Cover for a heating blanket
A cover includes an enclosure for a heating blanket which is formed between an upper sheet bonded to a lower sheet of the cover. An opening for the enclosure is formed by a panel of the upper sheet which is separable from the lower sheet.
1. A cover for protecting a heating blanket, the cover comprising:
a lower flexible sheet;
an upper flexible sheet bonded to the lower flexible sheet at a bonding site, the upper sheet including at least one panel and a free edge, the at least one panel extending from the bonding site to the free edge;
a bond between the upper and lower sheets at a bonding site, the bond creating one edge of an enclosure for holding the heating blanket between the upper and lower sheets, the at least one panel being separable from the lower sheet, by lifting the free edge of the upper sheet, in order to fold back the panel, along the bonding site, and to, thereby, provide an opening for accessing the enclosure; and
a fastening element coupled to the at least one panel to reversibly secure the heating unit within the enclosure beneath the panel;
wherein the bonding site of the upper to lower sheet includes a first bonding site and a second bonding site opposite the first bonding site;
the at least one panel of the upper sheet includes a first panel and a second panel;
the free edge of the upper sheet includes a first free edge and second free edge;
the first panel extends toward the second panel, from the first bonding site to the first free edge;
the second panel extends toward the first panel, from the second bonding site to the second free edge and overlaps a portion of the first panel; and
the fastening element is disposed at the overlap of the panels.
2. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the lower sheet has characteristics to provide efficient heat transfer therethrough from the heating blanket held in the enclosure.
3. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the lower sheet includes an outer surface having characteristic to provide a relatively soft interface with a patient disposed beneath the cover.
4. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the upper sheet has characteristics to provide insulation between the heating blanket held in the enclosure and an area outside the enclosure on an opposite side of the upper sheet.
5. A cover for protecting a heating blanket, the cover comprising:
a lower flexible sheet;
an upper flexible sheet bonded to the lower flexible sheet at a bonding site, the upper sheet including at least one panel and a free edge, the at least one panel extending from the bonding site to the free edge; and
a bond between the upper and lower sheets at a bonding site, the bond creating one edge of an enclosure for holding the heating blanket between the upper and lower sheets, the at least one panel being separable from the lower sheet, by lifting the free edge of the upper sheet, in order to fold back the panel, along the bonding site, and to, thereby, provide an opening for accessing the enclosure; and
wherein the bonding site of the upper sheet to the lower sheet includes a first bonding site and a second bonding site opposite the first bonding site;
the at least one panel of the upper sheet includes a first panel and a second panel;
the free edge of the upper sheet includes a first free edge and second free edge;
the first panel extends toward the second panel, from the first bonding site to the first free edge; and
the second panel extends toward the first panel, from the second bonding site to the second free edge.
6. The cover of claim 5 , wherein the lower sheet includes an outer surface having characteristic to provide a relatively soft interface with a patient disposed beneath the cover.
7. The cover of claim 5 , wherein the upper sheet has characteristics to provide insulation between the heating blanket held in the enclosure and an area outside the enclosure on an opposite side of the upper sheet.
8. A cover for protecting a heating blanket, the cover comprising:
a lower flexible sheet;
an upper flexible sheet bonded to the lower flexible sheet at a bonding site, the upper sheet including at least one panel and a free edge, the at least one panel extending from the bonding site to the free edge; and
a bond between the upper and lower sheets at a bonding site, the bond creating one edge of an enclosure for holding the heating blanket between the upper and lower sheets, the at least one panel being separable from the lower sheet, by lifting the free edge of the upper sheet, in order to fold back the panel, along the bonding site, and to, thereby, provide an opening for accessing the enclosure; and
wherein at least one of the upper and lower sheets extends laterally beyond the enclosure over a length greater than approximately one foot.
9. The cover of claim 5 , wherein the lower sheet has characteristics to provide efficient heat transfer therethrough from the heating blanket held in the enclosure.
10. The cover of claim 8 , wherein the lower sheet has characteristics to provide efficient heat transfer therethrough from the heating blanket held in the enclosure.
11. The cover of claim 8 , wherein the lower sheet includes an outer surface having characteristic to provide a relatively soft interface with a patient disposed beneath the cover.
12. The cover of claim 8 , wherein the upper sheet has characteristics to provide insulation between the heating blanket held in the enclosure and an area outside the enclosure on an opposite side of the upper sheet.
13. The cover of claim 8 , wherein the bond is linear to produce a linear bonding site.
14. The cover of claim 8 , further comprising a fastening element coupled to the at least one panel to reversibly secure the heating unit within the enclosure beneath the panel.
15. A cover for protecting a heating blanket, the cover comprising:
a lower flexible sheet;
an upper flexible sheet bonded to the lower flexible sheet at a bonding site, the upper sheet including at least one panel and a free edge, the at least one panel extending from the bonding site to the free edge;
a bond between the upper and lower sheets at a bonding site, the bond creating one edge of an enclosure for holding the heating blanket between the upper and lower sheets, the at least one panel being separable from the lower sheet, by lifting the free edge of the upper sheet, in order to fold back the panel, along the bonding site, and to, thereby, provide an opening for accessing the enclosure;
a first flap extending laterally beyond the enclosure from the first edge of the enclosure; and
a second flap extending laterally beyond the enclosure from a second edge of the enclosure, the second edge of the enclosure being opposite the first edge;
wherein the first and second flaps are extensions of at least one of the upper and lower sheets.
16. The cover of claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second flaps extends over a length greater than approximately one foot.
17. The cover of claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second flaps extends over a length sufficient to allow the flaps to be wrapped about opposite sides of an average person disposed beneath the cover.
18. The cover of claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second flaps includes at least one tie strip for securing the cover about a person.
19. The cover of claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second flaps includes perforations extending therethrough to form at least one tie strip for securing the cover about a person.
20. The cover of claim 15 , wherein the bond is linear to produce a linear bonding site.
21. The cover of claim 15 , further comprising a fastening element coupled to the at least one panel to reversibly secure the heating unit within the enclosure beneath the panel.
22. The cover of claim 15 , wherein the lower sheet has characteristics to provide efficient heat transfer therethrough from the heating blanket held in the enclosure.
23. The cover of claim 15 , wherein the lower sheet includes an outer surface having characteristic to provide a relatively soft interface with a patient disposed beneath the cover.
24. The cover of claim 15 , wherein the upper sheet has characteristics to provide insulation between the heating blanket held in the enclosure and an area outside the enclosure on an opposite side of the upper sheet.
25. A cover for protecting a heating blanket, the cover comprising:
a lower flexible sheet;
an upper flexible sheet bonded to the lower flexible sheet at a bonding site, the upper sheet including at least one panel and a free edge, the at least one panel extending from the bonding site to the free edge;
a bond between the upper and lower sheets at a bonding site, the bond creating one edge of an enclosure for holding the heating blanket between the upper and lower sheets, the at least one panel being separable from the lower sheet, by lifting the free edge of the upper sheet, in order to fold back the panel, along the bonding site, and to, thereby, provide an opening for accessing the enclosure; and
a head portion extending longitudinally beyond the enclosure, the head portion being an extension of at least one of the upper and lower sheets.
26. The cover of claim 25 , wherein the head portion includes an absorbent lower surface to interface with a person disposed beneath the cover.
27. The cover of claim 25 , wherein the head portion includes a transparent portion for visualizing a person disposed beneath the cover through the cover.
28. The cover of claim 25 , wherein the head portion is an extension of the upper sheet beyond the lower sheet.
29. The cover of claim 25 , wherein the bond is linear to produce a linear bonding site.
30. The cover of claim 25 , further comprising a fastening element coupled to the at least one panel to reversibly secure the heating unit within the enclosure beneath the panel.
31. The cover of claim 25 , wherein the lower sheet has characteristics to provide efficient heat transfer therethrough from the heating blanket held in the enclosure.
32. The cover of claim 25 , wherein the lower sheet includes an outer surface having characteristic to provide a relatively soft interface with a patient disposed beneath the cover.
33. The cover of claim 25 , wherein the upper sheet has characteristics to provide insulation between the heating blanket held in the enclosure and an area outside the enclosure on an opposite side of the upper sheet.
34. A cover for protecting a heating blanket, the cover comprising:
a lower flexible sheet;
an upper flexible sheet bonded to the lower flexible sheet at a bonding site, the upper sheet including at least one panel and a free edge, the at least one panel extending from the bonding site to the free edge; and
a bond between the upper and lower sheets at a bonding site, the bond creating one edge of an enclosure for holding the heating blanket between the upper and lower sheets, the at least one panel being separable from the lower sheet, by lifting the free edge of the upper sheet, in order to fold back the panel, along the bonding site, and to, thereby, provide an opening for accessing the enclosure; and
wherein at least one of the upper and lower sheets includes a first layer and a second layer, the first layer forming an outer surface of the covering and the second layer forming an inner surface of the enclosure.
35. The cover of claim 34 , wherein the first layer is formed from a cellulose material and the second layer is formed of a polymeric material.
36. The cover of claim 34 , wherein the first and second layers are formed of polymeric materials.
37. The cover of claim 34 , wherein the first layer is laminated to the second layer.
38. The cover of claim 34 , wherein the bond is linear to produce a linear bonding site.
39. The cover of claim 34 , further comprising a fastening element coupled to the at least one panel to reversibly secure the heating unit within the enclosure beneath the panel.
40. The cover of claim 34 , wherein the lower sheet has characteristics to provide efficient heat transfer therethrough from the heating blanket held in the enclosure.
41. The cover of claim 34 , wherein the upper sheet has characteristics to provide insulation between the heating blanket held in the enclosure and an area outside the enclosure on an opposite side of the upper sheet.
42. A method of claim 23 , further for warming a patient, the method comprising:
placing a cover over the patient;
opening an enclosure formed between an upper sheet and a lower sheet of the cover, to expose an underlying surface of the lower sheet, by folding back a panel of the upper sheet along a bonding site, at which a bond is formed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet;
placing a heating blanket upon the underlying portion of the lower sheet, within the enclosure;
closing the panel over the heating blanket; and
wrapping a flap of the cover about a side of the patient, the flap extending laterally beyond the enclosure.
43. The method of claim 42 , further comprising reversibly fastening the panel in place over the heating blanket that is placed in the enclosure.
44. The method of claim 42 , wherein placing the cover follows placing the heating blanket.
45. A method for warming a patient, the method comprising:
placing a cover over the patient;
opening an enclosure formed between an upper sheet and a lower sheet of the cover, to expose an underlying surface of the lower sheet, by folding back a panel of the upper sheet along a bonding site, at which a bond is formed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet;
placing a heating blanket upon the underlying portion of the lower sheet, within the enclosure;
closing the panel over the heating blanket; and
securing the cover about the patient by tying together tie strips of the cover, the strips extending laterally beyond the enclosure from opposite edges of the enclosure.
46. The method of claim 45 , further comprising reversibly fastening the panel in place over the heating blanket that is placed in the enclosure.
47. The method of claim 45 , wherein placing the cover follows placing the heating blanket.
48. A method for warming a patient, the method comprising:
placing a cover over the patient;
opening an enclosure formed between an upper sheet and a lower sheet of the cover, to expose an underlying surface of the lower sheet, by folding back a panel of the upper sheet along a bonding site, at which a bond is formed between the upper sheet and the lower sheet;
placing a heating blanket upon the underlying portion of the lower sheet, within the enclosure;
closing the panel over the heating blanket; and
securing the cover about the patient, by tying strips of the cover to sides of a bed on which the patient is lying, the strips extending laterally beyond the enclosure from opposite edges of the enclosure.
49. The method of claim 48 , further comprising reversibly fastening the panel in place over the heating blanket that is placed in the enclosure.
50. The method of claim 48 , wherein placing the cover follows placing the heating blanket.