Patent Application
20070039607
1. Field of the Invention
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.
2. Description of the Related Art
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Referring to
As indicated above, the present invention provides a heating apparatus that has the following features.
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.
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.
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's hand.
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.
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.
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.
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.
