Arctic canteen

• US 4,240,272 A
• Filed: 06/18/1979
• Issued: 12/23/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Tiede, Herbert R., Pierzchala, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Application Number:
  US06/049,690
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 62/529, 62/530, 62/371, 62/372, 62/457, 220/408, 220/411, 220/412, 215/13 R
• US Class Current: 62/457.1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0044 comprising heat or cold storing elements or material, i.e. energy transfer within the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 5/02 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A canteen system includes an insulated carrier, having a cavity in its inior for receipt of small chemical heating or cooling packets, and a metal container holding comestibles enveloped by the carrier. The container, when disposed in the carrier, sits in physical contact with a preselected activated packet, and as a result of its activation, the packet generates a thermal change within the carrier. The system design permits drinking of liquids in a conventional manner, as well as the insertion of eating utensils for soups and non-liquid foodstuffs.

Claims

1. A portable canteen system for controlling the temperature of comestibles contained therein regardless of the ambient temperature, comprising:

a container for holding said comestibles, said container having an opening therein;

means for insulating said container from the ambient, said insulating means being cup-shaped and including side walls and a cover attached thereto;

said insulating means including at least one cavity located in at least one of the side walls of said insulating means and including means for sealing each respective one of said at least one cavity from the ambient, said sealing means being pivotally attached to said respective sidewall of said insulating means at the location of said at least one cavity,

said sealing means pivoting toward, and away from, said respective sidewall to make said at least one cavity inaccessible, and accessible, respectively, from the outside of said insulating means,

means insertable within said at least one cavity for generating a thermal change within said insulating means,

whereby when said sealing means is pivoted away from said outside of said insulating means, an actuated generating means may be inserted into said respective cavity and said sealing means pivoted back toward said outside of said insulating means, such that said generating means will be completely sealed from the ambient, and when said generating means is manually activated and placed within said at least one cavity and in physical contact, simultaneously, with both said at least one cavity and said container, a thermal change is effected within said insulating means.

2. A portable, thermally insulated canteen assembly for controlling the temperatures of comestibles contained therein regardless of the ambient temperature, comprising:

a fully enclosed container means for completely enclosing comestibles having a first cover which threadingly engages a first opening in said container means for allowing discharge of said comestibles;

said first cover having smaller cap means in removable engagement therein for creating a smaller second opening in said container means within the periphery of said first cover;

cup means in surrounding removable engagement with said container means in an assembled mode and adapted to be used as a container to hold said comestibles in a disassembled mode;

first means for insulating said container means from the environment, said first insulating means being in removable surrounding relationship with said container means and being cup-shaped so as to enclose a first portion of said container means;

said first insulating means having internal and external surfaces;

second means for insulating said container means from the environment, said second means being cup-shaped so as to removably, frictionally engage said first insulating portion to provide a tight seal so as to in conjunction with said first insulating portion substantially completely enclose said container means and thereby insulate said container means for the environment;

said first insulating means having recess means located on its internal surface accessible from its external surface and adapted to hold at least one packet for creating a chemical reaction which induces a temperature change to said container means;

means for attaching said canteen assembly to a human body;

whereby said canteen assembly may be carried in various climates without danger of freezing or heating its contents to extreme temperatures as said packet means may be inserted to effect the appropriate temperature adjustment.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 further including packet means for causing an exothermic reaction which transmits heat to said container means, said packet being in an inactive condition until said packet is activated by changing the shape of the packet.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 2 further including packet means for causing an enothermic reaction which removes heat from said container means, said packet being removable from said canteen assembly without moving or disrupting said comestibles, said packet being in an inactive condition until being activated by changing the shape of the packet.

5. The invention as claimed in claims 3 or 4 wherein said cup means further includes pivoting handle means for holding said cup means in upright fashion in said disassembled mode.

6. The invention as claimed in claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said first insulating means has a horizontal cross-section including two generally narrowly rounded, oppositely disposed end sections, a first outwardly rounded arcuate section and a second generally inwardly rounded arcuate section opposite said first arcuate section whereby said generally inwardly rounded arcuate section is so shaped so as to allow comfortable placement adjacent the human body.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6 wherein said container means, said cup means and said second insulating means have the same general configuration in cross-section as said first insulating means.

8. The invention as claimed in claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said recess means includes packet receiving cavity means for receiving said at least one packet having at least one pivoting access door for removably insertion of said packet.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first insulating means further includes conductive wires for evenly distributing the heat.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for attaching said container to a human body includes a fabric cover lined with insulation.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 8 wherein said at least one pivoting access door has sealing material disposed substantially around its periphery so that when said at least one door is closed with a packet in the cavity means, the cavity means is sealed from the ambient environment.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first and second insulating means are made of high impact plastic and are lined with polytetroflouroethylene coated polyurethane insulation to improve their capacity to resist heat transfer.

13. A body carried canteen assembly comprising:

cup means for containing comestibles having in cross-section two generally semicircular ends and a first arcuate section intermediate said ends and being generally outwardly extending and a second arcuate section generally opposite said first arcuate section extending inwardly, said second arcuate section adapted to generally conform to the body of a human user;

a cup-shaped insulating means generally surrounding the surface of said cut means for insulating said cup means from the environment;

said cup-shaped insulating means having at least one recess means for receiving a packet for chemically inducing a temperature change to the interior of said cup means;

said recess means including door means in the external surface of the cup-shaped insulating means for sealing said recess means from the environment;

top insulating means in sealing relationship with said cup-shaped insulating means for sealing said cup means from the environment;

said top insulating means including cap means removable engagable with said top insulating means to provide an opening to said cup means to allow passage of said comestibles;

fabric means substantially surrounding said cup insulating means to attach said canteen assembly to a human body whereby said canteen assembly is adapted to be used in extremely hot or cold climates while substantially alleviating comestible freezing or spoilage.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 13 further including sealing means between said top insulating means and said cup-shaped insulating means including at least one O-ring.