, the hollow balls can be connected linearly (6) by e.g. a polymer string, which makes it easier to fill the channels.

In order to secure an evenly distribution of the substantially spherical objects along the individual channel, the blanket further comprises three structural barriers within each channel (3). Here, two of the structural barriers are made by sewing a stitching (7). If necessary, these stitching's are doubled or tripled, in order to give firmness and smoothness to said channels (3). Such a barrier is of limited size, and the combination of the channels with the stitching barrier prevent the substantially spherical objects from clumping together and obstructing the operation when a user want to roll-up or pack up the blanket, e.g. for transportation. The third structural barrier is made by inserting a joint in a form of a zipper (9), which allows the blanket to be divided into two subunits (8) for easier handling. Washing is thereby made easier, since the subunits will more easily fit into the washing machine.

The zipper (9) is positioned in the width wise direction of the blanket, thereby limiting its contact with the body of the user.