FIELD OF INVENTION:

The field of invention relates to heating packaged food more specifically without the use of any other external heating source.

PRIOR ART:

Food packed in heat processed flexible pouches or trays are generally stored at room temperature and require heating to retain its actual taste before consumption. Normal heating procedures may not be available at all areas. Thus a self heating system is necessary to heat up the contents inside the pouch or tray. Self heating using various chemicals are expensive and the containers have to be specially manufactured for this purpose. Moreover, it increases the bulkiness of the product. This is a major drawback during transportation and pricing of the product. Other such technologies in metal containers needed a hammer like tool to puncture the chemical area. The aim of this technology is to develop an innovative process in terms of packaging design and heat generation to overcome such practical problems and done by an efficient heat generation system. The present technology can be effectively used in flexible pouches and HIPP trays and does not have any difficulty in triggering the exothermic reaction. The expense for manufacture of Seafood Self heating pack is affordable. This will be useful for heating the product particularly in the forward for defense purpose.

The US 2003/0087051 Al Insulating packaging material is wrapped or otherwise positioned around the typically temperature sensitive product, with the packing material including, alternatively, 1 ply (FIG. 22; metallized plastic film), 2 ply (FIGS. 23 & 24) and 3 ply (FIG. 25) material, in which some of the 2 ply & 3 ply embodiments include a layer of bubble wrap material having its bubble side placed or laminated against the fiat side of the adjacent ply, which adjacent ply can be, for example, a motorized plastic film or a foam layer or both layers can be included. With such a bubble side arrangement, multitudinous air pockets are formed between the bubbles of the bubble wrap and the other ply's typically fiat interfacing surface. A separate layer of bubble wrap also preferably is placed about the interior of the box with its bubble side placed against the interior fiat surfaces of the box, with the bubbles forming air pockets with the fiat sides, further enhancing the insulating properties of the packaging for the goods. An exemplary system for delivering perishable groceries (120/1201), including a corrugated cardboard or other type box (100); a source of cold (or heat as needed) maintaining the temperature inside the box within a desired temperature range for hours or days, using an all encompassing pouch of packet material (110/10), used individually (FIGS. 2 & 3) or collectively (FIGS. 5 & 6), with each packet (17) containing a super-absorbent polymer (14, FIG. 12) which is hydrated (14', FIG. 12A) and then either frozen (e.g., in a freezer) or heated (e.g., in a microwave), without producing moisture as the polymer returns to its natural state; a protective cover (130) protecting the box and its contents from heat radiation

The US 2,900,260 This invention relates to transparent rubber hydrochloride film to which a high oxygen diffusion rate has been imparted by plasticization. This film is designed espe-cially for packaging freshly cut red meats, and particularly for packaging such meats for sale in self-service stores where the meats must retain their red color for at least twenty-four hours, and preferably over a week end. The invention includes the film and red meats packaged in the film. The term "red meats" as used herein means, more particularly, roasts and steaks and the like of fresh beef, mutton, -veal, game, and pork. The film may also be used for packaging other meats, as fresh poultry, fish, seafood, etc., and in the packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables, where relatively high gas permeation through the film wrapper is important.

The US 7,160,939 B2 A compound permitting the economic production of packaging containers, which when activated produces concentrated amounts of C02 gas for extended periods for preservation of perishable products therein, comprises a mixture including a C02 generating portion incorporated within a polymer matrix. Preferably, the mixture includes citric acid; calcium carbonate, and polyethylene resin. More preferably, the mixture includes a mixture of a carboxylic acid (0.1-40%); a hydrogen carbonate (0.1-40%) and any polyolefin resin. Even more preferably, the mixture includes a mixture including (0.01-40%) Citric Acid; (0.01-40%); and 30-75% polyethylene resin. Most preferably, the mixture includes by weight 12% citric acid; 38% calcium carbonate; and 50% low density polyethylene resin with a melt index of 20 and a density of 0.924 glee. Alternatively, the carboxylic acid and hydrogen carbonate components are compounded into separate polymer matrixes, and later combined. The compound may be packaged in containers that are formed of flexible or rigid materials

The US 5,705,213 A package is disclosed for the packaging and the preservation of fresh food, such as meat, sea products and the like, which tends to exude fluids favoring a rapid growth of bacterial flora which limits the selling deadline. The package is of the type which includes a tray upon which the fresh food product is placed, and a thermo retractable thin sheet of film material for overlapping the food product contained in the tray. The tray includes a relatively rigid and impermeable first container portion and a second container portion upon which the fresh food product rests. The second container portion is fitted in the first container portion, and includes apertures which allows for the passage of the fluid which may be exuded by the fresh food product. The second container portion rests on corrugations or ribs of the first container portion to define a desired number of closed chambers, characterized that in order to allow an isocratic revivification of the first container portion, and a controlled collecting of the fluids exuded by the fresh food product into the chambers, the ribs are distributed according to at least one network of approximately parallel ribs. Each of the ribs extends at least along two directions so that each of the points of the rib is directed to resist a corresponding component of the peripheral stresses caused by the film material which over wraps the package.

DESCRIPTION:
Seafood self-heating pack is an innovative technology which uses a new combination of chemicals for generating heat and using this energy for heating the ready to eat seafood products in heat stable flexible pouches and High Impact Polypropylene trays. This helps in the ease of usage and consumption of contents inside the pouches or trays which otherwise have to be transferred into another container and heated. This technology can be used in areas where product cannot be heated by any other source. This can be used in any area irrespective of the climatic and geographic conditions. With this innovative technology, the product can be heated in the pack itself and can be consumed in hot condition. When food is consumed in warm condition the actual taste of the product can be relished. The retort pouches and HIPP trays are packed in Cast Polypropylene pouches. The chemicals and treated water for heat generation are also kept inside this pouch separated from the packed food. The chemicals and treated water are entirely separated within the packet so that the reaction will occur only when it is initiated by the user. A consumer can use it anywhere as and when desired, to obtain food in hot condition in a couple of minutes. This innovative process is energy efficient as it doesn't require non renewable resources as a fuel for heat generation.

MATERIALS &METHODS OF PREPARATION:

Food packed in heat stable flexible pouches or High Impact Polypropylene trays are initially packed in seafood self heating pack.The seafood self heating pouch consist of a 320 gauge cast polypropylene outer pouch. A mixture of potassium permanganate and calcium oxide, packed in 3:1 ratio in a sachet made of synthetic non woven cloth in the dimensions shown in the figure. Before filling of the chemical mixture the sachet is sealed to form a number of compartments for equal spreading of chemicals within the pouch. The treated water contains 15 ml glycerol in 100 ml water and is packed in a trapezium shaped pouch which is sealed to the top side of the outer cover. A long tube made of cast polypropylene sealed at the bottom is fixed inside the pouch containing glycerol treated water for guiding the piercing object to the bottom of the pouch. Food packed in heat stable flexible pouches or High Impact Polypropylene trays are attached to the main pouch over the sachet containing the chemicals, in a transparent pocket attached to it.

The glycerol treated water containing pouch is punctured using a sharp object through the polypropylene tube. This water gets mixed with the chemical mixture of potassium permanganate and calcium oxide and an exothermic reaction takes place. The heat thus generated is used for heating the contents in the pouch or tray. An air vent is provided in the pouch for the escape of gases. The consumer can then cut open the pouch and have the food content in hot condition.

Measurements of Seafood self heating pack
Fig l. Measurement of outer pouch

Fig 2.Measurement of pouch containing chemical treated water, guiding pouch for piercing and piercing tool

Fig 3.Measurement of chemical pouch

Fig 4.Seafood self heating pack

Significance of Seafood Self Heating Pack
Food will be considered sensorialy acceptable when it is consumed hot. The actual taste of the product can be relished only when consumed in hot condition. This pack can be used while traveling, high altitude hilly areas and areas where normal heating procedures cannot be practiced. This saves a lot of energy and time as it takes only a few minutes to heat up the contents inside the pouch.

The benefits of the technology as follows and as such the invention identifies the following novel features.

1. An innovative process for the convenience of heating pouches and trays.
2. Flexible pouches and HIPP trays can be used with this technology.
3. A unique one of a kind design for seafood self heating pack which is easy to handle.
4. The scope of the technology is the main benefit as it can be used anywhere and by anyone.
5. Non renewable resources are not used for heating of the contents in the pouch. Only a simple chemical reaction is necessary for the heating of pouches.

Attempt has been made to describe the invention to the best knowledge of the inventors and examples, illustrations have been provided for sake of understanding and not for limiting the invention. All variations and modifications that will be known to the skilled person shall be within the scope of the invention.

WE CLAIM:
1. A self heating food package comprising of an outer heating pouch and an inner food pouch such that

a. the said inner food pouch containing food is disposed within the outer pouch in one portion,

b. a compartmentalized chemical sachet each compartment having mixture of potassium permanganate and calcium oxide is disposed in second portion of the outer pouch,

c. a water pouch with treated water is disposed in third portion of the outer pouch,

d. a guiding means disposed within the said water pouch to form a flow path between the said second portion and third portion of the outer pouch, and

e. a piercing means adapted to move through the said guiding means and capable of creating an opening between the second portion and the third portion of the outer pouch.

2. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the potassium permanganate and calcium oxide are in the ratio of 3:1 in each compartment of the sachet.

3. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said sachet is sealed to form compartments.

4. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water pouch is trapezium shaped and sealed to the top side of the outer pouch.

5. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chemical sachet is made of synthetic non-woven cloth.

6. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the treated water is 15ml glycerol in 100ml water.

7. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner food pouch may be a high impact polypropylene tray or a heat stable flexible pouch.

8. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer heating pouch is made of a 320 gauge cast polypropylene.

9. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding means includes a tube made of cast polypropylene.

10. A method of heating packaged food comprising of:

a. packing food in an inner food pouch disposed within an outer heating pouch,
and

b. generating an exothermic reaction in the outer pouch between chemicals stored in chemical sachet and treated water stored in water pouch by creating a flow path between the two, for initiating the heating of packaged food, characterized in the food package being disposed within the outer pouch.