Patent JPS6262949A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4522190A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible electrochemical heater
Assignee: University of Cincinnati
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Filing: 1983-11-03
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Granted: 1985-06-11
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Expires: 2003-11-03
Abstract
Abstract This invention is for an inexpensive flexible heater material (heat pad) for food heating, medical compresses and the like. The heat pad is a composite material consisting of a supercorroding metallic alloy powder dispersed throughout a porous polyethylene matrix. The supercorroding alloy material consists of a powdered alloy of magnesium and iron which is produced by high energy powder metallurgical milling techniques. Pressureless sintering of a mixture of the supercorroding alloy powders with UHMW polyethylene powder results in the formation of a flexible porous matrix material with active ingredients therein that are readily activated with a suitable electrolyte fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 William E. Kuhn
- 👤 Kwoh H. Hu
- 👤 Stanley A. Black
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F7/00; A61F7/02; A61F7/03; B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/34; B65D81/3484; F; F24; F24V; F24V30/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An electrochemical heating device capable of generating heat at a controlled rate, comprising: a. a container adapted to be placed against an article so as to transfer heat developed within the container to the article; b. at least one stand-alone flexible heating element disposed within said container; c. said flexible heating element comprising a totally integrated sintered composite structure of blended powdered polymeric material and supercorroding metallic alloy powders dispersed throughout in the form of a porous matrix; d. means for sealing said container, making the container air-impermeable; e. said flexible heating element being operable to be wetted and activated with an electrolyte to generate heat through electrochemical reactions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrochemical heating device capable of generating heat at a controlled rate, comprising: a. a container adapted to be placed against an article so as to transfer heat developed within the container to the article; b. at least one stand-alone flexible heating element disposed within said container; c. said flexible heating element comprising a totally integrated sintered composite structure of blended powdered polymeric material and supercorroding metallic alloy powders dispersed throughout in the form of a porous matrix; d. means for sealing said container, making the container air-impermeable; e. said flexible heating element being operable to be wetted and activated with an electrolyte to generate heat through electrochemical reactions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein said container is an insulated, flexible, air-impermeable envelope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein a dry electrolyte means is included within said container; said dry electrolyte means being adapted to create an electrolyte solution upon adding water thereto for activating the flexible heating element to generate heat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein sodium chloride solution is added as an electrolyte to activate the heating element for generating heat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein said supercorroding alloy powders are constructed from magnesium with 1 to 5 atomic percent iron and produced by high energy metallurgical milling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein said powdered polymeric material is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein said sintered porous matrix structure is constructed from 4 grams of supercorroding alloy powders per 10 grams powdered polymeric material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein said heating element is covered within said container with a wick means for transporting electrolyte solution to the heating element and preventing excessive wetting of the heating element with electrolyte solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein said wick means is tea bag type paper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein said container is in the form of a pouch into which an article to be heated is inserted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 2 wherein said container is in the form of a flexible pouch in which a sealed food packet is incorporated during construction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 11 wherein a dry electrolyte means is included within said container; said dry electrolyte means being adapted to create an electrolyte solution upon adding water thereto for activating the flexible heating element to generate heat for heating said food packet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 1 wherein a flexible catalytic means is provided within said container for both reducing hydrogen generated by said heating means following activation by an electrolyte and generating additional heat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
A flexible composite, stand-alone, electrochemical heating element for the generation of heat and hydrogen, adaptable for use both as a thermal device and energy source, comprising: a. a blended mixture of powdered polymeric material and supercorroding metallic alloy powders dispersed throughout said material; b. said mixture being sintered to form an integrated flexible porous matrix structure; c. said flexible sintered porous matrix structure being operable to be wetted and activated with an electrolyte to generate heat and hydrogen through electrochemical reactions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
A flexible composite, stand-alone, electrochemical heating element for the generation of heat and hydrogen, adaptable for use both as a thermal device and energy source, comprising: a. a blended mixture of powdered polymeric material and supercorroding metallic alloy powders dispersed throughout said material; b. said mixture being sintered to form an integrated flexible porous matrix structure; c. said flexible sintered porous matrix structure being operable to be wetted and activated with an electrolyte to generate heat and hydrogen through electrochemical reactions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 14 wherein said supercorroding alloy powders are constructed from magnesium with 1 to 5 atomic percent iron and produced by high energy metallurgical milling.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 14 wherein said powdered polymeric material is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 14 wherein said sintered porous matrix structure is constructed from 4 grams of supercorroding alloy powders per 10 grams powdered polymeric material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 14 wherein said electrolyte is sodium chloride solution.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrochemical heating blanket capable of producing heat at a controlled rate, comprising: a. a flexible envelope adapted to be wrapped around an article so as to transfer heat developed within the envelope to the article; b. at least one stand-alone flexible heating element disposed within said envelope; c. said flexible heating element comprising a totally integrated sintered composite structure of blended powdered polymeric material and supercorroding metallic alloy powders dispersed throughout in the form of a porous matrix; d. said flexible heating element being operable to be wetted and activated with an electrolyte to generate heat through electrochemical reactions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrochemical heating blanket capable of producing heat at a controlled rate, comprising: a. a flexible envelope adapted to be wrapped around an article so as to transfer heat developed within the envelope to the article; b. at least one stand-alone flexible heating element disposed within said envelope; c. said flexible heating element comprising a totally integrated sintered composite structure of blended powdered polymeric material and supercorroding metallic alloy powders dispersed throughout in the form of a porous matrix; d. said flexible heating element being operable to be wetted and activated with an electrolyte to generate heat through electrochemical reactions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 19 wherein said supercorroding alloy powders are constructed from magnesium with 1 to 5 atomic percent iron and produced by high energy metallurgical milling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 19 wherein said powdered polymeric material is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 19 wherein said sintered porous matrix structure is constructed from 4 grams of supercorroding alloy powders per 10 grams powdered polymeric material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 19 wherein said heating element is covered with a wick means for uniformly wetting said heating element with electrolyte solution.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 23 wherein said wick means is tea-bag-type paper.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrochemical heating device as in claim 19 wherein one side of said heating blanket is insulated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-06-10 | 1988-12-10 | 1989-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-10 | 1992-12-10 | 1993-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-10 | 1996-12-10 | 1997-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |