Self-contained warmer

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are provided in which a self-contained warmer is attached to a vessel to at least warm food therein. The self-contained warmer may include a container, and an exothermic composition provided within the container that produces heat by a chemical reaction upon activation of the exothermic composition. The self-contained warmer is configured to be removably placed in contact with a surface of the vessel to provide heat transfer from the chemical reaction to the vessel such that the heat generated by the exothermic reaction generates sufficient heat to at least warm food in the vessel.

1 . A self-contained warmer, comprising: 
 a container; and    an exothermic composition provided within said container that produces heat by a chemical reaction upon activation of the exothermic composition,    wherein the warmer is configured to be removably placed in contact with a surface of a vessel to provide heat transfer from said chemical reaction to the vessel such that the heat generated by the exothermic reaction generates sufficient heat to at least warm food in the vessel.    
     
     
         2 . The self-contained warmer of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a membrane provided on a surface of the container; and    a removable seal covering the membrane,    wherein removal of the removable seal activates the exothermic composition by allowing air to enter the container and initiate the chemical reaction.    
     
     
         3 . The self-contained warmer of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer provided on a surface of the container, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to attach the self-contained warmer to the vessel.  
     
     
         4 . The self-contained warmer of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical reaction of the exothermic composition generates heat so that the temperature of a surface of the container is between 60 to 90° C.  
     
     
         5 . The self-contained warmer of  claim 4 , wherein the exothermic composition undergoes the chemical reaction for a maximum duration of 20-120 minutes from activation, at which time a temperature of the surface of the container is less than 60° C.  
     
     
         6 . The self-contained warmer of  claim 1 , further comprising an air-tight package which encloses the container and which, upon removal, activates the exothermic composition.  
     
     
         7 . The self-contained warmer of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a dish having an indentation formed by a rim on an underside of the dish, and the container is shaped to be placed under the dish and within said indentation.  
     
     
         8 . The self-contained warmer of  claim 7 , wherein the self-contained warmer is placed under the dish such that the dish can be stably supported on a flat surface.  
     
     
         9 . The self-contained warmer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container has a thickness within a range of approximately 1/16 to 3 inches.  
     
     
         10 . The self-contained warmer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said container is a flexible pouch that encloses the exothermic composition.  
     
     
         11 . The self-contained warmer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is rigid and shaped to be placed at the underside of the vessel to at least warm food in the vessel and is removable from the underside of the vessel without altering the self-contained warmer.  
     
     
         12 . A method of heating food in a vessel, the method comprising: 
 providing a self-contained warmer that includes a container, and an exothermic composition provided within said container that produces heat by a chemical reaction upon activation of the exothermic composition; and    placing the self-contained warmer in contact with a surface of the vessel to transfer the heat from said chemical reaction to the vessel, in which the heat generated by the exothermic reaction generates sufficient heat to at least warm food in the vessel.    
     
     
         13 . The method of heating food as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the self-contained warmer is attached to the vessel by an adhesive layer provided on a surface of the container.  
     
     
         14 . The method of heating food as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 activating said chemical reaction by removing a removable seal to expose a membrane provided on a surface of the container,    wherein removal of said removable seal allows air to enter said container through said membrane and react with the exothermic composition provided therein.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the chemical reaction of the exothermic composition generates heat so that a surface of the container is between 60 to 90° C.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the exothermic composition undergoes the chemical reaction for a duration of 20-120 minutes from activation, at which time a temperature of the surface of the container is less than 60° C.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the vessel is a dish having an indentation formed by a rim on an underside of the dish, and the container is shaped to be placed under the dish and within said indentation.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the self-contained warmer is placed under the dish such that the dish can be stably supported on a flat surface.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the container has a thickness within a range from approximately 1/16 to 3 inches.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the container is a flexible pouch that encloses the exothermic composition.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the container is rigid and shaped to be placed at the underside of the vessel to at least warm food in the vessel and is removable from the underside of the vessel without altering the self-contained warmer.  
     
     
         22 . A system for warming a food containing vessel, comprising: 
 a self-contained warmer, which includes a container, and an exothermic composition provided within said container that produces heat by a chemical reaction upon activation of the exothermic composition; and    a vessel in which food is contained,    wherein the warmer is configured to be removably placed in contact with a surface of the vessel to provide heat transfer from said chemical reaction to the vessel such that the heat generated by the exothermic reaction generates sufficient heat to at least warm food in the vessel.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the self-contained warmer further comprises: 
 a membrane provided on a first surface of the container; and    a removable seal covering the membrane,    wherein removal of the removable seal activates the exothermic composition by allowing air to enter the container and initiate the chemical reaction.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the self-contained warmer further comprises an adhesive layer provided on a second surface of the container, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to attach the self-contained warmer to the vessel.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the chemical reaction of the exothermic composition generates heat so that a surface of the container is between 60 to 90° C.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the exothermic composition undergoes the chemical reaction for a maximum duration of 20-120 minutes, at which time a temperature of the surface of the container is less than 60° C.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the self-contained warmer further comprises an air-tight package which encloses the container and which, upon removal, activates the exothermic composition.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the vessel is a dish having an indentation formed by a rim on an underside of the dish, and the container is shaped to be placed under the dish and within said indentation.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the self-contained warmer is placed under the dish such that the dish can be stably supported on a flat surface.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the wherein the container of the self-contained warmer has a thickness within a range of approximately 1/16 to 3 inches.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the container is a flexible pouch that encloses the exothermic composition.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the container is rigid and shaped to be placed at the underside of the vessel to at least warm the food in the vessel and is removable from the underside of the vessel without altering the self-contained warmer.