Flexible heat pack containing super cooled salt solution

Claim 2

A heat producing apparatus, comprising (a) a generally flat plastic container having opposed plastic side walls forming opposite sides, the walls having edge portions which are interconnected, (b) the container containing a supercooled salt solution adpated for triggering of the solution to initiate crystallization accompanied by exothermic heat production, (c) the container being flexible so as to be manually deformable, to prevent stiffening and maintaining flexibility of the container during said crystallization, (d) the plastic walls also interconnected along at least one elongated linear zone spaced from said edge portions to limit displacement of the walls relatively away from one another and to form solution containing pockets between said linear zone or zones and said edge portions, (e) and including a trigger strip in the container to which force is transmissible via a side wall to deform the trigger strip, thereby to initiate said crystallization, and a frame within the container loosely and peripherally supporting the trigger strip to allow the trigger strip to deform relative to the frame, the frame being free to move with the trigger strip in the container, said frame extending peripherally about said trigger strip.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the walls are also interconnected at heat sealed buttons between which at least one of said zones extends, said zone or zones also being heat sealed.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the buttons are arranged in pairs, each said zone extending between the buttons of a pair.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein multiple of said linear zones extend in generally parallel, spaced apart relation.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the buttons are spaced from the wall edge portions to form solution passageways between said pockets.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame and trigger strips are sized to be movable in a pocket generally lengthwise of at least one of said zones, the frame comprising multiple members that interfit to peripherally confine the trigger strip.

Claim 8

Apparatus of claim 6 wherein said frame consists of molded plastic material loosely confining said perimeter.

Claim 9

Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said frame includes a wall extending at one side of the strip in spaced relation therewith.

Claim 10

Apparatus of claim 8 wherein the strip is metallic and has dished configuration in one of said configurations characterized as stable, and characterized in that the strip bulges away from said frame wall.

Claim 11

Apparatus of claim 6 wherein the trigger is located to move about in the container and to be visible through a transparent wall of the container.

Claim 12

Apparatus of claim 6 wherein the frame comprises two annular members that interfit to loosely confine said perimeter.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the trigger comprises a thin, bendable, metallic strip having a perimeter.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the strip has a multiplicity of pin-hole size openings therethrough.

Claim 15

Apparatus of claim 12 wherein the frame has a wall extending opposite one side of the strip, the strip having a stable configuration bulging away from said wall.

Claim 16

A heat producing apparatus comprising (a) a generally flat plastic container having opposed plastic side walls forming opposite sides, the walls having edge portions which are interconnected, (b) the container containing a supercooled salt solution adapted for trigeering of the solution to initiate crystallization accompanied by exothermic heat production, (c) the container being flexible so as to be manually deformable, to prevent stiffening and maintaining flexibility of the container during said crystallization, (d) the plastic side walls also interconnected along at least one elongated linear zone spaced from said edge portions to limit displacement of the walls relatively away from one another and to form solution containing pockets between said linear zone or zones and said edge portions, (e) and including a trigger in the container and movable in a pocket generally lengthwise of at least one of said zones, force being transmissible to the trigger via a container wall portion closest to the trigger, to deform the trigger and thereby initiate said crystallization, the trigger comprising: (i) a thin, metallic strip having a perimeter, (ii) said strip having a multiplicity of openings formed therein, each opening characterized as having opposed edges which face one another in near touching relation, (iii) the strip further characterized as having configurations between which it is bendable for causing said edges to initiate progressive exothermic crystallization of said salt in the solution, (iv) and a non-metallic frame extending peripherally about said perimeter and mounting said strip, the frame comprising two subtantially annular members that interfit to loosely confine said perimeter.

Claim 17

A heat producing apparatus comprising (a) a generally flat plastic container having opposed plastic side walls forming opposite sides, the walls having edge portions which are interconnected, (b) the container containing a supercooled salt solution adapted for trigeering of the solution to initiate crystallization accompanied by exothermic heat production, (c) the container being flexible so as to be manually deformable, to prevent stiffening and maintaining flexibility of the container during said crystallization, (d) the plastic side walls also interconnected along at least one elongated linear zone spaced from said edge portions to limit displacement of the walls relatively away from one another and to form solution containing pockets between said linear zone or zones and said edge portions, (e) and including a trigger in the container and movable in a pocket generally lengthwise of at least one of said zones, force being transmissible to the trigger via a container wall portion closest to the trigger, to deform the trigger and thereby initiate said crystallization, the trigger comprising: (i) a thin, metallic strip having a perimeter, (ii) said strip having a multiplicity of openings formed therein, each opening characterized as having opposed edges which face one another in near touching relation, (iii) the strip further characterized as having configurations between which it is bendable for causing said edges to initiate progressive exothermic crystallization of said salt in the solution, (iv) and a non-metallic frame extending peripherally about said perimeter and mounting said strip, the frame comprising two subtantially annular members that interfit to loosely confine said perimeter.

Claim 18

Apparatus of claim 15 wherein said strip perimeter is generally circular, and said frame is generally annular.

Claim 19

Apparatus of claim 15 wherein said strip has a central portion and an outer portion surrounding said central portion, said openings located in one of said portions, one frame member defining a wall having an aperture in registration with said central portion.

Claim 20

Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said strip consists of beryllium copper.

Claim 21

Apparatus of claim 15 including a noble metal coating on the strip.

Claim 22

Apparatus of claim 19 wherein said noble metal consists essentially of gold.

Claim 23

Apparatus of claim 15 wherein the strip is in the form of a disc having two of said configurations between which the disc is bendable with snap displacement.

Claim 24

Apparatus of claim 21 wherein said openings are distributed over the disc area, said openings having pin-hole size.

Claim 25

Apparatus of claim 15 including a coating on the strip, the coating consisting of a noble metal.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 23 wherein said noble metal consists essentially of gold plated on the strip.

Claim 27

Apparatus of claim 15 wherein said strip has molecular structure which is impact oriented.

Claim 28

Apparatus of claim 15 wherein the strip is in the form of a disc.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 15 wherein said strip consists of beryllium copper.