GB2511570A

GB2511570A - Hand-warmer

Info

Publication number: GB2511570A
Application number: GB1304236.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Dennis Lowe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-08
Filing date: 2013-03-08
Publication date: 2014-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-08
Also published as: GB201304236D0; GB2511570B

Abstract

A hand-warmer 10 for attachment to a handle, the hand-warmer comprises a resilient curved member 12; means for heating the curved member; and fastening means 14 on opposing edges of the curved member 12; wherein the fastening means is adapted to secure the curved member 12 to the handle. The heating means may be an electrical element (30, figure 1e). The device may be attached to the handle of a cycle, pushchair, paddle, golf club or ski pole, amongst other things.

Description

Hand-warmer

Field of invention

The present invention relates to hand-warmers, particularly to hand-warmers suitable for attachment to handles.

Background

In cold weather it is desirable to keep your hands warm, particularly if your hands are holding something which requires dexterity or feeling. Thick gloves are often not practical (for example when playing golf) or sometimes not sufficient (for example when riding a motorcycle).

For this reason devices which warm the hands when holding motorcycle handlebars do exist. These are typically in the form of heated grips which can be installed by removing the existing grips from the end of the handlebars and sliding on replacement grips which are provided with internal electrical heating elements. The replacement grips are then affixed to the handlebars, often using adhesive so that the grips do not rotate. These devices can only be fitted to handlebars of a precise size and only ones which have an accessible end so as to enable the grip to be slid onto the handlebars. Once installed, the grips are difficult to remove due to the glue which ensures they do not rotate during use.

Some manufacturers offer motorbikes which have integrated heating elements in the handlebars. These however can be expensive and the heating element is non-transferable between different motorbikes or to other devices where hand-warming would be advantageous.

Such integrated hand-warmers can be very problematic to repair in the case of a fault as it is not possible to remove them. Furthermore, if the fault is not repairable a larger unit (for example the handlebars themselves) may have to be replaced in order to restore functionality.

The present invention aims to alleviate at least some of these problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand-warmer for attachment to a handle, the hand-warmer comprising: a resilient curved member; means for heating the curved member; and fastening means on opposing edges of the curved member; wherein the fastening means is adapted to secure the curved member to the handle.

Preferably, the resilient curved member forms a substantially arcuate shape so as to conform to an outer surface of a handle.

Preferably, the resilient curved member comprises a resilient plastic layer.

Preferably, the resilient curved member comprises a resilient rubber layer.

Preferably, the resilient curved member comprises a resilient fabric layer.

Preferably, the resilient curved member is tubular and is adapted to clamp around a handle via an opening along a side of the resilient member, the opening being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the curved member.

Preferably, the fastening means are provided on opposing edges of the opening.

Preferably, the fastening means are adapted to draw the opposing edges of the curved member towards one another.

Preferably, the resilient curved member comprises two contiguous curved members hingedly connected to one another along a contiguous edge.

Preferably, the heating means is removable, and wherein the curved member includes means for receiving the heating means.

Preferably, the means for receiving the heating means is in the form of a sleeve and/or pocket.

Preferably, the heating means is electric, preferably in the form of an electric heating element.

Preferably, the heating means is battery-powered.

Preferably, the heating means is powered by a generator adapted to be fixed to the wheel of a bicycle.

Preferably, the hand-warmer further comprises means for controlling the heating means.

Preferably, the heating control means comprises a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PlC) thermistor.

Preferably, the heating control means comprises means for pulsing or modulating the power supplied to the heating means.

Preferably, the heating control means is adapted to cut off power to the heating means when the temperature exceeds a pre-set limit.

Preferably, the heating means is adapted to heat the convex outer surface of the curved member more than the concave inner surface.

Preferably, the heating means is situated nearer the outer surface than the inner surface.

Preferably the hand-warmer further comprises a heat deflecting member adapted to deflect heat towards the outer surface of the curved member.

Preferably, the resilient member is adapted to snap1it on to a handle.

Preferably, the fastening means comprises tensioning means.

Preferably, the tensioning means comprises at least one of an elastic loop and hook; a hook and loop (Velcro) strap; a buckle; and a tension latch.

Preferably, the inner convex surface of the curved member comprises a compressible material.

Preferably, the compressible material comprises at least one of high density foam and neoprene.

Preferably, the inner concave surface of the curved member is adapted to grip a tubular member so as to inhibit the rotation of the hand-warmer with respect to the tubular member.

Preferably, the outer surface is formed as a hand grip.

The invention extends to any novel aspects or features described and/or illustrated herein.

Further features of the invention are characterised by the other independent and dependent claims Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa.

Any apparatus feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure, such as a suitably programmed processor and associated memory.

It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

In this specification the word or' can be interpreted in the exclusive or inclusive sense unless stated otherwise.

Like features are indicated by like reference numerals in the figures.

The invention extends to methods and/or apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The invention is now described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 show a hand-warmer according to a first embodiment; Figure 2 shows a hand-warmer according to a second embodiment; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view showing an example construction of a portion of the hand-warmer shown in Figures 1 or 2; Figure 4(a) is a schematic diagram showing circuit elements within an example hand-warmer; Figure 4(b) shows an example circuit diagram including a temperature control mechanism; and Figures 5 show various alternative fastening means.

Detailed descriQtion

The device described herein is adapted to securely fasten to a tubular member such as a handle and provide heat to a user's hand gripping it. The term handle' used herein means a member adapted (or suitable) to be held or grasped by a hand; for example golf buggy handles, handlebars for motorbikes or bicycles, mobility scooters, prams, pushchairs, walking frames, umbrellas, kayak paddles, rowing oars, walking poles and ski poles.

Figure 1 shows an example hand-warmer 10 which comprises a resilient member 12 and fastening means 14. The hand-warmer 10 is adapted to be placed on a handle 50 so that the inner surface contacts the handle, and is secured in place by fastening means 14 which comprises a strap 18 and tensioning loop 20 (as shown in Figure 1(b)).

The resilient member 12 is deformable so as to conform at least partially to the shape of the tubular member 50 to which it is attachable, as shown in Figure 1(b). The tubular member 50 is shown to be round, but it will be appreciated that it could be shaped differently, such as oval or square. In use, a user places the resilient member 12 onto a handle 50, passes the strap 18 through the tensioning loop 20, pulls it back onto itself thus forcing the resilient member 12 to conform to the shape of the handle 50. The straps 18 are then secured by hook and loop type connectors such as Velcro®. A person skilled in the art would realise that a variety of tensioning means could be used. Figure 5 shows a number of alternative fastening means 14.

The resilient member 12 is operable to deform to an arcuate shape with a range of different radii of curvature. This provides the advantage of a single hand-warmer 10 being suitable to fasten onto a range of different dimensioned handles 50. The lower limit of radius of curvature is limited by the amount by which the resilient member 12 can bend without permanently deforming or requiring excessive force to fasten. The upper limit is larger than the un-stressed radius of curvature r, a user can snap fit' the hand-warmer 10 onto a handle which has a larger radius of curvature. The optimum radius of curvature of the handle is one which causes the resilient member 12 to cover most of the handle 50 without over-stressing the resilient member 12.

In one embodiment shown in Figure 1(c), the resilient body 12 is shown to subtend an angle O when unstressed, where 9 is under 180, preferably from 15U to 18 of the unstressed radius of curvature r. This is so that a user does not have to pre-stress the resilient member 12 when fixing it on a handle of larger radius of curvature, they can just push it on so that it snap-fits' to the handle 50, the restoring force of the resilient member 12 acting to grip to the handle 50. When being fixed to a handle with a radius of curvature smaller than r, the fastening means 14 applies a tensioning force so as to deform the resilient member 12 to a smaller radius of curvature. In such cases the resilient member 12 extends around the handle by an angle greater than e.

Alternatively, the resilient member 12 can extend by an angle 2 of greater than 180 as shown in Figure 1(d). In this example, the hand-warmer 10 snap-fits' around handles of a smaller or larger radius of curvature; thus making it easier to fasten it in place. However, this would make the device 10 harder to fit to handles with a radius of curvature greater than r as the resilient member 12 would be have to be pre-stressed in order to fit it on.

This alternative may be required to overlap itself when fitted to handles below a certain radius of curvature. It thus may be suited to a more limited range of sizes of handles, but providing an easier fit and more complete heating to this more limited range of handles.

The resilient member 12 further comprises a heating element 30 (shown by cutaway section 1(e)). The heating element 30 is battery powered; an electrical connection is formed with the battery via lead 32. In one embodiment, for example when the hand-warmer 10 is intended for use on an electric golf trolley or mobility scooter, this lead 32 connects the hand-warmer 10 to the existing on-board battery. In other embodiments, for example where there is no such pre-existing power source, this lead 32 would connect to a dedicated battery. Examples of such embodiments include where a hand-warmer is intended to be placed on items such as prams, pushchairs, umbrellas, bicycle handlebars, rowing oars, walking poles, ski poles and kayak paddles. In the example of bicycle handlebars, the power source may be provided by a dynamo / generator fixed to a wheel.

A control unit 34 is situated along this lead 32 which contains circuitry needed to control the heating of the hand-warmer 10. This control unit 34 may alternatively be integrally formed within the hand-warmer 10 itself. This element is described in more detail below with reference to Figures 4(a) and (b).

The level of heating depends on the particular application, which determines the choice of power source. In certain embodiments, large batteries may not be practical so the level of heating and/or the amount of time it is able to produce heat may be reduced. Where a 12 Volt battery is available (such as when fitted on an electric golf trolley or mobility scooter) sufficient heating can be provided by drawing 1-1.5 Amps of current -providing 12-18 Watts of heating. In other examples, 6V -24V batteries can be used, the current drawn may be varied to provide a similar amount of heating, or could be lower or higher powered than the 12V example described above.

Figure 1(e) shows an enlarged view of a cutaway of the resilient member 12 showing the heating element. The heating element is formed of a resistive wire snaking back and forth under the surface of the resilient member 12.

Figure 2 shows a hand-warmer 110 similar to the example shown in Figure 1 but where the resilient member 112 is formed of two contiguous members 112-1, 112-2 joined together by a hinge 102. The hand-warmer is then clamped to a handle by opening the hinge, placing the hand-warmer over a handle and then closing the hinge and securing the resilient members 112-1, 112-2 together using the straps 118 and tensioning loops 120. Each resilient member 112-1, 112-2 is heated in a similar fashion to the resilient member 12 shown in Figure 1. A common electrical connection is provided by a ribbon wire extending between the two members 112-1, 112-2. A connection to a power source 132 and control unit 134 is provided in a similar manner as the hand-warmer 10 described with reference to Figure 1 above.

Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-section through line A-A in Figure 1 and Figure 2 showing the layered construction of the resilient member 12, 112. The outermost layer 1 is a protective and comfort layer, made out of a compressible material such as foam or neoprene. This outermost layer 1 serves to give a comfortable feel to the hand-warmer, and to protect the heating element 30 from water and other damage. This outermost layer 1 may be textured so that it is easier to grip, or shaped so as to form a grip shape.

The heating element 30 is provided immediately beneath this layer 1. Where the heating element 30 is in the form of a resistive wire this layer has minimal thickness, An insulating I reflective layer 3 is directly underneath the heating element 30. This increases the amount of heat directed towards the outer layer and thus to a user's hands.

The next layer inwards is a resilient layer 5. This layer 5 provides rigidity to the resilient member 12,112. A suitable material for this layer is plastic, rubber or a re-enforced fabric.

The nature of the material (e.g. the type of plastic used) and the dimensions of the layerS can be tailored to produce a sufficiently resilient! flexible member 12,112.

Beneath this layer is a compressible layer 7, for example foam. This is compressed when the hand-warmer is secured to a handle, providing a secure fit. This is particularly advantageous where the handle is not a smooth shape (such as an oval) or when the radius varies along the length of the hand-warmer (such as when fitting over a hand-grip).

The layer at the bottom is shown as a ribbed I gripped surface 9. This may be a separate layer or formed on the outer surface of the compressible layer. This layer affords additional grip onto the handle which inhibits rotation or sliding of the hand-warmer on the handle.

Figure 4(a) is a block diagram showing electrical components of an example hand-warmer 10. A power source 55 is provided separately. As discussed above, this power source 55 is preferably an external battery. This powers the hand-warmer 10 via a control unit 34. The control unit 34 comprises circuitry which moderates the power delivered to the heating element 30 so that it heats to a sufficient temperature when required and does not over-heat. The control unit 34 comprises a switch 60 and temperature control circuitry 62. The switch 60 allows a user to turn the heating on and off. The temperature control circuitry 62 moderates the level of current passing to the heating element 30. In one example, this is afforded by a temperature sensor 64 feeding a temperature reading to the temperature control and the current being reduced or cut off if this the reading is above a pre-determined level. A user can change this pre-determined temperature level by for example selecting a High', Medium' or Low' heating level.

The temperature sensor 64 is in one example a thermistor 68 embedded near or within the heating element 30. The temperature is this inferred from the resistance of this element.

Figure 4(b) shows an example circuit diagram including a temperature control mechanism, such an arrangement is self-regulating. A Positive Temperature Coefficient (PIG) thermistor 68 is connected in series with the heating element so that when the heating element heats up, the resistance increases and thus less current is drawn. In order for a user to control the level of heating, additional resistors 70 (or additional PTC thermistors) can be added to the series circuit, increasing the resistance of the heating element and further reducing the current that is drawn.

Alternatives and modifications Various other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art for example digital circuitry could be used to control the level of heating. A transistor being used as a current-controlled switch may be used to turn off the heating once a certain temperature has been reached. The current controlling the switch can be self-regulating as described above by using a thermistor. In such a case, a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor may be used so that a raise in temperature reduces the resistance, thus increasing the current drawn to the transistor switch part of the circuit, shutting of current to the heating element. A PIG thermistor could also be used, with the transistor switch oriented the opposite way round so that a drop in current de-activates the transistor switch, and the circuit elements arranged so that this shuts off current to the heating element.

Although the heating means has been described as being temperature controlled (either passively by a resistance change or by digital circuitry) it does not necessarily have to be temperature controlled. Rather the energisation of the heating element may be pulsed' or modulated, with the duration and/or frequency of the pulses / modulation determining the heating power. The pulsed operation may be provided by digital circuitry including a timer circuit, or analogue circuitry utilising inductive and capacitive circuit elements to modulate the current and/or voltage.

In any of the examples described, there may additionally be a fail-safe' mechanism whereby the power is cut off if the temperature exceeds a pre-set limit; such a fail-safe mechanism could be similar to the temperature controlling means described above where a change in temperature alters the resistance of a circuit element.

Further alternatives relating to the fastening means 14 would also be apparent to those skilled in the art. The fastening means may be varied to anything which could provide the necessary tension to securely hold the hand-warmer to a handle.

Figures 5 show a variety of possible fastening means 14. Figure 5(a) shows an elastic loop which a user stretches over a hook to provide a tensioning force. This has the advantage of being simple and having a low-profile but may not provide sufficient securing force for small-diameter handles.

Figures 5(b) and (c) show two different tension latches. The ski-boot' type tension latch in Figure 5(c) has the advantage of providing multiple levels of tension, thus allowing a hand-warmer to be securely fastened to a range of diameter handles.

Figure 5(d) shows a buckle fastener. This may be provided in a similar manner to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, but rather than fastening with Velcro ®, a buckle is fastened and the strap is tightened to the required tension.

In the examples described above, the heating means 30 is resistive wire embedded within the resilient member 12. In other examples, this heating means 30 is removable, being placed within a sleeve or pocket on the outer surface of the resilient member 12.

This may be preferable where heating is not always required but the additional comfort (for example) of the resilient member 12 is required. This would also allow a user to replace or repair the heating element 30 if required. In a further alternative example, the heating is afforded by means of a packet inserted into a pouch in the resilient member 12.

This would allow a user to insert a single use (e.g. air activated, where heat is generated through the exothermic oxidation of iron) or reusable hand warming packet (e.g. crystallisation-type, where heat is generated through the exothermic crystallisation of a supersaturated solution such as sodium acetate).

The above description refers mainly to a hand-warmer being fastened to a handle but a person skilled in the art would realise that such a device could be fitted to any suitable tubular member. One example would be railings on the edge of a yacht which crew members can hold onto whilst the boat is keeling (leaning at an angle due to the force of the wind). This would allow them to hold on and not have to wear thick gloves to keep their hands warm which would otherwise inhibit performance in pulling ropes etc. It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A hand-warmer for attachment to a handle, the hand-warmer comprising: a resilient curved member; means for heating the curved member; and fastening means on opposing edges of the curved member; wherein the fastening means is adapted to secure the curved member to the handle.
2. A hand-warmer according to claim 1 wherein the resilient curved member forms a substantially arcuate shape so as to conform to an outer surface of a handle.
3. A hand-warmer according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the resilient curved member comprises a resilient plastic layer.
4. A hand-warmer according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the resilient curved member comprises a resilient rubber layer.
5. A hand-warmer according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the resilient curved member comprises a resilient fabric layer.
6. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the resilient curved member is tubular and is adapted to clamp around a handle via an opening along a side of the resilient member, the opening being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the curved member.
7. A hand-warmer according to claim 6 wherein the fastening means are provided on opposing edges of the opening.
8. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the fastening means are adapted to draw the opposing edges of the curved member towards one another.
9. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the resilient curved member comprises two contiguous curved members hingedly connected to one another along a contiguous edge.
10. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the heating means is removable, and wherein the curved member includes means for receiving the heating means. -12-
11. A hand-warmer according to claim 10 wherein the means for receiving the heating means is in the form of a sleeve and/or pocket.
12. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the heating means is electric, preferably in the form of an electric heating element.
13. A hand-warmer according to claim 12 wherein the heating means is battery-powered.
14. A hand-warmer according to claim 12 wherein the heating means is powered by a generator adapted to be fixed to the wheel of a bicycle.
15. A hand-warmer according to any of claims 12 to 14, further comprising means for controlling the heating means.
16. A hand-warmer according to claim 15 wherein the heating control means comprises a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistor.
17. A hand-warmer according to claim 15 wherein the heating control means comprises means for pulsing or modulating the power supplied to the heating means.
18. A hand-warmer according to any of claims 15 to 17 wherein the heating control means is adapted to cut off power to the heating means when the temperature exceeds a pre-set limit.
19. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the heating means is adapted to heat the convex outer surface of the curved member more than the concave inner surface.
20. A hand-warmer according to claim 19 wherein the heating means is situated nearer the outer surface than the inner surface.
21. A hand-warmer according to claim 19 or 20 further comprising a heat deflecting member adapted to deflect heat towards the outer surface of the curved member.
22. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the resilient member is adapted to snap-fit on to a handle.
23. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the fastening means comprises tensioning means.
24. A hand-warmer according to claim 23 wherein the tensioning means comprises at least one of: an elastic ioop and hook; a hook and ioop (Velcro) strap; a buckle; and a tension latch.
25. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the inner convex surface of the curved member comprises a compressible material.
26. A hand-warmer according to claim 25 wherein the compressible material comprises at least one of high density foam and neoprene.
27. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein the inner concave surface of the curved member is adapted to grip a tubular member so as to inhibit the rotation of the hand-warmer with respect to the tubular member.
28. A hand-warmer according to any preceding claim wherein an outer surface of the hand-warmer is formed as a hand grip.
29. A hand-warmer substantially as described and/or illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.