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 replaceable weight bags for individualized therapeutic treatment.

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 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.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a blanket for therapeutic treatment that is easy to fold and wash. A specific object of the present invention is to provide a blanket for therapeutic treatment that has better temperature regulation and handling ability.

One aspect of the invention relates to a blanket for therapeutic treatment, the blanket (1) having a first face (21) and a second (22) face forming a first 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 a plurality of said channels are each filled with a weight bag (5), and wherein the weight bags (5) exert a pressure on the body of the user through the first supportive surface (1), characterized in that a first closure (61) and a second closure (62), both with opening and closing means, are positioned at the interface of the first (21) and second face (22), but on opposing sides of the blanket, perpendicular to the length of the channels (3), and wherein the plurality of channels (3) run in the lengthwise or width wise direction of the blanket (1).

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a therapy blanket,

Figure 2 shows a weight bag of the therapy blanket with channels filled with hollow balls, and

Figure 3 shows a weight bag of the therapy blanket with channels filled with hollow balls and with a zipper to divide the weight bag into subunits for easier handling.

Detailed description of the invention

One object of the present invention is to provide a blanket for therapeutic treatment 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. A potential problem with the standardized blankets on the market today, is that the need for localized pressure on the individual user's body may be very different from user to user.

The above object is solved by creating a blanket for therapeutic treatment with replaceable/interchangeable weight bags for individualized therapeutic treatment. By using weight bags of different weights, the user has an opportunity to vary the total weight of the blanket at all times. Furthermore, by using weight bags of different weights in different locations of the blanket, the user may even vary the weight of different areas of the blanket for individualized therapy - again at all times. This is also of value if users of different weight, needs and/or age are using the same blanket.

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 first 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 a plurality of said channels are each filled with a weight bag (5), and wherein the weight bags (5) exert a pressure on the body of the user through the first supportive surface (1), characterized in that a first closure (61) and a second closure (62), both with opening and closing means, are positioned at the interface of the first (21) and second face (22), but on opposing sides of the blanket, perpendicular to the length of the channels (3), and wherein the plurality of channels (3) run in the lengthwise or width wise direction of the blanket (1). Another aspect of the invention relates to a blanket for therapeutic treatment, the blanket (1) having a first face (21) and a second (22) face forming a first 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 a plurality of said channels are each filled with a weight bag (5), and wherein the weight bags (5) exert a pressure on the body of the user through the first supportive surface (1), characterized in that the weight of a first weight bag (51) in a first channel (31) is different from the weight of a second weight bag (52) in a second channel (32). Another object of the present invention is to provide a blanket for therapeutic treatment that is easy to fold and wash.

The above object is solved by creating a blanket for therapeutic treatment with a recloseable opening with a fastener, such as a zipper or a hoop and loop fastener, for gaining access to the inside of the blanket. The advantage of a recloseable opening/closure (it is closed during use of the blanket, but opened when the weight bag is removed or inserted) is that access to the inside of the blanket makes it possible to remove or replace the weight bag. To make it even easier to remove or insert a weight bag into the blanket, two closures may preferably be part of the blanket. The closures should be on opposing sides of the blanket and perpendicular to the length of the channels (3).

In one embodiment, a first closure (61) and a second closure (62), both with opening and closing means, are positioned at the interface of the first (21) and second face (22), but on opposing sides of the blanket, perpendicular to the length of the channels (3), and wherein the plurality of channels (3) run in the lengthwise or width wise direction of the blanket (1).

In another embodiment, the weight bag (5) comprises fixating means (6) for attachment to the channel walls.

In order to secure the desired distribution of the object for increasing the weight of the blanket within the weight bag, the bag further comprises channels. In this way, it is easier to regulate the applied pressure on a specific region of the body. In one embodiment, the weight bag (5) has a first face (71) and a second (72) face forming a second supportive surface (7), wherein a plurality of channels (8) are formed between the first face (71) and the second (72) face by one or more joints (9), wherein a plurality of said channels are filled with an object for increasing the weight of the blanket.

To improve the production of the blanket, the object for increasing the weight of the blanket can be connected linearly, and can then be placed in a selected direction in the blanket in a simple manner.

In one embodiment, the object for increasing the weight of the blanket is a linked object.

In another embodiment, the linked object is in the form of a chain.

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, where the weight bags have a plurality of 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. In one embodiment of the present invention, the object for increasing the weight of the blanket is a substantially spherical object (10), which adapt to the body of the user, and exert a sporadic pressure on the body of the user through the first (2) and second (7) supportive surfaces.

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. In another embodiment, the width of an individual channel (81) in the weight bag is of a size that does not allow one substantially spherical object (10A) to pass another substantially spherical object (10B) within said individual channel. 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.

In yet another embodiment, the substantially spherical objects (10) are connected linearly to form a string of substantially spherical objects (11).

To further individualize the choice of weight bag to be utilized by the user, a number of weight bags are produced which have a different distribution of weight across the weight bag. As an example, some may be relatively heavier in the centre of the weight bag, and others may be relatively heavier in the sides, bottom and/or top of the weight bags.

Hence, in one embodiment of the invention, the total weight of the objects for increasing the weight of the blanket in a first channel in a first weight bag is different from the total weight of the objects for increasing the weight of the blanket in a second channel of the first weight bag.

In order to secure an evenly distribution of the substantially spherical objects along the individual channel, the weight bag further comprises one or more structural barriers within the plurality of channels (8).

In another embodiment, the one or more structural barriers is a joint (12) between the first face (71) and the second (72) face of the second supportive surface (7). 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 in the weight bag 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 another embodiment, one or more of the joints (12) is a stitching. In yet another embodiment, one or more of the joints (12) is a zipper, thereby being able to divide the weight bag into subunits (13) for easier handling.

One aspect relates to the use of a weight bag according to the invention for adjusting the weight of a blanket for therapeutic treatment.

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

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

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 50 cm 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 weight bag (5).

As an example, a user has chosen the weight of a first weight bag (51) in a first channel (31) to be relatively heavier than the weight of a second weight bag (52) in a second channel (32), since the user wants the foot end of the blanket to be especially heavy. Another user may like the head end to be the relatively heaviest part of the blanket. By using weight bags of different weights, the user has an opportunity to vary the total weight of the blanket at all times. Furthermore, by using weight bags of different weights in different locations of the blanket, the user may even vary the weight of different areas of the blanket for individualized therapy - again at all times. This is also of value if users of different weight, needs and/or age are using the same blanket.

Figure 1 also discloses a first closure (61) and a second closure (62), both with opening and closing means, and positioned at the interface of the first (21) and second face (22), but on opposing sides of the blanket, perpendicular to the length of the channels (3).

The closures (61 and 62) are with a fastener, such as a zipper or a hoop and loop fastener, for gaining access to the inside of the blanket. The advantage of the closures (61 and 62) is that access to the inside of the blanket from both sides makes it possible to remove or replace the weight bag by using both hands. In Fig. 2, a preferred embodiment of a weight bag (5) for a therapy blanket (1) according to the invention is shown. The weight bag (5) the dimensions to fit into a channel (3). The weight bag (5) has a first face (71) and a second (72) face forming a second supportive surface (7), wherein a plurality of channels (8) are formed between the first face (71) and the second (72) face by one or more joints (9). In the weight bag of Figure 2, all the channels (8) are filled with a number of hollow balls made of a polymeric material. The majority of the hollow balls have a diameter of 50 mm (e.g. the ones in channel 82), but the ones in the channel 81 have a diameter of 70 mm. In general, the diameter of the channels (8) makes sure that the hollow balls (e.g. 10A and 10B) 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 weight bag, the hollow balls can be connected linearly (11) by e.g. a polymer string, which makes it easier to fill the channels. To improve the distribution of the hollow balls along the individual channel (8), the blanket may comprise structural barriers within each channel (8). Here, one structural barrier is made by sewing a stitching (seen running in the width wise direction in the middle of the weight bag). If necessary, these stitching's are doubled or tripled. Such a barrier is of limited size, and the combination of the channels with the stitching barrier prevent the hollow balls from clumping together and obstructing the operation when a user want to roll-up or pack up the weight bag, e.g. for transportation. In Figure 3, the weight bag (5) comprises fixating means (6) for attachment to the walls of the channels (3). Furthermore, the weight bag of Figure 3 shows a joint (12) in the form of a zipper, thereby being able to divide the weight bag into subunits (13) for easier handling. Washing is also made easier, since the subunits will more easily fit into the washing machine.