Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Thermal applicators
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-31
2001-03-27
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Thermal applicators
C607S112000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206909
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable warmer suitable for a user's body that utilizes heat generated from an oxidative reaction between liquefied petroleum gas and air.
As a conventional warmer, Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Application No. 49-108290, published in 1974, discloses an electric heating belt accommodating an electric heater with a battery supplying electric power to the electric heater.
According to this conventional warmer, there is a shortage of heat energy produced from the electric heater due to a limited capacity of the battery. Increasing a battery power may be possible, however it will result in undesirable increases in battery size and weight. Therefore, it is not practical to use this conventional warmer as a warming device for a human body.
To obtain a sufficient amount of electric power, it will be possible to connect the warmer to a commercial power source via an electric cord instead of using the battery. However, this cannot realize a portable warmer.
Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Application No. 48-60708, published in 1973, discloses a jacket accommodating a platinum catalytic burning apparatus.
According to this conventional warmer, the heavy burning apparatus will fairly increase the weight of the jacket. This will be uncomfortable for a user. The burning apparatus needs to be removed from the jacket every time the jacket is washed. It is not convenient.
Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model No. 50-8039, published in 1975, discloses a foot warmer that utilizes a catalytic combustion of liquefied petroleum gas.
Moreover, conventional pocket heaters are generally known as utilizing a chemical reaction of iron oxide powders and having an adhesive member for fixing a heater body to an arbitrary portion.
The conventional warmer utilizing a chemical reaction is inherently disadvantageous in that the temperature cannot be controlled, it cannot be used for a long time, and it is basically a disposable type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a warmer capable of warming a user's body safely, satisfactorily and accurately.
In order to accomplish the above and other related objects, the present invention provides a warmer comprising a catalytic heat generating apparatus comprising a fuel tank for storing fuel gas and a catalytic burning section connected to the fuel tank. The catalytic burning section generates heat based on an oxidative reaction between the fuel supplied from the fuel tank and air. The catalytic heat generating apparatus is accommodated in a housing of a heater section. The heater section having both ends connected to a pair of belt portions which are to be wound around the user's body when the warmer is used for fixing the heater section to an intended portion of the user's body.
Preferably, the housing has an opening for taking the catalytic heat generating apparatus into and out of the housing. The catalytic burning section may be securely held in the housing by a fixing member.
The catalytic heat generating apparatus may comprise a plurality of separate units, and the fuel tank is connected to the catalytic burning section via a flexible connecting member.
Preferably, the heater section comprises a plurality of ventilation holes for communicating an inside space of the housing with an external space. In this case, at least part of the ventilation holes is provided on a bottom of the housing.
The catalytic burning section may comprise an intake section for introducing air from the external space and an exhaust section for emitting combustion gas. At least one passage is provided to connect either of the intake and exhaust sections to the external space. In this case, one end of the passage is connected to either of the intake and exhaust sections while the other end is extended to one of the belt portions and communicated with the external space.
Furthermore, the heater section may comprise a heat transfer board for diffusing the heat generated from the catalytic burning section.
Preferably, a cushion member is provided on at least one of the heater section and the belt portions.
The fuel tank may be detachable from the catalytic heat generating apparatus, and a storage is provided on at least one of the belt sections for storing a spare fuel tank.
It is further preferable that the warmer of the present invention comprises a control section for feedback controlling a temperature of the catalytic burning section to a set value. The control section may be associated with a handy controller for allowing a user to set a desirable temperature. When not in use, the handy controller is held in a holder provided on one of the belt portions.
It is further preferable that the warmer of the present invention comprises a time control section for controlling a combustion time in the catalytic burning section. Preferably, the time control section stops the fuel gas supplied to the catalytic burning section in response to an elapse of a predetermined time during a supplying operation of the fuel gas from the fuel tank to the catalytic burning section.
REFERENCES:
patent: 912527 (1909-02-01), Batter
patent: 4180922 (1980-01-01), Cieslak et al.
patent: 4281418 (1981-08-01), Cieslak et al.
patent: 4685442 (1987-08-01), Cieslak
patent: 5665057 (1997-09-01), Murphy
patent: 5928275 (1999-07-01), Yates et al.
patent: 2851602 (1980-06-01), None
patent: 0014300 (1980-08-01), None
patent: 2708196 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 48-60708 (1973-08-01), None
patent: 49-108290 (1974-09-01), None
patent: 50-8039 (1975-03-01), None
Hanada Touru
Kimura Shigehiro
Kusaka Takaaki
Nakai Kouji
Yabuuchi Hidetaka
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Gopstein Israel
Matsushita Electric Industrial Col Ltd.
Ram Jocelyn Debra
LandOfFree
Portable warmer suitable for a body does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Portable warmer suitable for a body, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Portable warmer suitable for a body will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2516508