TWI544886B - Insulated food jar with campfire or stove heatable inner container - Google Patents

Description

Insulated food container with inner container capable of heating with campfire or stove

The present invention relates to an insulated food container, and more particularly to an insulated food container having an inner container that can be directly heated by a campfire or a stove.

Conventional insulated food containers cannot directly heat food or beverages in open flames or other heat sources (eg campfires or stoves), as campfires or stoves may cause localized melting or damage to such insulated food containers. Therefore, when using conventional insulated food containers, we usually heat food or beverages in a separate pot or other container, and then pour the heated food or beverage from the separate pot into the insulated food. Inside the container for storage or handling. Similarly, if the food in the insulated food container is to be reheated, it is often necessary to remove the food from the insulated container and place it in a safely heated container. Although there are a number of insulated containers that can heat the food inside through the microwave oven, such containers cannot be placed directly on a campfire or stove to heat the food or beverage stored in the container.

In addition, after using a cooking appliance to heat food or beverage, the camper may choose to use the cooking appliance directly to eat the heated food or beverage, but this may be burnt by the high temperature cooking appliance. For this reason, the consumer must not only take care of the cooking utensils, but also carefully handle the grips because the grips attached to the camping cooking utensils are mostly fragile.

Therefore, we need a food or beverage container that allows us to heat food or beverages with various heating sources, and after the heating is completed, it can directly provide the effect of heat insulation, so that we can safely carry the hot food in the container. Or hot drinks without worrying about burns in heated containers.

The invention discloses an insulated food container comprising an insulated outer container, an inner container and an upper cover. The inner container can be used to heat a food or beverage and is slidably coupled to the interior of the insulated outer container. The upper cover is then sealingly engageable with the top of the inner container. The insulated outer container helps to maintain thermal energy within the heatable inner container and allows the user to safely carry the heatable inner container without being burned by the hot surface of the heatable inner container.

In one embodiment, the upper cover includes a stop member that is engageable with an opening on the inner container and a neck portion. The stop element includes a stop washer that is capable of forming a liquid-tight seal with the inner container. The stop element itself may also be insulated to prevent thermal energy within the inner container from escaping through the upper cover, which may also isolate the cryogenic object from the relatively high temperature external environment.

In another embodiment, the inner container includes a collar and at least one handle. The collar extends from the inner container, and each handle is connected to the collar so that when the person does not need to use the insulated outer container (for example, when the person needs to place the inner container on a heat source or a self-heat source) When removed, it allows us to carry the inner container. The handle is attached to the collar and is spaced from the side wall of the heatable inner container (where the side walls can be heated by a heat source), so that the temperature of the handle can be lower than the temperature of the side walls and the heatable inner container .

In yet another embodiment, the insulated outer container further includes a friction ring. When the inner container slides into the outer container, the friction ring is combined with the inner container collar to provide a friction fit between the inner and outer containers. Therefore, if the user does not actively pull the heatable inner container from the inside of the insulated outer container in a sliding manner, the inner and outer containers are generally not separated from each other in a sliding manner.

For the sake of review, the reviewer can have a further understanding and understanding of the technical principle, structural features and purposes of the present invention. The embodiments are described in conjunction with the drawings, which are described in detail as follows:

[study]

no

〔this invention〕

1‧‧‧Insulated food containers

11‧‧‧Insulated outer container

110‧‧‧ support

111‧‧‧Closed bottom

112, 132‧‧‧ Closed side wall

112a‧‧ Open Department

113‧‧‧ Friction ring

12‧‧‧ Inner Container

120‧‧‧ openings

121‧‧‧ neck

122‧‧‧ collar

123‧‧‧Handle

13‧‧‧Upper cover

130‧‧‧ Spare washer

131‧‧‧Closed top

133‧‧‧stop element

133a‧‧‧closed bottom

134‧‧‧Insulation block

14‧‧‧stop washer

C‧‧‧gradient zone

1 is a perspective view of an insulated food container of the present invention in an uninsulated state; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the insulated food container of the present invention; and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the insulated food container of the present invention; Figure is a cross-sectional view of one of the insulated food containers of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the inner container of the insulated food container of the present invention having been joined to the outer container but not yet engaged with the upper cover.

Although the invention may be embodied in a variety of forms, the following is described in terms of only a few embodiments. It is to be understood that the matters disclosed herein are to be considered as illustrative of the subject matter The subheadings in this article are for convenience only and should not be construed as limiting the claims. Embodiments under any subheading can be implemented in conjunction with embodiments under other subheadings.

The narrative of the subject matter of this article has reached the clarity of the regulatory requirements. The inventors are foreseeable that a variety of alternative forms may be employed in the claimed subject matter, and include steps other than those described herein, or a combination of steps similar to those described herein, in conjunction with other existing or future technologies.

The present invention is an insulated food container having an inner container that can be heated by a campfire or a stove.

Referring to Figure 1, an insulated food container 1 that has not been assembled is illustrated. The insulated food container 1 includes an insulated outer container 11, an inner container 12 slidably coupled to the insulated outer container 11, and an upper cover 13 that seals an opening 120 of the top of the inner container 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insulated outer container 11 of the insulated food container 1 has a substantially cup shape and has a closed bottom portion 111 extending upward from the closed bottom portion 111. The sidewalls 112 are closed, and an open portion 112a is formed by the closed sidewalls 112. Preferably, the insulated outer container 11 is cylindrical and made of stainless steel. However, this preferred embodiment should not be construed as limiting the cup to a cylindrical or stainless steel. In an alternative embodiment, the insulated outer container 11 can have other shapes, such as a square cylinder or other cylindrical shape, or other shapes that can accommodate the inner container 12 in a nested manner, as will be described later. Moreover, in an alternative embodiment, the insulated outer container 11 can be made of aluminum, or of other metal or polymeric materials, without departing from the scope of the invention.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, Figure 3 is a plan view of the present invention, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Figure 3, in one embodiment, the closed bottom of the insulated outer container 11. 111 and the closed side wall 112 are double-layer vacuum insulation walls. This double wall vacuum insulation bottom and side The wall is formed by a cup-shaped outer casing and a cup-shaped inner casing disposed therein, wherein the outer casing is larger than the inner casing. The open top ends of the inner and outer casings are connected to each other in a sealed manner, thereby defining a chamber between the inner and outer casings. The air or other gas in the chamber may be discharged or withdrawn before the inner and outer casings are sealed to form the double-walled vacuum insulated outer container. Preferably, the inner and outer casings are made of stainless steel, aluminum, or other suitably rigid material such that the side walls are not deformed by the force generated by the vacuum under pressure in the chamber. In an alternative embodiment, the inner and outer casings may be sized such that the outer casing is only a double-walled vacuum insulation wall, and the bottom is a non-double-walled vacuum insulation wall, without departing from the invention. The scope. The insulated space between the double walls of the double-walled container may be vacuum, partial vacuum, or a thermal insulation material, or otherwise provide insulation.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, in one embodiment, the insulated outer container 11 includes a support base 110 with an attachment cover disposed at a bottom thereof. The support base 110 provides a stable base for the insulated outer container 11 to allow the insulated outer container 11 to be placed on a table top or other flat surface. In one embodiment, the support base 110 can be made of plastic and has a shallow cup shape, and is fastened to the closed bottom of the insulated outer container 11 by snapping or other means. In other embodiments, the material of the support base 110 may be rubber, rubberized plastic, rubberized metal, or other material that can provide a non-slip or friction surface at the bottom end of the insulated outer container 11. In other alternative embodiments, the frictional texture can be pressed on the outer surface of one of the support seats 110, thereby improving the anti-slip function of the insulated outer container 11. The support base 110 can also include one or more reinforcing ribs or slats that protrude from the inner surface thereof. The reinforcing ribs provide structural strength to the support and can abut or be adjacent to a bottom surface of the closed bottom of the insulated outer container 11. The support base 110 can be a detachable component to facilitate cleaning of the insulated outer container; or the support base can be permanently attached to the insulated outer container 11.

In a preferred embodiment, the insulated outer container 11 includes a recess positioned adjacent the open portion 112a of the top end of the insulated outer container 11 and surrounding the insulated outer container 11 Continuous groove of the edge. A gasket or friction ring 113 can be placed in the groove. In the present embodiment, the friction ring 113 is a rubber ring and has one or more fins that protrude radially outward. The configuration of the friction ring 113 is designed to provide a friction fit between the inner container 12 and the insulated outer container 11. Therefore, when the inner container 12 is stacked inside the insulated outer container 11, the fin of the friction ring 113 can be frictioned with a portion of the inner container 12 to prevent the inner portion. The two containers 11, 12 are separated from each other in a sliding manner without the user unintentionally pulling them apart, as will be further explained below. When the friction ring 113 is disposed in the groove, the friction ring 113 is opened to cause an elastic force; the friction ring 113 transmits the elastic force and the interference between the friction ring 113 and the surface of the groove It is fixed to the heat insulating outer container 11 in cooperation. However, the above embodiments should not be construed as limiting the shape or configuration of the friction ring 113 to a rubber ring having fins and being disposed in a recess. The grooves and friction rings 113 may achieve the same objectives in other configurations without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, even if an alternative friction ring configuration other than the configuration described herein is used, it does not depart from the scope of the invention. In addition, in an alternative embodiment, the friction ring 113 may be permanently glued into the groove of the insulated outer container 11 or glued to the outer surface of the insulated outer container 11 (the groove is not required at this time). The configuration, size and shape of the friction ring 113 and the amount of friction required between the containers 11, 12 are determined. The material of the friction ring 113 may be rubber, silicone rubber, or any other polymer that provides a friction fit between the containers 11, 12.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the inner container 12 also has a closed bottom and a closed side wall extending upwardly from the closed bottom end to form a cup and an opening is formed in the top of the inner container 12. Part 120. In a preferred embodiment, the side wall of the inner container 12 further defines a neck portion 121, wherein the neck portion 121 is adjacent to the opening portion 120 of the inner container 12. In one embodiment, the neck 121 includes one or more threads that engage complementary threads on the lid 13 of the insulated food container 1 to seal the upper lid 13 to the inner container 12. Therefore, the inner container 12 is substantially in the shape of a can. However, the above-described threaded structure should not be construed as having limited the structure required for the present invention to sealingly join the upper cover 13 to the opening portion 120 of the inner container 12 of the insulated food container 1. In an alternative embodiment, the neck portion 121 can include a rotary bayonet mounting structure that engages a complementary snap-fit mounting structure on the lid 13 of the insulated food container 1; alternatively, the neck 121 can be another The use of other joining structures and methods does not depart from the scope of the invention.

Moreover, in one embodiment, the inner container 12 includes a gradation zone C located between a major portion of the side wall of the inner container 12 and the neck 121. The gradation zone C is a portion of the side wall and the diameter of the side wall tapers from the region of the inner container 12 that is primarily containing food or beverage toward the neck 121 of the inner container 12. In one embodiment, the grading zone C includes a rigid sealing surface, and the upper cover 13 is provided with a stop washer 14 engageable therewith. When the upper cover 13 is attached At the inner container 12, the stop washer 14 abuts against the rigid sealing surface to seal the inner container 12 in a liquid-tight manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner container 12 further includes a collar 122 coupled to the side wall of the inner container 12 and extending outwardly from the side wall. In one embodiment, the collar 122 is joined to the side wall of the inner container 12 by a thread or other locking structure adjacent the neck 121 of the inner container 12. In one embodiment, the collar 122 extends radially outward from the sidewall of the inner container 12 and then pivots downwardly at a predetermined angle (e.g., 90 degrees), and then extends toward the bottom of the inner container 12. . In an embodiment, the collar 122 is attached with one or more handles 123. Since the handle 123 is fastened to the collar 122, the handle 123 and the side wall of the inner container 12 can be separated from each other; therefore, when the inner container 12 is heated, the handle 123 and the inner container 12 are There is some degree of thermal insulation between the sidewalls. And in use, the temperature of the handle 123 will always be lower than the sidewall temperature of the inner container 12.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner container 12 is made of stainless steel, but in an alternative embodiment, the inner container 12 can be made of other materials, such as aluminum, copper, or the like, to enable the inner container 12 And the food or beverage it contains can be heated on an open flame (such as a campfire or gas stove) or placed on a heating element, heating plate or other heating device of the electric furnace, all without departing from the scope of the invention. The inner container 12 can be formed by stretch forming and/or other manufacturing methods, including welding a plurality of members, such as the collar and/or the handle, to the body of the inner container 12.

It should be understood that the inner container 12 can be modified in other configurations without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although the collar 122 shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5 is located between the gradual zone C and the neck 121 of the inner container 12, the collar 122 in the alternative embodiment may be located elsewhere. Without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the collar 122 surrounds the opening 120 of the inner container 12 and extends radially outward from the opening 120; at this time, since the collar 122 is located in the inner container At the top of the 12, the entire inner container 12 (including the collar 122 and the handle 123) can be formed by a stretch forming process on a single piece of stainless steel plate, without the need to attach different components to the inner container 12 in other ways or in subsequent steps. on.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, the lid 13 of the insulated food container 1 has a substantially inverted cup shape. The upper cover 13 has a closed top 131 and one or more closed from the The outer edge of the top portion 131 extends downwardly from the closed side wall 132. In a preferred embodiment, the upper cover 13 is shaped as a reversed cylindrical cup. A continuous spare gasket 130 is attached to the side wall of the upper cover 13 and extends downward. The upper cover 13 further includes a stop member 133 extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the closed top portion 131 and extending in the same direction as the downwardly extending closed side walls 132. The stop element 133 is centered on the axis of the upper cover 13 and has a closed bottom end 133a. The stop element 133 also includes one or more threads on an outer circumferential surface that engage the complementary threads on the neck 121 of the inner vessel 12. It should be understood, however, that in an alternative embodiment, the stop element 133 can include a rotationally snap-fit fastening structure in place of the threaded structure described above, and a complementary snap-fit fastening structure on the neck 121 of the inner container 12 Engagement, this alternative design does not depart from the scope of the invention.

The upper cover 13 further includes a stop washer 14 that surrounds the lower end of the stop member 133. In one embodiment, the stop washer 14 is disposed in a groove in the outer circumferential surface of the stop member 133, and the groove is located at a free lower end of the stop member 133. The stop element 133 is configured to engage the inside of the neck 121 of the inner container 12, and the stop washer 14 is configured to be sealingly engaged with the rigid sealing surface of the gradation area C of the inner container 12, A liquid-tight seal is formed to prevent fluid from escaping from the inner container 12. It will be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment, the stop washer 14 can be disposed in a groove in the bottom surface of the stop element 133 such that the stop washer 14 can engage a complementary sealing surface in the inner container 12, None of these are outside the scope of the invention. In another alternative embodiment, the stop washer 14 is located at the base (or top) of the stop element 133 and is disposed in a groove in the bottom surface of the top cover 13 that closes the top portion 131; therefore, when the upper cover is When the inner container 12 is engaged with the inner container 12, the opening portion 120 of the inner container 12 will abut against the stop washer 14 to form a liquid-tight seal. The stop washer 14 of the upper cover 13 can also be modified in other designs to form a liquid-tight seal with the complementary structure in the inner container 12, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Preferably, the upper cover 13 and the stop member 133 are made of a heat-resistant plastic that does not melt due to high temperature. Alternatively, the material of the upper cover 13 and the stop element 133 may be stainless steel or other metal, or other high temperature resistant polymer, all of which do not depart from the scope of the present invention. In an alternative embodiment, the stop element 133 is a hollow cup body and has a rigid insulating block 134 inserted into the open top end thereof, and then the open end of the stop element 133 is permanently sealed. The upper cover 13 closes the bottom surface of the top portion 131 to permanently enclose the insulating block 134 therebetween; as for the closed bottom end 133a of the stop member 133, it protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the upper cover 13, as described above. In this way, the insulating block 134 in the stop element 133 can provide a thermal insulation effect so that excessive heat energy of the edible item in the inner container 12 escapes through the upper cover 13. The insulating block 134 can also increase the structural strength of the stop element 133.

The insulated food container 1 shown in Fig. 1 is in a state of not being assembled. If the insulated food container 1 is to be used, food or beverage can be placed in the inner container 12 via the opening 120 of the inner container 12. The inner container 12 (which in one embodiment is made of stainless steel) is then placed over a campfire, camping stove or barbecue, kitchen stove or other similar heat source (or directly placed on the underside of the inner container 12) The food or beverage in the inner container 12 is thereby heated, primarily by conducting thermal energy from the bottom and/or side walls of the inner container 12. The edible item in the inner container 12 can be heated to a desired temperature, which can be between room temperature and boiling point, or any other desired temperature. After the edible item reaches this temperature, the user can hold the handle 123 of the inner container 12, thereby moving the inner container 12 away from the heat source. Then, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the inner container 12 can be slid into the insulated outer container 11 in a bottom-to-front manner so that the inner container 12 is nested in the insulated outer container 11. The outer casing 11 and the inner container 12 are sized to closely fit each other, that is, after the containers 11, 12 are joined to each other, there is no gap between the side walls.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, once the inner container 12 is slid into the insulated outer container 11, the downwardly extending portion of the inner ring 12 of the inner container 12 is also slidably disposed on the top side of the side wall of the insulated outer container 11. And surrounding the friction ring 113. At the same time, the top of the insulated outer container 11 slides into a space between the outer surface of the side wall of the inner container 12 and the downwardly extending portion of the collar 122, and the friction ring 113 is located with the collar 122. One of the downwardly extending portions is joined to the inner face to provide a friction fit. In an embodiment, the friction ring 113 further includes one or more flexible fins extending from the body of the friction ring 113 and contacting the inner surface of the collar 122. When the portion contacts the inner surface of the collar 122, deflection will occur and a friction fit is formed therebetween. In an alternative embodiment, the friction ring 113 can have a different configuration, but can still provide a friction fit between at least a portion of the inner container 12 and at least a portion of the insulated outer container 11, and unless the force is applied to the container 11, 12 is pulled apart, otherwise the two containers 11, 12 will maintain a relationship of overlapping each other. The friction between the containers 11 and 12 due to the friction ring 113 being combined with the inner ring 12 of the inner container 12 is sufficient to prevent the inner and outer containers 11 and 12 from sliding when the user does not intentionally pull them apart. Separated from each other. In this way, the user can place the stainless steel inner container 12 on a stove or a campfire to heat the edible items in the inner container, and then insert the inner container 12 into the insulated outer container 11 to keep it warm and safe. The inner container 12 is carried. The inner container filled with food or other edible items and heated is placed in the insulated outer container 11, and the insulated outer container 11 provides a heat insulating barrier to hold the inner container 12 on the one hand. The heat energy maintains its contents at a high temperature, and on the other hand allows the user to carry the inner container 12 without scalding.

If the inner container 12 has been nested in the insulated outer container 11, but the user does not want to immediately eat the food or beverage in the inner container 12, the user can attach the upper cover 13 to the inner container 12. The opening portion 120 seals the inner container 12. In the preferred embodiment, the upper cover 13 can be screwed to the open top end of the inner container 12 by operating the stop member 133 of the upper cover 13 into the opening portion 120 of the inner container 12, and then rotating the upper cover 13 The threads on the outer surface of the stop member 133 of the upper cover 13 are threadedly engaged with the neck portion 121 of the inner container 12. In an alternative embodiment, the upper cover 13 and/or the stop element 133 may comprise a rotary snap-fit structure that engages a complementary structure on the inner container 12; or the upper cover 13 and/or the stop Element 133 can include other similar engagement structures with which the inner container 12 is sealed.

In a preferred embodiment, once the upper cover 13 has been engaged and sealed by the inner container 12, the stop washer 14 at the end of the stop element 133 is disposed on the rigid sealing surface of the gradual change region of the inner container 12. Upper, thus forming a liquid-tight seal therebetween. In this way, the food and/or beverage contained in the inner container 12 can be prevented from leaking out of the inner container 12. In addition, since the stopper member 133 is further provided with the heat insulating block 134, when the upper cover 13 is sealingly engaged with the inner container 12, the food and/or beverage in the inner container 12 provides an additional heat preservation effect.

In addition, when the upper cover 13 is engaged with the inner container 12, the spare gasket 130 extending downward from the free end of the side wall of the upper cover 13 also abuts against the outer surface of the collar 122 extending from the inner container 12. And form a liquid-tight seal therebetween. Therefore, if the stopper gasket 14 is damaged or worn due to excessive use or improper use, and the high temperature food or beverage leaks into the upper cover, the spare gasket 130 can provide an additional sealing effect to prevent the high temperature food or The beverage leaks from the upper cover 13, even when the user carries the insulated food container 1 By.

The above description is only a few preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the technical features of the present invention are not limited thereto, and those skilled in the relevant art can easily think about it after considering the technical content of the present invention. Modifications should not depart from the scope of protection of the present invention.

1‧‧‧Insulated food containers

11‧‧‧Insulated outer container

111‧‧‧Closed bottom

112‧‧‧Closed side wall

112a‧‧ Open Department

12‧‧‧ Inner Container

120‧‧‧ openings

121‧‧‧ neck

122‧‧‧ collar

123‧‧‧Handle

13‧‧‧Upper cover

Claims (11)

An insulated food container having an inner container capable of being heated by a campfire or a stove, comprising: an insulated outer container having an open portion at a top end thereof and a vacuum heat insulating wall at a side wall thereof; and an inner container having a top end having An opening portion having a neck portion adjacent to the top end, the side wall of the inner container forming a gradation zone, such that the diameter of the side wall of the inner container is tapered toward the neck from a region where the inner container mainly contains food or beverage The inner container is configured to match the insulated outer container and is slidably passed through the open portion and is stacked in the insulated outer container. The material and configuration of the inner container can withstand An open flame heating source; the inner container further includes a collar and a handle extending from a side wall of the inner container, and then being bent downward at a predetermined angle to extend the collar downwardly and the gradient There is a gap between the regions, and the handle is attached to the collar; the downwardly extending portion of the collar can be sleeved on the top of the side wall of the insulated outer container so that the top of the insulated outer container can Sliding into one a space between the outer surface of the side wall and the downwardly extending portion of the collar; and an upper cover having a washer thereon, the washer being engageable with the opening of the inner container to allow the upper cover and the inner container A liquid-tight seal is formed. The insulated food container of claim 1, wherein the upper cover comprises a closed top cover, and a periphery of the closed top cover extends downward to form a closed side wall. The insulated food container of claim 2, wherein the upper cover further includes a stop member protruding downward from a bottom surface of the closed top cover, and the stop member can be positioned at the inner container Inside the opening. The insulated food container of claim 3, wherein the gasket surrounds the outer edge of the stop element. The insulated food container of claim 1, wherein the insulated outer container is a double-walled vacuum insulated outer container. The insulated food container of claim 5, wherein the insulated outer container comprises a support seat coupled to the bottom of the insulated outer container. The insulated food container of claim 1, wherein the upper cover and the inner container are respectively provided with a complementary thread structure, so that the upper cover can be fixed to the inner container in a sealed manner. The insulated food container of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the inner container is slidably passed through the open portion such that at least a portion of the inner container can be positioned in the insulated outer container. The insulated food container of claim 8, wherein the insulated food container further comprises: a friction ring located between an outer surface of the insulated outer container and the inner container to overlap the inner container The friction ring provides a frictional force between the inner container and the outer container when the outer container is insulated. The insulated food container of claim 9, wherein the friction between the inner container and the insulated outer container prevents the inner container from being trapped in the outer container The insulated outer container slides out. The insulated food container of claim 9, wherein the friction ring surrounds an upper end of the insulated outer container, and the friction ring has at least one fin protruding therefrom, each of the fins protruding from the heat insulation One of the outer surfaces of the outer container.