Self-contained temperature-change container assemblies
First Claim
1. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
- an inner container;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume;
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator, wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket;
structure defining an outlet in the outer jacket, wherein the outlet is configured to release gas from the assembly; and
an outlet barrier that ordinarily obstructs the outlet, but which is configured to open and thereby to release gas the assembly through the outlet in response to positive pressure inside the outer jacket.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
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an inner container;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume;
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator, wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket;
structure defining an outlet in the outer jacket, wherein the outlet is configured to release gas from the assembly; and
an outlet barrier that ordinarily obstructs the outlet, but which is configured to open and thereby to release gas the assembly through the outlet in response to positive pressure inside the outer jacket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
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an inner container;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume;
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator, wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket;
structure defining an outlet in the outer jacket, wherein the outlet is configured to release gas from the assembly; and
a filter material between the outlet and the reagent mixing region, wherein the outlet is configured to vent gas from the assembly through the filter material. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
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an inner container;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume; and
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator, wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket;
wherein the first-temperature change reagent includes a first portion that is at least partially covered by an inert material that inhibits a chemical reaction between the first and second temperature change reagents, and a second portion that is not at least partially covered by the inert material. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
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an inner container;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume;
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator;
wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket; and
a heat insulator inside the outer jacket between the outer jacket and the reagent mixing region, wherein the heat insulator includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of (a) a metallic foil, and (b) a sprayable insulator applied to the interior of the outer jacket. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
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an inner container;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume; and
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator;
wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket; and
wherein the outer jacket includes an outer wall structure that inclines outward in an upward direction.
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17. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
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an inner container;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume;
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator; and
wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket; and
wherein the reagent separator is configured to maintain close contact between the first temperature-change reagent and both a side surface and a bottom surface of the inner container after the reagent separator has been opened to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents by supporting the first temperature-change reagent on the opened reagent separator.
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19. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
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an inner container;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume; and
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator, wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket;
wherein the outer jacket includes a top ring snapped in place over a top rim of the inner container. - View Dependent Claims (18, 20, 21)
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22. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
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an inner container;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume; and
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator, wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket;
wherein the movable member comprises a pushbutton movable to bear against a structure carrying at least one penetrator and thereby to urge that penetrator through the reagent separator to open the reagent separator. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising:
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an inner container;
a removable and replaceable closure member operable to close an opening in the inner container;
wherein the inner container is configured so that a user of the assembly can place a substance inside the inner container through the inner container'"'"'s opening, and thereafter close the opening by replacing the closure member;
an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;
a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;
a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;
a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume; and
a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator, wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket.
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Specification