DEVICE FOR HEATING FLUID IN A CONTAINER

• US 20110062149A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kooijker, Klaas, Driel, Jacqueline van
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/618
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2433 with electrical heating means

Abstract

The invention provides a heating device (1,40,60) for heating a fluid (30) in a container (2), in particular milk in a baby bottle, the heating device comprising a heat transfer (5,41) surface for transferring heat to the fluid, wherein the heating device is arranged to be brought into association with the container such that, in use, the heat transfer surface contacts the fluid to transfer heat to the fluid.

Claims

1. A heating device (1, 40, 60) for heating a fluid (30) in a container (2), the heating device (1, 40, 60) comprising:

a heat transfer surface (5, 41) for transferring heat to the fluid (30), wherein the heating device (1, 40, 60) is arranged to be brought into association with the container (2) such that, in use, the heat transfer surface (5, 41) contacts the fluid (30) to transfer heat to the fluid (30).

2. A heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer surface (5, 41), when brought into association with the container (2), is arranged to extend substantially across an opening (4) in the container (2).

3. A heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating device (1, 40, 60, 67), when brought into association with the container (2), is arranged to seal the opening (4) in the container (2).

4. A heating device according to claim 1, wherein the container (2) comprises a baby bottle having a coupling arrangement (12) for connecting a teat (8, 75) over the opening (4) of the container (2), and wherein the heating device (1, 40, 60) is arranged to be coupled to the container (2) using the coupling arrangement (12) to bring the heat transfer surface (5, 41, 61) into association with the container (2).

5. A heating device according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling arrangement (17, 63) for coupling the heating device (1, 40, 60) to the container (2) to bring the heat transfer surface (5, 41, 61) into association with the container (2).

6. A heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer surface (5, 41) is formed by material selected from plastic, ceramic, glass and a substantially non-corroding metal.

7. A heating device according to claim 1, further comprising a heating element (22) comprising a material having a positive temperature coefficient.

8. A heating device according to claim 1 arranged to be heated by electromagnetic induction.

9. A heating device according to claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor (42) for detecting the temperature of the fluid (30).

10. A heating device according to claim 1 further comprising a sensor (43) for detecting the orientation of the heating device (1).

11. A container (2) for heating a fluid (30), the container (2) comprising a cavity (3) for holding the fluid (30) and a heating device (1) according to claim 1.

12. A container according to claim 11, wherein the container (2) comprises a baby bottle, the container (2) further comprising:

a teat (8) for feeding a baby arranged to be coupled to the container (2).

13. A heating system for heating a fluid (30) in a container (2), the system comprising:

a heating device according to claim 1; and

a base unit (31) for providing power to the heating device (1).

14. A heating system according to claim 13, wherein the base unit (31) is further arranged to support the heating device (1, 40, 60) such that, in use, the heating device (1, 40, 60) is arranged to heat the fluid (30) in the container (2) from below.

15. A heating system according to claim 13, further comprising a container (2) comprising a cavity (3) for holding the fluid (30).

16. A heating system according to claim 13, wherein the base unit (31) is arranged to produce a magnetic field to provide power to the heating device.

17. A heating system according to claim 13, wherein the base unit (31) is arranged to provide power to the heating device (1) from at least one source (36) selected from a battery, a rechargeable battery pack, a mains power supply and a car battery.

18. A heating system according to claim 13, wherein the heating device comprises a heating device (40) according to claim 9, and wherein the base unit (31) is further arranged to control the power to the heating device (40) in accordance with the output from the temperature sensor (42).

19. A heating system according to claim 13 wherein the heating device comprises a heating device (40) according to claim 11, wherein the base unit (31) is further arranged to control the power to the heating device (40) in accordance with the output from the orientation sensor (43).