Self-contained temperature-change container assemblies

Abstract

A container assembly heats or cools a product inside an inner container. An outer jacket at least partially surrounds the inner container, with a first internal volume and a second internal volume in the space between the outer jacket and the inner container. A first temperature-change reagent is contained inside the first internal volume, and a second temperature-change reagent is held in the second internal volume, with a reagent separator between the two. Several penetrators are disposed to penetrate the reagent separator to produce openings through the separator and through which the two reagents can mix. Steel wool inside the first internal volume acts as a steam condenser. The outer jacket includes a jacket top ring secured around an upper surface of a standard can, a jacket body secured to the jacket top, and a flexible jacket bottom that carries several spikes molded onto the jacket bottom.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 613,322, which was filed on Jul. 3, 2003.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to containers and apparatus for heating or cooling materials held inside containers. More particularly, the invention provides a can or a similar container for holding a food product or another material, and a self-contained assembly for heating or cooling the container and the material within it to a temperature above or below the material's storage temperature. In a preferred embodiment, a standard metal can holds a quantity of a food or beverage. A jacket or housing surrounds the can, with reagents for an exothermic or endothermic temperature-change reaction inside the jacket in proximity to the can. Activating the device initiates the reaction to heat or cool the can and its contents. [0003] Devices of this general type are known in th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a container assembly that can heat or cool a product inside it. It includes an outer jacket with two internal volumes containing temperature-change reagents. The reagents are separated by a reagent separator. The assembly also has a movable member with penetrators that can open the reagent separator to allow the reagents to mix and initiate a chemical reaction to heat or cool the product. The assembly can be used with standard size cans, allowing for easy integration into existing food or beverage manufacturing processes."

Problems solved by technology

The prior art devices suffer from various deficiencies, though.

Some of the devices are prone to leak either steam or heated reactants from the reagent mixture.

These devices can be hazardous in use.

Concern over the possible injuries to users has severely hindered the acceptability of these devices in the marketplace.

Other devices do not adequately control the rate of the reaction after its initiation.

The reaction may proceed either too fast or too slow, and too much or too little heat may be transferred to the food.

Other devices are overly complex, and difficult, expensive, or time-consuming to manufacture, assemble, use and dispose of.

For these reasons and others, there has never been an acceptable mass-market, self-heating product until now.

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