Waltco Warm Hand Gloves

Abstract

A thermal glove for providing warmth to a hand of the user includes a top section for covering a top of the thermal glove, a bottom section for covering a bottom of the thermal glove, a heating element positioned between the top section and the bottom section for heating the interior of the thermal glove, and a temperature control device to control the heating element to control the interior temperature of the thermal glove. The temperature control device may be a variable temperature control device, and the thermal glove includes a controller circuit for controlling the heating element. The thermal glove includes a battery circuit for providing power to the heating element, and the thermal glove includes a charging circuit for charging the battery circuit. The battery circuit may be connected to a knife connection device, and the battery circuit may be connected to an A / C connector device.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The instant invention relates generally to gloves fitted to be worn on a human hand and, more specifically, to thermal gloves having a heating element integrated with a body of the glove for improved comfort.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A variety of thermal glove and mitten designs have been proposed which incorporate a chemical or fuel-burning heating element within the glove or mitten shell for warming the hands of the wearer. Examples of such gloves, which are generally designed for cold temperature, outdoor activities such as snow skiing, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,970,081 issued to Eisendrath on Aug. 14, 1934; U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,671 issued to Monk on Oct. 1, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,482 issued to Spector et al. on Aug. 20, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,579 issued to Dunford on May 10, 1988; and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,579 issued to Rinehart on Jul. 30, 1991.[0003]Representative of these designs, Eisendrath (U.S. Pat. No. 1,970,081) discloses ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a thermal glove which is well adapted for different environments and activities, including cold weather sports, light activities such as walking and driving, and indoor use such as for manual manipulative work.

[0013]It is a further object that the electric storage device incorporated within the thermal glove be adapted for fast, safe, and repeatable recharging suitable for long-term use.

[0015]It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a thermal glove which is well adapted for different environments and activities, including cold weather sports, light activities such as walking and driving, and indoor use such as for manual manipulative work.

[0016]In today's society, health and comfort reign supreme, and the Waltco Warm Hands Glove referred to herein below as a thermal glove provides both elements. The thermal glove of the present invention provides hand warmth for outdoor workers, such as construction workers, city workers, groundskeepers, telephone and utilities workers, air traffic controllers, parcel workers, couriers, truckers, soldiers / military personnel—whose duties often keep them outside—summer and winter. Cyclists, warehouse and industrial workers—whose jobs subjects them to ice sleet, snow and freezing temperatures that can affect circulation and cause frostbite also can benefit from Waltco Warm Hands Gloves. These gloves also provide hand warmth to everyday commuters that travel to and fro, whose hands are sensitive to cold temperatures in the civilian communities. There are also health benefits to these gloves which can provide heat therapy for individuals who have been stricken with arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, joint disease in the hands, swelling in the hands, sprains, strains, or individuals who have had various types of orthopedic surgical procedures on their hands and other ailments that affect the hands and often require heat applications for heat therapy. The gloves can also be used by athletes for heat therapy to their hands which is a very valuable asset to their careers. The Waltco Warm Hand Gloves can come in various styles, sizes, materials, textures, colors, thicknesses, lengths, and cosmetic designs. These gloves are designed with heating elements within the inner lining of the gloves' top, sides, palms, and / or wrist section and an outer lining of heat deflecting material within the glove. These gloves have a temperature control device, which can be housed within the gloves or separate from the gloves, either analog or digital, which control the temperature of the gloves. The temperature control device can be battery powered and / or rechargeable via wall socket (AC / DC), car cigarette lighter, or an external battery charging device, which can make recharging the glove convenient for the end user, whether they are at home or traveling abroad. The outer glove can be constructed of leather, nylon, rayon polyester, or any other man made and or natural material. The wrist section of the gloves can have elastic type bands to assist in keeping the heat from escaping. The gloves can benefit people from all walks of life and all areas of professions—athletically, medically, everyday wear, or those who are expose to the outdoor elements, during their on the job assignments, such as soldiers.

Problems solved by technology

Numerous problems attend the foregoing thermal glove and mitten designs.

Among these problems is a typically heavy glove construction and bulky heat pack design which is poorly adapted for different environments and activities other than cold weather sports.

Thus, these bulky designs may be poorly adapted for light activities such as walking and driving, or for indoor use such as in the work place.

In addition, each of the heat packs previously disclosed for use with gloves or mittens (including chemical and fuel-burning heat packs) all produce a more or less constant and uncontrollable level of heating or cooling energy, whereby a higher or lower level of heating or cooling cannot be selected by the user for maximum comfort suited to different environments and activities.

Thus, these packs are again poorly adapted for use in different environments and activities ranging from cold outdoor sporting activities, to mild weather and light activity use, to indoor use such as in the work place.

In the latter case, the non-adjustable heating capacity of prior art thermal gloves and mittens is not conducive to therapeutic uses of such devices in an indoor setting, e.g., to alleviate computer strain or other technical work-related strain such as that caused by laboratory work.

In addition, each of the previously disclosed heat packs fails to provide a fast, repeatable rechargeable heating source, which is desired for long-term use, e.g., for long term therapeutic use during extended technical work activities.

Moreover, the bulky designs of previously known thermal gloves and mittens are ill-adapted for use in conjunction with such technical activities, which typically require unimpeded dexterity and tactile sensitivity.

As in the case of the outdoor thermal gloves and mittens, discussed above, numerous problems also attend the foregoing designs for therapeutic heat compresses and mitts, particularly in the context of activities other than immobile patient therapy.

Again, the problem of heavy mitt construction and bulky heat pack design render these devices poorly adapted for different environments and activities other than treating injuries of an immobilized body part.

In fact, these designs are poorly adapted for any active use, particularly any active use requiring unimpaired dexterity and tactile sensitivity such as computer use, assembly manipulation, and laboratory work.

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