Heated container having chemical heating mechanism

Abstract

A self-heating food container configured to hold food and to heat food within the container is provided. The container includes a body wall. A space is defined within the body wall. A chemical heater is located within the space, which upon activation, is configured to generate heat, thereby increasing the temperature of the contents cavity.

1 . A self-heating food container comprising:
 an outer container comprising a sidewall, a bottom wall and an inner surface defining a cavity;   an inner container received within the cavity of the outer container, the inner container comprising a sidewall, a bottom wall, an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the inner container defining an interior cavity configured to hold food;   a space defined between the inner surface of the outer container and the outer surface of the inner container;   a chemical heat source positioned within the space and in thermal communication with the inner container; and   an activation element in communication with the chemical heat source, the activation element configured to be manipulated by a user to trigger heat generation by the chemical heat source to heat food held with in the interior cavity of the inner container.   
     
     
         2 . The self-heating food container of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical heat source comprises a hermetically sealed exterior shell and a heat-generating chemical located within the exterior shell. 
     
     
         3 . The self-heating food container of  claim 2 , wherein the activation element includes a cutting structure located within the space, the cutting structure configured to pierce the hermetically sealed exterior shell upon manipulation of the activation element by the user. 
     
     
         4 . The self-heating food container of  claim 3 , wherein the user applies a physical force to the activation element causing the cutting structure to pierce the exterior shell. 
     
     
         5 . The self-heating food container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner container is rotatable relative to the outer container, wherein rotation of the inner container causes the activation element to trigger heat generation by the chemical heat source to heat the food held with in the interior cavity of the inner container. 
     
     
         6 . The self-heating food container of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensitive deactivation element located within the space and configured to decrease the amount of heat generated by the chemical heater when a threshold temperature is reached. 
     
     
         7 . The self-heating food container of  claim 6 , wherein the temperature sensitive deactivation element releases a quenching material at a predetermined temperature that mixes with the chemical heat source to decrease the heat generated by the chemical heat source. 
     
     
         8 . The self-heating food container of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature sensitive deactivation element comprises a ring engaged between the inner surface of the outer container and the outer surface of the inner container, the ring dividing the space into an upper section and a lower section. 
     
     
         9 . The self-heating food container of  claim 8 , wherein the ring is formed of a material having a melt temperature selected such that, when the ring reaches the melt temperature, the ring melts disengaging from the inner surface of the outer container and from the outer surface of the inner container allowing the quenching material to flow into contact with the chemical heat source. 
     
     
         10 . The self-heating food container of  claim 9 , wherein the ring is formed from a wax material and the quenching material is embedded within the wax material. 
     
     
         11 . A self-heating food container configured to hold food and to heat food within the container, the container comprising:
 a body wall having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper end;   a contents cavity defined by the inner surface of the body wall, the contents cavity configured to hold the food contents of the container;   an opening defined at the upper end of the sidewall through which the food contents of the container may be removed;   a space defined within the body wall and located between the inner surface and the outer surface of the body wall;   a chemical heater located within the space, which upon activation, is configured to generate heat increasing the temperature of the contents cavity; and   a deactivator located within the space and configured to decrease the amount of heat generated by the chemical heater when a threshold temperature is reached.   
     
     
         12 . The self-heating food container of  claim 11 , wherein the deactivator releases a quenching material when the threshold temperature is reached, the quenching material mixing with the chemical heat source to decrease the heat generated by the chemical heat source. 
     
     
         13 . The self-heating food container of  claim 12 , wherein the deactivator is located in the space above the chemical heater such that the quenching material flows into contact with the chemical heater upon release. 
     
     
         14 . The self-heating food container of  claim 13 , wherein the deactivator comprises a ring engaged between opposing surfaces of the space, the ring formed of a material having a melt temperature selected such that, at the melt temperature, the ring melts disengaging from the opposing surfaces of the space allowing the quenching material to flow into contact with the chemical heater. 
     
     
         15 . The self-heating food container of  claim 14 , wherein the ring of material is a wax material and the quenching material is embedded within the wax material, 
     
     
         16 . The self-heating food container of  claim 11 , wherein the body wall comprises:
 an outer container comprising a sidewall, a bottom wall and an inner surface defining a cavity; and   an inner metal container received within the cavity of the outer container, the inner metal container comprising a sidewall, a bottom wall, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the inner metal container is the inner surface of the body wall that defines the contents cavity; and   wherein the space is defined between the inner surface of the outer container and the outer surface of the inner metal container.   
     
     
         17 . A hand-held, self-heating food container configured to hold and to heat a serving of food within the container, the container comprising:
 a body wall having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper end;   a contents cavity defined by the inner surface of the body wall, the contents cavity configured to hold a serving of food;   an opening defined at the upper end of the sidewall through which the serving of food may be removed;   a space defined within the body wall and located between the inner surface and the outer surface of the body wall;   a chemical heater located with the space comprising a frangible shell and a heating chemical located within the frangible shell; and   an activator comprising a cutting surface configured to pierce the frangible shell triggering heat generation by the chemical heater.   
     
     
         18 . The hand-held, self-heating food container of  claim 17 , wherein the user applies a physical force to the activator causing the cutting surface to pierce the frangible shell. 
     
     
         19 . The hand-held, self-heating food container of  claim 18 , wherein the activator is located in the space such that the cutting surface is adjacent the frangible shell prior to activation. 
     
     
         20 . The hand-held, self-heating food container of  claim 18 , wherein the activator is rotatable relative to the frangible shell within the space, wherein rotation of the activator by the user causes the cutting surface to pierce the frangible shell.