The invention relates to a portable hand-held device for accommodating and transporting food or a beverage, having a thermally insulated container (2), which is intended to accommodate food or a beverage in an accommodating space (7) and which has an inner and an outer wall (8), and an insulating space (9) arranged therebetween, enclosing the accommodating space, the insulating space being of closed and sealed design and having been evacuated; and having a container closure (3), which is intended to close a container opening (4) of the thermally insulated container (2), wherein the insulating space (9) contains a working medium (11) which, by means of thermal energy being supplied from the outside via the outer wall (8), can be transferred in a reversible manner between a thermally insulating, initial state, in which the working medium (11) is in the solid state and is in contact with the outer wall (6), and is not in contact with the inner wall (5), and a thermally conductive state, in which at least some of the working medium (11) is in the liquid state and has expanded and is in thermally conductive contact both with the outer wall (6) and with the inner wall (5). The invention also provides a method for controlling the temperature of food or of a beverage in a portable hand-held device.

The invention relates to a portable hand-held device for accommodating and transporting food or a beverage, having a thermally insulated container (2), which is intended to accommodate food or a beverage in an accommodating space (7) and which has an inner and an outer wall (8), and an insulating space (9) arranged therebetween, enclosing the accommodating space, the insulating space being of closed and sealed design and having been evacuated; and having a container closure (3), which is intended to close a container opening (4) of the thermally insulated container (2), wherein the insulating space (9) contains a working medium (11) which, by means of thermal energy being supplied from the outside via the outer wall (8), can be transferred in a reversible manner between a thermally insulating, initial state, in which the working medium (11) is in the solid state and is in contact with the outer wall (6), and is not in contact with the inner wall (5), and a thermally conductive state, in which at least some of the working medium (11) is in the liquid state and has expanded and is in thermally conductive contact both with the outer wall (6) and with the inner wall (5). The invention also provides a method for controlling the temperature of food or of a beverage in a portable hand-held device.

This invention is in the field of expandable, exothermic gel-forming compositions that are predominately useful in the consumer products and medical industries. More particularly, it relates to the use of expandable particulate exothermic gel-forming compositions with efficient and long-lasting heat production for heating surfaces and objects without the need for electricity or combustible fuel.

A self-warming bottle assembly includes a bottle that may contain a fluid. The bottle has a chamber that is fluidly discrete from an interior of the bottle. A warming media is positioned within the chamber. Thus, the warming media selectively warms the fluid in the bottle. A sleeve is removably positioned around the bottle and the sleeve may be manipulated. The sleeve inhibits the warming media from warming the fluid.

A self-warming bottle assembly includes a bottle that may contain a fluid. The bottle has a chamber that is fluidly discrete from an interior of the bottle. A warming media is positioned within the chamber. Thus, the warming media selectively warms the fluid in the bottle. A sleeve is removably positioned around the bottle and the sleeve may be manipulated. The sleeve inhibits the warming media from warming the fluid.

A food tray cover comprising a frame, the frame dimensioned to seat atop a food tray, the frame including an upper surface having an outer edge, an inner edge, and a sidewall extending downwardly from the outer edge, the upper surface has an opening, the perimeter of the opening being defined by the inner edge of the upper surface; a lid rotatably attached to the frame over the opening formed therein, the lid being moveable between an open position and a closed position; means for biasing the lid between the closed position and the open position; and means for releasably locking the lid to the frame when in the closed position.

A food tray cover comprising a frame, the frame dimensioned to seat atop a food tray, the frame including an upper surface having an outer edge, an inner edge, and a sidewall extending downwardly from the outer edge, the upper surface has an opening, the perimeter of the opening being defined by the inner edge of the upper surface; a lid rotatably attached to the frame over the opening formed therein, the lid being moveable between an open position and a closed position; means for biasing the lid between the closed position and the open position; and means for releasably locking the lid to the frame when in the closed position.

The invention relates to a portable hand-held device for accommodating and transporting food or a beverage, having a thermally insulated container (2), which is intended to accommodate food or a beverage in an accommodating space (7) and which has an inner and an outer wall (8), and an insulating space (9) arranged therebetween, enclosing the accommodating space, the insulating space being of closed and sealed design and having been evacuated; and having a container closure (3), which is intended to close a container opening (4) of the thermally insulated container (2), wherein the insulating space (9) contains a working medium (11) which, by means of thermal energy being supplied from the outside via the outer wall (8), can be transferred in a reversible manner between a thermally insulating, initial state, in which the working medium (11) is in the solid state and is in contact with the outer wall (6), and is not in contact with the inner wall (5), and a thermally conductive state, in which at least some of the working medium (11) is in the liquid state and has expanded and is in thermally conductive contact both with the outer wall (6) and with the inner wall (5). The invention also provides a method for controlling the temperature of food or of a beverage in a portable hand-held device.

The invention relates to a portable hand-held device for accommodating and transporting food or a beverage, having a thermally insulated container (2), which is intended to accommodate food or a beverage in an accommodating space (7) and which has an inner and an outer wall (8), and an insulating space (9) arranged therebetween, enclosing the accommodating space, the insulating space being of closed and sealed design and having been evacuated; and having a container closure (3), which is intended to close a container opening (4) of the thermally insulated container (2), wherein the insulating space (9) contains a working medium (11) which, by means of thermal energy being supplied from the outside via the outer wall (8), can be transferred in a reversible manner between a thermally insulating, initial state, in which the working medium (11) is in the solid state and is in contact with the outer wall (6), and is not in contact with the inner wall (5), and a thermally conductive state, in which at least some of the working medium (11) is in the liquid state and has expanded and is in thermally conductive contact both with the outer wall (6) and with the inner wall (5). The invention also provides a method for controlling the temperature of food or of a beverage in a portable hand-held device.

A chafing dish and frame assembly including a lower frame section for supporting a disposable food tray for holding food, an upper frame section pivotally attached to the lower frame section; a disposable food cover supported by the upper frame section; and a pivot hinge that pivotally connects the upper frame section to the lower frame section. The pivot hinge allows the disposable food cover to be pivoted up to ninety degrees relative to the disposable food tray from a closed position, wherein the disposable food cover rests on top of the disposable food tray, to an open position wherein the disposable food cover is pivoted upwardly so that the food in the disposable food tray may be accessed.