System for and method of making an arrangement for changing the temperature of a product

Abstract

A modular product cup is mounted in an outer container of standardized dimensions in an arrangement for changing the temperature of the product in the cup. The cup can come from different product suppliers, each able to use its product cup in the arrangement to promote wide commercial acceptance.

1 . A system for making an arrangement for selectably changing a temperature of a product, comprising: 
 a) an outer container having a side wall bounding an interior of standardized dimensions and spaced radially from an axis;    b) a breakable membrane fixedly mounted within, and subdividing, the interior of the container into a pair of compartments;    c) a pair of reactants respectively contained in the compartments and kept apart by the membrane prior to use;    d) a breaking member mounted within the interior of the container for breaking the membrane, to allow the reactants to mix and form a chemical reaction; and    e) a product cup having a chamber for containing the product whose temperature is changed by the chemical reaction, the product cup having modular dimensions for reception by the standardized dimensions of the container, the product cup being fixedly mounted within the interior of the container after the reception of the product cup.    
   
   
       2 . The system 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 system of  claim 1 , wherein the container is constituted of a thermally insulating material, and wherein the cup is constituted of a plastic material.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container and the cup have abutting flanges spin-welded together.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product cup has a capacity of 7.5 to 8.0 ounces for the product.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container has an internal shoulder on which the membrane is adhered.  
   
   
       7 . The system 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.  
   
   
       8 . The system 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.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , 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 exertion of radial pressure on the side wall of the container.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reactants are water and anhydrous calcium oxide or calcium chloride.  
   
   
       11 . The system 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.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , and an apertured lid mounted with snap action over the container and the cup.  
   
   
       13 . A method of making an arrangement for selectably changing a temperature of a product, comprising the steps of: 
 a) forming a container with a side wall bounding an interior of standardized dimensions, the side wall surrounding, and being spaced radially from, an axis;    b) subdividing the interior of the container into a pair of compartments by mounting a breakable membrane within the container;    c) at least partly filling a pair of reactants respectively into the compartments;    d) mounting a breaking member within the interior of the container;    e) forming a product cup with modular dimensions for reception by the standardized dimensions of the container;    f) at least partly filling the cup with the product; and    g) fixedly mounting the cup within the interior of the container.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of forming the product cup is performed by different manufacturers.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fixedly mounting step is performed by spin-welding the cup inside the container.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of forming the product cup is performed by constituting the cup of a thermally conductive material.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of forming the product cup is performed by constituting the cup of a plastic material.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of forming the product cup is performed by forming the cup of one type of material on a production line, and of another type of material on the same production line.