text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Sep 18, 2001
|Filing date
|Jul 12, 1999
|Priority date
|Jul 12, 1999
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|William L. Bell, James L. Dippo
|Original Assignee
|Tda Research, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (64), Non-Patent Citations (6), Referenced by (133), Classifications (19), Legal Events (7)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This invention relates to improved flexible self-heating packages that can be used to heat or warm liquid, semi-liquid, or solid products, or to maintain the temperature of products sold hot, to make them more suitable for their intended use. The self-heating device is one in which a solid or semi-solid heat-producing composition is reacted with an activating liquid, typically water or an aqueous solution, to generate heat. A number of self-heating containers have been reported, but all suffer from disadvantages that decrease their convenience of use or increase the expense for their manufacture.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,304 Freiman et al (1997) reports a recyclable self-heating container having two compartments which contain anhydrous calcium chloride and water, respectively. The container is provided with a cutting device that is used to open the water compartment and allow water to contact the anhydrous calcium chloride and release heat.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,389 Hamasaki et al. (1988) reports a self-heating foodstuff container having a body with two chambers, a liquid container and a support member. One of the chambers of the body is provided to receive a foodstuff and the second is provided to receive an exothermic reaction agent. The heater is activated by sliding a support member in contact with the body to cause the liquid to be discharged into the second chamber to initiate exothermic reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,323 Guida et al. (1988) reports a single-use self-heating container ith a plastic vessel within and attached to an external insulated envelope. Two compartments, an upper and a lower compartment, are provided in the vessel separated by a membrane. The upper compartment contains a solid reactant and the lower contains an activating liquid. The exothermic reaction is initiated by actuating a membrane-breaking member in the liquid compartment. The upper compartment of the vessel optionally contains a temperature control substance which undergoes a phase change between 90� C. and 100� C.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,673 Charvin (1989) reports a device for heating food having an upper compartment for receiving food and a lower compartment in which two reagents are separated from each other by one or more watertight partitions. The device is provided with internal radial blades operated from outside of the container by an external control knob to tear the watertight partitions and initiate the exothermic reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,909 Pickard et al. (1993) reports a self heating individual meal module includes a tub for holding food to be heated. The tub is welded to a tray and in contact with a pad of an electrolytic-solution-activated exothermic-chemical. The heater also has a pouch containing an electrolytic solution. A pull-tab is provided on the pouch to release the electrolytic solution to activate the chemical pad to generate heat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,812 Hsu (1993) reports a self-heating tin container having a chemical compound for releasing heat upon mixing with a liquid catalyzer. The tin has a cap having an internal compartment containing liquid catalyzer and a pin on its inside surface which is used to pierce the internal compartment and allow liquid catalyzer to contact the chemical compound in the tin. Pressing an elastic top edge of the cap when in place on the tin, causes the pin to pierce the compartment permitting the liquid catalyst to flow into the tin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,047 of Gossett (1977) reports a thermal pack in which heat or cold is generated by contacting water with selected chemicals to generate an exothermic or an endothermic reaction. The thermal pack has three bags, two of which form the outer surface and inner surface of the pack, respectively. The inner of these bags holds the chemicals that will react with water. A third smaller bag containing water is inserted into the inner bag which contains the chemicals. The inner bag is ruptures by hand pressure to release water and activate the chemicals. The smaller inner bag is provided with a marginal seal that facilitates rupture on application of hand pressure.
While a number of self-heating devices have been described, there is a continuing need in the art for devices that are more convenient to use and less expensive to manufacture. Many prior art devices require an additional device element, such as a pin or serrated edge, to bring the heater components into contact to generate heat. This requirement adds to the inconvenience and expense of the device. Other prior art self-heating devices are constructed with one or more rigid pieces that again generally increase cost and add to the bulk of the device.
The present invention provides heaters and self-heating packages that are more convenient to use and less expensive to manufacture than are currently available. The self-heating package of this invention contains a multi-compartment heater which is activated by application of hand pressure to rupture a frangible seal in the heater.
In one embodiment, the self-heating package has one or more products or product containers in thermal contact with one or more heaters. In preferred packaging embodiments, the heating package has one or more product containers or pouches in thermal contact with one or more heaters. In a specific embodiment, the product container is integrally formed with the heater. Preferred self-heating packages are constructed entirely of flexible packaging materials.
The heater of this invention has a multi-compartment structure having at least one compartment for holding a heat-producing composition and at least one adjacent compartment for holding an activating solution. Adjacent compartments containing activating solution and heat-producing composition are separated by a frangible seal. The heater compartments are formed, at least in part, from a flexible packaging material. Application of sufficient pressure, for example, as applied by hand by squeezing or twisting, on a compartment or compartments of the heater, for example, compression of the activation solution-containing compartment, ruptures the frangible seal, allowing the solution and the heat-producing material to mix and begin heat production. Heaters include those having two adjacent compartments for holding heat-producing composition and activating solution, respectively, separated by a frangible seal.
Once activated the multi-compartment heater pouch can be used to heat a product or to maintain the temperature of a hot or warm product. During use the heater pouch is placed in close proximity to the product to be heated or kept hot. For example, the heater pouch can be placed in direct contact with the product or in contact with a heat-conducting package containing the product. The heater pouch can be placed within thermally insulated packaging that also contains the product. Heaters of this invention can be employed, for example, to maintain a desirable temperature of various take-out foods, including pizza, hamburgers and the like, during transport. The size of the heater is generally adjusted to the size of the product to be heated and the amount of heater components (heat-producing composition and activating solution) in the heater compartments are adjusted to provide the desired temperature for a given heating or warming application. The amount of activating solution provided in the heater is preferably at least enough to react with the amount of heat-producing compound in the heater and optionally is provided in excess to limit the maximum temperature achieved.
An advantage of the heater is that the package can be manufactured from inexpensive, flexible packaging materials appropriate for retaining the liquid activation agent. The packaging material employed preferably can withstand temperatures generated up to about 90� C. in the product pouch, and somewhat higher temperature in the heater pouch (e.g., up to 150� C.). The design is compatible with a variety of heat-producing materials, and is particularly suited for use with heat-producing materials that do not produce a substantial amount of gas in operation, so that the package can remain completely sealed. In this way the user never comes in contact with the heat-producing materials. Addition of an excess amount of activation solution over the amount needed to substantially react with the heat-producing composition can function as a heat sink to minimize generation of steam.
Self-heating packages of this invention have a multi-component heater, as described above, held, attached or bonded to and in thermal contact with a product to be heated or kept hot or warm. Heaters may be held or attached directly in contact with the product or with a thermally conductive product container or pouch which contains the product. Heaters may be held in contact with the product by application of external packaging, such as an overwrapping of thermally insulated flexible packaging material that also functions to hold the heater in place or by application of an adhesive or other bonding agent between the heater and the product or product container. The heater inside the packaging material is activated by hand pressure to release heat and transfer heat to the product. The external packaging or product container can then be opened to extract the heated product.
In a specific embodiment, a self-heating package has a product container or pouch integrally formed with the heater package. For example, the product container can be formed by sealing or otherwise bonding the edges of a sheet of flexible packaging material to a surface of or at the perimeter of the heater. In this package, liquid, semi-liquid or powdered product introduced into the product container is in thermal contact with the heater. Application of hand pressure to the flexible heater compartment(s) ruptures the frangible seal and initiates heat release to heat the product within the container. The product container can be opened, for example as facilitated by appropriate positioning of a tear notch, to remove heated product. The product container may be porous or non-porous.
In another embodiment of the self-heating package, the heater is attached to a porous material, such as a scrim, net or webbing, to form a porous product container. The porous container contains a dry material that is intended to be dissolved or steeped in warm or hot water. The porous material retains the dry material and allows liquid to penetrate into the container. In this embodiment, the package including the heater and attached porous container, once activated, is inserted into a liquid, such as water, to heat the liquid. The product in the porous pouch dissolves or steeps in the heated liquid to add a desirable flavor or other attribute to the liquid. The porous container can contain, for example, a dry beverage (tea or coffee) or flavoring agent that is intended for addition to or immersion in hot water for consumption.
In yet another embodiment of the self-heating package, the heater is attached to an absorbent or coated substrate or an encapsulated material where the product to be heated is absorbed or coated on the substrate or is the encapsulated material. In this embodiment, heating results in release of the absorbed or coated product from the substrate or release of encapsulated product.
The heaters and self-beating packages are designed for use with a heat-producing material or materials activated by addition of a liquid, preferably water or an aqueous solution, to the heat-producing compositions. A variety of heat-producing compositions are useful in this invention. In particular, heat-producing compositions described in PCT/US97/12846, U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,486 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/351,821, filed Jul. 12, 1999, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the disclosure herein. The beat-producing material or materials may be in the form of a pad, powder, granules, or a combination of the above. The heat-producing materials are preferably solid or semi-solid. Heat-producing compositions can comprise an active heat-producing component in combination with an inert material. The inert material does not react with activating solution to generate a substantial amount of heat and can serve to moderate or control heat release on activation. Heat-producing compositions can include, among others, CaO, MgCl2 and Na2SO4. In one preferred embodiment, the active heat-producing components area mixture of an acidic anhydride or an acidic salt with a basic anhydride and a basic salt. Acidic anhydrides include phosphorous pentoxide. Acidic salts include aluminum chloride and magnesium chloride. Basic anhydrides include calcium oxide Preferred active heat-producing components are calcium oxide alone, a combination of phosphorous pentoxide and calcium oxide or a combination of magnesium chloride and calcium oxide. Inert materials which typically represent from about 1% to about 30% by weight of the heat-producing composition include among others surfactants, oils, waxes, and natural or synthetic polymeric solids. Preferred heat-producing compositions produce substantially no gases on activation. Preferred heat-producing compositions are water-free.
FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a two-compartment heater of this invention.
FIGS. 1B-1P are drawings that illustrate, in side view, various configurations of one or more heaters of FIG. 1A in combination with one or more product container or pouch. The self-heating packages of FIGS. 1A-1P are preferably entirely constructed of flexible materials.
FIG. 2 is a side view in more detail of the heating package of FIG. 1C having a two-compartment heater bonded or attached to a product pouch.
FIGS. 3A and B are front and back views of the heater package of FIG. 2. The product container is illustrated on the front side of the package and the two-compartment heater is illustrated on the back side of the package.
FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration, in side view, of an alternative self-heating package in which the product container or pouch is at least partially porous. The product pouch contains dry material that dissolves in heated water or from which flavoring is extracted into heated water.
FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration, in side view, of another alternative self-heating package in which the product container is porous and intended to contain a product material that releases scent on heating.
FIG. 6 is a graph of product temperature as a function of time after heater activation by rupture of a frangible seal in a self-heating package as illustrated in FIG. C. The product is fudge sauce and product temperature is measured at the bottom (dots) and top (squares) of the product pouch.
FIG. 7 is a graph of product temperature as a function of time after heater activation by rupture of a frangible seal in a self-heating package as illustrated in FIG. 1C. The product is baby oil and product temperature is measured at the bottom (dots) and top (squares) of the product pouch.
FIG. 8 is a graph of temperature change as a function of time of a food item in a product container with and without inclusion of an activated heater of this invention in the container.
The invention relates to heaters in which heat is generated by exothermic reaction of active ingredients. The heaters generate heat without application of external heat energy. Preferred active ingredients are a liquid activating solution (preferably water or an aqueous solution) and a heat-producing solid. In the sealed heaters of this invention liquid is brought into contact with the heat-producing material to generate heat. The heaters are formed as multi-compartment elements where the compartments are preferably formed from flexible packaging materials. Activating solution and heat-producing compositions are held in separate compartments in the heater. Compartments are separated by frangible seals that can be readily ruptured by application of hand pressure to the flexible heater compartments. The heater components generate heat on activation. Dependent upon the application of the heater a variable amount of heat may be desired. Heaters may be used to heat cold items or maintain the temperature of warm or hot items. In the latter application, the heater need not provide enough heat to raise the temperature of the product heated, but only enough heat to slow cooling of the product. The heater is provided in a sealed package to avoid contact of heater components with the surroundings and to maintain the activity of the heat-producing material. Heaters of this invention can be used alone or in a self-heating package.
Self-heating packages combine a heater with a product or product container. The heater is in thermal contact with the product or product container in the package. The heater is activated in the package, by application of hand pressure to rupture one or more frangible seals that cause activation of the heater. The heater components are retained in a compartment separate from the product. After the product is heated inside the package a portion of the packaging can be opened to remove the product for use.
The invention is further illustrated by reference to the drawings in which the same numbers are used to indicate similar features.
FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary two-compartment heater 1 of this invention constructed from flexible materials. The heater has compartment 9 which contains activating solution (preferably water or an aqueous solution) and compartment 11 which contains a heat-producing composition which is typically a solid. The two compartments are separated by a frangible seal 13 that prevents contact of the heat-producing composition and the activating solution until pressure is applied to rupture the seal. The seal is constructed to be ruptured by application of pressure by hand by twisting or squeezing the flexible heater. For example, the seal can be ruptured by application of hand pressure to a flexible wall of a heater compartment. FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of a heater of FIG. 1A. The frangible seal is preferably sufficiently large to allow efficient mixing of components.
Various configurations of a self-heating package which combine one or more heaters with one or more product containers are shown in FIGS. 1C-1P (in side view). The package may be produced in several configurations that facilitate heat transport from the heat-producing material to the product to be heated The heater package (FIG. 1B) may be roughly rectangular in shape, with a thickness that is less than either the length or the width with the two compartments illustrated in FIG. 1A for receiving activating solution and heat-producing composition 9 and 1, respectively. The material to be heated can be attached to one or both sides of the heater package. Attachment can be effected by adhesive or mechanical means, if the product to be heated consists of a single piece or multiple large pieces. If the product to be heated consists of a liquid, semi-liquid, or powder, it may be contained within a pouch 5 formed of a single layer of flexible packaging material that is bonded to the heater, as shown in FIGS. 1C-F, where the product pouch is sealed to the heater so that a surface of the heater forms at least a portion of the product pouch. Alternatively, the product to be heated may be contained within two or more layers of packaging material, preferably flexible packaging material, which form a pouch or container 6 separate from the heater pouch. The separate pouch 6 may be attached, e.g., adhesively or mechanically to the heater (FIGS. 1G-1J). In yet another embodiment, the product to be heated may be contained within a flexible container or pouch 8 that completely or partially surrounds the heater (FIGS. 1K-1L). This embodiment has the particular advantage of enhancing heat transfer because the heater is surrounded by product to be heated. Two product pouches may be formed at or attached to opposite sides of the heater (FIGS. 1E, 1F, 1I and 1J). Two or more heaters can be formed at or attached to or adjacent to the product side of the product pouch (FIGS. 1M-1P). Pouch 12 in FIGS. 1M and 1N is integrally formed between two heaters. In all configurations illustrated, a thermally insulating material may be provided, either as part of the packaging material forming the various compartments of the heating package or as a separate layer, to retard transfer of heat from any or all parts of the total package to the surroundings. Various insulation materials can be employed including flexible paper or plastic structures having enclosed air pockets to slow heat transfer. Preferably no insulation is positioned between the heater and the product pouch. For example, an outside layer (overwrap 3) of insulating material may serve to retard heat transfer to the surroundings (FIGS. 1D, IF, 1H, 1J, 1L, 1N and 1P).
More detailed schematic drawings of a self-heating product of this invention, of the general design shown as FIG. 1C, where the product is a liquid, semi-liquid or powder solid, are shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3A and 3B. The combined heater/product pouch package of FIG. 210 has a product pouch 5 made of a flexible material. The product pouch is bonded to and in thermal contact with a multiple compartment heater pouch 7 having at least one compartment 9 for holding activating solution, preferably water, and at least one pouch 11 containing heat-producing composition. The two compartments 9 and 11 of the heater are separated by a frangible seal 13 which can be readily ruptured on application of hand pressure (i.e., by squeezing or twisting). Product can be removed from the pouch 5 via a tear notch 15 opening. FIG. 3A gives a front side (product side) view of the pouch illustrating the position of tear notch 15 near the top of the product package sealed with the heater package by peripheral seal 16. FIG. 3B gives a back side view of the heater compartment. Heater material is contained in the lower pouch 11 and the activating solution is contained in the upper pouch 9. The pouch containing activating solution 9 is sealed at the top (opposite the frangible seal 13) with a non-frangible seal 17 that will withstand pressure applied by hand.
FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B also illustrate another aspect of this invention, the arrangement of heater and product such that it is convenient to open the product container while leaving the heater container unopened. This is accomplished by having the product container extend past the heater container in one direction, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, and providing means to open the product container, e.g., a tear notch, along a line that does not extend into the heater part of the self-heating product.
The self-heating package illustrated in FIGS. 3A and B can be formed for example by heat sealing a front sheet of packaging material to one surface of a multi-compartment heater.
The heaters in FIGS. 1A, 2, 3A and 3B illustrate heaters with two compartments: one for activating solution and one for heat-producing composition. Heaters of this invention can contain a plurality of compartments for either activating solution or heat-producing composition. At least one compartment for activating solution is positioned adjacent to at least one compartment containing heat-producing solution with the adjacent compartments separated by a frangible seal as described above. When the seal is ruptured the activating solution and heat-producing composition in adjacent compartments come into contact activating the heat-producing composition. One compartment containing heat-producing composition may be positioned adjacent to more than one compartment containing activating solution to facilitate mixing after rupture of the frangible seal.
FIG. 4 illustrates another self-heating package of this invention in which the combined heater compartments are attached to a porous pouch 20 containing a dry material 22, such as instant or ground coffee, tea, or a beverage flavoring agent. The pouch contents do not require heating, but they are used with hot water to prepare edible beverages or soups. The dry ingredients are intended to be dissolved in or steeped in hot water. The heater is activated by rupture of the frangible seal 13 with hand pressure and the entire package is inserted with attached product scrim 20 into a vessel containing water. A layer of insulation 23 is optionally positioned between the heater and the pouch 20. The heater is used to heat water in the vessel. During and after the water is heated the dry product is steeped or dissolved in the warm or hot water. The water is heated sufficiently for use as a hot or warm beverage. FIG. 4 illustrates a porous pouch (made of porous material 27, e.g., paper or plastic, e.g., tea-bag paper or scrim) containing dry material 22 for dissolving or steeping in hot or warm water bonded to a two compartment heater pouch 7 having a compartment 9 for holding activating solution, preferably water, and a pouch containing heater material 11. The two compartments 9 and 11 of the heater are separated by a frangible seal 13 which can be readily ruptured on application of hand pressure (e.g., by squeezing and or twisting). A layer of insulation 23 is optionally positioned between the porous pouch and the heater compartments. In this embodiment, the heater compartments are not insulated from the surroundings, since the heater on activation is intended to heat water or other liquid into which it is inserted. The heater is activated by breaking the frangible seal between the two heater compartments and the entire package is inserted into a vessel containing water or other liquid. Heat released from the heater heats the water and the dry ingredients in the porous pouch interact with the heated water to extract or dissolve flavorings into the water. The dry ingredients in the porous pouch can include: natural materials, e.g., mixtures of herbs, coffee and teas (dried or instant), flavoring agents, concentrated beverages (soup or bouillon), encapsulated beverages or flavorings and freeze-dried beverages or flavorings. The dry ingredients can also be mixed with sugar, salt, fruit zest or other seasonings. The porous pouch 20 can be formed from a variety of materials with various pore sizes adapted to the desired application. Porous produced containers can be formed from paper, plastic or related materials. Preferred materials are those that can be readily sealed or bonded to heaters of this invention.
The heater package of FIG. 4 can also contain dried or powdered medicinals, and herbs, leaves, plant oils and the like having medicinal effect. The package can be used to provide heated medicinal solutions and suspensions for ingestion. Other heating package configurations of this invention, e.g., as in FIG. 2, can be used to provide heated salves or creams for application to the skin, and for heated solutions for inhalation.
In general the heater packages of this invention can be applied for generation of heated liquids, creams, salves, lotions, solutions, and like media that are edible, used in medicinal applications, used in personal care products, used for cleaning, such as dry or moist towels, towelettes and wipes, and a wide variety of other applications.
In a particular embodiment, heater packages of this invention include those in which towels, towelettes or wipes (the product) is wrapped around a heater, as illustrated in FIG. 1K or 1L, and the combination optionally encased in an appropriate outer package. Application of hand pressure to the enclosed heater releases heat to warm the towel, towelette or wipe.
The packaging material is an important component of this invention. The packaging material may be either transparent or opaque. A lower water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) will increase the shelf life of the product. The packaging material may be capable of forming a heat seal of variable strength, nonfrangible and frangible seals, such that when pressure is applied to the liquid compartment, the frangible seal between the liquid compartment and the heater material compartment 13 opens to admit the liquid to the heater material compartment, but the nonfrangible perimeter seal 16 and any nonfrangible top seal 17 do not open. A heat seal strength of about 3 pounds per inch is desirable for the frangible seal, while a heat seal strength of about 12 to 15 pounds per inch is desirable for the perimeter seal and any top seal to avoid perimeter seal breakdown when hand pressure is applied. Both the frangible seal 13, the top seal 17, and the perimeter seal 16 may be formed in a single operation by adjusting the temperature, pressure, and time of application of the bars used to form the heat seal. Those skilled in the art will recognize that additional means may be employed as necessary to increase the strength of the perimeter seal, such as using a serrated, rather than a plain seal or a wider seal.
A preferred flexible multiple layer packaging material for forming the heater comprises a water vapor barrier layer and an inner layer that functions to form variable strength heat seals. The inner layer may be provided only where seals are intended to be formed. The packaging material must have sufficient mechanical strength to withstand typical manufacturing processes, transport, storage and handling of such items. Mechanical strength may be provided by the water vapor barrier layer or by addition of a resin layer, e.g., an olefinic resin layer, to provide additional mechanical strength. A polyethylene layer is useful for providing sufficient mechanical strength. The packaging material can further comprise an outer protective resin layer, that preferably is compatible for receiving printing and/or graphic images. A polyester resin is suitable for this outer layer.
An exemplary flexible composite packaging material for use with heaters and self-heating packages comprises (1) a thin layer of aluminum foil as a water vapor transmission barrier (e.g., a 0.0003 inch layer of aluminum foil), and (2) a heat sealable inner layer of an ethylene ionomer, such as a 3 mil thick layer of SURLYN™ (DuPont). This composite packaging material can also have an outer layer of 48 gauge polyester which will receive graphics and printing. Further, a layer of 0.7 mil polyethylene can be provided between the outer layer and the foil to provide for sufficient mechanical strength and to protect the foil from damage. Several commercial packaging materials can provide the properties useful for heaters of this invention and be capable of forming variable strength seals. One particularly useful material is available under the trade name Vari-seal (Cadillac Products).
The aluminum foil layer can be replaced, for example, with other materials that provide a water vapor transmission barrier, such as ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. Alternative heat sealable layers include linear low-density polyethylene.
Films for use in heaters and packages of this invention should be compatible with the heater components (activating solution and heat-producing composition) such that the film is not detrimentally affected by those components. The flexible film and other packaging materials must be compatible for use with food, beverages, pharmaceuticals or personal care products. The materials used must be approved, if required, by the pertinent regulatory agencies for use in a given application. Many flexible materials may be used in this invention. Suitable materials can be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosures herein and in view of the type of application with the aid of a standard reference, such as "The Wiley Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology" (M. Bakker, ed., NY, Wiley, 1986).
Seals may be made as is known in the art by applying pressure from a heated bar, controlling the temperature of the bar, the pressure and the length of time that the pressure is applied to form a seal of desired strength. Seals of heaters and self-heating packages specifically exemplified herein were formed with a Vertrod heat-sealer. A seal strength of about 3 lbs/inch is desirable for frangible seals and a seal strength of about 12-15 lbs/inches is desirable for nonfrangible, perimeter seals. Heater packages and self-heating packages of this invention can be filled and sealed in a single operation using any conventional equipment, including vertical and horizontal form/fill/seal machinery.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other materials known in the art are functionally equivalent to and can be used to replace packaging materials specifically described herein. Information on polymer film with appropriate properties for use in the heaters and self-heating packages of this invention may be found in the "Concise Polymeric Materials Encyclopedia" (J. C. Salamone, ed.; NY, CRC Press, 1999).
A variety of heat-producing compositions can be employed in the practice of this invention. Preferred heat-producing compositions are those that are activated by the addition of a liquid, preferably water or an aqueous solution, to the heat-producing compositions. Heat-producing compositions can include inexpensive materials such as lime (CaO), sodium sulfate and magnesium chloride and mixtures thereof. Particularly useful heat-producing compositions are described in PCT/US97/12846, U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,486 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/351,821, filed Jul. 12, 1999, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the disclosure herein. Heat-producing compositions can comprise an active beat-producing component in combination with an inert material. The inert material does not react with activating solution to generate a substantial amount of heat and can serve to moderate or control heat release on activation. The inert material may serve to inhibit access of the activating solution to the active heat-producing components. In preferred embodiments, the active beat-producing components are a mixture of an acidic anhydride or an acidic salt with a basic anhydride and a basic salt. Acidic anhydrides include phosphorous pentoxide. Acidic salts include aluminum chloride. Basic anhydrides include calcium oxide. Heat-producing compositions include a combination of phosphorous pentoxide and calcium oxide and a combination of magnesium chloride and calcium oxide. Specific heat-producing compositions include: calcium oxide alone, about 10%-90% by weight calcium oxide with the balance being phosphorous pentoxide or about 25%-50% by weight magnesium chloride with the balance being calcium oxide.
Inert materials can most generally represent from about 1% to about 30% by weight of the heat-producing composition. More preferably the inert material represents up to about 20 weight % of the heat-producing composition. In specific embodiments heat-producing compositions contain from about 10 to 20 weight % of inert materials. Inert materials include among others surfactants, oils, waxes, natural or synthetic polymeric solids and mixtures and mixtures thereof. Inert materials can include mixtures of surfactants and oil. Surfactants of particular interest for this application include organic phosphate esters, oil-soluble surfactants, polyethoxylated alcohol, and polyamide succinimide. Preferred surfactants include among others Actrafos 216 (Trademark), stearic acid, dicetylphosphate, Paranox 100 and Brij 30 (Trademark). Preferred oils include among others aliphatic hydrocarbons, vegetable oils and mineral oil.
Preferred heat-producing compositions contain a mixture of active components, such as CaO or combinations of CaO with P2O5 or MgCl2 in combination with inert material that can be a mixture of surfactant, oil, and/or wax. Heat-producing compositions can be prepared for example, as pads, pellets or powders. In preferred embodiments of this invention, the heat-producing composition is formed into pellets, preferably ranging in size from about mesh 6 to about mesh 16. The use of larger size pellets tends to decrease the rate of heat generation on activation. The rate of heat generation in the heaters of this invention can be controlled by selection of the type of active ingredients, the amount of inert material included and the physical form of the composition.
Preferred heat-producing compositions produce substantially no gases on activation. Preferred heat-producing compositions are water-free. Preferably heat-producing compositions are selected and the amount used adjusted to provide a desired amount of heat transfer in a given application dependent upon the product to be heated and the packaging of the product.
The heat-producing compositions may be in the form of a pad, powder, pellets, granules, or a combination of the above. The heat-producing materials are preferably solid or semi-solid.
The type and amount of heat-producing composition and activating solution in the heater compartments are predetermined to obtain desired heat release appropriate for the product to be heated and to minimize the risk of rupture of the heater.
A further aspect of this invention shown in FIG. 5 is a package design that enables convenient heating of a liquid product that is volatile or contains a volatile component, so as to evaporate or volatilize the volatile material into the atmosphere. Examples of such products include insect repellent, room deodorizer, or other desirable scents. The volatile liquid or mixture containing it may be absorbed onto an absorbent material 25 such as paper, vermiculite or ground corn cobs. The absorbent material is attached to the heater, for example by adhesive or mechanical means and may be held within a porous container 20. In particular, if the absorbent material is a powder or granular solid, it may be contained and held in proximity to the heater by a porous material 27 (such as paper or a nonwoven scrim material) having pores chosen so as to retain the absorbent and allow the volatile material to pass through. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, a self-heating product of this design may be produced with means to prevent the evaporation of the volatile materials until desired, either by covering the part of the product containing the volatile materials with an additional layer of impermeable flexible packaging film, or by containing the entire product 30 in a bag or pouch of impermeable flexible packaging film.
The volatile component may be encapsulated in a material, e.g., a wax, that melts on heating. Encapsulated product may be coated or absorbed on to the absorbent material. The absorbed material may be treated, for example, by soaking in a solution containing the product and removing the solvent.
The packaging systems and methods of this invention can also be applied to packaging of personal care products (e.g., oils and lotions for application to the skin or hair). The packaging system of this invention is particularly amenable to single-use or single-serving size applications.
The packaging systems and methods of this invention can also be applied to packaging of food items which are more palatable when heated and particularly to those items that are thick semi-liquid viscous products at room temperature, but become less viscous on heating (i.e., sauces for use on ice cream, heated salad dressings).
The performance of two self-heating packages of design illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B is illustrated in the graphs of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. From these data it is clear that a small amount (ca. 5 g) of heater material activated with ca. 3-4 g water is sufficient to heat about 20 g of oil or fudge sauce. The heater material used in both experiments was the same: a mixture of 86.6% by weight of the active ingredient: a 1:1 weight ratio mixture of CaO: P2O5 and 13.4% by weight of an inert material: a mixture of 74% by weight mineral oil and 26% by weight of the surfactant Actrafos 216 (TM), an organic phosphate ester. The packaging for the self-heating packages tested comprised an outer layer of 48 gauge polyester, a layer of about 0.7 mil polyethylene, an 0.0003 inch layer of aluminum foil and a 3 mil layer of an ionomer (Surlyn, Trademark) to form the variable strength heat seal. Temperatures ranging from about 120-180� F. can be attained within about 3 minutes or less. A temperature above ambient can be maintained for over 20 minutes.
Many food and beverage products are sold hot, and are more desirable if kept hot until consumed. During the time that passes between purchase and consumption, e.g. during transport to another location, the food or beverage can cool off and become less desirable. The flexible heater of this invention can be inserted into or used in conjunction with various hot food or beverage containers to keep these products hot or warm, i.e., to slow the decrease in temperature of the product. In use the package is squeezed or twisted to rupture the frangible seal, allowing the heater material and water or aqueous solution for activation to mix and begin the process that produces heat. The heater is then placed or held in proximity to the product to be kept hot, until the product is consumed. It is desirable that such a self-heating package reach a temperature hotter than the minimum desirable temperature of the product, but less than the boiling point of water. In this way heat transfer to keep the product hot is feasible, but the self-heating package does not generate any significant amount of steam or internal pressure. The self-heating package can thereby remain sealed, so that no solid, liquid or vapor from the heater comes into contact with the product or the consumer.
In an exemplary embodiment using the heater in take-out food applications, a quarter-pound cheeseburger in a box of thin cardboard, as is commonly used in fast food businesses, can be kept hot by using a multi-compartment flexible heater. The size of the heater is chosen to fit inside the bottom of the food container and preferably to substantially conform in size to the dimensions of the container to maximize the contact area available for heat transfer from the heater to the product. Various sizes and shapes of food and beverage containers are generally employed in food service. Heaters of this invention can generally be tailored to fit any of such product containers to provide efficient heat-transfer to the product.
A two-compartment heater was constructed as a composite structure with an outer layer of 48 gauge polyester, a 0.0003 inch layer of aluminum foil as a water vapor barrier, a layer of about 0.7 mil polyethylene between the outer layer and the foil, and an inner 3 mil layer of an ionomer to form a variable strength heat seal. One compartment contained 4 g of a heat-producing composition that was a mixture of 86.6% by weight of the active ingredient: a 1:1 weight ratio mixture of CaO: P2O5 and 13.4% by weight of an inert material: a mixture of 74% by weight mineral oil and 26% by weight of the surfactant Actrafos 216 (TM), an organic phosphate ester. The second compartment contains 4 grams of water. This self-heating package is 3.5�3.5 inches square, divided into two compartments by a frangible seal. On activation the mixture in the heater package becomes hot, but the package remains sealed. In a comparison test in which a heater is placed against the bottom of a cardboard box containing a cheeseburger in one case, compared to the same size cheeseburger without a heater in the second case, the time-temperature profiles shown in FIG. 8 are obtained. In this case the cheeseburger is actually heated: its temperature increases from 141� F. to 152� F. over ten minutes with the heater, where the same size cheeseburger without the heater cools from 144 to 125� F. over the same time. In practice it is only necessary that use of the self-heating package results in the product cooling significantly less than it would without the heater, and thereby remaining more attractive to consumers.
It is an important feature of this invention that the heat producing composition (and the residue after activation) can remain sealed before, during and after use and does not contact the product. This minimizes any negative effect that either part of the heater system may have on the heated product. Further, the use of a sealed heater minimizes risk of potentially harmful effects of the heater components on users (e.g., toxic or allergic reactions). In a specific package design, to ensure that the heater package remains sealed, any of the following changes may be made singly or in combination: The amount of heat-producing composition may be decreased (e.g., by increasing the proportion of inert materials or by increasing the particle size of the heater materials, or both), or the amount of water or aqueous solution used for activation may be increased to provide an additional heat sink.
As an additional feature of this invention, means may be provided to give the user an indication that the heater system has not remained sealed. Such means may include a dye added to either the heater material or the liquid used to activate the heater, or both. When the integrity of the heater system is compromised, the dye will give a visual signal that product quality may also be compromised. The heater packaging may be transparent or have a transparent window to allow possible undesired release of dye to be observed. Alternatively, a substance with a strong, objectionable taste or odor may be added to the heater system. When the integrity of the heater system is compromised, the objectionable taste or odor will signal that product quality may also be compromised and discourage inappropriate use.
The heater or self-heating packages of this invention may also be provided with some means to indicate that the heater or the product in the package have reached a selected temperature that indicates for example that the product is at a temperature suitable for consumption or use. For example, liquid crystal materials that change color with increasing temperature can be used for such an indicator. Alternatively, dyes that become colorless when hot, to reveal a legend or graphic that was previously concealed by the dye when colored, can also be used for such an indicator.
Several heater or heating packages can be combined to conveniently give a large quantity of the desired hot product. Combining several smaller packages rather than one large package may be advantageous in certain applications to provide more efficient and more rapid heat-transfer to product.
The outer packaging of the multi-compartment heaters of this invention are intended to remain sealed to prevent release of heater components or residues to the surroundings. In the event that excessive pressures occur that might rupture the heater package, an optional feature of this invention is provision of a vent and means to control the position of venting such that any steam or gases vented from the heater are directed in a harmless direction, and to insure that the excess pressure does not cause the package to rupture. A selective vent can be provided by selective placement of a weaker seal region in the perimeter seal of the heater. The vent seal would be stronger than the frangible seal so that it would not rupture by application of hand pressure, but weaker than the perimeter seal.
Methods for forming frangible seals and nonfrangible perimeter seals are well-known in the art and can be readily adapted for use in the self-heated products of this invention. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,699,902 and 5,873,322 provide details and references to methods for frangible seal formation that are applicable to making the packages of this invention. All of the heater/product container combinations of FIGS. 1A-1P can be readily prepared using methods known in the art in view of the disclosures herein. Methods are known in the art for bonding sheets of flexible materials, e.g., heat sealing of plastics or related materials, to form durable seals needed to form heater compartments and product compartments. Similarly, art-known methods can be employed to bond or attach porous materials to flexible packaging materials to form porous product compartments.
By using flexible packaging and a frangible seal that is produced as an integral part of the packaging and in the same operation as the package is formed, self-heating products of this invention may be made at lower cost, and are lighter and smaller than comparable products using prior art.
All of the references cited herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the disclosures herein.
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|Nobuhiro Maruyama
|Sedative for external use, and sedative sheet, and textile, clothing, wall material, and hyperthermia equipment, brain vitalization sheet, brain vitalization small pillow
|Aug 13, 2010
|Oct 24, 2013
|Daniel L. Young
|Apparatus for preparing self-contained heated treatment receptacle for use by a subject
|Sep 9, 2013
|Jan 9, 2014
|The Hillshire Brands Company
|Packaging for food product
|Sep 19, 2013
|Jan 16, 2014
|Forever Young International, Inc.
|Instant self-heating containers
|Aug 6, 2012
|Feb 6, 2014
|Medical Thermodynamics Llc
|Portable self contained chemically activated cooling therapy blanket
|Aug 6, 2013
|Feb 12, 2015
|Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
|Self-warming peritoneal dialysis solution bag
|Dec 20, 2014
|Aug 20, 2015
|Rex Medical, L.P.
|Transformable orthopedic brace for injury prevention
|Mar 7, 2015
|Sep 10, 2015
|Dave Huselton
|System and Method for Heating Items
|Jul 2, 2015
|Jan 5, 2017
|Andrea Monique Archuleta
|Multiple Chamber Package
|Feb 9, 2011
|Sep 21, 2011
|Standing pouch
|Feb 9, 2011
|Nov 25, 2015
|Jul 29, 2014
|Mar 30, 2016
|Self-warming peritoneal dialysis solution bag
|Apr 4, 2005
|Jan 3, 2007
|Innophos, Inc.
|Heating apparatus
|Apr 4, 2005
|Oct 31, 2012
|Innophos Inc
|Heating apparatus
|Jul 14, 2005
|May 9, 2007
|Mycoal Products Corporation
|Heating element and process for producing heating element
|Jul 14, 2005
|Dec 26, 2007
|Mycoal Prod Corp
|Heating element and process for producing heating element
|May 20, 2004
|Sep 2, 2009
|Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|Self-contained heating unit and drug-supply unit employing same
|Oct 9, 2001
|Apr 10, 2003
|Procter & Gamble
|Product dispenser having internal temperature changing element
|Nov 27, 2002
|Jun 12, 2003
|Tempra Technology, Inc.
|Self-heating or cooling product pouch
|May 29, 2003
|Apr 22, 2004
|Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
|Pressure activated reaction vessel and package
|May 20, 2004
|Dec 2, 2004
|Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|Self-contained heating unit and drug-supply unit employing same
|Apr 4, 2005
|Oct 20, 2005
|Innophos, Inc.
|Heating apparatus
|Apr 4, 2005
|May 24, 2007
|Innophos Inc
|Heating apparatus
|Jan 5, 2006
|Jul 13, 2006
|Hickey, Charles P.
|Food product warming or cooling package
|Jun 8, 2009
|Dec 10, 2009
|Trulite, Inc.
|Apparatus, system, and method for generating a gas from solid reactant pouches
|Jun 2, 2010
|Dec 9, 2010
|Deepak Madan
|Tunable flameless heaters
|Aug 13, 2010
|Feb 16, 2012
|Forever Young International, Inc.
|Self-contained heated wax treatment apparatus
|Jul 29, 2014
|Feb 12, 2015
|Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
|Self-warming peritoneal dialysis solution bag
|Sep 3, 2016
|Mar 9, 2017
|Girish Vedanth
|Self-heating pouch and method of manufacture thereof
|U.S. Classification
|126/263.07, 252/70, 126/263.08, 126/263.1
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Aug 16, 1999
Owner name: TDA RESEARCH, INC., COLORADO
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BELL, WILLIAM L.;DIPPO, JAMES L.;REEL/FRAME:010166/0130
Effective date: 19990720
|Mar 26, 2002
|Certificate of correction
|Mar 18, 2005
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Feb 18, 2009
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|Apr 26, 2013
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Sep 18, 2013
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Nov 5, 2013
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20130918


text:
I would like to know what kind of sealer to use to waterproof a gourd. I bought some and want to use them to put a potted plant in and then hang. Or is it OK to get them wet often? Thank you!
Jane from Bonifay, FL
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
I don't think you have to waterproof them. My grandma always had some hanging around outside.
Click on the url link below. It's what a fellow thrifty user posts as how she uses a gourd as a planter. It's really very cute!
Jane, you can seal it with polyurethane (from any hardware store.) While they feel 'woody', gourds aren't wood and unless the shell is very thick, it's probably a good idea to seal them, as they will over time absorb water and if they're set on a nice table, for example, the moisture seeping through will ruin your furniture. It's ok to leave them 'as is' for birdhouses, but for planters it depends how/ where you'll be displaying it. An alternative to sealing is to get one of those plastic saucers -some are clear and flexible, from your local garden center and put one in the bottom of the gourd & set the plant on that. That's something that worked fine for me. I've done many art/ craft shows selling my gourdcraft and I get your question a lot!
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca, literally "cat-foot black-and-white") is a mammal classified in the bear family (Ursidae), native to central-western and southwestern China.[2] The Giant Panda was previously thought to be a member of the Procyonidae (raccoon) family.[3] It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though belonging to the order Carnivora, the Giant Panda has a diet which is 99% bamboo. The Giant Panda may eat other foods such as honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges, and bananas when available.
|Includes CC-BY-SA content from Wikipedia's Giant_Panda article (authors)


text:
Boston Marathon: Local runners hoping for PR's
Mike Roda took advantage of some extra time to fine-tune his marathon training.
Kristina Gracey skirted extra demands on her time to fine-tune hers.
Each runner believes that they're in position to pursue a personal record when they run the 117th Boston Marathon on Monday.
Roda, a 37-year-old member of Team Utopia who lives in Albany, has cranked up his mileage, but within the framework set up by his coach, Jim Bowles, so that it isn't just long mileage for the sake of mileage. He's shooting for a sub-2:30.
Gracey, 30, also of Albany, is a resident at Albany Medical College whose shift there can stretch into some long hours. Still, she's prepared to run around 2:50, and will be bolstered by the presence of a formidable team from the Willow Street AC that includes masters Emily Bryans of Delanson, Nancy Briskie of Schenectady and Sally Drake of Albany.
"I do feel like I have a good mental picture of what to expect from myself," Roda said on Saturday. "I can't imagine how much fun it will be. It's a great opportunity and could be the race of a lifetime."
Roda was a middle-distance track runner at Oneonta High School who had PR's of 50.16 in the 400 meters and 2:00 in the 800.
He didn't compete in college and actually had a gap of well over 10 years during which he graduated from UAlbany in 1994, got a job with State Farm Insurance — and didn't race at all.
His job was outsourced in 2012, and by then, he had discovered the marathon through Team Utopia.
Roda debuted at the distance with a 2:47:35 to finish eighth behind Chuck Terry, who is also entered for Boston on Monday, in the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon in 2011.
Bowles suggested he run in the Race of Champions in Holyoke, Mass., last May, to get a sense of what it's like to face grueling hills, and Roda was fifth in 2:49:35.
That set him up for a return to the Mohawk Hudson River Marathon last fall, when he took a significant chunk off his 2011 time by finishing second to Kyle Smith in 2:33:26.
"Although Holyoke was six months out, it was a great lead-in to the local marathon," Roda said. "It was sort of a trial for the Mohawk Hudson, but it also forced me to build hill strength. You could call it a dress rehearsal."
Now Roda is poised to chop some more time off his PR.
With the time off, he's been preparing to apply to grad school, and also building up his mileage, which has climbed into the 130-mile-per-week stratosphere on two occasions, but generally has been around 100.
It's mileage with a purpose, though.
Bowles has employed what they call a tempo-progression philosophy to Roda's workouts, during which he'll run for an hour at a pace below what he wants to race at, then power up to race pace for a half-hour, for example. Then the duration of the workouts increases, but always running at race pace under a certain level of fatigue in the second portion of the workout.
Each of these runs will cover a minimum of 12 miles and a maximum of about 19.
"When I did the second Mohawk Hudson, the difference was that Jim and I had done these progression runs, and the pace became ingrained in me," Roda said.
What isn't ingrained in him is any memory of having run Boston, since this is his first.
That's where more advice from Bowles and his experienced Team Utopia teammates comes in.
"They filled me in," Roda said. "I'll be on the conservative side in the beginning, because it's a lot of downhill. One of the things Jim says is not to go for even splits, but to go for even effort. The best way to break 2:30 is not to be too aggressive. That sounds easy, but I'm confident I've done the training."
Gracey, who has a young daughter with her husband, Dan, ran Boston in 2007 (3:30:24) and 2008 (3:15), but expects to do much better than that this time, based on a 2:52 she ran in California two years ago and some quick shorter races recently.
She was second at the 2011 Mohawk Hudson Marathon in 2:56:34, and has won the Troy Turkey Trot the last two Novembers.
"It's really hard to predict any race until you're in the midst of it," she said. "The last time I ran it, I was struggling on the hills and felt a little better once I got to Cleveland Circle. I hope I feel better this time, but as far as being confident, I know I've put in a lot more consistent mileage this time."
Gracey, whose husband is also running Boston, has been training 75-80 miles a week for the last three months.
Weather conditions are supposed to be favorable on Monday, but she knows that a huge crowd will be out there no matter what Mother Nature is doing.
"It's crazy," Gracey said. "The beginning is really exhilarating, given that you're surrounded by all these phenomenal runners. It gets loud in Wellesley, then it gets deafening in Kenmore Square. Then that last corner on Hereford Street, there's no feeling like it."
Another top runner with Capital Region ties is former Shenendehowa and University of Cincinnati star Scott Mindel, who ran 2:27:15 despite hot conditions last year and finished 19th overall.
Dan Larson, 61, of Queensbury, will be chasing his 38th straight finish, one of the longest streaks at Boston.


text:
What is JotForm?
JotForm is a free online form builder which helps you create online forms without writing a single line of code. No sign-up required.
At JotForm, we want to make sure that you're getting the online form builder help that you need. Our friendly customer support team is available 24/7.
We believe that if one user has a question, there could be more users who may have the same question. This is why many of our support forum threads are public and available to be searched and viewed. If you'd like help immediately, feel free to search for a similar question, or submit your question or concern.
Hi, my email address was put on the bounce list for several times now, even though it is a normal address and does usually work properly. Why?Asked by ufrohnho on March 13, 2017 at 03:43 PM
Is there any way to prohobit this?
Since we do not get an alert, we have to rely on customer feedback, who complain, that the customer feedback form and the registration form on website is not working. THis is a very unsatisfying situation.
Thanks in advance for clarification.
Heike Frohnhoff
JotForm Support Manager
An email is bounced back every time the recipient¡s email server rejects our messages. That means that AOL was bouncing back the notifications coming from us. My recommendation would be to setup a gmail address or similar to prevent further issues.


text:
Register today for inside access to our thought-provoking coverage of the global financial markets!
August 14, 2016
Virtual reality is making its Olympic debut during this summer's Games, but for investors the technology may still be a few years away from prime time.
By Kaitlin Ugolik
Fireworks explode over Maracana Stadium during the opening of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday, Aug. 5. (Photo credit: Dado Galdieri/Bloomberg)
For this years Olympic Games, NBC launched a new extra
for viewers with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and Gear headset:
85 hours of virtual reality content. The network promised
360-degree immersive video experiences for the opening and
closing ceremonies, plus seven sporting events, including
mens basketball, gymnastics and beach volleyball. There
are a few caveats: The cost to the user is relatively high
about $180 for hardware plus a TV provider subscription
and VR hardware is still clunky by most experts
and users standards. Plus, the content is released on a
delay; the opening ceremony wasnt available in virtual
reality until the day after it aired live. Still, NBCs
move has been lauded by analysts as smart and strategic at a
time when technology companies and content creators are working
out how to make virtual reality as ubiquitous as mobile video
and gaming.
NBC isnt alone in taking advantage of the Olympics to
test out VR strategies. The Financial Times created a
four-minute virtual reality video about Rio
de Janeiro titled Hidden Cities, and Kellogg Co.
teamed up with U.S. Olympic swimmer Tom Shields to give viewers
a 360-degree swimming experience. As
technologies to transport users out of their physical realities
is still evolving and no one is quite sure what type of content
is best for the medium, experimentation is key.
These brands could likely learn a lot from the video game
industry. Gamers tend to be early adopters and are more willing
than most other demographics to spend money on consoles and
content. Deloitte predicts that VR will have its first
billion-dollar revenue year in 2016, thanks to gaming. In
January the firm said it expected about $700 million
in hardware sales of some 2.5 million headsets, with the
rest coming from content specifically, the sale of
roughly 10 million games. Others had forecast several billion
dollars in sales; eight months into the year, however, Duncan
Stewart, director of research for technology, media and
telecommunications at Deloitte Canada and co-author of the
January report, says his firms more conservative estimate
is proving to be most accurate. Investors are interested in VR,
but the hard truth remains that there are few, if any,
companies for which the technology could comprise more than 1
percent of revenue. That makes the sector a tough sell, at
least for now.
The term virtual reality was popularized in 1987
by computer scientist Jaron Lanier, and there have been many
fits and starts since then. Eric Galen, an attorney with
Greenberg Glusker who specializes in entertainment and
technology law and works with VR firms, believes the current
climate is promising for creating devices that are as easy to
use, and as cheap, as mobile phones. Nintendo Co. and mobile
game developer Niantic may have opened many consumers
eyes to the possibilities with the recent viral success of
Pokémon Go. Theres a big difference, though,
between spotting Pikachu on a park bench through your phone
screen more augmented reality than virtual reality
and feeling as though youre completely immersed in
a Pokémon world.
Virtual reality is kind of an inevitable evolution of
storytelling, and the question really is just the
ecosystem, says Galen. Who are the winners going to
Thats a question that
Kensho Technologies new Virtual Reality Index is
aiming to help investors answer. The index follows companies
that have exposure to the growing industry including
Facebook, which owns the Oculus VR, maker of the Rift headset,
and interactive graphics chipmaker Nvidia Corp. It was up 13.5
percent in the month following the release of Pokémon
Though demand is rising as virtual reality technology
evolves, analysts agree that its unlikely that most
people will have setups in their homes in the next five years.
For investors, the best course may be to focus on companies
that are positioned to benefit from a coming VR boom and have
businesses that can generate revenue in the meantime. These
include semiconductor maker Advanced Micro Devices, which
recently partnered with start-up Awesome Rocketship to create the VenueVR
Gateway, a pod that incorporates both a headset and a
motion-controlled platform to allow users to experience VR. The
hope of companies like Awesome Rocketship, explains Galen, is
that out-of-home offerings like VenueVR will be to virtual
reality what nickelodeons were to film and television.
Investments in critical parts of the ecosystem are
going to be really important, says Galen. Whoever
can come out with great stories and a device that really works
and is accessible is going to win, at least for a
Follow Kaitlin Ugolik on Twitter at @kaitlinugolik.
The 2017 LATAM Sales Team: BTG Pactual and Credit Suisse rose to the top three in II's annual ranking ...
The 2017 LATAM Research Team: In the wake of cost-cutting and downsizing across sell-side firms, the bank rose to ...
The 2017 US Fixed-Income Research Team : The firm was ranked by more than 1,800 portfolio managers and buy-side analysts globally. ...
The 2017 All-Asia Trading Team: The ability to provide liquidity and adapt to new technology set apart the winners ...
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text:
"Tuesday, September 25th, 1999. It was a warm late summers evening, in a hospital (which shall remain nameless) I was born into this this world. "Robert" my parents named me, and "Robert" I had been. My mother named 'Robert' particularly not 'Bob,' I was never 'Bob' and (hopefully) will never be.But, I've been a lot more than Robert (but not Bob.)
For the longest time my family called me 'Robbie' I didn't mind that until recently I outgrew it, now only certain people (I allow to) call me 'Robbie,' mainly females, or people that have known me forever. Another one I have always been called is 'Rob,' it's just a shortening of my full name and I have nothing against it, mainly people who are pretty good friends of mine call me that. Other than that people who know my family (especially if they know my siblings) I have been 'one of those Richters,' 'Shaun's or Tommy's Brother,' etc.
When it comes to introducing myself I always say 'Robert Richter,' I will always say that. Robert is fine by me and I like my name, I personally think it sounds professional. That is all I have to say for today.
Remember to Comment, Share and follow if you enjoyed!!


text:
NOTE: All of this just kind of occured to me, recently. Dunno if it was worth making into a blog, but whatever. xP
I've realized something...
As we all know, we are in iCarly's final season. Now, this came as a shock to a lot of people. A lot of us were expecting it to end soon, but not this soon. Why didn't more of us see this coming?
Because it doesn't feel like the final season.
A final season is all about closure.
Take Wizards of Waverly Place for example; we could all tell that the 4th season was the last because they took the time to tie all the loose ends, such as with Alex/Mason and Justin/Juliet, among other things. Even Hannah Montana did this in its final season, because it took place during her senior year and the last episodes dealt with her letting go of her Hannah personality, as well as her relationships with Lilly and Jesse. Granted, neither of these shows were my favorite, but I still liked and watched it, and I think the writers did a good job of ending everything on a decent note.
However, in the last season of iCarly, instead of tying loose ends, Dan seems to be opening more cans of worms by reintroducing Creddie elements and having more Seddie conflict/tension than ever. Worst of all, the entire gang does not seem as close as it once was.
Assuming that the characters are all seniors in high school now, they should be focusing more on what they're going to be doing after they graduate and what will become of the webshow. I get that iCarly is supposed to be a fun show and it isn't traditionally big on continuity, but they should at least be partially wrapping things up.
From what I understand, the entire series is supposed to end with some big TV movie, and I sincerely hope that Dan takes this opportunity to possibly discuss some of these matters, as well as hopefully bring the gang back together so we can see some long-awaited Late-Season 2/Season 3 heart. :)


text:
I need ideas for an 11 year old birthday party. My location is in a public park with a swimming pool. I need help. I don't know what my daughter likes or dislikes. I am also trying to keep the cost down around $200. I don't have much money.
Walter from Alexandria, VA
We're having a party for 5 11 year old boys. It's January and muddy out so we're making sure the kids are wearing play clothes. First we'll set up targets for well supervised BB gun shooting, then we will make marshmallow shooters out of PVC pipe and decorate them with felt pens. Finally, there will be a scavenger hunt and then a dip in the hot tub. (01/22/2010)
By mclandau
Have a tie dye party sleepover you can go to Jo-ann Fabrics and get dye for 1 to 10 dollars you can get t-shirts and tie dye them. After the t-shirts are done and dried you can put their names on them so they will match at school! (01/24/2010)
By Meagyellow
You should invite a couple of her closest friends over, and let them do whatever they want in the pool, swim competitions, races, and games. Once all are tired, your house would be ideal for lunch, fun manicures, and games the rest of the day. (05/09/2010)
By Monkieweb
Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!


text:
Fruit Bats is an American rock band formed in 1997 in Chicago, Illinois. Noted as an early entrant into the folk-rock boom of the early 2000s, the group has had many personnel changes but revolves around singer/songwriter Eric D. Johnson. Two years after announcing the demise of Fruit Bats, Johnson is back with a new Fruit Bats album.
Continue reading "ALBUM REVIEW: FRUIT BATS – ABSOLUTE LOSER"


text:
I'm brand new to Spiceworks and I'm only getting software reports (applications, antivirus etc) on the local computer. Did I miss a step or setup wrong?
3 Replies
May 17, 2011 at 11:37 UTC
You need to specify an IP address range to scan for. If you go to "Settings" and then into "Network Scan", you will be able to enter a new network scan which you can add an IP range.
Good luck
May 17, 2011 at 11:40 UTC
Have you setup your Scan Groups yet? You can find your scan groups through the "Settings" option found on the top right corner of your dashboard.
This is the spiceworks range setup info since my description is vague.
May 18, 2011 at 8:24 UTC
As above.
Would add to start with the local subnet, and get to know the SpiceWorks with various devices & OSes. Understand the log files and how to backup the program.
With backup & restore in place, feel free to test & break things with aplomb.
This discussion has been inactive for over a year.
You may get a better answer to your question by starting a new discussion.


text:
Does anybody out there love GLEE as much as I do?
ME ME ME!!! (jumping up and down waving hands wildly) I LOVE this show! Theater geeks of the world unite!!!
Holy........crap. That show is HILARIOUS! The only problem we had was we, stupidly, assumed it was a family-show take on HSM.
LMAO.....um, no. Dear God, NO!!! We realized instantly that the 12, 9 & 8 years would be banished when that show is on. But OMG, my husband and I love it and my son (15) is completely addicted!
I love the Cheerios coach - she is so dang funny in everything she is in.
edited to add: I meant to say 12, 9 & 8 year olds
I just love the stories. I work in a school so it reminds me of some of the things I see every day. I am also a sef-titled GEEK! Maybe not theater, but definately a geek.
Me! I LOVE GLEE! I had to go online today to rewatch the football game from last night's show! The football players dancing to Beyonce just cracked me up!
Love it! and having been a glee nerd just makes it funnier.
What channel and night does it come on? I hadn't heard of it before this.
Here ya go, all episodes from this season + the pilot from last spring:
It airs Wednesdays on Fox at 8pm (at least on the East Coast).
Oh I love this show.
My boyfriend and I got hooked on it back in June when they did the premier episode. We had to suck it up all summer waiting for it to start.
Here ya go, all episodes from this season + the pilot from last spring:
It airs Wednesdays on Fox at 8pm (at least on the East Coast).
Oh this looks like it's right up our alley....thanks prterrell!
Glee...what's that??
Glee...what's that??
A fabulous new show on Fox about a High School Glee Club (aka show choir).
Click on the link in my earlier post to find out more and to view full episodes.
The episode with the football players dancing to Beyonce was hilarious! But the storyline with Kurt was funny and touching....I spent much time with guys just like him in high school.
Loved his dad's reaction when Kurt told him he was gay..."I've know since you were 3...all you wanted for your birthday was a pair of sensible heels"!
Love this show!!!! My kids keep watching the old episodes over and over again...and constantly recite alot of the lines, especially Sue Sylvester's. The countdown to Wednesday night is on!
Officially addicted to this show. It's hilarious and touches on some issues too. How can you not laugh?!?!?!?
Officially addicted to this show. It's hilarious and touches on some issues too. How can you not laugh?!?!?!?
OMG! Just watched this week's episode. I got goosebumps over my entire body during the last song!
How did I not see this thread before?
I love this show as well, my DVR is set to record them all just in case I can't watch it. I didn't watch the pilot back in June because I didn't want to wait forever to see the show, so I forced myself to watch something else and then saw it when the season started.
I knew when I saw previews all year that I would like it. I was never in any clubs or anything but it doesn't matter. it's still great.
The teachers wife is CRAZY and the cheerios coach is hilarious. I love her in other movies as well.
Great show! Great Cast! Great Music! Love it all!


text:
Junior Front-End Developer
Forgot to introduce myself..
I'm Youssef Bouz, a 16-year old learning developer.
I'm a high school senior student studying in Dubai. I graduate in May 2017,
and I plan on going to university to study Computer Science.
My current goal is to build the knowledge and skills
required to become a full-stack web developer.
I am committed to making progress in this field due to my
long enduring interest towards Computer Science.
Get in touch!


text:
The Whistling Wizard Verizon Ringtone - SHEET MUSIC MP3
I DO NOT own the piece, I simply transcribed the music by EAR. All © Goes to Verizon Wireless. (WANT THE SHEET MUSIC?) - - - - This is what happens when I ...
Whistling Wizard RingTone MP3
http://www.tubetillatools.com/how-to-download-the-whistling-wizard-ringtone Download the Mp3 at TubeTilla Tools RingTone section.
The Real Group - Whistling Wizard MP3
The Real Group performing Whistling Wizard.
Ringtone Request: "Whistle Tune" from the Verizon LG Chocolate MP3
I fulfill a request that was sent to me. Hope this is the one you want! Download MP3: http://www.sendspace.com/file/4wg7s3 "Like a Movie" ringtone from LG ...
Whistling Wizard - LG Phones MP3
Ringtone: Whistling Wizard / By: LG / Download at http://goo.gl/dSuzx9.
The whistling wizard dance MP3
A dance to a common ringtone.
Whistle Wizard Sivaprasad-Bantureethi MP3
Salem tyagaraja Vidvath sabha music concert -May 2014.
Concert by Whistle Wizard, Mr. Siva Prasad followed by dance presentation - 18 Nov 2013 MP3
Prasanthi dance Programme Audio Download link: http://media.radiosai.org/journals/vol_11/01NOV13/prasanthi-dance-audio-download.htm Concert by Whistle ...
Naa Hridayanlo (On whistle by WHISTLE WIZARD SHRI K SIVA PRASAD) MP3
Whistle Wizard Sivaprasad - Nada sudha MP3
Salem tyagaraja Vidvath sabha music concert -May 2014.
Whistle Wizard Sivaprasad - Brochevarevare MP3
Salem tyagaraja Vidvath sabha music concert -May 2014.
vaishnav janato - Whistle Wizard Sivaprasad Komaravolu MP3
The Whistling Wizard MP3
We haven't made a new video in a while. So here's a new one! Hope you enjoy! Comment and rate please(:
Whistling Wizard MP3
Snow days make us crazy.
Lady Babuska 09 Whistling Wizard MP3
www.ladybabuska.com https://www.facebook.com/ladybabuska.
Aye Mere Vatan -Whistle Wizard Sivaprasad komaravolu MP3


text:
Muscle-D Model
KeoniaModel Female North Brunswick Township, New Jersey, US
My MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/Crucialkey
Mayhem # 538625
About Me
My name Is Keonia. Ive been working at a modeling career since 92' and am still loving every moment of it. I've been working hard to be an asset in all areas such as makeup, wardrobe, hair, and most importantly modeling. Furthering my experience is my main goal and I am looking for photographers that are willing and able to take the art to the next level. This is my passion and I can't wait to work with ya! )!
I have 6 tattoos
1. treble clef on my back right shoulder
2. Ankh with a lilly on my front left shoulder
3. pistol with the word love shooting out on my upper left arm (on the inside close to my under arm)
4. Stars and music notes on my right foot
5. a heart with wings and a key on the right side of my lower pelvic area
6. Seize The Moment on my ribs under my breat bone
Also I have nipple and belly button piercings
I am open to doing artistic nudes only
Please feel free to contact me @ firstname.lastname@example.com
When contacting me please include the following:
Date/Time/Location of Shoot
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ammomag.com Summer Beauty 2009
Photography by : MG Oania
Styling: Me
Photography by: Mike Mogul
Styling: Me
Have you worked with Keonia? Add Credits for Keonia! >>
Credit Notes
Sidney Etienne
Isiah Boui Six21Pix
Aquil LRP
Mike Mogul
Elijah Lindsay
Jonathan Martin
MG Oania
Jose Guerra
Makini Fab Faces
Vanessa Viola - Splash of Beautii Doll
Black Hair Magazine
Montage Magazine
Hype Hair Magazine
Tyra Banks Show Valentine Special 2009
Tyra Banks Americas Next Top Model Casting Cycle 13 top 8
Various Fashion Shows
Young Jerz Birthday Video
Pressure What It Do Video
Webstar & Sarani - Tipsy in the Club Video
Style Ammo - Summer Beauty 2009 (Nuvo Ad)
Models Ive Worked with::
Chris Crockett
Artina Andrews
Muscle-D Model
Albertus Joseph Artist/Painter
m2lightworks Photographer
Intimate Photo Services Photographer
Ja Quayan Photographer
Brownzphot... Photographer
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