Patent Application
20090078711
N/A
In today's on-the-go consumer society, there is increasing demand for a convenient and effective container which may be used by consumers to heat consumable products, such as coffee, tea, milk, soup, and many other types of beverage or food products, at any time and any location, without having access to any conventional heating means, such as a coffee maker, microwave, cook top, etc. The self-heating technology based on an exothermic reaction between different reagents is often used in designing such containers. Under such self-heating technology, two or more reagents are initially separated by a breakable partition, and when the heat needs to be generated, the partition is broken to allow the mixing of the reagents, thereby creating an exothermic reaction for heat generation. Typically, the reagents employed for generating the heat include at least a solid material, such as calcium oxide, and a liquid material, such as water.
The current self-heating technology, however, has several shortcomings. First, the heat produced is often inadequate to heat the desired amount of beverage in a short period of time. Second, the amount of solid chemicals required to produce an adequate amount of heat may be too large to be conveniently incorporated into a conveniently sized container. Third, an adequate amount of heat may not be produced for a sufficient length of time to allow heat to transfer to the beverage and keep the beverage warm.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved self-heating apparatus. The present invention solves these and other needs in the art.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a self-heating apparatus having an aqueous solution and a solid chemical reactant mixture. Upon contacting the aqueous solution with the solid chemical reactant mixture, the aqueous solution dissolves said solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing within two minutes a heating solution having a temperature of at least 200° F. The temperature of at least 200° F. is maintained for at least one minute.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a heating apparatus for heating a liquid comprising an aqueous solution and a solid chemical reactant mixture having a mass of less than 100 g. Upon contacting the aqueous solution with the solid chemical reactant mixture, the aqueous solution dissolves the solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing a heating solution capable of heating at least six ounces of said liquid to at least 120° F.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a self-heating apparatus comprising an aqueous solution and a solid chemical reactant mixture. The solid chemical reactant mixture includes magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and/or calcium oxide.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a solid chemical reactant mixture comprising an anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, a calcium chloride, and a calcium oxide.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of heating a substance in a chamber. The method includes contacting an aqueous solution with a solid chemical reactant mixture to form a heating solution. The heating solution is in fluid contact with the chamber. The solid chemical reactant mixture includes a first chemical reactant, a second chemical reactant, and a third chemical reactant. The first chemical reactant is allowed to sufficiently exothermically react with the aqueous solution to heat the heating solution to within an elevated temperature range. The second chemical reactant is then allowed to sufficiently exothermically react with the aqueous solution to maintain the elevated temperature range. The third chemical reactant is then allowed to sufficiently exothermically react with the aqueous solution to maintain the temperature range thereby heating the substance.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of heating a substance in a chamber. The method includes contacting an aqueous solution with a solid chemical reactant mixture. The aqueous solution is allowed to dissolve the solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing within two minutes a heating solution having a temperature of at least 200° F. The heating solution is in fluid contact with the chamber. Finally, the heating solution is allowed to transfer heat to the chamber while maintaining a temperature of at least 200° F. for at least one minute within the heating solution thereby heating the substance. In some embodiments, the temperatures the heating solution in the dissolving step and the heat transfer step are independently from 200° F. to 250° F.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of heating at least six ounces of a liquid to a temperature of at least 120° F. in a chamber. The method includes contacting an aqueous solution with a solid chemical reactant mixture. The solid chemical reactant mixture has a mass of less than 100 g. The aqueous solution is allowed to dissolve the solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing a heating solution. The heating solution is allowed to transfer heat to the chamber thereby heating the liquid to at least 120° F. in the chamber.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a self-heating apparatus comprising an aqueous solution and a solid chemical reactant mixture. In some embodiments, the solid chemical reactant mixture includes magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and/or calcium oxide. The proportions of magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and/or calcium oxide may be from 10 to 55 parts, from 10 to 35 parts, and from 10 to 20 parts, respectively.
In some embodiments, the total combined mass of magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium oxide is less than 100 g. In other embodiments, the solid chemical reactant mixture consists of magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, and an organic acid. In other embodiments, the solid chemical reactant mixture consists of magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium oxide (e.g. anhydrous calcium oxide). The magnesium chloride may be anhydrous magnesium chloride, dihydrate magnesium chloride, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the magnesium chloride is anhydrous magnesium chloride. The calcium chloride may be anhydrous calcium chloride, monohydrate calcium chloride, dihydrate calcium chloride, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the calcium chloride is monohydrate calcium chloride, dihydrate calcium chloride, or a mixture thereof. In other embodiments, the calcium chloride is dihydrate calcium chloride. Thus, in some embodiments, the calcium chloride is dihydrate calcium chloride and the magnesium chloride is anhydrous magnesium chloride. Where the calcium oxide, magnesium chloride or calcium chloride is specified as a particular hydration state (e.g. anhydrous, monohydrate, or dihydrate), one of skill will understand that trace amounts of other hydration states may be present as impurities. Similarly, the calcium oxide may contain trace amounts of calcium hydroxide as an impurity.
Upon contacting the aqueous solution with the solid chemical reactant mixture, the aqueous solution reacts with (e.g. dissolves) the solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing heat. Where the aqueous solution dissolves the solid chemical reactant mixture, the heat produced is derived at least in part form the heat of solution of the solid chemical reactant mixture. The heat of solution occurs when an amount of chemical is dissolved in an aqueous solution (i.e. water or a solution containing water as the solvent) and diluted. The heat of solution is specific to the exact form of the chemical species. Certain embodiments of this and other aspects of the present invention are provided below. The embodiments described below are equally applicable to all aspects of the present invention.
In certain embodiments, upon contacting the aqueous solution with the solid chemical reactant mixture, the aqueous solution dissolves the solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing, within five minutes, a heating solution having a temperature of at least 200° F. More preferably, the heating solution having a temperature of at least 200° F. is produce within four minutes, three minutes, two minutes, or one minute. The temperature may be at least 225° F. or approximately 250° F. The temperature may also be from 200° F. to 250° F. In some embodiments, sufficient heat is generated by dissolving the aqueous solution in the solid chemical reactant mixture to produce steam from the aqueous solution.
The temperature of the heating solution described in the preceding paragraph is typically maintained for at least one minute, or more preferably at least two minutes, three minutes, four minutes, five minutes, or ten minutes. The heating solution is the solution formed from the dissolution of the solid chemical reactant mixture (or portions thereof) by the aqueous solution.
In some embodiments, the self-heating apparatus is a self-heating container comprising a heating chamber for containing a substance to be heated. The container includes a reactant chamber adjacent to the heating chamber comprising a first enclosed compartment and a second enclosed compartment. The first enclosed compartment comprises a first reactant and the second enclosed container includes a second reactant. The first reactant and the second reactant are independently the solid chemical reactant mixture or the aqueous solution. Where the first reactant is the solid chemical reactant mixture, the second reactant is the aqueous solution. And where the first reactant is the aqueous solution, the second reactant is the solid chemical reactant mixture. The container further comprises a breakable partition between the first enclosed compartment and the second enclosed compartment. Upon breaking the breakable partition, the aqueous solution contacts the solid chemical reactant mixture.
The substance to be heated may be any appropriate substance, but are typically liquids and/or solids. In a preferred embodiment, the substance is a comestible substance (e.g. liquid and/or solid), such as a beverage (e.g. coffee, tea, water, or hot chocolate), a soup, or a solid food within a fluid to be cooked (e.g. noodles within water), etc.
The self-heating apparatus may include an insulating layer on the inner surface of the reactant chamber. In some embodiments, the insulating layer includes a textured surface.
In another embodiment, the heating apparatus is used for heating a liquid. The apparatus includes an aqueous solution and a solid chemical reactant mixture having a mass of less than 100 g. Upon contacting the aqueous solution with the solid chemical reactant mixture, the aqueous solution dissolves the solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing a heating solution capable of heating at least six ounces of the liquid to at least 120° F. More preferably, the liquid is heated to at least 130° F., 140° F., or 150° F. In some embodiments, the liquid is heated to at least 120° F. within two minutes of contacting the aqueous solution with the solid chemical reactant mixture. In other embodiments, upon breaking the breakable partition, the aqueous solution dissolves the solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing a heating solution capable of heating at least six ounces of the liquid to a temperature from 130° F. to 150° F.
In some embodiments, the solid chemical reactant mixture may have a mass of less than 75 g. The aqueous solution may have a volume of less than 100 mL.
A. Certain Container Embodiments
Certain embodiments of the self-heating apparatus will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings of self-heating containers. The containers may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the container will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
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In one embodiment, the lower end of the first enclosed compartment 16 is sized and shaped to fit snuggly within the bottom 26 of the outer container body 12, such that when the bottom 26 is pushed towards the inner container body 14, the first enclosed compartment 16 is also moved towards the inner container body 14. The lower end of the first enclosed compartment 16 can be fastened to the inner surface of the bottom 26 to maintain the two in relative positions. The lower end of the first enclosed compartment 16 includes a radius of curvature which coincides with the radius of curvature provided in the bottom 26. This configuration allows the bottom 26 to propel upward easily when force is exerted against it and flex back to its original position.
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In one embodiment, the parts of the above-described container 10 are made of materials that can withstand at least the maximum temperature that would be reached from the exothermic reaction, which can be at least two hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit (250° F.).
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, when a user needs to heat the substance provided in the container 10, the user can invert the container 10 upside down as shown in
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Additional embodiments of a breaking device are shown in
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In another embodiment, the container includes an outer container body defining a reactant chamber comprising a second enclosed chamber and an inner container body defining a heating chamber disposed within the outer container body. The container further includes an insulating layer provided along the inner surface of the outer container body (i.e. the inner surface of the reactant chamber) to enhance insulation of the container. The insulating layer can be made of any suitable insulating material such as styrofoam. The insulating layer can be in the form of a sleeve. The insulating layer can form the walls of the second enclosed chamber, which forms a part of the reactant chamber, to ensure that the heat generated from an exothermic reaction will be kept and directed to the inner container body and the outer surface of the container will not be getting too hot for a consumer to hold. The insulating layer can be used with any of the containers described in this application.
In one embodiment, the insulating layer is structurally molded resulting in a rigid foam, such as an expanded polystyrene foam, which is contoured to the inner shape of the outer container body. The insulating sleeve may be designed to drop into place within the outer container body and be secured by friction. In one embodiment, the insulating sleeve insulates the entire inner surface of the outer container body. In one embodiment, the inner surface of the insulating sleeve may be textured to assist agitation and reaction of the first and second reactants. For example, the insulating sleeve may have a surface roughness of no less than 0.001 inches. In one embodiment, the insulating sleeve is resistant to high heat and compatible with the heating slurry formed by the mixture of the first and second reactants. In one embodiment, the insulating sleeve density can be adjusted to result in the highest insulating values required by the design and specification of the container.
In one embodiment of the invention, the insulating sleeve can be manufactured using a process called “Dry Heat Expansion”. In this process, multiple spherical beads, each of which is of an approximate size of granular salt, are positioned in a mold to form the insulating sleeve. After heat is introduced to the mold, the granular beads expand to fill the mold cavity, with their density decreasing from 39 lb/cubic ft. to 3 lbs/cubic ft or below, depending on the specific thickness limits set for the insulating sleeve. The expanded beads may form a smooth insulating surface, or be further adjusted using any one of the conventional processes to generate certain roughness in the surface, such as an “orange peel” condition.
In one embodiment, the reactant chamber has a plurality of walls made of a material with a thermal conductivity selected to substantially inhibit heat generated from the exothermic reaction from transferring from the reactant chamber through the walls to the exterior of the chamber. Preferably, the material comprising the reactant chamber wall is in direct contact with the exothermic reaction product and has a non-smooth surface texture adapted to assist the release of molecules or bubbles when water vapor or steam is generated due to the exothermic reaction in the reactant chamber. In one embodiment, the material has a surface roughness of at least 0.001 inch.
In one embodiment, the containers described above are manufactured and assembled in the following process. The first enclosed compartment can be separately manufactured using any conventional manufacturing method such as thermoforming or injection molding. In one embodiment, the first enclosed compartment is filled with the solid chemical reactant mixture and covered with a foil sealed to the first enclosed compartment. Alternatively, the first enclosed compartment is filled with aqueous solution and covered with a waterproof material, such as foil, to be secured to the first enclosed compartment. The separation of the first enclosed compartment from the final container product provides flexibility to the manufacturer that can always check each individual sealed first enclosed compartment prior to assembling it into the rest of the container. The outer container body and the inner container body can be separately manufactured using conventional manufacturing methods such as injection molding. The breaking device can be made as one integral part of the inner container body. As an alternative, the breaking device can be separately made using injection molding or other methods and then secured to the inner container body. After each individual piece is manufactured, they can be assembled following the steps below. First, the outer container body is placed into a holder in a filling line. Subsequently, an adhesive is provided on the inner bottom of the outer container body where the first enclosed compartment will be secured. Then, the first enclosed compartment is placed inside the outer container body and secured to the bottom by means of the pre-applied adhesive. One reactant is placed in the outer container body. The inner container body is placed into the outer container body in a manner such that the reactant placed in the outer container body will surround the inner container body, and the bottom of the inner container body is proximate to but has no direct contact with the first enclosed compartment. Beverage, food or other consumable products can be sealed inside the inner container body using a pull tab lid to be placed on top of the inner container body. The inner container and the pull tab lid are crimped to the outer container body making a seal using a conventional method. The underside of the pull tab lid can be coated with any FDA approved coating to protect the beverage or food products from contacting raw aluminum. A snap-on drinking lid is placed on top of the outer container. Other appropriate manufacturing and assembling methods well known to those skilled in the art may also be employed to manufacture and assemble the containers of the present invention.
In operation, a user may press the bottom of the outer container body toward the inner container body, and as a result of the force exerted upon the bottom, the first enclosed compartment will move with the bottom and be pushed toward the breaking device at the outer bottom of the inner container body so that the breaking device comes into contact with and breaks the partition, namely, cover of the first enclosed compartment. Subsequently, the reactant within the first enclosed compartment will be released and mix with the other second reactant provided within the second enclosed compartment. The heat generated from the exothermic reaction between the two reactants will be transferred and exchanged to heat up the substance in the inner container body. When the substance is heated and ready to be consumed, the user can remove the pull tab lid and put the snap-on drinking lid back on the container. To maximize and facilitate the mixture of two reactants, the user can invert the container upside down before pressing the bottom of the outer container body, and optionally, shake the container after the partition of the reactant is broken to cause the mixture.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a solid chemical reactant mixture comprising an anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, a calcium chloride, and a calcium oxide (e.g. anhydrous calcium chloride such as quicklime). The calcium chloride may be anhydrous calcium chloride, monohydrate calcium chloride, dihydrate calcium chloride, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the calcium chloride is monohydrate calcium chloride, dihydrate calcium chloride, or a mixture thereof. In other embodiments, the calcium chloride is dihydrate calcium chloride.
As the term suggests, the solid chemical reactant mixtures of the present invention are in solid form, meaning that the chemical reactants within the mixture do not include liquid reactants. In some embodiments, the anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium oxide are thoroughly mixed together when added to the self-heating apparatus. In other embodiments, the anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium oxide are present as layers in the self-heating apparatus. Thus, in some embodiments, the anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium oxide are not actually mixed together when forming the solid chemical reactant mixture. The term “mixture,” when used in the context of a solid chemical reactant mixture herein, means a substance composed of two or more components, each of which retain its own properties.
It has been discovered that this particular solid chemical reactant mixture provides surprising and advantageous properties for use within the heating apparatuses of the present invention. It is typically desirable to achieve a high instantaneous temperature in the heating apparatus and a high heat transfer rate through the container into the substance to be heated. Thus, upon dissolving this mixture in an aqueous solution, significant heat is produced quickly and is maintained effectively over the desired period. For example, where the heating apparatus is a self heating container comprising a heating chamber for containing a substance to be heated, the mixture produces, upon dissolving in an aqueous solution, sufficient heat energy to heat a desired amount of the substance and maintain the heat for a desired amount of time.
In some embodiments, the solid chemical reactant mixture consists essentially of an anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, a calcium chloride, and a calcium oxide. In other embodiments, the solid chemical reactant mixture consists essentially of an anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, a calcium chloride, a calcium oxide, and an organic acid. Where a mixture “consists essentially of” particular chemical compounds, the term “consists essentially of” means that the mixture includes only those particular chemical compounds plus other materials that do not materially effect the functionality of the solid chemical reactant mixture with the self-heating apparatuses of the present invention.
In some embodiments, the solid chemical reactant mixture consists of an anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, a calcium chloride, and a calcium oxide. In other embodiments, the solid chemical reactant mixture consists of an anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, a calcium chloride, a calcium oxide, and an organic acid. In other embodiments, the solid chemical reactant mixture consists of an anhydrous magnesium chloride, a calcium chloride, a calcium oxide, and an organic acid.
In some embodiments, the mixture employs anhydrous magnesium chloride and not dihydrate magnesium chloride. As described above, the calcium chloride may be anhydrous calcium chloride, monohydrate calcium chloride, dihydrate calcium chloride, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the calcium chloride is a mixture of monohydrate calcium chloride, and dihydrate calcium chloride. The calcium oxide (also known as quicklime) may be present in the mixture in any appropriate solid form.
The organic acid is an acid containing carbon atoms. The organic acid is typically a weak acid containing a carboxyl (—COOH) group, such as citric acid, acetic acid, or lactic acid.
The proportions of anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and/or calcium oxide are from 10 to 55 parts, from 10 to 35 parts, and from 10 to 20 parts, respectively. In some embodiments, the total combined mass of magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium oxide is less than 100 g.
In some embodiments, the mixture forms part of an aqueous solution. The proportions of anhydrous magnesium chloride and/or dihydrate magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and/or calcium oxide may be adjusted according to the teachings herein to heat the aqueous solution sufficiently to produce steam.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of heating a substance in a chamber (e.g. the heating chamber). The method includes contacting an aqueous solution with a solid chemical reactant mixture to form a heating solution (e.g. solubilizing the solid chemical reactant mixture with the aqueous solution). As described above, the heating solution is in fluid contact with the chamber (i.e. the solution makes contact with the outer walls of the chamber). The solid chemical reactant mixture includes a first chemical reactant, a second chemical reactant, and a third chemical reactant. The first chemical reactant is allowed to sufficiently exothermically react with the aqueous solution to heat the heating solution to within an elevated temperature range. The second chemical reactant is then allowed to sufficiently exothermically react with the aqueous solution to maintain the elevated temperature range. The third chemical reactant is then allowed to sufficiently exothermically react with the aqueous solution to maintain the temperature range thereby heating the substance. Typically, the third chemical reactant is allowed to sufficiently exothermically react with the aqueous solution to maintain the temperature range over a longer period of time thereby maintaining heat transfer and continuing to heat the substance.
In some embodiments, the method further includes adjusting the elevated temperature range based on the heat capacity of the substance. Appropriate substances (e.g. comestible liquids and solids), elevated temperature ranges (e.g. from 200° F. to 250° F.), and various other aspects of the method are described above (e.g. various self-heating apparatus embodiments, appropriate chemical solid chemical reactant mixtures, and other aspects of the embodiments described above).
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of heating a substance in a chamber (e.g. a heating chamber). The method includes contacting an aqueous solution with a solid chemical reactant mixture. The aqueous solution is allowed to dissolve the solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing within two minutes a heating solution having a temperature of at least 200° F. The heating solution is in fluid contact with the chamber. Finally, the heating solution is allowed to transfer heat to the chamber while maintaining a temperature of at least 200° F. for at least one minute within the heating solution thereby heating the substance. In some embodiments, the temperatures the heating solution in the dissolving step and the heat transfer step are independently from 200° F. to 250° F.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of heating at least six ounces of a liquid to a temperature of at least 120° F. in a chamber (e.g. a heating chamber). The method includes contacting an aqueous solution with a solid chemical reactant mixture. The solid chemical reactant mixture has a mass of less than 100 g. The aqueous solution is allowed to dissolve the solid chemical reactant mixture thereby producing a heating solution. The heating solution is allowed to transfer heat to the chamber thereby heating the liquid to at least 120° F. in the chamber.
In some embodiments, the liquid is heated to at least 120° F. within five, or more preferable four, three or two minutes of contacting the aqueous solution with the solid chemical reactant mixture. The liquid may be heated to a temperature of from 130° F. to 150° F. The solid chemical reactant mixture may a mass of less than 150 g, or more preferably less than 100 g, or less than 75 g. In some embodiments, the aqueous solution has a volume of less than 100 mL. The solid chemical reactant mixture may include magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and calcium oxide. The magnesium chloride may be anhydrous magnesium chloride, dihydrate magnesium chloride, or a mixture thereof.
In some embodiments, the substance is heated using an embodiment of the self-heating apparatuses described above. Thus, in some embodiments, the chamber is a heating chamber, the solid chemical reactant mixture is within a first enclosed compartment and the aqueous solution is within a second enclosed compartment. The various embodiments of the self-heating apparatuses and solid chemical reactants described above are equally applicable to the methods of heating a substance describe herein.
In some embodiments of the methods and apparatuses described herein, the aqueous solution is heated sufficiently to form steam. The steam condensation on the outer walls of the chamber then provides heat to the chamber for heating a substance therein. In some embodiments, the even distribution of steam (e.g. within the reactant chamber) provides for substantially uniform heat around the chamber (e.g. heating chamber).
Other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. Although the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in the form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The following examples are meant to illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, and are note intended to limit the scope of the invention.
700 grams of calcium chloride dihydrate, 200 grams of magnesium chloride anhydrous and 200 grams of calcium oxide is mixed together in a beaker with a spatula until the powders are thoroughly mixed. In a separate container a 5% solution of lactic acid in distilled water is mixed. Sixty-three grams of the 5% lactic acid was placed in a bottom enclosed compartment of a heat cup (i.e. self-heating apparatus) and 35 grams of the powder mix was loaded into an upper enclosed compartment. The drinking cup (i.e. heating chamber) was filled with water. The cup was activated by pushing a button on the bottom thereby breaking the breakable partition between the bottom and upper enclosed compartments, then shaking for 30 seconds, and then letting sit. After a total of two minutes the drinking liquid was 105° F. The exact same experiment was repeated with the exception of using 45 grams of the powder and the drinking liquid in the heating compartment reached 116.2° F. Again, the experiment was repeated with 55 grams of powder and the temperature reached 131.8° F., and when 65 grams of powder was used the drinking liquid reached 149.3° F.
In a small beaker 35 grams of calcium chloride was mixed with 10 grams of magnesium chloride and 10 grams of calcium oxide in a first enclosed compartment. The liquid cup contained 65 grams of 10% lactic acid solution in a second enclosed compartment when the cup was activated by breaking a breakable partition, whereupon the temperature reached 144.5° F. Two more drinking cups (i.e. self-heating apparatuses) with the exact same contents were constructed and one cup reached 141.2 F and the other was 146.3° F. The heating chambers of the drinking cups in these three examples were filled with water as the medium to be heated.
In the next set of examples the bottom enclosed compartments contained a solution that was 15% lactic acid and 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate in distilled water. The bottom enclosed compartments were filled with 65 grams of this solution. In the first example the heating chamber of the drinking cup was filled with tea, and an upper enclosed compartment contained a dry powder composed of 35 grams of calcium chloride, 10 grams of calcium oxide and 10 grams of magnesium chloride. When activated by breaking a breakable partition between the upper and bottom enclosed compartments, the temperature was 137.8° F. Another cup was made the exact same way but contained water in the heating chamber of the drinking cup and the temperature reached 143.4° F. A third cup was prepared with the same lactic acid-sodium lauryl sulfate solution in the bottom enclosed compartment, and the powder contained 38.5 grams of calcium chloride, 11 grams of magnesium chloride and 11 grams of calcium oxide. The heating chamber of the drinking cup contained apple cider and the temperature of the cider when activated was 147.4° F.
Ten cups were prepared exactly the same way as in above Examples 8-10. The bottom enclosed compartment contained 65 grams of a 15% solution of lactic acid and a 0.5% solution of sodium lauryl sulfate. The powder in the upper enclosed compartment was 35 grams of calcium chloride, 10 grams of magnesium chloride, 10 grams calcium oxide. Five of the drinking cups were filled with apple juice in the heating chamber and the temperature upon activation ranged from 124.4° F. to 150.2° F. The other five cups were filled with tea in the heating chamber and upon activation (i.e. breaking a breakable partition between the upper and bottom enclosed compartments) the temperature ranged from 125.0° F. to 153.1° F.
Two cups were prepared as in example 11. The heating chamber drinking cup contained tea. After the samples were prepared they were placed in the freezer for 24 hours before activation. They were removed from the freezer and activated immediately by breaking the breakable partition. The tea of one reached 125.0° F. and the other 122.1° F.
Two cups were prepared as in example 11 and also contained tea in the heating chamber of the drinking cup. After the samples were prepared they were placed in the refrigerator for 24 hours before they were activated. Upon activation by breaking the breakable partition, *the tea in one reached 138.2° F. and the other was 142.7° F.
Again two cups were prepared as in example 11 and also contained tea in the heating chamber of the drinking cup. After the samples were prepared they were placed on a shaking table for 24 hours to simulate shipping conditions. Upon activation by breaking the breakable partition, the tea in one cup reached 153° F. and the other was 160° F.
In these four examples the powder was 35 grams of calcium chloride, 10 grams of magnesium chloride, and 10 grams of calcium oxide. The heating chamber of the drinking cup contained tea in all four examples. In the bottom enclosed compartment the lactic acid was replaced with 15% acetic acid in one case, 15% oxalic acid in one case, 15% gluconic acid in another case and 15% propionic acid in the last case. They all contained 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate. Upon activation by breaking the breakable partition, the tea in the acetic acid cup reached 122.0° F., the oxalic cup 132.6° F., the gluconic acid cup 126.0° F. and the propionic cup reached 130.5° F.
In these two examples technical grade calcium oxide instead of reagent grade calcium oxide was used. The heating chamber of the drinking cup contained tea and the temperatures of the tea in the heating chamber reached in 143.6° F. and 143.4. From this experiment it was determined that the calcium oxide could be purchased using a lower grade rather than reagent grade calcium oxide. In another test the heating compartment was filled with juice instead of tea and the temperature reached 141.4° F. and 139.0° F.
In the following examples the dry powders were not mixed. They were layered in the enclosed chambers to determine whether mixing the chemicals affects performance. The dry powders in this experiment were 38.5 grams of calcium chloride, 11 grams of magnesium chloride and 11 grams of calcium oxide. The bottom enclosed compartment contained the 15% lactic acid and 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate solution and the heating chamber of the drinking cup contained water. See Table 1 for the results.
In these examples the dry chemicals were ground in a mill and then placed in the oven to make sure they were dry. The dry mix contained 38.5 grams of calcium chloride, 11 grams of magnesium chloride, and 11 grams of calcium oxide. In the first cup the heating chamber of the drinking cup contained water and upon activation by breaking a breakable partition the temperature of the water was 145.0° F. In the second cup the heating chamber of the drinking cup contained juice and the temperature was 139.6° F. The other two cups contained tea and one reached a 143.2° F. and the other was 136.6° F.
In the next eleven examples the dry chemicals were all ground in a grinder and dried in the oven. The mix contained 38.5 grams of calcium chloride, 13.0 grams of magnesium chloride and 11.0 grams calcium oxide. The bottom enclosed containers contained the 15% lactic acid with 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate solution. Six cups contained tea and upon activation by breaking a breakable partition the temperature of the water in the heating chamber ranged from 126.7° F. to 139.1° F. In the other five cups the temperatures ranged from 136.8° F. to 143.6° F.
In these examples the bottom enclosed container contained 20% lactic acid and 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate solution and the heating chamber of the drinking cup contained water but the dry chemicals only contained 30 grams of calcium chloride and 28 grams of calcium oxide. The temperature upon activation was 141.0° F. A second cup contained 25 grams of calcium chloride and 25 grams of calcium oxide and the water temperature upon activation was 135° F.
In these examples the bottom enclosed container contained 20% lactic acid and 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate solution and the heating chamber of the drinking cup contained water and the dry chemicals mix contained 35 grams of calcium chloride and 18 grams of calcium oxide and 2 grams of magnesium chloride. The temperature of the water upon activation was 140.5° F. and 138.0° F.
In these nine examples the bottom enclosed container contained the 15% lactic acid solution with the 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate and the dry powder was ground and placed in the oven. The dry mix contained 35 grams of calcium chloride, 15 grams of magnesium chloride and 15 grams of calcium oxide. All the heating chambers of the drinking cups contained water and the temperature ranged between 130.6° F. and 144.0° F. in all nine cups upon activation.
