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Arrangement for and method of selectably changing the temperature of a product

a technology of product temperature and temperature, applied in the field of arrangement, can solve the problems of user actuation difficulty, inability to activate self-heating action, and inability to perform actuation by users, etc., and achieve the effect of enhancing operation and encouraging user acceptan

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-01-11
EZRA ESSES
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is about an arrangement and method for changing the temperature of a product, such as a food or beverage, by adding or removing heat. The arrangement includes an outer container and an inner cup, with a breakable membrane between them containing reactants that produce a chemical reaction when mixed. The membrane is broken by a breaking member that is at least partially supported by the container's internal shoulder. The temperature change is initiated by a radial pressure exerted on the container's side wall by the user's fingers, making it easier for the user to perform as compared to inverting the container or axially depressing a button. The invention aims to promote user acceptance and enhance the operation of temperature-changing arrangements."

Problems solved by technology

As advantageous as the known self-heating containers are, experience has shown that the actuation by the user is difficult for at least some users to perform.
Some users, particularly the elderly and children, do not have the strength to activate the self-heating action.

Method used

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  • Arrangement for and method of selectably changing the temperature of a product
  • Arrangement for and method of selectably changing the temperature of a product
  • Arrangement for and method of selectably changing the temperature of a product

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0023] As best shown in FIGS. 1-2, an arrangement in accordance with this invention includes an outer container 10 having a side wall 12 bounding an interior, an inner cup 14 fixedly mounted within the interior of the container 10, a breakable membrane 16 fixedly mounted within the interior of the container 10 and subdividing the interior into a pair of compartments 18, 20, a pair of reactants 22, 24 respectively contained in the compartments 18, 20 and kept apart by the membrane 16 prior to use, and a breaking member 26 mounted within the container 10, preferably above the membrane 16, and operative for breaking the membrane 16, as described below, to allow the reactants 22, 24 to mix and form a chemical reaction that changes the temperature of a product contained in the cup 14. A seal 28 seals the product within the cup 14. An apertured sip lid 30 is optionally mounted over the seal 28 and over the container 10.

[0024] The container 10 is symmetrical about an upright axis 32, and ...

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PUM

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Abstract

Radial pressure exerted against a deflectable sidewall of an outer container initiates a chemical reaction in which the temperature of a product in an inner cup is changed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention generally relates to an arrangement that adds or removes heat from a product, such as a food, beverage, medicine, or like product and, more particularly, to promoting user acceptance of the arrangement by enhancing its operation. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Self-heating or self-cooling arrangements are known in which a product, typically a beverage, is heated or cooled by employing two chemical reactants which are stable when separated, but which produce an exothermic or an endothermic reaction when mixed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,323 shows one example of a single-use, self-heating container for liquids or solids, in which a breakable membrane keeps the reactants apart, and a breakable member is actuated by a user to break the membrane and allow the reactants to mix to form the chemical reaction that changes the temperature of the product. [0005] As advantageous as the known self...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F24J1/00F24V30/00
CPCF24J1/00F24V30/00
Inventor STRACHAN, MARK
Owner EZRA ESSES