Self-contained personal warming apparatus and method of warming

• US 6,886,553 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kobayashi Consumer Products, LLC (Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Heatmax Incorporated (Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company Limited)
• Inventors: Yim, Daniel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US10/405,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 126/263.01, 126/263.02, 126/204, 62/4, 607/714, 607108-114, 215/8, 216/0
• US Class Current: 126/263.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0258 with a fluid permeable layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/034 Flameless

Abstract

A self-contained disposable single-use heat generating apparatus comprising a heat generating pack having a first bag layer defined by a first surface area bonded to a second bag layer defined by a second surface area and creating a pouch therebetween. A heat generating agent is disposed within the pouch and adapted to consume air at a predetermined consumption rate in an exothermic reaction. At least a portion of one of the first surface area and the second surface area comprises an air permeable surface area having a predetermined airflow rate such that the heat generating agent remains substantially evenly distributed within the pouch. A method of providing therapeutic heat is also provided.

Claims

1. A self-contained, disposable, single-use heat generating apparatus, comprising:

a heat generating pack comprising;

a first bag layer having a first surface area;

a second bag layer having a second surface area, said second bag layer being fixed to said first bag layer, such that said first bag layer and said second bag layer defining a pouch therebetween;

a heat generating agent disposed in said pouch, said heat generating agent arranged and configured to consume air at a predetermined air consumption rate in an exothermic reaction; and

at least one of said first surface area and said second surface area comprises an air permeable surface area having a predetermined airflow rate at which air is introduced to said heat generating agent, said predetermined airflow rate being arranged and configured to be less than said predetermined air consumption rate such that said heat generating agent remains substantially evenly distributed within said pouch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first bag layer is defined by a set of dimensions substantially corresponding to a set of dimensions defining said second bag layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first bag layer and said second bag layer comprises a microporous material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said microporous material comprises a fabric having a plurality of fibers forming an inter-locking web, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of fibers are bonded to each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of said first surface area and said second surface area comprises an air permeable surface area and the other of said first surface area and said second surface area comprises an air permeable surface area.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of said first surface area and said second surface area comprises an air permeable surface area and the other of said first surface area and said second surface area comprises an air impermeable surface area.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said air impermeable surface area comprises a low coefficient of friction.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a protective package for receiving said heat generating pack, said protective package being air impermeable and retarding said exothermic reaction.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said protective package is hermetically sealed with said heat generating pack disposed therein.

10. A method for providing therapeutic heat comprising:

containing a heat generating composition having a predetermined air consumption rate in a self-contained heat generating pack;

introducing air to said heat generating composition at a predetermined airflow rate arranged and configured to be less than said air consumption rate such that said heat generating composition remains substantially evenly distributed within said heat generating pack; and

providing a low coefficient of friction.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

removing said self-contained heat generating pack from an air impermeable protective package.