Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with container – enclosure – or support for material...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-04-24
Pelham, Joseph (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with container, enclosure, or support for material...
C219S528000, C219S540000, C219S546000, C219S549000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222160
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to containers for transporting and delivering prepared foods and particularly to heated containers for maintaining food at a desired temperature during transport and delivery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various configurations of containers and bags have been constructed for transport and delivery of prepared foods, including various devices for keeping the food warm during transit. However, prior devices have been inadequate or unacceptable for reasons of poor performance, undue complexity, high cost of manufacture and other reasons. Examples of prior food delivery bags and containers include those illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,736 to Schirico, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,646 to Solomon, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,626 to Fiddler. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
There is a need for an efficient, effective heated food delivery bag or container that also has low cost of manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a food delivery bag or container of simple construction containing a heater of similar simple construction, which results in a low cost, efficient food delivery bag or container. This inventions achieves such results by combining in a unique combination certain heating elements or devices and certain heat management insulation materials and devices. The combination in its most basic form comprises a food delivery bag or container wherein at least one surface thereof, a side wall, top or bottom, comprises four parts: two metal foil layers, one facing the interior of the bag or container and one facing away from the interior, a heating element positioned between the metal foil layers and an insulation layer on the outside of the metal foil layer facing away from the interior. Each of these four elements can comprise various properties or characteristics, as disclosed herein, and additional layers, elements, components or materials can be incorporated with the basic four elements to enhance desired performance parameters of the food transport container of this invention. This aspect of this invention can be utilized in only one or up to all six surfaces of a cube shaped food bag or transport container, or can be used in a circular wall of a cylinder shaped container.
In one aspect of the invention, the heating element is a conventional resistance wire heater laid between the metal foil layers in any desired pattern. This type heating element has previously not been desirable in this type application due to the hot spot heating characteristics of such heater. However, as this invention provides, the combination of such a heating element with the metal foil layers and the insulation layer, the heat from the heating element is not only spread fairly evenly across the surface area, but the heat is directed toward the food by the insulation layer and by the heat reflecting and radiating characteristics of the metal foil, such as aluminum foil. This combination enables the use of inexpensive resistance heating wire having simple and low power requirements.
The above basic combination of this invention is utilized to construct any desired food or pizza transport and delivery bag or container, depending on the performance needed in a particular situation. The above four element wall construction can be enhanced with additional layers of metal foil, additional layers of insulation material, enclosed in a desired casing, such as fabric or plastic, and, as will be apparent, constructed with conventional closures, carry handles or straps, pockets, logos or advertising and the like.
In another aspect, this invention provides a method of making a food transport or delivery bag or container comprising assembling in at least one wall or surface of the bag or container the combination of two metal foil layers, a heater element positioned between the two metal foil layers and an insulation layer on one side one of metal foil layers opposite the heater element. The method of assembly may comprise including layers of thermoplastic or thermoset adhesive in the form of tape, sheet or spray between the metal foil layers and/or between the metal foil and insulation layers to form a unitary laminate suitable for bag or container construction. The method further comprises forming the wall or surface sections into a desired container shape, attaching the walls or surfaces together in the desired shape and attaching desired closure devices and carrying devices.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3697728 (1972-10-01), Stirzenbecher
patent: 3721803 (1973-03-01), DiStefano
patent: 4806736 (1989-02-01), Schirico
patent: 4816646 (1989-03-01), Solomon et al.
patent: 4922626 (1990-05-01), Fiddler
patent: 5111577 (1992-05-01), Sheridan et al.
patent: 5408068 (1995-04-01), Ng
patent: 5408071 (1995-04-01), Ragland et al.
patent: 5436429 (1995-07-01), Cline
patent: 5633064 (1997-05-01), Ragland et al.
patent: 5767024 (1998-06-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5800905 (1998-09-01), Sheridan et al.
patent: 5880435 (1999-03-01), Bostic
patent: 5892202 (1999-04-01), Baldwin et al.
patent: 5939212 (1999-08-01), Ragland et al.
patent: 5958603 (1999-09-01), Ragland et al.
patent: 6018143 (2000-01-01), Check
patent: WO98/44835 (1998-04-01), None
Dahlke-Baumann Jeanne L.
Remke Matthew S.
ATD Corporation
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Pelham Joseph
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