GB2136674A - Hand warmer - Google Patents

Abstract

A handwarming device comprising a body of heat insulating material which receives the two hands of a user in one or more internal compartments and which is of such a shape and weight as to be readily supported by the user's arms when in use, and a heat emitting body capable of providing heat for a continuous period, the heat emitting body being received and retained inside heat insulating body so as to warm the user's hands.

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand warmer This invention relates to handwarming devices.

There are extremely well known forms of hand coverings such as gloves, mittens and muffs which provide thermal insulation to a greater or lesser degree to give the hands warmth. It is also known to heat the hands by clutching a warm object and this been exploited by manufacturers who have produced more sophisticated hot objects, such as slow burning fuel rods within fire resistant cases. These latter devices are intended to be used in the pocket and thereby suffer from the disadvantage of a relatively large heat loss and also the inconvenience and discomfort involved for a user in keeping his hands in his pockets for long periods. Clearly also, if he is to warm both hands he will need two such hot objects in different pockets.

There are situations in which none of these known hand warmers are convenient. One such is the requirement of fishermen and anglers who may have to stay for long periods in the cold and so need some form of hand warmer, but also need to have their hands unencumbered when they suddenly want to strike in repsonseto a bite. When gloves are used they are frequently dropped in the haste of the moment and of course, once wet, gloves are ineffective insulators.

The present invention seeks to provide a new form of handwarming device which overcomes some of these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a handwarming device comprising a body of heat-insulating material having a pair of openings leading to one or more compartments in its inner region suitable for snugly receiving respectively the two hands ofthe user, the device being of such a shape and weight as to be readily supported by the users arms with his hands inserted into said openings, and an object operative to provide heat for continuous period, the handwarming device being adapted-to receive the hot object and maintain it within the interior of said body of heat-insulating material.

The handwarming device may be in the form of a muff and is preferably provided with a waterproof covering both on its outer surface and lining said compartments.

The means for receiving the hot object may comprise a pocket, either in the lining of said compartments or otherwise adjacent the compartments.

The outer covering may be elasticated around said openings so that the covering grips around the wrists of the user when his hands are inserted.

In some versions of the invention which are particularly suitable where free use of the hands may be required quickly, the device includes means for attaching it to the users body or clothing such that when his hands are released the device remains in position and does not drop to the floor.

The means for attaching the device may comprise a strap adapted to pass around the neck of a user and additionally or alternatively an adhesive band or other fastening means on the surface of the device adapted to co-operate with corresponding means on the user's clothing.

The object operative to provide heat may comprise an ignitable, slow burning, fuel element within a fire-resistant casing.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a handwarmer in its disposition when not in use; and Figure2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the handwarmer of Figure 1.

Referring to the Figures a handwarmer is in the form of a muff whose shape is dictated by a tube of flexible insulating material 1. The tube 1 is made from a 1 inch thick sheet of foam rubber which is bent into the form of a cylinder and maintained in this shape by a covering 2 that is applied around both its outer and inner surfaces. The covering 2 is fabricated from a water resistant fabric and is composed from two separate pieces one covering the outside of the tube 1 and one covering the inside; the two pieces being stitched together along seams 3 at the end of each tube 1. The material is drawn tightly around the tube before being stitched along the seams 3 and this combined with a longitudinal seam 4 along the lower edge of the muff maintains the folded tube 1 in its generally cylindrical shape.

Portions of the inner and outer covering pieces also extend beyond the seams 3 outwardly of the muff and these are stitched along a circular seam 5 to form a sleeve at each end of the muff with an opening 6 to receive the hands of the person using the muff. Elastic tape is sewn into the region of the covering surrounding the hole 6 and this causes the material to be gathered in around a small opening so that when the user inserts his hands through the hole 6 the elastic material grips around his wrists and substantially seals of the interior of the muff. A small pocket 7 of the same material that goes to make up the covering 2 is sewn on the covering 2 within the interior of the tube 1 this pocket has one open side and is adapted to receive an object which supplies a source of heat.A strap 8 made from the same material as the covering 2 is fixed to the rear surface of the muff and is tied around the neck of the user so that the muff is generally at waist height. The rear surface of the muff also includes a strip 9 of fastening material which is selected to corresponding strip on the users clothing at about waist level.

This strip may be of a velcro material. Alternatively the strip may be replaced by pop fasteners or any other suitable means.

The object used to heat the interior of the tube comprises a flat oval casing 10 lined with asbestos material. The casing is hinged along one edge and opens to allow a heating fuel stick 11 to be inserted.

The interior of the casing 10 includes a depression which is adapted to receive the cylindrical fuel rod.

The fuel rod suitably comprises a slow smouldering fuel stick such asthe kind that are readily available commercially.

Claims (7)

1. A handwarming device comprising; a body of heat insulating material having two openings leading to one or more compartments in its inner region suitable for receiving through the two openings respectively the two hands of the user, the device being of such a shape and weight as to be readily supported by the users arms with his hands inserted into said openings; and an object operative to provide heat for a continuous period, the body of heat insulating material being adapted to receive and retain the hot object within the interior of the body.

2. A handwarming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body of heat insulating material is provided with a waterproof covering both on its outer surface and lining the or each compartment.

3. A handwarming device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said body of heat insulating material is adapted to receive the hot object by means of a pocket adjacent the or each compartment, the pocket including an opening to receive the hot object.

4. A hand warming device as claimed in any of the peceding claims wherein said hot object comprises a casing containing a slow burning fuel element.

5. A handwarming device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer covering is elasticated around said openings so that the covering grips around the wrists of a user when his hands are inserted.

6. A handwarming device as claimed in any of the preceding claims which further comprises means for attachment to the body or clothing of a user such that the device remains in position when the hands are removed from the device.

7. A handwarmer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.