Self-contained and self-heating food, meal and drink package

Abstract

A self-contained and self-heating food, meal and/or drink package, comprising a heat-resistant carton, a heat-resistant tray, a heating element, a container having a food, meal and/or drink sealed therein, and a pouch containing an activator solution for reacting with the heating element to generate sufficient heat to heat the food, meal and/or drink in the container. To heat the contents of the container, the heating element is positioned within the tray and the activator solution is applied to the heating element. The container then is positioned over the heating element in the tray, and the tray with the heating element and container therein is positioned within the carton which serves as an oven for heating the food, meal and/or drink in the container.

1 . A self-contained and self-heating food, meal and/or drink package, comprising:
 a heat-resistant carton;   a heat-resistant tray of a size and shape to be received within said carton;   a heating element of a size and shape to be received within said tray;   a container having a food, meal and/or drink sealed therein, said container being of a size and shape to be received within said tray on top of said heating element such that said tray with said heating element and said container therein is receivable within said carton for the heating of the food, meal and/or drink; and   a pouch containing an activator solution for reacting with said heating element to generate sufficient heat to heat the food, meal and/or drink in said container when it is positioned within said carton on top of said heating element in said tray after the activator solution is applied to said heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said carton is formed of cardboard having an aluminum foil layer on the inner surface thereof with a shiny side of the aluminum foil facing inwardly. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein a layer of food grade polyethylene is laminated over the shiny side of the aluminum foil. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said tray is formed of Styrofoam, plastic or plastic coated cardboard. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said heating element is a porous brick heating element. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5  wherein said porous brick heating element is composed of white metallic corrodalloy element, UHMWPE, LDPE and tartaric acid. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said container is formed of polypropylene/polyester film. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7  wherein said polypropylene/polyester film is filled with cut glass in a center portion thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said container is formed of aluminum foil with food grade polyethylene on an inner surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said pouch is formed of a high density polyethylene opaque white/polyester combination. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the activator solution in said pouch is composed of water, salt, surfactant and algaecide. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11  wherein said porous brick heating element has a mass of approximately 40 g, and the activator solution has a mass of approximately 80 g. 
     
     
         13 . A method of heating the food, meal and/or drink in the self-contained and self-heating meal package of  claim 1 , comprising:
 positioning said heating element within said tray;   applying the activator solution from said pouch onto said heating element;   positioning said container on top of said heating element in said tray; and   positioning said tray with said activated heating element and container therein within said carton so that said carton acts as an oven for heating the food, meal and/or drink within said container.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said container is positioned on top of said heating element in an inverted position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said container is positioned on top of said heating element in an upright position.