Abstract:
A method and apparatus for utilizing heat-generating articles to provide active heating of a user&#39;s hand, wherein a heated article is placed near the inside of a user&#39;s wrist to cause the user&#39;s body temperature to be maintained or actively changed. A holder apparatus for use with a conventional heat pack may include a glove body including a wrist sleeve having an externally accessible pocket for receiving the heat pack. The finger end of the glove body may be truncated to allow the holder apparatus to be worn inside of, and in conjunction with a conventional glove or mitten. The holder apparatus may also include a securing band which serves to engird the inside of the wrist to thereby hold the article closely against the wrist and thereby assure heat transfer between the temperature-altering article and the inside of the wrist.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a method of controlling body temperature during exposure to cold environmental conditions, and to an apparatus useful in practicing the described method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of controlling body temperature by holding a heat pack in close proximity to the inside of a user&#39;s wrist, and an apparatus usable for holding the heat pack close to the inside of the user&#39;s wrist. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   People are frequently exposed to environmental conditions which result in discomfort, particularly environmental conditions due to excessive heat or cold. The discomfort caused by hot or cold conditions may be exacerbated by a medical condition, or by other factors, such as lack of movement in cold weather and too much movement in hot weather. 
   Construction workers and other service workers may be required to spend time outdoors as part of the job, sometimes during the winter months in cold-weather climates. Accordingly, such workers require clothing and equipment which will allow them full mobility, yet which will keep them healthy and relatively comfortable while working under such conditions. 
   While wearing appropriate clothing is a key to comfort when going out into excessively cold weather, this is a passive solution which merely takes advantage of the fact that to keep warm on cold days, the body generates heat. It would be advantageous if a person could use an active solution which serves to actually heat a portion of the body, as needed. 
   Hand warmers have long been known to warm the hands of hunters and ice fishermen. These devices typically have a flammable fluid reservoir and a perforated upper body inside of which an exothermal oxidation process occurs which releases heat into the hands of the holder. It has also long been known for persons who will be out in severely cold weather to wear electrically heated socks which are energized by a battery pack carried by the wearer. Recently, chemical technology has provided the consumer with packets that heat or cool when exposed to air and shaken or otherwise kneaded. 
   For example, a product which produces heat is entitled “Hand Warmer” and is made in Taiwan for Kmart Corp, Troy, Mich. The directions indicate that the packet (having a paper-like outer skin and loose powder inside) is to be removed from its sealed outer pack (having a plastic skin), then shaken or squeezed gently for a few minutes in open air. Thereafter the directions state: “Place packet in your pocket or glove, and it will release heat.” The package indicates the product is odorless, harmless, non-toxic and the warmth lasts for hours. The package further indicates that the contents are: iron powder, water, active carbon, salt, polymer and sand, having an approximate net weight of 30 grams. The packet has dimensions of approximately 4 inches by 2.25 inches. It is believed that this product requires oxygen flow around the product, to facilitate an oxidizing reaction which generates heat internally therein. 
   What remains needed in the art is an optimum methodology for holding a heat pack close to the skin of a user, to provide active heating of the user&#39;s body. Ideally, this type of method would promote air flow past a heat pack stored within an article of clothing, to facilitate the oxidation reaction within the heat pack. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for use in conjunction with a known heat pack, so as to provide active heating of a portion of a user&#39;s body, and in particular the hand. 
   According to one example of a method of the present invention, a heat pack is placed proximate the inner wrist of a user, to thereby cause the temperature of the body of the user to be actively changed as blood flows therepast. The method may include a step of actively moving air past the heat pack, to promote oxidation thereof. 
   The method of the present invention relies upon the fact that during normal activity, a considerable amount of blood flows inside of the wrist, in an area close to the surface, and that this blood circulates, firstly, into the hand. Consequently, if a heated article is placed close to the inside of the wrist of a person, the blood flowing therepast will be warmed, and this will help to make the person feel warmer. Indeed, it has been found that a heated article, placed against the inside of the wrist, heats the blood flowing into the hand sufficiently that gloves may become optional, even in cold weather. 
   An apparatus according to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention is in the form of a wearable holder for a temperature-altering article such as a heat pack. One suitable holder according to the invention is a glove body including a wrist sleeve having an externally accessible pocket, for receiving a heat pack therein. While the glove body may have a mitt end or fingers in any well known conventional structure, alternatively, the finger end of the glove body may be truncated, to allow the apparatus to be used in conjunction with a conventional glove or mitten. 
   The holder may include a securing band which serves to engird the inside of the wrist to thereby hold the heat pack close to the wrist, and thereby promote efficient heat transfer between the heat pack and the inside of the wrist. The holder may further include one or more air passages formed therein, having open end ports, to allow air to flow past a heat pack stored in a pocket of the holder. Where these air passages are used, they may be reinforced to promote good air flow therethrough, and one or more spacer members may be provided inside of the air passages, to ensure that the air passages remain open. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method to actively warm or cool the body by a localized application of a heated temperature-altering article proximate the inside of the wrist of a user. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a holder for holding a temperature-altering article, such as a heat pack, near the inside of the wrist of a user, to actively warm the body by a localized application of heat. 
   These, and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification. 
   For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a temperature-altering article holder according to the present invention, shown in operation on the wrist of a user. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a first variation of the article holder of  FIG. 1 , wherein a slit thereof is closeable by a flexible hook and loop fastener. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the temperature-altering article holder according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the article holder of  FIG. 1 , showing a temperature-altering article about to be inserted into a slit of the article holder. 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the article holder of  FIG. 1 , showing a temperature-altering article being inserted into the slit of the article holder. 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the article holder of  FIG. 1 , showing a temperature-altering article inserted into the pocket of the article holder and the securing band being wrapped about the user&#39;s wrist. 
       FIG. 6  is a partly sectional end view of the article holder of  FIG. 1 , seen along line  6 - 6  thereof. 
       FIG. 7  shows a second variation of the article holder of  FIG. 1 , wherein an arm extension of the wrist sleeve is provided. 
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an article holder according to another embodiment of the invention, in which reinforced air flow channels are provided within the holder, and open ports are provided at the ends of the reinforced air flow channels; and 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the article holder of  FIG. 8 , taken along the line  9 - 9  thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a holder  10  is shown, for use in holding a temperature-altering article  12  near the inside  14   a  of the wrist  14  of a user (see  FIG. 6 ). It will be noted that in the depicted embodiment, the holder  10  is generally in the form of a glove body  16  having a wrist sleeve  18 , for placement surrounding the wrist  14  of a user. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the glove body  16  includes a palm member  20  which is truncated  22  at the fingers, but which includes a thumb receptacle  24 . 
   The holder  10  is particularly adapted for use with a heat pack as the temperature-altering article  12 , in which case, the heat pack  12  is chemically based and in the form of a packet. 
   One example of a suitable material for use in construction of the glove body  16  is a stretchable elastic or spandex-type of material, however other materials may be used. In one feasible construction of the glove body  16 , the wrist sleeve  18  is integral with the palm member  20 . 
   The wrist sleeve  18  includes a pocket  26  which may be accessed through a slit  28  at the outer face  18   a  of the pocket  26 . The slit  28  and pocket  26  are dimensioned so that a temperature-altering article  12 , such as for example the “Hand Warmer” packet discussed hereinabove, is insertable through the slit, and is capable of being held securely resident inside the pocket. The pocket  26  is preferably thin-walled at the inner face  18   b  thereof ( FIG. 6 ) to thereby facilitate heat transfer between the inside  14   a  of the wrist  14  and the temperature-altering article  12 . 
   In order that the temperature-altering article  12  be kept from heat exchanging with the general environment, an insulating layer  30  may be located at the outer face  18   a  of the pocket  26 , also located at the wrist sleeve  18  adjoining the pocket distally with respect to the palm member  20 , and also located at the palm member adjoining the pocket and extending to the base  24   a  of the thumb receptacle  24 . Where used, the insulating layer  30  enhances body temperature change in response to the temperature-altering article  12  in the pocket  26 . 
   One example of an acceptable structure of the holder  10  is the for glove body to be composed of the aforementioned elastic or spandex-type material, and for a felt-like material to be sewed onto the glove body. The felt-like material may be slitted to provide the slit  28 , and may serve simultaneously as the outer face  18   a  of the pocket  26 , and as the insulating layer  30 . 
   In order to keep the holder  10  snugly in place on a user&#39;s arm, and to ensure and enhance heat exchange between the blood flowing at the inside  14   a  of the wrist  14  and the temperature-altering article  12 , the holder may also include a securing band  32  attached to the wrist sleeve  18 . The securing band  32  serves to press the temperature-altering article  12  firmly against the inside of the wrist  14 . The securing band  32  is connected at a proximate end  32   a  thereof to the wrist sleeve  18 , and is sufficiently elongated so as to be able to be wrapped around and engird the wrist  14 . The securing band  32  is held tightly about the wrist  14  by a fastener  34 , which may be a flexible hook and loop fastener  34   a , such as for example VELCRO (a trademarked product of Velcro, USA). 
     FIG. 1A  shows a first variation of the holder  10 , wherein the glove body  16 ′ is modified so that the slit  28 ′ is provided with an overlap  36  which is secured closedly by a fastener  34 ′, preferably VELCRO. When the first variation is utilized, the fastener  34 ′ may render the securing band  32  unnecessary. 
     FIG. 7  depicts a second variation of the holder  10 , wherein the wrist sleeve  18  now includes a sleeve extension  38  which serves to assist the arm  40  of a user to be temperature altered in response to heat exchange at the inside  14   a  of the wrist  14  with the temperature-altering article  12 . 
   The method according to the present invention is as follows. 
   A user grasps the temperature-altering article  12  and performs whatever steps are necessary to activate its heating property so that it is hotter than the ambient temperature of the local environment. The user inserts a hand into the glove body, and then inserts the temperature-altering article through the slit  28  and into the pocket  26  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The securing band  32  is then tightly wrapped around the wrist, to press the temperature-altering article against the inside  14   a  of the wrist  14  of the hand of the user (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). Now, heat will exchange between the blood flowing in blood vessels  42  near the inside of the wrist, thereby actively altering the temperature of the hand, and, in addition, the arm of the hand and the body. 
   Modified Air-Flow Embodiment 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 8-9 , another embodiment of a holder  110  is shown, for use in holding a temperature-altering article  12  near the inside  14   a  of the wrist  14  of a user. It will be noted that in the depicted embodiment, the holder  110  is generally in the form of a glove body  116  having a wrist sleeve  118 , for placement surrounding the wrist  14  of a user. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-8 , the glove body  116  includes a palm member  120  which is truncated at the fingers, but which includes a thumb receptacle  124 . The palm member  120  may include a reinforced and padded section  121 , as shown, to provide comfort to a user. 
   The holder  110  is particularly adapted for use with a heat pack as the temperature-altering article  12 , in which case, the heat pack  12  is chemically based and in the form of a packet. 
   One example of a suitable material for use in construction of the glove body  116  is a stretchable elastic or spandex-type of material, however other materials may be used. In one feasible construction of the glove body  116 , the wrist sleeve  118  is integrally attached to the palm member  120 , and the glove body  116  also includes an outer wrist blanket  117 , which is a separate outer layer sewn on to one side of the wrist sleeve  118 . 
   A pocket  126  is therefore defined, in this embodiment, between the wrist blanket  117  and the wrist sleeve  118 . The pocket  126  may be accessed at the outer edge  119  of the wrist blanket  117 . The pocket  126  is dimensioned so that a temperature-altering article  12 , such as for example the “Hand Warmer” packet discussed hereinabove, is insertable thereinto, and is capable of being held securely resident inside the pocket. 
   Air Flow Ports 
   As noted above, the commercially available heat packs require periodic air flow therepast, to support oxidation of chemicals therein. In this embodiment, in order to ensure that air flow is facilitated through the pocket  126 , air flow ports  150 ,  152  are provided in opposite areas of the wrist blanket  117 . The air flow ports  150 ,  152  may be covered with plastic screening, or with an open-weave fabric which has relatively large openings formed therein, such as, for example, a fabric in which the openings in the fabric are equal to or larger than the width of the fabric strands. 
   Reinforced Air Flow Passages 
   To further ensure that air flow is facilitated through the pocket  126 , and to keep the pocket from collapsing, a plurality of reinforced air flow passages, such as those shown at  154 ,  155 , and  156  in the drawings may be provided inside of the pocket, extending between the air flow ports  150 ,  152  in the opposite areas of the wrist blanket  117 . 
   One or more perforated tubes or springs such as those shown at  157 ,  158 ,  159  may be provided to define relatively rigid side walls of the reinforced air passages  154 ,  155 ,  156 . These perforated tubes or springs  157 ,  158 ,  159 , where used, function as reinforcing spacer members provided for spacing the wrist blanket  117  outwardly away from the wrist sleeve  118 . A thin intermediate layer of screening or highly porous fabric  160  may be provided below the reinforced air flow passages to hold the perforated tubes or springs  157 ,  158 ,  159  in place as reinforcement members, and this fabric  160  may be a continuation of the material covering the air flow ports  150 ,  152 . If desired, the reinforced air flow passages may be sewn in place within the pocket  126 , or otherwise may be attached to the lower surface of the wrist blanket  117 . 
   One example of an equivalent structure which could be used in place of the perforated tubes or springs  157 ,  158 ,  159  could be that a substantially rigid plastic reinforcing member could be used, either in place of the wrist blanket  117  or as a reinforcement to keep the wrist blanket  117  in a position spaced away from the wrist sleeve  118 . 
   In order that the temperature-altering article  12  be kept from heat exchanging with the general environment, an added insulating layer may be located beneath the wrist blanket  117 , similar to the layer  30  shown in  FIG. 6 . Where used, the insulating layer  30  enhances body temperature change in response to the temperature-altering article  12  in the pocket  126 . 
   In order to keep the holder  110  snugly in place on a user&#39;s arm, and to ensure and enhance heat exchange between the blood flowing at the inside  14   a  of the wrist  14  and the temperature-altering article  12 , the holder may also include a securing band  132  attached to the wrist sleeve  118 . The securing band  132  serves to press the temperature-altering article  12  firmly against the inside of the wrist  14 . The securing band  132  is connected at a proximate end  132   a  thereof to the wrist sleeve  18 , and is sufficiently elongated so as to wrappably engird the wrist  14 . The securing band  132  is held tightly about the wrist  14  by a fastener  134 , preferably a flexible hook and loop fastener  134   a , such as for example VELCRO (a trademarked product of Velcro, USA). 
   The present invention also relates to a method of using the described holder apparatus  110  to actively warming a user&#39;s body. The method includes a first step of activating a heat pack  12  to cause the heat pack to become warmer than a local ambient environment. The method also includes a step of placing a holder apparatus around the wrist of a user. The holder apparatus used in the method hereof may be the holder  110  of the modified air-flow embodiment as described herein. 
   Once the heat pack  12  is activated, the user places the activated heat pack in the pocket  126  of the apparatus  110  near an inside portion of a wrist  14  of a user, to thereby cause thermal exchange between the heat pack and blood flowing adjacent the inside of the user&#39;s wrist. 
   As noted above, the holder  110  may include insulation, to thereby limit thermal interaction of the temperature-altering article with the local environment. 
   The method may, optionally, include a further step of covering a selected portion of the user adjacent the wrist to facilitate thermal heat exchange. 
   Another optional step which may be used in the method hereof involves flexing part of the user&#39;s arm or hand, to promote air flow through the air flow passages  154 ,  155 ,  156 . This flexing may involve pivotally moving the user&#39;s arm about the elbow, which is believed to create a bellows-like action in forcing air over the heat pack  12 , to promote the heat-generating oxidation reaction therein. 
   To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, the above described described embodiment may be subject to change or modification. Such change or modification can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.