Self-heating personal covering

Abstract

Disclosed is a self-heating personal covering that includes a first layer and a second layer that is parallel to and opposite of the first layer, and at least a portion of the second layer is fastened to at least a portion of the first layer. The self-heating personal covering also includes at least one heat source positioned between the first layer and the second layer. The at least one heat source is held in a prescribed position by the first layer and the second layer, and includes a material that undergoes an exothermic reaction upon exposure to oxygen. The at least one heat distributing structure is thermally connected to the at least one heat source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-heating personal covering comprising:
 a first layer;   a second layer parallel to and opposite of the first layer, wherein at least a portion of the second layer is fastened to at least a portion of the first layer;   at least one heat source positioned between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the at least one heat source is held in a prescribed position by the first layer and the second layer, and the at least one heat source comprises a material that undergoes an exothermic reaction upon exposure to oxygen to generate heat; and   at least one heat distributing structure that is thermally connected to the at least one heat source.   
     
     
         2 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat source comprises a plurality of heat sources arranged in a geometrical array, and the geometrical array of the plurality of heat sources comprises spacing between each heat source in the plurality of heat sources. 
     
     
         3 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one heat distributing structure is positioned so that a portion of the at last one heat distributing structure is present in the spacing between each heat source in the plurality of heat sources. 
     
     
         4 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one heat distributing structure comprises a plurality of heat distributing structures, and at least one heat distributing structure of the plurality of heat distributing structures is present in the spacing between each heat source in the plurality of heat sources. 
     
     
         5 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat distributing structure comprises an insulating material. 
     
     
         6 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 5 , wherein the insulating material is incorporated into the first layer. 
     
     
         7 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 5 , wherein the insulating material comprises an insulating layer that is positioned between the first layer and the at least one heat source. 
     
     
         8 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 7 , wherein the insulating layer comprises material that is permeable to oxygen. 
     
     
         9 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 7 , wherein the insulating layer comprises channels that permit oxygen to access the at least one heat source. 
     
     
         10 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 7 , wherein
 the at least one heat source comprises a first heat source and a second heat source,   a gap comprising air is present in between the first heat source and the second heat source, and   a portion of the insulating layer is positioned proximate to the first heat source, the second heat source, and the gap such that heat is directed into the gap between the first heat source and the second heat source.   
     
     
         11 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 5 , wherein the insulating material is a reflective insulating material. 
     
     
         12 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat distributing structure comprises a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         13 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 12 , wherein
 the at least one heat source comprises a first heat source and a second heat source spaced apart from the first heat source, and   the thermally conductive material is positioned between and thermally connected to the first heat source and the second heat source.   
     
     
         14 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 12 , wherein the thermally conductive material comprise a member selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene (HDPE) textiles, metallic foils, bladders filled with thermally conductive materials or air, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat distributing structure is a layer of phase change material. 
     
     
         16 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 15 , wherein the layer of phase change material is positioned between the at least one heat source and the second layer. 
     
     
         17 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 16 , wherein
 the at least one heat source comprises a first heat source and a second heat source,   a gap comprising air is present in between the first heat source and the second heat source, and   a portion of the layer of phase change material is positioned proximate to the first heat source, the second heat source, and the gap such that heat is directed into the gap between the first heat source and the second heat source.   
     
     
         18 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 15 , wherein the layer of phase change material is selected from the group consisting of paraffins, capric acid, trimyristin, caprylone, docasyl bromide, camphenilone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a material that is oxygen permeable. 
     
     
         20 . The self-heating personal covering of  claim 1 , wherein the self-heating personal covering is a blanket having a thickness of less than or equal to 0.100 inches and a weight of less than or equal to 7.5 g/m 2 .