GB2170096A

GB2170096A - Foodstuff container with heating means

Info

Publication number: GB2170096A
Application number: GB08502353A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Saudi Mehdi Shahrestani
Original assignee: TECHNICAL RESEARCH INTERNATION
Current assignee: TECHNICAL RESEARCH INTERNATION
Priority date: 1985-01-30
Filing date: 1985-01-30
Publication date: 1986-07-30
Also published as: GB8502353D0

Abstract

A foodstuff container 1 has a lid 2 removable by pull clip 3; the container is subdivided by wall 5 to contain different foods separately. The container 1 is supported on base B in which is placed fuel F. The base has air holes 7 which are initially covered by removable strip 10 (Figure 3) on which are mounted matchsticks and abrasive paper for igniting fuel F. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Foodstuff container with heating means The invention relates to a container of a foodstuff which is provided with means by which the foodstuff may readily be warmed or cooked and then consumed without the need for external source of heating fuel, tools or the like.

There is a need for a container housing a foodstuff which can easily be used by the masses to feed themselves warm food even when in inconvenient situations. Such a need also exists in snack bars which do not have a license for using any type of fuel for cooking and/or warming foodstuffs.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a food container having a body portion and a base portion, the body portion containing a foodstuff, and the base portion housing a fuel, the wall of the base portion having at least one hole to allow access of air for combustion of the fuel, the hole being covered by a removable strip.

The body portion may be in the usual form of a can or tin of food. The foodstuff may be liquid or solid. The body portion may be divided into compartments each of which contains an individual foodstuff.

The body portion is preferably provided with a removable lid. It is a much preferred feature of the invention that the lid be removable without the use of tools, e.g. a can opener, so that the container of the invention may be used without any further equipment. For this purpose the can lid is preferably provided with a pull ring of the type adapted to remove the entire lid portion, e.g. in a spiral, merely by the pull.

Typically the base portion will have two or three holes or cutouts to facilitate complete combustion of the fuel.

The fuel, most preferably a solid fuel, is selected to be of the type which may be ignited using fire from a match. This has been chosen since everyone usually carries a match or a lighter and so this is a readily available item. As one alternative the match and abrasive paper may be inserted on the plastic and/or aluminium strip covering the holes.

The solid fuel may be of any known chemical form, and may contain exothermic chemicals. The volume of solid fuel will be selected so as to provide sufficient heat to warm or cook the foodstuff, as required.

The solid fuel is preferably held to the floor of the base portion by means of tangs struck up from it or by an adhesive or the like.

The removable cover which may be a piece of aluminium or plastics foil, is present to protect the container during storage and transport, e.g. to keep moisture away from the solid fuel. The cover may carry printing, a fuel igniting means such as a match and abrasive paper and the like.

In another aspect, the invention provides for use in making a food container, a base portion having a floor on which there is a supply of a solid fuel, a wall upstanding from the floor, the top of the wall being adapted for engagement with a food can or tin, the wall having at least one hole to allow access of air for combustion, the hole being covered by a removable cover.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one container; Figure 2 shows that container in expioded perspective view, and Figure 3 is a detail of a cover thereof; and Figures 4 to 6 show different ways of making a container of the invention.

The container illustrated in Figure 1 has a body portion A which comprises a can 1 having a lid 2 which is removable by a pull on a pull clip 3. The clip 3 is arranged to remove the lik 2 as a spiral.

The floor 4 of the can is seaied to the sidewalls, and the can houses two foodstuffs separated by a wall 5, e.g. a portion of cooked rice R and a portion of cooked meat M.

The base portion B comprises a raised floor 6 on which is a block of a solid fuel F. Holes 7 are cut in the walls of the base portion to reach the fuel F and to allow access of air for combustion. The holes are covered by a cover 10, e.g. aluminium foil, Figure 3, which is removed when required.

The cover may contain three matchsticks 11 and abrasive paper 12, Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a perspective drawing showing one method of attachment of the can to the base, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The food container can be mounted on the base portion in one of the three ways as illustrated in Figures 4 to 5. In Figure 4 the food container is glued to the base portion for safe and tight positioning. In Figure 5 the food container is pressed and positioned into the base and then glued by adhesive G. In the above two cases, the container and the base portions are manufactured separately in two pieces in can manufacturer's plant. The two portions are then despatched to the food manufacturer for mounting and insertion of the solid fuel.

Figure 6 shows a food container in which the body and base portions are riveted together and integrally formed in one piece in the can manufacturer's plant and the solid fuel is also inserted in the container, there.

The container is filled with the foodstuffs and the lid 2 sealed thereto in the usual way at a factory.

The fuel F is inserted into the desired position in the base portion B either in the factory or the can manufacturer's plant, and the cover 10 applied.

The container is then shipped out. In use, an unskilled worker, or any other person when at a remote site, travelling on a train, at a picnic, snack bar, office, etc., can remove the cover, pull off the lid 2 and ignite the fuel F to heat the foodstuffs which he can then eat. In this way, he can have a warmed meals without access to can openers, cooking stoves, etc..

1. A food container having a body portion and a base portion, the body portion being adapted to

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Foodstuff container with heating means The invention relates to a container of a foodstuff which is provided with means by which the foodstuff may readily be warmed or cooked and then consumed without the need for external source of heating fuel, tools or the like. There is a need for a container housing a foodstuff which can easily be used by the masses to feed themselves warm food even when in inconvenient situations. Such a need also exists in snack bars which do not have a license for using any type of fuel for cooking and/or warming foodstuffs. According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a food container having a body portion and a base portion, the body portion containing a foodstuff, and the base portion housing a fuel, the wall of the base portion having at least one hole to allow access of air for combustion of the fuel, the hole being covered by a removable strip. The body portion may be in the usual form of a can or tin of food. The foodstuff may be liquid or solid. The body portion may be divided into compartments each of which contains an individual foodstuff. The body portion is preferably provided with a removable lid. It is a much preferred feature of the invention that the lid be removable without the use of tools, e.g. a can opener, so that the container of the invention may be used without any further equipment. For this purpose the can lid is preferably provided with a pull ring of the type adapted to remove the entire lid portion, e.g. in a spiral, merely by the pull. Typically the base portion will have two or three holes or cutouts to facilitate complete combustion of the fuel. The fuel, most preferably a solid fuel, is selected to be of the type which may be ignited using fire from a match. This has been chosen since everyone usually carries a match or a lighter and so this is a readily available item. As one alternative the match and abrasive paper may be inserted on the plastic and/or aluminium strip covering the holes. The solid fuel may be of any known chemical form, and may contain exothermic chemicals. The volume of solid fuel will be selected so as to provide sufficient heat to warm or cook the foodstuff, as required. The solid fuel is preferably held to the floor of the base portion by means of tangs struck up from it or by an adhesive or the like. The removable cover which may be a piece of aluminium or plastics foil, is present to protect the container during storage and transport, e.g. to keep moisture away from the solid fuel. The cover may carry printing, a fuel igniting means such as a match and abrasive paper and the like. In another aspect, the invention provides for use in making a food container, a base portion having a floor on which there is a supply of a solid fuel, a wall upstanding from the floor, the top of the wall being adapted for engagement with a food can or tin, the wall having at least one hole to allow access of air for combustion, the hole being covered by a removable cover. The invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one container; Figure 2 shows that container in expioded perspective view, and Figure 3 is a detail of a cover thereof; and Figures 4 to 6 show different ways of making a container of the invention. The container illustrated in Figure 1 has a body portion A which comprises a can 1 having a lid 2 which is removable by a pull on a pull clip 3. The clip 3 is arranged to remove the lik 2 as a spiral. The floor 4 of the can is seaied to the sidewalls, and the can houses two foodstuffs separated by a wall 5, e.g. a portion of cooked rice R and a portion of cooked meat M. The base portion B comprises a raised floor 6 on which is a block of a solid fuel F. Holes 7 are cut in the walls of the base portion to reach the fuel F and to allow access of air for combustion. The holes are covered by a cover 10, e.g. aluminium foil, Figure 3, which is removed when required. The cover may contain three matchsticks 11 and abrasive paper 12, Figure 3. Figure 2 is a perspective drawing showing one method of attachment of the can to the base, as illustrated in Figure 4. The food container can be mounted on the base portion in one of the three ways as illustrated in Figures 4 to 5. In Figure 4 the food container is glued to the base portion for safe and tight positioning. In Figure 5 the food container is pressed and positioned into the base and then glued by adhesive G. In the above two cases, the container and the base portions are manufactured separately in two pieces in can manufacturer's plant. The two portions are then despatched to the food manufacturer for mounting and insertion of the solid fuel. Figure 6 shows a food container in which the body and base portions are riveted together and integrally formed in one piece in the can manufacturer's plant and the solid fuel is also inserted in the container, there. The container is filled with the foodstuffs and the lid 2 sealed thereto in the usual way at a factory. The fuel F is inserted into the desired position in the base portion B either in the factory or the can manufacturer's plant, and the cover 10 applied. The container is then shipped out. In use, an unskilled worker, or any other person when at a remote site, travelling on a train, at a picnic, snack bar, office, etc., can remove the cover, pull off the lid 2 and ignite the fuel F to heat the foodstuffs which he can then eat. In this way, he can have a warmed meals without access to can openers, cooking stoves, etc.. CLAIMS

1. A food container having a body portion and a base portion, the body portion being adapted to contain a foodstuff and the base portion housing a fuel, the wall of the base portion having at least one hole to allow access of air for combustion of the fuel, the hole being covered by a removable cover.

2. A container according to Claim 1, wherein the body portion is a can or tin of food, optionally divided into compartments each of which contains an individual foodstuff.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the body portion is provided with a removable lid.

4. A container according to any preceding Claim, wherein the base portion is integrally formed with the body portion.

5. A container according to any preceding Claim, wherein the base portion has two or three holes or cutouts to facilitate combustion of the fuel.

6. A container according to any preceding Claim, wherein the fuel is of the type which may be ignited using fire from a match.

7. A container according to Claim 6, wherein the volume of solid fuel is selected so as to provide sufficient heat to cook the foodstuff.

8. A container according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the solid fuel is held to the floor of the base portion by means of tangs struck up from the floor or by an adhesive or the like.

9. A container according to any preceding Claim, wherein the removable cover is aluminium or plastics foil.

10. A container according to Claim 9, wherein the cover includes a match and abrasive paper therefor.

11. A food container, substantially as described and with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.