Abstract: A self-heating container includes a first substance and a second substance that are adapted to produce an exothermic reaction upon contact with each other, a soluble material between the first substance and the second substance, a frangible membrane physically separating the second substance from the soluble material, and a means for rupturing the frangible membrane.

Abstract: A sealed package is disclosed for a self-heating assembly that produces heat by virtue of a liquid reactant reacting exothermically with a solid reactant to heat a product. The sealed package includes an outer container, a lower support structure (e.g., of open cell foam) within the outer container, a layer of the solid reactant above the lower support structure and within the outer container, an upper structure (e.g., of open cell foam, as well) above the solid reactant and within the outer container, and an upper layer that is permeable to liquid and that extends across an otherwise open top of the outer container above the upper structure.

Abstract: A self-heating container assembly has a housing with a first portion and a second portion, each having a cylindrical cross-section. The first portion and the second portion are mated together in a manner that permits the first portion to rotate about a common axis relative to the second portion. A ring gear (or partial ring gear) is on or attached to the first portion and rotates with the first portion of the housing relative to the second portion. A rotatable cutting element is supported by a support connected to the second portion of the housing. There is a pinion gear on the rotatable cutting element. The pinion gear is coupled to the ring gear. A reactant container containing a reactant is adjacent to the rotatable cutting element, such that rotation thereof cuts into the reactant container.

Abstract: A self-heating assembly includes a product tray for containing a product to be heated and a heater tray outside the product tray and configured relative to the product tray to define a reaction space between the heater tray and the product tray. A frangible container made of a shrink film material is inside the reaction space. The frangible container contains a first reactant that is a liquid. A second reactant is outside the frangible container. The first and second reactants are configured to react exothermically upon contact with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a product includes a storage compartment for a product to be heated and a heater module physically and thermally coupled to the storage compartment. The heater module has a housing that defines a reaction chamber. A rigid barrier is inside the reaction chamber and defines first and second portions thereof. A first reactant is inside the reaction chamber, and a flexible bag (with a second reactant) is in the first portion of the first chemical reactant. The first and second reactants react exothermically upon contact. A piercing element can pierce the flexible bag. After piercing, the a fluid path and one or more fluid channels carry the second reactant to a section of the first portion of the reaction chamber away from where the flexible bag is located.

Abstract: A self-heating product pouch has a first thin flexible material that surrounds and defines a product compartment. A second thin flexible material is coupled to an outwardly-facing surface of the first thin flexible material to define a first heater compartment that is outside, but thermally coupled to, the product compartment. A first thin porous substrate inside the first heater compartment. A granular reactant is distributed throughout the first thin porous substrate. A frangible container is inside the first heater compartment. A liquid reactant is inside the frangible container. The granular reactant and the liquid reactant are adapted to react exothermically upon contact with one another.

Abstract: A dish assembly for serving food includes a dish housing that defines a surface, upon which the food can be placed, and an inner compartment, a phase-change material within the inner compartment, and an electrically-conductive element inside the inner compartment and thermally coupled to the phase-change material. In a typical implementation, the phase-change material is adapted to melt in response to the electrically-conductive element being heated by an electromagnetic induction heater. The thus heated dish assembly can facilitate getting hot food to a table while it is still hot, and once at the table, keeping that hot food at least warm for quite some time, while it is consumed.

Abstract: A metallic product compartment of a single-use, self-heating container has melted onto one or more of its surfaces and re-solidified a shaped fusible material containing a reaction suppressant. A method of manufacturing includes providing the product container, positioning the fusible material, as a solid, in contact with a metallic wall of the container, heating at least a portion of the metallic wall with an electromagnetic induction heater to at least partially melt a portion of the fusible material, and enabling the melted portion of the fusible material to cool and re-solidify, thereby adhering the fusible material to the metallic wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a product includes a storage compartment for a product to be heated and a heater module physically and thermally coupled to the storage compartment. The heater module has a housing that defines a reaction chamber. A rigid barrier is inside the reaction chamber and defines first and second portions thereof. A first reactant is inside the reaction chamber, and a flexible bag (with a second reactant) is in the first portion of the first chemical reactant. The first and second reactants react exothermically upon contact. A piercing element can pierce the flexible bag. After piercing, the a fluid path and one or more fluid channels carry the second reactant to a section of the first portion of the reaction chamber away from where the flexible bag is located.

Abstract: A self-heating container includes a first substance and a second substance that are adapted to produce an exothermic reaction upon contact with each other, a soluble material between the first substance and the second substance, a frangible membrane physically separating the second substance from the soluble material, and a means for rupturing the frangible membrane.

Abstract: A self-heating assembly includes a product container for holding a product to be heated and a heater container coupled to the product container. There is a reaction space between the product container and the heater container. There is a support structure (made, for example, of open cell foam) in the reaction space and a granular second reactant distributed throughout the support structure. There is a liquid first reactant in the reaction space. A frangible membrane is configured so that, when intact, it separates the liquid first reactant from the support structure and from the granular second reactant. The liquid first reactant and the granular second reactant are adapted to exothermically react upon contact with one another. The support structure is permeable to the liquid first reactant and is configured to support and substantially maintain the distribution of the granular second reactant throughout the support structure before and during the exothermic chemical reaction.

Abstract: A self-heating food container configured to hold food and to heat food within the container is provided. The container includes a body wall. A space is defined within the body wall. A chemical heater is located within the space, which upon activation, is configured to generate heat, thereby increasing the temperature of the contents cavity.

Abstract: A method for adhering a shaped fusible material (6) to a portion of a metallic container wall (2) comprising applying the shaped material to said wall portion in a contacting relationship, heating said wall portion with an induction heater to melt the contacting surface of the shaped fusible material, and cooling the assembly to re-solidify the melted surface of the fusible material; and products of the foregoing method.

Abstract: A vaporizing dispenser comprising a user-activatable chemical reaction heat source and a volatile compound inside a container such that convection currents from the activated heat source volatilize the volatile compound and carry it out of the container.

Abstract: A vaporizing dispenser comprising a user-activatable chemical reaction heat source and a volatile compound inside a container such that convection currents from the activated heat source volatilize the volatile compound and carry it out of the container.

Abstract: A method for adhering a shaped fusible material (6) to a portion of a metallic container wall (2) comprising applying the shaped material to said wall portion in a contacting relationship, heating said wall portion with an induction heater to melt the contacting surface of the shaped fusible material, and cooling the assembly to re-solidify the melted surface of the fusible material; and products of the foregoing method.

Abstract: A user-activatable, flexible heat pack (100, 300) has two opposed major surfaces. (102,104/302,304) The heat pack includes a first chamber (106,306) containing a first reactant and a second chamber (108,308) containing a second reactant. The first and second reactants are adapted to react exothermically with one another when mixed. The first (106,306) and second (108,308) chambers are separated by a frangible seal (112,312). A third chamber (110,310) contains solid-to-liquid phase change material that is substantially across one of the opposed major surfaces.