# US 9,516,973 B2 · Instant self-heating apparatus with metered dispensing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,516,973 B2 - Document ID: US9516973B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/843,619 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2013-08-22 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-26 - Assignees: Forever Young International, Inc. - Applicants: Forever Young International, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel L. Young - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9516973B2 ## CPC - F24V 30/00: Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion - A45D 26/0014: {using wax} - A45D 40/261: {using a ball, a roller or the like} - A47J 36/28: Warming devices generating the heat by exothermic reactions, e.g. heat released by the contact of unslaked lime with water - B65D 35/38: Nozzles - B65D 35/46: with valves (bureau accessories for applying liquids, e.g. adhesive, B43M11/00) - B65D 81/3484: {Packages having self-contained heating means, e.g. heating generated by the reaction of two chemicals (warming devices A47J36/24)} - F24V: COLLECTION, PRODUCTION OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - 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 ## Abstract Instant self-heating containers include a combinable reactant and activator used to generate an exothermic reaction for heating contents of the container. One instant self-heating container includes a target container, a pierceable activator container and a reaction chamber. Piercing the activator container causes activator to combine with the reactant and cause an exothermic reaction that heats the target container. The container may be used as depilatory wax dispenser. Another instant self-heating container includes an outer housing containing a contents pouch and a reactant, and capped by a lid having an activator chamber. Rupturing the activator chamber allows activator to combine with the reactant in an exothermic reaction to heat the contents pouch. Another instant self-heating container includes a flexible outer tube containing contents to be heated, a flexible reaction vessel, and a frangible activator vessel. Bending the outer tube causes the activator vessel to rupture and cause an exothermic reaction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An instant self-heating apparatus, comprising: an outer housing with an open upper end and a closed lower end; a lid attached to the open upper end of the outer housing, the lid comprising a dispenser aperture and an activator chamber with an activator; a separate contents container with a lower end, a sealed upper end, and an interior, the separate contents container disposed inside the outer housing and operable to house liquid contents to be heated; a reactant disposed inside the outer housing below the contents container; and a conduit in fluid communication between the lower end of the separate contents container and the dispenser aperture of the lid; wherein the activator is released from the activator chamber so that the activator contacts the reactant to form an exothermic reaction that produces a gel that expands between the separate contents container and the outer housing to heat the liquid contents to be heated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a vent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a hermetic seal that prevents the liquid contents to be heated from escaping from the contents container prior to breaking the hermetic seal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lid is attached to the open upper end of the outer housing by thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, or an adhesive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, the activator chamber further comprising a piercer and a lower end comprising a membrane, and wherein the activator is released by pushing the piercer through the membrane. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the activator chamber has a downwardly displaceable upper end that contacts the piercer at least when downward force is applied to the upper end of the activator chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the piercer is integrally formed with the activator chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the piercer has across-shaped profile and is pointed at its lower end and flat at its upper end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conduit is a straw. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separate contents container is a pouch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the conduit is formed integrally with the pouch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pouch has a bottom end comprising nestable external and internal gussets, and wherein the inner gusset divides the pouch into a lower chamber and an upper chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the internal gusset of the pouch comprises at least one percolation aperture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the conduit is the only path of fluid communication between the separate contents container and the dispenser aperture, and wherein when gravity forces liquid contents to flow from the lower chamber of the pouch through the conduit, pressure inside the pouch drops in proportion to the liquid contents that exit thereby causing liquid contents to stop flowing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reactant is in direct contact with the lower end of the separate contents container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reactant is disposed inside a pouch in direct contact with the lower end of the separate contents container. ### Claim 17 An instant self-heating apparatus, comprising: an outer housing with an open upper end and a closed lower end; a lid attached to the open upper end of the outer housing, the lid comprising a dispenser aperture and an activator chamber; a piercer disposed inside the activator chamber of the lid; a reactant disposed inside the outer housing at the closed lower end of the housing; a contents container disposed inside the outer housing above the reactant, the contents container comprising a pouch with a sealed upper end and a lower end comprising nestable external and internal gussets, wherein the pouch contains contents to be heated; and a conduit in fluid communication between the lower end of the pouch and the dispenser aperture of the dispenser aperture of the lid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the internal gusset of the pouch comprises at least one percolation aperture. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the conduit is formed integrally with the pouch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid is permanently or removably attached to the housing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a well depression is defined by the dispenser aperture and the lid.