A container for holding a material, such as food, beverage or medicine, includes a cap and a container body. The container body has a material cavity (214) unitarily formed with a reactant cavity (216). The reactant cavity contains a solid reactant (246), and the cap (212) contains a liquid reactant (236) that, when mixed, produce an endothermic or exothermic reaction, depending upon the reactants selected. The cap has a tubular body section with an actuator disc (228) closing one end and a breakable barrier (234) closing the other end. With the exception of the barrier, the cap is of unitary construction. The cap has one or more prongs (230) extending from the inner surface of the disc toward the barrier. When a user depresses the actuator disc, it flexes inwardly and moves the prongs toward the barrier. The reactants mix when the prongs puncture the barrier. Heat transferred between the two cavities heats or cools the material. The wall (244) of the container that defined the reactant cavity may be pleated (216) or corrugated to promote heat transfer.

Container with integral module for heating or cooling the contents

Improved heaters and self-heating packages that function without application of external energy. Heat is generated by contact of a heat-producing composition, such as calcium oxide, and an activating solution which is typically water. The heater contains multicompartments (9, 11) containing heat-producing composition and activating solution. The heater is activated by application of hand pressure to rupture a frangible seal (13) which allows the heater components to mix. The heater compartments (9, 11) are at least in part formed from flexible walls. The self-heating package has one or more products or product containers in thermal contact with one or more heaters. In preferred packaging embodiments, the heating package has one or more product containers or pouches in thermal contact with one or more heaters. In a specific embodiment, the product container is integrally formed with the heater. Preferred self-heating packages are constructed entirely of flexible packaging materials.

Self-heating flexible package

This invention is a portable heat source that may be used to warm food, beverage or other supplies. The heater material (4) is a solid that may be stored for long periods of time, and activated by addition of water or an aqueous solution (22). The heater consists of an acidic anhydride or salt together with a basic anhydride or salt, such that addition of water to both acidic and basic anhydrides produces heat as well as acid and base respectively; subsequent reaction of the acid and base produces addditional heat, as well as a safe, neutral product that is easily disposed. The invention further consists of means to regulate the rate of heat production by the use of additives and processing methods, so that heat is produced at a rate compatible with the rate at which the food or other materials can absorb the heat.

Portable heat source

A flexible container having a substantially planar configuration encloses a first chemical having characteristics for being supercooled to maintain a liquid state even at temperatures below its melting point. A second chemical can be mixed with the first chemical in the container to initiate the crystallization of the first chemical at the substantially constant temperature of the melting point of the first chemical. The container can be enclosed in an insulation envelope to moderate the temperature of the device. The first chemical may include sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate which provides a desirable constant temperature of 48° C. The second chemical may include sodium borate pentahydrate or sodium sulfite which provides the first chemical with a desirable sandy configuration during crystallization in the α pentahydrate form. The sodium borate pentahydrate or sodium sulfite goes into solution or chemically complexes with the sodium thiosulfate in a manner such that subsequent supercooling can be achieved. Recycling of the device can then be accomplished by releasing another portion of the second chemical into the container. The resulting constant temperature device is particularly effective for use as a warm baby mattress, a warm blanket, or a hot water bottle substitute.

Constant temperature device

A water-activated, exothermic-chemical heater for packaging in a plastic heating bag is produced by methods which allow the heater material to be loosely placed in the heater while retaining the heating material uniformly distributed over the heater by cup-shaped or through cavities in a rigid member covered by a porous, wettable material on at least one side. Alternatively, the heater material is loosed placed in small bags made in a flexible porous material, with the necessary system rigidity provided by a cardboard or polymeric outer cover on one or both sides of the flexible porous material. Food-grade acid anhydride or free acid can be incorporated into the heater material to maintain proper pH. Flammability control can be achieved by blending a known fire retardant into the heater pad materials.

Rudolph George Foss

Papers

Exothermic compositions and heat collars containing said compositions

Apparatus for tapering ends of laminated plastic pipe