Rechargeable self-heating food container

• US 20080251063A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Morris Torseth, Travis Palena
• Original Assignee: Morris Torseth, Travis Palena
• Inventors: Beatty, Mark E., Palena, Travis, Torseth, Morris
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/263.09
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2416 with a heat storage element or material
• 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: A61J 9/008 having storage compartments, e.g. for storing a teat
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/02 with thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: F24V 30/00 Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion

Abstract

A rechargeable, self-heating food container includes an inner chamber with a supersaturated salt solution and trigger means for initiating crystallization of the supersaturated salt solution. A rechargeable element for heating food includes a cylinder containing a supersaturated salt solution sealingly insertable into a food container, with a trigger in fluid contact with the supersaturated salt solution. A method of heating a food container includes providing a food container with an internal chamber, a supersaturated salt solution contained in the internal chamber, and a trigger to initiate crystal nucleation within the supersaturated salt solution in an exothermic reaction; and recharging by heating the food container until the salt crystals melt, and cooling the salt solution to a supersaturated state. A portable recharger for a rechargeable heating element includes an insulated sleeve with electric resistive heating element pluggable into an automobile or conventional ac outlet.

Claims

1. A rechargeable, self-heating, food container, comprising:

a food container including an inner chamber contained within and sealed from the food containing area of said food container, wherein said inner chamber includes an external opening;

a supersaturated salt solution contained within said inner chamber; and

,

a trigger sealingly inserted into said inner chamber external opening and in fluid contact with said supersaturated salt solution, said trigger comprising;

an impermeable flexible membrane;

a first trigger element attached to the inside of said flexible membrane and movable with said flexible membrane; and

a second trigger element mounted so as to not move with said flexible membrane; and

and further wherein, when said flexible membrane is pressed said first trigger element contacts said second trigger element, thereby causing nucleation within said supersaturated salt solution and triggering crystallization of said supersaturated salt solution.

2. A rechargeable, self-heating, food container as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second trigger elements is made from ceramic steatite.

3. A rechargeable, self-heating, food container as in claim 1, wherein said supersaturated salt solution is selected from the group of salts consisting of:

sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium sulfate decahydrate, sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, sodium chromate decahydrate, calcium chloride hexahydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, magnesium nitrate phosphate decahydrate, calcium nitrate trihydrate, and, trimethylol ethane hydrate.

4. A rechargeable, self-heating, food container as in claim 1, wherein said supersaturated salt solution is sodium acetate trihydrate.

5. A rechargeable, self-heating, food container as in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second elements are comprised of ceramic steatite.

6. A rechargeable, self-heating, food container as in claims 1, wherein said food container is resealable.

7. A rechargeable, self-heating, food container as in claim 1, wherein said food container comprises a bottle including receiving means for receiving alternatively a bottle nipple and a cap.

8. A rechargeable, self-heating food container as in claim 1, wherein said food container outer walls are thermally insulated.

9. A rechargeable, self-heating, food container as in claim 1, wherein said food container is made from microwave-safe materials.

10. A rechargeable, self-heating, food container as in claim 1, wherein said food container includes a temperature indicating device.

11. A rechargeable heating element for a food container comprising:

a cylinder with an opening, said cylinder insertable into a selected food container;

sealing means for sealing said cylinder into said food container;

a supersaturated salt solution contained within said rechargeable cylinder; and

a trigger in fluid contact with said supersaturated salt solution, said trigger comprising;

an impermeable flexible membrane;

a first trigger element attached to the inside of said flexible membrane and movable with said flexible membrane;

a second trigger element mounted so as to not move with said flexible membrane;

wherein at least one of said first and second trigger elements are comprised of ceramic steatite;

and further wherein, when said flexible membrane is pressed said first trigger element contacts said second trigger element, thereby causing nucleation within said supersaturated salt solution and triggering crystallization of said supersaturated salt solution.

12. A rechargeable food heating system as in claim 11, wherein said trigger comprises:

an impermeable flexible membrane;

a first trigger element attached to the inside of said flexible membrane and movable with said flexible membrane;

a second trigger element mounted so as to not move with said flexible membrane;

wherein at least one of said first and second trigger elements are comprised of ceramic steatite;

and further wherein, when said flexible membrane is pressed said first trigger element contacts said second trigger element, thereby causing nucleation within said supersaturated salt solution and triggering crystallization of said supersaturated salt solution.

13. A rechargeable food heating system, comprising:

a food container, said food container including an opening for receiving a rechargeable heating element; and

,

a rechargeable heating element insertable into said food container, said heating element including a supersaturated salt solution contained within said rechargeable heating element; and

a trigger in fluid contact with said supersaturated salt solution, wherein said trigger selectively initiates nucleation within said supersaturated salt solution thereby triggering crystallization of said supersaturated salt solution.

14. A food container with an internal exothermic heating chamber, comprising:

a food container;

a heating chamber enclosed within said fluid container, said heating chamber including a sealable external opening;

a super saturated salt solution contained within said heating chamber; and

a trigger insertable into said sealable external opening, wherein said trigger includes a first flexibly mounted trigger element and a second rigidly mounted trigger element opposing said first trigger element, such that when said first trigger element is pressed it contacts said second trigger element, thereby causing crystal nucleation within said supersaturated salt solution.

15. A method of heating a food container, comprising:

providing a food container, said food container including an internal chamber, a supersaturated salt solution contained within said internal chamber, and a trigger including opposing trigger elements in fluid communication with said supersaturated salt solution;

compressing said opposing trigger elements, thereby initiating crystal nucleation within said supersaturated salt solution, causing said supersaturated salt solution to crystallize in an exothermic reaction;

recharging said supersaturated salt solution by heating said food container until said supersaturated salt solution crystals have melted and returned to solution; and

,

cooling the salt solution to a supersaturated state.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said supersaturated salt solution is selected from the group of salts consisting of:

sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium sulfate decahydrate, sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, sodium chromate decahydrate, calcium chloride hexahydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, magnesium nitrate phosphate decahydrate, calcium nitrate trihydrate, and, trimethylol ethane hydrate.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said trigger elements are steatite, and wherein said supersaturated salt solution is sodium acetate trihydrate, and said step of recharging said supersaturated salt solution further comprises heating said food container to at least 54°

C. (131°

F.) until the salt crystals are completely dissolved.

18. The method of claims 15, 16 or 17 wherein recharging said supersaturated salt solution further comprises heating said food container in a microwave oven.

19. A portable recharger for a rechargeable heating element of supersaturated salt solution, said portable recharger comprising:

an insulated sleeve for receiving a rechargeable heating element, said insulated sleeve including;

an inner surface for conducting heat to said rechargeable heating element;

an electric resistive heating element in thermal contact with said inner surface;

a thermally insulated outer surface;

an electrical connector for connecting said electric resistive heating element to an electric power source; and

temperature control means for controlling the temperature of said electric resistive heating element.

20. A portable recharger as in claim 19 wherein said electrical connector comprises a plug connectable to an automobile cigarette lighter.

21. A portable recharger as in claim 20 wherein said electrical connector further comprises a converter for connecting said portable recharger to a standard 120 vac outlet.

22. A rechargeable, self-heating food container, comprising:

a food container including an inner chamber;

a salt solution contained within said inner chamber, said salt solution able to exist as a supersaturated solution at room temperature; and

,

a trigger in fluid communication with said salt solution for initiating crystallization of said salt solution under supersaturated conditions.

23. A rechargeable, self-heating food container as in claim 22, wherein said supersaturated salt solution is selected from the group of salts consisting of:

sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium sulfate decahydrate, sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate, sodium chromate decahydrate, calcium chloride hexahydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, magnesium nitrate phosphate decahydrate, calcium nitrate trihydrate, and, trimethylol ethane hydrate.

24. A rechargeable, self-heating food container as in claim 22, wherein said supersaturated salt solution is sodium acetate trihydrate.

25. A rechargeable, self-heating food container as in claim 22, wherein said trigger comprises a first element and a second element and at least one of said first element and second element is made from ceramic steatite, and further wherein said trigger initiates crystallization of said salt solution by compressing said first and second elements together.

26. A rechargeable, self-heating food container as in claim 22, wherein said food container is a baby bottle.