Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02619798 2008-01-30
INSULATED CONTAINER UTILIZING NON-CONTACT COOLING
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Insulated containers, sometimes called "coolers," are prevalent in
contemporary
life. Insulated containers are often used for picnics or for outdoor
activities such as
camping or tailgating at sporting events. In addition, insulated containers
are becoming
more prevalent in the medical industry, where they are used to move transplant
organs and
other articles that need to remain cold during transport. Also, the need to
transport
commercial goods such as perishable foods, live foodstuffs, drinks, medicines,
and
environmental samples is becoming more important.
Often, a user desires to store items in an insulated container and keep those
items
cool, but does not want those items to come into contact with ice. For
example, a user
may have a number of sandwiches, baked goods, or other items that the user
wishes to
keep dry, but cold. Many conventional insulated containers include a
compartment at a
top of the insulated container for the items that are to be kept cold, and ice
is placed at the
bottom of the container to keep the inside of the container cold. However,
humidity levels
within the compartment may still be high because of the presence of ice within
the
insulated container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the
invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This
summary is not
an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify
key/critical elements
of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose
is to present
some embodiments of the invention in a siinplified form as a prelude to the
more detailed
description of some embodiments that are presented later.
In accordance with an embodiment, an insulated container provides non-contact
cooling. That is, the insulated cooler provides cooling without ice, water, or
another
cooling medium contacting items that are to be cooled. In an embodiment, the
cooling
medium is maintained in a reservoir or pocket that is separate from a food
compartment.
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In an embodiment, ice or another cooling medium is not included within a food
compartment at all.
In accordance with an embodiment, a reservoir is provided for cubed ice, block
ice,
blue ice, frozen gel packs, or some other cold medium. The reservoir is
positioned to
remove heat from (e.g., in thermal contact with) a food comparhnent for the
insulated
container.
In an embodiment, the insulated container includes a tube or manifold for
moving
cold water around the food compartment. A battery powered, solar powered, or
hand
operated pump may be provided for moving the fluids around the food
compartment. A
liner for the food comparhnent may be formed of a highly thermally conductive
material,
such as aluminum, to maximize heat transfer between the tube or manifold
system and the
liner.
In an embodiment, the insulated container includes a plug or drain for
removing
water from the reservoir and/or tube/manifold system. The drain may work by
gravity, or
a pump may be utilized to remove water from the system.
In an alternate embodiment, a siphon-type system may be used for circulating
water around the manifold. Other structures may be used for removing heat from
the food
compartment, including a thermosiphon or a heat pipe.
In other alternate embodiments, a cooling source other than ice may be used,
such
as a blue ice pack.
Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following
detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an insulated container in accordance with
an
embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a section view of the insulated container of FIG. 1 taken along the
section
lines 2-2;
FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of an insulated container
in
accordance with another embodiment;
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FIG. 4 is an exploded side perspective view of an insulated container in
accordance
with an embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the insulated container of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of the insulated container
of
FIGS. 4 and 5;
FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of an insulated container including a hand
pump;
FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of an insulated container including an ice
reservoir at a front portion of the insulated container in accordance with an
alternate
embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a front view of an insulated
container in
accordance with an alternate embodiment; and
FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of a side perspective view of the
insulated container of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention
will be
described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details
are set forth in
order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will
also be
apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced
without the
specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or
simplified in order
not to obscure the embodiment being described.
Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like
parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an insulated container 20 in
accordance
with an embodiment. The insulated container 20 includes sidewalls 22 and a lid
24. In the
embodiment shown in the drawings, handles 26 (only one of which is shown in
FIG. 1) are
provided on opposite sides of the insulated container 20 for transport.
Briefly described, insulated containers in accordance with an embodiment
include
a reservoir for a cooling medium, such as water and ice, that is separate from
a food
comparhnent for the insulated container. As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, a
dry food
compartment 28 is segregated from an ice reservoir 30.
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In practice, a user places ice, ice and water, or another cooing medium, such
as
blue ice or frozen gel packs, into the reservoir 30. The cooling medium
absorbs heat from
the dry comparhnent 28 via a thermally conducted liner 32. The liner 32 may be
formed,
for example, of aluminum or another thermally conductive material. The liner
32 is
preferably in contact with an interior of the reservoir 30 and the interior of
the dry
compartment 28, so that maximum thermal conduction may be provided. The liner
32
may extend partially or completely around the dry compartment 28. In an
embodiment,
the liner 32 extends around the inside of all of the sidewalls 22 of the
insulated container
20, but the liner may additionally or alternatively extend underneath a
portion or all of the
dry compartment 28 or around selected portions of the dry compartment.
The reservoir 30 may be a pocket formed in one or more of the sidewalls 22 of
the
insulated container 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the reservoir 30 is
a pocket
positioned along a front side of the insulated container. However, the
reservoir may be
positioned at other locations within the insulated container, including within
the lid 24, at
other positions in the sidewalls 22, or in the bottom of the insulated
container.
FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of an insulated container 33. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the insulated container 33 includes a bladder 34
positioned
on the inside of the insulated container. The bladder 34 is a flexible
membrane designed
to hold a fluid, and serves as the reservoir in this embodiment. The bladder
34 includes an
inner wall 35 that provides separation between an internal compartment of the
bladder 34
and a dry compartment 36. Insulation 37 is positioned on an opposite side of
the bladder
34. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the bladder 34 includes buttons
38 that
attach to the insulation 37 to keep the bladder in place. Reinforcement ribs
31, such as I-
beams, may be used to connect the rear and inner walls 35 of the bladder 34
from
separating when filled, in much as the same manner as an airbed utilizes such
ribs or coils,
as described in U.S. Publication Number 2007/0044243. A drain 39, such as a
conventional cooler spigot, is provided for draining the bladder 34.
In use, the bladder 34 is filled with ice or another cold medium, such as cold
water,
and the bladder 34 provides cooling, or heat removal, for items within the dry
compartment 36. In an embodiment, ice water is placed in the bladder 34.
However, in an
alternate embodiment, the bladder 34 may include only water, and ice may be
maintained
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in a separate compartment, or in a separate part of the bladder 34. After use,
a user drains
the bladder 34 using the drain 39.
FIG. 4 shows an insulated container 40 in accordance with another embodiment.
The insulated container 40 includes sidewalls 42 and a lid 44 hinged to one of
the back
sidewalls. Handles 46 are provided on opposite sides of the insulated
container 40 for
transport.
The insulated container 40 includes a dry compartment 48 and an ice reservoir
50.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a liner 52 extends around and under the dry
compartment 48 and the ice reservoir 50. A wall 53 separates the ice reservoir
50 and the
dry compartment 48.
The ice reservoir 50 is in fluid communication with cooling tubes 54 that
extend
around the liner 52. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the cooling
tubes 54 are
formed by a single tube that wraps in a coil around the liner 52. The upper
and lower
portions (i.e., the ends) of the single tube are in fluid communication with
the ice reservoir
50. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the liner 52 fits within the sidewalls 42
of the
insulated container 40. When in place, as is shown in FIG. 6, insulation may
be blown
around the cooling tubes 54 and the liner 52 to position the liner in place
and to provide an
insulation function.
In the embodiments shown in the drawings, a drain plug 58 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is
provided for draining the reservoir 50. The drain plug 58 may additionally or
alternatively
be in fluid communication with the cooling tubes 54.
A pump 60 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5) is provided for pumping water
from the ice reservoir 50 through the cooling tubes 54. The pump may be, for
example,
battery operated, solar powered, or AC powered. In an alternate embodiment,
shown in
FIG. 7, a hand pump 62 may be provided for an insulated container 140.
In operation, a user places water and ice or another cold, preferably at least
part
fluid, medium within the ice reservoir 50. The dry compartment 48 may be used
for
receiving food stuffs or other items. The wall 53 and the liner 52 are
preferably made of a
thermally conductive material, such as aluminum. The pump 60 is used to drive
water
from the ice reservoir 30 around the cooling tubes 54 and back into the
reservoir 50. Thus,
heat transfer is maximized between the ice reservoir 50 and the liner 52. In
this manner,
CA 02619798 2008-01-30
heat may be efficiently removed from the dry compartment 48. After a user has
either
melted all the ice or is finished with the insulated container 40, the drain
plug 58 may be
opened, allowing water and/or ice to flow out of the ice reservoir 50 and the
cooling tubes
54. If needed, the pump 60 may be operated to remove any additional water from
the
cooling tubes 54.
In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, an indentation 64 may be provided in the
lid 44 for matching the top of the ice reservoir 50. This indentation may be
used to close
and seal the top of the ice reservoir 50, minimizing heat absorption by the
ice reservoir.
Other structures may be used, including a gasket or another type of seal.
FIG. 8 shows an insulated container 70 in accordance with another embodiment.
The insulated container 70 in FIG. 8 is similar to the insulated container 40
in FIG. 5, but
instead of having a reservoir 50 that is within a liner 52, a reservoir 74 for
the insulated
container 70 is included in a pocket of sidewalls 72 of the insulated
container 70. A dry
compartment 73 is positioned on the inside of the insulated container 70. In
the
embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a drain plug 76 is provided on the front of the
insulated
container 70, and a pump 78 is positioned adjacent to the ice reservoir 74.
Other mechanisms or structures may be used to increase thermal transfer
between
the ice reservoir and the liner and/or food compartment. For example, instead
of the
pump, a siphon-type system may be used for circulating water around a liner.
Other
structures may be used for removing heat from the food compartment, including
a
thermosiphon or a heat pipe. Heat pipes and thermosiphons are discussed in
U.S. patent
number 7,246,505.
An alternate embodiment of an insulated container 80 is shown in FIGS. 9 and
10.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the insulated container 80 includes
an ice
channel 82 that extends around the front, bottom, and rear sides of a dry
compartment 84
for the insulated container. The dry compartment 84 may be lined with a
sufficient
thermally conductive liner material, such as aluminum. Insulation may be
included on the
outside of the ice channel 82. In addition, insulation 86 (FIG. 9) may be
provided at the
ends of the ice channel 82. A lid 88 may fit over the top of the insulated
container 80, and
may close the dry compartment 84 and both ends of the ice channel 82. The ice
channel
82 may be opened at one or both ends, and provides an extended pocket through
which ice
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water or another cold medium may be put in contact with the dry compartment
84. When
the ice melts, a user may turn the insulated container 80 upside down, or a
drain plug may
be provided for draining the ice channel.
The insulated containers described herein provide a manner in which to store
foodstuffs or other items in a dry, cold container. Separate reservoirs are
provided for a
cooling medium and food stuffs. In this manner, food or other items may remain
cold
within the insulated container, without having contact with ice or the
humidity levels
associated with being in an ice compartment.
Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while
the
invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative
constructions, a certain
illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described
above in
detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit
the invention to
the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to
cover all
modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the
spirit and scope
of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents,
cited herein
are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference
were
individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and
were set forth
in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the
context of
describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims)
are to be
construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise
indicated herein or
clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having,"
"including," and
"containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning
"including, but not
limited to,") unless otherwise noted. The term "connected" is to be construed
as partly or
wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is
something
intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to
serve as a
shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling
within the range,
unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated
into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described
herein can be
performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly
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CA 02619798 2008-01-30
contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary
language (e.g.,
"such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate
embodiments of the
invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless
otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating
any non-
claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the
best
mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of
those preferred
embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon
reading the
foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such
variations as
appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced
otherwise than as
specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all
modifications and
equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as
permitted by
applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in
all
possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise
indicated
herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
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