Heat Packages and Methods of Their Use

Abstract

The present invention provides a heat package wherein a surface of a generating heat element that generates heat when exposed to atmosphere is placed against or attached to a heat conductive member. The heat element is protected from atmosphere until use. The heat package may include a heat-generating element attached to an insulating member with one or more air spaced there between. An outer surface of the heat-generating element can be exposed to atmosphere to produce heat when desired.

1 . A heat package, comprising:
 a container;   a heat-generating element in the container, wherein the heat-generating element generates heat when it comes in contact with the outside air;   a seal for protecting the heat-generating element from the outside air, wherein the heat-generating element is exposed to the outside air only when the insulating member is removed from the container.   
     
     
         2 . The heat package of  claim 1 , wherein the container is made using an insulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The heat package of  claim 1  further comprising at least one air space between the heat-generating element and the container. 
     
     
         4 . The heat package of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one air space includes an air channel between the heat-generating element and the container. 
     
     
         5 . The heat package of  claim 1  further comprising a strap coupled to the container conFIG.d to wrap the container around a member to be heated. 
     
     
         6 . The heat package of  claim 1 , wherein the member to be heated is a human body part. 
     
     
         7 . The heat package of  claim 1  further comprising a member between the seal and the heat-generating element conFIG.d to come in contact with the human body part. 
     
     
         8 . The heat package of  claim 1 , wherein the seal is disposable. 
     
     
         9 . The heat package of  claim 8 , wherein the disposable seal is comprises at least one of (i) a plastic material; (ii) a polyurethane material; (iii) a metal; (iv) an alloy; and (v) a non-metallic material. 
     
     
         10 . The heat package of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-generating element comprises a plurality of spaced apart strips, each strip generating heat when exposed to the outside air. 
     
     
         11 . The heat package of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of heat-generating strips are arranged in a pre-determined pattern. 
     
     
         12 . A method of providing a heat-package, comprising:
 providing a container;   placing a heat-generating element in the container, wherein the heat-generating element is conFIG.d to generate heat when the heat-generating element comes in contact with the outside air; and   sealing the heat-generating element from the outside air with a seal such that the heat-generating element generates hear only when the insulating member is removed from the container.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the container is made using an insulating material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising providing at least one air space between the heat-generating element and the container. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising coupling a strap to the container conFIG.d to place the container around a member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the member is a human body part. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising placing a member between the seal and the heat-generating element conFIG.d to come in contact with the member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the seal is disposable. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the seal is made from one of (i) a plastic material; (ii) a polyurethane material; (iii) a metal; (iv) an alloy; and (v) a non-metallic material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the heat-generating element comprises a plurality of spaced-apart strips, each strip generating heat when exposed to the outside air. 
     
     
         21 . A heat package, comprising:
 a container with a strap conFIG.d to place the container about a selected member;   a heat-generating element in the container, wherein the heat-generating element generates heat when it comes in contact with the outside air; and   a seal for protecting the heat-generating element from the outside air, wherein the heat-generating element is exposed to the outside air only when the insulating member is removed from the container.