Rechargeable self-heating food container

A rechargeable heating element for a food container comprising:

• a cylinder with an opening, said cylinder insertable into a selected food container;
• sealing means for sealing said cylinder into said food container;
• a supersaturated salt solution contained within said rechargeable cylinder;
• and
• a trigger sealingly inserted into said cylinder opening and in fluid contact with said supersaturated salt solution, said trigger comprising:
• an impermeable flexible membrane;
• a first trigger element attached to the inside of said flexible membrane and movable with said flexible membrane;
• a second trigger element mounted so as to not move with said flexible membrane;
• wherein at least one of said first and second trigger elements are comprised of ceramic steatite;
• and further wherein, when said flexible membrane is pressed said first trigger element contacts said second trigger element, thereby causing nucleation within said supersaturated salt solution and triggering crystallization of said supersaturated salt solution.

A rechargeable, self-heating food container, comprising:

• a food container including an inner chamber;
• a salt solution contained within said inner chamber, said salt solution able to exist as a supersaturated solution at room temperature;
• and,
• a trigger in fluid communication with said salt solution for initiating crystallization of said salt solution under supersaturated conditions, said trigger comprising:
• an impermeable flexible membrane disposed within a surrounding rigid plug flange;
• a first trigger element holder having a first side attached to the inside of said flexible membrane and second side retaining a first trigger element, said first trigger element consisting of a ceramic ball, said first trigger element holder movable with said flexible membrane;
• and,
• a second trigger element holder comprising a rigid bridge portion connected at opposing ends to and spanning said plug flange and a trigger face, said trigger face rigidly retaining a second trigger element spaced apart from and directly facing said first trigger element, said second trigger element consisting of a ceramic ball;
• such that when said flexible membrane is pressed said first trigger element contacts said second trigger element, thereby causing nucleation within said supersaturated salt solution and triggering crystallization of said supersaturated salt solution.

A rechargeable, self-heating, food container, comprising:

• a food container including an inner chamber contained within and sealed from the food containing area of said food container, wherein said inner chamber includes an external opening;
• a supersaturated salt solution contained within said inner chamber;
• and,
• a trigger sealingly inserted into said inner chamber external opening and in fluid contact with said supersaturated salt solution, said trigger comprising:
• an impermeable flexible membrane disposed within a surrounding rigid plug flange;
• a first trigger element holder having a first side attached to the inside of said flexible membrane and second side retaining a first trigger element, said first trigger element consisting of a ceramic ball, said first trigger element holder movable with said flexible membrane;
• and,
• a second trigger element holder comprising a rigid bridge portion connected at opposing ends to and spanning said plug flange and a trigger face, said trigger face rigidly retaining a second trigger element spaced apart from and directly facing said first trigger element, said second trigger element consisting of a ceramic ball;
• such that when said flexible membrane is pressed said first trigger element contacts said second trigger element, thereby causing nucleation within said supersaturated salt solution and triggering crystallization of said supersaturated salt solution.