Container for receiving a cartridge for heating or cooling the contents of the container

Abstract

A cartridge comprising: a first reactant cavity for containing a first reactant; a second reactant cavity for containing a second reactant, which second reactant cavity is in an operative condition located below the first reactant cavity; a frangible barrier separating the first and second reactant cavities; a flexible member defined at an end of the first reactant cavity remote the barrier, the member having a receiving formation on an inner surface thereof for receiving an end of an elongate member therein, which elongate member extends towards the barrier; one or more openings located in an operatively upper region of the second reactant cavity; and where in use, the integrity of the barrier is disrupted by a force acting on an outer surface of the flexible member to displace it towards the barrier, thereby causing the elongate member to disrupt the integrity of the barrier and permitting the first and second reactants to react with each other. A kit comprising the cartridge disclosed above.

1 . A cartridge comprising:
 a first reactant cavity for containing a first reactant;   a second reactant cavity for containing a second reactant, which second reactant cavity is in an operative condition located below the first reactant cavity;   a frangible barrier separating the first and second reactant cavities;   a flexible member defined at an end of the first reactant cavity remote the barrier, the member having a receiving formation on an inner surface thereof for receiving an end of an elongate member therein, which elongate member extends towards the barrier;   one or more openings located in an operatively upper region of the second reactant cavity; and   wherein in use, the integrity of the barrier is disrupted by a force acting on an outer surface of the flexible member to displace it towards the barrier, thereby causing the elongate member to disrupt the integrity of the barrier and permitting the first and second reactants to react with each other.   
   
   
       2 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes one or more flap formations configured and dimensioned to overlay the openings. 
   
   
       3 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes one or more channels defined in an outer surface of the second reactant cavity extending from the openings towards a free end of the cartridge. 
   
   
       4 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein, when the pressure in the second reactant cavity exceeds a predetermined pressure due to the formation of reaction gases, the flap formations are displaced into an open condition to permit the gases to exit the second reactant cavity. 
   
   
       5 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reaction resulting when the first and second reactants react with each other is exothermic. 
   
   
       6 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reaction resulting when the first and second reactants react with each other is endothermic. 
   
   
       7 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first reactant is water. 
   
   
       8 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second reactant is calcium oxide. 
   
   
       9 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is convex in shape so as to stand proud of the first reactant cavity. 
   
   
       10 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving formation on the inner surface of the flexible member is in the form of a female formation configured and dimensioned to snugly receive an end of the elongate member therein. 
   
   
       11 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member extends so as to abut against the frangible barrier or it to a zone just short of said barrier. 
   
   
       12 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member includes a flared portion located at its free end nearest the barrier. 
   
   
       13 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the flared portion is generally circular in plan view so that the majority of the frangible barrier is disrupted when the force acts on the outer surface of the flexible member and thereby on the elongate member. 
   
   
       14 . A re-usable container configured and dimensioned to receive a cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , the container including:—
 a material cavity for containing a material to be heated or cooled;   an opening located at a first end of the container to permit access to the material cavity; and   a cartridge cavity extending from a second end of the container towards the first end of the container, the cartridge cavity being configured and dimensioned to receive the cartridge therein; wherein in use, the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge cavity so that the flexible member of the cartridge abuts against a surface of the cartridge cavity resulting in a force being exerted on the outer surface of the flexible member.   
   
   
       15 . A container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the force acting on the flexible member causes the cartridge to be activated into providing either heating or cooling to the material cavity. 
   
   
       16 . A container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the cartridge cavity includes a protrusion on its surface against which the flexible member of the cartridge abuts in use. 
   
   
       17 . A container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the cartridge cavity includes one or more channels defined in its walls, which channels extend towards the opening of the cartridge cavity. 
   
   
       17 . 1 . A container as claimed in  claim 17  wherein in use, the channels are located in register with openings in the second reactant cavity of the cartridge. 
   
   
       18 . A container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the material to be heated or cooled is a beverage or a foodstuff. 
   
   
       19 . A container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the container includes a closure member located at its second end for retaining the cartridge in the cartridge cavity, once inserted. 
   
   
       20 . A container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the closure member is displaceable between an inoperative condition in which it permits the cartridge to be inserted into or removed from the cartridge cavity and an operative condition in which it retains the cartridge in the cartridge cavity. 
   
   
       21 . A container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the closure member includes openings therein to permit gases exiting via the openings in the cartridge to pass there through. 
   
   
       22 . A container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the opening located at the first end of the container is provided with a threaded neck portion to permit a closure member to be mounted over the opening to seal the material cavity. 
   
   
       23 . A container as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the container is a feeding bottle for an infant or toddler and the reaction between the first and second reactants is exothermic. 
   
   
       24 . A kit comprising:
 at least one cartridge, the at least one cartridge comprising:
 a first reactant cavity for containing a first reactant; 
 a second reactant cavity for containing a second reactant, which second reactant cavity is in an operative condition located below the first reactant cavity; 
 a frangible barrier separating the first and second reactant cavities; 
 a flexible member defined at an end of the first reactant cavity remote the barrier, the member having a receiving formation on an inner surface thereof for receiving an end of an elongate member therein, which elongate member extends towards the barrier; 
 one or more openings located in an operatively upper region of the second reactant cavity; and 
 wherein in use, the integrity of the barrier is disrupted by a force acting on an outer surface of the flexible member to displace it towards the barrier, thereby causing the elongate member to disrupt the integrity of the barrier and permitting the first and second reactants to react with each other; 
   at least one container, the at least one container comprising:
 a material cavity for containing a material to be heated or cooled; 
 an opening located at a first end of the container to permit access to the material cavity; and 
 a cartridge cavity extending from a second end of the container towards the first end of the container, the cartridge cavity being configured and dimensioned to receive the cartridge therein; wherein in use, the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge cavity so that the flexible member of the cartridge abuts against a surface of the cartridge cavity resulting in a force being exerted on the outer surface of the flexible member. 
   
   
   
       25 - 30 . (canceled)