Warming container for wipes

Abstract

A container for supplying warm wipes having a compartment for holding a plurality of wipes and at least one pocket for holding a chemical heat pack. The pocket has a first surface in thermal contact with the compartment holding the wipes and a second surface having at least one opening in direct contact with the atmospheric air. The opening is of sufficient size to permit atmospheric air to circulate to the chemical heat pack in the pocket and cause an exothermic heat reaction to occur within the chemical heat pack and warm the wipes by transmitting heat through the pocket first surface.

1 . An apparatus for supplying warm wipes comprising:
 a container having a compartment therein for holding a plurality of wipes; and   at least one pocket for holding a chemical heat pack therein, the at least one pocket having a first surface in thermal contact with the compartment holding the wipes and a second surface having at least one opening therein in direct contact with the atmospheric air, the at least one opening being of sufficient size to permit atmospheric air to circulate to the chemical heat pack in the pocket and cause an exothermic heat reaction to occur within the chemical heat pack and warm the wipes by transmitting heat through the pocket first surface.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pocket is disposed on an exterior of a side, bottom or top of the container and the pocket first surface comprises a wall between the pocket and the container compartment for holding the wipes and the pocket second surface comprises a wall opposite the first surface. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pocket is disposed on an interior of a side, bottom or top of the container and the pocket first surface comprises a wall between the pocket and the container compartment for holding the wipes and the pocket second surface comprises the side, bottom or top of the container. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pocket includes a slideable tray supported for movement into and out of the container between closed and open positions such that a chemical heat pack may be placed on the tray when the tray is in the open position and the chemical heat pack is positioned inside the pocket after sliding the tray into its closed position. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container compartment for the wipes is detachably connected to the portion of the apparatus containing the pocket for the chemical heat pack. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pocket opening is covered with a removable tab for initially sealing the chemical heat pack in substantially an airtight manner in the pocket, the tab being removable from the opening to commencing the exothermic reaction of the chemical heat pack. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container is a soft, resilient package and the pocket is secured to a top or bottom surface of the soft container. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container has a lid for dispensing wipes held in the compartment, and the pocket for the chemical heat pack is in the lid. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pocket for the chemical heat pack is on a side or bottom of the container. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pocket for the chemical heat pack is on a top of the container. 
   
   
       11 . A method of supplying warm wipes comprising:
 providing a container having a compartment therein for holding a plurality of wipes and at least one pocket for holding chemical heat pack therein, the at least one pocket having a first surface in thermal contact with the compartment holding the wipes and a second surface having at least one opening therein in direct contact with the atmospheric air, the at least one opening being of sufficient size to permit atmospheric air to circulate to a chemical pack in the pocket and cause an exothermic heat reaction to occur within the chemical heat pack and warm the wipes by transmitting heat through the pocket first surface;   providing a wipes inside the container compartment;   providing a chemical heat pack inside the at least one pocket; and   exposing the chemical heat pack to atmospheric air through the at least one opening to permit atmospheric air to circulate to the chemical pack in the pocket and cause an exothermic heat reaction to occur within the chemical heat pack, thereby warming the wipes by transmitting heat through the pocket first surface into the compartment for the wipes.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pocket is disposed on the exterior of a side, bottom or top of the container and the pocket first surface comprises a wall between the pocket and the container compartment for holding the wipes and the pocket second surface comprises a wall opposite the first surface, and wherein the chemical heat pack is exposed to the atmospheric air through the at least one opening in the pocket second surface. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pocket is disposed on the interior of a side, bottom or top of the container and the pocket first surface comprises a wall between the pocket and the container compartment for holding the wipes and the pocket second surface comprises a wall opposite the first surface, and wherein the chemical heat pack is exposed to the atmospheric air through the at least one opening in the pocket second surface. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pocket includes a slideable tray supported for movement into and out of the container between closed and open positions and wherein the chemical heat pack is placed on the tray when the tray is in the open position and the tray is slid into its closed position whereby the chemical heat pack is positioned inside the pocket and the chemical heat pack is exposed to the atmospheric air through the at least one opening. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the container compartment for the wipes is detachably connected to the portion of the apparatus containing the pocket for the chemical heat pack and wherein the compartment for the wipes is detached from the apparatus containing the pocket for replacement of the chemical heat pack or for providing additional wipes. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the at least one pocket opening is covered with a removable tab for initially sealing a chemical heat pack in substantially an airtight manner in the pocket, the tab being removable from the opening to commencing the exothermic reaction of the chemical heat pack and including removing the tab from the opening to expose the chemical heat pack to the atmospheric air. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the container is a soft, resilient package and the pocket is secured to a top or bottom surface of the soft container and wherein the chemical heat pack is exposed to the atmospheric air through the at least one opening to permit atmospheric air to circulate to the chemical pack in the pocket and cause an exothermic heat reaction to occur within the chemical heat pack, thereby warming the wipes by transmitting heat through the pocket first surface into the compartment for the wipes. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the container has a lid for dispensing wipes held in the compartment, and the pocket for the chemical heat pack is in the lid and wherein the chemical heat pack is exposed to the atmospheric air through the at least one opening in the lid. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pocket for the chemical heat pack is on a side or bottom of the container and wherein the chemical heat pack is exposed to the atmospheric air through the at least one opening. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pocket for the chemical heat pack is on the top of the container and wherein the chemical heat pack is exposed to the atmospheric air through the at least one opening.