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US3556105A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrical stimulator and mitten

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-05-24
•
Granted: 1971-01-19
•
Expires: 1988-05-24
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Abstract

Abstract An electrical stimulator of the type which applies a low frequency oscillating current to selected regions of the body to cause periodic contraction and release of the muscle tissue through which the current flows. In a preferred form, the stimulator includes an intermediate ply sandwiched between two outer plies and defining a hand receiving enclosure therewith. A pair of spaced contacts are mounted on one of the outer plies and a pair of conductors extend along one face of such ply and are connected, respectively, to the contacts. The conductors are connectable to a source of oscillating electrical current and are retained against such face of the ply by suitable means. Preferably, an absorbent pad covers both of the contacts and spans the space therebetween so that when the pad is soaked with a conductive fluid, a conductive path between the contacts is provided.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lillian B Shepard

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 02:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/0404; A61N1/0408; A61N1/0456; A61N1/0452; A61N1/0472; A61N1/0492; A61N1/048; A61N1/0484

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 261 words
An electrical stimulator mitten comprising: first and second outer plies; an intermediate ply sandwiched between said outer plies, each of said plies being constructed of relatively flexible material and said intermediate and second plies being constructed of nonconductive material, said second ply having outer and inner faces; said plies being joined together along at least a portion of the peripheries thereof to define an enclosure between said first and intermediate plies, a section of the peripheries of the intermediate ply and the first ply being unjoined to define an opening for providing access to said enclosure, said opening and said enclosure being sized to receive the hand of a user whereby said enclosure is of mittenlike construction; first and second spaced contacts; means for mounting said contacts on said second ply, said intermediate ply insulating said contacts from the interior of said enclosure whereby the intermediate ply does not provide a conductive path between said contacts and the hand of a user within said enclosure; first and second electrical conductors; means for connecting said first and second contacts to said first and second conductors, respectively; tunnel means for guiding said conductors away from said contacts whereby electrical energy can be supplied through said conductors to both of said contacts; an absorbent pad overlying said first and second contacts and being in electrical contact therewith, said pad extending between said contacts with the pad overlying and confronting at least a portion of the outer face of said second ply; and means for connecting said pad to at least one of said plies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 261 words
An electrical stimulator mitten comprising: first and second outer plies; an intermediate ply sandwiched between said outer plies, each of said plies being constructed of relatively flexible material and said intermediate and second plies being constructed of nonconductive material, said second ply having outer and inner faces; said plies being joined together along at least a portion of the peripheries thereof to define an enclosure between said first and intermediate plies, a section of the peripheries of the intermediate ply and the first ply being unjoined to define an opening for providing access to said enclosure, said opening and said enclosure being sized to receive the hand of a user whereby said enclosure is of mittenlike construction; first and second spaced contacts; means for mounting said contacts on said second ply, said intermediate ply insulating said contacts from the interior of said enclosure whereby the intermediate ply does not provide a conductive path between said contacts and the hand of a user within said enclosure; first and second electrical conductors; means for connecting said first and second contacts to said first and second conductors, respectively; tunnel means for guiding said conductors away from said contacts whereby electrical energy can be supplied through said conductors to both of said contacts; an absorbent pad overlying said first and second contacts and being in electrical contact therewith, said pad extending between said contacts with the pad overlying and confronting at least a portion of the outer face of said second ply; and means for connecting said pad to at least one of said plies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 66 words
An electrical stimulator mitten as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said contacts on said second ply includes a first connector element mounted on said second ply and clampingly engaging said inner and outer faces thereof, said first contact includes a second connector element, said first and second connector elements being releasably interconnectable to releasably connect said first contact to said second ply.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 66 words
An electrical stimulator mitten as defined in claim 2 wherein said pad is constructed of a sponge material, said one ply is said second ply, and said means for connecting said pad to said second ply includes soft material on one of the second ply and the pad and hooklike elements on the other of said second ply and said pAd, said plies being substantially coextensive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 50 words
An electrical stimulator mitten as defined in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means includes a first connector element mounted on said absorbent pad, said first contact defining a second connector element, said first and second connector elements being interlockable to releasably affix said absorbent pad to said second ply.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 272 words
An electrical stimulator comprising: first and second outer plies; an intermediate ply sandwiched between said outer plies, each of said plies being constructed of relatively flexible material and said intermediate and second plies being constructed of nonconductive material, said second ply having outer and inner faces; said plies being joined together along at least a portion of the peripheries thereof to define an enclosure between said first and intermediate plies, a section of the peripheries of the intermediate ply and the first ply being unjoined to define an opening for providing access to said enclosure, said opening and said enclosure being sized to receive the hand of a user whereby said enclosure is of mittenlike construction; first and second spaced contacts; means for mounting said contacts on said second ply, said intermediate ply insulating said contacts from the interior of said enclosure whereby the intermediate ply does not provide a conductive path between said contacts and the hand of a user within said enclosure; first and second electrical conductors; means for connecting said first and second contacts to said first and second conductors, respectively; tunnel means for guiding said conductors away from said contacts whereby electrical energy can be supplied through said conductors to both of said contacts; an absorbent pad overlying said first and second contacts and being in electrical contact therewith, said pad extending between said contacts with the pad overlying and confronting at least a portion of the outer face of said second ply; means for connecting said pad to at least one of said plies; and means for producing low frequency oscillating current electrically connectable to said conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 272 words
An electrical stimulator comprising: first and second outer plies; an intermediate ply sandwiched between said outer plies, each of said plies being constructed of relatively flexible material and said intermediate and second plies being constructed of nonconductive material, said second ply having outer and inner faces; said plies being joined together along at least a portion of the peripheries thereof to define an enclosure between said first and intermediate plies, a section of the peripheries of the intermediate ply and the first ply being unjoined to define an opening for providing access to said enclosure, said opening and said enclosure being sized to receive the hand of a user whereby said enclosure is of mittenlike construction; first and second spaced contacts; means for mounting said contacts on said second ply, said intermediate ply insulating said contacts from the interior of said enclosure whereby the intermediate ply does not provide a conductive path between said contacts and the hand of a user within said enclosure; first and second electrical conductors; means for connecting said first and second contacts to said first and second conductors, respectively; tunnel means for guiding said conductors away from said contacts whereby electrical energy can be supplied through said conductors to both of said contacts; an absorbent pad overlying said first and second contacts and being in electrical contact therewith, said pad extending between said contacts with the pad overlying and confronting at least a portion of the outer face of said second ply; means for connecting said pad to at least one of said plies; and means for producing low frequency oscillating current electrically connectable to said conductors.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-01-18 1974-07-20 1975-01-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-01-18 1978-07-20 1979-01-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-01-18 1982-07-20 1983-01-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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