Tray for selectably heating or cooling the contents

Abstract

A tray for selectably heating or cooling the contents of the tray comprises a container body having a material chamber for containing said contents. The tray is specifically configured to heat of cool solid, semi-solid or viscous materials. The container body is generally flat wherein the width of the container body is greater than its height. The container body has a first compartment for housing a thermic module and a second compartment for containing the contents to be heated or cooled. Within the thermic module, an internal exothermic (or, alternatively, endothermic) chemical reaction is initiated to heat (or cool) the contents when a user actuates the thermic module. The thermic module comprises two reactant chambers separated by a breakable barrier, an actuator, and a piercing member movable between a retracted position and an extended position in response to a force placed on a portion of the actuator. A distal end of the piercing member breaks said breakable barrier when the piercing member is forced into the extended position to allow mixing of the reactants in the two reactant chambers.

1 . A tray for selectably changing the temperature of its contents by mixing a first reactant with a second reactant, comprising: 
 a container for containing said contents, said container body having a height and a width wherein said width is greater than said height; and    a thermic module disposed adjacent to said container, said thermic module comprising a first reactant chamber containing a first reactant and a second reactant chamber containing a second reactant, a breakable barrier attached to one of said first reactant chamber or said second reactant chamber which seals said first chamber from said second chamber, and a piercing member which when actuated pierces said breakable barrier to allow mixing of said first reactant and said second reactant.    
   
   
       2 . The tray of  claim 1  wherein said thermic module further comprises a container compartment, said container compartment comprising a container compartment bottom and a container compartment wall extending from said container compartment bottom such that said container is partially enclosed by said container compartment bottom and said container compartment wall.  
   
   
       3 . The tray of  claim 2  wherein said container compartment is integrally formed with said thermic module.  
   
   
       4 . The tray of  claim 2  wherein said thermic module comprises a main body having a module bottom and a first wall extending upward from said module bottom, and an actuator disposed on said module bottom which is operably coupled to said piercing member such that pushing said actuator causes said piercing member to break said breakable barrier.  
   
   
       5 . The tray of  claim 4  wherein said tray actuator is in the form of a button.  
   
   
       6 . The tray of  claim 4  wherein said actuator is integrally formed with said bottom and said piercing member is attached to a surface of said actuator.  
   
   
       7 . The tray of  claim 4  wherein said first reactant chamber is formed by said module bottom and said first wall.  
   
   
       8 . The tray of  claim 7  wherein said second reactant chamber is formed by a second wall extending upward from said first wall.  
   
   
       9 . The tray of  claim 8  wherein said second wall is formed integrally with said first wall.  
   
   
       10 . The tray of  claim 7  wherein said breakable barrier is attached to a top surface of said first wall.  
   
   
       11 . The tray of  claim 10  wherein said second reactant chamber further comprises a top surface disposed at the top of said second wall whereby said breakable barrier, said second wall and said top surface for an enclosed chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The tray of  claim 11  wherein top surface is integrally formed with said second wall.  
   
   
       13 . The tray of  claim 11  wherein said top surface is a separate piece attached to the second wall.  
   
   
       14 . The tray of  claim 4  further comprising a housing having a container bottom and a third wall extending from said bottom, wherein said thermic module is housed within said housing.  
   
   
       15 . The tray of  claim 14  wherein said third wall of said housing is spaced apart from said first wall and said second wall of said thermic module such that an air space is formed between them.  
   
   
       16 . The tray of  claim 14  wherein said thermic module is held in said housing by a snap-fit between the third wall and one said second wall or said first wall.  
   
   
       17 . The tray of  claim 14  further comprising a removable cover attached to said third wall which can be removed to access said container.  
   
   
       18 . A tray for selectably changing the temperature of its contents by mixing a first reactant with a second reactant, comprising: 
 a container for containing said contents, said container body having a height and a width wherein said width is greater than said height; and    a thermic module disposed adjacent to said container, said thermic module comprising a first reactant chamber containing a first reactant and a second reactant chamber containing a second reactant, a breakable barrier attached to a top surface of said first reactant chamber which seals said first chamber from said second chamber, and a piercing member which when actuated pierces said breakable barrier to allow mixing of said first reactant and said second reactant, said first reactant chamber formed by a main body having a module bottom and a first wall extending upward from said module bottom, and said second reactant chamber formed be a second wall extending upward from said first wall; and    and an actuator disposed on said module bottom which is operably coupled to said piercing member such that pushing said actuator causes said piercing member to break said breakable barrier.