Compact snow melting device

Abstract

A container assembly includes a container including an interior space for holding a substance. A heating element is supported by the container for heating the substance in the interior space. A power source including a manually operated hand crank generator is mountable on the container and connectable to the heating element for energizing the heating element to heat the substance in the interior space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container assembly comprising:
 a container including an interior space for holding a substance;   a heating element supported by the container for heating the substance in the interior space; and   a power source including a manually operated hand crank generator mountable on the container and connectable to the heating element for energizing the heating element to heat the substance in the interior space.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises an inner wall defining the interior space and an outer wall radially spaced from the inner wall forming a chamber between the inner and outer walls, the heating element being disposed in the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the inner wall is formed from a heat conducting material and the outer wall is formed from a non-heat conducting material. 
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the heating element comprises a helically wound resistance wire extending around an outer surface of the inner wall. 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the heating element is evenly distributed within the chamber and extends generally from a base of the container to a top of container to provide for even heat distribution throughout the interior space in the container. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the interior space is sized to hold at least about 10 fluid ounces. 
     
     
         7 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is releasably mountable on the container. 
     
     
         8 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is mountable near a bottom of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is configured to generate at least six volts of power. 
     
     
         10 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a housing, the generator being enclosed in the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The container assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a female USB port for connecting to a supplemental power source for powering the generator. 
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a battery receptacle for receiving batteries for powering the generator. 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature indicator on the container for measuring a temperature of the substance in the interior space of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid mountable on the container to cover the interior space of the container. 
     
     
         15 . A container assembly kit comprising:
 container having an interior space for holding a substance;   a heating element supported by the container for heating the substance in the interior space; and   a power source disposed in the interior space and removable from the interior space for mounting on an exterior surface of the container.   
     
     
         16 . The container assembly kit of  claim 15 , further comprising a USB cord disposed in the interior space of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The container assembly kit of  claim 15 , further comprising a USB adapter disposed in the interior space of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The container assembly kit of  claim 15 , further comprising a lid mounted on the container and covering the interior space of the container.