Patent Description:
This disclosure generally relates to articles such as packaging devices. The packaging devices can include form factors such as bags, pouches, envelopes, and the like, and can include an integrated heating system.

Some types of self-heating package devices currently exist. One type utilizes an exothermic chemical reaction (i.e., heat is released) that is triggered when a user exposes water, air, or other reactants to an initially-sealed packet or sub-compartment containing chemical reactants. Another type relies on resistive (Joule) heating by incorporating wires and usually a rechargeable portable battery into the body of the packaging. The package heats when the user activates the electrical current. However, such self-heating package devices tend to have shortcomings regarding aspects such as, but not limited to, bulkiness, temperature controllability, and environmental sustainability.

<CIT> discloses a dispensable container for a substance to be heated therein. The container comprises a heating film which consists of a metallic foil which has a plain part and a patterned part and a thin layer of insulation between the two parts. The heating film is depressed into either a troughlike box made of paper mache or is laid on and may be laminated to a sheet of cardboard which is then assembled into a box.

<NPL>,) discloses a biodegradable resistive heater made by applying silver nanowires onto a fractal-like leaf skeleton.

<CIT> discloses a clothing article which incorporates a thermochromic ink and a heating element.

The present invention is as set out in the independent claims. In general, this disclosure describes packaging devices (e.g., low-profile packaging devices) such as bags, pouches, envelopes, containers, and the like, that include an integrated heating system. The packaging devices described herein have multiple potential uses such as, but not limited to, single-serving meals, drinks, massage oils, masks, body wax, anti-wrinkle eye creams, and the like, to be heated on the go. The packaging devices described herein can also be used for instant heating of food and/or beverages for backcountry use.

The packaging devices and methods described herein may be used to provide one or more of the following optional benefits and advantages. First, the packaging devices described herein are reusable. That is, unlike existing packaging devices that use an exothermic chemical reaction, the heating systems of the packaging devices described herein can be used multiple times. Accordingly, the packaging devices described herein generate less waste and can have a lower overall cost in comparison to existing packaging devices.

Second, in some embodiments the packaging devices described herein include an opening to the interior of the package that is configured to be self-sealing. In some such embodiments, the seal is advantageously activated by the heating process.

Third, in some embodiments the packaging devices described herein include a temperature indicator. For example, in some embodiments thermochromic inks or other temperature-sensitive visual elements may be used on the outside of the packaging to indicate when the interior product is heated.

Fourth, all parts of the packaging devices described herein are biodegradable. Consequently, the packaging devices described herein do not contribute to landfill or include electronic components that contain highly toxic materials and require hazardous chemicals and gases to process. Accordingly, while the packaging devices described herein are reusable, when the packaging devices become soiled or worn beyond recovery they can be discarded in an environmentally responsible manner.

Fifth, the packaging devices described herein are advantageously configured for interfacing with a separate inductive power supply. Accordingly, the packaging devices described herein are advantageously lightweight and/or flexible, making them highly portable.

In one aspect, this disclosure is directed to a packaging device. The packaging device includes a multi-layer material configured to define an interior space and an opening to the interior space. At least a portion of the multi-layer material includes an inner layer made of a first biodegradable material, an outer layer made of a second biodegradable material, and a heating element layer encapsulated between the inner and outer layers. The heating element layer is biodegradable and provides resistive heating to the interior space when supplied with electrical power from a power source. The packaging device also comprises a coil electrically connected to the heating element layer and configured for inductively coupling with an external power source to provide the electrical power to the heating element.

Such a packaging device may optionally include one or more of the following features. The packaging device may also include a seal material disposed adjacent to the opening. The seal material may be configured to activate in response to heating from the heating element layer and to provide sealing of the opening. In some embodiments, the coil comprises chitosan and silver nanowires. In particular embodiments, the coil comprises a printed biodegradable electrically-conductive ink. In some embodiments, an entirety of the packaging device is biodegradable. The heating element layer may be made of one or more leaf skeletons. The one or more leaf skeletons may be coated with silver nanowires. The packaging device may also include a thermochromic ink on the outer layer. The heating element layer may be configured to be activated multiple times when supplied with the electrical power multiple times. The packaging device may also include heat-activated expanding foam disposed between the inner and outer layers. In some embodiments, the heat-activated expanding foam comprises thermoplastic beads containing low boiling point hydrocarbon.

In another aspect, this disclosure is directed to an article for incorporation with, or attachment to, clothing. The article includes a substrate; a thermochromic ink on the substrate; and a heating element thermally coupled to the substrate and a coil electrically connected to the heating element and configured for inductively coupling with an external power source to provide the electrical power to the heating element. The heating element layer is biodegradable and provides resistive heating to the thermochromic ink when supplied with electrical power from a power source.

Such an article for incorporation with, or attachment to, clothing may optionally include one or more of the following features. The article may be electroluminescent or may include an electroluminescent element.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description, below. Other potential features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

As described further below, this innovation uses fibrous natural materials (e.g., leaf skeletons and soft biomaterials like chitosan) along with silver nanowires to create completely biodegradable, and reusable self-heating packaging. An advantage of using flexible biomaterials over traditional self-heating solutions in packaging include reduced bulkiness and weight, flexible form factors that conform to packaging contents to save space, and lower environmental footprints. Silver traces may be patterned as a coil to allow the packaging to heat via Joule heating (resistive heating) when brought near standard wireless charging coils, or the packaging may be directly plugged into a wall outlet or portable battery bank. This new decomposable system is capable of wirelessly heating to ><NUM>, is flexible, lightweight, low-cost, and reusable, and it maintains its functionality over long periods of heating and multiple power cycles.

The packaging devices described herein can be used to heat food and cosmetic products without having to remove the contents and transferring them to an external heater. Additionally, the packaging devices described herein can be coated with thermo-responsive inks to indicate the temperature to the user or to enable interactivity with the package. Moreover, by using other biomaterials like beeswax on the inner linings of the package that fuse together on heating, the self-heating element can also allow for self-resealing packages.

While the innovative concepts described herein are primarily described in the context of self-heating packaging, it should be understood that other implementations that are "semi-permanent' and decomposable at home are also envisioned. As described further below, such additional implementations can include, but are not limited to, on-body therapy pads and other wearables such as thermo-responsive clothing, heat-activated shape-changing materials, and pressure sensors, to provide a few examples.

Referring to <FIG>, an example packaging device <NUM> can be used to contain a product <NUM>. The product <NUM> represents any type(s) of item or items that be removably contained within the interior of the packaging device <NUM>. For example, the product <NUM> can be, without limitation, single-serving meals, drinks, massage oils, masks, body wax, anti-wrinkle eye creams, and the like.

In some embodiments, the packaging device <NUM> can be flexible. Alternatively, in some embodiments the packaging device <NUM> can be rigid. The packaging device <NUM> can be reusable. The packaging device <NUM> is made of materials that are biodegradable.

<FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of the packaging device <NUM>. <FIG> show enlarged views of the wall <NUM> of the packaging device <NUM>.

In <FIG>, it can be seen that the wall <NUM> is constructed of multiple layers. For example, in some embodiments the wall is comprised of an inner layer <NUM>, a heating element layer <NUM>, an outer layer <NUM>, and a temperature indicator <NUM>.

The inner layer <NUM> and the outer layer <NUM> are made of a biodegradable material, such as chitosan, which forms the body of the packaging device <NUM>.

The heating element layer <NUM> is encapsulated on both sides by the inner layer <NUM> and the outer layer <NUM>. The heating element layer <NUM> is made of electrically conductive biodegradable materials, as described further below.

The temperature indicator <NUM> can be thermochromic inks or other temperature-sensitive visual elements. For example, the temperature indicator <NUM> may change color or appearance to indicate when the product <NUM> is heated. In some embodiments, the thermochromic pigment can be mixed with a non-toxic, water-based glue and printed, stenciled, or brushed onto the outer layer <NUM>. In some cases, the temperature indicator <NUM> can be printed in a decorative pattern.

In <FIG>, it can be seen that a seal layer <NUM> is located on the interior side of the inner layer <NUM>. The seal layer <NUM> is located adjacent to the opening of the packaging device <NUM>. In some embodiments, the seal layer <NUM> extends along the entire periphery of the opening (on both sides of the opening). In some embodiments, the seal layer <NUM> extends along just one side of the opening.

In some embodiments, the seal layer <NUM> is a material that melts or becomes sticky when heated. For example, in some embodiments the seal layer <NUM> is made of beeswax (without limitation). Accordingly, when the seal layer <NUM> is heated by the heating element layer <NUM> the seal is activated such that the opening to the packaging device <NUM> can be sealed shut.

<FIG> and <FIG> provide examples of one type of construction of the heating element layer <NUM> which is configured for Joule heating (resistive heating). It should be understood that the materials that make up the heating element layer <NUM> are biodegradable. For example, in some embodiments the heating element layer <NUM> is made of fibrous natural materials. In this example, the heating element layer <NUM> is made of leaf skeletons <NUM> that serve as the heater substrates.

To prepare the leaf skeletons to serve as the electrically conductive heater substrates, various processes can be used. In one example, a chitosan solution is prepared by diluting acetic acid deionized water at <NUM>% vol. Medium molecular weight deacetylated chitosan is added to the acetic acid solution at a <NUM> wt% concentration and is continuously stirred for <NUM> hour on a hotplate heated to 60C. Glycerol is then added to the solution as a plasticizer, with a weight ratio of about <NUM>:<NUM> or about <NUM>:<NUM> glycerol:chitosan. The solution is stirred at 60C for an additional <NUM> minutes. The solution is then left to cool at room temperature.

Lastly, the leaf skeletons <NUM> are dipped into the chitosan solution (as illustrated in <FIG>). Chitosan acts to stabilize the leaf skeletons <NUM> while they are heated. In some embodiments, the leaf skeletons <NUM> are leaves that have been boiled in a washing soda solution to remove all but the hollow vein structure of the leaves. The leaf skeletons <NUM> provide underlying texture and pattern for the silver nanowires to adhere to, as described further below.

After dipping, the leaf skeletons <NUM> can be hung to dry at room temperature for about <NUM> to <NUM> hours. Subsequently, as an optional step, the leaf skeletons <NUM> can be dipped in a solution of <NUM>-aminounde-canoic acid in water (<NUM> wt%) to increase the adhesion of silver nanowires in the next step.

The leaf skeletons <NUM> are dried and then dipped into a solution of silver nanowires. In some embodiments, the silver nanowires are suspended in ethanol with a nanowire concentration of about <NUM>/mL for about <NUM> seconds. This provides a thin coating of the silver nanowires over the substrate. The coated leaf skeletons <NUM> are then allowed to dry for at least <NUM> minutes. In some embodiments, the dimensions of the silver nanowires are about <NUM> +/- <NUM> in diameter by <NUM> +/- <NUM> in length. Other geometries may also be used. Moreover, in some embodiments other types of materials such as carbon nanotubes, iron, magnesium, or conductive polymers such as PEDOT can be used to make electrically conductive elements, while also being readily biodegradable into non-toxic particles. Pre-treatment materials for enhancing the adhesion of silver nanowires to the leaf skeletons <NUM> can include silver nitrate, <NUM>-Aminoundecanoic acid, Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and Poly-L-lysine, without limitation.

Alternative heating element substrates (other than the leaf skeletons <NUM>) for the biodegradable heating element layer <NUM> can include, for example: Chitosan stamped with a textured sheet (such as a leaf or a mesh); Chitosan-covered 3D-printed structures made of a biodegradable material with the same fractal pattern as leaf skeletons; Fibrous materials such as paper, cardboard, fruit or vegetable peels, fabric; Other bioplastics based on biological materials such as agar, gelatin, carrageenan, kombucha SCOBY.

The heating element substrates of the heating element layer <NUM> may be mounted to the inside of the biodegradable packaging device <NUM> (e.g., between the layers <NUM> and <NUM>, which can be constructed of chitosan, or cardboard, etc.) using a biodegradable adhesive (e.g., cellophane tape, water-based non-toxic glue, wet chitosan, etc.).

As depicted in the electrical schematic of <FIG>, for larger packages, multiple heaters (as illustrated here by the treated leaf skeletons <NUM>) may be connected in parallel with non-toxic biodegradable conductive paint, which may be applied by hand with a brush or with an ink-jet printer. This non-toxic biodegradable conductive paint can also be patterned into a coil at selective locations on the package, as described further below. Such coils provide an inductive power transfer functionality to the packaging device <NUM>. Materials for making the biodegradable, conductive traces needed to connect heating elements and to form a coil for inductive power transfer can include, for example: graphite, graphene, or other carbon-based paints; nano-copper ink; silver nanoparticles; silver nanowires; metal oxides, water-based silver ink, or PEDOTPSS.

As depicted in the electrical schematic of <FIG>, in some embodiments the electrical circuit <NUM> includes an onboard battery <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> volts) that is used to power one or more heaters (as illustrated here by the treated leaf skeletons <NUM>). In some embodiments of the packaging device <NUM>, as an alternative to the onboard battery <NUM>, the packaging device <NUM> simply includes electrical connectors for connection to an external power source (e.g., a battery, a solar cell, AC power, etc.).

In other embodiments, such as depicted in <FIG>, the packaging device <NUM> is configured with one or more internal coils <NUM> that provide wireless inductive power transfer capabilities. That is, electrical circuit <NUM> of the packaging device <NUM> can be made compatible with inductive chargers <NUM> by patterning a coil <NUM> (e.g., printing the coil) with the same material used to make conductive traces. In such a case, the packaging device <NUM> can be simply brought into close proximity or physical contact with an inductive charger <NUM> in order to energize the one or more heaters of the packaging device <NUM>. In some embodiments, some mobile phones can function as such an inductive charger <NUM>.

In some embodiments, chitosan can be printed into the pattern of the coil <NUM>. The design of the coil <NUM> can be tuned to the transfer frequency and a thicker layer of silver nanowires can be deposited to receive the power signal, increasing conductance of the nanowire assemblies to enable the coil <NUM> to operate as an antenna. Chitosan can be printed with an ink-jet printer, microfluidics or other methods.

Still referring to <FIG>, the amount of power delivered to the treated leaf skeletons <NUM>, and thus the amount of heat generated by the treated leaf skeletons <NUM>, may intentionally be varied by adjusting the position of the receiving coil <NUM> on the packaging <NUM> relative to the transmitting coil <NUM> of the wireless charging module <NUM>. When the coils <NUM> and <NUM> are aligned on top of each other with virtually no spacing between them, the treated leaf skeletons <NUM> can achieve maximum heating. To achieve lower temperatures, the package <NUM> may be moved side to side or elevated above the charging module <NUM>.

The pasteurization of milk requires a sustained temperature of <NUM> for <NUM> minutes or <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to sufficient to destroy all yeasts, molds, and gramnegative bacteria. These parameters are easily achievable by the packaging device <NUM>, positioning them as an attractive solution for food safety in environments and locales where specialized equipment is unavailable.

The packaging device <NUM> may also be used as a reusable bag for heating food for more optimal enjoyment. In one such example, cookies and/or other snacks or beverages can be warmed using the packaging device <NUM>. Moreover, the packaging device <NUM> can utilized in various settings, such as outdoors on a hike or in an airport, where microwaves and other kitchen appliances are not readily available, or in situations in which it might not be desirable to share such equipment.

4D printing and shape-morphing materials are active research areas that promise to revolutionize many fields such as manufacturing, shipping, implantable devices, and tangible user interfaces. Small, lightweight, and eco-friendly heaters such as the packaging device <NUM> could be used to make such demonstrations portable, perhaps opening the door for more applications. That is, one or more of the heating devices as described herein can be attached to the shape-morphing materials to enable heat-induced shape change. Heaters can be selectively attached and/or selectively activated to different areas the shape-morphing materials to control deformation.

Additionally, shape-changing materials could be also integrated into a packaging form factor to indicate prior usage (e.g., perhaps decoratively or perhaps as a safety feature). For instance, by varying print speed and direction, a 3D printer may be used to print objects that are flat when printed, but upon heating, they morph into 3D forms as specified by the designer. In one example, these shape-morphing materials could be integrated onto the outside of packaging device <NUM> such that its shape indicates if the package device <NUM> has been heated before.

Heat-activated shape-changing materials such as expanding foams made from silicone and thermally-expanding microspheres can also be incorporated into the package device <NUM> to protect arbitrarily-shaped contents. The unexpanded foam can be packed flat into the walls of the package device <NUM> to allow for easy transport when the packaging is empty. Once the package device <NUM> is filled, the expanding foam can be easily heat-activated to inflate and conform to the contents by placing the package device <NUM> on an inductive charging mat, for example. In some examples, such expanding foams can be in the form of microspheres (~<NUM> diameter) or tiny thermoplastic beads containing low boiling point hydrocarbon inside. When heated, such expanding foams can expand up to 60x their original volume.

There are several cosmetic and personal health products that the package device <NUM> can also enable and improve the experience of using. For instance, waxing strips must be warmed before they are able to adhere to skin. Other items that need to be heated for an optimal user experience include lotions and essential oils.

Beyond being integrated into packaging for such on-body products, the inventive concepts of the package device <NUM> can be applied as semi-permanent on-body wearables. One example implementation is as a stand-alone heat therapy patch. The inventive concepts of the package device <NUM> may also be used to activate thermo-responsive designs on clothing (e.g., fully decomposable, electroluminescent patches sewn into or adhered to the clothing fabric).

Additionally, inventive concepts of the package device <NUM> may be implemented in the context of interactive wearable designs that require heat to activate, but include properties like the shape-changing interfaces described above. In another example, a hydrogel-based wearable can programmably change texture based on temperature. The inventive concepts of the package device <NUM> may be used to provide the temperature modulation.

In another example implementation, color-changing wall art can be implemented using the inventive concepts of the package device <NUM>.

Fully biodegradable batteries are also envisioned as a way to enable even more applications of decomposable interfaces in environments where wireless power might not be a feasible option.

The branching fractal structure of the leaf skeletons as described above is also promising for pressure sensing. A very similar design approach to what is described above can be applied to create a fully decomposable wirelessly-powered system for pressure sensing implementations.

Claim 1:
A packaging device (<NUM>) comprising:
a multi-layer material configured to define an interior space and an opening to the interior space, wherein at least a portion of the multi-layer material comprises:
an inner layer (<NUM>) made of a first biodegradable material,
an outer layer (<NUM>) made of a second biodegradable material, and
a heating element layer (<NUM>) encapsulated between the inner and outer layers, wherein the heating element layer provides resistive heating to the interior space when supplied with electrical power from a power source; characterised by
a coil (<NUM>) electrically connected to the heating element layer and configured for inductively coupling with an external power source to provide the electrical power to the heating element layer, wherein the heating element layer is biodegradable.