Temperature changng package

Abstract

A temperature-changing package is disclosed that has a compartment for a composition that will either raise or lower the temperature and a cover to protect the composition from accidental initiation. The package may be used to heat or cool a number of products and may be configured with a plurality of packages in a single unit. The package may also have a plurality of composition compartments as well as a number of product compartments.

1 . A temperature-changing package for changing the temperature of a product comprising: 
 a first product compartment containing the product;    a first composition compartment to hold a first temperature-changing composition, the first composition compartment being in thermal contact with the first compartment and having at least one opening to allow entry of an external component to induce a temperature changing reaction; and    a cover to cover the at least one opening.    
   
   
       2 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , further comprising a porous material, the porous material disposed within the first composition compartment and mounted adjacent the at least one opening to prevent the first temperature-changing composition from exiting the first composition compartment and allowing the external component to enter the first composition compartment.  
   
   
       3 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the external component includes water.  
   
   
       4 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the external component includes glycerol.  
   
   
       5 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature changing component is a mixture of iron, magnesium, and salt.  
   
   
       6 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the package is flexible.  
   
   
       7 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the product compartment has a removable product cover.  
   
   
       8 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the first product compartment has a tear notch.  
   
   
       9 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the first product compartment has a perforation for opening the first product compartment.  
   
   
       10 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is removably attached to the package.  
   
   
       11 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-changing package has a temperature and the temperature-changing component reduces the temperature of temperature-changing package.  
   
   
       12 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature is reduced to about 40° F.  
   
   
       13 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-changing package has a temperature and the temperature-changing component increases the temperature of temperature-changing package.  
   
   
       14 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature is increased by about 50-75° F.  
   
   
       15 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature is increased to about 155° F.  
   
   
       16 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature is increased to between about 140° F. and 165° F.  
   
   
       17 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature changing component is ammonium nitrate.  
   
   
       18 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening in the first composition compartment comprises at least two openings.  
   
   
       19 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , further comprising a second composition compartment to hold a second temperature-changing composition, the second composition compartment being in thermal contact with the first product compartment and having at least one opening to allow entry of an external component to induce a temperature changing reaction.  
   
   
       20 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a second product compartment containing a second product;    a second composition compartment to hold a second temperature-changing composition, the second composition compartment being in thermal contact with the second product compartment and having at least one opening to allow entry of an external component to induce a temperature changing reaction; and    a second cover to cover the at least one opening in the second composition compartment.    
   
   
       21 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second products are the same.  
   
   
       22 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature-changing package has a temperature and the temperature-changing component reduces the temperature of temperature-changing package.  
   
   
       23 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature-changing package has a temperature and the temperature-changing component increases the temperature of temperature-changing package.  
   
   
       24 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second product compartments are attached to one another.  
   
   
       25 . A method for changing a temperature of a product, the product disposed in a temperature-changing package, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a temperature-changing package comprising: 
 a first product compartment containing the product;  
 a first composition compartment to hold a first temperature-changing composition, the first composition compartment being in thermal contact with the first product compartment and having at least one opening to allow entry of an external component to induce a temperature changing reaction; and  
 a cover to cover the at least one opening;  
   removing the cover to expose the at least one opening; and    introducing the external component into the at least one opening to initiate the temperature changing reaction.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of waiting a predetermined amount of time to allow the product to reach a predetermined temperature.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the temperature-changing package further comprises a tear notch to allow a user to access the product in the first product compartment, and further comprising the step of tearing the first product compartment at the tear notch and removing the product at a predetermined temperature.  
   
   
       28 . A temperature-changing package for changing the temperature of a product comprising: 
 a first composition compartment to hold a first temperature-changing composition, the first composition compartment having a first side and a second side, the first side having at least one opening to allow entry of an external component to induce a temperature changing reaction, and the second side configured for being in thermal contact with a product container;    a cover to cover the at least one opening in the first side; and    attachment means to attach the temperature-changing package to the product container.    
   
   
       29 . The temperature-changing package of  claim 28 , wherein the attachment means is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, adhesive tabs, elastic member joining two end portions of the temperature-changing package, and a tab and slot.  
   
   
       30 . A temperature-changing package for changing the temperature of a product comprising: 
 a first composition compartment to hold a first temperature-changing composition, the first composition compartment having a first side and a second side, the first side having at least one opening to allow entry of an external component to induce a temperature changing reaction, and the second side configured for being in thermal contact with a product container;    a cover to cover the at least one opening in the first side; and    an attachment member for attaching the temperature-changing package to the product container.