Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
HAND WARMER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of hand warmers.
BACKGROUND
A muff is a tube, often made of fur or similar insulative material, into which
a person may insert his or
her hands for warmth in cold environments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Forming one aspect of the invention is apparatus comprising an element. The
element defines an
aperture, is insulative and has a muff configuration wherein:
0 the element defines a tubular body sized and dimensioned to permit a user to
manipulate a phone
interiorly of the tubular body; and
= the aperture permits the phone to be viewed in the course of such
manipulation.
According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus can further
comprise an insulative structure
secured to the element which, in the muff configuration of the element, is
disposed interiorly of the
body and has:
O a viewing configuration, relatively distal to the aperture, to define in
combination with the element,
a viewing muff in which the phone can be manipulated by a user and viewed
through the aperture
as aforesaid and wherein the hands of the user are partially encircled with
insulation; and
O a non-viewing configuration, relatively proximal to the aperture, to
define in combination with the
element, a warming muff in which the hands can be placed to be fully encircled
with insulation.
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According to another aspect of the invention, the element can: have opposed
zippered ends which, in
the muff configuration, are secured to one another; and have a seat
configuration, wherein the zippered
ends are disengaged from one another and the element is generally planar and
adapted to serve as a
seat cushion.
According to another aspect of the invention, the insulative structure can be
a sleeve which is secured to
the element along a pair of seams, the sleeve in the muff configuration of the
element being generally
concentric with the body and the seams in the muff configuration of the
element being aligned generally
parallel with the axes of the body and the sleeve.
According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus can further
comprise a flexible transparent
plastic panel occluding the aperture.
According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus can further
comprise a drawstring pocket,
the drawstring pocket being adapted to releasably hold a conventional heating
pack and being secured
to the element so as to be positioned, when the element is in the muff
configuration and the insulative
structure is in the non-viewing configuration, in the warming muff.
According to another aspect of the invention, the element defines a pocket
which, when the element is
disposed in the muff configuration, presents exteriorly to the body.
According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus can further
comprise a zipper secured to
the element and adapted to releasably close the pocket.
According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus can further
comprise a pair of lugs secured
to the element such that, when the element is disposed in the muff
configuration, the muffs are
disposed at opposite ends of the body.
According to another aspect of the invention, the element can have a
waterproof surface which, when
the element is disposed in the muff configuration, defines the exterior
surface of the body.
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Forming another aspect of the invention is apparatus comprising an element,
the element being
insulative and having a muff configuration wherein the element defines a
tubular body sized and
dimensioned to receive the hands of a user, wherein the element:
has opposed zippered ends which, in the muff configuration, are secured to one
another; and
has a seat configuration, wherein the zippered ends are disengaged from one
another and the
element is generally planar and adapted to serve as a seat cushion.
Advantages, features and characteristics of the invention will become apparent
upon a review of the
following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings,
the latter being briefly
described hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to an exemplary
embodiment of the
invention, the view showing, inter alia, the element in the muff
configuration;
Figure 2 is a top view of the apparatus;
Figure 3 is a view along section 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the insulative structure in
the non-viewing
configuration;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the insulative structure
in a viewing configuration;
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the insulative structure
in a further non-viewing
configuration;
Figure 7 is a view of the apparatus, showing the element in the seat
configuration;
Figure 8 is a view of the structure of Figure 7 from another vantage
point;
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Figure 9 is a view of the structure of Figure 1 in use, with the
insulative structure in the viewing
configuration;
Figure 10 is a view of the structure of Figure 1 in use, with the
insulative structure in the non-
viewing configuration; and
Figure 11 is a view of the structure of Fig. 1 in use,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Apparatus 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in
the drawings and will
be seen to include an element 22, an insulative structure 24, a panel 26, a
drawstring pocket 28, a pair
of lugs 30 and a zipper 32.
The element 22 is insulative, defines an aperture 34, has opposed zippered
ends 22A, 22B, defines a
pocket 36 and has a waterproof surface 38.
The insulative structure 24 is a sleeve secured to the element 22 along a pair
of seams 23 and has
elastic, gathered ends 40.
The panel 26 occludes the aperture 34 and is constructed of flexible
transparent plastic.
The drawstring pocket 28 is secured is adapted to releasably hold a heating
pack and is secured to the
element 22.
The lugs 30 are secured at opposite ends of the element 22.
The zipper 32 is secured to the element and adapted to releasably close the
pocket 36.
The element 22 will be understood to have a muff configuration as shown in
Figures 1-6, 9 and 10 and a
seat configuration as shown in Figure 8.
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In the muff configuration:
= the zippered ends 22A, 228 are secured to one another such that the
element defines a tubular
body 40
= the waterproof surface 38 defines the exterior surface of the body 40
= the insulative sleeve 24 is disposed interiorly of and generally
concentric to the body 40
= the seams 23 are aligned generally parallel with the axes of the body 40
and the sleeve 24,
= the lugs 30 are disposed at opposite ends of the body 40
= the pocket 36 presents exteriorly to the body 40; and
= the insulative sleeve 24 has a non-viewing configuration shown in Figure
4 and a viewing
configuration shown in Figure 5.
In the non-viewing configuration shown in Figure 4, the sleeve 24 is
relatively proximal to the aperture,
to define in combination with the element, a warming muff in which the hands
of a user [shown in
phantom] can be placed to be fully encircled with insulation. To further
enhance the warmth of the
user, a conventional heating pack can be fitted in the drawstring closure. A
further non-viewing
configuration is also possible, as shown in Figure 6.
In the viewing configuration shown in Figure 5, the sleeve 24 is relatively
distal to the aperture, to define
in combination with the element 22, a viewing muff in which a phone can be
manipulated by a user and
viewed through the aperture wherein the hands of the user are partially
encircled with insulation.
Notably, the insulative structure 24 is dimensioned such that the hands of the
user need not exit the
body 40 when transitioning between the viewing and non-viewing configurations.
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In the seat configuration, the zippered ends 22A, 22B are disengaged from one
another and element 22
is generally planar and adapted to serve as a seat cushion.
Persons of ordinary skill will readily appreciate the advantage associated
with apparatus that allows
users to keep hands warm in cold environments, while enabling phones to be
viewed and manipulated,
that is relatively easy to carry by a shoulder strap by virtue of the lugs,
that can service as a seat cushion
when necessary, that has a zippered pocket to store keys and the like.
Whereas a specific embodiment is herein shown and described, it will be
understood that variations are
possible. For example, only, whereas zippers are mentioned, other closures,
such as hook and loop,
could be used. As well, whereas both a window and a zipper are shown, either
can be omitted.
.. Accordingly, the invention should be understood to be limited only by the
accompanying claims,
purposively construed.
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