Food warming device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025380837-A1
Application number	US-202519233480-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2025
Priority date	Jun 17, 2024
Publication date	Dec 18, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Quite often it is heard that people complain about having cold food at their places of work. The problem is not localized to a particular geographic area or age, it affects everyone who prefers having hot food at workplace or college. The Smart Lunch box aims at providing hot food to users anytime and anywhere they want. It uses heating elements along with microcontrollers powered by batteries to provide heat even in the absence of a power outlet. The batteries have to be sufficiently charged well before hand, the box can be controlled to set temperatures and timer through a mobile application which simplifies the user interface and also reduces human intervention. The box can also be used as a noodle maker by using hot water. The technical applications are immense. This invention can be of great help to various working sects of the society.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A food carrying device for warming food, the food carrying device comprising:
a housing including a storage compartment defining a base and a plurality of sidewalls, the storage compartment defining a storage volume for receiving a food container or food item, the storage volume extending between the base of the storage compartment and an open end of the storage compartment opposite the base; a lid secured to the housing to close the open end of the storage compartment; a heating element extending along the storage compartment, a battery configured to power the heating element; a user interface disposed on an exterior surface of the housing; a controller connected to the heating element and the user interface, the controller configured to receive inputs from a user via the user interface; and the controller receiving as a first input a desired mealtime, in response to the first input the controller controls the heating element to:
output heat at a first heating level for a first period of time; and
output heat at a second heating level for a second period of time.

2 . The food carrying device of claim 1 , wherein the heating element outputs less thermal energy at the first heating level as compared to the second heating level.

3 . The food carrying device of claim 2 , wherein the heating element outputs no thermal energy at the first heating level, and wherein, in response to the first input, the controller further controls the heating element to output heat at a third heating level for a third period of time.

4 . The food carrying device of claim 1 , wherein the controller compares an amount of energy stored in the battery to an amount of energy required to power the heating element for the first and second periods of time, and wherein the controller is configured to alert the user if the amount of energy stored in the battery is less than the amount of energy required to power the heating element for the first and second periods of time.

5 . The food carrying device of claim 4 , wherein the control alerts the user via the user interface using one or more of a visual alert and an auditory alert.

6 . The food carrying device of claim 1 , wherein the lid is rotatably coupled to the housing, and wherein the lid is selectively decouplable and removable from the housing.

7 . The food carrying device of claim 6 , wherein the lid includes one or more recesses shaped to hold a base of the food container or a base of a fluid reservoir.

8 . The food storage device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a battery port to receive the battery.

9 . The food storage device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of engaging features, the engaging features being couplable to a portable storage system.

10 . The food storage device of claim 1 further comprising a memory, the memory configured to store a plurality of heating profiles, the heating profiles including activation instructions regarding the heating level of the heating element level and period of activation, wherein the controller is configured to select and execute one of the heating profiles based on the input to the user interface.

11 . The food carrying device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle rotatably coupled to the lid, the handle configured to support the lid against a surface in a horizontal position when the lid is in an open configuration.

12 . A food carrying device for warming food, the food carrying device comprising:
a housing including a storage compartment, the storage compartment defining a storage volume for receiving a food container or food item; a lid secured to the housing; a heating element to heat the storage compartment, a battery to power the heating element; a user interface to receive inputs from a user; and a controller connected to the heating element and the user interface, the controller receiving a first input to the user interface corresponding to a heating parameter, in response to the first input the controller calculates a heating profile for the heating element, the heating profile including:
a first activation level of the heating element and a first period of activation of the heating element; and
a second activation level of the heating element and a second period of activation of the heating element.

13 . The food carrying device of claim 12 , wherein the controller compares an amount of energy stored in the battery to an amount of energy required to power the heating element for the heating profile, and wherein the controller is configured to alert the user if the amount of energy stored in the battery is less than the amount of energy required to power the heating element for the heating profile.

14 . The food carrying device of claim 12 , wherein the lid is coupled to the housing via a hinge, the hinge including a first hinge portion extending from the housing that is coupled to a second hinge portion extending from the lid, the first hinge portion being selectively decouplable from the second hinge portion to remove the lid from the housing.

15 . The food carrying device of claim 14 , wherein the lid includes one or more recesses shaped to hold a base of the food container or a base of a fluid reservoir.

16 . The food carrying device of claim 12 , further comprising a heat sensor in communication with the controller and configured to generate a temperature signal, wherein the controller adjusts the heating profile based on the temperature signal.

17 . The food carrying device of claim 12 , wherein activating the heating element at the first activation level causes the heating element to output less thermal energy as compared to activating the heating element at the second activation level.

18 . A method for using a food carrying device, the food carrying device comprising a storage compartment to receive a food container or food item, the method comprising:
coupling a battery to a housing of the food carrying device; powering a heating element using the battery; receiving a first user input to a controller via a user interface, the first user input specifying a desired mealtime; and based on the desired mealtime,
activating the heating element via the controller to output heat at a first heating level for a first period of time, and
activating the heating element via the controller to output heat at a second heating level for a second period of time.

19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:
calculating a first amount of energy required to power the heating element until the desired mealtime;
calculating a second amount of energy stored in the battery;
comparing the first amount of energy to the second amount of energy; and
alerting a user if the first amount of energy is greater than the second amount of energy.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the controller first activates the heating element to output heat at the first heating level, and then activates the heating element to output heat at the second heating level, and wherein the first heating level is a lower heating level than the second heating level.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Lettner Aaron M
• Tan Zichen
• Hadfield Jacob D
• Millane Christopher R
• Corpuz Jr Roque M

Classifications

• A47J41/005

  comprising heat or cold producing means, i.e. energy transfer from outside the vessel · CPC title

• A47J41/0094

  Indicating means, e.g. for level or temperature · CPC title

• A47J39/02 Primary

  Dish-warmers; Devices to keep food hot · CPC title

• H05B1/0225

  actuated by timers · CPC title

• H05B1/0261 Primary

  of food · CPC title