HAND WARMER WITH VIEWING WINDOW FOR MEDIA DEVICE

Abstract

A hand warmer is provided with a viewing window that allows a media device, such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant, music player, or gaming device to be viewed and manipulated by a user while the user holds the media device with one or both hands within the hand warmer. The user is thus able to keep his or her hands and the media device warm and dry and otherwise protected from the elements while operating the media device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional application Ser. No. 61/217,487 filed Jun. 2, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hand muffs and other types of hand warmers.

Hand warmers such as hand muffs and pockets on pullover sweatshirts are commonly used in cold weather to keep an individual's hands warm and otherwise protected from the cold temperatures and other inclement weather conditions. Hand-held media devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, music players, and gaming devices, are frequently used outdoors. The user, however, may limit the outdoor usage of the device in cold or other inclement weather conditions for fear of exposing the device to the cold temperatures or moisture which may damage the device and/or because the user wishes to protect his or her hands from such conditions.

A need has thus developed for a way to allow a user of a hand-held media device to readily use the media device during inclement weather conditions without removing his or her hands from the hand warmer so that the individual's hands and the media device are protected from exposure to the inclement weather conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a hand warmer comprising a tubular body which defines an interior region and a viewing window positioned in the tubular body at a location intermediate the opposite ends of the tubular body. The tubular body has spaced-apart openings that allow for the insertion of the hands of a user into the interior region. The viewing window is formed of a layer of material which has sufficient transparency to allow the viewing of the interior volume through the viewing window. The tubular body is formed of one or more layers of fabric material which insulate the interior region against entry of cold air and/or moisture. A media device may be inserted into the interior region through one or both of the openings in the tubular body. The viewing window allows the user to view and manipulate the media device while holding it in one or both hands in the interior region within the tubular body of the hand warmer. The user is thus able to keep his or her hands and the media device warm and dry and otherwise protected from the elements while operating the media device.

In one embodiment, a perimeter portion of the viewing window is releasably secured to the tubular body of the hand warmer by a fastener, such as a hook and loop fastener, which allows the viewing window to be removed and replaced if damaged or if the hand warmer is to be washed or otherwise subjected to a process that might damage the viewing window. In another embodiment, the viewing window is sewn or otherwise permanently attached to the tubular body of the hand warmer.

The hand warmer may be in various forms, such as a hand muff or a pocket formed in a pullover sweatshirt. When formed as a hand muff, the hand warmer may include a belt which allows the hand warmer to be worn about the waist of the user. Cuffs may be provided at the openings in the tubular body of the hand warmer to seal against the user's wrists or forearms to impede entry of cold air or moisture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a hand warmer constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and a media device positioned within the hand warmer, with broken lines showing fragmental portions of a user of the hand warmer;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the hand warmer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the hand warmer similar to that shown in FIG. 2, but showing the media device stored within a pocket within the hand warmer, portions of the pocket being broken away to shown the location of the media device;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hand warmer shown in FIG. 1 with portions broken away to show details of construction;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the hand warmer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a hand warmer constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the hand warmer shown in FIG. 6, with the viewing window shown partially detached from the body of the hand warmer; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the hand warmer shown in FIG. 6 and illustrating the attachment of the viewing window to the surround body portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, and initially to FIGS. 1-2, a first embodiment of a hand warmer of the present invention is represented broadly by the numeral 10. Hand warmer 10 comprises a tubular body 12 having opposite ends 14 and 16 which are constructed to define spaced-apart openings 18 and 20, respectively. The openings 18 and 20 do not necessarily need to be positioned at the opposite ends 14 and 16, but may instead be positioned at other spaced-apart locations along the tubular body 12. Cuffs 22 and 24 may be formed surrounding the openings 18 and 20 to closely conform to the wrists or forearms 26 and 28 of the user 30 of the hand warmer 10. The cuffs 22 and 24 may include an elastic band (not shown) to facilitate sealing of the cuffs 22 and 24 to the wrists or forearms 26 and 28 in a known fashion.

The tubular body 12 of the hand warmer 10 defines an internal region 32 of a preselected size. The internal region 30 is sized to accommodate the hands 34 and 36 of the user 30, along with a hand-held media device 38, such as the illustrated cell phone or a personal digital assistant, music player, or a gaming device. The tubular body 12 is formed of one or more layers of a fabric material which is deformable to allow ready manipulation of the media device 38 within the interior region 30. In one embodiment, the tubular body 12 comprises an outer layer of wind and/or water resistant material, an inner layer of fleece, and an intermediate layer of thermal insulation sandwiched between and bonded to the inner and outer layers. The material used for tubular body 12 may, in one embodiment, be opaque. It is to be understood that other laminated and non-laminated constructions can be used for the tubular body 12 which provide the desired protection for the user's hands 34 and 36 and the media device 38 against cold temperatures and/or moisture.

In accordance with the present invention, the hand warmer 10 includes a viewing window 40 positioned to cover a cutout 42 positioned in the tubular body 12 at a central or other intermediate location between the opposite ends 14 and 16 of the tubular body 12. The viewing window 40 comprises a layer of material which has sufficient transparency to permit the user 30 to view the interior region 32 through the viewing window 40. The material selected for the viewing window 40 should have sufficient strength to resist tearing or cracking. The material should also be water resistant and provide sufficient thermal insulation to protect the user's hands 34 and 36 from cold temperatures. The material should also possess optical properties which allow viewing of the media device 38 without gross distortion. The material can be rigid or flexible and, if flexible, should have sufficient flexibility to permit deformation even under cold weather conditions. Various types of polymeric materials are well-suited for use as the material comprising the viewing window 40. As but one example, the layer of material may be formed of 16 gauge vinyl and may be coated with an anti-fogging composition.

The size and shape of the viewing window 40 and cutout 42 can be varied to suit particular applications. For example, the viewing window 40 and cutout 42 can be sized to permit viewing of the entire media device 38 or only a portion thereof.

The viewing window 40 is secured to the tubular body 12 in any suitable fashion which impedes the passage of cold air and/or moisture. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a perimeter of the viewing window 40 can be sized slightly larger than the cutout 42 such that the perimeter of the viewing window 40 overlaps the perimeter of the cutout 42 and is sandwiched between the layers of material forming the tubular body 12. The viewing window 40 is then sewn along its perimeter to secure it to the tubular body 12. The viewing window 40 need not be permanent affixed to the tubular body 12 of the hand warmer 10, but can instead be secured in a manner which allows for removal and reattachment of the viewing window 10. For example, hook and loop fasteners secured along the perimeters of the viewing window 40 and cutout 42 allow the viewing window 40 to be removed and replaced if damaged or if the hand warmer 10 is to be washed or otherwise subjected to processes that might damage the viewing window 40. It will, of course, be appreciated that the viewing window 40 may be integrally formed with the tubular body 12 and need not be a separate component which is physically attached to the tubular body 12. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the present invention.

A grommet 44 may be positioned in the tubular body 12 to permit a cord 46 of a headphone 48 to pass through the tubular body 12 for connection to the media device 38. A belt 50 may also be attached to the tubular body 12 to allow the hand warmer 10 to be worn about the waist of the user 30.

Turning additionally to FIG. 3, the hand warmer 10 includes a pocket 52 positioned within the interior region 32 to allow the media device 38 to be stored when not in use. As shown in FIG. 5, an exterior closeable pouch 54 may also be provided in the tubular body 12 of the hand warmer 10 to store other items such as headphones 48 or packets of chemical hand warmers (not shown). A zipper 56 is used to open and close the pouch 54.

In use, the hand warmer 10 allows the user 30 to insert his or her hands 34 and 36 and the media device 38 into the interior region 32 through the openings 18 and 20 at the opposite ends of the tubular body 12. The media device 38 may then be held in one or both of the user's hands 34 and 36 and manipulated by viewing the media device 38 through the viewing window 40. When the media device 38 is not being used, it can be inserted into the pocket 52 where it can be readily accessed for reuse.

Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, an alternate embodiment of the hand warmer formed as part of a pullover sweatshirt 100 is designated broadly by the numeral 110. The same reference numerals preceded by the numeral “1” are used to reference like parts in the hand warmer 110 as are found in hand warmer 10. The hand warmer 110, similar to hand warmer 10, comprises a tubular body 112 with opposite ends 114 and 116. Openings 118 and 120 are formed at the opposite ends 114 and 116, respectively. Cuffs (not shown) similar to cuffs 22 and 24 may surround the openings 118 and 112.

A user 130 inserts his or her hands 134 and 136 through the openings 118 and 120 into an interior region 132 formed by the tubular body 112. A media device 138 may be positioned within the interior region 132 by carrying the media device 138 through one of the openings 118 and 120.

A viewing window 140 is positioned in overlying relationship to a cutout 142 at an intermediate location in the tubular body 112 and allows the user 130 to view and manipulate the media device 138 in the same manner described above. As can best be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the viewing window 140 and cutout include a hook and loop fastener 156 about their perimeters which allows the viewing window 140 to be removed and replaced as desired. The viewing window 140 and tubular body 112 can be formed of the same materials previously described with reference to hand warmer 10.

It can thus be appreciated that the hand warmers 10 and 110 protect the users 30 and 130 and the media devices 38 and 138 from cold temperatures and moisture while permitting the media devices 38 and 138 to be operated in a normal fashion by the user.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objectives hereinabove set forth together with other advantages that are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the invention.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A hand warmer comprising:

a tubular body defining an interior region and having spaced-apart openings for the insertion of hands of a user into the interior region; and

a viewing window in the tubular body at a location intermediate the opposite ends.

2. The hand warmer of claim 1, wherein the viewing window comprises a layer of material having sufficient transparency to permit viewing into the interior region.

3. The hand warmer of claim 2, wherein said layer of material of said viewing window comprises a flexible polymer material.

4. The hand warmer of claim 3, wherein the tubular body comprises a fabric material.

5. The hand warmer of claim 4, wherein the tubular body has a cutout at said location and said viewing window is positioned in overlaying relationship to said cutout.

6. The hand warmer of claim 5, wherein the viewing window has a perimeter portion and said cutout has a perimeter portion and including a fastener removable securing said perimeter portion of the viewing window to said perimeter portion of the cutout.

7. The hand warmer of claim 6, wherein the fastener is a hook and loop fastener.

8. The hand warmer of claim 5, wherein the viewing window has a perimeter portion and said cutout has a perimeter portion and wherein said perimeter portion of the viewing window is secured to said perimeter portion of the cutout.

9. The hand warmer of claim 1, including cuffs positioned at said openings in the tubular body.

10. The hand warmer of claim 1, including a pocket attached to said tubular body in said interior region.

11. The hand warmer of claim 1, including a belt attached to said tubular body.

12. The hand warmer of claim 1, including a closeable pouch formed in said tubular body.

13. The hand warmer of claim 12, wherein said closeable pouch includes a zipper for opening and closing said closeable pouch.

14. A hand warmer comprising:

a tubular body of opaque fabric material defining an interior region and having opposite ends with openings for the insertion of hands of a user into the interior region; and

a viewing window in the tubular body at a location intermediate the opposite ends and comprising a layer of flexible polymer material having sufficient transparency to permit viewing into the interior region.

15. The hand warmer of claim 14, wherein the tubular body has a cutout at said location and said viewing window is positioned in overlaying relationship to said cutout.

16. The hand warmer of claim 15, wherein the viewing window has a perimeter portion and said cutout has a perimeter portion and including a fastener removable securing said perimeter portion of the viewing window to said perimeter portion of the cutout.

17. The hand warmer of claim 16, wherein the fastener is a hook and loop fastener.

18. The hand warmer of claim 15, wherein the viewing window has a perimeter portion and said cutout has a perimeter portion and wherein said perimeter portion of the viewing window is secured to said perimeter portion of the cutout.

19. The hand warmer of claim 14, including cuffs positioned at said openings at the opposite ends of the tubular body.

20. A hand warmer comprising:

a tubular body of opaque, laminated fabric material defining an interior region and having opposite ends with openings for the insertion of hands of a user into the interior region; a cutout in said tubular body intermediate the opposite ends; and

a viewing window overlaying said cutout in the tubular body and comprising a layer of flexible polymer material having sufficient transparency to permit viewing into the interior region.