WO2006040571A1

WO2006040571A1 - Temperature control apparatus for food or drink vessels

Info

Publication number: WO2006040571A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/003959
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Ralph Evans; John Jessop; Alison Anderson
Original assignee: Jackel International Limited
Priority date: 2004-10-14
Filing date: 2005-10-14
Publication date: 2006-04-20
Also published as: GB0422792D0

Abstract

Bottle temperature control apparatus (1) has a cooling element (3) within a heating element (7) and an insulating layer (9). Columns (4) of material such as a eutectic material are provided in the cooling element (3). A bottle, such a baby feeding bottle, can be placed in the apparatus (1), inside the cooling element (3). If the columns (3) have been pre-cooled, they will cool the bottle and contents, holding it at a temperature set by the phase change of the eutectic mixture. Alternatively, the heating element (7) can be used to warm the bottle and contents.

Description

Temperature Control Apparatus for Food or Drink Vessels

The present invention relates to temperature control apparatus for food or drink vessels. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to a bottle temperature control apparatus, for use with baby bottles.

Current bottle temperature control apparatus allow a user to heat up a bottle and its contents to a desired temperature. These apparatus are particularly suited for baby bottles where it is necessary to heat up milk before feeding it to a baby. These bottle temperature control apparatus may be portable so that parents can take bottles of baby milk out with them and heat them up when needed.

A problem with the prior art is that if the bottles of milk are stored for too long then they might not be sterile and fresh by the time the user comes to use them.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a temperature control apparatus for a food or drink vessel comprising: a cooling element, relative to which a vessel may be positioned so that in use, the vessel and its contents can be cooled by the cooling element; and a heating element selectively operable to provide heat for heating the vessel and its contents.

Preferably the cooling element contains a material which when undergoing a phase change from solid to liquid may remain at the same temperature. The composition of the material may be chosen so that the phase change occurs at a selected temperature, and the phase change may take several hours in room temperature surroundings. The cooling element may be cooled in a fridge or freezer prior to use. In one embodiment the temperature control apparatus is flexible and may be wrapped around a vessel for use. The temperature control apparatus is reversible, having the cooling element on one face and the heating element on the other face, so that in use, either the heating element or the cooling element can be placed next to the vessel. The heating element may be made of a flexible and conductive material, for example a fabric containing carbon conductors. Electrical contacts may be attached to the material. The heating and cooling elements are preferably thermally insulated from each other.

In a different embodiment the bottle temperature control apparatus may comprise a substantially rigid container within which a vessel can be placed. Preferably when the cooling element is positioned in the container it is located outside of the heating element to be in thermal contact with the vessel through the heating element. Alternatively, the cooling element may be positioned within the container, between the heating element and the vessel.

The apparatus may have an external insulating covering.

The cooling element may be removable from the container. The apparatus may have more than one container for holding vessels.

The apparatus may be arranged so that the heating element is only operable when the cooling element is not in the container. Preferably the heating element has a switch which allows the user to turn the heating element on and off. The heating element may also be controlled by thermostat means. The heating element may comprise connection means for connecting the heating element to a power supply. The power supply may be, for example, a car cigarette lighter or an external battery. The battery may be rechargeable.

The temperature control apparatus may be suitable for use with a bottle, such as a bottle for baby food. The temperature control apparatus may be adapted to receive a vessel with a ridged surface. The temperature control apparatus may have a display, for example, an LED display. The display may show information relating to the apparatus, for example, the temperature of a vessel within the apparatus or the power remaining in the battery.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 is an elevation view of a first embodiment of a temperature control apparatus and bottle for use with it,

Fig 2 is a cross section of the first embodiment at the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 , Fig 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a temperature control apparatus, Figs 4 and 5 are perspective views of the second embodiment in use; and

Fig 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of temperature control apparatus, partly disassembled.

The figures illustrate temperature control apparatus 1 comprising: a cooling element 3, relative to which a vessel in the form of a bottle 5 may be positioned so that in use, the bottle 5 and its contents can be cooled by the cooling element 3; and a heating element 7 selectively operable to provide heat for heating the bottle 5 and its contents. The same reference numerals are used for corresponding features of each embodiment.

Fig. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the temperature control apparatus 1. In this embodiment, the apparatus 1 forms a container within which a bottle 5 can be placed. Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section through the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The apparatus comprises a cooling element 3, a heating element 7 and an insulating layer 9.

The cooling element 3 forms the inner wall of the container. The cooling element 3 has a ridged surface 11 which may correspond to a ridged outer surface of a bottle 5 (see Fig. 1) to allow for more efficient cooling by the cooling element 3 by providing increased surface area for heat transfer.

In this example the cooling element 3 contains columns 4 of a material which can remain at low temperatures, below about 5 degrees C for example, for several hours when stored in room temperature surroundings. Prior to use, the temperature control apparatus 1 is placed in a fridge or a freezer. When cooled below a threshold temperature, dependent upon the composition of the material, the material inside the cooling element 3 will solidify. Once the apparatus is removed from the fridge or the freezer the material inside the cooling element 3 will begin to absorb heat. At the threshold temperature the material will begin to undergo a phase change from solid to liquid, absorbing heat by virtue of the phase change. During this phase change the temperature of the material will remain constant. The time taken for the phase change will depend upon several factors including the volume and composition of the material and the ambient temperature. The volume and composition of the material may be selected so that in room temperature surroundings the phase change may take several hours to complete, thus maintaining the threshold temperature for that period of time. Appropriate materials may be a eutectic mixture, having a well defined melting point.

Examples of eutectic mixtures that could be used include various salt solutions such as sodium chloride (NaC!) or magnesium chloride (MgCI₂) in water. The temperature at which the phase change occurs will also depend on the composition of the material. A typical composition might be between 5% and

23% concentration of NaCI by weight in water. Other concentrations could be used as well as other eutectic mixtures. The composition may be chosen so that the phase change occurs at a particular temperature, below 5 degrees C for example. Therefore when a bottle 5 is placed inside the apparatus, after the apparatus has been cooled in a fridge or freezer, the cooling element 3 may be able to keep the bottle 5 and the contents cool for several hours. If the bottle 5 is holding baby milk, this will ensure that the milk is kept fresh and also that the bottle 5 remains sterile.

The composition of the solution can be selected so that the solution is suitable for use within a temperature range that allows the use of a domestic fridge or freezer (down to around -20⁰C) to be used for the freezing of the eutectic mixture.

The cooling element 3 is preferably removable from the apparatus 1. In this particular embodiment the cooling element 3 has hoops 6 attached to the top which a user can use to lift the cooling element 3 out of the apparatus 1. Alternatively the cooling element 3 may be fixed in position within the heating element 7.

In this embodiment the heating element 7 is cylindrical and the bottle 5 can be placed within the cylinder. The heating element 7 may comprise resistive elements which will heat up when an electrical current is passed through them. The heating element 7 also comprises means for connecting to a power supply. For example the heating element may comprise a plug (not shown) for connection to an external power supply, for example, a car cigarette lighter. Alternatively the power supply may be a battery.

When the user wants to heat up the bottle the user uses a switch 13 to turn the heating element 7 on. The switch 13 may also be used to turn the heating element 7 off again. However the heating element 7 may also be controlled by a thermostat so that the heating element 5 will be switched off automatically once the desired temperature for the bottle 5 has been attained.

If the cooling element 3 is not removable, the heating element 7 must heat up the cooling element 3 as well as the bottle 5 and its contents. This is less efficient than having a removable cooling element 3. Having a removable cooling element 3 also provides the advantage that only the cooling element 3, rather than the entire apparatus 1 , needs to be put in the fridge or the freezer.

The insulating layer 9 covers the outer wall of the container to thermally insulate the heating element 7 and the cooling element 3 from the outer surroundings. This allows the cooling element 3 to remain at a low temperature for a longer amount of time and, once the heating element 7 has been switched on, improves the efficiency of the heating element 7. The layer 9 also improves safety, especially when the element 7 is hot. The insulating layer may be, for example, a neoprene or rubber coating.

The temperature control apparatus 1 may be prepared for re-use, by placing the apparatus 1 or the removable cooling element 3 in a fridge or a freezer until the material inside the cooling element 3 has solidified again.

Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the temperature control apparatus 1 comprises a flexible sleeve 6, having a flexible heating element 7 on one face and a flexible cooling element 3 on the other face. The sleeve 6 may be reversibly wrapped around a vessel such as a bottle 5 in use so that either one of the faces is positioned next to the bottle 5. The bottle 5 is shown in dotted lines in figure 3.

In this embodiment the heating element 7 is made of a conductive fabric, for example a fabric containing carbon conductors. Electrical contacts are attached to the fabric for supplying current to the conductors. The heating element 7 can be switched on and off by the user. The heating element 7 may also be connected to a thermostat.

The cooling element 3 is similar to the cooling element 3 in the first embodiment. The cooling element 3 comprises columns 4 of material which can remain at low temperatures for several hours, as described above. Preferably the cooling element 3 also has a ridged surface 11.

The ends 23 of the flexible sleeve 6 can be attached to the rigid member 21. This forms a tube within which a bottle 5 may be positioned. Preferably the flexible sleeve 6 is removably attachable at one end so that the user can arrange the tube in one of two configurations. In the first configuration the cooling element 3 is on the inner side of the tube while in the second configuration the heating element 7 is on the inner side of the tube. In Fig. 3 the apparatus 1 is shown in the second configuration. When not in use the apparatus 1 may be stored flat.

In this particular embodiment the rigid member 21 also provides means for connecting the heating element 7 to a power supply. In this embodiment the connecting means terminates at a plug 31 which may be suitable for use with a car cigarette lighter, for example. In other embodiments there may be a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery. The switch 13 may be used to switch the heating element 7 on and off.

Having removably attachable ends to the heating element 7 and cooling element 3 also provides the advantage that the user can open up the bottle temperature control apparatus 1 and then fasten it around a bottle 5. This may be easier than trying to insert a bottle 5 within the tube.

In between the cooling element 3 and the heating element 7 is an insulating layer 9. When the apparatus 1 is being used to cool a bottle 5, this layer 9 insulates the cooling element 3 from the surroundings and thereby allows the cooling element 3 to remain at a low temperature for longer. The insulating layer 9 also insulates the heating element 7 from the cooling element 3 so that, when the heating element 7 is turned on, it does not waste power heating up the cooling element 3.

In other embodiments the flexible sleeve 6 may not be removably attachable, in which case, the apparatus 1 would not be reversible. This would make the apparatus 1 less efficient, as the cooling element 3 and heating element 7 could not be insulated form each other and therefore the heating element 7, when in use, would heat up the cooling element 3 as well as the bottle 5 and its contents.

Figure 4 illustrates the temperature control apparatus 1 in use cooling a bottle. The temperature control apparatus 1 has been wrapped around the bottle so that the cooling element 3 is next to the bottle and the heating element 7 is on the outside. The pre-cooled cooling element 3 will therefore absorb heat from the bottle 5 and contents, undergoing a phase change as it does so, and thereby maintaining a cool temperature for the bottle 5 for an extended period.

Figure 5 illustrates the temperature control apparatus 1 ready for heating a bottle 5. The apparatus 1 is now wrapped around the bottle so that the heating element 7 is next to the bottle 5 and the cooling element 3 is on the outside.

In the embodiment shown, a display 25 can be incorporated in the electrical connection to the rigid member 21. In this embodiment the display 25 comprises a series of LEDs 27. The LEDs 27 may provide an indication of, for example, the temperature of the bottle 5. For instance the first LED 27a may be illuminated when the bottle 5 is below a certain temperature, the second LED 27b may light up when the heating element 7 has been switched on, and the third LED 27c may light up once the heating element 7 has been turned off by the thermostat. An LED 27 may also start to flash if the bottle 5 temperature has risen above a certain temperature unintentionally, for example, if the cooling element 3 has been out of the fridge or freezer for too long and is no longer keeping the bottle cold enough. In embodiments where the power supply comprises a battery the display 25 may also be able to indicate when the battery charge is low.

The temperature control apparatus 1 may be arranged so that the heating element 7 can only be turned on when the apparatus 1 is in the second configuration, with the heating element 7 on the inner side of the tube. For example, in the embodiment shown in figs 3 to 5 the display 25 and plug 31 can only be attached to one side of the rigid member 21 , so that when the apparatus 1 is in the first configuration it cannot be connected to a power supply. This would prevent the heating element 7 being turned on and the bottle 5 being heated up unintentionally. Alternatively the apparatus 1 may be provided with an override switch, to disable the heating element 7.

Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of the temperature control apparatus 1. In this embodiment the apparatus 1 comprises a rigid, thermally insulated container 41. The heating element 7 is inside the rigid container 41 and is cylindrical to receive a bottle 5 positioned within the heating element 7. There is a cylindrical space 42 around the element 7, between the element 7 and the container 41.

The cooling element is beatable in the space 42 between the heating element 7 and the outside of the rigid container 41 so that when the cooling element 3 is in use it will cool the heating element 7 as well as a bottle inside the heating element 7.

The cooling element 3 is removable from the rigid container. As the cooling element 3 is not insulated from the heating element 7, the apparatus 1 may be arranged so that the heating element 7 cannot be switched on until the cooling element 3 has been removed. The embodiment shown in fig 6 the apparatus has a removable lid 43. The lid 43 may be thermally insulated to improve the efficiency of the apparatus 1. The lid 43 also comprises a display 25 which may be similar to the display 25 in the second embodiment and may, for example, comprise a number of LEDs 27 indicating the temperature status of the bottle 5, as in the previously described embodiments. The lid 43 may also comprise a switch 13 for switching the heating element 7 on and off.

Thus in this embodiment, a bottle can be placed in the heating element 7, prior to the lid 43 being closed. If the cooling element is present, the heating element 7 will be disabled or switched off, and the bottle will be cooled by the cooling element 3, maintaining a low temperature until the phase change is complete. Alternatively, the cooling element 3 can be removed, and the heating element 7 used to warm the bottle and its contents.

Thus, in all of the embodiments which have been described, a cooling element and a heating element are both provided. It is envisaged that when a bottle of baby food, milk or the like is first placed in the apparatus, the pre-cooled cooling element will maintain an adequately low temperature to maintain the food fresh and the bottle sterile, at least until the cooling element is unable to absorb any further heat. When the food is to be fed to a baby, the heating element can be used to heat the food to an appropriate temperature. Thus, there is provided a convenient apparatus for maintaining food at a low temperature until needed, and then to heat the food to the required temperature.

The temperature control apparatus 1 of any of the embodiments may be portable and may be battery powered or it may be have a plug which can be connected to a car cigarette lighter. The apparatus may also be suitable for connecting to a mains electricity supply so that the apparatus can also be used in a house for example. The temperature control apparatus 1 of any of the embodiments may have more than one container so that the user may take more than one bottle with them.

The temperature control apparatus has been described particularly in relation to bottles, but can be used in relation to other food or drink vessels, such as drinking vessels, feeding vessels, cups, bowls, food boxes, lunch boxes or the like.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed for example, the apparatus may have more than one heating element or cooling element. Heating has been described as electrical heating. Other techniques, such as exothermal reactions, could be used. Other cooling technologies could be used, such as heat exchanges or refrigerator devices.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A temperature control apparatus for a food or drink vessel comprising: a cooling element, relative to which a vessel may be positioned so that in use, the vessel and its contents can be cooled by the cooling element; and a heating element selectively operable to provide heat for heating the vessel and its contents.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling element contains a material which when undergoing a phase change from solid to liquid remains at substantially the same temperature.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the composition of the material is chosen so that the phase change occurs at a selected temperature.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the phase change takes several hours in room temperature surroundings.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the cooling element is cooled in a fridge or freezer prior to use.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the temperature control apparatus is flexible to be wrapped around a vessel for use.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the temperature control apparatus is reversible, having the cooling element on one face and the heating element on the other face, so that in use, either the heating element or the cooling element can be placed next to the vessel.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating element is made of a flexible and conductive material.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the heating element is a fabric containing conductors.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein electrical contacts are attached to the material.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating and cooling elements are thermally insulated from each other.

12. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bottle temperature control apparatus comprises a substantially rigid container within which a vessel can be placed.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cooling element is removable from the container.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus is arranged so that the heating element is only operable when the cooling element is not in the container.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein when the cooling element is positioned in the container it is located outside of the heating element to be in thermal contact with the vessel through the heating element.

16. Apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the cooling element is positioned within the container, between the heating element and the vessel.

17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus has an external insulating covering.

18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating element has a switch which allows the user to turn the heating element on and off.

19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating element is controlled by thermostat means.

20. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating element comprises connection means for connecting the heating element to a power supply.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the power supply is a car cigarette lighter or an external battery.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the battery is rechargeable.

23. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus has more than one container for holding vessels.

24. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is suitable for use with a bottle.

25. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is suitable for use with a vessel for baby food.

26. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the temperature control apparatus is adapted to receive a vessel with a ridged surface.

27. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the temperature control apparatus has a display.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the display is an LED display.

29. Apparatus according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the display shows information relating to the apparatus.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the display is operable to show the temperature of a vessel within the apparatus or the power remaining in the battery.

31. A temperature control apparatus, substantially as described above, with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or Figs. 3 to 5, or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

32. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.