Portable container system for heating a beverage

• US 9,642,191 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Charles, Rosati, Daniele, Marschke, Karl Warner, Everett, Jr., David William
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelham, Joseph M
• Application Number:
  US14/688,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20150305094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21008 electrically heated
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21041 with heating elements arranged outside the water vessel A47J27/2105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/2105 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the water vessel can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21191 Pouring spouts
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/441 Warming devices or supports for beverage containers warming devices not being part of the beverage-making apparatus A47J36/24; stands or holders for beverage containers not being part of the beverage-making apparatus A47J47/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/465 for the heated water
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/14 Pouring-spouts, e.g. as parts separate from vessel
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/48 heating conductor embedded in insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/68 Heating arrangements specially adapted for cooking plates or analogous hot-plates

Abstract

In a portable container system for heating a beverage generally, the system includes a container for containing a beverage to be heated. The container generally has a bottom and a side wall together defining an internal reservoir containing the beverage to be heated. A base of the system is operable to heat the container at the bottom thereof. The base is constructed of multiple layers generally including at least a top barrier layer, an electrically non-conductive bottom barrier layer and a thin film heating element intermediate the top barrier layer and the bottom barrier layer.

Claims

1. A portable container system for heating a beverage, the portable container system comprising:

a container for containing a beverage to be heated, the container comprising a bottom and a side wall together defining an internal reservoir for containing the beverage to be heated, the container further comprising an elongate spout extending from the side wall and open to the internal reservoir for dispensing beverage from the container through the spout, the spout being constructed of multiple layers including a generally tubular inner barrier layer defining a conduit through which beverage from the container flows through the spout, a generally tubular outer barrier layer, and a thin film heating element disposed intermediate the inner barrier layer and the outer barrier layer.

2. The portable container system set forth in claim 1 wherein the side wall comprises an inner side wall, the container further comprising an outer side wall spaced surrounding the inner side wall in spaced relationship therewith to define a housing therebetween, the system further comprising a power source disposed with the housing an electrically connected to the thin film heating element.

3. The portable container system set forth in claim 2 further comprising a controller disposed with the housing for controlling operation of the thin film heating element.

4. The portable container system set forth in claim 1 wherein the thin film heating element comprises a substrate and an electrically conductive thin film layer, the electrically conductive thin film layer being intermediate the substrate and the outer barrier layer.