U.S. patent application number 12/006634 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for portable beverage bottle heaters and coolers.
Invention is credited to Shelley Retterer.
Application Number | 20080178865 12/006634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39666543 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080178865 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Retterer; Shelley |
July 31, 2008 |
Portable beverage bottle heaters and coolers
Abstract
A portable temperature changing apparatus for containers
includes a cylindrical annular moisture-proof pouch divided into a
first compartment filled with a liquid and a second separate
compartment holding a solid material capable of producing an
endothermic or exothermic reaction upon mixing with the liquid. The
seal separating the two separate compartments can be ruptured
partially, when desired, enabling communication of the liquid with
the solid to activate the temperature altering reaction. A flexible
foam insulating layer surrounds the exterior of the annular
cylindrical pouch providing insulation, damage protection, and
labeling.
Inventors: |
Retterer; Shelley; (Sebring,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES RAY & ASSOCIATES
2640 PITCAIRN ROAD
MONROEVILLE
PA
15146
US
|
Family ID: |
39666543 |
Appl. No.: |
12/006634 |
Filed: |
January 4, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60883546 |
Jan 5, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
126/263.08 ;
62/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2303/0841 20130101;
F25D 31/007 20130101; F25D 5/02 20130101; F25D 2303/082 20130101;
F24V 30/00 20180501; F25D 2303/0843 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/263.08 ;
62/4 |
International
Class: |
F24J 1/00 20060101
F24J001/00; F25D 5/00 20060101 F25D005/00 |
Claims
1. A portable disposable self-heating apparatus for a container,
comprising: a) a generally cylindrical annular moisture-proof pouch
including a first separate compartment and a second separate
compartment, said annular pouch enveloping the outer sidewall
surface of such container; b) a predetermined liquid disposed
within said first separate compartment; c) predetermined
particulate solid material capable of producing an exotherm upon
mixing with said liquid, wherein said particulate solid material is
disposed within said second separate compartment at least partially
adjacent to said first separate compartment; d) a sealing means
separating said first separate compartment from said second
separate compartment; e) a rupturing means to breach said sealing
means to enable, when desired, communication of liquid between said
first separate compartment and said second separate compartment;
and g) a flexible foam insulating layer on exterior of said annular
cylindrical pouch.
2. The portable self-heating apparatus for a container, according
to claim 1, wherein said predetermined particulate material
consists of at least anhydrous calcium oxide and zero to 50 percent
other anhydrous solid material.
3. The portable self-heating apparatus for a container, according
to claim 1, wherein said predetermined particulate material
consists of at least anhydrous magnesium sulfate and zero to 50
percent other anhydrous solid material.
4. The portable self-heating apparatus for a container, according
to claim 1, wherein said predetermined liquid disposed within said
first separate compartment is at least 90 percent water.
5. The portable self-heating apparatus for a container, according
to claim 1, wherein said flexible foam insulating layer has an
exterior surface that is printable with one of instructions, logo
and combinations thereof.
6. The portable self-heating apparatus for a container, according
to claim 1, wherein said rupturing means is a pressure-sensitive
seal between said first separate compartment and said second
separate compartment.
7. The portable self-heating apparatus for a container, according
to claim 1, wherein said rupturing means is a pull string attached
to a portion of said sealing means between said first separate
compartment and said second separate compartment.
8. A portable self-cooling apparatus for a container comprising: a)
a generally cylindrical annular moisture-proof pouch including a
first separate compartment and a second separate compartment, said
annular pouch sized to fit in close contact around the outer
sidewall surface of said such container; b) a predetermined liquid
disposed within said first separate compartment; c) predetermined
particulate solid material capable of producing an endothermic
reaction upon mixing with said liquid, wherein said particulate
solid material is disposed within said second separate compartment;
d) a sealing means separating said first separate compartment from
said second separate compartment; e) a rupturing means to breach
said sealing means to allow, when desired, communication of liquid
between said first separate compartment and said second separate
compartment; and f) a flexible foam insulating layer on exterior of
said annular cylindrical pouch, wherein said exterior surface of
said foam insulating layer is imprintable as a label for said
container.
9. The portable self-cooling apparatus for a container, according
to claim 8, wherein said predetermined liquid disposed within said
first separate compartment is at least 90 percent water.
10. The portable self-cooling apparatus for a container, according
to claim 8, wherein said predetermined particulate material is one
of urea, ammonium nitrate, and combinations thereof.
11. The portable self-cooling apparatus for a container, according
to claim 8, wherein said rupturing means is a pressure-sensitive
seal between said first separate compartment and said second
separate compartment.
12. The portable self-cooling apparatus for a container, according
to claim 8, wherein said rupturing means is a pull string attached
to a portion of said sealing means between said first separate
compartment and said second separate compartment.
13. A portable reusable self-heating apparatus for bottles
comprising: a) a substantially rectangular flexible liquid-tight
pouch of a first predetermined width and first predetermined
length; b) a preselected liquid solution that remains as a
super-cooled liquid until mechanical nucleation of crystallization,
wherein said liquid solution is disposed within said flexible
liquid-tight pouch; c) a flexible freezing activator located
interior to said flexible pouch and in contact with said liquid
solution; d) a substantially rectangular flexible foam sheet
secured to one side of said rectangular flexible pouch, said
flexible foam sheet having a second width substantially equal to
said first predetermined width and a second predetermined length
exceeding said first predetermined length; e) a fastening means
secured at least to area adjacent said lateral edges of said
flexible foam sheet.
14. The portable reusable self-heating apparatus for bottles,
according to claim 13, wherein said preselected liquid is
substantially a sodium acetate solution.
15. The portable reusable self-heating apparatus for bottles,
according to claim 13, wherein said preselected liquid is
substantially a solution of dextrose, sodium thiosulfate, and
water.
16. The portable reusable self-heating apparatus for bottles,
according to claim 13, wherein said fastening means is a hook and
loop fastener.
17. The portable reusable self-heating apparatus for bottles,
according to claim 13, wherein said first predetermined length is
between about 12 centimeters and 50 centimeters.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application is related to and claims priority
from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/883,546 filed
Jan. 5, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to portable
methods of heating and cooling beverages and, more particularly,
this invention relates to outer wraps of chemicals which when
forced to mix or change phase can either heat or cool the contents
of the beverage container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Prior to the conception and development of the present
invention, mothers traveling with infants have had to search for
sources of heat to warm a baby's bottle. Or those wanting a cold
beverage would need ice or refrigeration to cool a beverage down.
Ice or gel packs will eventually melt or warm up, thus they provide
only a temporary solution. There are numerous methods or devices
disclosed in the prior art literature for on-demand heating and
cooling of beverages.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 2,589,645 discloses an insulating and heating
jacket for chilled baby bottles while traveling. It has a
one-time-use pouch of solid and an external cardboard and cotton
insulating jacket. The pouch must be opened and water poured in to
activate the heating which produces a temperature of between 102
and 108 F. With this temperature range, it is doubtful that the
heating is very rapid, and a long waiting period is probably
necessary before the bottle is warm enough. Another portable
heating device for baby bottles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,234,165, which teaches using two separated chemical which when
deliberately combined start a chemical reaction producing a hot
gas, which can in turn heat the bottle contents.
[0005] The prior art literature discloses numerous examples of
self-cooling and self-heating beverage containers, such as U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,636,726, 4,736,599, 4,784,678, 5,626,022, and
6,502,407. A common feature of nearly all of these is the location
of the heating or cooling means internal to the beverage container,
such as in a cavity. While this protects the means from damage, it
necessitates a custom design of the beverage container thereby
greatly increasing the investment and cost to produce these
containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a portable temperature
changing apparatus for wrapping around containers, this apparatus
consisting of a generally cylindrical annular moisture-proof pouch
divided into a first compartment filled with a liquid and a second
separate compartment holding a solid material capable of producing
an endothermic or exothermic reaction upon mixing with the liquid.
The seal separating the two separate compartments can be ruptured
partially when desired, enabling communication of the liquid with
the solid to activate the temperature altering reaction. A flexible
foam insulating layer surrounds the exterior of the annular
cylindrical pouch providing insulation, damage protection, and
labeling.
[0007] In an alternative embodiment designed for reusable heating,
a removable generally moisture proof cylindrical annular pouch is a
single compartment filled with a normally super-cooled liquid
solution. An imbedded activator disk surrounded by the solution can
be manually flexed to initiate the heat-liberating freezing of the
solution. A flexible exterior foam layer provides insulation and a
method to secure the wrap around a standard baby bottle or other
container.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present
invention to provide a convenient portable method for heating
beverage containers, such as baby bottles, when other heating
sources are not readily available.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
portable disposable beverage container wrap that can cool a
beverage from ambient to a desirable temperature in a few minutes
before drinking.
[0010] Still another object of the present invention is to combine
a beverage cooling or heating means with the labeling for the
beverage container.
[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
portable reusable heating wrap for baby bottles not needing any
immediate source of energy.
[0012] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
a combination cooling/labeling system for portable self-contained
beverage cooling that is adaptable to many current bottle designs
thus making it less costly to implement than existing ones that
drastically redesign the container.
[0013] In addition to the various objects and advantages of the
present invention described with some degree of specificity above,
it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the
present invention will become more readily apparent to those
persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more
detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such
description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing
figures and with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an elevation perspective view, partly in section,
of a baby bottle with one-time use heating device.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a disposable
beverage bottle with a one-time use cooling device and label.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an elevation perspective view, partly in section,
of a portable reusable heating wrap for a baby bottle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the
present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity
and understanding, identical components which have identical
functions have been identified with identical reference numerals
throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing
figures.
[0018] Referring initially to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the
invention 10 is illustrated. A baby bottle 12 has threads 14 at the
top for a mating nipple assembly, not shown. One example is the
Avent 9-oz Natural Feeding System. While this one has an hour-glass
contour as shown, many other shapes and height/diameter ratios
would also be acceptable. A two-compartment annular pouch 20 is in
close contact with the outer side-wall surface of the bottle 16. A
thin layer of protective and insulating foam 18 surrounds
substantially all of the side wall area of the pouch 20 and bottle
16. Inside the upper compartment of the pouch 20 is a liquid 22,
typically water or an aqueous salt solution. The lower compartment
of the pouch 20 holds solid crystals, pellets, or powder 24 that
will produce heat when mixed with the liquid. There are many
examples of suitable exotherm-producing solids, such as a preferred
mixture of calcium oxide and an anhydrous chloride salt. One of
several alternatives would be anhydrous magnesium sulfate as taught
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,136. A membrane 25 separates the upper
compartment and its liquid 22 from the lower compartment and its
solid material 24. Membrane 25 is in one embodiment pressure
sensitive so that firm pressure to the upper compartment will
intentionally rupture the membrane 25 sufficiently to allow the
liquid 22 to mix with the solids 24. Technology of this nature is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,134 and is hereby incorporated by
reference. In an alternative embodiment, a pull string mechanism as
described below could be used to rupture the membrane 25.
[0019] FIG. 2 provides an exploded perspective elevation view of a
second embodiment of the invention for cooling a beverage bottle 30
with a disposable self-cooling jacket 33 that is sandwiched between
an insulating layer 18 and the bottle 30. The exterior of the
insulating layer 18 is suitable for printing on and thus serves
also as the product label 32. The cooling jacket 33 has an upper
compartment with a liquid 22 and a lower compartment with a
reactive solid 34. A membrane 25 separates the two compartments
until deliberately ruptured. Preferably, the membrane 25 may be
ruptured by a pull string 26, or alternatively by firm pressure
where membrane 26 is a pressure-sensitive membrane. Massaging the
insulating layer further mixes the two ingredients causing an
endothermic physical or chemical reaction that cools the beverage
in the bottle 30. Water is the typical liquid ingredient 22, and
examples of acceptable solids are urea and ammonium nitrate, but
many others also are acceptable. For product design purposes, it is
desirable to be able to cool a 12 fluid ounce (.about.350 grams)
drink from approximately 90 F to 40 F. By reference to data
provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,945, the cooling jacket would need
to contain about 150 grams of water and 250 grams of a
urea/ammonium nitrate blend. The water segment of the jacket might
then typically measure 21 cm long by 7 cm high by 1.0 cm thick.
[0020] FIG. 3 depicts a third embodiment of the invention
illustrating in a sectional elevation view a reusable portable
method of heating the contents of a baby bottle 12. A flexible
polymeric pouch 20 is attached at the outer surface to a thin
flexible outer foam layer 18 that insulates and holds the pouch and
its liquid contents 28 in close contact to the outer surface 16 of
the bottle 12. A hook and loop fastener 19, such as Velcro.RTM.,
along the two lateral vertical edges of the foam layer 18 enable
easy securing and removal of the two layers to the bottle surface
16. Accessible through a small window, not shown, in the outer foam
layer 18 is a flexible activation disk 38 that triggers a phase
change of the super-cooled liquid 28. Examples of a suitable liquid
and activator are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,077,390 and
4,872,442, and are hereby incorporated by reference. Aqueous sodium
acetate solution would be a preferred liquid. Upon activation by
manually flexing activator 38, the solution rapidly starts freezing
thus liberating the latent heat of the phase change to a solid. In
the case of the preferred sodium acetate solution, this occurs
rapidly but with a temperature limited to about 130 F. This
temperature is adequate to provide a significant temperature
difference for heat transfer while still being at a sufficiently
safe temperature to prevent overheating. For reuse, the wrap is
removed and placed in boiling water for about 10 minutes to melt to
a liquid solution. The exterior surface of the foam layer can be
printed on to include instructions and/or logos.
[0021] While a presently preferred and various alternative
embodiments of the present invention have been described in
sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant
art to make and use the same, it should be obvious that various
other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those
persons skilled in such art without departing from either the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *