Combined food and wipe heater

Abstract

A combination heater device including an inner pouch with an activation agent and an outer pouch with a heat generating material adapted to generate heat upon contact by the activation agent. A first package containing at least one wipe is in heat absorbing contact with the heater as is a second package containing a food element requiring heating. A package holding element maintains the first and second package in contact with the heater.

1 . A combination heater device, comprising:
 a heater having a first side for transferring heat and a second side for transferring heat, including an inner pouch with an activation agent and an outer pouch with a heat generating material adapted to generate heat upon contact by the activation agent, and further including a seal for selectively opening the inner pouch to permit a heat generating reaction;   a first package in heat absorbing contact with the first side of the heater and including at least one wipe, the first package having opening to provide access to the at least one wipe; and   a second package in heat absorbing contact with the second side of the heater and including at least one food element requiring heat to prepare for consumption.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  which further includes a package holding element maintaining the first and second package in contact with the heater. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a pressure differential is formed between the pressure in the outer pouch and the inner pouch such that the inner pouch has a higher pressure than the outer pouch, whereby, upon opening the inner pouch, the activation agent is driven into the outer pouch to react with the heat generating material. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure differential is caused by a vacuum inside the outer pouch. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation agent is water and the heat generating material is crystalline calcium oxide. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , which further includes powdered zeolite admixed therein with the calcium oxide. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , which further contains polyethylene glycol admixed with the calcium oxide and powdered zeolite. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the amount of calcium oxide ranges from about 30 to about 70 weight percent, the amount of polyethylene glycol ranges from about 15 to about 35 weight percent, and the amount of zeolite ranges from about 15 to about 35 weight percent, based on the total weight of heat generating material. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the amount of water ranges from about 75 to about 125 weight percent, based on the total weight of heat generating material, 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first package contains from 3 to 5 wipes. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the second package is a MRE. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer pouch forms the first and second sides for transferring heat to the first and second packages. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer pouch is formed from a vapor impervious material. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the inner pouch is formed from a foil material having a rigid portion with a score line adapted to rupture when flexed to empty the activation agent into the outer pouch. 
   
   
       15 . A combination heater device, comprising:
 a heater having a first side for transferring heat and a second side for transferring heat, including an inner pouch formed from a foil material and containing an activation agent and an outer pouch with a heat generating material comprising calcium oxide ranges from about 30 to about 70 weight percent, the amount of polyethylene glycol ranges from about 15 to about 35 weight percent, and the amount of zeolite ranges from about 15 to about 35 weight percent, based on the total weight of heat generating material, the activation agent comprising water in an amount ranging from about 75 to 125 weight percent, based on the total weight of heat generating material, the heater further including a seal for selectively opening the inner pouch to permit a heat generating reaction;   a first package in heat absorbing contact with the first side of the heater and including at least one wipe, the first package having opening to provide access to the at least one wipe; and   a second package in heat absorbing contact with the second side of the heater and including at least one food element requiring heat to prepare for consumption.   
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , with further includes a package holding element maintaining the first and second package in contact with the heater. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein a pressure differential is formed between the pressure in the outer pouch and the inner pouch such that the inner pouch has a higher pressure than the outer pouch, whereby, upon opening the inner pouch, the activation agent is driven into the outer pouch to react with the heat generating material. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the pressure differential is caused by a vacuum inside the outer pouch. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first package contains from 3 to 5 wipes. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the second package is a MRE.