US3500832A - Breast developing jacket - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1970 c. J. NUNNERY 3,500,332

BREAST DEVELOPING JACKET Filed Oct. 27, 19s? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. 0404 L c/ NON/V54? 56 BY I gamma 4 March 17, 1970 c. J. NUNNERY snmswDEVELOPING JACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1967 FIG. 4.

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' INVENTOR. 648E044 WWI/M5654 United States Patent O 3,500,832 BREAST DEVELOPING JACKET Carroll J. Nunnery, 2803 Sandwood St., Lakewood, Calif. 90712 Filed Oct. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 678,699 Int. Cl. A61f 7/00 US. Cl. 128379 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A jacket for developing a womans breasts having an inner and outer ply of fabric suspended from the shoulders and covering the chest. The inner ply is distensible relative to the outer ply. Warm water is circulated between the plies and causes the inner ply to distend and conform to the contour of the wearers breasts. The circulation of warm water around the breasts enlarges the arteries and veins therein, by increasing blood circulation, and also causes the storage of fat tissue in the heated area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a therapeutic device, and more particularly, a jacket for use in developing a womans breast by hydrotherapy.

Description of prior art While devices for use in breast development by hydrotherapeutic techniques are known, e.g., as illustrated in US. Patent Nos. 889,964 and 2,911,969, none involve the use of a jacket which can be worn by the patient during treatment. The prior art devices require the patient to be upon a modified table incorporating the apparatus or to hold pads to the breasts.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention resides in a jacket for developing a womans breasts and includes an inner and outer ply of non-porous fabric adapted to be suspended from the patients shoulders, and covers the chest. The inner ply is distensible relative to the outer ply. Warm water is circulated between the plies and causes the inner ply to distend and conform to the contour of the wearers breasts, assuring complete coverage of therapeutic activity not heretofore attained by the prior art devices, and localizing developed heat at the breasts. The circulation of warm water around the breasts enlarges the arteries and veins therein, by increasing blood circulation, and also causes the storage of fat tissue in the heated area.

The water circulation system includes a mixing chamber for receiving hot and cold water from a tap. A bypass valve in the mixing chamber permits the mixed water to be drained from the system until a predetermined temperature is reached in the mixing chamber and indicated visually on a thermometer in the mixing chamber. The bypass valve is then closed and water is forced under pressure between the plies of the jacket, and leaves through a drain connected to the outer ply.

Means, such as a porous plug, is provided in the drain conduit, to permit the introduction of air. This compensates for the pumping action of the wearers chest upon inhaling, which would normally cause Water to surge through the jacket. The wearers chest would push the distensible inner ply against the circulating water, increasing its rate of discharge through the drain. The vacuum created by exhaling would create surges to fill the void. The introduction of air into the void maintains a uniform circulation rate.

3,500,832 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of the jacket comprising the subject of the instant invention, and also illustrates the manner in which it is worn and used:

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the jacket illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view through the jacket, taken substantially along the plane illustrated by line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view through a drain outlet of the jacket, taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view through a Water inlet of the jacket, taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view through a water tap used in connection with the jacket of the present invention, taken substantially along the plane indicated by line '66 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through a water mixing chamber used in connection with jacket of the present invention, taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 77 of FIGURE 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring noW to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the jacket of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10.

The jacket 10 has anouter ply 12 of a relatively thick nonporous textured fabric joined by conventional means, such as stitching, to aninner ply 14 of a thin, relatively distensible nonporous fabric, such as rubber. Theplies 12 and 14 are coextensive in length across the front of the jacket.

Outer ply 12 hasintegral shoulder straps 16 and 18, which may be formed from one or two pieces, and are permanently fastened tolateral straps 20 and 22, integrally connected to one side ofouter ply 12.Buckles 24 and 26 are provided on the opposite side ofouter ply 12 for receivingandsecuring straps 20 and 22, respectively, after the jacket 10 is positioned as shown in FIG-URES 1 and 2 on the upper torso portion of a patient P so that the outer and inner plies cover the chest portion and breasts.

Warm water is adapted to be circulated betweenplies 12 and 14 of the jacket 10. The water pressure developed between the plies will cause theinner ply 14 to distend relative toouter ply 12 and conform to the contour of the patients breasts. This assures complete exposure of the breasts to the therapeutic activity of the water.

The circulation of warm water around the breasts enlarges the arteries and veins therein, by increasing blood circulation. This in turn will cause the breasts to develop and increase in size. It is also known that the storage of fat tissues occurs in the area exposed to the heat of the circulating water.

The water circulation system used in conjunction with jacket 10 is shown in FIGURES 1, and 4 to 7.

Outer ply 12 includes a pair of water inlet openings. A nonporous fabric patch 30 overlies each opening and has attached thereto, by means of flange 32 and clamp washer 34, a pipe elbow 36.

Flexible water hoses 38 and 40 are press-fitted onto the pipe elbows 36, and are joined by a standard plumbing T-fitting or joint 42. T-fitting 42 also receives a flexible supply hose 44, press-fitted at its opposite end onto an outlet stem 46 of a hot and coldWater mixing chamber 48.

Mixing chamber 48 includes an elongated cylindrical housing 50, mounting a coupling member 76 at its inlet end. An outlet bore 54 is provided in stem 46, at substantially its midpoint. Coupling member 76 is normally in communication with a flexible hose connection 56 to the hot and cold water taps of a standard water source, such as asink 58.

Threadedly connected at 52 is a check valve housing 60. Valve housing 60 opens at one end in a bore 62 having tapering sides terminating in a spherical valve seat 64. Welded, or equivalently connected to the end of housing 60 is a screen 66, having cross bars 68. Seated on the cross bars 68 is a floatable neoprene rubber ball or valve 70.

The opposite end of valve housing 60 includes a T- shaped head 72 extending out of cylindrical housing 50. Head 72 has a bore 74 in axial alignment and in communication with tapering bore 62. Internally threaded coupling member 76 threadedly received hose connection 56 and clamps it to a rubber washer 78 seated on top of T-shaped head 72.

The interior of cylindrical housing 50 normally provides communication of hose 56 through tapered bore 62 with outlet bore 54in stem '46.

Cylindrical housing 50 also includes an integral extension 80 at its lower end. Extension 80 has a central bore 82 in communication with the interior of cylindrical housing 50 for draining water therefrom and preventing flow through outlet bore 54. Bore 82 can be closed by a rotating stopcock positioned laterally across bore 82. Stopcock 84 includes a passageway 86 which can be axially aligned with bore 82 to permit drainage from the interior of housing 50, but when passageway 86 is perpendicular to bore 82, drainage cannot occur, allowing water to fill the interior of housing 50 and flow through outlet bore 54 to jacket 10.

Housing 50 also has a lateral externally threaded stem 88, having a tapered bore 90. A rubber seal 92 frictionally carrying athermometer 94 through its midsection is inserted in bore 90, and a cap 96, having a hole 98 is passed over the thermometer and threadedly connected to stem 88. Cap 96 clamps seal 92 andthermometer 94 in place.

In use, hot and cold tap water flows from hose 56, through bore 74, tapered bore 62 into the interior of housing 50. Stopcock 84 is opened and the water is drained through passageway 86 and bore 82. The temperature of the water is visually noted onthermometer 94. Depending upon the fabric used in constructing jacket and the amount of heat needed for good therapeutic results, the temperature of the water flowing through housing 50 is adjusted by opening or closing the hot and cold water taps 100 and 102 onsink 58. When the desired temperature is read onthermometer 94, drain bore 82 is closed by rotating stopcock 84. Water will build up in housing 50 and the pressure will ultimately force it through outlet bore 54 in hose 44 and hence to jacket 10.

Should any back surge occur in the general water system while the jacket was used, the pressure of the water supply from the jacket 10 would cause the ball 70 to seal in the spherical radius 64 and prevent water from re-entering the water system until normal water service was restored, or until the water supply valves were closed, or chamber 50 and jacket 10 were emptied by opening valve 84.

Water leaves the space betweenplies 12 and 14 through a pair of outlet openings 104 inouter ply 12. A nonporous fabric patch 106 covers each outlet opening 104 and is connected toouter ply 12 by conventional means, such as stitching or cementing. A drain pipe 108, having a bore 110 in communication with the space betweenplies 12 and 14, is connected to fabric patch 106 by a flange 112 and a clamp washer 114. Washer 114 has a reduced diameter outer portion 116, on which is press-fitted, a leg of a T-shapedfitting 118. One end of the T is closed by an air pervious plug 120, which can be formed from sponge material, while the other end of the T has aflexible hose 122 press-fitted thereon.

Thehoses 122 are joined to a T-shaped fitting or joint 124, and are thus connected to aflexible drain hose 126, which may be disposed in the basin ofsink 58.

As the patient P inhales, her chest will tend to pushinner ply 14 and pump the circulating water through the drain pipes 108. Upon exhaling, a vacuum or void will be created betweenplies 12 and 14, which will tend to pull water into the jacket in surges. However, air pervious plug allows air to enter the jacket and fill the void described, and the water flow rate is substantially, uniformly maintained.

Thetaps 100 and 102 can also be modified by use of a cone-shaped impediment or valves on the end of lead screw 132 of the taps. The impediment 130 aids in a more exact control of water flow to jacket 10, because the amount of water allowed to be introduced to hose 56, in communication with tap line 134, can be varied critically by moving conical impediment or valve 130 away from its seat 136 on top of water inlet line 138. The space between the conical valve 130 and its seat 138 gradually increases, so that the water inlet flow can be varied from a minimum to a full flow condition, aslead screw 12 is moved upwardly, as shown in FIGURE 6. For the purposes of this invention a minimum flow is more ideal, since a fast flow will cause a greater fluctuation in heat level and will require constant adjustment.

While a specific embodiment of my invention has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitation be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A jacket for aiding in the development of a womans breasts comprising a fabric covering having an inner and outer ply with a water passageway therebetween, means for securing said fabric covering to the upper torso portion of the wearer of said jacket so that the inner ply covers the breast portion of the torso, means for circulating water through said passageway for stimulating blood circulation in the breast portion contacting said inner ply, said water circulating means including inlet and outlet means communicating with said jacket passageway, a source of water connected to said inlet means, a drain conduit connected to said outlet means, and means for introducing air into said drain conduit.

2. A jacket in accordance with claim 1 wherein said air introduction means includes an air previous plug in said drain conduit means.

3. A jacket in accordance with claim 1, wherein said water circulating means includes a mixing chamber having an inlet connected to a source of warm water, check valve means adjacent the inlet for preventing back flow of water through said mixing chamber, and an outlet communicating with said passageway between said plies.

4. A jacket in accordance with claim 3 wherein said mixing chamber includes valve means for bypassing its outlet, and temperature sensing means carried by said mixing chamber for determining the water temperature within said chamber.

5. A jacket for aiding in the development of a womans breasts comprising a fabric covering having an inner and outer ply with a water passageway therebetween, means for securing said fabric covering to the upper portion of the wearer of said jacket so that the inner ply covers the breast portion of the torso, means for circulating water through said passageway for stimulating blood circulation in said breast portion, said water circulating means including inlet and outlet means communicating with said passageway, a source of warm water connected to said inlet means and communicating with a mixing chamber having an inlet and outlet, check valve means adjacent 5 outlet, and temperature sensmg means carried by said mlxing chamber for determining the water temperature within said chamber.

7. A jacket in accordance with claim 5, wherein said mixing chamber outlet includes inlet and outlet means communicating with said jacket passageway, a source of Water connected to said inlet means, a drain conduit connected to said outlet means, and means for introducing 6 air into said drain conduit comprising an air-pervious plug.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128400, 402

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