GB2402346A

GB2402346A - Portable electric warming device

Info

Publication number: GB2402346A
Application number: GB0312746A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Roy Howell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-04
Filing date: 2003-06-04
Publication date: 2004-12-08
Also published as: GB0312746D0

Abstract

Portable warming device comprising a sealed container 100 containing a heat storage medium 103, an electrical heating element 107 to heat the heat storage medium terminating in one part of a plug and socket connecter, and a separate base unit (200, fig 2) which houses the other part of the plug and socket connector. Preferably the base unit includes a sleeve (202, fig 2) to facilitate and maintain electrical contact. The container 100 may be covered with a fibrous material 102. The container 100 may be made of an elastic material which may be natural or synthetic rubber or plastic, or it may be made from a rigid composite plastics material. The heat storage medium may be a fluid or oil. The warming device may be heated by plugging it into the base unit which is connected to a mains power supply.

Description

1 2402346

PORTABLE WARMING DEVICE

The present invention relates to portable warming devices and, more specifically to such devices which are adapted to be filled with hot water.

Conventional so-called 'hot water bottles' consist of a container with a stopper which has a liquid-tight seal. The container may be made of a rubber or plastics material, in which case normally the container is flat, or of a rigid material such as pottery, in which case the container normally has a generally cylindrical cross-section. The container is 0 filled at the time of use with hot water which has been heated elsewhere. Not only is this an inconvenient process, but there is the risk of scalding during the filling process - particularly when the user is an elderly person, which usually is the case. Also, there is the risk of leakage due to imperfect sealing of the stopper and, in the case of hot water bottles made of natural or synthetic rubber is the water used to fill the hot water bottle is too hot, subsequent steam pressure can cause the hot water bottle to split.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable warming device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable warming device comprising, a sealed container containing a heat storage medium, an electrical heating element adapted to heat the heat storage medium, the heating element terminating in one component of a dismountable plug and socket connector, the other component of which is included in a separate base unit.

The container may be made of a pliable or rigid material. In the case where the container is made of a pliable material such as rubber or plastics material, the base unit preferably includes a sleeve into which the container is inserted so as to support the container while the heat storage medium is being heated.

Preferably the heat storage medium is a fluid such as an oil or water.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of a hotwater bottle embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a part crosssection of a base unit for use with the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a "hot-water" bottle embodying the invention consists of a sealed container 100, which is generally rectangular in plan. The major part of the envelope 101 of the container 100 is made of a pliable material such as natural or synthetic rubber or a plastics material, although a composite or other rigid material can be used if so desired. The envelope 101 of the container 100 is covered with a fibrous material 102 which both softens the feel of the envelope 101 of the container 100 and acts as thermal insulation, reducing the rate of loss of heat from the heat storage medium 103 within the container 100. One end of the envelope 101 of the container 100 terminates in a handle 1 04. At the other end of the container 100 is a rigid portion 105 2s in which there is an inset 106 which encloses an electric heating element 107. The inward-facing part of the rigid portion 105 of the envelope 101 of the container 100 is perforated to allow a fluid heat storage medium 108 contained in the container 100 to circulate around the heating element 107. A preferred heat storage medium is a synthetic oil, but water or other fluid, or semi-fluid media could be used if so desired.

The heating element 107 is connected to, or terminates in, the male contacts 108 of a plug-and-socket connector the female contacts of which are incorporated in a base unit 200. The base unit 200 has an extended foot portion 201 from which projects a sleeve 202 into which the container 101 can be inserted so that electrical connection can be made between the male and female contacts of the plug and socket connector. The base lo unit 200 also includes a thermostatically controlled switch 203, a pilot light 204 and a mains connector lead 205.

If so desired, the extended foot portion 201 of the base unit 200 can be omitted, as can the sleeve portion 202 if the container 100 is made of a rigid material, in which case the container 100 can be generally cylindrical in form rather than flat. Also, the surface of the container 100 can be provided with ribs, as in some conventional hot water bottles.

As described, the device operates from a 240 volts mains supply, but it can be made to operate from other power supplies, such as 110 volts a.c. or 12 volts d.c.

Claims

1. Portable warming device comprising, a sealed container containing a heat storage medium, an electrical heating element adapted to heat the heat storage medium, the heating element terminating in one component of a dismountable plug and socket connector, the other component of which is included in a separate base unit.

2. A portable warming device according to claim I wherein the base unit includes a sleeve adapted to encompass the said container so as to facilitate the creation and maintenance of electrical contact between the components of the said dismountable plug and socket connector.

3. A portable warming device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the container is covered with a fibrous material.

4. A portable warming device according to any of claims I to 3 wherein the container is made of an elastic material.

5. A portable warming device according to claim 4 wherein the elastic material is a natural or synthetic rubber or plastics material.

6. A portable warming device according to any of claims I to 3 wherein the container is made of a rigid material.

7. A portable warming device according to claim 6 wherein the container is made of a composite plastics material.

8. A portable warming device according to any preceding claim wherein the heat storage medium is a fluid.

9. A portable heating device according to claim 8 wherein the heat storage median is an oil.

10. A portable heating device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.