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 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: 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 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 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 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: 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: Portable refrigeration devices (1) including methods for preparing sorbents (30) for use in such devices, and the sorbents (30) prepared in this way. The methods relate to the substantially complete degassing for the maximization of receiving refrigerant vapor from the evaporator chamber (10) of such refrigeration devices (1), and the maximization of heat transfer to heat sink materials (40) in such refrigeration devices (1).

Abstract: A disposable heating device is disclosed that includes a container having a first zone, a second zone and a third zone. A fuel is contained within the first zone and an oxidizing agent contained within the second zone. A first frangible separator disposed between the first zone and the second zone. The first frangible separator is manually operable to provide communication between the first zone and the second zone thereby defining a reaction zone. A second frangible separator is responsive to an exothermic chemical reaction within the reaction chamber. The second frangible separator is operable to provide communication between the reaction chamber and the third zone. Communication between the first zone and the second zone allows mixing of the fuel and the oxidizing agent to initiate an exothermic chemical reaction and an environmental parameter associated with the exothermic chemical reaction operates the second frangible separator.

Abstract: Vacuum packaging methods and materials are claimed. The materials are fusible and can form a part of a heat seal closure for non-rigid and semi-rigid packages. The methods are suitable for packages containing materials generally, and are well suited for those containing granular materials.

Abstract: A disposable heating device is disclosed that includes a container having a first zone, a second zone and a third zone. A fuel is contained within the first zone and an oxidizing agent contained within the second zone. A first frangible separator disposed between the first zone and the second zone. The first frangible separator is manually operable to provide communication between the first zone and the second zone thereby defining a reaction zone. A second frangible separator is responsive to an exothermic chemical reaction within the reaction chamber. The second frangible separator is operable to provide communication between the reaction chamber and the third zone. Communication between the first zone and the second zone allows mixing of the fuel and the oxidizing agent to initiate an exothermic chemical reaction and an environmental parameter associated with the exothermic chemical reaction operates the second frangible separator.

Abstract: A self-contained device for heating/dispensing or cooling/dispensing material is described. The device includes at least one heat- or cold-generating element and at least one container for containing material to be heated or cooled. The device can further be equipped with gussets or similar features to allow free-standing.

Abstract: An apparatus for vacuum sealing a container is disclosed that includes a vacuum chamber in communication with a vacuum source, the vacuum chamber having at least a first port and an internal pressure, a securing device adapted to secure an open end of the container to the first port of the vacuum chamber; and a heating member at least a portion of which is located inside the vacuum chamber, the heating member is adapted to apply heat to a heat-activated sealant material positioned to cover at least the open end of the container.

Abstract: A disposable flow-through refrigeration system includes an evaporator chamber containing a refrigerant, which, during system operation, evaporates to form a vapor; an evacuated absorber chamber including sorbent for receiving the vapor, a heat sink material in thermal contact with the sorbent, and a means for preventing vapor flow from evaporator to absorber until operation of the refrigeration system. The system also includes a primary volume of dispensable product and a product reservoir in fluid communication with each other. The system includes a dispensing means configured to enable controlled withdrawal of a secondary volume of product contained in the reservoir which includes a flow path from the primary volume to the dispensing means. At least one wall of the flow path is in thermal contact with an outer surface of the evaporator chamber during operation of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A self-contained device for heating/dispensing or cooling/dispensing material is described. The device includes at least one heat-or cold-generating element and at least one container for containing material to be heated or cooled. The device can further be equipped with gussets or similar features to allow free-standing.

Abstract: Vacuum packaging methods and materials are claimed. The materials are fusible and can form a part of a heat seal closure for non-rigid and semi-rigid packages. The methods are suitable for packages containing materials generally, and are well suited for those containing granular materials.