Portable container and system for heating fluids

Abstract

A container and system for the mobile/portable heating of fluids is described. The container has an octahedral shape, including a pinched waist section. This pinched waist, along with the rounded corners at each edge of the octahedron, has a specific radius of curvature selected to maximize volumetric efficiency while still maintaining the ability to blow mold the container. One or more heating elements and attachment mechanism are also provided so that fluids in the container can be quickly and efficiently heated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A molded polymeric container for holding fluids, the container comprising:
 an octahedral shape including front and back facings, a top including a neck opening with a radius, a bottom, and two opposing sidewalls wherein each sidewall has symmetrical and angled panels that connect at a pinched waist;   wherein the octahedral shape includes eight discrete but substantially similar rounded corners defined by a radius of curvature;   wherein the pinched waist includes a radius of curvature that is substantially similar to a radius of curvature of the rounded corners; and   wherein the pinched waist defines a transverse length that is between 60% to 80% of a transverse length across the front facing at separate positions above and below the pinched waist.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the octahedral shape is symmetrical about both a centerline axial plane and a transverse plane. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the front and back facings are substantially similar. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the front and back facings each have a radius of curvature that is at least five times larger than the radius of the neck opening. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the radius of curvature of the front and back facings is between nine to ten times larger than the radius of the neck opening. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein radius of curvature of the pinched waist is between one quarter to one half of the radius of the neck opening. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein radius of curvature of the pinched waist is between one quarter to one half of the radius of the neck opening. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein curved transitional sections are interposed between the interfaces of at least one: the front facing and the sidewalls, the back facing and the sidewalls, the front facing and the top, the back facing and the top, the sidewalls and the top, the front facing and the bottom, the back facing and the bottom, and the sidewalls and the bottom. 
     
     
         9 . A portable system for heating fluids comprising:
 the container of  claim 1 ;   at least one heating element provided as a pouch or cuboid having a transverse length that matches the transverse length of the pinched waist of the container; and   an attachment mechanism configured to be seated on the pinched waist so as to hold the heating element along the front and/or back facings of the container.   
     
     
         10 . A portable system for heating fluids comprising:
 the container of  claim 6 ;   at least one heating element provided as a pouch or cuboid having a transverse length that matches the transverse length of the pinched waist of the container; and   an attachment mechanism configured to be seated on the pinched waist so as to hold the heating element along the front and/or back facings of the container.   
     
     
         11 . The portable system of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment mechanism is one selected from: an elastic band, a belt, a cord, a string, or a zip tie. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the octahedral shape is symmetrical about a centerline axial plane and a centerline transverse plane of the container.