Self-contained temperature-change container assemblies with multiple barrier penetrators

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 spaced from the inner container to define a mixing chamber at least partially surrounding the inner container;    a reagent separator separating the mixing chamber into first and second internal volumes;    a first temperature-change reagent inside the first internal volume;    a second temperature-change reagent inside the second internal volume;    a movable member situated opposite the reagent separator; and    a plurality of penetrators situated on the movable member;    wherein movement of the movable member urges the penetrators through the reagent separator to produce a plurality of spaced-apart openings through the reagent separator and to allow mixing of the first and second temperature-change reagents through said plurality of openings, wherein each of the penetrators produces a single opening spaced apart from the other openings produced by the other penetrators, the separator remaining in place during mixing so that the mixing rate is limited by the size of the openings.    
   
   
       2 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner container is a cylindrical metal can of a standard size.  
   
   
       3 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is a flexible jacket bottom, wherein the outer jacket comprises a jacket top ring disposed around a top surface of the inner container and a jacket body secured to the jacket top ring and disposed around the inner container, and wherein the flexible jacket bottom is secured to the jacket body.  
   
   
       4 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein mixing the first and second temperature-change reagents initiates an exothermic reaction to increase the temperature of the inner container.  
   
   
       5 . The container assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first temperature-change reagent is calcium oxide and the second temperature-change reagent is water.  
   
   
       6 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein mixing the first and second temperature-change reagents initiates an endothermic reaction to reduce the temperature of the inner container.  
   
   
       7 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reagent separator comprises a thin membrane.  
   
   
       8 . The container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the thin membrane comprises a plastic film.  
   
   
       9 . The container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the thin membrane comprises a metal foil.  
   
   
       10 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reagent separator is located at a step on an inner wall of the outer jacket.  
   
   
       11 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member is a flexible member movable under pressure applied to the movable member on a side of the movable member opposite the second internal volume.  
   
   
       12 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the penetrators mounted on the movable member include at least five penetrators spaced apart from one another opposite the reagent separator.  
   
   
       13 . The container assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the penetrators mounted on the movable member include at least nine penetrators spaced apart from one another opposite the reagent separator.  
   
   
       14 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising a steam condenser in at least one of the first and second internal volumes.  
   
   
       15 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the steam condenser comprises a material having a high thermal conductivity in direct contact with the material of the inner container.  
   
   
       16 . The container assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the steam condenser comprises steel wool.  
   
   
       17 . The container assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the inner container includes a top surface exposed outside of the jacket, wherein the steam condenser comprises steel wool in the first internal volume, and wherein the steam condenser is in direct contact with the inner container near the top surface of the inner container.  
   
   
       18 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising a thermal insulator in the first internal volume between the outer jacket and the first temperature change reagent.  
   
   
       19 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 a removable and replaceable closure member operable to close an opening in the inner container;    wherein the inner container is configured so that a user of the assembly can place a substance inside the inner container through the inner container's opening, and thereafter close the opening by replacing the closure member.    
   
   
       20 . The container assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the closure member is flexible lid that can be removed from and replaced on the inner container.