WO2017211801A1

WO2017211801A1 - A food heating device

Info

Publication number: WO2017211801A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/063679
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simge TARKUC; Tutku Nur MEMIC; Merve METIN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-06-09
Filing date: 2017-06-06
Publication date: 2017-12-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to a food heating device (1) comprising a body (3) that has an opening (2) that is suitable for placing a food storage container (H) containing the food desired to be heated, a power source (4) that is disposed on the body, and a heater film (5) that is disposed in the body (3) and that is connected to the power source (4).

Description

A FOOD HEATING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a food heating device that is suitable for heating especially baby food.

Foods in storage containers can be heated by a number of methods today. In devices that can provide heating in short time, foods sustain very high temperature values. On the other hand, heating is provided by means of ultraviolet rays, as in microwave ovens. Since very high temperatures destroy nutrients in the food, different devices are being developed for heating baby food. Since the temperature of the baby food is important, devices that provide heating according to the desired temperature value are designed. If a prepared food is not to be consumed immediately, insulated containers are used to preserve the heat of the food. However, after a certain time, the insulated containers cannot deliver too much efficiency. In order to preserve the heat of the baby food, methods such as keeping the same in hot water are used by the users. In the state of the art heaters operated with electricity to heat the baby food are present. In order to heat the baby food that is required outdoors or during a travel, the need for an electricity source arises. A high amount of power is required for portable heaters and this causes difficulty of use.

In the state of the art United States Patent Document No. US6703590, a heater used to heat baby food is disclosed.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a food heating device that is easy to use and that provides the preservation of heat of the food for a long time.

The food heating device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body, a power source disposed on the body, and a heater film capable of heating up by the energy supplied from the power source.

The food heating device of the present invention comprises a cushion that is disposed on the heater film, that changes phase with the heat received from the heater film, and that has a filling material that can wrap the food storage container placed by the user on the food heating device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device comprises the cushion that can heat up by the heat received from the heater film and thus can heat the food storage container placed by the user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cushion contains the filling material of organic or inorganic nature.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device comprises a sensor that is disposed on the cushion and a control unit that enables the power source to be turned off according to the information received from the sensor when the filling material starts to change phase.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cushion preserves the heat thereon for a long time.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after a while the cushion cools down by itself, changes phase and restores to former phase.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the heater film is adjacent to the body.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the power source can be a battery.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device comprises a control panel disposed on the body. The control panel comprises a temperature setting knob by which the temperature value desired to be attained by the food is set by the user and at least one illumination means that enables the alerts to be transmitted to the user.

The food heating device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of the food heating device.

Figure 2 - is the schematic view of the food heating device and the heater film.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Food heating device
Opening
Body
Power source
Heating film
Cushion
Sensor
Control unit
Temperature setting knob
Illumination means
Control panel

M- Filling material

H- Food storage container

The food heating device (1) comprises a body (3) that has an opening (2) that is suitable for placing a food storage container (H) containing the food desired to be heated, a power source (4) that is disposed on the body, and a heater film (5) that is disposed in the body (3) and that is connected to the power source (4). The heater film (5) is disposed on the inner wall of the body (3). The heater film (5) may comprise silver nanowire, FTO or graphene. The inner wall of the body (3) is composed of an aluminum oxide layer on an aluminum base. The heater film (5) is applied on a metal oxide surface.

The food heating device (1) of the present invention comprises a cushion (6) that is disposed in the body (3) so as to contact the heater film (5) and that has a filling material (M) that changes phase with the effect of the heat and can shrink or enlarge so as to at least partially wrap the food storage container (H) placed by the user. The cushion (6) is in contact with the heater film (5). Thus, the heater film (5) transmits the heat directly to the cushion (6). The cushion (6) shifts to a softer form with the effect of the heat and contacts the food storage container (H). Thus, no gap remains between the food storage container (H) and the body (3) and loss of heat is prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device (1) comprises the cushion (6) that starts to heat up with the first heat received from the heater film (5) and that reaches the temperature that can heat the food storage container (H) as the temperature of the cushion (6) continues to rise after the heater film (5) is turned off. The cushion (6) heats up with the heat received from the heater film (5), thus functioning as a heat source. The cushion (6) in direct contact with the food storage container (H) transfers the heat thereon to the food storage container (H). Thus, loss of heat is prevented and the food storage container (H) is enabled to heat up in a shorter time.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cushion (6) contains the filling material (M) of organic nature. The filling material (M) may be composed of saturated fatty acids or salt hydrates. Thus, heating process is realized without causing harm to the environment and the health. The temperature for the filling material (M) to change phase varies depending on the type of fatty acids and salt hydrates used. Thus, high temperatures can be attained. The filling material (M) may also be composed of inorganic materials.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device (1) comprises a sensor (7) that is disposed on the cushion (6) and a control unit (8) that enables the power source (4) to be turned off with the information received from the sensor (7) when the filling material (M) starts to change phase. The heater film (5) that heats up with the energy supplied from the power source (4) transmits the heat to the cushion (6). Upon starting to change phase, the filling material (M) can keep the temperature thereon constant for a long time. Therefore, when the power source (4) is turned off, the cushion (6) continues to preserve the heat. Thus, the need for the power source (4) is reduced.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device (1) comprises the cushion (6) that can preserve the heat thereon for a long time without contact with a heat source. By means of the cushion (6), the food preserves the heat thereon for a long time even if not consumed.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device (1) comprises the cushion (6) that cools down and changes phase over time and returns to the phase before being heated. The cushion (6) cools down and hardens when not heated for a long time. Thus, the cushion (6) can be used continuously without sustaining any deformation.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device (1) comprises the heater film (5) that is adjacent to the body (3). The heater film (5) is non-detachably disposed on the body (3). The current is transmitted to the heater film (5) by means of busbars so that the heater film (5) can be heated with the power from the battery.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device (1) comprises the power source (4) that is a battery. The power supplied from the battery can be sufficient for the food heating device (1) to carry out the heating process. Thus, the food heating device (1) can operate outdoors without the need for electricity power. By means of readily available batteries (AA or AAA) in commercial form, when the battery goes dead, the battery can be replaced with a spare one that is readily available.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the food heating device (1) comprises a temperature setting knob (9) that is disposed on the body (3) and that enables the temperature value to be set by the user, and a control panel (11) that has at least one illumination means (10) that enables the alerts to be delivered to the user. When the food heating device (1) reaches the temperature value set by the user, the user is alerted by means of the illumination means (10).

By means of the present invention, a food heating device (1) that can be powered by a battery and preserves the temperature reached without receiving any energy from an external source for a long time is realized. Since the food heating device (1) is powered by battery, electrical energy is not needed. Thus, the food heating device (1) is suitable for outdoor use. Since the energy supplied from the battery is needed for a very short time, the battery is used at minimum. As the cushion (6) takes the shape of the food storage container (H), the heat is transferred via the cushion (6) directly to the food storage container (H). Thus, loss of heat is prevented. Moreover, by means of the cushion (6), the heat of the food can be preserved for a long time.

Claims

A food heating device (1) comprising a body (3) that has an opening (2) suitable for placing a food storage container (H) containing foods, a power source (4) that is disposed on the body (3), and a heater film (5) that is disposed in the body (3) and that is connected to the power source (4), characterized by a cushion (6) that is disposed in the body (3) so as to contact the heater film (5) and that has a filling material (M) that changes phase with heat and that shrink or enlarge so as to at least partially wrap the food storage container (H) placed by the user.
A food heating device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the cushion (6) that starts to heat up with the first heat received from the heater film (5) and that reaches the temperature that can heat the food storage container (H) as the temperature of the cushion (6) continues to rise after the heater film (5) is turned off.
A food heating device (1) as in Claim 1 and Claim 2, characterized by the cushion (6) that comprises the filling material (M) of organic nature.
A food heating device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a sensor (7) that is disposed on the cushion (6) and a control unit (8) that enables the power source (4) to be turned off with the information received from the sensor (7) when the filling material (M) starts to change phase.
A food heating device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the cushion (6) that cools down over time, that changes phase and that returns to the phase before being heated.
A food heating device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the heater film (5) that is adjacent to the body (3).
A food heating device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the power source (4) that is a battery.
A food heating device (1) as in any one of the above claims, comprising a temperature setting knob (9) that is disposed on the body (3) and that enables the temperature value to be set by the user, and a control panel (11) that has at least one illuminations means (10) that enables the alerts to be transmitted to the user.