Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a reusable personal heating system including a sealed container filled with a supercooled supersaturated solution and an activator located in a fixed position within the container which triggers an exothermic crystallization process when depressed. The removable and reusable personal heating system fits into a garment worn under other clothing and is easily activated through other clothing. The present invention provides a personal heating system that allows the wearer to participate in outdoor activities in cold conditions while permitting ease of mobility and range of motion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/888,800, filed on Feb. 8, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to a reusable personal heating system filled with a supercooled supersaturated solution and including a trigger device and to a garment worn under other clothing containing a removable and reusable personal heating system easily accessible through other clothing. 
   It is beneficial for people participating in outdoor activities such as diving, motorcycle riding, hunting, fishing, water skiing, snow skiing, yard work, etc. to wear light-weight clothing which allows for ease of mobility and range of motion. During some of these activities the participant becomes wet or is submerged in water for all or most of the time. Some of these activities are done in cool weather. As a result, the participant is forced to wear heavier clothing or multiple layers, hence restricting his mobility and motion. This may shorten his time spent participating in the activity. For example, when diving in colder environments, the diver may wear a thicker wet suit. Another option is to purchase a dry suit, but they are expensive and require additional training to operate safely. Electric heaters are available for dry suits, but most are expensive and not easily recharged. 
   There are many heat packs utilizing a supercooled, supersaturated solution and a metallic activator to educe an exothermic phase change and warm the user. The solution and activator are stored inside a container, usually a plastic pouch, such that the solution is in contact with the activator. When the metallic activator is flexed, it initiates the crystallization process and heat is released. Once the crystallization process is complete, the container is heated, for example by boiling, melting the solution once more. After the solution is melted, the activator can be flexed again, starting the process over. For more information on how the metallic activator initiates the crystallization process, see Mansel A. Rogerson &amp; Silvana S. Cardoso,  Solidification in Heat Packs: III. Metallic Trigger , Vol. 49, No. 2 AIC H E J OURNAL  522 (Feb. 2003). 
   These heat packs are reliable, inexpensive, environmentally safe and easily recharged; however, the commercially available heat packs are not suitable to be activated under layers of clothing. For one thing, the heat packs are hard to access through multiple layers and, therefore, difficult to activate. Many of these heat packs require two hands to activate. Additionally, often the activator floats in the solution making it difficult to locate. As a result, the user must activate the heat pack before inserting it under layers of clothing in order to use it during diving or other such activity. It is desirable to activate the heat pack after spending some time participating in the activity, for example, when a diver descends into a colder depth of water. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The present invention discloses a reusable personal heating system attached to a garment to be worn under clothing which allows the wearer to participate in outdoor activities in cold conditions while permitting ease of mobility and range of motion. The invention comprises a reusable personal heating system including a sealed container, such as a plastic pouch, filled with a supercooled, supersaturated solution which releases heat during crystallization. The personal heating system also includes a crystallization activator which is located in a substantially fixed position within the container. A button that can be found and depressed through thick clothing is located in a fixed position above the activator. When the button is depressed, the activator flexes initiating the exothermic crystallization process. After the phase change is complete, the personal heating system can be heated, for instance by boiling, which will melt the solution. At this point the personal heating system can be reused. 
   The present invention further discloses a garment with multiple compartments that is worn under other clothes such as a wetsuit. The compartments are large enough to hold a personal heating system and large enough that the wearer can remove and replace a personal heating system while wearing the garment. The personal heating system fits into the compartment. The button on the personal heating system should face away from the wearer&#39;s body to make it easy to find the personal heating system. 
   The wearer can wear the garment under a thick wet suit or other clothing, insert personal heating systems in the compartments before starting an activity and activate the personal heating system through his outer clothing while participating in the activity without removing the personal heating system from the garment. 
   The present invention discloses a personal heating system that is safe, inexpensive, non-toxic, reusable and easily activated during an outdoor activity through multiple layers of outer wear. One advantage of the present invention is that it provides a push-button convenience for activation of a personal heating system containing a supercooled, supersaturated solution. Another advantage is that it allows the wearer to activate a heat pack through his clothing. Another advantage is that the activator and button are located in a fixed position in the heat pack. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of one embodiment of the personal heating system. 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of on embodiment of the personal heating system and a means of suspending the holder in the solution. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of one embodiment of the holder, activator and button. 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of the one embodiment of the holder, activator and button where the button is depressed and the activator is flexing. 
       FIG. 5  shows a top view of one embodiment of the personal heating system including a means of suspending the holder in the solution. 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of one embodiment of the personal heating system including a means of suspending the holder in the solution. 
       FIG. 7  shows a top view of one embodiment of the personal heating system including a means of suspending the holder in the solution. 
       FIG. 8  shows a side view of one embodiment of the personal heating system where the ribs are attached to the a side of the container. 
       FIG. 9  shows a side view of one embodiment of the personal heating system where the holder is attached to the side of the container. 
       FIG. 10  shows a diver wearing one embodiment of the garment and activating the personal heating system through his wetsuit. 
       FIG. 11  shows a skier wearing one embodiment of the garment and activating the personal heating system through his wetsuit. 
       FIG. 12  shows one embodiment of the personal heating system attached to a garment. 
       FIG. 13  shows a front view of one embodiment of the garment. 
       FIG. 14  shows a back view of one embodiment of the garment. 
       FIG. 15  shows one type of commercially available activator. 
       FIG. 16  shows a front view of the compartment that is attached to the garment to hold the personal heating system. 
       FIG. 17  shows a back view of one embodiment of the compartment that is attached to the garment to hold the personal heating system. 
       FIG. 18  shows a top view of one embodiment of the personal heating system including a means of suspending the holder in the solution. 
       FIG. 19  shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the ribs, holder, button, and activator. 
       FIG. 20  shows a top view of one embodiment of the holder. 
       FIG. 21  shows a side view of one embodiment of the holder, activator and button. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention comprises a sealed container  1  holding a supercooled, supersaturated solution  5  which undergoes an exothermic phase change from liquid to solid. In one embodiment, the solution  5  is sodium acetate trihydrate, but it may be any other commercially available non-toxic, supercooled, supersaturated solution suitable for utilization in heat packs. The sealed container  1  is made of a flexible material, such as a plastic like polyvinylchloride (PVC). The container material must be suitable to withstand the heat required to melt the solution and the heat generated by the crystallization, but flexible enough that it does not restrict movement when worn as part of an active person&#39;s clothing A solution  5  is inside the container  1 . The container  1  has a perimeter edge  4 . 
   An activator holder  10  with at least one opening  11  ( FIG. 3 ) is located in a fixed position in said container  1  such that it is in contact with the solution  5 . One embodiment includes a means for suspending said holder  10  in a fixed position in said solution  5 .  FIGS. 2 and 18  show one means for suspending holder  10  in a fixed position in said solution  5 . A plurality of ribs  15  are attached to holder  10  and extend in various directions to the perimeter edge  4  of container  1 . The ribs  15  float in solution  5 . Any movement of the holder-rib assembly is minimal because the ribs  15  will hit the perimeter edge  4  of the container  1 , thus holder  10  remains in position. The ribs  15  are made of a durable material which is compatible with solution  5 , such as plastic. Those of skill in the art will recognize that there are many ways to attach the ribs  15  to the holder  10 . Referring now to  FIGS. 18 ,  19 , and  20 , in one embodiment, the ribs  15  fit into a ridge  6  in said holder  10  and extend in various directions from the holder  10  to the perimeter edge  4  of container  1 .  FIG. 7  shows another alternative means. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show another means for suspending holder  10  in a fixed position in said solution  5 . At least one rib  15  is attached to holder  10  and extends in various directions through the perimeter edge  4  of container  1 . The perimeter edge  4  and the ribs  15  are adhered together by heat sealing or some similar process. These ribs  15  can be of any durable material capable of being heat sealed. 
     FIG. 8  shows another means for suspending holder  10  in a fixed position in said solution  5  where said ribs  15  are affixed to a side  2  of said container  1 . Said holder  10  is attached to said ribs  15  such that said solution  5  is in contact with said opening  11 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are many equivalent methods of suspending holder  10  in a fixed position in solution  5 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , in another embodiment, said holder  10  is immobile because it is attached to said side  2  of said container  1 . The opening  11  of said holder  10  is in contact with said solution  5 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are various methods of attaching said holder  10  to said side  2  such as gluing and welding. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a commercially available crystallization activator  20  is mounted to holder  10  so that one side of activator  20  is adjacent to the opening  11 . The activator  20  is in contact with the solution  5  through the opening  11 . The activator  20  is selected from any of the commercially available activators used in heat packs. In one embodiment, the activator  20  is a flexible, stainless steel disk with a concave side and slits or indentations in its surface. An example of such an activator  20  is shown in  FIG. 15 . There are many methods of mounting the activator  20  in the holder  10  which are known to those skilled in the art. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment the holder has a grooved edge  12  adjacent to said opening  11 . The grooved edge  12  has dimensions such that the edges of the activator  20  fit securely under the grooved edge  12 . The grooved edge  12  may protrude from the bottom of the holder  10  or it may be recessed into the bottom of holder  10 . In another embodiment, the activator  20  is molded directly into the holder  10  adjacent into the opening  11 . A first side of the activator  20  is in contact with solution  5  through opening  11 . In yet another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 21 , the holder  10  has a top piece  21  and a bottom piece  22  with an opening  11 . The top piece  21  is attached to the bottom piece  22 . The activator  20  is disposed between said top piece  21  and said bottom piece  22  such that the activator  20  is in contact with the solution  5  through the opening  11 . 
   A button  30  is adjoined to said holder  10  and adjacent to second side of said activator  20 . When the wearer presses on the button  30 , the activator  20  flexes starting the crystallization process. (See  FIG. 4 ) The button  30  is of sufficient hardness that it can be found and pressed through several layers of thick clothing. This allows the wearer to activate the personal heating system with one hand while participating in an outdoor activity as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Since assembly of the holder  10 , the button  30 , and activator  20  is in a substantially fixed location, it is possible for the wearer to activate the personal heating system with one hand while participating in an activity without having to locate the activator in the container. 
   There are many methods of placing the button  30  into the holder  10  which are known to those skilled in the art, for example molding, gluing or welding the button  30  onto the holder  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the button  30  is attached to a top  31 . Said holder  10  has a bottom  32  and a perimeter side  33  of a certain height attached to the perimeter edge of bottom  32 . The top edge of perimeter side  33  had a ridge  34 . The edge of said top  31  fits securely under said ridge  34 . Said bottom  32  has an opening  11  and a grooved edge  12 . Said activator  20  fits securely under said grooved edge  12 . Alternatively as shown in  FIG. 21 , said holder  10  has a top piece  21  and a bottom piece  22 . Said top piece  21  is attached to said bottom piece  22  and said activator  20  is disposed there between. The button  30  fits under a ridge  23  affixed to said top piece  21 . The button  30  and activator  20  are positioned so that when said button  30  is depressed, it contacts said activator  20  which flexes and initiates the crystallization process. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , in another embodiment, the button  30  is attached to a side  2  of said container  1  instead of being attached to said holder  10 . Said holder  10  and activator  20  are in a fixed location adjacent to said button  30  such that said activator  20  is in contact with said solution  5 . The holder  10  and activator  20  are positioned so that when said button  30  is depressed, it contacts said activator  20  which flexes and initiates the crystallization process. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 12 ,  13  and  14 , the present invention includes a garment  35  such as a shirt, vest, belt, harness or other similar apparel which is capable of being worn under other clothing such as a wet suit, sweater, snow suit or other similar clothing. (See  FIGS. 10 and 11 ) The garment  35  can be made of any thin, durable material. In some embodiments, the garment  35  is made of lycra, neoprene, or the equivalent. Those skilled in the art will realize that other materials will also be suitable. 
   The garment  35  has at least one compartment  40  large enough to enclose the container  1 . Referring now to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the compartment  40  has at least one side  41  attached to garment  35 . The compartment  40  has at least one opening  45  where the container  1  can be inserted or removed from the compartment  40 . If the container  1  is inserted into the compartment  40  so that the button  30  is adjacent to the side  41 , it is easier for the wearer to depress the button  30  through his clothing. The compartments  40  are of sufficient size that the container  1  can be easily removed or replaced into the compartment  40  while the wearer is wearing the garment  35 . 
   There is a closure mechanism  46  attached to the opening  45  so that the opening  45  may be closed thus securing the container  1  inside the compartment  40  while the wearer is active. The closure mechanism  46  may be any number of common closure devices such as Velcro, snaps, zippers, or the like. In one embodiment, the closure mechanism  46  is corrosion resistant. 
   In one embodiment, the closure mechanism  46  may consist of a flap  47  and a fastener  48 . The first end of said flap  47  is attached to said compartment  40  adjacent to said opening  45 . The second end of said flap  47  extends over said opening  45 , covering said opening  45 . The fastener  48  is affixed to the opposite side of the compartment  40  as the first end of said flap  47 . The second end of said flap  47  is secured to the compartment  40  by said fastener  48 . The fastener  48  may be any number of common closure devices such as Velcro, snaps, zippers, or the like. In one embodiment, the fastener  48  is corrosion resistant. 
   The compartments are also made of a durable material, but are of sufficient thickness to keep the containers well insulated from the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the compartments  40  are made of lycra, neoprene, or some similar material. In one embodiment, portion of the garment  35  where the side  41  of the compartment  40  is attached is thinner than the rest of the compartment  40  to allow for efficient heat transfer through the garment  35  to the wearer. In one embodiment, the portion of the garment  35  where the side  41  of the compartment  40  is attached includes at least one aperture  43  to allow for increased heat transfer through the garment  35  to the wearer. (See  FIG. 17 ) 
   In another embodiment, a side  41  of the compartment  40  includes at least one aperture  43 . In still another embodiment, the compartment  40  is attached to the interior of the garment  35  such that the container  1  is intermediate to the garment  35  and the wearer&#39;s body. In yet another embodiment, the compartment  40  is attached to the exterior of the garment  35  such that the garment  35  is intermediate to the container  1  and the wearer&#39;s body. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12 , in one embodiment, there are at least four (4) compartments  40  on said garment  35 . The compartments  40  may be located anywhere on the garment  35 . Suggested locations are under the armpits or on the back over the kidneys. 
   The present invention is reusable because after crystallization is complete and no more heat is being generated, the container  1  may be heated, for example by boiling, to melt the crystals. This regenerates the container  1  and it can be used again. The garment  35  is also reusable because once crystallization is complete, the container  1  can be removed from the compartment  40  and replaced with a new or regenerated container  1 .