Patent Publication Number: US-2011073099-A1

Title: Heat Packages and Methods of Their Use

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/877,328, which issued Nov. 30, 2010, receiving U.S. Pat. No. 7,841,202, which takes priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/482,726, filed on Jun. 26, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to heat packages for heating packaged food, use for therapeutic purposes and for heating other materials without using conventional heat sources such as electric energy, gas, oil charcoal etc. 
     2. Background 
     Packaged food is a widely accepted convenient food delivery system. Consumers&#39; purchase decisions relating to such items are often driven by product convenience, portability, as well as how closely the food product parallels a conventionally prepared food item. Many such conventionally prepared foods are served hot. The emphasis on convenience is readily illustrated by packaged food products of interest to students (‘SNACKABLES™’), Tuna-to-Go, etc.) as well as those of interest to hunters, campers and employees or personnel at remote locations (sandwiches, freeze-dried foods, dehydrated foods). Packaged food that is subsequently heated during a flight is often used by airlines. As highlighted by these examples, pre-packaged food is widely utilized by (a) persons in remote or inconveniently located sites, (b) persons in situations not conducive to traditional food storage and preparation and (c) persons to whom the convenience of pre-packaged food is of paramount importance. In many such situations it is often impractical or unsafe to utilize conventional heat sources such as electric, gas or oil heaters or other traditional heating methods. 
     Much packaged ready-to-eat food is stored and served at room temperature (ambient temperature) despite the fact that the taste experience would improve materially were the food warmer when consumed. Moreover, consumers would prefer the option of purchasing food both convenient in packaging and easily heated without the need for conventional heating equipment. Such an option can be superior to and different from packaged food items presently available. 
     In colder environments increasing food temperature by as few as ten or twenty degrees Fahrenheit may significantly improve the quality of the food&#39;s taste. Food products packaged with heat elements designed and placed to heat the food contents to a degree sufficient to improve the perceived taste quality would be desirable for various entities or individuals including the institutional food delivery programs in prisons, hospitals, etc. 
     In many other situations, people need access to heat packages designed as comfort and therapeutic elements and in situations requiring responses to pain and/or discomfort due to bodily injury or environmental extremes. The same is true for animals, particularly domesticated animals. Self-generating heat chambers or enclosures can also be used to enclose botanical elements during cold weather. At present there are few self-heating conveniently packaged products addressing these needs, at least some of which lack ergonomic flexibility and are inefficient in heat delivery. 
     Safe materials that generate heat when exposed to atmosphere (i.e., by exothermic reaction) have been available for some time and are utilized, for example, in heating pads. The amount and consistency of heat generated varies depending upon the type of materials used that generate heat due to exothermic reaction, the quantity of the material used, the extent of exposure to atmosphere, etc. 
     This invention provides heat packages and heat elements for heating food and other materials and for use as heat pads. This invention also provides for self-contained food packages that can be heated when desired in a safe and efficient manner without the need for conventional heating sources such as stoves, electric heaters and the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a heat package that includes a heat generating element or heat element that generates heat when exposed to atmosphere. An insulating material may be placed or juxtaposed to a surface of the heat element to reduce loss of heat to the environment and direct the generated heat toward the object that is desired to be heated. In one aspect, one or more air passages or spaces are provided between the heat element and the insulating material. A heat-conductive member may be placed on the heat element surface to absorb and evenly distribute heat to an object. A fabric or other soft material may be used instead when such heat packages are used on human or animals. The heat package may be pre-formed to fit a part of a human or an animal body or any other desired object. Straps or other devices may be attached to the heat package to arrange and/or secure the heat package about an object. The heat element surfaces to be exposed to atmosphere to generate heat are insulated or protected from atmosphere by a removable material that prevents exposure of the heat element to the atmosphere until its use is desired. 
     In another embodiment, the heat package may include a number of heat element strips or heat element members arranged in a pattern and placed against a heat conductive material. The heat strips may be partially protected from atmosphere by insulating material that prevents at least some of the heat from dissipating to atmosphere during use of the heat package. The heat strips may be attached on one or more outer surfaces of the container. 
     In another embodiment the heat package includes a container that provides air gaps or passages when placed against a heat element. In another embodiment, a heat element may be attached to a heat conductive member and wherein all surfaces that are exposed to atmosphere are protected from atmosphere until use. 
     Examples of the more important features of the invention have been summarized (albeit rather broadly) in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the contributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For detailed understanding of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing: 
         FIG. 1  shows a heat package that includes a heat element or a heat generating material and a container that holds the material to be heated. 
         FIG. 2  shows a heat package that includes a heat element wrapped around an outer surface of a container. 
         FIG. 3  shows a heat package that includes a heat element enclosed in an insulating material. 
         FIG. 4  shows an alternative heat package with the heat element surface enclosed in an insulating material. 
         FIG. 4A  shows the heat package of  FIG. 4  with a strap. 
         FIG. 5  shows a heat package that includes an insulating member attached to a bottom surface of a heat element. 
         FIG. 6  shows a heat package wherein heat element strips are placed against a bottom side of a conductive container. 
         FIG. 6A  shows heat package with straps attached to a relatively flat heat conductive material. 
         FIG. 6B  shows a heat package with a strap attached to insulating member protecting heat elements. 
         FIG. 7  shows a heat package that includes heat element strips attached to a cover of a heat-conducted container. 
         FIG. 8  shows a pattern of heat strips. 
         FIG. 9  shows an alternate pattern of heat strips. 
         FIG. 10  shows a heat package in which air gaps are provided between a heat conducting member and a heat-generating member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a heat package  10  that includes a container  11  that has a bottom  13  and sides  19   a - 19   d . The container  11  is adapted to hold edible items or other materials  12  (medical instruments, heat pads etc.) the user desires. A cover or lid  14  may be used to seal or hold the material  12  in the container  11 . The bottom  13  or the entire container  11  is made from a heat conducting material such as aluminum or another alloy. A heat element  17  (also referred to herein as the heat generating material) that will generate heat when exposed to the atmosphere is placed on the bottom  13 . A sealing material or seal  16  placed on the bottom surface  17   a  of the heat element  17  seals the surface  13  and any other exposed surface of the heat element  17 , such as sides  17   b  from the atmosphere. Alternatively or in addition to, the heat package  10  may be placed in a sealed enclosure  18 , such as a sealed plastic envelope. The heat package  10  or multiple such packages can then be placed in a container suitable for shipping and storage, such as a heavy paper box or a metal box (not shown). To heat the material  12 , the seal  16  and/or enclosure  18  are removed to expose the heat element  17  to the atmosphere, which initializes heat generation. The heat so generated heats the bottom  13  of the container  11 , which heat is conducted to the material  12  through the heat conductive bottom  13 . The cover  14  aids in trapping the heat in the container  11 , which further aids in heating the material  12 . After a period of time, which can be from a few to several minutes, the cover  14  can be removed to access the heated material  12  from the container  11 . The material  12  as noted above may be an edible material or any other material that is desired to be heated. 
       FIG. 2  shows a heat package container  15  that includes the heat conducting container  11  having a bottom  13   a  and sides  19   a - 19   d . A cover  14  encloses the material  12  to be heated in the container  11 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a heat element  17   a  is placed substantially around the entire outer surface of the container  11  (bottom  13   a  and sides  19   a - 19   d ) of the container  11 . The heat element  17   a  is sealed or protected from the environment by a seal member  18   a . To heat the material  12 , the seal member  18   a  is removed to expose the heat element  17   a  to the atmosphere, thereby allowing the heat element  17   a  to generate heat, which conducts through the container  11  to heat the material  12 . The heat package  15  may be further enclosed in an outer sealed envelope  16 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a heat package  30  having a heat element  32 . The heat element  32  is formed or shaped to hold a container of a desired size. A removable sealing member or element  34 , such as a plastic member, seals the inner surface  33  of the heat element  32  from the atmosphere. The outer surface  37  of the heat element  32  is enclosed in an insulating material  38  that seals the outer surface  37  of the heat element  32  from the atmosphere. The insulating material  38  is chosen to partially or fully prevent the heat generated by the heat element  32  from radiating to the atmosphere from the outer surface  37 . This arrangement can aid in directing a larger proportion of the generated heat toward the inner surface  33 , thereby aiding the heating of the material  12  placed against the inner surface  33 , thereby providing a more efficient heat transfer system. The insulating seal  38  may be made from a stiff material that aids in maintaining the shape of the heat element  32  and allows easy handling of the heat package  30  when heat element  32  is generating heat due to exposure to the atmosphere. The insulating material or member  38  may be a molded member. Any suitable material, such as Teflon, or another synthetic material may be used. The member  38  may be fixedly attached to the heat element  32  or may be placed in close contact with the heat element  32 . To heat a material (not shown), the inner seal  34  is removed to expose the inner surface  33  of the heat element  32  to the atmosphere. A container, similar to container  11  of  FIG. 1  carrying the material to be heated is placed inside the package  30  against the heat element  32 . The outer dimensions and configuration of the container carrying the material to be heated are made such that atmospheric air remains in contact with at least a portion of the heat element  32  to ensure continued exposure of the heat element  32  to the atmosphere, which will be needed for the heat element  32  to generate the heat. The heat package  30  may be enclosed in a sealed enclosure  39  instead of or in addition to using the seal  34 . The heat package  30  may be further placed in a container or an enclosure (not shown) for shipping purposes. 
       FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of a heat package  40  that includes a heat element  42  whose outer surfaces are enclosed by an insulating material  44 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the top surface  42  is not enclosed in an insulating material. Air passages  46  are provided between the heat element bottom surface  42   b  and the insulating material  44 . The heat element  42  along with the insulating material  44  are placed in a sealed enclosure  48 , which is removed to expose the heat element  42  to the atmosphere when it is desired to heat a material. A heat-conducting member  49  may be placed on the top surface  42   t  of the heat element  42  to provide even heat distribution to a material placed thereon. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4  to activate, the heat element package  40  is removed from the sealed envelope  48 , thereby exposing the air passages  46  to the atmosphere, which allows the heat element  42  to react with the air and exothermically generate heat. The insulating member or material  44  prevents at least a portion of the generated heat from radiating to the atmosphere from the bottom  42   b  of the heat element  42 . Such an arrangement aids in directing some amount of the generated heat toward the top surface  42   t  of the heat element  42 . The material or food to be heated, placed in a suitable container, is placed on the top surface  42   t  of the heat element  42  or on the top of the heat-conducting member  49  when such a member is utilized. The member  49  may be made from any suitable heat conducting metal orallory. The material  49  can aid in rapid and even distribution of heat to an object that is placed in contact therewith. The insulating member  44  may be made from a stiff or a relatively flexible material. The insulating member  44  may be attached to the heat element  42 . The heat element  42  is usually a flexible package. If flexible insulating material  44  is used, it can adapt to any desired contour, such as a human or animal body part and can thus be used more easily and efficiently as a heat pad. A heat pad that has an insulating member  44  can direct a larger portion of the generated heat toward the body than heat pads that allow heat to dissipate to the atmosphere from surfaces that are not in contact with the body. The heat package  40  can be pre-molded into any desired configuration, such as a configuration to fit or wrap around a body part, such as a knee, shoulder, calf, elbow, neck etc. A strap or any suitable fastener may be attached to the insulating member ends  44   e  to wrap the heat element  42  around the desired object. The outer and inner contours of the heat package  40  can be designed or chosen for any particular intended use. The contours may have any shape and dimensions. For heat pad type applications the member  49  may be a fabric or any other material that is suitable for contact with the human body or the object intended to be heated. Alternatively, the entire package heat package  40  may be enclosed in a material suitable for heat pad. The heat package  40  is enclosed in a sealed package  43  for storage. 
       FIG. 4A  shows the insulating member  44  of the heat package of  FIG. 4  with straps  49   a  and  49   b  for attaching the heat package  40  to a body part or another object. The strap  49   a  has a Velcro-type material  41   a  or any other type of locking arrangement, such as a buckle arrangement, or any other suitable arrangement, at its far end  43   a . The strap  49   b  has a locking arrangement  41   b  at its far end  43   b  that is compatible with the locking arrangement  41   a . The locking arrangement  43   a  and  43   b  when placed together lock with each other. 
       FIG. 5  shows a heat package  50  that includes an insulating member  54  attached to a bottom side  52   b  of a heat element  52 . The exposed surfaces of the heat element  52  are sealed from the atmosphere with a suitable material  56 . The sealing material  56  may enclose the heat package including the insulating member  54 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a heat package  60  that includes a container  61  with a number of heat generating element strips or members  62  in contact with its bottom sides  61   b . An insulating material  64  may be placed on the bottom  62   b  of each heat-generating element  62 . The elements  62  may be straight heat strips or of any other desired configuration. The package thus described is placed in a sealed enclosure  66 . To use the package  60 , the envelope or sealed enclosure  66  is removed to expose the sides  62   s  of the heat elements  62  to the atmosphere, which causes them to generate heat due to exothermic reaction. The heat so generated heats the container  61  which is made from heat conducting material, such as aluminum or another suitable material. The food or any other material placed in the container  61  can be accessed by removing the cover  65 . The insulating material  64  on the bottom sides of the strips  62  aids in directing the heat toward the container  61 . The sides  62   s  of the strips are at least partially exposed to the atmosphere while their top surface  62   t  remains in contact with the container  61 . 
     Instead of using a container  61 , a relatively flat member  67  of any shape and size may be used, as shown in the heat package  60   a  of  FIG. 6A . Such a package can be wrapped around an object, such as a body part. Straps  68   a  and  68   b  may be attached respectively to opposite ends  67   a  and  67   b  of the member  67  or in the alternative as shown in  FIG. 6B , a strap  68  may be attached to the bottom sides  64   b  of the insulating materials  64 . 
     The embodiment  70  shown in  FIG. 7  conceptually is similar to that of  FIG. 6 . The heat strips  72  lined on one or more sides with an insulating material  74  are attached to the container cover  75 . Once the material in the container  71  is heated, the cover  75  is removed to expose the material in the container  71 . It should be noted that the heat strips  64  may be selectively attached in any configuration to any member that is desired to be heated. The size and shape of the strips is chosen depending upon the object to be heated. Such an arrangement provides great flexibility and uses optimal amount of materials. 
     In the embodiments of  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  7 , the heat elements may be arranged in any suitable pattern.  FIG. 8  shows a rectangular matrix pattern wherein heat elements  82   v  are placed in a first direction while heat elements  82   v  are placed in a second cross direction. The elements  82   v  and  82   v  may be interwoven or placed one on top of the other as shown in  FIG. 8  or may have no overlap. 
       FIG. 9  shows an angular pattern of heat elements wherein heat elements  92   a  are placed on top of elements  92   b . Alternatively, the heat elements  92   a  and  92   b  may be interwoven at an angle. The heat elements may also be placed in a non-overlapping manner. 
       FIG. 10  shows a heat package  100  that includes a heat-generating element  102  placed or lined inside an insulating liner  106 . A container  101  is placed in the heat element enclosure  102 . The outside of the container  101  is designed to provide one or more air passages or spaces between the container  101  and the heat element  102 . The air passages may be in the form of air channels  104  that run along the sides  101   s  of the container  101  and/or air passages or spaces  103  along the bottom  101   b  of the container  101 . The container  101  is made from a heat conducting material, such as aluminum, copper or another suitable alloy. The container  101  placed in the heat-generating element  102  is enclosed in a sealed outer enclosure  108 , such as made from a plastic or a polyurethane material. Any suitable material can be used for the outer enclosure  108 . When the outer enclosure  108  is removed, air flows along the air passages  103  and or  104  that allow the heat element to generate heat. The insulating material  106 , if used, aids in directing heat toward the container  101 . 
     It should be understood that embodiments of the present invention can include heat elements formulated or conFIG.d to produce selected amounts of thermal energy. For instance, the heat element can be conFIG.d to heat a material to no greater than a maximum temperature. This may be advantageous, for instance, to prevent a food, such as infant formula, from injuring a child when ingested. Also, the heat element can be conFIG.d to heat a material at least a minimum temperature, such a temperature at which the material is predicted to have a specified degree of sterilization. Other embodiments can include a selected temperature range. In still other embodiments, the heat produced by the heat element can be user selectable. For example, a selective removal of the insulating material and thus the selective exposure of the heat element to the atmosphere can produce a corresponding controllable heat generation by the heat element. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the seal or other material or member covering the heat element can be re-usable, e.g., re-attached to the heat element. This may be advantageous to temporarily or permanently halt the heating process. 
     The foregoing description is directed to particular embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of illustration and explanation. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to the embodiment set for the above are possible without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such modifications and changes.