HAND WARMER

Abstract

A hand warmer comprising a heat generating element having a body portion and one or more extremity portions extending from the body portion, said one or more extremity portions adapted to substantially conform to the shape of one or more of a user's singular or combined extremities, and at least one catch associated with at least one of the one or more extremity portions. Also, a combination of a hand warmer and covering article having a pocket for accepting the hand warmer described.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/106,630, filed on Oct. 20, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hand warmers, including foot warmers, and more particularly to hand and foot warmers that are designed for use inside of gloves, mittens, socks, shoes, boots and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hand warmers, including foot warmers, are known in the art for helping to keep hands and feet warm in extreme cold weather environments. They are generally held in the hand, or placed in a pocket, glove, mitten, sock, shoe, boot, etc., to keep extremities warm. Depending on the type of hand warmer, and source of heat, hand warmers may last from about 1 to about 24 hours.

Earlier hand warmers took the embodiment of small furnaces, filled with lighter fluid or liquid propane gas which is reacted with a platinum catalyst to generate heat by oxidation. These types of hand warmers were made of substantial components with the intention that they be reused by simply refuelling. Another type of hand warmer generates heat through exothermic crystallization of supersaturated solutions. They are generally reusable and can be recharged by boiling the hand warmers and allowing them to cool. Heating of these hand warmers is triggered by snapping a small metal device within the hand warmer, which generates nucleation centers that initiate crystallization. Heat required to dissolve the salt in its own water of crystallisation is released when crystallisation is initiated.

Currently, hand warmers used by persons involved in cold weather outdoor activities are increasingly of the single use variety. These generally contain cellulose, iron, water, activated carbon, vermiculite and salt and generate heat from the exothermic oxidation when exposed to air. Single use hand warmers known in the art are most often formed in the shape of a small rectangle, often about two to three inches high by three to four inches wide. Due to the fact that these hand warmers generate heat through oxidation, they are packaged in airtight containers, such as sealed plastic packages, until ready for use, when the package is opened and the hand warmer is exposed to the air for activation and use.

Of course, users have found various ways to use hand warmers. Some are placed in pockets, so that when the user places his or her hand in their pocket can hold the hand warmer to temporarily warm their hand. Others have taken to placing the hand warmer into gloves or shoes, where the hand warmer rests on the palm or back of the hand, or under or above the toes. This has led manufacturers to produce gloves and mittens with openings on the exterior of the glove for inserting hand warmers into a pocket in the area of the back of the hand. However, the construction of the hand warmer and the glove or sock prohibits good heat distribution to the fingers, which are most in need of the heat supplied by the hand warmer.

In keeping, there is a need in the art for a hand warmer that is directed to the extremities, i.e., the fingers and toes, which tend to be more severely affected by the cold. There is also the need to be able to use such hand warmers with or without specialized gloves, mittens, socks, shoes or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hand warmer comprising a heat generating element having a body portion and one or more extremity portions extending from the body portion, said one or more extremity portions adapted to substantially conform to the shape of one or more of a user's singular or combined extremities, and at least one catch associated with at least one of the one or more extremity portions. As used herein, the term hand warmer is intended to cover additional configurations including foot warmers that are similarly configured, however, specifically adapted to relate to a the anatomy of a foot rather than a hand. In this regard, use of the term finger or fingers, as well as extremity or extremities, is understood to mean toe or toes as well as finger or fingers.

Although any suitable hand warmer technology may be applied to the present invention, it is preferred that the hand warmer is of the single use variety, and most preferably of the activated carbon variety as is well known in the art. This technology is especially suitable for the present invention because the activated carbon is typically in powdered form and the hand warmer is generally flexible, providing a degree of mobility and dexterity to the user. Using this type of technology, the hand warmer of the present invention can also be packaged one or two to a package, for either both a user's hands or both a user's feet, so that opening the package provides the necessary oxygen for the activated carbon to begin to heat.

Since the hand warmer of the present invention is most preferably intended to be used in gloves, mittens, socks, shoes or the like, generally referred to herein as “covering articles,” the catch is adapted to be engaged by one or more extremities. Once the catch is engaged by one or more extremities, the hand warmer can be moved into a covering article as the hand or foot is inserted therein, providing proper placement of the hand warmer in the covering article with relation to the position of the hand or foot and extremities. That is, the catch provides that the hand warmer being inserted into the covering article can be maintained in a substantially fixed relationship to the hand and extremities being inserted into the covering article.

The catch can be any element that is capable of being temporarily engaged by at least one of the one or more extremities for moving the hand warmer into the covering article. Preferably, the catch is formed as a cap that engages at least the tip of one or more of the extremities. More preferably, the catch is formed as another layer cut generally to the shape of the hand warmer, including caps that engage the tip of each extremity and extending downwardly to below the area of the fingers. In this regard, the cap type catch can be associated with one or more of the extremities, either individually or collectively.

Of course, the cap catch formed to cover more than one extremity can only be used in covering articles such as mittens, socks, shoes, boots and the like that have compartments for more than one dedicated extremity. When the hand warmer is intended for use with gloves or covering articles with individual compartments for dedicated extremities, it is preferred that the dedicated extremities for particular compartments have their own catch or catches.

When using the cap type catch, the cap may be formed on one side by the heat generating element itself, with a cap material forming the remainder of the cap portion. Although any suitable material can be used for the remainder of the cap portion, it is preferred that the remainder of the cap portion be formed of a tactile material that is comfortable for the user to have against their skin if necessary. Thus, while the cap can be formed of plastic material, it is preferred that the cap be formed of a textile or other breathable material that is not unpleasant to the touch.

Other types of catches can be used with the present invention without deviating from the spirit of the invention. For example, the catch can be in the form of a band that runs about one or more extremities, preferably from one side of the extremity portion of the heat generating element to the other. It is preferred that such band type catches, when used, be elastic or adjustable, so that they fit a variety of sizes of the one or more extremities engaged. As such, band type catches may be formed of elastic rubber band or material bands, Velcro strips, strips with one or more adhesive ends, etc., that surround a portion of the one or more extremities to maintain the hand warmer in substantially fixed relation to the user's extremities.

The use of a hand warmer with a single catch for multiple extremities can be used for hand warmers intended for use with mittens, socks, shoes, boots, etc, that have a single compartment for multiple extremities. However, in the most preferred embodiment for use with gloves, the hand warmer has a catch associated with each extremity. Moreover, more than one catch can be associated with one or more of the extremities if so desired to more fully engage the extremities.

The preferred embodiment of the hand warmer of the present invention also preferably includes a stay associated with the body portion of the heat generating element for engaging the hand or foot beyond the extremities. The stay for engagement of the user's hand or foot is preferably a band type stay, as described above with respect to the band type catch, which surrounds at least a portion of the user's hand or foot, preferably being attached to opposite sides of the body portion of the heat generating element. Alternatively, the stay for the hand or foot can be an extension of the catch associated with the extremities or other suitable member that helps maintain the heat generating element against the user's hand or foot.

In alternative embodiments, such as for hunters, fisherman or others that require added dexterity or feel, the hand warmer of the present invention can be formed to eliminate obstructions associated with the forefinger. Thus, the user of such embodiment will be less affected by the hand warmer when pulling a trigger, feeling a fishing line or the like.

Although the heat generating element of the hand warmer of the present invention can be positioned for use on either the palm side or the backhand side of the user's hand, or the bottom or top of the user's foot, it is preferred that it be positioned on the backhand side of the user's hand or top of the foot. This positioning limits the feel of the hand warmer to the wearer as well as the potential that the outer covering of the heat generating element will break, releasing the heat generating material held therein.

The hand warmer of the present invention is particularly contemplated for use with gloves or mittens, as well as socks or shoes, for a covering article. Most preferably, the covering article is adapted to receive the hand warmer in a pocket, in the form of an added layer or the like to the covering article, so that the hand warmer can be inserted into the covering article without direct contact to the user's skin. When such a pocket is used, it may have a closure device such that the pocket opening into which the hand warmer is inserted can be closed off to avoid loss of the hand warmer, unwanted items entering the pocket or interfering with the user by catching the open pocket or an unfinished appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood when considered in view of the attached drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts. The drawings, however, are presented merely to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention without limiting the invention in any manner whatsoever.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a hand warmer formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a first embodiment of the hand warmer shown in FIG. 1 formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a second embodiment of a hand warmer formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a third embodiment of a hand warmer formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of the hand warmer shown in FIG. 1 formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the hand warmer shown in FIG. 1 formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of an insert embodiment of the hand warmer shown in FIG. 4 formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the hand warmer for use on a foot formed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a schematic of a preferred embodiment of the hand warmer of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a partial side view of a fingertip of the hand warmer of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C is a schematic of a preferred embodiment of the hand warmer of the present invention shown in FIG. 9A, including the preferred dimensions.

FIG. 10A is a schematic of the most preferred embodiment of the hand warmer of the present invention, with a catch that extends beyond the finger portion of the hand warmer.

FIG. 10B is a schematic of the most preferred embodiment of the hand warmer of the present invention shown in FIG. 10A, including the preferred dimensions.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the back of a preferred glove with a pocket for the hand warmer of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an elevation of the side of the preferred glove of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the preferred glove of FIG. 11 with the pocket in an open configuration for receiving the hand warmer of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is generally directed to a hand warmer 2 comprising a heat generating element 4 having a body portion 6 and one or more extremity portions 8 extending from the body portion 6, and at least one catch 10 associated with at least one of the one or more extremity portions 8. The extremity portions 8 of the preferred hand warmer 2 is adapted to substantially conform to the shape of one or more of a user's singular or combined extremities, i.e., each individual finger as may be used in a glove or two or more fingers together as may be used in a mitten.

The heat generating element 4 is preferably a single use hand warmer element which is preferably manufactured using activated carbon technology, as is well known in the art, formed with a body portion 6 and one or more extremity portions 8. As is further well known, the preferred activated carbon heat generating element 4, is made with an oxygen permeable outer membrane that contains the activated carbon on a rectangular support. The heat generating element 4 is then packaged in an air tight enclosure until opened for use. As such, the heat generating element 4 is flexible and permits virtually unrestricted movement when placed against the user's hand.

As shown in the Figures, and particularly FIGS. 1-3, 5, 6, 9A and 10A, the heat generating element 4 is shaped to conform to a portion of a human hand particularly in the area of the fingers. Of course, the shape can conform to a foot instead, as shown in FIG. 8, which would similarly be most particularly directed to the toes as the extremities.

The body portion 6 of the heat generating element 4 serves as a connection for the extremity portions 8 when a plurality of extremity portions 8 are used, even if the body portion 8 itself does not generate heat because heat to the area below the extremities is not desired in a particular application. Moreover, the body portion 6 can be incorporated into the extremity portion 8 if the extremity portion 8 is not needed to extend below the extremities, especially when used in mittens or on feet where the extremity portion 8 may be associated with more than one extremity.

As shown in FIGS. 2-6, the hand warmer 2 of the present invention includes catches 10 for engaging the extremities as they are inserted into the covering article to properly position the hand warmer 2 therein. The catches 10 can take any form suitable for maintaining the heat generating element 4 in substantially fixed relation to the user's extremities during insertion into the covering article. However, the most preferred catch 10 is shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 9B as caps, which the tips of one or more extremities engage.

In the cap type catch 10, the material of the one or more caps can bet attached, by stitching, heat sealing, adhesives or any other suitable means, to adjacent portion of the heat generating element 4. This is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 where the cap material forms pockets extending from the ends of the extremity portions 8. The material of the cap type catch 10 can be any suitable material, however, it is preferred that the material be relatively thin and of agreeable texture to minimize discomfort to the wearer. It is therefore believed that polyethylene, paper with some elasticity or the like is well suited to be used as the material for forming the catch 10.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the catch 10 is formed of a band or strip of material that can be engaged by the user's extremities above the first joint during insertion of the hand warmer 2 in the covering article. Most preferably, the band type catch 10′ is made of an elastic material that is attached to opposed sides of the extremity portion(s) of the heat generating element 4 by any known means. Although not required, it is preferred that if such band type catches 10′ are not elastic, they be adjustable so as to fit a variety of sizes of the one or more extremities engaged.

Although not limited to the embodiments set forth herein, contemplated band type catches 10′ may be formed of elastic rubber band or fabric bands, Velcro strips, strings, paper or plastic strips with one or more adhesive ends, etc., that surround a portion of the one or more extremities to maintain the hand warmer 2 in substantially fixed relation to the user's extremities.

Of course, more than one type of catch 10 can be used in a single embodiment, or more than one catch 10 can be used on a single extremity or group of extremities as desired. For example, FIG. 2 shows the use of a cap type catch 10 at the tip of the thumb with a band type catch 10′ at the base of the thumb. Similarly, FIG. 4 shows the use of two band type catches 10 on the thumb, one placed just above the first joint in the thumb and one a the base of the thumb.

In its most preferred embodiment, the hand warmer 2 also includes a stay 12 to help support the heat generating element 4 in relation to the user's hand or foot during insertion of the hand warmer 2 into a covering article. As with the band type catch 10′, the stay 12 is preferably formed of elastic rubber band or fabric bands, Velcro strips, strings, paper or strips with one or more adhesive ends, etc., that surround a portion of the one or more extremities to maintain the hand warmer 2 in substantially fixed relation to the user's hand or foot.

Additionally, in an effort to improve the comfort of the heat generating element 4 against the user's skin when so used, the side of the heat generating element 4 that is contemplated for contact with the user's skin may have a covering material that is more pleasant to the touch (not shown). This would preferably be a breathable material such as a thin layer of paper like fabric with elasticity or the like, either formed on the surface or attached to the side of the heat generating element 4.

The hand warmer 2 of the present invention can be adapted to particular activities as well as particular covering articles. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a sportsman's hand warmer 2′ is formed with a shortened extremity extension 8′ on the index finger. This configuration provides that the user's index finger is more sensitive to activities such as the pull of a trigger when hunting or the feel of a fishing line when fishing. Other such configurations for particular activities are intended to fall within the spirit of the invention as well.

FIGS. 7 and 11-13 include alternative methods of using the hand warmer 2 of the present invention as an insert in a specialized covering article 14 such as a glove, glove liner, mitten, sock, shoe, boot, etc. having an opening 16 into which the hand warmer 2 can be inserted and a pocket 18 in which the hand warmer 2 can be held. When using such a specialized covering article 14, the user can insert the hand warmer 2 into the pocket 18 of the specialized covering article 14 as described above with respect to a standard covering article. Once the hand warmer 2 is positioned in the pocket 18 of the specialized covering article 14, the user can withdraw their hand or foot while leaving the hand warmer 2 in place.

In keeping with this combination of the hand warmer 2 and a covering article 14 having a pocket, FIG. 7 shows the opening 16 of the pocket 18 as an arcuate slit that extends from the area of the thumb to the pinkie, to permit a five-finger hand warmer to be inserted into the pocket 18. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 11-13, the covering article 14 can have the pocket associated with just the four fingers, and not the thumb. Such a covering article 14 may have an additional outer layer 20 attached to one side of the covering article 14 to form the pocket 18, preferably including closure members 22 to maintain the opening 16 of the pocket 18 in a closed configuration.

The closure members 22 can be of any suitable type, including cooperating magnets, snaps, buttons, clasps, Velcro type hook and loop portions, zipper portions, hooks and eyelets, flap over ends and the like. Of course, such an arrangement with the outer layer 20 forming a pocket 18 and/or the closure members 22 for maintaining the opening 16 in a closed configuration can be adapted to a variety of embodiments that do not deviate from the invention described. However, in its most preferred embodiment the closure members 22 are magnets, including cooperating magnets or a magnet and a magnetic blank, sewn into the edge of the opening 16.

FIG. 9A provides a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the present hand warmer that includes a thumb. FIG. 9B shows a side view of the fingertip portion of the preferred hand warmer 2, with at least a portion of the catch 10 fastened to at least a portion of the extremity portion 8 of the hand warmer 2, and preferably about each of the entire extremity portions 8, by laminating, adhering, stamping, gluing, heat sealing, or otherwise fastening an additional layer forming the catch 10 to the layers forming the heat generating element 4.

The preferred dimensions of the embodiment of FIG. 9A are shown in FIG. 9C, however, it is understood that any suitable dimensions may be employed depending on a wide variety of design choices. Therefore, the specifics of the drawing of FIG. 9B are not intended to be limiting to the present invention beyond the scope of any allowed claims.

In the most preferred embodiment of FIG. 10A, the hand warmer 2 does not include a thumb portion. This embodiment, however, is shown with the catch 10 formed as an additional layer to the heating element 4 along all sides of the extremity portions 8 and the sides of the body portion 6 extending downwardly below the bottom of the body portion 6 terminating in a tab 24. This configuration of the catch 10 is one piece, preferably formed of a fiber material that allows the user's fingers to be inserted between the catch 10 and the heating element 4 for insertion into the covering article 14.

Variations, modifications and alterations to the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above will make themselves apparent to those skilled in the art. All such changes are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, limited solely by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hand warmer comprising a heat generating element having a body portion and one or more extremity portions extending from the body portion, said one or more extremity portions adapted to substantially conform to the shape of one or more of a user's singular or combined extremities, and at least one catch associated with at least one of the one or more extremity portions.

2. The hand warmer of claim 1 wherein the catch is associated with two or more of the extremity portions.

3. The hand warmer of claim 1 comprising a catch associated with each of the extremity portions.

4. The hand warmer of claim 1 further comprising a stay associated with the body portion.

5. The hand warmer of claim 1 wherein the at least one catch is formed by laminating an edge of the catch about an edge of at least one extremity portion.

6. The hand warmer of claim 1 comprising a catch associated with each of the extremity portions and covering the body portion, said catch further comprising a tab extending beyond the bottom of the body portion.

7. The hand warmer of claim 1 wherein the catch is formed of a thin layer of polyethylene.

8. The hand warmer of claim 1 wherein the heat generating element is lined with a covering material on at least the side that is adapted to contact the wearer's hand.

9. A combination of a hand warmer and a covering article wherein the hand warmer comprises a heat generating element having a body portion and one or more extremity portions extending from the body portion, said one or more extremity portions adapted to substantially conform to the shape of one or more of a user's singular or combined extremities, and at least one catch associated with at least one of the one or more extremity portions, and the covering article comprises a pocket with an opening for receiving the hand warmer, so that the extremity portions of the hand warmer are associated with a portion of the covering article for receiving one or more of a user's extremities.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the covering article further comprises a closure member for maintaining the pocket in a closed configuration.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein the closure member is taken from the group consisting of magnets, snaps, buttons, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, hooks and eyelets and flap over ends.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein the covering article is taken from the group comprising gloves, glove liners, mittens, socks, shoes and boots.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the hand warmer includes a plurality of extremity portions when the covering article is taken from the group comprising gloves and glove liners and one extremity portion when the covering article is taken from the group consisting of mittens, socks, shoes and boots.

14. The combination of claim 9 wherein the at least one catch of the hand warmer is formed by fastening at least a portion of an edge of the catch about at least a portion of an edge of at least one extremity portion.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the at least a portion of the catch is fastened to at least a portion of the extremity portion of the hand warmer by one of the group consisting of laminating, adhering, stamping, gluing and heat sealing.

16. The combination of claim 9 wherein the hand warmer comprises a catch associated with each of the extremity portions and covering the body portion, said catch further comprising a tab extending beyond the bottom of the body portion.

17. The combination of claim 9 wherein the catch of the hand warmer is formed of a thin layer of polyethylene.