Air-activated device-warming systems and methods

Methods and systems are presented for configuring oxygen barriers for controlled access to chemical warming agents such as wood fiber, vermiculite, activated charcoal, iron, and salt. In this way a smart phone, syringe, or other cold-sensitive device may be warmed by such agents to restore or maintain functionality in a frigid environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1illustrates an exploded view of an air-activated warming assembly according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2illustrates a system including the assembly ofFIG. 1by which a user can operate an assembly so as to choose between distinct rates of heat emission according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3illustrates a system in which a mobile device case facilitates air-activated warming according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4illustrates a cross-sectional view of the system ofFIG. 3according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5illustrates a frigid environment in which one or more variant embodiments may be especially useful.

FIG. 6illustrates another cross-sectional view of an air-activated warming system according to one or more variant embodiments.

FIG. 7illustrates a flow chart of operations relating to air-activated warming system according to one or more variant embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description that follows is represented largely in terms of processes and symbolic representations of operations by conventional computer components, including a processor, memory storage devices for the processor, connected display devices and input devices. Furthermore, some of these processes and operations may utilize conventional computer components in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment, including remote file servers, computer servers and memory storage devices.

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” and the like are used repeatedly. Such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. As used herein a quantity is “about” a value X only if they differ by less than a factor of 3, unless context dictates otherwise. As used herein “numerous” means hundreds or more, unless context dictates otherwise. As used herein a structure is “porous” only if it has numerous moisture-permeable pores (i.e. holes smaller than 5 microns in diameter) pervading therethrough. As used herein a structure is “absorbent” only if it is porous enough to soak up more than 5 microliters of liquid per hour by wicking (capillary action, e.g.).

As used herein one value is “on the order” of another if the two values are within an order of magnitude (i.e. if they differ by less than a factor of ten).

FIG. 1illustrates an exploded view of an assembly110configured to house one or more (instances of) air-activated chemical warming mixtures130. Side-by-side layers121,122may be selectively removed by peeling them away as shown inFIG. 2. After either or both such removals, a mesh layer123allows substantially unobstructed air ingress through multiple ports141,142(of an infrared-reflective layer125, e.g.) as shown to the air-activated chemical warming mixture(s)130. Because other avenues of air ingress (through layer126, e.g.) are blocked/airtight, the effective (cross-sectional) area145A of such ports141basically limits the rate of oxygen ingress and thereby controls the rate195A of heat emission (in calories per second, e.g.). By choosing whether or when to remove layer122as well, a user can effectively increase a cross-sectional ingress area145B by the addition of several additional ports142. This relaxes the limited overall rate of oxygen ingress and thereby increases the rate195B of heat emission (in calories per second, e.g.) by more than 10%.

Such mixtures130may include various amounts131of combustible organic matter132(dry wood fiber, e.g.), of activated carbon133, of vermiculite135, of iron136, of salt138, of other fillers or reactants, or of combinations of these. Such mixtures130may primarily comprise fine particles (powders, e.g.) having an aggregate surface area145C much larger than the above-described port-limited (effective) areas145A-B.

As used herein a flow is an “ingress” if it is primarily directed toward one or more chemical warming agents (by diffusion or convection, e.g.). As used herein an “oxygen barrier” includes an oxygen-impermeable layer or a layer semi-permeable to oxygen with pores small enough to slow diffusion flow therethrough by more than 50%.

Referring now toFIG. 2, there is shown a system200that allows a user201to operate assembly110so as to choose among (an airtight inactive mode and respective active modes featuring) distinct rates195A-B of heat emission. To invoke a “medium” rate195A, user201opens a first oxygen barrier by removing a single-piece first layer121(as shown), allowing a medium amount of oxygen-rich air209to flow, or at least allowing oxygen therein to flow, through ports141to mixture130. To invoke a “high” rate195B, user201thereafter opens a second oxygen barrier by removing another single-piece layer122as shown, allowing a medium amount of oxygen-rich air to flow, or at least allowing oxygen therein to flow, through ports142to mixture130.

This can occur, for example, in a context in which the assembly110has a length261of 70 to 170 millimeters (mm), a width262of 10 to 90 mm, a thickness of 0.2 to 2 mm, a mass of 10 to 90 grams, a footprint area265within an order of magnitude of 500 square millimeters, and a footprint with rounded corners (so that assembly110can serve well as a hand warmer inside of a glove as well, e.g.). In some variants, for example, an annular periphery (having a median width) narrower than 8 mm may be sealed (laminated, e.g.) to facilitate cost-effective manufacture. Alternatively or additionally, some or all of the layers121,122,123,125,126as shown may be made of biodegradable materials.

Referring now toFIG. 3, there is shown a system300that optionally implements one or more features of system200. A case360is provided with a length361and width362that is conventional for protecting a smartphone or similar mobile device370. Case360has an atypically large thickness363, however, to accommodate frigid temperatures that would otherwise damage device370or render it inoperative (or both). This can occur, for example, in a context in which case360(with device370and cover348) provides an air exclusion structure within which one or more chemical warming agents can be given limited access to air209therein so that a controlled quantity of initial heat energy (limited by an air volume367therein) can be released, in which the cold-sensitive device is rendered operative in a frigid environment by that controlled quantity of heat, in which that controlled quantity is not enough to damage the device370, and in which a trickle of oxygen (through one or more ports342,343, e.g.) thereafter maintains the device370at a suitable temperature over a period of days or weeks. Although the calibration of such controlled quantities will depend upon the particular design, in light of teachings herein, some such experimentation is not undue. See alsoFIG. 4, which depicts a cross-sectional view368of device370and case360.

Referring now toFIG. 4, there is shown a containment405that is large enough for one or more warming-agent-containment assemblies410in one or more chambers447having a limited (initial) air volume367of 10-100 milliliters. After consuming most of the oxygen inside chamber447as shown, for example, warming agents inside the one or more assemblies410may obtain additional oxygen primarily through one or more ports342,343having an aggregate (effective) oxygen ingress area (as area145B, e.g.) on the order of 2 square millimeters. In some variants a distal side494B of an assembly110may include an infrared-reflective layer125decreasing a fraction of heat energy wasted (on heating the case360rather than the device370, e.g.). In others another portion of an exclusion structure (case360, e.g.) may support or otherwise include an infrared-reflective coating or other layer429. Alternatively or additionally, some assemblies410may be assembled with an annular periphery498configured (laminated, e.g.) so that a primary side494A of an assembly110,410(has a surface area265that) is more than 1% smaller than that of a distal side494B thereof and thereby further to enhance heat transfer to the device270,370.

Referring now toFIG. 5, there is shown a frigid environment500in which a functionality of a smartphone, inhaler, syringe, or other device270,370may become impaired because of excessive cold. As used herein, a “frigid” environment is at or below zero Celsius. As used herein a device is “cold-sensitive” if one or more functional components thereof is at risk of changing form (e.g. freezing), being damaged, or otherwise not functioning because of a temperature thereof becoming too low. Ordinary gloves and blankets are not “cold-sensitive” devices as described herein, although their utility (e.g. comfort) may be incrementally enhanced by warming in some contexts.

Referring now toFIG. 6, there is shown a system600that optionally implements one or more features of the above-described systems200,300. One or more chemical warming agents630(as exemplified inFIG. 1, e.g.) are configured among layers621,622,624,626in an assembly110,410such as those described above. An oxygen barrier (including an airtight layer621, e.g.) of a first exclusion structure (such as a sealed envelope615or similar containment405, e.g.) is opened (by a user201removing layer621, e.g.). This establishes an oxygen ingress area (as area145A, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630that is quite small in comparison to a surface area145C thereof, wherein the ingress area effectively limits a rate195A of heat emission. Another oxygen barrier (a cover348or other closable structure, e.g.) of a second exclusion structure (including an airtight layer622, e.g.) is also configured to be opened—selectively—if the user201wants faster heat emission (at rate195B, e.g.). The ports641,642that are opened by these respective actions are at least as shown. In some contexts the assembly may be affixed by (an adhesive644or one or more other) positioning elements to a back side672of an electronic device670so as to warm an adjacent internal component of the device670(a battery675, e.g.). Alternatively or additionally one or more assemblies110,410may likewise be positioned so as to warm an adjacent component on the front side671of the device670(a display screen676, e.g.). This can occur, for example, in a context in which such assemblies110,410are provided with suitable directions to ensure that excessive heat does not damage the device670or create a hazardous situation.

Referring now toFIG. 6, there is shown task flow700in light of one or more technologies herein. Operation715describes obtaining one or more chemical warming agents contained by first and second exclusion structures (e.g. one or more users201buying or constructing an assembly110,410containing such agents).

Operation730describes opening a first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure so as to create a first oxygen ingress area A1of the one or more chemical warming agents and thereby to initiate an activation of the one or more warming agents at a corresponding first heat emission rate R1(e.g. one or more users201opening a first oxygen barrier (an airtight layer121,621, e.g.) of a first exclusion structure (a sealed envelope or similar containment405, e.g.) so as to establish a first oxygen ingress area A1(as area145A, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to initiate an activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630at a corresponding first heat emission rate R1). This can occur, for example, in a context in which A1>1 square millimeter, in which heat emission rate R1reaches within an order of magnitude of 100-1000 calories per second swiftly upon the first oxygen barrier being opened, and in which the first heat emission rate R1is an omnidirectional, overall emission value. Alternatively or additionally, the “heat emission rates” described herein may pertain to emissions from the one or more chemical warming agents630to a device they are configured to warm (e.g. by adjacent placement during an activated emission).

Operation755describes configuring a second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure so as to establish a second oxygen ingress area A2of the one or more chemical warming agents and thereby to modify the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents to a corresponding second heat emission rate R2(e.g. one or more users configuring a second oxygen barrier (another layer122or openable port342, e.g.) of a second exclusion structure (a layer125or other container, e.g.) so as to establish a second oxygen ingress area A2(as area145B, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to modify the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630to a corresponding second heat emission rate R2(as rate195B, e.g.). This can occur, for example, in a context in which the second oxygen ingress area A2differs significantly from the first oxygen ingress area A1so as to allow a smartphone, syringe, respirator, or other cold-sensitive device270,370,670to be warmed by the one or more chemical warming agents630, in which multiple types of chemical warming devices would otherwise be necessary to accommodate the users' inability to adapt a given assembly110,410for a particular use in the field.

In light of teachings herein, numerous existing techniques may be applied for configuring special-purpose warming structures and materials as described herein without undue experimentation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 10,010,121 (“Hand warmer with a sealable end”); U.S. Pat. No. 10,104,974 (“Device and method for warming a seat”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,920,954 (“Heating tool”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,821,204 (“Heated lacrosse stick shaft”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,668,913 (“Biodegradable disposable hand warmer”); U.S. Pat. No. 9,528,780 (“Methods, devices and systems for extraction of thermal energy from a heat conducting metal conduit”); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,573 (“Exothermic chemically heated ear warmer”). These documents are incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent herewith.

With respect to the numbered clauses and claims expressed below, those skilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise. Also in the numbered clauses below, specific combinations of aspects and embodiments are articulated in a shorthand form such that (1) according to respective embodiments, for each instance in which a “component” or other such identifiers appear to be introduced (with “a” or “an,” e.g.) more than once in a given chain of clauses, such designations may either identify the same entity or distinct entities; and (2) what might be called “dependent” clauses below may or may not incorporate, in respective embodiments, the features of “independent” clauses to which they refer or other features described above.

CLAUSES

obtaining one or more chemical warming agents630(having within an order of magnitude of 35 grams of a mixture130in proximity of a handheld device, e.g.);

opening a first oxygen barrier (an airtight layer121,621, e.g.) of a first exclusion structure (an airtight cellophane envelope615or the like, e.g.) so as to establish a (containment405including one or more openable ports621or otherwise having an aggregate or other nominal) first oxygen ingress area A1(as area145A, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to initiate an activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630at a corresponding first heat emission rate R1, wherein A1>1 square millimeter and wherein R1reaches within an order of magnitude of 100-1000 calories per second upon the first oxygen barrier being opened; and

configuring a second oxygen barrier (another layer122or openable port342, e.g.) of a second exclusion structure (a layer125or other container, e.g.) so as to establish a (total or other nominal) second oxygen ingress area A2(as area145B, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to modify the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630to a corresponding second heat emission rate R2(as rate195B, e.g.), wherein the second oxygen ingress area A2differs from the first oxygen ingress area A1by more than 1%.

2. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the first and second heat emission rates R1and R2pertain only to that portion of heat emitted by the one or more chemical warming agents630to a device270,370,670that the one or more chemical warming agents630are configured to warm.

3. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

placing (at least) the one or more chemical warming agents630within an enclosure (e.g. a case, glove, tent, or bag) to be warmed.

4. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

placing the one or more chemical warming agents630and the second exclusion structure within an enclosure or other device to be warmed.

5. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier causes a (smartphone, syringe, or other) cold-sensitive device270,370,670to be warmed by the one or more chemical warming agents630.

6. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein R1reaches within an order of magnitude of 100 calories per second upon the first oxygen barrier being opened.

7. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein R1reaches within an order of magnitude of 1000 calories per second upon the first oxygen barrier being opened.

8. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the second exclusion structure at least partly comprises a phone case360.

9. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the second exclusion structure at least partly comprises a removable cover348.

10. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the second exclusion structure at least partly comprises a replaceable cover348.

11. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure essentially consists of:

maintaining an assembly110,410that includes the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270; and

removing a single-piece layer121so as to (create or otherwise) establish the first (effective) oxygen ingress area A1of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to activate the one or more chemical warming agents630at the corresponding first heat emission rate R1, wherein the first oxygen barrier includes the single-piece layer121.

12. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure comprises:

maintaining an assembly110,410that includes the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270while removing a single-piece layer121so as to (create or otherwise) establish the first (effective) oxygen ingress area A1of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to activate the one or more chemical warming agents630at the corresponding first heat emission rate R1, wherein the first oxygen barrier includes the single-piece layer121.

13. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure essentially consists of:

maintaining an assembly110,410that includes the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270; and

removing a single-piece layer122so as to (create or otherwise) establish the first (effective) oxygen ingress area A2of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to activate the one or more chemical warming agents630at the corresponding second heat emission rate R2, wherein the second oxygen barrier includes the single-piece layer122.

14. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure comprises:

maintaining an assembly110,410that includes the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270while removing a single-piece layer122so as to (create or otherwise) establish the first (effective) oxygen ingress area A2of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to activate the one or more chemical warming agents630at the corresponding second heat emission rate R2, wherein the second oxygen barrier includes the single-piece layer122.

15. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through several ports141of an infrared-reflective film layer125to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the opening the first oxygen barrier, whereby at least 25% of infrared energy thereby emitted by the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630is reflected (e.g. back toward or through the one or more chemical warming agents630).

16. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through more than a dozen ports141of a film layer125to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the opening the first oxygen barrier.

17. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through several corresponding ports141to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the opening the first oxygen barrier, wherein the one or more corresponding ports141each have an area145A within an order of magnitude of 10 square millimeters.

18. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through a corresponding plurality of ports141to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the opening the first oxygen barrier, wherein the a corresponding plurality of ports141has an (effective) aggregate area145A greater than 30 square millimeters.

19. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through a corresponding plurality of ports141to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the opening the first oxygen barrier, wherein the a corresponding plurality of ports141has an (effective) aggregate area145A less than 300 square millimeters.

20. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through several corresponding ports142to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the opening the second oxygen barrier, wherein the one or more corresponding ports142each have an area145B within an order of magnitude of 10 square millimeters.

21. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through a corresponding plurality of ports142to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the opening the second oxygen barrier, wherein the a corresponding plurality of ports142has an (effective) aggregate area145B greater than 30 square millimeters.

22. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through a corresponding plurality of ports142to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the opening the second oxygen barrier, wherein the a corresponding plurality of ports142has an (effective) aggregate area145B less than 300 square millimeters.

23. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through several ports142of an infrared-reflective film layer125to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the opening the first oxygen barrier, whereby at least 25% of infrared energy thereby emitted by the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630is reflected (e.g. back toward or through the one or more chemical warming agents630).

24. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure comprises:

allowing air to flow through more than a dozen ports142of a film layer125to the one or more chemical warming agents630by the configuring the first oxygen barrier.

25. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

affixing a restickable adhesive644(i.e. one that comprises at least some microstructures that effectively reduce an amount of surface area in contact between the adhesive644and an adhered substrate by more than 0.1%) between a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670and the assembly that includes the one or more chemical warming agents630, wherein the restickable adhesive644is one of the one or more positioning elements.

26. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein an opening, encasement, or other prescribed manual action (by user201, e.g.) effectively triggers a selective transition to the adjusted heat emission rate R2and thereby causes the device270,370,670to be warmed by the one or more chemical warming agents630in a frigid environment500.

27. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein an opening, encasement, or other prescribed manual action (by user201, e.g.) effectively triggers a selective transition to the adjusted heat emission rate R2and thereby causes the device270,370,670to be (kept warm or otherwise) warmed in a manner related to the second heat emission rate R2.

28. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

configuring at least one of the one or more positioning elements to position the one or more chemical warming agents630within a chamber447adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670before configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure.

29. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

configuring at least one of the one or more positioning elements to position the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670before configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure.

30. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

configuring at least one of the one or more positioning elements to position the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670while configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure.

31. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

configuring at least one of the one or more positioning elements to position the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670after configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure.

32. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the first heat emission rate R1peaks within five minutes after the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure and declines steadily thereafter for five minutes before the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure is configured so as to establish the second oxygen ingress area A2.

33. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure is performed after the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure so as to establish the first oxygen ingress area A1(as area145A, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to initiate the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630at the corresponding first heat emission rate R1is complete.

34. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure comprises:

removing one or more layers121,122(comprising an oxygen-impermeable envelope615, e.g.) from an assembly110,410that includes the one or more chemical warming agents630.

35. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure comprises:

removing one or more layers121,122from a single side494B of an assembly110,410that includes the one or more chemical warming agents630.

36. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the obtaining one or more chemical warming agents630comprises:

receiving an assembly110,410that includes the one or more chemical warming agents630.

37. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein a prescribed manual opening of a partial layer121,521(covering less than 80% of a side494A-B, e.g.) effectively triggers the first heat emission at rate R1.

38. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents at the corresponding first heat emission rate R1occurs swiftly (i.e. within 30 seconds) upon the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure being opened.

39. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein a total amount131of the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof is within an order of magnitude of 35 grams.

40. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein a total amount131of the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof is greater than 5 grams.

41. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein a total amount131of the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof is greater than 25 grams.

42. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein a total amount131of the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof is less than 120 grams.

43. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein a total amount131of the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof is less than 200 grams.

44. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 1% by weight of activated carbon133and at least 0.5% by weight of vermiculite135.

45. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 5% by weight of combustible organic matter132(dry wood fiber, e.g.) and at least 1% by weight of activated carbon133.

46. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 5% by weight of combustible organic matter132(dry wood fiber, e.g.) and at least 0.5% by weight of vermiculite135.

47. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 5% by weight of combustible organic matter132(dry wood fiber, e.g.) and at least 0.5% by weight of iron136.

48. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 1% by weight of activated carbon133and at least 0.5% by weight of iron136.

49. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 0.5% by weight of vermiculite135and at least 0.5% by weight of iron136.

50. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 5% by weight of combustible organic matter132(dry wood fiber, e.g.) and at least 0.5% by weight of salt138.

51. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 1% by weight of activated carbon133and at least 0.5% by weight of salt138.

52. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 0.5% by weight of vermiculite135and at least 0.5% by weight of salt138.

53. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the one or more chemical warming agents630in an assembly110,410thereof comprise a mixture130of at least 0.5% by weight of iron136and at least 0.5% by weight of salt138.

54. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure comprises:

creating one or more openable ports142,342having a nominal (aggregate or other) second (effective) oxygen ingress area A2(as area145B, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby modifying the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630to a corresponding second heat emission rate R2(as rate195B, e.g.) within one hour of the second oxygen barrier being configured.

55. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier comprises:

configuring a chamber447adjacent the device270,370,670(by removing a cover348, e.g.); and

causing an assembly110,410that includes the one or more chemical warming agents630to extend into the chamber447.

56. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the second heat emission rate R2is greater than the first heat emission rate R1.

57. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the second heat emission rate R2differs from the first heat emission rate R1by more than 10%.

58. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the second heat emission rate R2differs from the first heat emission rate R1by more than 50%.

59. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

configuring at least one of the one or more positioning elements to position the one or more chemical warming agents630within a chamber447adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670before configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure.

60. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

configuring at least one of the one or more positioning elements to position the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670before configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure.

61. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

configuring at least one of the one or more positioning elements to position the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670while configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure.

62. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, comprising:

configuring at least one of the one or more positioning elements to position the one or more chemical warming agents630adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670after configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure.

63. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the first heat emission rate R1peaks within five minutes after the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure and declines steadily thereafter for five minutes before the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure is configured so as to establish the second oxygen ingress area A2.

64. The method of any of the above METHOD CLAUSES, wherein the configuring the second oxygen barrier of the second exclusion structure is performed after the opening the first oxygen barrier of the first exclusion structure so as to establish the first oxygen ingress area A1(as area145A, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to initiate the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630at the corresponding first heat emission rate R1is complete.

one or more chemical warming agents630(having within an order of magnitude of 35 grams of a mixture130in an assembly110thereof, e.g.);

a first oxygen barrier (an airtight layer121,621, e.g.) of a first exclusion structure configured to be opened so as to establish a (vapor barrier including one or more openable ports621or otherwise having an aggregate or other nominal) first oxygen ingress area A1(as area145A, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to initiate an activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630at a corresponding first heat emission rate R1, wherein A1>1 square millimeter and wherein R1reaches within an order of magnitude of 100-1000 calories per second (dependent) upon the first oxygen barrier being opened; and

a second oxygen barrier (a cover348or other closable structure, e.g.) of a second exclusion structure (a cover348or other container, e.g.) configured so as to establish one or more openable ports142,342having an (aggregated second effective) oxygen ingress area A2(as an overall ingress area145B, e.g.) of the one or more chemical warming agents630and thereby to modify the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630to a corresponding second heat emission rate R2(as rate195B, e.g.), wherein the second oxygen ingress area A2differs from the first oxygen ingress area A1by more than 1%.

66. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, wherein the first exclusion structure comprises an envelope615.

67. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, wherein the second exclusion structure includes a coating or other infrared-reflective layer429.

68. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, comprising:

an assembly110,410that contains the one or more chemical warming agents630having a primary side494A thereof that is adjacent a first cold-sensitive device270,370,670and a distal side thereof that is not adjacent the cold-sensitive device270,370,670, wherein the primary side494A is more than 1% smaller than the distal side494B.

69. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, comprising:

a cold-sensitive device270,370,670configured to be warmed by the activation of the one or more chemical warming agents630, wherein the cold-sensitive device is rendered operative in a frigid environment by an activation of the one or more chemical warming agents.

70. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, wherein the second exclusion structure (comprising a case360or other assembly110,410that contains the one or more chemical warming agents630, e.g.) has (one or more air containment chambers447with) an (initial) air volume367greater than 20 milliliters.

71. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, wherein the second exclusion structure (comprising a case360or other assembly110,410that contains the one or more chemical warming agents630, e.g.) has (one or more air containment chambers447with) an (initial) air volume367less than 80 milliliters.

72. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, comprising:

an entirety of the first exclusion structure.

73. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, comprising:

an entirety of the second exclusion structure.

74. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, wherein the second exclusion structure at least partly comprises a phone case360.

75. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, wherein the second exclusion structure at least partly comprises a removable cover348.

76. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, wherein the second exclusion structure at least partly comprises a replaceable cover348.

77. The system of any of the above SYSTEM CLAUSES, configured to be made or used (or both) according to any of the above METHOD CLAUSES.

While various system, method, article of manufacture, or other embodiments or aspects have been disclosed above, also, other combinations of embodiments or aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the above disclosure. The various embodiments and aspects disclosed above are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated in the final claim set that follows.