Flameless heater product for ready-to-eat meals and process for making same

Patent 5117809 Issued on June 2, 1992. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 4, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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3550578

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Inventors

Assignee

Mainstream Engineering Corporation

Application

No. 663671 filed on 03/04/1991

US Classes:

126/263.07, Flexible wall compartment (e.g., flexible plastic bag)144/154.5Hand tool

Examiners

Primary: Dority, Carroll B.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Evenson, Wands, Edwards, Lenahan & McKeown

International Class

F24J 001/00

Abstract

A water-activated, exothermic-chemical heater for packaging in a plastic heating bag is produced by methods which allow the heater material to be loosely placed in the heater while retaining the heating material uniformly distributed over the heater by cup-shaped or through cavities in a rigid member covered by a porous, wettable material on at least one side. Alternatively, the heater material is loosed placed in small bags made in a flexible porous material, with the necessary system rigidity provided by a cardboard or polymeric outer cover on one or both sides of the flexible porous material. Food-grade acid anhydride or free acid can be incorporated into the heater material to maintain proper pH. Flammability control can be achieved by blending a known fire retardant into the heater pad materials.