Systems for applying heat and pressue to sinuses

Abstract

An eye mask with an internal heating mechanism worn over the eye and sinus regions of the wearer. The eye mask provides heat and pressure to the face. A plurality of heating wires internal to the mask provide heat, the heating wires being driven by temperature and time controls contained in an external enclosure that may also contain batteries or other connections to a power source. The mask may have pockets for weighted pebbles, magnets or other material for adding weight to the mask to bring the heat closer to the face of the wearer. The mask may have a reflective material in an internal layer to reflect heat from the heating wires back to the face of the wearer. The mask may have a memory foam for molding the mask to the contours of the face, bringing heat to a greater portion of the face of the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An eye mask, comprising:
 a mask configured for wearing over a wearer's face, wherein at least a portion of the mask covers the sinuses above and below the eyes;   a power source;   an inner layer of the mask configured for providing heat; and   a temperature control circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the power source is an attached portable battery pack. 
     
     
         3 . The eye mask of  claim 2  wherein the attached portable battery pack is configured for receiving standard-sized batteries. 
     
     
         4 . The eye mask of  claim 2  wherein the attached portable battery pack is an attached portable battery pack having rechargeable batteries, wherein the battery pack may be connected to a charger. 
     
     
         5 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the power source is an alternating current connection to household power. 
     
     
         6 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the temperature control circuit is insulated with a layer of insulating material. 
     
     
         7 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the heat is directed towards the face with a reflective layer. 
     
     
         8 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein pressure is applied to the sinuses with weighted pockets. 
     
     
         9 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the eye mask molds to the user's face with a thermoreactive memory foam layer. 
     
     
         10 . The eye mask of  claim 1 , wherein the eye mask is configured for enabling the wearer to see through the eye mask. 
     
     
         11 . The eye mask of  claim 10  wherein the eye mask has one or more apertures enabling the wearer to see through the eye mask. 
     
     
         12 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the outer layers are a soft cloth. 
     
     
         13 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein pressure is applied to the sinuses with magnets. 
     
     
         14 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the user can select only on or off settings on the temperature control unit. 
     
     
         15 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the user can select from multiple temperature settings. 
     
     
         16 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the temperature control circuit contains temperature sensors to automatically turn on or off when the temperature reaches a certain level. 
     
     
         17 . The eye mask of  claim 1  wherein the temperature control unit contains a timer that turns the heat off after a pre-determined time period. 
     
     
         18 . A mask, comprising:
 a plurality of heating wires;   a plurality of weights;   a memory foam layer;   circuitry for thermostatically controlling the plurality of heating wires;   circuitry for controlling duration of heat;   an infrared reflector; and   a portable power source.   
     
     
         19 . An eye mask, comprising:
 means for directing heat to one or more sinus regions of the wearer's face;   means for powering the eye mask with a portable power source;   means for regulating a temperature of the heat;   means for controlling a duration of the heat; and   means for providing pressure to the sinus regions of the wearer's face.   
     
     
         20 . The eye mask of  claim 19 , comprising:
 means for configuring the eye mask to retain an imprint of the wearer's facial features.