Gas dispersal box for meals ready-to-eat

Abstract

The present invention is a gas dispersion container in which a number of gas-generating devices, such as meals ready-to-eat (MREs), can be positioned. The undesirable gases, such as hydrogen gas, that can be generated by the MREs are dispersed from within the container in a manner that maintains the gas levels in the container below minimum safe levels to avoid an unsafe increase in the concentration of the undesirable gases within the container.

1 . A gas dispersion container comprising: 
 a) an enclosure including a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, a top wall and a pair of end walls forming an interior therebetween, the enclosure adapted to receive a number of gas-generating objects therein;    b) a number of intake vents disposed on the exterior of the enclosure; and    c) an exhaust mechanism disposed on the enclosure and spaced from the intake vents.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure is formed of a paperboard material.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the container is formed of a corrugated paperboard material.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein walls of the container are integrally formed with one another.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising an exhaust opening disposed in one wall of the container and to which the exhaust mechanism is mountable.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the exhaust mechanism includes a pair of tabs on a housing for the mechanism that are engagable within a pair of slots formed in the opening.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the vents include a pair of tabs engagable within a pair of slots formed within apertures disposed in the container.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the vents are positioned on multiple walls of the container.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8  further comprising multiple vents in each wall of the container.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the vents are integrally formed with the container.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the position and number of vents on the container and operating speed and size of the exhaust mechanism are determined by the size and shape of the container and the size and shape of the MREs adapted to be received within the enclosure defined within the container.  
   
   
       12 . A method for dispersing an amount of detrimental gas generated by a heating element of an MRE, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a container including a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, a top wall and a pair of end walls forming an interior therebetween, the container adapted to receive a number of MREs therein, and a number of intake vents disposed on and extending through the container;    b) securing an exhaust mechanism to the container; and    c) operating the exhaust mechanism to withdraw the detrimental gas out of the container.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the vents are formed separately from the container and further comprising the step of securing the vents to the container prior to securing the exhaust mechanism to the container.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing a number of MREs within the container prior to operating the exhaust mechanism; and    b) operating a heating element disposed within the MREs.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of erecting the container prior to securing the exhaust mechanism to the container.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of erecting the container comprises folding the various walls of the container with respect to one another.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of erecting the container comprises securing the various walls of the container to one another.  
   
   
       18 . A gas dispersion container comprising: 
 a) an enclosure including a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, a top wall and a pair of end walls forming an interior therebetween, the enclosure adapted to receive a number of gas-generating objects therein;    b) a number of intake vents disposed on the exterior of the enclosure with multiple vents in each wall of the container; and    c) an exhaust mechanism disposed on the enclosure and spaced from the intake vents.    
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the vents are integrally formed with the container.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the exhaust mechanism is a low operating voltage fan.