Dispenser assemblies and systems including a heat storage unit
First Claim
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1. A heat storage unit, comprising:
- a body having a passage formed therein through which a flowable product passes;
a heatable element incorporated within the body in thermal communication with the passage, the heatable element comprising either a magnetically-compatible material or a microwave-compatible material; and
a heat-retentive material in thermal communication with the heatable element, the heat-retentive material comprising a solid-to-solid phase change material.
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Abstract
A heat storage unit (2) includes a body having a passage (12) formed therein through which a flowable product passes. A heatable element (10) is incorporated within the body of the heat storage unit (2) in thermal communication with the passage (12). Meanwhile, a heat-retentive material (8) is in thermal communication with the heatable element (10). The heatable element (10) includes either a magnetically-compatible material or a microwave-compatible material that is heated by locating the heatable element in a field (F) generated by a charging device (6), for example.
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Citations
94 Claims
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1. A heat storage unit, comprising:
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a body having a passage formed therein through which a flowable product passes;
a heatable element incorporated within the body in thermal communication with the passage, the heatable element comprising either a magnetically-compatible material or a microwave-compatible material; and
a heat-retentive material in thermal communication with the heatable element, the heat-retentive material comprising a solid-to-solid phase change material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 92, 93)
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30. A heat storage unit for heating a flowable product, the heat storage unit comprising:
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a body having a passage formed therein through which a flowable product passes;
a heatable element incorporated within the body in thermal communication with the passage, the heatable element comprising either a magnetically-compatible material or a microwave-compatible material that is heatable by locating the heatable element in a field generated external to the heat storage unit; and
a heat-retentive material that lines at least a portion of the passage and which is in thermal communication with the heatable element, wherein the heat storage unit does not include any components for generating a field to heat the heatable element. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A pad for heating and dispensing a flowable product, the pad comprising:
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a porous body comprising a heat-retentive material and either a magnetically-compatible material or a microwave-compatible material; and
a burstable pouch containing the flowable product, the burstable pouch being incorporated within the porous body in thermal communication with the magnetically-compatible material or the microwave-compatible material, wherein the flowable product is dispensed from the porous body by compressing the burstable pouch. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A system, comprising:
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a heat storage unit, comprising (i) a body having a passage formed therein, (ii) a heatable element incorporated within the body in thermal communication with the passage, the heatable element comprising either a magnetically-compatible material or a microwave-compatible material, and (iii) a heat-retentive material in thermal communication with the heatable element; and
a charging device to which the heat storage unit is detachably docked such that, when the heat storage unit is docked with the charging device and the charging device is activated, a field is generated that encompasses the heatable element of the heat storage unit, thereby raising the temperature of the heatable element. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 94)
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85. A method of manufacturing a heat storage unit, comprising the steps of:
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a first molding step of molding a heat-retentive body;
a second molding step of molding a heatable element of either magnetically-compatible material or microwave-compatible material in thermal communication with the heat-retentive body, wherein, during one of said first and second molding steps, a passage is formed through the heat storage unit to define a flow path for a flowable product. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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Specification