Package for oxygen activated portable heater

Abstract

Improvements for packages for oxygen based portable heaters, including improvements relating to packaging forms, reactant control, thermal control, heat initiation, graphics on the package, and integrated packaging structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heater package associated with an object to be heated, comprising:
 an inner layer defining a cavity;   an oxygen activated heater positioned within the cavity;   an outer layer external to the cavity;   wherein the inner and outer layers enable controlled ingress of oxygen toward and into the oxygen activated heater positioned within the cavity; and   wherein at least a portion of the outer layer is associated with an object to be heated.   
     
     
         2 . The invention according to  claim 1 , further including a temperature indicator associated with at least one of the heater and an object being heated. 
     
     
         3 . The invention according to  claim 2 , wherein the temperature indicator comprises thermally activated graphics associated with at least one of the outer layer and a remote handheld device. 
     
     
         4 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen activated heater has a geometry that generally conforms to the geometry of the inner and outer layers:
 the heater having at least one surface having a corrugated configuration.   
     
     
         5 . The invention according to  claim 4 , wherein the corrugated surface is associated with a temperature indicator. 
     
     
         6 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen activated heater is removably positioned within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the association of the portion of the outer layer to the object to be heated comprises an interfacial surface that enhances heat transfer and heat efficiency from the heater package to the object to be heated. 
     
     
         8 . The invention according to  claim 7 , wherein the interfacial surface is selected from one of the group comprising thermally conductive adhesives, heat seal layers and non-porous high contact surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The invention according to  claim 1 , further comprising an insulation layer associated with the outer layer, wherein the insulation layer allows heat to be maintained within the object to be heated and to insulate a user coming into contact with the heater package from excessive temperatures. 
     
     
         10 . The invention according to  claim 9 , wherein the insulation layer comprises insulating films. 
     
     
         11 . The invention according to  claim 10 , wherein the insulating films include at least one of polystyrene and polypropylene films. 
     
     
         12 . The invention according to  claim 11  wherein the insulting film has a thickness of approximately 20-30 mils. 
     
     
         13 . The invention according to  claim 1 , further comprising an inwardly reflecting structure associated with the outer layer, wherein the inwardly reflecting layer allows heat to be maintained within the object to be heated and to insulate a user coming into contact with the heater package from excessive temperatures. 
     
     
         14 . The invention according to  claim 13 , wherein the reflective layer is selected from at least one of the group comprising aluminized polypropylene and polyester films. 
     
     
         15 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater package further includes water retention means for to help control maximum temperature reached and the desired heating profile for a desired application, safety and comfort. 
     
     
         16 . The invention according to  claim 15 , wherein the water retention means substantially contains egress of water at the site of the exothermic reaction associated with the oxygen activated heater.