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Title:
HEATING ELEMENT-ACCOMMODATING STRUCTURE SUITABLE FOR USE IN FOOD STORAGE POUCH
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2005/120315
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a heating-accommodating structure suitable for use in a food storage pouch which has opposite lateral sides folded in an M shape so as to contain a relatively large volume of food, comprising a heating package (20) in which the heating element is installed, a pack (30) for housing the heating package (20), and a hole (31) for discharging vapor, formed in a sealed portion of the heating package-housing pack (30) and communicating with the outside at a middle portion of the sealed edges of an outer skin (11) by connecting the sealed portion of the heating package-housing pack (30) of the sealed edges of the outer skin (11). With this structure, the pouch (10) can be prepared simply and inexpensively due to the absence of such a double structure for the heating package-housing pack (30).

Inventors:
JO BYUNG CHUL (KR)
Application Number:
PCT/KR2005/001648
Publication Date:
December 22, 2005
Filing Date:
June 02, 2005
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
KRAUZEN CO LTD (KR)
JO BYUNG CHUL (KR)
International Classes:
A47J36/28; A47J39/02; B65D30/10; B65D33/16; B65D81/34; B65D81/38; (IPC1-7): A47J36/28; A47J39/02; B65D30/10; B65D81/38
Foreign References:
US4777930A1988-10-18
US4904489A1990-02-27
US6512211B12003-01-28
Other References:
DATABASE WPI Week 200340, Derwent World Patents Index; AN 2003-427135
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Jin Ho SO. (Room 401 Jeil Bldg, 823-41, Yeoksam-don, Kangnam-gu Seoul 135-080, KR)
Download PDF:
Description:
Description

HEATING ELEMENT-ACCOMMODATING STRUCTURE

SUITABLE FOR USE IN FOOD STORAGE POUCH Technical Field [1] The present invention relates to a pouch for storing food contents, provided with a heating element. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heating element- accommodating structure suitable for use in a food storage pouch capable of containing and heating a relatively large volume of food contents inliquid form, such as a beverage or a herbal medicine, or in a semi-solid form, such as soup, stew, sauce, etc., in which a pack housing a sealed heating package is provided to a middle portion of one side of the pouch so as to rapidly transfer heat throughout the food contents, whereby the pouch can be prepared simply and inexpensively due to the absence of a double structure for the heating package-housing pack. Background Art [2] Disposable food-heating pouches, generally made from synthetic resin, are adapted to contain liquid contents, such as a beverage, an herbal medicine, etc., or semi-solid contents, such as soup, stew, sauce, etc., and a heating system usable anywhere and anytime. [3] As such, a disposable food heating pouch is furnished with a heating element (usually, a liquid pack containing an exothermic solution and a metal pack containing a metal exothermic material), many techniques for which have been disclosed. An invention filed by the present applicant, entitled "Disposable food heating pouch having water discharge/inflow prevention structure", comprises a heating space 11 for accommodating a heating package 20 serving to heat food contents which may be a liquid or a viscous semi-solid, and a food storage space 12, provided within the heating space 11, for containing the food contents, wherein a vapor outlet 13 is provided from the heating space 11 to the outside of the food heating pouch 10 to externally discharge the vapor generated by the heating package 20; a shielding flap 14 able to be removed by tearing is integrally formed to block the vapor outlet 13; and a heating package- housing pack 30 having the heating package 20 sealed therein is provided within the heating space 11, the heating package-housing pack 30 comprising a vapor guiding path 31 which extends from the inside of the sealed space to the outside of the heating package 11 in such a manner as to retard the vapor discharge. [4] Although featuring a double structure in which the heating space is provided, the heating package, and the heating package-housing pack, the structure of the food heating pouch 10 is substantially the same as those of prior arts. [5] Usually, in such a heating element-housing structure of a food storage pouch, especially, a pouch having a heating element therein, the heating element is provided at an internal bottom portion. [6] However, this heating element installation structure suffers from the disadvantages of being unable to uniformly transfer heat due to the localized position of the heating element and of having poor heat transfer efficiency, e.g., prolonged heat transfer time, due to the dual structure of the heating space 11. [7] Although proven to have excellent ability to prevent water discharge/inflow, the disposable food heating pouch having a water discharge/inflow prevention structure, patents for which have been previously applied for by the present applicant, is found to have somewhat low heat transfer efficiency because the heating package is housed in the pack which is then inserted into the heating space 11. [8] Particularly, conventional food heating pouches, as well as the prior invention of the present applicant, can be effectively applied to a small volume of foods, but not to a large volume. [9] Therefore, there is a need for a food storage pouch that has greatly improved heat transfer efficiency and can heat a large volume of food to a sufficiently high temperature. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [10] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to providea heating element- accommodating structure suitable for usein a food storage pouch capable of containing and heating a relatively large volume of food contents in liquid form, such as a beverage or a herbal medicine, or in semi-solid form, such as soup, stew, sauce, etc., in which a sealed pack housing a heating package is provided to a middle portion of one side of the pouch so as to rapidly transfer heat throughout the food contents, whereby the pouch can realize maximum heat transfer efficiency per heating time and be prepared simply and inexpensively due to the absence of a double structure for the heating package-housing pack. Technical Solution [11] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a heating element- accommodating structure suitable for use in a food storage pouch which ha- sopposite lateral sides folded in an M shape so as to contain a relatively large volume of foods, comprises a heating package in which the heating element is installed, a pack for housing the heating package, and a hole for discharging vapor, formed in a sealed portion of the heating package-housing pack and communicating with the outside at a middle portion of the sealed edge of an outer skin by connecting the sealed portion of the heating package-housing pack to the sealed edge of the outer skin. [12] Before describing the best mode of the present invention, a description will be given of the heating package used in the present invention, below. [13] The heating package 20, as seen in FIG. 3, consists of a main body 21 and a cover 22, with a liquid pack 28 and a solid pack 29 contained therein. The main body is hinged on one side of the cover 22, with a locking means provided on the other side. On respective external surfaces of the main body 21 and the cover 22, press portions 23 and 24 are formed which become internally depressed in response to external pressure and are partially cut out so as to allow a exploding operation. On the internal surface of the press portion 24 of the cover 22 is provided a rupture member 25, which tears the liquid pack 28 when pressed. Holes 26 are formed around the press portions 23 and 24 so as to pass the exothermic solution flowing out of the liquid pack 28 therethrough. The liquid pack 28 confining the exothermic solution is made from soft synthetic resin, and the solid pack 29 confining the metal exothermic material is made from non- woven fabric. The heating package is well described in Korean Pat. Appl'n No. 2004-0036956, which was submitted by the present applicant. Resulting from the modification of the previous invention, the present invention provides a structure in which to dispose a heating package-housing pack, which can be applied to an M- shaped pouch with a large capacity. Advantageous Effects [14] By providing a sealed pack housing a heating package to a middle portion of one side of a pouch, the pouch for use in storing and heating a relatively large volume of food contents in liquid form, such as a beverage or an herbal medicine or in semi-solid form, such as soup, stew, sauce, etc., allows heat to be transferred rapidly throughout the food contents and thus can maximize heat transfer efficiency. In addition, without having a double structure, the pouch can be provided with a heating package so that it has a simple structure and can be prepared efficiently and at low cost. Brief Description of the Drawings [15] FIG. 1 is a partially cross-sectioned perspective view showing a conventional food storing pouch provided with a heating element; [16] FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectioned perspective view showing the structure of a heating package-housing pack of the conventional pouch; [17] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a heating package; [18] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an M-shaped pouch to which the structure of the present invention is applied; [19] FIG. 5 is a partially dissected perspective view showing the heating element- accommodating structure of the present invention; [20] FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view showing showing the heating element- accommodating structure of the present invention; [21] FIG. 7 is a side view showing the heating element- accommodating structure of the present invention; [22] FIG. 8 is a planar cross sectional view showing the heating element-accommodating structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [23] FIG. 9 is a planar cross sectional view showing the heating element-accommodating structure according to another embodiment of the present invention; and [24] FIG. 10 is a partially cross-sectioned front view showing the heating element- accommodating structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [25] Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. [26] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the structure of a food heating pouch according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially dissected perspective view showing the overall structure of the food heating pouch according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partially dissected perspective view showingthe structure of a heating package housing pack in accordance with the presence invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a heating package and its contents. FIGS. 5a to 5c show the operation of the present invention. In the figures, reference numeral 10 refers to a food heating pouch, reference numeral 20 to a heating package, and reference numeral 30 to a package housing pack. [27] As seen in FIGS. 4 to 6, the structure for accommodating a heating element for a food storage pouch which has opposite lateral sides folded in an M shape so as to contain a relatively large volume of foods, comprises a heating package 20 in which the heating element is installed, a pack 30 for housing the heating package 20, and a hole 31 for discharging vapor, formed in a sealed portion of the heating package- housing pack 30, which communicates with the outside at a middle portion of the sealed edge of an outer skin 11 by connecting the sealed portion of the heating package-housing pack 30 to the sealed edge of the outer skin 11. [28] The pouch 10 has a spout 13 which is opened or closed by a cap at one end and is provided with a tearing tap 14 at the other end. A vapor outlet 12 is provided to communicate the hole 31 of the heating package-housing pack 30 with the outside. A shielding flap 14 is integrally formed to block the vapor outlet 12 during storage and can be removed by tearing upon use. [29] A waterproof/gas-permeable non-woven fabric 32is provided to the inner side of the hole 31 of the heating package-housing pack 30 which may be made from a synthetic resin or a waterproof/gas-permeable non-woven fabric. [30] For the operation of the heating element of the present invention, the shielding scrap 15 formed integrally on a sealed side of the pouch 10 is removed by tearing, followed by pressing the press portions 23 and 24 of the heating package 20 to rupture the liquid pack 28. Then, the exothermic solution flows from the liquid pack 28 to the metal exothermic material in the solid pack 29, so that an exothermic reaction occurs. [31] Upon the exothermic reaction, vapor as well as heat is generated in the solid pack 29. The non- woven fabric 32 formed on the inner side of the hole 31 allows the vapor, but not resultant moisture, to pass therethrough. With the structure described above, both the exothermic solution flowing out of the liquid pack 28 and the moisture resulting from the vapor are prevented from being discharged externally through the outlet 12.Otherwise, the user may be inconvenienced or burned by the hot water discharged externally. [32] Additionally, in the course of a pasteurizationprocess in a warm bath during the preparation of the food heating pouch 10, the structure blocks the introduction of the pasteurizing water into the heating space, thereby preventing the inadvertent operation of the heating package. [33] Further, in the structure of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pack 30 housing the heat package 20 is not inserted into an additional double space as in conventional structures, but is in contact with food contents so as to rapidly transfer the heat generated from the heating package 20 throughout the food contents. Ad¬ ditionally, the pack 30 housing the heating package 20 is provided at the middle portion of the pouch 10 so that the food contents can be heated uniformly. Ac¬ cordingly, the structure of the present invention, which overcomes the problem of unevenly heating food contents, shows excellent heat transfer efficiency. [34] Alternatively, the heating package-housing pack 30, as shown in FIG. 9, may be fixed to the opposite edgesof the pouch by sealing them together with the pack. In addition, the hole 31 formed in the heating package-housing pack may be extended to penetrate through the sealed portion, thereby retardingthe leakage of the moisture that is unavoidably generated. Industrial Applicability [35] Because the heating package-housing pack is located at a middle portion of one side of a pouch, the heat generated from the pack can be rapidly and evenly transferred throughoutthe food contents. Accordingly, the pouch according to the present invention is suitable for use in storing and heating a relatively large volume of food contents in liquid form, such as a beverage or a herbal medicine, or semi-solid form, such as soup, stew, sauce, etc. In addition, without a double structure, the pouch is provided with a heating package so that it has a simple structure and can be prepared readily and at low cost.