Body warming device

• US 4,186,746 A
• Filed: 01/16/1978
• Issued: 02/05/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William H Byler & Thelma T Byler As Trustees of The Willam H Byler Revocable Trust
• Original Assignee: William H Byler & Thelma T Byler As Trustees of The Willam H Byler Revocable Trust
• Inventors: Byler, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/870,012
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 128/379-385, 128/399, 128/402, 128/403, 128/254, 128/24.1, 128/82.1, 126/263, 126/204, 126/207, 126/206, 150/2.1, 150/2.2, 150/2.3, 150/2.4, 150/2.5, 165/46, 220/301
• US Class Current: 607/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0045 Foot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0228 with belt or strap, e.g. with buckle
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0276 with separate compartments connectable by rupturing a wall or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/03 thermophore, i.e. self-heating, e.g. using a chemical reaction

Abstract

A portable body warming device is disclosed having a housing which encloses separately a water compartment and a salt compartment. The salt compartment has segmented chambers, each of which contains salt which reacts exothermically with water supplied by means of interconnecting tubes. Addition of the water to the salt is controlled such that the exothermic reaction is effected over a period of time and usefully serves to warm the body of a user. For use in emergency water immersion situations, an automatic double starting valve is disclosed.

Claims

1. A body warming device which comprises in combination:

(A) a housing containing a water compartment and a salt compartment, said salt compartment having segmented chambers in stacked arrangement each containing salt which reacts exothermically with water;

(B) a plurality of water conveying tubes interconnecting the water compartment and the salt compartment, said tubes extending between said water compartment and the lowest of said segmented chambers to deliver water first to the lowest of said chambers then to higher chambers in succession;

(C) an air relief tube interconnecting the salt compartment and the water compartment; and

,

(D) means for controllably supplying water from the water compartment to the salt compartment.

2. The body warming device of claim 1 wherein the water conveying tubes are slotted.

3. The body warming device of claim 1 wherein an opening is provided in the water compartment for introduction of water whenever heat is desired.

4. The body warming device of claim 1 wherein the water compartment is partitioned to provide an upper water storage chamber and a lower water distribution chamber, the partition having an opening with valve control, the air relief tube having a valve closure, said valve control and valve closure controlled by control means accessible from outside the housing.

5. The body warming device of claim 1 wherein an upper opening in the water compartment is closed by a water rupturable membrane which weakens on immersion in water and allows water to enter.

6. The body warming device of claim 5 including a water-tight closure provided over the water rupturable membrane, means for mounting said closure on said housing, and opening means operable both manually and automatically when the device is mounted for use.

7. The body warming device of claim 5 including spring means, said spring means supported by said housing and extending both along and in contact with said water-rupturable membrane thereby to spring-load said water-rupturable membrane.

8. The body warming device of claim 1 including heat conducting means, said heat conducting means attached to and extended beyond the situs of said housing thereby increasing the distribution of heat to other parts of the body.

9. The body warming device of claim 1 having means for securing to the body of the user and for insulating against loss away from the body.

10. The body warming device of claim 1 wherein said air relief tube includes a valve closure for preventing ingress of water to said salt compartment while permitting escape of air from said salt compartment.

11. The body warming device of claim 10 wherein said valve closure includes a slit through a wall and along said tube.