WO2006042294A2

WO2006042294A2 - Self-contained wax therapy and treatment apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2006042294A2
Application number: PCT/US2005/036748
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Young; Arthur Lee Evans
Original assignee: Daniel Young; Arthur Lee Evans
Priority date: 2004-10-12
Filing date: 2005-10-12
Publication date: 2006-04-20
Also published as: WO2006042294A3

Abstract

A glove is formed with a cavity to receive a hand, and formed with a compartment in communication with said cavity. Wax, such as paraffin wax, is positioned in said compartment. A heat source is placed near the compartment; and when exposing the glove to the heat source, the heat source heats the wax to its melting temperature wherein said melted wax passes from the compartment into said cavity and away from said heat source.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to spa treatments, and particularly, paraffin wax treatments for hands, feet, arms, etc. The present invention includes an apparatus for providing heated wax for use in a wax therapy treatment that is cost-effective, sanitary and safe to use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One problem that exists for clients who have professional paraffin wax dip treatments at spas, salons and like establishments is that the melted wax is communal for all persons having the treatment performed over one day or several days. The nature of the treatment is that 2 or more pounds of wax are melted in a large container using electric power and maintained at the proper temperature over the course of the day. It is cost prohibitive to throw away this quantity of wax between treatments, and it would take too much time to re-melt additional wax. So, in the normal usage, people are instructed to dip hands, feet or other body parts into the melted wax solution one after another. A very important point is that a person's skin exfoliates, thereby creating the possibility of cross contamination of infectious agents such as bacteria and fungus for the person next in line to have the treatment. This is not a sanitary procedure.

Another problem that exists for wax treatment professionals is the possibility of causing burns to the patient due to overheated wax. Typical paraffin wax is used for wax treatments, and may be mixed with various oils, scent additives, or other enhancements. This type of wax typically melts at approximately 120 to 130 degrees F. and is safe for use at these temperatures. However, there is a constant concern that the temperature of the wax may exceed 140 degrees, thereby creating a burn hazard for patients inserting their hands into the wax. This problem exists for the professional spa treatments, as well as the at-home

treatments. As a result, the heating devices for wax treatments are very expensive, very slow to heat and typically quite bulky.

For those at-home applications where a person may purchase a wax-heating device for personal use, the problem exists that it takes from 1.5 to 3 hours to thoroughly melt enough wax to completely submerge a hand or foot. Most people who have purchased such a device do not use it regularly because of this time lag and the inconvenience of this necessary scheduling requirement. It also is required that the heating unit is near an electrical outlet for its power source.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a clam-shell styled chassis having a base from which two wings articulate outward to provide access to the interior of the chassis. Inside the chassis is a center support extending upward from the base. A pair of spa treatment sleeves, such as gloves or booties, is attached to the center support with the sleeves arranged on either side of the heater to utilize both the front and rear sides of the heater. The sleeves are formed to contain a supply of paraffin wax located near the top of the sleeve, and thus the top of the center support. The wax, formed in blocks or any other configuration such as pellets, etc., has just enough mass for an individual treatment, namely 80 to 100 grams per sleeve or approximately 2 tenths of a pound versus the 2 pounds in a conventional system. Attached to the center support, adjacent the wax is a chemical heating device that is used to heat the wax within the sleeves. Also provided is a pre-measured amount of water in a packet as an activator for the chemical heater packet. The water packet may contain additives for aromatherapy or other beneficial features. The system is self-contained and requires no electrical or other energy supplies and may be enjoyed anywhere.

In a preferred embodiment, the heating device is a food-grade blended Iron and Magnesium Alloy heater packet, as are commonly used in heating for portable meals, such as MRE units. Water is added to the heating unit, which in turn reacts with the compound to create heat and water vapor that melts the wax in a short period of time, namely, 8 to 10 minutes as opposed to 1.5 to 3 hours for the conventional system. In a preferred embodiment, aromatherapy additives are included in the water so that while the wax is melting, hot water vapor and aromatherapy scents are released. This is intended as an added feature for the user, who can enjoy the beneficial properties of aromatherapy and humidifying water vapor.

As the wax reaches its melting point, gravity causes the melted wax to run down and away from the heater, thereby making it impossible to overheat the wax within the sleeves. The wax is no longer in contact with the heater. This is an important safety feature of the present invention as any conventional type of heating unit may produce wax that is heated to an unsafe level, particularly if the wax is left against the heater too long. Because the wax runs downward and away from the heater once melted, it never is against the heater long enough to become heated to an unsafe temperature. This is a significant advantage over other unsuccessful methods of heating wax for spa treatments. Moreover, this configuration provides for a near foolproof method of heating the wax providing for a perfect in-spa or at-home spa treatment.

The heaters of choice for the preferred embodiments are blended Iron and Magnesium Alloy heaters which, with the addition of water, can heat to over 125 degrees. However, the present invention provides for a spa treatment that allows for the differences which occur naturally within the commercially available meal heating packs.

In use, the clamshell chassis is sold having the heater in place on the center support, and the wax contained within the sleeve adjacent the heater. Water is then added to the portion of the chassis containing the heater pack and the heater packet begins to heat, resulting in the heated wax running away from the heater. Ultimately, as the wax becomes melted, the melted wax pools in the portion of the sleeve that is near the base of the chassis. This wax may reside there for some time because the clamshell chassis retains heat within itself, thereby maintaining the wax in a melted state without overheating it. After a period of time, the wax has completely melted, and the chassis may be opened and a glove, bootie or similar device may be removed from the center support. Once removed, the user may insert their hand or foot into the sleeve through a convenient spill-proof seam at the entrance of the sleeve thereby immersing the hand or foot into the melted wax.

If only one sleeve is to be used at a time, the clamshell chassis may be closed to maintain the second glove, bootie, etc. in a heated environment. Once the treatment of the first sleeve is complete with the wax having solidified around the user's appendage, the sleeve may be removed.

In the preferred embodiment, the inverted funnel-like cuff arrangement is designed to first keep liquefied wax from running back out through the open cuff, and second, strip solidified wax from the user's hand. This works in conjunction with the interior diamond embossed pattern in the plastic film of the sleeve in which wax is trapped as it solidifies, leaving most of the wax inside the sleeve. The sleeve is designed for sanitary one-time use and is disposable. Following the treatment of the first hand, the wax within the second sleeve is still in liquid form. The second sleeve may then be removed from the chassis for the treatment of the next hand, foot or elbow, etc. Alternatively, both sleeves may be used simultaneously. In the preferred embodiment, the clamshell chassis may contain one pair of sleeves, one heater packet and one water packet for one complete treatment, or it may be designed for multiple usage with refills provided for multiple treatments.

In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve has unique features comprising: • A segregated lower chamber for the collection of melted wax and the displacement of said wax by the hand or foot, etc. during treatment.

• An upper chamber composed of at least 3 layers of film with the wax block or pellets disposed in this chamber ready for heating.

• Pre-punched holes penetrating between said wax chamber into the lower chamber for wax to migrate away from the heater into the reservoir

• A cuff incorporating an inverted funnel with a perforated seal line at the bottom of the funnel, in which the user pushes their appendage through the perf. In this manner, the bursting of this seam creates a tight seal around the arm or leg, said seal being self-adjusting as to diameter and shape of the appendage.

• The cuff, with its inverted funnel, keeps liquefied wax from running back out of the assembly during handling prior to use before the perforated line is broken. After insertion of the limb into the sleeve, the one-way valve aspect of the inverted funnel safely contains the liquefied wax if the user raises her or his arm or leg above the horizontal.

• Also included on the outside of the cuff is a J-fold or flap of film which acts as a hanging feature or pocket which integrates with the upright center section of the chassis, registering the wax chamber with the heater packet area and maximizing contact between the two features.

• The film from which the sleeves are made is embossed with a diamond or similar pattern and these embossed surfaces are formed inwardly to create pockets of texture to which the solidifying wax can bond. This keeps the majority of the solidified wax from escaping the sleeve upon extraction of the appendage. The balance is scraped off the skin by the perforated cuff and the inverted funnel feature, therefore leaving very little wax clinging to the skin upon completion of the treatment.

Claims

1. We claim: a glove formed with a cavity to receive a hand, and formed with a compartment in communication with said cavity; wax having a melting temperature and positioned in said compartment; a heat source adjacent said compartment; and wherein exposing said glove to said heat source heats said wax to its melting temperature wherein said melted wax passes from said compartment into said cavity and away from said heat source.