FR2479143A1 - Food tin with catalytic fuel - fuel is activated by piercing inner container to allow components to mix and heat can contents - Google Patents

Abstract

The food can is cylindrical and divided into two compartments by a partition (5). The end of the can (3) is flat and the opposite end is bowed. The main compartment (6) contains the product. The lower compartment (7) contains the fuel. The fuel consists of two products which generate heat when mixed. The capsule (8) is pierced by a spike (10). The spike is moved by pressing on the bowed end. The base (4) is covered with a safety lid so that the spike cannot be actuated accidentally.

Description

 The present invention relates to the heating of clients, such as canned food.

 It is known that certain chemicals give off heat on contact with water and that this reaction has often been used for heating air and / or various objects. For example, there are currently commercially available heated metal cans, the bottom of which is thin-walled and which contain an exothermic powder product and a water capsule. With the help of a pin, one crosses the wall of the container and then pierces the wall or walls of the capsule in order to allow the liquid to spread into the chemical and cause it to heat up. In this case, you must have at your disposal a pin or similar, and first pierce the wall of the box. In addition, the pin not being calibrated, we obtain irregular perforations allowing the water to s escape from its capsule unpredictably. Thus the box can heat too much or not enough, and unrelated to the quantity and / or quality of the product to be heated contained in the container to be placed on it.

 The object of the invention is to remedy this drawback and others. It relates to a tin can divided by a partition parallel to the bottom into two compartments1 a main compartment containing a product to be heated and a smaller compartment containing a means of heating the main compartment, box characterized in that this means is constituted by two substances kept separated by a pierceable wall at the appropriate time to allow their mixing with exothermic chemical reaction, and in that the bottom of the small compartment is provided with a spike having its point turned inward and slightly displaceable to ensure the piercing of the wall separating the two substances.

 The separation wall of the two substances can be that of a capsule containing one of the substances. The two substances can also be put in two capsules, and one must then pierce two walls instead of one, but this does not present any difficulty of use.

 The capsule must be applied along the partition separating the two compartments, then the rest of the small compartment is partially or completely filled with the other substance, preferably in bulk or, if necessary, using another capsule. .

In order to better understand the invention, examples of embodiments are given below with reference to the appended drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a schematic section of a can according to the invention, before use,
Fig. 2 is a similar cut, in use,
Fig. 3 is a schematic section of another box according to the invention, before use.

The diagrams show a cylindrical can. The box 1 has a side wall 2, bottoms 3 and 4 and a partition 5 dividing the box 1 into two compartments 6 and 7. The main compartment 6 containing the product to be heated, for example food, and the small compartment 7 containing the heating means, that is to say two substances which are separate but which can react with one another at the appropriate time, giving off heat. These well-known reactions need not be described here, one of the substances preferably being water.

 Fig. 1 shows a thin water capsule 8 applied to the entire surface of the partition 5 inside the compartment 7. The rest of the compartment being filled with the other substance 9, preferably in the form of compressible granules. According to the invention the sealed bottom 4 is curved and made of an elastically deformable material under the effect of an external pressure. Note that the base 2 'of the box is longer than the curved portion of the bottom 4 is high, so that this bottom can never come into contact with the ground or any other flat wall. This bottom 4 is provided (by welding or other) in its center with a pin 10, the point of which stops at a short distance from the capsule 8.

By pressing the arrow F on the bottom 4, the latter comes in 4 'and the pin in 10', thus perforating the wall of the capsule 8. By ceasing to press, the bottom returns to its first position, and by withdrawing the pin leaves a hole in the capsule, through which water can flow from said capsule and spread into the other substance (for example grainy) contained in the rest
of the small compartment, causing the exothermic reaction.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a
boot II whose bottom 12 is rigid and provided with a spike 13
subdued in a captive manner but mobile in relation to him.

This pin 13 has a head 13 ′ outside the box,
and normally repelled by elastic means, such as
spring 14. It is easy to understand that by pressing on the head
13 'the tip punctures the water capsule as in the case
previous.

Without the need for tools (pins or other) or re
independent water container, it is easy to heat the
contents of compartment 6, at the appropriate time, during juice
te the time required to obtain the temperature
compartment 6 is opened by any classi
that, it can also constitute a container directly used
readable, especially for the consumption of hot drinks.

The bottom 3 can also be provided with a spout
reading the transfer of the heated product to another reci
pient. Thus the product can be stored and heated without
risk of pollution until the moment of its consumption.

Different variants of realization are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, so the box can be of any shape and be made of several materials
As a safety measure, the bottom can be fitted with a cover ensuring that the boot does not accidentally operate before it is put into service voluntarily. This cover may or may not be removable, but in this case it must nevertheless be easily removable, for example by tearing by pulling a tab.

 As a further safety measure, a line or point of weakness is provided in the side wall or bottom of the small compartment so that, in the event of an excessive increase in internal pressure, gases can escape , thus avoiding uncontrolled tearing of the boot.

Claims (3)

1. Tin can divided by a partition parallel to the bottom into two compartments, a main compartment containing a product to be heated and a smaller compartment containing a means of heating the main compartment, box characterized in that this means consists of two substances kept separated by a pierceable wall at the appropriate time to allow their mixing with exothermic reaction, and in that the bottom of the pepit compartment is provided with a spike having its point turned inward and slightly movable to ensure the piercing of the wall separating the two substances. 2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom of the small compartment is elastically deformable and that it is provided with a spike whose tip is directed inward.  3. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom of the small compartment is rigid and provided with a captive pin but elastically movable relative to it.  Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom is provided with an ov rclc graiitissart the non-accidental forctionnem.ent of the heating device.