Integrated microwaveable heat storage device

• US 7,176,426 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Juan Jose Ramirez
• Original Assignee: Juan Jose Ramirez
• Inventors: Ramirez, Juan Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung; Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US11/248,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20060219712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 219725-735, 219/759, 219/762, 99D/IG.14, 126/375.1, 126/390, 126/400, 126/246, 426/107, 426/234, 426/241, 426/243
• US Class Current: 219/730
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/027 with means for keeping food cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/027 Cooking- or baking-vessels specially adapted for use in microwave ovens; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2444 Drinking cups with heating means drinking vessels with means for keeping liquid hot without integral heating means A47G19/2288
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2494 using heat storage elements or materials, e.g. lava stones
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 47/145 Hand carriers for pizza delivery, e.g. with thermal insulation, heating means or humidity control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 99/14 Induction heating

Abstract

An integrated microwaveable heat storage device that absorbs substantial amounts of microwave energy in a microwave oven in a relatively short period of time (one to 2 minutes) and releases this energy as heat (infrared radiation) over an extended period of time (typically 20 to 30 minutes The device includes three rigid elements, the upper element usually in the form of a container (10) such as a dish or cup cooperating with a base (14) to form a sealed enclosure or cavity. This enclosure is transparent to microwaves and encloses a mass of solid microwave absorbing material heater (12) in minimum contact with the walls of the cavity. This receptacle (enclosure) and the microwave absorbing material (the heater (12)) can have different cross sections, shapes, volumes and masses according to the specific intended use of the heat-storage device.

Claims

1. A microwaveable heat storage device capable of being embodied alternatively as a plate, a bowl, a coffee mug, a tortilla warmer and other similar heat retentive tableware, comprising:

an upper microwave transparent container-shaped means including an outer rim or a handle on the container shaped means, which remains cool to allow handling, the container shaped means having a predetermined thermal mass and cross-section for providing a container for food and liquids in no physical contact and separated by a predetermined non-uniform gap from a means for absorbing microwave energy and emitting infrared radiation and cooperating with a lower means for providing a base to enclose said means for absorbing microwave energy in a relatively tight cavity;

an encapsulated of a predetermined mass and cross-sectional shape rigid means for absorbing microwave energy and emitting infrared radiation in no physical contact and separated by an irregular predetermined gap from said upper means for providing a container and in minimum physical contact with a lower means for providing a base;

a lower rigid, hollow shaped means for providing a microwave-transparent base for said device, cooperating with said means for providing a container to enclose said means for absorbing microwave energy in a relatively tight cavity in minimum physical contact and centering said means for absorbing microwave energy, and sealingly connected to said means for providing a container;

whereby said heat storage device embodied as a piece of dinnerware can be preheated in a microwave oven in typically one minute to maintain foodstuffs and liquids hot at the table.

2. The integrated microwaveable heat storage device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing a container for food and liquids comprises a rigid, of a predetermined absorption coefficient, thermal mass, and cross-sectional shape, heat resistant container.

3. The integrated microwaveable heat storage device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for absorbing microwave energy and emitting infrared radiation comprises a made of microwave-absorbing material, of a predetermined energy absorption capacity, emissivity, thermal mass and cross-sectional shape heater.

4. The integrated microwaveable heat storage device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing a base for the device assembly, and cooperating with the container to enclose said heater in minimum physical contact with said heater comprises a rigid, with a predetermined absorption coefficient, mass and hollow cross-sectional-shape, heat resistant base.

5. An integrated microwaveable heat storage device capable of being embodied alternatively as a plate, a coffee mug, a tortilla warmer and other similar heat retentive tableware, comprising:

a rigid, of a predetermined mass, container-shaped, transparent to microwaves, heat resistant container, for food and liquids in no physical contact and separated by a predetermined irregular gap from an encapsulated heater, said container including an outer rim or a handle on the container, which remains cool to allow handling;

a rigid, made of microwave-absorbing material, of a predetermined thermal mass and cross-sectional shape, heater, for absorbing microwave energy and emitting infrared radiation;

a rigid, with a predetermined mass and cross-sectional hollow shape, transparent to microwaves, heat-resistant base, for providing a base for the entire device, reflecting some infrared radiation and cooperating with said container to enclose said heater in minimum physical contact with said heater, and sealingly connected to said container;

whereby said heat storage device embodied as a piece of dinnerware can be preheated in a microwave oven and said means for absorbing microwave energy will radiate infrared energy at a controlled rate in a confined space to maintain foodstuffs and liquids hot at the table while being consumed, with a delayed action which can be specified in minutes to avoid overheating the food.

6. The integrated microwaveable heat storage device as recited in claim 5, wherein said container has characteristics selected from the following group:

made of ceramic, made of heat resistant glass, and made of heat resistant laminated glass.

7. The integrated microwaveable heat storage device as recited in claim 5, wherein said heater has characteristics selected from the following group:

made of ceramic with metal particles, made of ceramic with polar molecules, and made of ceramic and a combination of metal particles and polar molecules.