WO2003006340A1

WO2003006340A1 - Heatable container having aroma releasing means

Info

Publication number: WO2003006340A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/003159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew John Searle
Original assignee: Thermotic Developments Limited
Priority date: 2001-07-09
Filing date: 2002-07-09
Publication date: 2003-01-23
Also published as: GB0116732D0

Abstract

An aroma-producing material is supported with respect to a container so that the action of heat on the container causes the aroma to be released. In one embodiment the container contents (12) are heated by reacting reagents (17, 18) carried by the container. In another embodiment, the container is heated by conventional heating or by microwave action.

Description

HEATABLE CONTAINER HAVING AROMA RELEASING MEANS

The present invention relates to a container and to a method of preparing a pre-packaged food or drink.

When pre-packaged food or drinks are prepared by heating, either by disposition with respect to a separate heat-producing device or by activation of a self-heating structure, it has been realised that the attractiveness of the substance being heated may be reduced, or at least not enhanced, during the action of heat on the container. In the case of a self-heated food or drink container there may be slightly unpleasant odours produced by materials which react together exothermically to heat the food or drink. Where heat is applied to a frozen or chilled meal, the odour may be either neutral, or slightly unpleasant, due to the action of heat on the material of the container.

It has been realised by the inventor that it would be advantageous to release pleasant aromas, either corresponding directly to the substance being heated, or a synergistic odour to complement pleasant odours being released during the heating.

It has also been proposed recently to provide a self-heating device for creating steam that may in some embodiments be passed through a therapeutic substance, for example for inhaling. It has been realised by the inventor that it would be advantageous to provide either an aroma which corresponds to the aroma of the therapeutic substance or one which complements the aroma of the therapeutic substance.

A similar steam-creating device may alternatively be used to rapidly heat food or a beverage. In such cases it may be advantageous to provide an attractive odour separately from the odour of the food or beverage being heated.

US Patent 4857340 discloses a composition of an aroma-producing material enrobed in a fusible encapsulating agent in conductive heat transfer relationship with a microwave susceptible material so as to provide an aroma when a comestible is subject to microwave energy. In the following document, the term "volatile" is used to describe any material which readily vaporises under the action of heat. It includes materials which sublime - i.e. pass from solid to gas substantially without a liquid phase.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container having contents and incorporating an aroma-producing material, disposed for conjoint heating with the contents, whereby the aroma is generated.

Thus a food or drinks container may be provided which emits a pleasant odour whilst being heated. The odour may be that of the food or drink, or other material forming the contents of the container, or may be a synergistic or complementary odour. The container may of course hold contents that are not foodstuffs, and an aroma may be released to enhance the odour of the contents, or mask it.

In one embodiment the container comprises a tray and the aroma- producing material is provided upon an external surface of the tray.

Advantageously the tray has an external lip portion and the aroma- producing material is disposed in the lip portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the container incorporates a heating device disposed for heating the contents of the container and the aroma-producing material.

Preferably the heating device is arranged to generate heat by reacting together two or more reagents carried in the container.

In some self-heated containers, the reagents comprise quicklime and water; other reagents are however well known to those skilled in the art. The invention permits odours from self-heating reactions to be masked.

Preferably the container comprises a reaction space for said reagents, and an activating member for bringing the reagents together whereby heat generation starts. In one example, the aroma-producing material is disposed on a surface of the container.

In another example, the aroma-producing material is disposed in the reaction space.

In yet another example, the aroma-producing material is disposed inside the container.

Preferably the reaction space has a vent, the aroma-producing material being disposed with respect to the reaction space so that the aroma is released during heating by the reagents and at least partially released through the vent.

In one embodiment, the vent opens into the container and the reaction provides steam for heating the contents of the container.

In a further embodiment, the vent is provided into the container and the reaction produces steam through the vent for heating the contents of the container, and the aroma-producing material is provided on an outer portion of the container whereby the aroma is released separately from the steam.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preparing a pre-packaged food or drink for consumption comprising: applying heat to a container whose contents comprise said pre-packaged food or drink; applying heat to an aroma-producing material incorporated in said container whereby said aroma is released into the ambient air.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a first embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view through a second embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view through a third embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view through a fourth embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention;

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view through a fifth embodiment of a container in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 shows another embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention, having a steam generator device for vaporising a therapeutic substance; and

Figure 7 shows yet another embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention, having a steam generator device for heating a food or beverage.

In the various Figures, like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Referring first to Figure 1 , a container 10 has a substantially-cylindrical receptacle 11 contained within it, and holding contents 12, here a foodstuff. The container 10 further contains an aroma-producing material 20 which is disposed for conjoint heating with the contents 12 so that the aroma of the aroma- producing material is generated.

In this embodiment the container incorporates a heating device 17,18 disposed for heating the contents and the aroma-producing material 20. The heating device 17,18 operates by causing two reagents to react together, the two reagents being carried in the container prior to the reaction.

The cylindrical side wall 13 of the receptacle 11 is received in an annular opening of a top wall 14 of a chamber forming a reaction space which further has a substantially-cylindrical side wall 15 and a circular base wall 16. The circular side wall 13 of the container is secured, for example by soldering, to the top wall 14 of the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber houses the two reagents, here quicklime 17 and water 18 in a pouch. The pouch rests on the surface of the quicklime 17. A grid 19 extends across the width of the reaction chamber above the water pouch. A block of wax 20, e.g. paraffin wax, rests on the grid, the wax containing an aroma-producing material, for example a microencapsulated material.

An activating member is provided for piercing the water pouch 18. In this case the member is constituted by a metal spike 21 , urged in use through a hole 22 in the top wall 14. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that other activating members can be used, instead of a spike to bring the reagents together, for example tear strips and/or piercing devices actuated by pressure on a flexible outer wall.

When the spike 21 is urged through the hole 22, it pierces the water pouch 18. Water runs from the pouch into the quicklime 17 and the resulting reaction generates heat. The heat serves to heat the foodstuff 12 inside the food receptacle 11 and also causes the wax body 20 to melt. The aroma-producing material is released due to liquefaction of the wax, and escapes through the hole 22. The aroma-producing material is selected to provide an aroma suitable for the foodstuff 12 being heated, as will now be discussed:-

In one embodiment the aroma produced is selected to be substantially that of the food being heated. As an example the foodstuff 12 may be a curry. In this example, the aroma selected is thus that of a curry. Where a beverage forms the contents 12, the aroma corresponds to the aroma of the beverage. Thus, the aroma of coffee may be provided to attract the user to coffee which is being heated in the device.

In another embodiment, the aroma provided is selected to be complementary to the food or beverage being heated. Thus, in this second embodiment if tomato soup were in the container, then the aroma encapsulated in the wax block 20 could be, for example, that of fresh bread.

In yet another embodiment, the aroma produced is selected to mask the odour of the food or beverage being heated.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that many other combinations and types of combinations are possible.

It will also be clear that the particular form of the container shown may be changed.

Referring now to Figure 2, a container 50 is generally similar to the container 10 described with respect to Figure 1 , save the fact that the wax is not provided as a block 20 but instead as a coating 51 on the part of the outer wall of the receptacle 11 disposed within the reaction chamber. This device has the advantage of simplified construction.

In a further embodiment, a container 60 shown in Figure 3 has the outer container receiving the receptacle 11 divided into two chambers. A first chamber 61 , lower as shown, forms the reaction chamber, containing the water pouch and quicklime. An upper chamber 62 having a hole 63 corresponding to the first hole 22 provides a separate chamber for the wax body 64, here formed as an annulus. This embodiment is useful where it is desirable to separate the wax from the reaction materials. Separation may be desirable where the volatile or component encapsulated in the wax 64 needs to be kept separate from the high temperature in the reaction chamber, due for example to chemical incompatibility.

Referring now to Figure 4, a tray-type container 70 has two separate compartments 72 and 73 with respective contents 171 ,173. An aroma-producing material is provided in a wax layer 76 on the outer wall of the container 70 so that when the container 70 is heated to heat its contents 172,173, the wax melts and the aroma is generated.

The container 70 is of heat-conductive plastics material 71 and the compartments are closed by a plastics foil 74. The compartments have respective base walls and perimeter walls upstanding from the base walls. The plastics foil 74 is secured to a peripheral flange region 75 extending outwardly all around the tray. Tray type food containers are well known in the art, often used for so-called "ready meals" where it is desirable to provide two or more separately heated parts of the meal. For example the first compartment 72 may contain rice and the second container including meat in a sauce.

The wax layer 76 is applied around the upstanding wall portions contiguous with the flange region 75.

An adaptation of the device of Figure 4 is shown in Figure 5. The container 80 shown in Figure 5 is generally similar to that shown in Figure 4 but with a lip projection 81 which extends around the lower periphery of the container and which serves to house the wax material 82. This embodiment is especially useful where the melted wax could cause damage or is otherwise desirably contained.

Referring now to Figure 6, a further embodiment in accordance with the invention will now be described. This embodiment consists of a container 90 including a steam generating device for heating the contents 100 of the container. The container also incorporates a wax 97 containing an aroma- producing material and that upon heating the contents 109 the wax is also heated and the aroma generated.

The container 90 with a lower chamber 91 divided by a generally hemispherical downwardly concave wall 92 from an upper chamber 93. The upper chamber is generally bowl-shaped, the bowl being closed at the top by a foil 94. The lower chamber is generally circular-cylindrical. In the bottom of the lower container are disposed reagents 95,96, here quicklime 95 and, on top of the quicklime, a water pouch 96. On top of the water pouch is the layer 97 of wax. The sidewalls of the lower container are telescopic, allowing the bowl to be depressed towards the bottom of the lower container. In the central region of the hemispherical wall 92 of the bowl there is disposed a circular-cylindrical downward projection 98. The wall 92 within the envelope of the projection 98 is formed by a flap valve portion 99.

In the bottom of the bowl-shaped upper container 93 there is disposed a therapeutic substance, for example menthol crystals 109.

In use the foil 94 is removed from the top of the upper container 93 and hand pressure is exerted downwardly on the upper container so as to cause the sidewalls to telescope together. This in turn causes the cylindrical projection 98 to be thrust into the water pouch 96, thereby piercing it and releasing the water to run down into the quicklime 95. The heating action of the reaction between the water and the quicklime causes steam to be produced. The consequent excess pressure causes the flap valve 99 to lift and steam to pass through the menthol crystals 100. The steam causes the menthol crystals to sublime and be passed into the atmosphere so that a user can inhale the steam scented by the menthol and obtain relief from, for example, sinus problems. The aroma-producing material encapsulated by the wax 97 may modify the odour of the menthol or may be used to prevent the slightly metallic odours which are caused by the exothermic reaction so that after all of the menthol has been used up, the device provides pleasant odours into the area where it is being used. Suitable selection of materials in the wax may allow for aromatherapy ingredients to be used.

A generally similar device 100 is shown in Figure 7, but in this case the flap valve within the cylindrical wall 98 is replaced with a one-way valve of the type described in our Patent Application No. 0110050.2 so that the upper container 93 may contain a liquid. Such a liquid may comprise, for example a soup, the soup being rapidly heated by steam passing through from the reaction chamber into the liquid of the soup 102. In this embodiment, the upper part of the lower container has a gutter region abutting the hemispherical wall of the bowl-shaped upper container. The bowl shaped wall 92 extends via a flat annular portion and an upwardly directed rim portion 103 to the downwardly directed side wall 104. The annular gutter portion 105 formed thereby contains a wax 106 which in turn encapsulates an aroma-producing material as previously discussed.

The advantage of the embodiment shown in Figure 7 is that different aroma components may be provided by the food or beverage being heated and the wax which is disposed to the side of the food or beverage being heated. For example, the wax-encapsulated substance may produce an aroma of fresh bread, to complement an aroma of a soup in the bowl.

A device of an embodiment of the invention may also be used purely to provide aromas forming a device similar in function to a scented candle, or to deliver other materials. One example of use is in fumigation where a material such as an insecticide is disposed in a container being heated for instance by steam, and additional odour-producing or other volatile component-producing materials are released by melting of the wax.

Although the embodiments have been described as using wax to encapsulate the odour or aroma-producing substances, it will be appreciated that other materials could be used either instead of, or additionally to the wax. An example of a useful class of materials is lipids. It will be understood that the aroma-producing material may be disposed in the carrier material in microcapsules, instead of being dispersed or otherwise supported by the carrier material itself. The aroma-producing material may be a volatile material that is released as soon as a carrier material melts.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described with particular reference to the examples illustrated. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the examples described within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A container having contents and incorporating an aroma-producing material, disposed for conjoint heating with the contents, whereby the aroma is generated.

2. A container according to Claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a tray and the aroma-producing material is provided upon an external surface of the tray.

3. A container according to Claim 2, wherein the tray has an external lip portion and the aroma-producing material is disposed in the lip portion.

4. A container according to Claim 1 , incorporating a heating device disposed for heating the contents of the container and the aroma-producing material.

5. A container according to Claim 4, wherein the heating device is arranged for generating heat by reacting together two or more reagents carried in the container.

6. A container according to Claim 5, comprising a reaction space for said reagents, and an activating member for bringing the reagents together whereby heat generation starts.

7. A container according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the aroma-producing material is disposed on a surface of the container.

8. A container according to Claim 6, wherein the aroma-producing material is disposed in the reaction space.

9. A container according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the aroma-producing material is disposed inside the container.

10. A container according to Claim 6, wherein the reaction space has a vent, the aroma-producing material being disposed with respect to the reaction space so that the aroma is generated during heating by the reagents and at least partially released through the vent.

11. A container according to Claim 10, wherein the vent is opens into the container and the reaction provides steam for heating the contents of the container.

12. A container according to Claim 9, wherein the vent is provided into the container and the reaction produces steam through the vent for heating the contents of the container, and the aroma-producing material is provided on an outer portion of the container whereby the aroma is released separately from the steam.

13. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the aroma- producing material is a volatile material.

14. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the aroma- producing material is microencapsulated.

15. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the aroma- producing material is disposed in a carrier material.

16. A method of preparing a pre-packaged food or drink for consumption comprising: applying heat to a container whose contents comprise said pre-packaged food or drink; applying heat to an aroma-producing material incorporated in said container whereby said aroma is released into the ambient air.