# US 7,744,940 B2 · Food product warming or cooling package > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,940 B2 - Document ID: US7744940B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/195,118 - Filed: 2005-08-02 - Published: 2006-07-13 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-01-07 - Inventors: Charles P. Hickey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744940B2 ## CPC - B65D 81/3484: {Packages having self-contained heating means, e.g. heating generated by the reaction of two chemicals (warming devices A47J36/24)} - B65D 81/3266: {separated by a common rupturable seal, a clip or other removable fastening device} - Y02W 30/80: Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging (bio-packaging Y02W90/10) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract The present invention is a package for selectively heating or cooling a food product of the package utilizing a temperature-changing pack disposed within an inner container. The temperature-changing pack is formed in a manner which prevents the inadvertent or premature mixing of the chemical reagents to initiate the heating or cooling reaction. Further, the temperature-changing pack is positioned within the inner container at a location where the food product comes into contact with the pack on multiple sides to maximize the heat transfer between pack and the food product. The inner container can be positioned within a reusable outer sleeve that insulates the inner container to further maximize the heat transfer between the pack and the food product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A self-heating or self-cooling food package the package comprising: a) a container, containing said food, said container having a bottom end, a pair of side edges, and a selectively openable top end; and b) a temperature-changing element positioned within the container and secured to the container, the temperature-changing element including a pair of compartments separated by at least two frangible seals each of said compartments enclosing one of a pair of reagents respectively, which reagents when combined either heat or cool the food product therein, wherein the temperature-changing element is attached to and vertically held in a suspended position above the bottom end and below the top end of the container by a safety strip positioned within the upper portion of and extending substantially across the container, said safety strip forming a barrier in the container below the top end to prevent an individual from being able to reach into the interior of the container and come into direct contact with the temperature-changing element when the top end is opened, while enabling fluids to flow around the safety strip and out of the container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of the compartments of the temperature-changing element includes a number of frangible dots, which secure opposite sides of the compartment together. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein the safety strip defines at least one space between the safety strip and the inner container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein the safety strip includes a number of apertures extending through the safety strip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein the safety strip is positioned at an angle with respect to the inner container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein the temperature-changing element is secured to the inner container through the safety strip adjacent a top edge of the element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein the temperature-changing element and the inner container are spaced from one another a distance of no greater than one-half inch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein the temperature-changing element is disposed within a reagent barrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of the pair of compartments in the temperature-changing element is vacuum-sealed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of the pair of compartments of the temperature-changing element is flushed with inert gas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein the inner container includes a selectively openable spout. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 further comprising at least one one-way valve positioned on one of the inner container or the temperature-changing element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 further comprising an outer insulating sleeve selectively positionable around the inner container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The package of claim 13 wherein the outer sleeve includes a gripping element disposed on the outer sleeve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein the one of the reagents in the temperature-changing element includes a dye. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 further comprising a spout on the inner container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The package of claim 16 further comprising a cap releasably engageable with the spout. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 wherein the one of the reagents in the temperature-changing element includes an anti-clumping additive. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The package of claim 18 wherein the additive is a number of glass beads. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The package of claim 1 further comprising a container-opening structure engaged with the inner container.