Self-heating container

Claim 2

Packaging means adapted for heating a product packaged therein comprising: a container having a tubular body fabricated from heat conductive packaging material and provided with a top end closure for sealing said product within said container; a shell having a bottom end closure and an elongated tubular body fabricated from a heat-resistant packaging material and supporting within its upper end, when in an upright position, the body of said container in inwardly spaced relation to the body of said shell to define an air gap therebetween, said shell body being formed with vents communicating with said gap to enable to escape of air from said shell; and a supply of fuel disposed within the opposite lower end of said shell body and supported by said bottom end closure below said container, said fuel when ignited causing heated air to circulate upwardly within said shell into contact with the body of said container and thence out through said vents and in so doing conveying heat to the body of said container and the product contained therein, said bottom end closure having a removable section manually severable therefrom to form a rupture through which air may enter into said shell, and including means operatively associated with said removable section and activated by the severance of said section from said bottom end closure for igniting said fuel.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said igniting means comprises a self-contained igniter adapted to reach ignition temperature when abraded with a friction-providing surface.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said igniting means is adapted to be abraded by a friction surface disposed on the inner surface of said removable section when said section is severed from said bottom end closure.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1 including a bottom end closure for said shell supporting said fuel within the shell, said end closure having a rotatable section manually rotatable to form an aperture therein through which air may enter said shell.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1 including means operatively associated with said rotatable section and activated by the rotation of said section for igniting said fuel.

Claim 7

Packaging means adapted for heating a product packaged therein comprising: a container having a tubular body fabricated from heat-conductive packaging material and provided with a top end closure for sealing said product within said container; a shell having an elongated tubular body fabricated from a heat-resistant packaging material and supporting within its upper end; when in an upright position, the body of said container is in inwardly spaced relation to the body of said shell to define an air gap therebetween, said shell body being formed with vents communicated with said gap to enable escape of air from said shell end; a supply of fuel disposed within the opposite lower end of said shell body and below said container, said fuel when ignited causing heated air to circulate upwardly within said shell into contact with the body of said container and thence out through said vents and in so doing conveying heat to the body of said container and the product contained therein; and a sleeve of heat insulating material surrounding the body of said shell and slideably fitted thereon, said sleeve being displaceable relative to said shell from a normal position coextensive with said shell body in which position the sleeve covers the vents formed in said shell body, to a displaced position wherein said vents are uncovered wherein said sleeve, when in its displaced position and resting upright on a flat supporting surface, constitutes a stand for holding said shell upright in elevated relation to said supporting surface and wherein said sleeve is formed with ports adjacent its lower edge to admit air for circulation through said shell when said sleeve is serving as a stand for said shell.

Claim 8

Packaging means adapted for heating a product packaged therein comprising: a container having a tubular body fabricated from heat-conductive packaging material and provided with a top end closure for sealing said product within said container; a shell having an elongated tubular body fabricated from a heat-resistant packaging material and supporting within its upper end; when in an upright position, the body of said container is in inwardly spaced relation to the body of said shell to define an air gap therebetween, said shell body being formed with vents communicated with said gap to enable escape of air from said shell end; a supply of fuel disposed within the opposite lower end of said shell body and below said container, said fuel when ignited causing heated air to circulate upwardly within said shell into contact with the body of said container and thence out through said vents and in so doing conveying heat to the body of said container and the product contained therein; and a sleeve of heat insulating material surrounding the body of said shell and slideably fitted thereon, said sleeve being displaceable relative to said shell from a normal position coextensive with said shell body in which position the sleeve covers the vents formed in said shell body, to a displaced position wherein said vents are uncovered wherein said sleeve, when in its displaced position and resting upright on a flat supporting surface, constitutes a stand for holding said shell upright in elevated relation to said supporting surface and wherein said sleeve is formed with ports adjacent its lower edge to admit air for circulation through said shell when said sleeve is serving as a stand for said shell.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 6 wherein said ports are covered by the body of said shell when said sleeve is in its normal position.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 6 wherein the outer surface of said sleeve is capable of being printed upon to enable use of said sleeve as a label for the contained product.

Claim 11

Packaging means adapted for heating a product packaged therein comprising: a container having a tubular body fabricated from heat conductive package material and provided with a top end closure for sealing said product within said container; a shell having an elongated tubular body fabricated from a heat-resistant packaging material and supporting within its upper end, when in an upright position, the body of said container in inwardly spaced relation to the body of said shell to define an air gap therebetween, said shell body being formed with vents communicated with said gap to enable escape of air from said shell; flame-confining means disposed within the lower end of said shell body and below said container for confining and directing flame to the bottom portion of said container; a supply of fuel disposed within said flame-confining means, said fuel when ignited causing heated air to circulate upwardly within said shell into contact with the body of said container and thence out through said vents and in so doing conveying heat through the body of said container and the product contained therein; and wherein said flame confining means is a funnel and wherein said fuel is positioned at the lower end thereof, said funnel comprises a flexible wire gauge having its upper edge extending inwardly toward the center thereof.

Claim 12

Packaging means adapted for heating a product packaged therein comprising: a container having a tubular body fabricated from heat conductive package material and provided with a top end closure for sealing said product within said container; a shell having an elongated tubular body fabricated from a heat-resistant packaging material and supporting within its upper end, when in an upright position, the body of said container in inwardly spaced relation to the body of said shell to define an air gap therebetween, said shell body being formed with vents communicated with said gap to enable escape of air from said shell; flame-confining means disposed within the lower end of said shell body and below said container for confining and directing flame to the bottom portion of said container; a supply of fuel disposed within said flame-confining means, said fuel when ignited causing heated air to circulate upwardly within said shell into contact with the body of said container and thence out through said vents and in so doing conveying heat through the body of said container and the product contained therein; and wherein said flame confining means is a funnel and wherein said fuel is positioned at the lower end thereof, said funnel comprises a flexible wire gauge having its upper edge extending inwardly toward the center thereof.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 9 wherein the lower portion of said funnel is attached to receive igniting means.