Self-Heating Fluid Connector and Self-Heating Fluid Container

• US 20080087270A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yoomi Limited
• Original Assignee: Jim Shaikh
• Inventors: Watkinson, Mike, Hartwanger, David, Shaikh, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 8,319,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/263.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2411 Baby bottle warmers; Devices for warming baby food in jars
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/28 Warming devices generating the heat by exothermic reactions, e.g. heat released by the contact of unslaked lime with water
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/028 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A self-heating fluid connector (35) comprising a housing (37) in which is provided exothermic phase change material (38) and one or more fluid channels extending from one end of the housing (37) to the other, in thermal communication with the exothermic phase change material, whereby fluid passing through the fluid conduits is heated by the exothermic phase change material. The self-heating connector is particularly suited for use with a fluid container (11) and a fluid delivery port (12) such as a baby'"'"'s bottle and feeding teat.

Claims

1. A self-heating fluid connector comprising a housing with first and second opposed ends, the housing being adapted for engagement with the opening of a fluid container;

an exothermic phase change material within the housing;

one or more fluid conduits extending between the first and second ends and being in thermal communication with the exothermic phase change material; and

at least one initiator mounted in the housing for activating the exothermic phase change material whereby when activated heat is transferred to fluid caused to flow through the fluid conduits.

2. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end is adapted for attachment to a fluid delivery port.

3. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second ends includes sealing means for forming a fluid seal with the fluid container or the fluid delivery port.

4. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the initiator is a manually operable device mounted for inward movement relative to the housing, the manually operable device having an uneven surface facing towards the interior of the housing for contact with the exothermic phase change material.

5. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the manually operable device consists of a plastics material.

6. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exothermic phase change material is selected from the group sodium acetate trihydrate, lithium acetate dihydrate, calcium chloride dihydrate, calcium nitrate tetrahydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, manganese sulphate hydrate and ferric chloride hexahydrate.

7. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 1, further including temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the heated fluid at the second end of the fluid connector.

8. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said temperature control means comprises a bypass conduit which is thermally insulated from the heat generating material whereby fluid passing through the bypass conduit is unheated and mixes with the heated fluid at the second end of the fluid connector to thereby lower the temperature of the heated fluid.

9. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bypass conduit includes a flow control valve for controlling the rate of flow of fluid through the bypass conduit in dependence on the temperature of the heated fluid at the second end of the fluid connector.

10. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an electrically resistive material in the exothermic phase change material and electrical connection means connected to the electrically resistive material, the electrical connection means being adapted for connection to a source of electricity whereby the electrically resistive material functions as an internal heating element when connected to the source of electricity.

11. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 10, further including a source of electricity provided with the fluid connector.

12. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the source of electricity comprises one or more batteries.

13. A self-heating fluid connector comprising a housing with first and second opposed ends, the first end being adapted for attaching to the opening of a fluid container;

an exothermic phase change material within the housing;

one or more fluid conduits extending through the exothermic phase change material between the first and second ends and being in thermal communication with the exothermic phase change material; and

an initiator mounted in the housing for activating the exothermic phase change material whereby when activated heat is transferred to fluid caused to flow through the fluid conduits.

14. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 13, wherein one or more of said one or more fluid conduits each follows a substantially spiral path between said first and second ends.

15. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fluid conduits are of circular, square or annulus section.

16. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 13, further including temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the heated fluid at the second end of the fluid connector, said temperature control means comprising at least one thermally conducting wall which separates the phase change material into a plurality of sections, each thermally conducting wall including one or more thermally controlled gateways connecting the phase change material sections whereby the rate of heat generation by the phase change material may be controlled.

17. A self-heating fluid connector comprising a housing with first and second opposed ends, the housing being adapted for engagement with the opening of a fluid container;

an exothermic phase change material within the housing;

one or more fluid channels provided on the exterior of the housing extending between the first and second ends and being in thermal communication with the exothermic phase change material; and

at least one initiator mounted in the housing for activating the exothermic phase change material whereby when activated heat is transferred to fluid caused to flow along the fluid channels.

18. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein barriers, projecting outwardly from the surface of the housing, define the one or more fluid channels.

19. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 18, wherein the barriers define a plurality of interconnected fluid channels.

20. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 18, wherein the barriers include fluid sealing means at their outermost edges for forming a fluid seal with the inner surface of the opening of a fluid container.

21. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 20, wherein the barriers are at least semi-rigid.

22. A self-heating connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein a fluid conduit is provided extending through the housing between the first and second opposed ends of the housing.

23. A self-heating connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein the initiator is arranged for axial movement through the housing for engagement with the exothermic phase change material.

34. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 19, wherein the barriers include fluid sealing means at their outermost edges for forming a fluid seal with the inner surface of the opening of a fluid container.

35. A self-heating fluid connector as claimed in claim 34, wherein the barriers are at least semi-rigid.

24. A self-heating container comprising a fluid container;

and a self-heating fluid connector having a housing with first and second opposed ends, the housing being adapted for engagement with the opening of a fluid container;

an exothermic phase change material within the housing;

one or more fluid channels provided on the exterior of the housing extending between the first and second ends and being in thermal communication with the exothermic phase change material; and

at least one initiator mounted in the housing for activating the exothermic phase change material whereby when activated heat is transferred to fluid caused to flow along the fluid channels.

25. A self-heating container as claimed in claim 24, further including a fluid delivery port.

26. A self-heating container as claimed in claim 25, wherein the self-heating connector is adapted for engagement with the inner surface of the fluid container at a neck region of the fluid container and wherein the fluid channels are defined by, in combination, the housing of the self-heating connector, barriers outwardly projecting from the housing and the inner surface of the fluid container at its neck region.

27. A self-heating container as claimed in claim 26, wherein the fluid container, at least in the neck region of the fluid container, is at least semi-transparent.

28. A self-heating container as claimed in claim 26, wherein the fluid container, at least in the neck region of the fluid container, is thermally conductive.

29. A self-heating baby'"'"'s feeding bottle comprising a bottle;

and a self-heating fluid connector having a housing with first and second opposed ends, the housing being adapted for engagement with the opening of a fluid container;

an exothermic phase change material within the housing;

one or more fluid conduits extending between the first and second ends and being in thermal communication with the exothermic phase change material; and

at least one initiator mounted in the housing for activating the exothermic phase change material whereby when activated heat is transferred to fluid caused to flow through the fluid conduits, the self-heating connector further including attachment means adapted for attachment to a baby'"'"'s feeding teat.

30. A self-heating baby'"'"'s feeding bottle as claimed in claim 29 further including a valve for controlling a flow of air into the bottle.

31. A self-heating baby'"'"'s feeding bottle as claimed in claim 29, further including a heat indicator provided on the self-heating fluid connector.

32. A self-heating baby'"'"'s feeding bottle as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a baby'"'"'s feeding teat attached to the self-heating fluid connector.

33. A self-heating bottle which comprises a container having a first compartment and a second compartment permanently attached to or integral with the first compartment, the first compartment providing fluid containment and the second compartment containing an exothermic phase change material;

one or more fluid conduits extending through the exothermic phase change material;

a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the one or more fluid conduits; and

a manually operable device for activating the exothermic phase change material whereby when activated heat is transferred to fluid caused to flow through the fluid conduits.