Food Warming or Cooling Package Thermometer Assembly
OwnerCharles Hickeyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a thermometer assembly adapted to be utilized to sense the temperature of a material within a container, such as a food item heating or cooling container. The assembly includes a spout connected to the container, a closure releasably engageable with the spout, and a temperature sensing element engaged with the closure. The closure and spout allow a food item to be inserted into and withdrawn from the container after preparation, while the temperature sensing element, when engaged with the closure, senses the temperature of the food item within the container and emits both visible and audible signals regarding the temperature of the food item.
Claims18
A self-heating or self-cooling food product container comprising:
- a) an enclosure adapted to hold a food product within an interior defined by the enclosure;
- b) a temperature-changing pack disposed within the interior of the enclosure;
- and
- c) a temperature sensing assembly secured to the enclosure, the assembly including an closure engaged with the enclosure over an opening in the enclosure, a temperature conducting element engaged with the closure, and a temperature sensing element engaged with the temperature conducting element.
A method of determining a temperature of a food item in a self-heating or self-cooling container, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a food item heating container including a closure engaged with the container and having a temperature conducting element thereon;
- b) engaging a temperature sensing element with the temperature conducting element;
- and
- c) sensing a temperature within the container;
- and
- d) displaying a temperature value signal generated by the temperature sensing element.
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of displaying the temperature value signal comprises visually displaying the temperature value signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.