Self-Warming Container

Abstract

An apparatus for warming substances comprising a container, said container including a first compartment containing a substance that reacts exothermically with water, a second compartment containing water, wherein said second compartment is attached to said first compartment by a valve, and a third compartment, wherein at least 50% of the third compartment's volume is surrounded by said first compartment, and wherein said first and third compartments are separated by a thermally conductive wall. In a preferred embodiment, the substance that reacts exothermically with water is an anhydrous zeolite.

1 . An apparatus for warming substances comprising:
 a container, said container comprising   a first compartment containing a substance that reacts exothermically with water;   a second compartment containing water, wherein said second compartment is attached to said first compartment by a valve; and   a third compartment, wherein at least 50% of the third compartment's volume is surrounded by said first compartment, and wherein said first and third compartments are separated by a thermally conductive wall.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substance that reacts exothermically with water is a zeolite. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a layer of insulating material that surrounds the surface of the first chamber opposite the third chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a fourth compartment that surrounds the first compartment is substantially void of matter to create a vacuum insulating layer. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a one-way release valve attached to the first chamber, said one-way release valve capable of allowing water vapor to escape from the first chamber when the vapor pressure in the first chamber is greater than ambient pressure outside the container. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of insulating material that surrounds the surface of the first chamber opposite the third chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth compartment that surrounds the first compartment is substantially void of matter to create a vacuum insulating layer. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a one-way release valve attached to the first chamber, said one-way release valve capable of allowing water vapor to escape the container from the first chamber when the vapor pressure in the first chamber is greater than ambient pressure outside the container. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for warming substances comprising:
 a container, said container including an outer shell, said container further comprising:
 a first compartment situated within the volume circumscribed by the outer shell; 
 a second compartment situated within the volume circumscribed by the outer shell, 
 wherein said second compartment is attached to said first compartment by a regulator; and 
 a third compartment, wherein the third compartment's volume is partially bordered by said first compartment, and wherein said first and third compartments are separated by a thermally conductive wall; 
 a heating material, situated within said first compartment, said heating material being a substance that reacts exothermically with water when in anhydrous form. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the heating material is zeolite. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the zeolite is an aluminosilicate. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an access door that is capable of opening to allow access to said first compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the heating material is contained within a removable cartridge that fits within said first compartment. 
     
     
         14 . A method for warming a substrate material comprising:
 placing said substrate material in a container, said container comprising a first chamber containing a material that reacts exothermically with water, a second chamber containing water; and a closed conduit connecting said first and second chambers;   opening said closed conduit to introduce said water to said material that reacts exothermically with water, thereby initiating an exothermic reaction; and   allowing said exothermic reaction to heat said substrate material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said container is insulated. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the container has a volume of less than 10 liters. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the container has a volume of less than 5 liters. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the substrate material is food. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heating material is a zeolite. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising heating the container and the zeolite until the zeolite has reverted to an anhydrous form.