In one aspect, food transport systems are described herein. In some embodiments, such a system comprises an interior compartment defined by a floor, one or more side walls, and optionally a lid. The lid has open and closed configurations. The lid, or a bottom surface thereof, is in facing opposition to the floor when the lid is in the closed configuration. The side walls comprise fold lines or seams substantially parallel to the floor. Further, the side walls have reduced thickness or rigidity or self-supporting ability at the fold lines. The interior compartment has an extended configuration and a folded configuration. When the interior compartment is in the extended configuration, the side walls are substantially orthogonal to the floor. When the interior compartment is in the folded configuration, the side walls are folded or collapsed onto themselves along the fold lines, in a direction orthogonal to the floor.

In one aspect, a food delivery temperature charging system, temperature charging cradle systems and food transportation system are described herein. In some embodiments, the food delivery temperature charging system contains a temperature charging cradle system including a base unit including a first temperature adjustment unit generating hot or cold air, a backing affixed to the base unit, and a channel duct affixed to the backing, wherein the first temperature adjustment unit is connected to the channel duct so that the channel duct permits free flow of the first temperature medium to a charging station. The food delivery temperature charging system further includes a charging station containing a horizontal shelf for holding a food storage system including a shelf temperature medium portal, which is connected to a channel duct so that the first temperature medium is conveyed from the fully enclosed channel duct to the temperature medium portal.

The present invention discloses a self-heating hot pot with an anti-scald structure and belongs to the technical field of self-heating hot pots. The self-heating hot pot includes an outer housing, an inner container box and a heating bag; a partition plate is arranged inside the inner container box, a bulge is arranged on the top of the inner container box, and the inner container box is placed on a supporting block on the inner wall of the outer housing by the bulge; an anti-scale device including baffles is arranged on a side wall of the outer housing, the two upper and lower baffles form a circle of heat insulation groove on the side wall of the outer housing, a heat expansion assembly is arranged in the heat insulation groove and is connected with an anti-scald plate.

A catering box with active climate control is configured to transport “delicate” foods, such as grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, and hamburgers, without inducing substantial sogginess in the bread of those food items. The catering box includes a heat mass configured to retain heat generated by a hot plate and to then radiate that heat, during transport, after the hot plate has been disconnected from a power source. In addition, the catering box includes an exhaust fan that actively controls internal specific humidity levels in order to prevent moisture from settling within the bread of stored food items. A microcontroller within the catering box monitors temperature and absolute humidity levels, computes the current specific humidity level, and then selectively engages or disengages the exhaust fan in response. With his approach, the catering box may limit the degree to which humidity settles within the bread of delicate food items stored within.

A dish assembly for serving food includes a dish housing that defines a surface, upon which the food can be placed, and an inner compartment, a phase-change material within the inner compartment, and an electrically-conductive element inside the inner compartment and thermally coupled to the phase-change material. In a typical implementation, the phase-change material is adapted to melt in response to the electrically-conductive element being heated by an electromagnetic induction heater. The thus heated dish assembly can facilitate getting hot food to a table while it is still hot, and once at the table, keeping that hot food at least warm for quite some time, while it is consumed.

A food delivery apparatus includes a domed shell that defines an interior space. A thermal storage device is secured to the shell so as to direct heat downward to food within the interior space.

An actively heated mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container is provided. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating or cooling system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating or cooling system can include one or more heating or cooling elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating or cooling elements. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating or cooling system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can turn on, turn off, and/or operate the heating or cooling element to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the liquid in a heated or cooled state generally at a user selected temperature setting based at least in part on the sensed parameter information. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can also be paired with a remote device or mobile electronic device to send or receive communications or commands.

An actively heated or cooled food container can have a lid movable between an open and a closed position and an insulated body to which the lid can be attached. The insulated body can have a sidewall that defines a perimeter of the container body and a base, the sidewall and base defining one or more chambers that can be sealed by the lid. The food container can have a temperature control system that can include one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with one or both of the sidewall and the base and operable to heat or cool one or both of the sidewall and the base to thereby heat or cool the one or more chambers in the food container.

This invention relates to temperature control of hot beverages served in mugs/cups. It is particularly well suited for ensuring that temperatures of hot drinks can be maintained in an optimum/preferred range for long periods of time. It can also be used for heating and/or temperature control of other food items such as soups and gravy, as well as fluids/suspensions/slurries in various consumer, commercial and industrial applications. The invention achieves this by utilizing one or more compact heating blocks that comprises an electrical energy storage module with electric heating, power receiving and recharging circuits that are encapsulated together to permit total immersion in a hot drink. During use, these are be added to a drink to maintain it at a high temperature in a manner similar to ice-cubes that are used with cold drinks. A separate charger is then used to charge/recharge the heating block(s) in a non-contact manner after each use.

A heat loss protection lid for a thermal liquid container system, wherein the heat loss protection lid comprises a central body, a liquid ingress opening formed within the central body, a liquid dispensing opening formed within one of a peripheral edge of the central body or a lip formed around the peripheral edge of the central body. and a concealed air intake hole.