US20070039607A1

US20070039607A1 - Heating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20070039607A1
Application number: US11/161,895
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsing-Lu Wang
Original assignee: Feat Tek Corp
Current assignee: Feat Tek Corp
Priority date: 2005-08-22
Filing date: 2005-08-22
Publication date: 2007-02-22

Abstract

A heating apparatus includes a container, which has a main chamber for holding a can food, a flat baffle, which covers the main chamber of the container and has an opening for holding the can food in the main chamber, a heat source received in the container, and a tool detachably attached to the flat baffle for use to pierce the heat source and to further cause the heat source to produce a chemical reaction and to release heat for heating the can food held in the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heating apparatus and more particularly, to a handy heating apparatus, which releases heat to heat a can food by means of a chemical reaction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the modern busy society, people may order take-out food or carry a box lunch for lunch and eating the lunch in the office. Convenience stores also selling packed foods. When eating a packed food in a cold day, the packed food must be heated before service. Most convenience stores provide a microwave for heating packed food. However, many people may not eat the heated packed food in the convenience store but carry the heated packed food to the office or another place for service. However, the heated packed food becomes cold quickly in a cold day.
FIG. 8 shows a conventional heating apparatus for heating a packed food. According to this design, the heating apparatus comprises a peripheral shell A, a bottom shell B, and inner shell C, a pan D, a pack of water E, and a pack of calcium oxide F. The pack of water E and the pack of calcium oxide F are put on the pan D, and then a food is put in the inner shell C, which is suspending in the peripheral shell A above the pack of water E and the pack of calcium oxide F. When wishing to heat the food, insert a needle or like tool through a hole A1 in the peripheral shell A into the pack of water E, enabling water to flow out of the pack of water E to mix with the calcium oxide contained in the pack of calcium oxide F so as to further produce a chemical reaction and release heat for heating the food.
The aforesaid heating apparatus is not provided with a top cover. During heat, much heat energy escapes out of the apparatus, resulting in a low heating efficiency. Further, the inner shell C is suitable for holding a solid food (rice, noodles, or the like), not suitable for holding a liquid food.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a heating apparatus, which utilizes a chemical reaction to release heat for heating a can food for service. It is another object of the present invention to provide a heating apparatus, which is equipped with a tool to pierce the contained heat source, causing the heat source to produce a chemical reaction and to release heat during the chemical reaction. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the heating apparatus comprises a container adapted to hold a can food, and a heat source put in the container and adapted to produce heat by means of a chemical reaction for heating the can food being put in the container, wherein the container comprises a main chamber adapted to hold the can food, a flat baffle covered on a top side thereof over the main chamber, the flat baffle having an opening adapted to hold a packed eatable thing in the main chamber and a through hole near the border thereof, and a tool inserted through the through hole of the flat baffle for use to pierce the heat source and to further cause the heat source to produce a chemical reaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a heating apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heating apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view in section of the heating apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional side view of the present invention, drawing showing the pointed tip of the tool pierced the bag of water.
FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing a chemical reaction produced in the container.
FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of an alternate form of the heating apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of another alternate form of the heating apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of a prior art design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1˜3, a heating apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of a container 1, a heat source 2, and a tool 3.
The container 1 comprises a main chamber 11, a side chamber 111 in communication with the main chamber 11 at one lateral side, a rim 113 extending around the main chamber 11 and the side chamber 111, and a plurality of elongated protruding portions 112 spaced around the periphery below the rim 113.
The container 1 has the top side thereof covered with a flat baffle 12. The flat baffle 12 has an opening 121 in communication with the main chamber 11, and a through hole 122 in communication with the side chamber 111.
The heat source 2 is comprised of a bag of water 21 and a bag of calcium oxide 22. The bag of water 21 is put in the side chamber 111. The bag of calcium oxide 22 is put in the main chamber 11.
The tool 3 is a spoon or any of a variety of narrow elongated kitchen utensil obliquely inserted through the through hole 122 and the side chamber 111 into the main chamber 11, having the bottom end thereof terminating in a pointed tip 31.
During assembly process, the bag of calcium oxide 22 is put in the bottom of the main chamber 11, and then the bag of water 21 is put in the side chamber 111, and then the flat baffle 12 is capped on the rim 113 of the container 1, and then the tool 3 is obliquely inserted through the through hole 122 and the side chamber 111 into the main chamber 11. Further, a top cover 4 is provided and covered on the top side of the container 1. The top cover 4 comprises a plurality inside ribs 41 protruded from the horizontal inside top wall thereof, a plurality of engagement blocks 42 spaced around the vertical inside wall thereof near the bottom side, and a side through hole 43 cut through the periphery at one side.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a can food 5 is inserted through the opening 121 of the flat baffle 12 into the inside of the main chamber 11 of the container 1 and supported on the bag of calcium oxide 22, and then the top cover 4 is covered on the container 1 to force the engagement blocks 42 into engagement with the rims 113 of the container 1. At this time, the inside ribs 41 of the top cover 4 are respectively pressed on the top of the can food 5, thereby holding down the can food 5 firmly inside the main chamber 11 of the container 1. When wishing to heat the can food 5, use the tool 3 to pierce the bag of water 21, enabling water to flow out of the bag of water 21 into the main chamber 11 and to further mix with the calcium oxide in the bag of calcium oxide 22, thereby producing a chemical reaction, and heat is released from the chemical reaction to heat the can food 5. After heating, the user can enjoy eating the hot food or drinking the hot beverage contained in the can food 5. Because of the effect of the flat baffle 12, steam will not flow out of the container 1. Further, when eating or drinking the content in the can food 5, the user can hold the container 1 with the hand without touching the hot can food 5. Therefore, the user can enjoy eating or drinking the content of the can food 5 safely and comfortably. Further, the space inside the top cover 4 can be utilized to hold another food. Further, when eating or drinking the top content of the can food 5, the user can hold the elongated protruding portions 112 of the container 1 with the hand, reducing transfer of heat from the heat source 2 to the hand.
FIG. 6 shows an alternate form of the present invention. This embodiment eliminates the aforesaid flat baffle 12, and the top cover 4 is directly covered on the container 1 to force the engagement blocks 42 into engagement with the rim 113 of the container 1. Alternatively, the container 1 can be matched with the flat baffle 12 without the top cover 4 or the top cover 4 can be formed of a shrinkage film or sealing film.
FIG. 7 shows another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the top cover 4 is a flat plate member covered on the top side of the container 1 to force the engagement blocks 42 into engagement with the rim 113 of the container 1, and working as the aforesaid flat baffle 12.
As indicated above, the present invention provides a heating apparatus that has the following features.
1. The container 1 has the main chamber 11 for holding the can food 5 and the heat source 2, and the tool 3 is provided for piercing the bag of water 21 of the heat source 2 to cause the heat source 2 to produced a chemical reaction and to release heat during the chemical reaction for heating the can food 5.
2. The tool 3 can be made in the form of a spoon or any of a variety of kitten utensil for picking up liquid food for eating, having a pointed tip 31 for piercing the heat source 2 to cause a chemical reaction.
3. The container 1 has elongated protruding portions 112 protruding from the periphery thereof for the holding of the hand to reduce transfer of heat from the heat source 2 to the user's hand.
4. After each use, the waste heat source 2 is taken away from the container 1, and a new heat source 2 is put in the container 1 so that the heating apparatus can be used repeatedly.
5. The top cover 4 is an option member. The user can select to use or not to use the top cover 4. Further, the top cover 4 can be made having the side through hole 43 for the passing of the tool 3.
A prototype of heating apparatus has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜7. The heating apparatus functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heating apparatus comprising a container adapted to hold a can food, and a heat source put in said container and adapted to produce heat by means of a chemical reaction for heating said can food being put in said container, wherein said container comprises a main chamber adapted to hold said can food, a flat baffle covered on a top side thereof over said main chamber, said flat baffle having an opening adapted to hold said can food in said main chamber and a through hole near the border thereof, and a tool inserted through said through hole of said flat baffle for use to pierce said heat source and to further cause said heat source to produce a chemical reaction.

2. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a top cover for covering said container and said flat baffle, said top cover comprising a plurality of inside engagement blocks that are force into engagement with the periphery of said container, a plurality of inside ribs adapted to hold down said can food in the main chamber of said container, and a side through hole for the passing of said tool.

3. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container comprises a side chamber in communication with an upper part of said main chamber; said heat source comprises a first part received in a bottom side inside said main chamber and a second part received inside said side chamber.

4. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container has a top rim for the engagement of said engagement blocks of said top cover, and a plurality of peripheral elongated protruding portions.

5. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat source comprises a bag of water and a bag of calcium oxide.

6. The heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tool is an elongated kitchen utensil, having a pointed tip at one end thereof.