Lightweight, Compact, Heated Glove Insert for Diver Hand Protection

Navy divers require thermal protection for their hands in cold water to extend dive durations and to improve manual dexterity. Creare proposes to develop an innovative heated glove insert to improve hand dexterity. The proposed technology uses a very thin glove insert with a high distributed heating power to enhance thermal protection for the hands and fingers, keeping them at a comfortable temperature even in very cold water. Our approach employs a lightweight chemical heater with a very high energy density to provide heat and an innovative heat distribution system to deliver the heat to the hands and fingers. The chemical heater will self-regulate its heating temperature for optimal comfort and safety. The consumable material used in the heater will weigh less than 1 oz. for four hours of operation. The glove inserts will be rugged, compact, lightweight, and easy to use. In Phase I, we will prove the feasibility of our approach by: (1) modeling the performance of the heated glove insert, (2) demonstrating the chemical heater in the laboratory, and (3) developing a work plan for Phase II manned testing. In Phase II, we will build prototype gloves and demonstrate their effectiveness in unmanned and manned testing.