Arrangement for and method of selectably changing the temperature of a product

Abstract

Radial pressure exerted against a deflectable sidewall of an outer container initiates a chemical reaction in which the temperature of a product in an inner cup is changed.

1 . An arrangement for selectably changing a temperature of a product, comprising: 
 a) an outer container having a side wall bounding an interior and spaced radially from an axis;    b) an inner cup fixedly mounted within the interior of the container and having a chamber for containing the product;    c) a breakable membrane fixedly mounted within, and subdividing, the interior of the container into a pair of compartments;    d) a pair of reactants respectively contained in the compartments and kept apart by the membrane prior to use; and    e) a breaking member mounted within the interior of the container for breaking the membrane upon exertion of radial pressure on the side wall of the container, to allow the reactants to mix and form a chemical reaction that changes the temperature of the product in the cup.    
   
   
       2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the container is constituted of a thermally insulating material, and wherein the cup is constituted of a thermally conductive material.  
   
   
       3 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the container and the cup having abutting flanges spin-welded together.  
   
   
       4 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the container has an internal shoulder on which the membrane is adhered.  
   
   
       5 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall is annular, wherein the container has an internal annular shoulder, and wherein the membrane is a foil having an annular periphery adhered to the shoulder.  
   
   
       6 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the container has an internal shoulder on which the membrane is mounted, and wherein the breaking member is mounted on the membrane.  
   
   
       7 . The arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the breaking member has a plurality of radial arms having inner ends hingedly connected together, and a plurality of abutments at outer ends of the arms, each abutment being in contact with the side wall within the interior of the container and being movable toward the axis upon radially constricting the side wall.  
   
   
       8 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the reactants are water and anhydrous calcium oxide or calcium chloride.  
   
   
       9 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the cup has a flange; and a seal for sealing the cup, the seal including an annular rim mechanically crimped over the flange of the cup, and a peelable diaphragm detachably mounted on the rim, the diaphragm having a pull tab for enabling the diaphragm to be at least partly peeled from the rim.  
   
   
       10 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , and an apertured lid mounted with snap action over the container and the cup.  
   
   
       11 . A method of selectably changing a temperature of a product, comprising the steps of: 
 a) at least partly filling a cup with the product;    b) sealing the product within the cup;    c) fixedly mounting the sealed, product-filled cup inside a container having a side wall surrounding, and spaced from, an axis;    d) subdividing an interior of the container into a pair of compartments by mounting a breakable membrane within the container;    e) at least partly filling a pair of reactants respectively into the compartments;    f) mounting a breaking member within the interior of the container; and    g) exerting a radial pressure on the side wall of the container and causing the breaking membrane to break the membrane to allow the reactants to mix and form a chemical reaction that changes the temperature of the product in the cup.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing step is performed by mechanically crimping an annular rim of a seal over a flange of the cup.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fixedly mounting step is performed by spin-welding the cup inside the container.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subdividing step is performed by adhering a periphery of the membrane to an internal shoulder of the container.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the exerting step is performed by radially constricting the side wall of the container in a user's hand.  
   
   
       16 . A method of consuming a product whose temperature has been changed, comprising the steps of: 
 a) at least partly filling a cup with the product;    b) sealing the product within the cup;    c) fixedly mounting the sealed, product-filled cup inside a container having a side wall surrounding, and spaced from, an axis;    d) subdividing an interior of the container into a pair of compartments by mounting a breakable membrane within the container;    e) at least partly filling a pair of reactants respectively into the compartments;    f) mounting a breaking member within the interior of the container;    g) exerting a radial pressure on the side wall of the container and causing the breaking membrane to break the membrane to allow the reactants to mix and form a chemical reaction that changes the temperature of the product in the cup;    h) unsealing the cup; and    i) consuming the product within the unsealed cup.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the unsealing step is performed by at least partly peeling a diaphragm off a seal sealed to the cup.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , and the step of mounting an apertured lid on the unsealed cup, and wherein the consuming step is performed by consuming the product through the apertured lid.  
   
   
       19 . A breaking member, comprising: 
 a) a pointed barb movable along an axis;    b) a plurality of abutments spaced apart circumferentially of the axis; and    c) a plurality of arms extending radially outwardly in different directions from the barb, the arms having inner ends hingedly connected to the barb, and outer ends hingedly connected to the abutments.    
   
   
       20 . The breaking member of  claim 19 , wherein the abutments are curved and lie along an annulus surrounding the axis.