Molded Ice Applicator for Biological Surfaces

Abstract

A cryotherapy device that enables the applicator to massage a biological surface with targeted precision using a sphere of ice attached to a handle and an insulating mold. The device allows for the filling and freezing of water forming a spherical ice form, as well as protection for the applicator's hands and fingers from exposure to the ice. It is comprised of three components: a handle for gripping the device, which is anchored into the spherical ice form, and two sub adjacent hemispherical molds, which seal together in order to contain water that is frozen into a spherical ice form. One hemispherical flexible mold is sub adjacent to the handle, and also serves to provide insulation for the applicator's fingers. The other hemispherical mold possesses rigid protrusions that enable the device to stand vertically on a flat surface. After the water is frozen within the device, this third component is detached from the other two components in order to expose the spherical ice form for application of cryotherapy massage to a biological surface.

Claims

1. An Ice applicator consisting of three parts, a rigid handle for device manipulation and application, a flexible top mold that mates with the handle and seals to the bottom mold to act as a cavity for liquid encapsulation.

2. The ice applicator device claim 1 to consist of a flexible top section of mold in sealing position unfolded away from the handle acts as both a top section of the liquid encapsulation cavity, force manipulation surface for increasing biological surface pressure, and a thermal barrier for reduced thermal transfer of the top section of solidified liquid.

3. The ice applicator device claim 1 to consist of a generally hemispheric cavity when the top and bottom molds are mated together but can be designed for alternative sizes and shapes for modulation in application time and force profile.

4. The ice applicator device claim 1 to have features on the opposite side of the sealing edge of the bottom mold to act as feet or structures to mate with a flat surface to hold the fully assembled ice applicator in a position to have the liquid entrance opposite of the gravitational force.

5. A method comprising positioning the handle in the top mating section and corresponding liquid entrance of the top mold section which is sealed to the bottom mold and filling cavity with liquid.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising of liquid that has solidified by cooling after assembly of components.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising: gripping the handle above the hilt and anchor sections placing the solidified liquid contact surface to the user or users intended biological surface.

8. The method of claim 5, where the top mold section can be folded back to increase exposed solidified liquid surface area to extend the duration of ice application.

9. The method of claim 5, where the top mold section can be used by the user's hand for increased force of the solidified liquid's surface to the biological surface intended for application.

10. The method of claim 5, where the cavity made by the top and bottom mold have generally a spherical shape but can be modified by using alternatively shaped top and bottom mold sections of different sizes and shapes for alternative application times or surface pressure profile.

11. The method of claim 5, that the top and bottom mold sealing surfaces are the widest part of the cavity.

12. The method of claim 5, that the top mold and bottom mold cavity when sealed has a diameter greater than that of the length of the anchor.

13. The method of claim 5, that the length of the anchor and depth of the mold cavity can be changed to allow for the anchor to signal determined application times for general solidified liquid melt time when in contact with biological surfaces.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 Illustrates the side view of the components fully assembled together.

[0009] FIG. 2 Illustrates the cross section of the components fully assembled together.

[0010] FIG. 3 Illustrates example operations for using an Ice applicator to biological surfaces according to one or more implementations of the disclosed technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] FIG. 1 Illustrates the side view of the components fully assembled together. The assembly includes a 1 handle consisting of a rigid material such as high-density polypropylene or metal, 2 a top mold consisting of flexible material such as silicone and a 3 bottom mold made of either rigid or flexible material.

[0012] FIG. 2 Illustrates the cross-section view and detailed numbering of its components. The handles section 1-1 interfaces with the applicator's manipulation appendage or modified for a device to assist with adding vibration or force. The 1-2 hilt component helps the applicator provide an additional surface for applying force and acts as an interface to mate to the top mold. The component attached to the hilt opposed to the 1-3 anchor acts as a surface for the enclosed liquid to encapsulate the 1 handle. The next section 2 top mold has a feature 2-3 that acts as a liquid guide during mold filling and as a mating surface for the handle hilt 1-2. The top section of the mold 2-1 can be molded into multiple shapes for different ice applications and can be folded back towards 1-1 to reveal more of the solidified liquid for biological application. The top mold has a mating feature 2-2 that acts like a seal to the bottom mold to contain the liquid until solidified. The 3 bottom mold has a 3-1 feature that mates to the top mold and acts as a seal to contain the liquid until solidified. The bottom mold also has 3-2 features to hold the assembly in the correct orientation with the filling section 2-3 pointing away from the direction of gravity.