Self-heating or self-cooling system and method

A self-heating or self-cooling system comprising:

• an outer container comprising:
• a sidewall, a bottom wall and a top wall configured to define an interior chamber, the interior chamber being configured to contain a first substance or fluid;
• a neck section extending from the top wall, the neck section defining an interior open area and an opening defined through an end wall of the neck section, the neck section further including a detent extending into the interior open area;
• and
• a piercing member extending into the interior chamber from the bottom wall;
• an inner container slidably receivable in the interior chamber of the outer container, the inner container comprising:
• a sidewall and a closed end section configured to define an interior chamber, the interior chamber of the inner container being configured to contain a second substance or fluid;
• a sealed wrapper covering an open end of the inner container;
• and
• a divot extending into the interior chamber of the inner container and configured to receive the detent of the neck section when the inner container is pushed into the outer container to a position when the divot and the detent are aligned;
• wherein the piercing member being configured to rupture the sealed wrapper when the inner container is pushed a predetermined distance in the outer container so that the first substance or fluid and the second substance or fluid mix to form a mixture that is exothermic or endothermic.

A method of heating or cooling a product or surrounding area, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an outer container defining an interior chamber and including a piercing member extending into the interior chamber, the interior chamber being configured to contain a first substance or fluid;
• b) providing an inner container defining an interior chamber and including a sealed wrapper covering an open end of the inner container, the interior chamber of the inner container being configured to contain a second substance or fluid;
• c) moving the inner container into the interior chamber of the outer container so that the sealed wrapper moves toward the piercing member;
• d) rupturing the sealed wrapper by the piercing member;
• and
• e) mixing the first substance or fluid and the second substance or fluid to form a mixture configured to create an exothermic or endothermic reaction;
• and
• f) locking the inner container with the outer container by pushing the inner container into the interior chamber of the outer container until a detent of the outer container is received in a divot of the inner container.