JPH1170137A - Pocket body warmer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily change-over the start and stop of heat generation for higher safety. SOLUTION: A pocket body warmer 16 is provided with a charge-type battery 19, a heater circuit 21 having a heater 20 for generating heat by energizing from the battery 19 and a case 18 for containing the heater circuit 21. Besides, a relay 22A inserted between the battery 19 and the heater 20, a thermistor 22C for measuring the temp. of the case 18 and a controller 22D for controlling the opening/closing of the heater circuit 21 by the relay 22A in accordance with the temp. of the case are provided inside the case 18. A power source switch 26 for opening/closing the heater circuit 21 and two terminals to which the positive and negative terminals of a charging external power source are freely attachably/detachably connected are provided at the external side of the case and a charging circuit to be used for supplying charging power to the battery 19 is also provided. Thus, temp. is not abnormally increased like a conventional pocket body warmer so that safety is drastically improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hand warmer, and more particularly, to a hand warmer having high safety and capable of easily switching between start and stop of heat generation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In cold weather such as winter, a hand warmer is used for local heating of the human body. In general, there are two types of hand warmers: a disposable hand warmer and a fuel hand warmer using a combustible liquid. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are a plan view of the disposable hand warmer and a side view as viewed from arrows II, respectively. The disposable hand warmer 10 is prepared by enclosing an iron powder 12, which generates an oxidation reaction when exposed to air and generates heat when exposed to air, in a dedicated paper 14 in a state of being sealed with, for example, a vinyl sheet, without being exposed to air. This is a handkerchief.
When the iron powder is brought into contact with air, such as when the vinyl sheet is opened, the iron powder is oxidized and generates heat of oxidation. Also,
A fuel type hand warmer is a hand warmer having a metal container and a fibrous body impregnated with a fuel such as asbestos in the container. To use a fuel-type hand warmer, a fibrous body is impregnated with a combustible liquid such as benzene as a fuel, and the metal container is heated by burning the fuel at the end of the fibrous body. The case usually has a fuel inlet so that fuel can be supplied.

[0003]

However, the conventional hand warmer has the following problems. In a disposable hand warmer, the hand warmer generates heat irrespective of the surrounding temperature.
In particular, it may cause low-temperature burns. Further, since it is disposable, resources such as iron and paper are wasted a lot, and the cost is relatively high. Furthermore, heat generation cannot be stopped during use, and furthermore, it becomes unusable after several hours. In a fuel-type hand warmer, as in a disposable hand warmer, a user may be burned, particularly a low-temperature burn. Also, when the fuel becomes low or when the fuel is completely burned, the user must refuel. In addition, a burning smell of fuel is emitted during use, which may be disliked by the user and surrounding people as an unpleasant odor. In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a hand warmer that has high safety and can easily stop heating and switch between re-heating.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventor of the present invention has proposed that in a cooking heat retaining plate device having a built-in heater and a plate-shaped dedicated rechargeable battery, the battery can be charged from an external power supply. It was noted that it was connected to the electric circuit of the heat retaining plate device as much as possible. As a result of intensive studies with reference to this structure, the present invention has been completed.

In order to achieve the above object, a hand warmer according to the present invention comprises a heater circuit having a battery, a heater which generates heat when energized from the battery, and a heater circuit for energizing the heater circuit so that a case temperature becomes a set temperature. A temperature control unit for controlling start and stop, a power switch for opening and closing the heater circuit, and a case made of a material having high thermal conductivity and containing the heater circuit and the temperature control unit and having a power switch attached thereto are provided. It is characterized by: The heater is usually a heater having an electric resistor, for example, a product name “flexible ribbon heater” marketed by Teijin Limited and a product name “thermal fuse” marketed by Iwaki Radio Research Laboratory Co., Ltd. Cement resistors ”and“ metal plate resistors ”sold by Fukushima Futaba Electric Co., Ltd. The battery does not need to be flat like the battery of the heat retaining plate device, and may be a commercially available battery. Thereby, the manufacturing cost can be kept low.

[0006] Since the hand warmer according to the present invention has a temperature control unit, the temperature of the hand warmer does not become abnormally high unlike the prior art, and the safety of the user is greatly improved in terms of preventing burns. When the battery is a secondary battery, the hand warmer is usually provided with a charging circuit connected to the battery and having positive and negative connection terminals for connecting a charging external power supply outside the case. Thereby, even if the storage power of the battery is low, it can be used repeatedly by charging. When the battery is a primary battery, it is preferably a detachable primary battery. The primary battery is, for example, an alkaline battery or a manganese battery.

As an example of the temperature control unit, a relay inserted between the battery and the heater to open and close the heater circuit, a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the case, and the temperature of the case measured by the thermometer are set. The temperature control unit includes a controller that connects a relay when the temperature is equal to or lower than the temperature, and disconnects the relay when the temperature is higher than a set temperature.

If the temperature control unit further includes a thermostat that shuts off the heater circuit when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, even if the temperature control unit breaks down and the case temperature rises above the set temperature. When the temperature rises to the temperature at which the thermostat operates, the power supply to the heater is cut off. Therefore, the safety of the user is further improved. Further, the hand warmer may be provided with a temperature fuse configured to disconnect the current when the ambient temperature exceeds a certain temperature and to cut off the power supply to the heater. Thereby, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

The hand warmer according to the present invention can be used as an anti-fog device by being attached to, for example, ski goggles. Also, for example, the case can be used to evaporate water in the shoe and prevent frostbite by attaching the case to an appropriate size and mounting the shoe inside the shoe.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiment Example This embodiment is an embodiment of the first invention. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the hand warmer 16 of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the hand warmer 16. The hand warmer 16 includes a commercially available rechargeable battery 19, a heater circuit 21 having a heater 20 that generates heat when energized from the battery 19, a temperature control unit 22 that controls the temperature of the case 18, and opens and closes the heater circuit 21. Power switch 26
And a case 18 made of a material having a high thermal conductivity, containing a heater circuit 21 and a temperature control unit 22 and having a power switch 26 attached thereto. The hand warmer 16 further includes a temperature fuse 24 inserted between the battery 19 and the power switch 26, which is disconnected when a certain temperature is exceeded, and a charging circuit 25 connected to the battery 19 and used to supply charging power.
And a light emitting diode 30 indicating that the heater 20 is energized and the battery 19 is being charged, respectively.
32 in the case.

The temperature control unit 22 includes a relay 22A inserted in series between the main body of the power switch 26 and the heater 20.
And a thermostat 22B, which is attached to the inside of the case 18 and measures the temperature of the case 18
C and a controller 22D having an integrated circuit (IC) and controlling opening and closing of the heater circuit by the relay 22A. When the case temperature measured by the thermistor 22C is equal to or lower than the set temperature, the controller 22 sets the relay 22A to the connected state and connects the heater circuit 21, and when the case temperature is higher than the set temperature, sets the relay 22A to the cutoff state and sets the heater circuit 21 to the cutoff state. Is to be shut off. A field effect transistor (FET) may be provided instead of the relay 22A. The thermostat 22B shuts off the heater circuit 21 when the temperature of the thermostat 22B becomes a predetermined value or more, for example, 50 ° C. or more. The thermostat 22B and the thermal fuse 24 are for further securing the hand warmer 16, and the hand warmer 16 sufficiently functions as a hand warmer even if it is not provided with them. The power switch 26 is a power switch 2
An operation unit (not shown) for performing a manual operation of turning on and off the 6 is exposed so as to be operable from outside the case 18.

The charging circuit has a positive terminal 29A and a negative terminal 29B for connecting an external power supply for charging, outside the case 18. The positive terminal 29A is a thermal fuse 24
The negative terminal 29B is connected to an electric wire 27B extending from the negative electrode side of the battery 19, and the charging circuit includes a positive terminal 29A and a negative terminal 29B and electric wires 27A, B
And a circuit for connecting the ends of the electric wires 27A and 27B to the battery 19, and the battery 19.

As shown in FIG. 1, the light emitting diode 30 has an input terminal and an output terminal connected to the heater 20 respectively.
Are connected so as to have the same potential as the input side terminal and the output side terminal, and when the heater 20 is energized, a current flows to emit light. The light emitting diode 32
Is connected so that the input terminal and the output terminal have the same potential as the positive terminal 29A and the negative terminal 29B, and the positive and negative terminals of the external power supply are connected to the positive terminal 29A, respectively.
When the charging voltage is applied, a current flows to emit light. The light emitting colors of the light emitting diodes 30 and 32 are different from each other, for example, one is red and the other is blue.

To use the hand warmer 16, the user turns on the power switch 26, that is, opens the heater circuit 21. As a result, the temperature control unit 22, the heater 20, and the light emitting diode 30 are energized, the light emitting diode 30 emits light, and the heater 20 generates heat. Then, the user holds the hand warmer 16 by putting it in a pocket of clothes worn. When the temperature of the case 18 reaches a set temperature set in the controller 22D, for example, 40 ° C., the relay 22A is operated by the controller 22D, and the power supply to the heater 20 and the light emitting diode 30 is stopped. Thereafter, when the temperature of the case 18 falls below the set temperature, the controller 22D
As a result, the relay 22A returns, and the energization of the heater 20 and the light emitting diode 30 starts. After this, the energization is stopped,
The start is repeated alternately, and the temperature of the case 18 is controlled to be substantially equal to the set temperature.

If the controller 22D or the relay 22A malfunctions and the relay 22A becomes inoperable, and the temperature of the case 18 rises above a set value, the temperature of the hand warmer 16 becomes a predetermined temperature at which the thermostat 22B operates. For example, 50 ° C
Is reached, the circuit is shut off by the thermostat 22B. Further, if the thermostat 22B fails and becomes inoperable and the temperature of the case 18 rises above a predetermined temperature, if the temperature in the case reaches a temperature at which the thermal fuse 24 is disconnected, for example, 98 ° C., 2
4 is disconnected.

To charge the hand warmer 16, positive and negative terminals of an external power supply for charging are connected to the positive terminal 29A and the negative terminal 29B of the hand warmer 16, respectively, and the battery 19 is charged by the power from the external power. . During charging, the light emitting diode 32 is energized by a potential supplied from an external power supply to emit light. The external power supply includes, for example, a connector 36 connected to an AC power supply (not shown) of AC100V, a positive terminal 37A and a negative terminal 37B that output DC power, and converts AC power into DC power. This is a commercially available charging device 38 corresponding to the battery 19 and having a built-in circuit 34 for conversion and supply (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

In this embodiment, the temperature of the case 18 is
Since the value is almost controlled to the value set in the controller 22D, and the hand warmer 16 includes the thermostat 22B and the thermal fuse 24, the safety of the user is very high. Further, by turning on and off the power switch 26, the start and stop of heat generation of the hand warmer 16 can be freely performed. Further, it can be determined at a glance that the heater 20 is being energized or the battery 19 is being charged by the light emitting diodes 30 and 32.

[0018]

According to the present invention, a heater circuit having a battery and a heater, a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the case, and a power switch for opening and closing the heater circuit are provided. Accordingly, during use of the hand warmer, the temperature of the case is controlled to the set temperature set in the temperature control unit, and the temperature does not rise abnormally unlike the conventional hand warmer. Therefore,
The safety of the user is greatly improved and comfortable,
It can be used for a long time because there is no unnecessary heat generation. Further, the start and stop of heat generation of the hand warmer can be freely performed by the power switch. When the battery is a secondary battery, and the hand warmer has positive and negative connection terminals for connecting an external power supply for charging outside the case and includes a charging circuit connected to the battery, the battery is charged. As a result, it can be used repeatedly, so that the running cost can be kept low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a hand warmer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a hand warmer.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a side view taken along line II of a conventional disposable hand warmer, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 disposable hand warmer, 12 iron powder, 14
Paper, 16 ... hand warmer, 18 ... case, 19 ... batteries, 2
0 ... heater, 21 ... heater circuit, 22 ... temperature controller, 22A ... relay, 22B ... thermostat, 2
2C: Thermistor, 22D: Controller, 24: Thermal fuse, 25: Charging device, 26: Power switch,
27A, B ... electric wire, 29A ... positive electrode side terminal, 29B ...
... Negative terminal, 30, 32 ... Light emitting diode, 34 ...
... Circuit, 36 ... Connector, 37A, B ... Terminal, 38
…… Charging device.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A heater circuit having a battery and a heater that generates heat when energized from the battery, a temperature control unit that controls start and stop of energization of the heater circuit so that a case temperature becomes a set temperature, and a heater circuit. A hand warmer, comprising: a power switch for opening and closing the power supply; and a case made of a material having high thermal conductivity, containing a heater circuit and a temperature controller, and having a power switch attached thereto. 2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a secondary battery, and has a positive / negative connection terminal for connecting an external power supply for charging on the outside of the case, and a charging circuit connected to the battery. Item 1. The hand warmer according to Item 1. 3. The hand warmer according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a removable primary battery. 4. A temperature control unit, which is inserted between the battery and the heater and opens and closes a heater circuit, a thermometer for measuring a temperature of the case, and a temperature of the case measured by the thermometer, the temperature being set to a set temperature. 4. The hand warmer according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller that connects a relay when the temperature is higher than the set temperature and shuts off the relay when the temperature is higher than a set temperature. 5. 5. The hand warmer according to claim 4, wherein the temperature controller further includes a thermostat that cuts off a heater circuit when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature.