Self-contained temperature-change container assemblies

Abstract

A container assembly heats or cools a product inside an inner container. An outer jacket at least partially surrounds the inner container, with a first internal volume and a second internal volume in the space between the outer jacket and the inner container. A first temperature-change reagent is contained inside the first internal volume, and a second temperature-change reagent is held in the second internal volume, with a reagent separator between the two. Several penetrators are disposed to penetrate the reagent separator to produce openings through the separator and through which the two reagents can mix. Steel wool inside the first internal volume acts as a steam condenser. The outer jacket includes a jacket top ring secured around an upper surface of a standard can, a jacket body secured to the jacket top, and a flexible jacket bottom that carries several spikes molded onto the jacket bottom.

1 . A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising: 
 an inner container;    an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;    a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;    a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;    a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume;    a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator;    wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket; and    a heat insulator inside the outer jacket between the outer jacket and the reagent mixing region.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat insulator comprises paper inside the outer jacket.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising structure defining air spaces within the material of the outer jacket.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the structure defining air spaces within the material of the outer jacket includes substantially concentric layers separated from one another by ribs between the layers.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat insulator comprises a compressed fibrous material.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising a second heat insulator outside of the outer jacket.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the second heat insulator includes a polymeric material.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the polymeric material comprises an expanded polystyrene foam.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 6 , and further comprising a third heat insulator between the outer jacket and the second heat insulator.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the third heat insulator comprises corrugated cardboard and the second heat insulator comprises a polymeric material outside of the corrugated cardboard.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the polymeric material comprises expanded polystyrene foam.  
   
   
       12 . A self-contained, temperature-change container assembly comprising: 
 an inner container;    an outer jacket at least partially surrounding the inner container, wherein a first internal volume and a second internal volume are defined between the inner container and the outer jacket;    a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;    a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;    a reagent separator between the first internal volume and the second internal volume;    a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator;    wherein movement of the movable member opens the reagent separator to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents in a reagent mixing region inside the outer jacket; and    wherein the outer jacket includes structure defining air spaces within the material of the outer jacket.    
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , and further comprising an inner heat insulator inside the outer jacket between the outer jacket and the reagent mixing region.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the inner heat insulator comprises paper inside the outer jacket.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the inner heat insulator comprises a compressed fibrous material.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 13 , and further comprising an outer heat insulator outside of the outer jacket.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second heat insulator includes a polymeric material.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the polymeric material comprises an expanded polystyrene foam.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 16 , and further comprising an intermediate heat insulator between the outer jacket and the outer heat insulator.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the intermediate heat insulator comprises corrugated cardboard and the second heat insulator comprises a polymeric material outside of the corrugated cardboard.  
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the polymeric material comprises expanded polystyrene foam.  
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the structure defining air spaces within the material of the outer jacket includes substantially concentric layers separated from one another by ribs between the layers.