Abstract:
A heating apparatus includes a container, which has a main chamber for holding a can food, a flat baffle, which covers the main chamber of the container and has an opening for holding the can food in the main chamber, a heat source received in the container, and a tool detachably attached to the flat baffle for use to pierce the heat source and to further cause the heat source to produce a chemical reaction and to release heat for heating the can food held in the container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a heating apparatus and more particularly, to a handy heating apparatus, which releases heat to heat a can food by means of a chemical reaction.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     In the modern busy society, people may order take-out food or carry a box lunch for lunch and eating the lunch in the office. Convenience stores also selling packed foods. When eating a packed food in a cold day, the packed food must be heated before service. Most convenience stores provide a microwave for heating packed food. However, many people may not eat the heated packed food in the convenience store but carry the heated packed food to the office or another place for service. However, the heated packed food becomes cold quickly in a cold day.  
         [0005]      FIG. 8  shows a conventional heating apparatus for heating a packed food. According to this design, the heating apparatus comprises a peripheral shell A, a bottom shell B, and inner shell C, a pan D, a pack of water E, and a pack of calcium oxide F. The pack of water E and the pack of calcium oxide F are put on the pan D, and then a food is put in the inner shell C, which is suspending in the peripheral shell A above the pack of water E and the pack of calcium oxide F. When wishing to heat the food, insert a needle or like tool through a hole A 1  in the peripheral shell A into the pack of water E, enabling water to flow out of the pack of water E to mix with the calcium oxide contained in the pack of calcium oxide F so as to further produce a chemical reaction and release heat for heating the food.  
         [0006]     The aforesaid heating apparatus is not provided with a top cover. During heat, much heat energy escapes out of the apparatus, resulting in a low heating efficiency. Further, the inner shell C is suitable for holding a solid food (rice, noodles, or the like), not suitable for holding a liquid food.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a heating apparatus, which utilizes a chemical reaction to release heat for heating a can food for service. It is another object of the present invention to provide a heating apparatus, which is equipped with a tool to pierce the contained heat source, causing the heat source to produce a chemical reaction and to release heat during the chemical reaction. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the heating apparatus comprises a container adapted to hold a can food, and a heat source put in the container and adapted to produce heat by means of a chemical reaction for heating the can food being put in the container, wherein the container comprises a main chamber adapted to hold the can food, a flat baffle covered on a top side thereof over the main chamber, the flat baffle having an opening adapted to hold a packed eatable thing in the main chamber and a through hole near the border thereof, and a tool inserted through the through hole of the flat baffle for use to pierce the heat source and to further cause the heat source to produce a chemical reaction. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a heating apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the heating apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view in section of the heating apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional side view of the present invention, drawing showing the pointed tip of the tool pierced the bag of water.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing a chemical reaction produced in the container.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a sectional side view of an alternate form of the heating apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a sectional side view of another alternate form of the heating apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a sectional side view of a prior art design. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     Referring to FIGS.  1 ˜ 3 , a heating apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of a container  1 , a heat source  2 , and a tool  3 .  
         [0017]     The container  1  comprises a main chamber  11 , a side chamber  111  in communication with the main chamber  11  at one lateral side, a rim  113  extending around the main chamber  11  and the side chamber  111 , and a plurality of elongated protruding portions  112  spaced around the periphery below the rim  113 .  
         [0018]     The container  1  has the top side thereof covered with a flat baffle  12 . The flat baffle  12  has an opening  121  in communication with the main chamber  11 , and a through hole  122  in communication with the side chamber  111 .  
         [0019]     The heat source  2  is comprised of a bag of water  21  and a bag of calcium oxide  22 . The bag of water  21  is put in the side chamber  111 . The bag of calcium oxide  22  is put in the main chamber  11 .  
         [0020]     The tool  3  is a spoon or any of a variety of narrow elongated kitchen utensil obliquely inserted through the through hole  122  and the side chamber  111  into the main chamber  11 , having the bottom end thereof terminating in a pointed tip  31 .  
         [0021]     During assembly process, the bag of calcium oxide  22  is put in the bottom of the main chamber  11 , and then the bag of water  21  is put in the side chamber  111 , and then the flat baffle  12  is capped on the rim  113  of the container  1 , and then the tool  3  is obliquely inserted through the through hole  122  and the side chamber  111  into the main chamber  11 . Further, a top cover  4  is provided and covered on the top side of the container  1 . The top cover  4  comprises a plurality inside ribs  41  protruded from the horizontal inside top wall thereof, a plurality of engagement blocks  42  spaced around the vertical inside wall thereof near the bottom side, and a side through hole  43  cut through the periphery at one side.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a can food  5  is inserted through the opening  121  of the flat baffle  12  into the inside of the main chamber  11  of the container  1  and supported on the bag of calcium oxide  22 , and then the top cover  4  is covered on the container  1  to force the engagement blocks  42  into engagement with the rims  113  of the container  1 . At this time, the inside ribs  41  of the top cover  4  are respectively pressed on the top of the can food  5 , thereby holding down the can food  5  firmly inside the main chamber  11  of the container  1 . When wishing to heat the can food  5 , use the tool  3  to pierce the bag of water  21 , enabling water to flow out of the bag of water  21  into the main chamber  11  and to further mix with the calcium oxide in the bag of calcium oxide  22 , thereby producing a chemical reaction, and heat is released from the chemical reaction to heat the can food  5 . After heating, the user can enjoy eating the hot food or drinking the hot beverage contained in the can food  5 . Because of the effect of the flat baffle  12 , steam will not flow out of the container  1 . Further, when eating or drinking the content in the can food  5 , the user can hold the container  1  with the hand without touching the hot can food  5 . Therefore, the user can enjoy eating or drinking the content of the can food  5  safely and comfortably. Further, the space inside the top cover  4  can be utilized to hold another food. Further, when eating or drinking the top content of the can food  5 , the user can hold the elongated protruding portions  112  of the container  1  with the hand, reducing transfer of heat from the heat source  2  to the hand.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate form of the present invention. This embodiment eliminates the aforesaid flat baffle  12 , and the top cover  4  is directly covered on the container  1  to force the engagement blocks  42  into engagement with the rim  113  of the container  1 . Alternatively, the container  1  can be matched with the flat baffle  12  without the top cover  4  or the top cover  4  can be formed of a shrinkage film or sealing film.  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the top cover  4  is a flat plate member covered on the top side of the container  1  to force the engagement blocks  42  into engagement with the rim  113  of the container  1 , and working as the aforesaid flat baffle  12 .  
         [0025]     As indicated above, the present invention provides a heating apparatus that has the following features.  
         [0026]     1. The container  1  has the main chamber  11  for holding the can food  5  and the heat source  2 , and the tool  3  is provided for piercing the bag of water  21  of the heat source  2  to cause the heat source  2  to produced a chemical reaction and to release heat during the chemical reaction for heating the can food  5 .  
         [0027]     2. The tool  3  can be made in the form of a spoon or any of a variety of kitten utensil for picking up liquid food for eating, having a pointed tip  31  for piercing the heat source  2  to cause a chemical reaction.  
         [0028]     3. The container  1  has elongated protruding portions  112  protruding from the periphery thereof for the holding of the hand to reduce transfer of heat from the heat source  2  to the user&#39;s hand.  
         [0029]     4. After each use, the waste heat source  2  is taken away from the container  1 , and a new heat source  2  is put in the container  1  so that the heating apparatus can be used repeatedly.  
         [0030]     5. The top cover  4  is an option member. The user can select to use or not to use the top cover  4 . Further, the top cover  4  can be made having the side through hole  43  for the passing of the tool  3 .  
         [0031]     A prototype of heating apparatus has been constructed with the features of FIGS.  1 ˜ 7 . The heating apparatus functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.  
         [0032]     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.