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[0001]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[0002]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[0003]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.[0004]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 ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]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.

[0010]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.

[0016]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.

[0017]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.

[0019]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.

Problems solved by technology

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.

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