Container with self-heating module having liquid reactant and breakable reactant barrier at distal end of module

Abstract

A self-heating or self-cooling container has a container body, a closure at one end of the body through which the contents of the container can be consumed, and a thermic module at the other end of the body having an actuator portion and an elongated reaction chamber portion that extends distally into the container body and contains a liquid reactant relatively more distally from the actuator portion than a solid reactant separated from the liquid reactant by a breakable barrier. When a user actuates the thermic module, an elongated actuator member punctures the barrier. The user can then immediately invert the container, allowing the liquid reactant to drain through the puncture into the solid reactant in the reaction chamber. The reactants mix and produce a reaction that, depending upon the reactants, either heats or cools the container contents by conduction through the thermic module wall. An advantage is that the user does not need to wait to invert the container after actuating it. Rather, the user can actuate the container, immediately invert it, wait until the contents reach the desired temperature, and consume the contents through the closure.