Patent ID: 8319154

Claim:
A portable self-heating fluid connector comprising: a portable housing having first and second opposed ends and at least one thermally conductive wall extending between the first and second opposed ends, the at least one thermally conductive wall defining in combination with the first and second ends a compartment therebetween, the housing being adapted for mounting within a fluid container having an inner surface; an exothermic phase change material located within the compartment of the housing; at least one barrier projecting outwardly from an exterior surface of the at least one thermally conductive wall of the housing; and at least one initiator mounted in the housing for activating the exothermic phase change material, whereby when the fluid connector is in use in a fluid container, the exterior surface of the at least one thermally conductive wall, the at least one barrier and a portion of an inner surface of the fluid container adjacent the fluid connector define, in combination, one or more fluid conduits which extend between the first and second ends of the housing such that the one or more fluid conduits are in thermal communication with the exothermic phase change material and when the exothermic phase change material is activated heat is transferred to fluid caused to flow along the one or more fluid conduits.