US3861364A — Body circulation and vapor heat treatment device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 150 words

A body fluid circulation and vapor heat treating device comprising a horizontally elongated housing having a generally vertical peripheral wall provided with an open lower end for positioning above a portion of the body surface of a person receiving a heat treatment when oriented on a horizontal support surface, vapor heat producing means within said housing, and a flexible absorbent skirt mounted on said housing in depending relation thereto, said flexible skirt having a substantially vertically disposed peripheral wall defining a free hanging continuation of the peripheral wall of the housing and a flexible bottom panel forming a closure for the lower end of the skirt and bottom capable of flexing around the side surfaces of the body of a person receiving a heat treatment while the lower end of the housing is still substantially spaced from the body surface, said skirt and bottom panel being constructed of absorbent fabric.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 150 words

A body fluid circulation and vapor heat treating device comprising a horizontally elongated housing having a generally vertical peripheral wall provided with an open lower end for positioning above a portion of the body surface of a person receiving a heat treatment when oriented on a horizontal support surface, vapor heat producing means within said housing, and a flexible absorbent skirt mounted on said housing in depending relation thereto, said flexible skirt having a substantially vertically disposed peripheral wall defining a free hanging continuation of the peripheral wall of the housing and a flexible bottom panel forming a closure for the lower end of the skirt and bottom capable of flexing around the side surfaces of the body of a person receiving a heat treatment while the lower end of the housing is still substantially spaced from the body surface, said skirt and bottom panel being constructed of absorbent fabric.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said vapor heat producing means includes a plurality of elongated heating elements, a plurality of water spray nozzles for discharging fine mist into the interior of the housing whereby the heating elements will produce vapor heat on said flexible skirt and panel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 81 words

The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible skirt has a substantial vertical dimension to enable the housing to be adjusted in relation to the surface of the body while maintaining contact of substantially the entire bottom panel on the flexible skirt with the body surface thereby enabling adjustment of the spatial relation between the surface of the body and the vapor heat producing means while maintaining contact between the surface of the body and the flexible bottom panel.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

The structure as defined in claim 3 together with drain means for draining the water discharge nozzles to prevent drippage of hot water onto the flexible bottom panel when the supply of water to the nozzles has been stopped.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 90 words

The structure as defined in claim 4 together with a supporting table for supporting a person receiving a treatment, support means extending vertically from a side edge of the table vertically adjustably supporting said housing, horizontal support means at the upper end of the vertically extending support means for horizontally adjustably supporting the housing in spaced overlying relation to the table, and control means adjacent the head end of the table accessible to a person reclining on the table to enable the person receiving a treatment to control the device.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 140 words

The method of vapor heat treating a surface area of a person''s body consisting of the steps of exposing the surface area to be treated, positioning the surface in generally horizontal position, lowering a flexible absorbent panel into gravitational contact with the body surface area while loosely supported so that the panel will conform with and contact the entire surface area, applying vapor heat to the upper surface of the panel and transferring vapor heat through the panel from the upper surface to the lower surface throughout the area thereof thereby applying vapor heat to the surface area Of the body being treated to a substantially equal degree, applying ointment to the surface area being treated, and supporting the periphery of the flexible panel in untaut condition from the lower open end of a housing for vapor heat producing means.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 140 words

The method of vapor heat treating a surface area of a person''s body consisting of the steps of exposing the surface area to be treated, positioning the surface in generally horizontal position, lowering a flexible absorbent panel into gravitational contact with the body surface area while loosely supported so that the panel will conform with and contact the entire surface area, applying vapor heat to the upper surface of the panel and transferring vapor heat through the panel from the upper surface to the lower surface throughout the area thereof thereby applying vapor heat to the surface area Of the body being treated to a substantially equal degree, applying ointment to the surface area being treated, and supporting the periphery of the flexible panel in untaut condition from the lower open end of a housing for vapor heat producing means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-01-20	1978-07-22	1979-01-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-01-20	1982-07-22	1983-01-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-01-20	1986-07-22	1987-01-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Body circulation and vapor heat treatment device

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