Hand warmer

Abstract

A hand warmer comprising a heat generating element having a body portion and one or more extremity portions extending from the body portion, said one or more extremity portions adapted to substantially conform to the shape of one or more of a user's singular or combined extremities, and at least one catch associated with at least one of the one or more extremity portions. Also, a combination of a hand warmer and covering article having a pocket for accepting the hand warmer described.

1 . A hand warmer comprising a heat generating element having a body portion and one or more extremity portions extending from the body portion, said one or more extremity portions adapted to substantially conform to the shape of one or more of a user's singular or combined extremities, and at least one catch associated with at least one of the one or more extremity portions. 
   
   
       2 . The hand warmer of  claim 1  wherein the catch is associated with two or more of the extremity portions. 
   
   
       3 . The hand warmer of  claim 1  comprising a catch associated with each of the extremity portions. 
   
   
       4 . The hand warmer of  claim 1  further comprising a stay associated with the body portion. 
   
   
       5 . The hand warmer of  claim 1  wherein the at least one catch is formed by laminating an edge of the catch about an edge of at least one extremity portion. 
   
   
       6 . The hand warmer of  claim 1  comprising a catch associated with each of the extremity portions and covering the body portion, said catch further comprising a tab extending beyond the bottom of the body portion. 
   
   
       7 . The hand warmer of  claim 1  wherein the catch is formed of a thin layer of polyethylene. 
   
   
       8 . The hand warmer of  claim 1  wherein the heat generating element is lined with a covering material on at least the side that is adapted to contact the wearer's hand. 
   
   
       9 . A combination of a hand warmer and a covering article wherein the hand warmer comprises a heat generating element having a body portion and one or more extremity portions extending from the body portion, said one or more extremity portions adapted to substantially conform to the shape of one or more of a user's singular or combined extremities, and at least one catch associated with at least one of the one or more extremity portions, and the covering article comprises a pocket with an opening for receiving the hand warmer, so that the extremity portions of the hand warmer are associated with a portion of the covering article for receiving one or more of a user's extremities. 
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein the covering article further comprises a closure member for maintaining the pocket in a closed configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein the closure member is taken from the group consisting of magnets, snaps, buttons, clasps, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, hooks and eyelets and flap over ends. 
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein the covering article is taken from the group comprising gloves, glove liners, mittens, socks, shoes and boots. 
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein the hand warmer includes a plurality of extremity portions when the covering article is taken from the group comprising gloves and glove liners and one extremity portion when the covering article is taken from the group consisting of mittens, socks, shoes and boots. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein the at least one catch of the hand warmer is formed by fastening at least a portion of an edge of the catch about at least a portion of an edge of at least one extremity portion. 
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 14  wherein the at least a portion of the catch is fastened to at least a portion of the extremity portion of the hand warmer by one of the group consisting of laminating, adhering, stamping, gluing and heat sealing. 
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein the hand warmer comprises a catch associated with each of the extremity portions and covering the body portion, said catch further comprising a tab extending beyond the bottom of the body portion. 
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein the catch of the hand warmer is formed of a thin layer of polyethylene.