Patent ID: 6581401
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: F25D

Abstract:
A self-cooling container apparatus for retaining and cooling container contents in the form of a food item, comprising:a food container having a container first end and a container second end and having a container wall; said container wall at said container first end terminating in an open container seaming rim and said container wall at said container second end having a container stem valve port, and having a container lid sealingly secured to said container seaming rim, said container lid having a container contents release means for releasing container contents; a receptacle located within said container and having a receptacle first end adjacent to said container wall and a receptacle second end extending into said container, said receptacle having a receptacle wall including a receptacle stem valve port at said receptacle first end registering with said container stem valve port and including a flexible valve seat portion at said receptacle second end, said receptacle containing a liquified refrigerant; a stem valve with a substantially tubular stem valve body having a valve body first end and a valve body second end, and having a valve body passageway extending from said valve body first end to said valve body second end, said valve body first end passing sealingly through said receptacle stem valve port and passing sealingly through said container stem valve port, and said valve body second end sealingly bearing against said valve seat to close said valve body passageway; such that when receptacle pressure inside said receptacle is less than container pressure between said receptacle and said container, the pressure difference between the receptacle pressure and the container pressure produces a resultant pressure on said receptacle wall which sealingly biases said valve seat into sealing contact with said valve body second end, closing fluid communication between said receptacle and said valve body passageway to retain the refrigerant within said receptacle, and such that when the receptacle pressure inside the receptacle is greater than container pressure between said receptacle and said container, the pressure difference between the receptacle pressure and the container pressure produces a resultant pressure on said receptacle wall which moves said valve seat away from the valve body second end, opening fluid communication between said receptacle and said valve body passageway to release the refrigerant from within said receptacle into the atmosphere surrounding said container, thereby cooling the container contents.