Abstract: A portable gas heater particularly useful for heating foodstuffs under all-weather conditions comprises a housing having a first section defining a gas burner compartment, and a second section defining a gas container compartment, the latter section including a pair of side walls hingedly mounted to a closed position closing the container compartment, or to an open position opening the container compartment and providing a stable support for the gas heater. The gas burner further includes a burner plate connected to the gas burner nozzle by means of a plurality of telescoping tubes to enable the burner plate to be positioned either at the lower end or the upper end of the gas burner compartment for accommodating different types of vessels.

Abstract: The heating device for heating liquid and solid products comprises a heating element intended to heat a food preserve (314) or container structure. The heating element consists of a flat tile like element including a heat spreading layer (308) made of heat conducting material, an intermediate layer (303) composed by an exothermic gas-less combustible material and a layer of heat insulating incombustible material (301). The intermediate layer contains internal walls (302) defining a fire path in order to control the duration of the exothermic reaction. Ignition means comprises a cup-shaped primer (305) with in its center a protruding cone (307) and a starter (311) consisting of a striker arranged to be drawn across a friction sensitive element and intended to ignite the tip of said cone (307) of the primer (306), which in its turn induces the reaction to the combustible material (303).

Abstract: A self-heatable container including a container member having a bottom provided with a downwardly extending heat transfer projection, which projection itself has a downwardly opening recess. A cup-shaped member having an upwardly extending wall connected to the bottom of the container member has a base provided with an upwardly extending projection. The cup-shaped member also has holes to allow entry and exit of air. A fuel pellet is positioned in the recess and held therein by the upwardly extending projection of the cup-shaped member.

Abstract: A serving tray for use in a food rethermalizing cabinet. The tray is sectioned by a thermal divider and formed so that dishes of food placed therein can be selectively heated or cooled by separate air streams flowing from one end of the tray to the other. The thermal divider extends from one side of the tray to the other separating the tray interior into two channels. Inlet and outlet ports are provided at opposite ends of each channel. Tapered connectors on the sides of the tray are designed to mate with matching tapered sections in the cabinet such that when the tray is firmly seated in the cabinet, a fluid tight seal exists between the mating connector members. The inlet and outlet ports for each channel are precisely aligned with corresponding ports in the cabinet and the tray is supported thereby in the cabinet and cannot be inserted in reverse orientation.