Self-contained and self-heating food, meal and drink package

Abstract

A self-contained and self-heating food, meal and / or drink package, comprising a heat-resistant carton, a heat-resistant tray, a heating element, a container having a food, meal and / or drink sealed therein, and a pouch containing an activator solution for reacting with the heating element to generate sufficient heat to heat the food, meal and / or drink in the container. To heat the contents of the container, the heating element is positioned within the tray and the activator solution is applied to the heating element. The container then is positioned over the heating element in the tray, and the tray with the heating element and container therein is positioned within the carton which serves as an oven for heating the food, meal and / or drink in the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 12 / 591,580 filed on Nov. 24, 2009.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicable.REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0003]Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]The present invention relates to a self-contained meal and a portable package for containing the meal and for heating the same.[0006]2. Description of the Background Art[0007]There is a need for self-contained and self-heating food, meals and drinks in environments where there is no electricity or fire, such as in the military, natural disaster relief efforts and other emergency situations, camping, fishing, boating, travel, vending, school campuses and the like. While some self-contained and self-heating food, meal or drink packages have been developed for these purposes, they all have been subject to one or more of the following disadvan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a new and improved self-contained and self-heating food, meal, or drink package that meets or exceeds all current military and government performance specifications and regulations. It also goes beyond meeting civilian and institutional regulations by USDA and FDA. The package comprises a carton, a sealed container, a heating element, a pouch of activator solution, a tray, eating utensils, and written instructions. The heating element is porous and has a composition that is electrochemically heated when exposed to the activator solution to heat the self-contained food, meal, or drink in a required period of time. The package is simple in construction, easy to use, and reliable in operation."

Problems solved by technology

1. They have been expensive to manufacture; and / or

2. They have been of poor quality and thus unreliable in operation with respect to temperature or the like; and / or

3. They have taken too long to heat a meal to a required temperature or to maintain a desired temperature for an adequate time period; and / or

4. They have been subject to breakage, deterioration or leakage; and / or

5. They have had a short shelf life; and / or

6. They have been difficult to use; and / or

7. They can expose the hands of a user to residues or high heat; and / or

8. They do not have quality temperature growth and stability.

Images