Heated hand garment

Abstract

Heated hand garment designed to be worn by a user, the heated hand garment comprising: a body defining an interior space designed to receive a user's hand, comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a heating element held by the body; a battery receptacle located on the second side of the body and electrically connected to the heating element, the battery receptacle being designed to receive a rechargeable battery; and an actuator located on the first side of the body and electrically connected to the heating element, the actuator being selectable to control the heating element.

Description

Cross-reference to related registrations This application claims priority over preliminary US patent application No. 63 / 761,251, filed on February 21, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Area The present disclosure relates to a heated hand garment. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a glove or mitten with a heating element for warming the hand of a user. Overview One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a heated hand garment designed to be worn by a user, the heated hand garment comprising: a body defining an interior space capable of receiving a user's hand and comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a heating element held by the body; a battery receptacle located on the second side of the body and electrically connected to the heating element, the battery receptacle being configured to receive a rechargeable battery; and an actuator located on the first side of the body and electrically connected to the heating element, the actuator being selectable for controlling the heating element. In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to a heated garment designed to be worn by a user, wherein the heated garment comprises a body designed to be worn by the user; a heating element held by the body; and an actuator held by the body which is in electrical communication with the heating element, wherein the actuator can be selectively actuated to control the heating element, and comprises an interface with a plurality of light sources, each light source corresponding to a heat setting of the heating element, as well as a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber being dimensioned and shaped to accommodate one of the plurality of light sources and being designed to prevent light from one light source from passing into an adjacent optical fiber. In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to a heated hand garment designed to be worn by a user, wherein the heated hand garment comprises a body defining an interior space capable of accommodating a user's hand and including a palm section and a finger section extending away from the palm section;a heating element held by the body, wherein the heating element comprises a first segment and a second segment extending in a first direction and having a first thickness, and a third segment connecting the first segment to the second segment, extending in a second direction different from the first direction, and having a second thickness less than the first thickness, wherein, under a common energy input to the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment, a greater quantity of heat is generated in the third segment than in the first segment or in the second segment. Further independent aspects of the revelation become clear through consideration of the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1A is a front view of a heated hand garment. Fig. 1B is a rear view of the heated hand garment from Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a rear view of a section of the heated hand garment from Fig. 1A. Fig. 3A is a top view of an actuator for use with the heated hand garment from Fig. 1, the actuator indicating a HIGH heating level. Fig. 3B is a top view of the actuator from Fig. 3A, the actuator indicating a MEDIUM heating level. Fig. 3C is a top view of the actuator from Fig. 3A, the actuator indicating a LOW heating level. Fig. 4A is a front view of the actuator from Fig. 3A. Fig. 4B is a rear view of the actuator from Fig. 3A. Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the heated hand garment from Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the heated hand garment from Fig. 1, showing a heating element of the heated hand garment.Figure 7A is a thermal schematic representation of another heating element for use in the heated hand garment from Figure 1. Figure 7B is a thermal diagram of the heating element from Figure 6. Figure 8A is a front view of a heated hand garment according to another embodiment. Figure 8B is a rear view of the heated hand garment from Figure 8A. Figure 9A is an exploded view of part of the back of the heated hand garment from Figure 8A. Figure 9B is a perspective view of part of the palm side of the heated hand garment from Figure 8A. Detailed description Before individual independent embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it should be noted that the application of the disclosure is not limited to the design details and component arrangements set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of assuming other independent embodiments and being practiced or implemented in various ways. The use of the terms "including" and "comprehensive" and their variations in this description shall encompass the elements listed thereafter and their equivalents, as well as any additional elements. The use of the term "consisting of" and its variations in this description shall encompass only the elements listed thereafter and their equivalents. Furthermore, the functionality described here, which is performed by one component, can be performed by multiple components in a distributed manner. Likewise, the functionality performed by multiple components can be consolidated and performed by a single component. Similarly, a component described as performing a particular functionality can also perform additional functionalities not described here. For example, a device or structure that is "set up" in a certain way is at least set up in that way, but may also be set up in ways not listed. Furthermore, some of the embodiments described herein include one or more electronic processors configured to perform the described functionality by executing instructions stored on a non-volatile, computer-readable medium. Similarly, the embodiments described herein can be implemented as a non-volatile, computer-readable medium that stores instructions which can be executed by one or more electronic processors to perform the described functionality. As used in the present application, "non-transient, computer-readable medium" includes all computer-readable media but does not consist of a transitory, propagating signal.Accordingly, a non-transitory computer-readable medium can include, for example, a hard disk, a ROM (solid-state memory), a RAM (random access memory), a register memory, a processor cache, or any combination thereof. Many of the described modules and logical structures can be implemented in software executed by a microprocessor or similar device, or in hardware using a variety of components, including, for example, application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”). Terms such as “controller” and “module” can encompass or refer to both hardware and software. Capitalized terms conform to common practice and help to relate the description to the coding examples, equations, and / or drawings. However, the use of capital letters does not imply any specific meaning and should not be inferred from it. Therefore, claims should not be limited to the specific examples or terminology, or to any particular hardware or software implementation or combination of software or hardware. Figures 1A to 2 show a heated garment, such as a glove 10, a mitten, a muff, a sock, other clothing or coverings, etc., for the extremities of a user (e.g., hand, foot, etc.). A user is understood to be the wearer of the glove 10. The glove 10 is shown as a standalone device; however, the glove 10 can also be supplied as a set with a second glove (not shown). The second glove can be identical or a mirror image of the glove 10. It is therefore understood that each glove 10 in the set is essentially identical, but mirrored for the left and right versions, and that all descriptions of the glove 10 given here also apply to the second glove, which does not need to be described separately.For example, the heating of glove 10 can be controlled, and each glove 10 in the set can be controlled independently of the others. In some embodiments, the set can be controlled together by a common control system. As shown in Figures 1A to 2, the glove 10 comprises a body 14 that defines an interior 30 of the glove 10 to accommodate the user's hand. The body 14 comprises a first side 34 and a second side 38, which faces the first side 34. In the illustrated embodiment, when the glove 10 is worn, the first side 34 rests against the palm of the user's hand, and the second side 38 rests against the back of the user's hand. Accordingly, the first side 34 can be referred to as the palm side 34 of the body 14, and the second side 38 as the back side 38 of the body 14. The illustrated body 14 comprises an outer shell 15 and an inner lining 16. The inner lining 16 is designed to be enclosed within the outer shell 15, so that the inner lining 16 is in direct contact with the user's hand. The inner lining 16 preferably consists of a woven material, such as a woven fabric and / or a knitted fabric and / or another suitable type of material, which allows the user to move their hand inside the glove 10. In contrast, the outer shell 15 preferably consists of a waterproof material or fabric, such as a synthetic fabric, waterproof nylon fabric, polyurethane and / or another suitable material, thereby protecting the inner lining 16 and the user's hand from moisture.In some embodiments, the glove 10 may also include an inner waterproof membrane (not shown) designed to protect the user's hand from moisture. In other embodiments, the body 14 may consist of other layers and / or materials. With continued reference to Figures 1A to 2, the body 14 comprises one or more digit sections 42 and a wrist section 46. The digit sections 42 may also be referred to as finger sections. The digit sections 42 extend outwards from the wrist section 46 and are arranged in a substantially linear configuration to accommodate the digits (for example, fingers or toes) of a user. The digit sections 42 shown include a first digit section 42a, configured to accommodate a thumb of the hand, and second, third, fourth, and fifth digit sections 42b, 42c, 42d, and 42e, configured to accommodate each finger of the hand.In other versions, the body 14 can define a different number of digit sections 42 suitable for the construction of the garment - for example, for a mitten, the one digit section for the user's thumb and a second digit section for the user's four fingers, or for a sock, the one digit section for all of the user's toes. The digital sections 42 extend around the thumb and fingers of the hand from the palm side 34 to the back 38. In other words, the plurality of digital sections 42 are designed to enclose the fingers and thumb of the hand contained within the glove 10. In other embodiments, one or more of the digital sections 42 may be open, allowing at least a portion of the user's respective fingers to extend through the digital section and into the environment outside the glove 10. The body 14 also comprises a third side 35 and a fourth side 39. Generally, the third side 35 adjoins the first digital section 42a, and the fourth side 39 adjoins the fifth digital section 42e. For example, the first digital section 42a could be considered the thumb digital section, and the fifth digital section 42e the little finger digital section.Accordingly, the third side 35 can be referred to here as thumb side 35 of body 14 and the fourth side 39 as little finger side 39 of body 14. Referring to Figures 1B to 2, the wrist section 46 is positioned on the user's wrist when the glove 10 is worn. The wrist section 46 extends around the wrist from the palm side 34 to the back 38. In other words, the wrist section 46 is designed to enclose the user's wrist. The glove 10 shown includes a power source receptacle, for example, a battery receptacle 50, which is positioned on the wrist section 46 and is designed to accommodate a battery 22. The battery receptacle 50 can also be referred to as a pocket. In the present embodiment, the glove 10 includes a closure element, for example a zipper 21, which is coupled to the battery compartment 50 and configured to allow the user to open and / or close the battery compartment 50. More precisely, the battery compartment 50 includes a closable opening 23 (for example an opening at the pocket sill, etc.), which is generally formed by two halves of a seam 24 and through which the battery 22 can be moved. The zipper 21 extends along the wrist section 46 and is arranged so that the user can easily close (for example, by bringing the seam together to close the pocket, closing the opening 23, etc.) and open (for example, by separating the seam to open the pocket, opening the opening 23, etc.) the zipper 21, thereby regulating selective access to the battery compartment 50. In other embodiments, the battery compartment 50 may include any suitable fastening system, such as hooks, loops, buttons, covers, lids, drawstrings, or other features. As shown in Fig. 2, the battery receptacle 50 is located on the back 38 and thumb side 35 of the body 14, in particular on the wrist section 46. In other embodiments, the battery receptacle 50 can be located at any point on the body 14, for example on the palm side 34 and / or the little finger side 39 of the wrist section 46. In one exemplary arrangement of the glove 10, the opening 23 is located on the thumb side 35. In another exemplary arrangement, the opening 23 could be located on a different and / or multiple sides of the body 14. The glove 10 also includes a heating element 18, which is connected to and powered by the battery 22 and can be activated to warm at least a portion of a user's hand. The battery 22 is connected to the heating element 18 via a battery power cable 19, which passes through an opening 20 in the battery receptacle 50 to connect to the battery 22. The battery power cable 19 can be any suitable connection configured to provide an electrical connection and power distribution between the battery 22 and the heating element 18 (for example, a USB connector (USB - Universal Serial Bus), a barrel connector, etc.). A garment control unit or a glove control unit 26 (as shown in Fig. 5) can be configured to control the heating of the glove 10 by charging and discharging the battery 22. In some embodiments, the glove 10 can be powered by more than one battery 22. In such embodiments, the glove 10 may include a mounting assembly for holding multiple batteries 22 (for example, a single mount that can hold multiple batteries 22, a separate mount 50 for each battery 22, etc.). In such designs, the glove 10 can be operated with fewer than the maximum number of batteries 22 (for example, a single operational battery 22 can power the glove 10 even if other batteries 22 are missing or deactivated). In such designs, the battery 22 is located inside the glove 10. In other embodiments (not shown), however, the battery 22 or another power source may be located away from the glove 10. For example, the glove 10 may be powered by a battery attached to another article of clothing (for example, a jacket, vest, belt, etc.).) or another remote power source. In such designs, the glove 10 may, for example, be connected to the battery via a conductor wire. Although the battery 22 is shown to be essentially rectangular and generally flat, it could also have a different shape and size, such as cylindrical, box-shaped, or the like. In some embodiments, the battery 22 comprises a rod, while in other embodiments it comprises a slot and a rail. In other words, the battery 22 may be a rod-type battery, a slot-and-rail-type battery, or any other type of battery that can be used with one or more power tools. As shown in Figures 1A to 4B, the glove 10 also includes an actuator 76 (for example, a button, a switch, a trigger, etc.) that can be operated by a user to control the heating element 18 (for example, to turn it on, turn it off, and / or select a heating mode or heat level, etc.). The actuator 76 is attached to the body 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 76 is sewn onto the inner lining 16 and extends through a corresponding opening in the outer shell 15. More precisely, the illustrated actuator 76 includes a lip 77 designed to assist in aligning the actuator 76 within the corresponding opening and in sewing the actuator 76 to the inner lining 16. In the present embodiment, the actuator 76 has a substantially polygonal shape and includes chamfered corners 79 (Fig. 3A) that form a generally trapezoidal shape. In other embodiments, however, the actuator 76 can have any suitable shape (for example, circle, square, etc.). The actuator 76 has a striped texture and includes a raised central ridge 78, which is designed to indicate to the user, by touch, where the actuator 76 is located and where it can be actuated. As shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, the body 14 holds the actuator 76 on the palm side 34 of the wrist section 46, opposite the battery receptacle 50. As further shown in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, the actuator 76 and the battery receptacle 50 are both located on the thumb side 35 of the wrist section 46.In some embodiments, the actuator 76 and the battery receptacle 50 are located, more generally, on different sides of the wrist section 46 and / or the body 14. In an example application of the present disclosure, positioning the actuator 76 on the palm side 34 of the wrist section 46 allows easy access for the user. Furthermore, positioning the actuator 76 relative to the battery receptacle 50 can reduce the extension on one side of the body 14, improve balance, and the like. The actuator 76 can be configured to communicate with the glove control unit 26 of the associated glove 10 to switch the heating element 18 on and off and / or to switch between a series of heating levels such as HIGH, MEDIUM, and LOW, and corresponding discharge levels of the battery 22. The discharge current is configured to flow from the battery 22 via a circuit 226 (Fig. 5) to the heating element 18. The heating element 18 then receives electrical energy from the battery 22 and converts this electrical energy into heat. The user can interact with the actuator 76 to control the operation of the heating element 18. In some embodiments, the glove 10 can enter a preheating mode when the actuator 76 is activated for the first time. The glove 10 can remain in preheating mode for a predetermined period before the heating element 18 switches to the MEDIUM setting. The user can adjust the heat output setting at any time using the actuator 76. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 76 is a push button for ease of operation. The actuator 76 is configured such that successive actuations of the actuator 76 change the heat output setting according to a sequence (for example, HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW, then back to HIGH, and so on). The actuator 76 is configured to switch off the heating element 18 after being switched off for a certain period of time (for example, 1.5 seconds). In other embodiments, the number of heat output settings, the initial heat output setting, and the sequence of the heat output settings may vary. In other words, successive actuations of the actuator 76 cycle through the heat output settings (for example, the heating setting). As shown in Figures 3A to 4B, the actuator 76 comprises a base 84 and an interface 85 held on the base 84. In some embodiments, the interface 85 is essentially polygonal. In the present embodiment, the interface 85 is essentially trapezoidal. The interface 85 comprises a plurality of light sources, such as incandescent bulbs or LEDs 86, configured to indicate which heating setting is active. In the illustrated embodiment, the interface 85 comprises three (3) LEDs 86. The interface 85 is arranged adjacent to the raised central bar 78, but at a distance from it so that the user can see the interface 85 while switching the heating settings (for example, by pressing the raised central bar 78). As best illustrated in Figure 1A, the LEDs are arranged vertically along a length L of the user's arm.This means that the LEDs are arranged in a line extending along the length L of the user's arm. In other embodiments, however, the LEDs 86 can also be arranged horizontally. The LEDs 86 are configured such that when the heating element 18 is in LOW mode, one LED 86 is illuminated (Fig. 3A). When the heating element 18 is in MEDIUM mode, two LEDs 86 are illuminated (Fig. 3B). Finally, when the heating element 18 is in HIGH mode, all LEDs 86 are illuminated (Fig. 3C). While three LEDs 86 are provided in the present embodiment, any suitable number of LEDs 86 can be implemented in the actuator 76. As above, the successive operation of the actuator 76 also changes the number of illuminated LEDs 86. As best illustrated in Fig. 4B, the actuator 76 also includes a plurality of light guides 88, each dimensioned and shaped to accommodate one of the plurality of LEDs 86. In other words, each light guide 88 accommodates one of the LEDs 86. In other cases, however, multiple light sources (e.g., LEDs 86) can be accommodated in a single light guide 88, as long as the light sources in each light guide 88 correspond to a single thermal setting. The light guides 88 include recesses 90 designed to reduce unwanted light leakage from the LEDs 86. For example, each light guide 88 prevents light from one LED 86 from being visible in a light guide 88 of an adjacent LED 86 by ensuring that the LED 86 is fully inserted into the corresponding recess 90. In other words, the light guides 88 allow the user to clearly see which of the LEDs 86 are illuminated and which are not. In the illustrated embodiment, the recesses 90 are defined by raised side walls 92 formed on a bottom surface 94 of the actuator 76, the side walls 92 being substantially opaque. In one instance, light leakage is primarily prevented by the side walls 92 extending far enough from the base 84 to prevent light from escaping from the LEDs 86 to an adjacent light guide 88.Furthermore, the light guides 88 are arranged in an inner cavity 95 of the actuator 76, which is dimensioned and shaped to be suitable for electrical components such as the LEDs 86 and the components described in detail below. As further shown in Fig. 4B, the depicted side walls 92 are integrally formed with the rest of the actuator 76, but can alternatively be separate parts coupled to the actuator 76. In other embodiments, the light guides 88 can have different configurations. In one exemplary orientation, the side walls 92 extend rearward from their base 84 by a length sufficient to accommodate an LED 86 or a light assembly. The LED 86 can be secured in the light guide 88 by contact with the side walls 92, for example, by snapping, welding, gluing, tightening, and / or the like. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the side walls 92 are made of metal or a metal composite material, while in other embodiments they are made of plastic. In one exemplary design, the side walls 92 are extruded from the base 84.In another exemplary design, the side walls 92 are pre-formed and later coupled to the base 84. In yet another exemplary design, the side walls 92 and the recesses 90 are milled from the base 84 (e.g., subtractive manufacturing). It is noted that, regardless of the construction technique, each light guide 88 is designed to be arranged so that light from its respective LED 86 can shine through an opening / window 96 extending through the actuator 76 (for example, to an observer side of the interface 85). In some cases, the LED 86 in each light guide 88 is positioned close to the window 96 to minimize the depth of each side wall 92. In other cases, the window 96 is omitted. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the light guides 88 include a seal 98 that is placed in and / or around the recesses 90 and / or side walls 88 to further prevent light from escaping and / or to seal the light guide 88 against the interface 85.In some cases, the light guides 88 can be assembled separately and then attached to the base 84, either as a single light guide 88 or as an assembly of several light guides 88. Similarly, the light guides 88 can be coupled to the base 84 before or after the LEDs 86 have been positioned and secured in the recesses 90. As schematically shown in Fig. 5, the battery 22 comprises a battery housing 210 that carries one or more battery cells 214. Each of the battery cells 214 shown is a lithium-ion battery cell with a nominal voltage of about 3.6 V to about 4.4 V (for example, about 4.2 V) and a capacity between about 2.0 ampere-hours (Ah) and 5.0 Ah (for example, about 3.0 Ah). For example, the battery 22 can be a 12 V lithium-ion battery, such as the Heated Gear Power Source marketed by Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation. In other designs, the nominal voltage of the battery 22 can be varied to meet the requirements of specific applications. In other designs, the battery cells can have a different chemistry, nominal voltage, capacity, etc., and / or the battery 22 can have a different configuration. Battery terminals 218 or ports are attached to the housing 210 to electrically connect the cell(s) 214 to a device, such as the glove 10, a battery charger, etc., for power transmission (e.g., a charge / discharge terminal and a ground terminal) and / or for communication. The battery 22 includes a temperature sensor (e.g., a thermistor 222) that can detect the temperature of the battery 22 and / or the cell(s) 214, wherein one of the terminals 218 is a communication terminal that can be operated to transmit at least the detected temperature to the electrical device. Fig. 5 also schematically shows a circuit 226 of the battery 22. At least one section of the circuit 226 is held by the housing 210. The circuit 226 comprises a master control unit 238 with at least one memory configured for storing software-based instructions and an electronic processor configured for executing the software. The control unit 238 can, for example, be configured to control charging and discharging protocols for the battery 22, detect when the circuit 226 is connected to the glove 10, and apply protection protocols for the battery 22 / circuit 226, in addition to monitoring the properties of the battery 22 (e.g., battery temperature (via electrical coupling with a thermistor), current, cell voltage, state of charge, etc.) and / or the external power source (e.g., input voltage, current, etc.), etc. The illustrated circuit 226 includes a discharge controller 242, which is actuated by the control unit 238 to discharge the battery 22, and a charge controller 246, which is actuated by the control unit 238 to charge the battery 22. In some designs, the control unit 238 can prevent simultaneous charging and discharging of the battery 22. The protection circuit 250 is operated by the control unit 238 to execute protection protocols that may include terminating the charging or discharging of the battery 22 based on monitored characteristics (for example, reaching a temperature threshold due to the battery temperature, reaching a voltage threshold due to the cell voltage, etc.). The protection protocols may include protection against short circuits in the leads, cables, etc., of the glove 10. Furthermore, the control unit 238 can be configured to activate one or more indicators 252 (e.g., LEDs, etc.) to display an operating status of the battery 22 (e.g., charge level), the circuit 226 (e.g., whether charging is taking place), the glove 10 (e.g., whether heating is taking place, a selected heating mode, etc.), and the like. The control unit 238 can be configured to store software-based instructions, and an electronic processor can be configured to execute the software to perform one or more of the functions described above (e.g., charge / discharge control, protection, etc.). As shown, external power is supplied to the circuit 226 via the power input 254 (for example, a USB-C port) in order to provide charging current for charging the battery 22 via the charging controller 246. A glove circuit section 256 can be connected to the circuit 226 via a connector plug 258. The glove circuit section 256 comprises the heating element 18 and the glove control unit 26. The glove control unit 26 can include a memory configured to store software-based instructions and an electronic processor configured to execute the software. The glove control unit 26 is configured, for example, to control the operation of the heating element 18, monitor properties of the glove 10 (e.g., temperature, etc.), and the like. The glove circuit section 256 can also include a thermistor 266 connected to detect changes in a glove contact 262 and / or an additional sensor. Referring to Fig. 6, the heating element 18 comprises a material 75 with fibers capable of conducting heat. The illustrated heating element 18 comprises a metallic fiber material 75 with a base such as carbon fiber, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. Furthermore, the heating element 18 can have different power ratings. For example, the power rating of the illustrated heating element 18 is 5.5 watts. In other embodiments, the power rating of the heating element 18 is 7.4 watts. The depicted heating element 18 also comprises a central section 60 and a plurality of finger sections 64 to form a heating element pattern. The central section 60 is located on the back 38 of the wrist section 46. The central section 60 comprises a first end 68 and a second end 72. The central section 60 is essentially U-shaped, such that a U extends from the first end 68 to the second end 72 along a longitudinal axis A. The central section 60 is configured to heat (i.e., warm) the user's hand on the back 38. In other embodiments, the central section 60 may have other configurations (for example, shapes) or may be omitted. The finger sections 64 extend orthogonally to the longitudinal axis A of the central section 60. The finger sections 64 are configured to correspond to the number of digit sections 42 of the body 14. For example, the illustrated finger sections 64 comprise a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth finger section 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d, 64e, corresponding to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth digit section 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e. In other embodiments, the finger sections 64 may comprise a first finger section and at least one second finger section. For example, the finger sections 64 may comprise a first finger section configured to warm the thumb of the hand and a second finger section configured to warm all the fingers, if, for example, the handwear is a mitten.The finger sections 64 are designed to heat up (i.e. warm) the fingers included in the digit sections 42 of the glove 10 on the back 38. In the present embodiment, the finger sections 64 are not connected to one another. In other embodiments, however, the finger sections 64 can be connected in such a way that they form a continuous piece. For example, in some embodiments, the finger sections 64 can be connected to the central section 60 to link the finger sections 64 and the central section 60 together. In other embodiments, the finger sections 64 can be directly coupled to one another. Each of the finger sections 64 is essentially U-shaped, such that each finger section 64 follows the contour or circumference of each of the user's fingers. More precisely, each finger section 64 comprises one curved segment 100 and two straight segments 102. The curved segment 100 is located at the distal end of a corresponding digit section 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, opposite the medial section 60 and the palmar section 52. The curved segment 100 is positioned between and connects the two straight sections 102 to create the U-shape described above. Both the curved segment 100 and the straight segments 102 have a thickness. In the illustrated embodiment, the curved segment 100 has a thickness that is thinner than (or less than) the thickness 112 of the two straight segments 102 (Fig. 7B). For example, in some embodiments, the thickness 108 of the curved segment 100 may be at least 5% less than the thickness 112 of the straight segments 102. In other embodiments, the thickness 108 of the curved segment 100 may be at least 10% less than the thickness 112 of the straight segments 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the thickness 108 of the curved segment 100 is about 15% less than the thickness 112 of the straight segments 102. In an exemplary application of the present disclosure, the reduction in the thickness 108 of the curved segment 100 reduces an area through which electrical energy from the battery 22 can or must flow.This increases the resistance at the curved segments 100, thereby increasing the heat generated at the curved segments 100 and the user's fingertips. In other words, reducing the thickness of the curved segment 100 while keeping the electrical current (i.e., keeping the energy input constant) increases the resistance per square inch within the finger segments 64 and thus the heat generated. Fig. 7A shows a thermal imaging image of a differently shaped finger section 104 in a temperature-controlled environment. In the configuration shown in Fig. 7A, the finger section 104 includes a curved segment 117 with a thickness equal to or greater than that of the straight segments. Fig. 7B shows a thermal imaging image of one of the finger sections 64 of the present embodiment in a temperature-controlled environment. As shown, the curved segment 100 in Fig. 7B, which corresponds to a position of the user's fingertip, is significantly warmer than the differently shaped finger section 104 in Fig. 7A, which has the thicker curved segment 117 than the finger sections 64.As shown, the thickness 108 of the curved segment 100 is less than the thickness 118 of the curved segment 117 of the differently shaped finger section 104, so that the curved segment 100 of the present embodiment generates more heat than the thicker curved segment 117. Figures 8A to 9B show a heated garment according to a further embodiment of the disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the heated garment is a glove 1010. The glove 1010 is similar to the glove 10 shown in Figures 1 to 7B and described above. Therefore, identical features are marked with the same reference numerals plus "1000", with only the differences between the two being explained. The glove 1010 comprises a body 1014, which defines an interior 1030 of the glove 1010 for receiving the user's hand. The glove 1010 is designed to be worn under another glove or mitten, for example, an unheated glove or mitten. Accordingly, the glove 1010 can be understood as a heated glove liner. The body 1014 comprises a first side 1034 and a second side 1038, which faces the first side 1034. In the illustrated embodiment, when the glove 1010 is worn, the first side 1034 rests against the palm of the user's hand, and the second side 1038 rests against the back of the user's hand. Accordingly, the first side 1034 can be referred to as the palm side 1034 of the body 1014 and the second side 1038 as the back side 1038 of the body 1014. The body 1014 comprises one or more digit sections 1042a-e (or finger sections) and a wrist section 1046. The wrist section 1046 extends around the wrist from the palm side 1034 to the back 1038. The wrist section 1046 includes a battery receptacle 1050 configured to hold a battery 1022. The glove 1010 also includes an actuator 1076 (for example, a button, a switch, a trigger, etc.) that can be operated by a user to control the heating element 1018 (for example, to turn it on and off and / or to select a heating mode or level, etc.). The actuator 1076 is located on the palm side 1034 of the wrist section 1046. The actuator 1076 can have the same configuration and features as the actuator 76 described above with reference to Figs. 3A to 4B. With reference to Figs. 9A and 9B, the illustrated body 1014 comprises a two-layer cover 1104 and a heat pad layer 1108. The heat pad layer 1108 includes a heating element 1018, which can be operated to warm at least a portion of a user's hand. The heating element 1018 can have the same configuration and features as the heating element 18 described above with reference to Figs. 6 and 7B. The heat pad layer 1108 is configured to be enclosed within the two-layer cover 1104, such that the heat pad layer 1108 is surrounded by the two-layer cover 1104. Accordingly, a first layer 1104a of the two-layer cover 1104 is in direct contact with the user's hand and the heat pad layer 1108, and a second layer 1104b of the two-layer cover 1104 is in direct contact with the heat pad layer 1108 and is oriented outwards towards the environment. In the present embodiment, the heat pad layer 1108 extends only along the back 1038 of the body 1014 and not along the palm side 1034 of the body 1014. In such cases, the first layer 1104a can face outwards from the user's hand and the second layer 1104b can face inwards towards and / or touch the skin of the user's hand. In other embodiments, the heat pad layer 1108 can instead extend along the palm side 1034. In such cases, the first layer 1104a can face inwards towards and / or touch the skin of the user's hand, and the second layer 1104b can face outwards away from the user's hand. In further embodiments, the heat pad layer 1108 can instead extend along both the back 1038 and the palm side 1034. The two-layer outer layer 1104 is preferably made of a woven material, such as stretchable or non-stretchable fleece, polyester, wool, and / or any other suitable material, allowing the user to move their hand inside the glove 1010. In contrast, the heat pad layer 1108 can be made of any material suitable for receiving the heating element 1018. Thus, the disclosure may include, among other things, a hand garment, such as a glove 10, and a heating element 18 coupled to the glove 10 for warming a user's hand. The glove 10 may include the heating element 18 with a heating element pattern, a battery holder, a power source, such as a rechargeable battery 22, and an actuator 76 for controlling the heating settings. Although the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and concept of one or more independent aspects of the described invention. Various features of the present disclosure are set forth in the following claims. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature US 63 / 761.251

[0001]

Claims

Heated hand garment designed to be worn by a user, the heated hand garment comprising: a body defining an interior space designed to receive a user's hand, comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a heating element held by the body; a battery receptacle located on the second side of the body and electrically connected to the heating element, the battery receptacle being designed to receive a rechargeable battery; and an actuator located on the first side of the body and electrically connected to the heating element, the actuator being selectable to control the heating element. Heated hand garment according to claim 1, wherein, when the heated hand garment is worn by the user, the first side is arranged to be adjacent to the palm of the hand, and the second side is arranged to be adjacent to the back of the hand. Heated hand garment according to claim 2, wherein the body comprises a third side between the first side and the second side and, when the heated hand garment is worn by the user, the third side is arranged such that it is adjacent to the thumb of the hand. Heated hand garment according to claim 3, wherein the battery receptacle comprises a closable inlet adjacent to the third side. Heated hand garment according to claim 4, wherein the closable entrance is also arranged on the second side. Heated hand garment according to claim 4, wherein the actuator is adjacent to the third side. Heated hand garment according to claim 3, wherein the body comprises a wrist section, wherein, when the heated hand garment is worn by the user, the wrist section is configured to be adjacent to the wrist of the hand, and the actuator is adjacent to the third side and is arranged on the wrist section. Heated hand garment according to claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of light sources, each light source corresponding to a heat setting of the heating element and by successive actuation of the actuator cycles through the heat settings. Heated hand garment according to claim 1, further comprising a connector arranged within the battery receiving space and extending through a section of the body, wherein the connector is configured to be coupled to a power source, and the power source comprises the battery or a remote power source. A heated garment designed to be worn by a user, the heated garment comprising: a body designed to be worn by the user; a heating element held by the body; and an actuator held by the body which is in electrical communication with the heating element, wherein the actuator can be selectively actuated to control the heating element; and comprising an interface with a plurality of light sources, each light source corresponding to a heat setting of the heating element; and a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber being dimensioned and shaped to accommodate one of the plurality of light sources and being configured to prevent light from one light source from passing into an adjacent optical fiber. Heated garment according to claim 10, wherein the actuator further comprises a base and an inner cavity arranged in the base and the plurality of light guides comprises recesses arranged in the inner cavity. Heated garment according to claim 11, wherein the recesses are defined by side walls extending away from the base and into the inner cavity. Heated garment according to claim 12, wherein each optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers is essentially polygonal. Heated garment according to claim 12, wherein each light source of the plurality of light sources is an LED, the plurality of light guides comprises three light guides, each configured to accommodate one of the LEDs, and each LED is coupled to a corresponding light guide at the base of a corresponding side wall. Heated hand garment designed to be worn by a user, the heated hand garment comprising: a body defining an interior space designed to accommodate a user's hand, and comprising a palm section and a finger section extending away from the palm section;and a heating element held by the body, the heating element comprising: a first segment and a second segment extending in a first direction and having a first thickness, and a third segment connecting the first segment to the second segment, extending in a second direction different from the first direction, and having a second thickness less than the first thickness, wherein, when energy is supplied together to the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment, a greater quantity of heat is produced in the third segment than in the first segment or the second segment. Heated hand garment according to claim 15, wherein the third segment is arranged at a tip of the finger section. Heated hand garment according to claim 15, wherein the first segment, the second segment and the third segment are arranged in the palm section. Heated hand garment according to claim 15, wherein the heating element is a first heating element arranged in the finger area, and the heated hand garment further comprises a second heating element arranged in the palm section. Heated hand garment according to claim 15, wherein the heating element is essentially U-shaped. Heated hand garment according to claim 15, wherein the second thickness is 15% or less than the first thickness.

Images