US2003084679A1PendingUtilityA1

Shipping containers and methods for the transportation of materials at stable temperatures

10
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jul 23, 2001Filed: May 28, 2002Published: May 8, 2003
Est. expiryJul 23, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kim CharltonFred McbeePenny Ogilvie
F25D 2600/04F25D 2331/804F25D 3/08F25D 2303/082
10
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

This invention relates to shipping containers and methods for the transportation perishable or temperature-sensitive materials at stable temperatures. Materials within the container are maintained in a narrow temperature range by a passive temperature control device. The device and the perishable materials are placed in the container, separated by a structured barrier. Structured barriers comprise materials of predefined thickness and placed so that perishable materials do not come into direct contact with the temperature-control device, but has a plurality of notches that allow for limited air circulation. Preferably the assembled container is covered with a fitted lid to minimize temperature transfer between the outside and inside of the container.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A shipping container comprising: 
 a container have a single opening leading to an inner chamber;    a structured barrier within the inner chamber that allows for limited air circulation across said structured barrier;    a temperature-control device placed in the chamber on one side of the barrier; and    a fitted lid that securely covers said opening.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container is composed of styrofoam.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the structured barrier is comprised of a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of foam, neoprene, plastics, cardboard, rubber, styrofoam and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the structured barrier contains a plurality of notches or openings that allows limited air circulation between a plurality of inner chambers of the container.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein said notches or openings represent less than 20% of the cross-sectional area of the container.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein said notches or openings represent less than 10% of the cross-sectional area of the container.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the structured barrier contains up to three notches.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the structured barrier contains up to three notches, wherein each of said notches are positioned at a corner of said barrier.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein air circulation across the structured barrier is less than 25%.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein air circulation across the structured barrier is sufficient to maintain materials within said chamber at a temperature range of 17° C.+/−7° C. for at least 3 days.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the temperature-controlling device is an ice pack, liquid pack ,a gel pack, or a temperature generating device.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container is comprised of a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of foam, neoprene, plastics, cardboard, rubber, styrofoam and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A shipping container comprising: 
 a container means to house an inner chamber;    a barrier means within the inner chamber that allows for limited air circulation across said barrier means;    a temperature-control means to control temperature in said chamber; and    a covering means to cover said inner chamber.    
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the container means is comprised of comprised of a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of foam, neoprene, plastics, cardboard, rubber, styrofoam and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the barrier means is comprised of a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of foam, neoprene, plastics, cardboard, rubber, styrofoam and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the barrier means contains circulating means that allows limited air circulation across the barrier means.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the circulating means comprises notches or openings.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the temperature-controlling means is an ice pack, liquid pack, a gel pack, or a temperature generating device.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 13  wherein air circulating means circulates air across the structured barrier sufficiently to maintain materials within said chamber at a temperature range of 17° C.+/−7° C. for at least 3 days.  
     
     
         20 . A method for transporting temperature-sensitive materials comprising: 
 placing said materials within a container;    placing the structured barrier on top of said materials;    placing the temperature-controlling device on top of the barrier; and    securely closing said container with the fitted lid.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the container is comprised of comprised of a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of foam, neoprene, plastics, cardboard, rubber, styrofoam and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the structured barrier is comprised of a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of foam, neoprene, plastics, cardboard, rubber, styrofoam and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the structured barrier contains a plurality of notches or openings that allows limited air circulation between a plurality of inner chambers of the container.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said notches or openings represent less than 20% of the cross-sectional area of the container.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said notches or openings represent less than 10% of the cross-sectional area of the container.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the structured barrier contains up to three notches.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the structured barrier contains up to three notches, wherein each of said notches are positioned at a corner of said barrier.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20  wherein air circulation across the structured barrier is less than 25%.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20  wherein air circulation across the structured barrier is sufficient to maintain materials within said chamber at a temperature range of 17° C.+/−7° C. for at least 3 days.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the temperature-controlling device is an ice pack, liquid pack ,a gel pack, or a temperature generating device.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the container is comprised of a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of foam, neoprene, plastics, cardboard, rubber, styrofoam and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         32 . A method of maintaining materials at a temperature range of 17° C.+/−7° C. for at least 3 days comprising placing said materials in a container comprising a structured barrier and a temperature control device.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the container is comprised of comprised of a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of foam, neoprene, plastics, cardboard, rubber, styrofoam and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the structured barrier is comprised of a light-weight material selected from the group consisting of foam, neoprene, plastics, cardboard, rubber, styrofoam and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the structured barrier contains a plurality of notches or openings that allows limited air circulation between a plurality of inner chambers of the container.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said notches or openings represent less than 20% of the cross-sectional area of the container.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said notches or openings represent less than 10% of the cross-sectional area of the container.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the structured barrier contains up to three notches.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the structured barrier contains up to three notches, wherein each of said notches are positioned at a corner of said barrier.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32  wherein air circulation across the structured barrier is less than 25%.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32  wherein air circulation across the structured barrier is sufficient to maintain materials within said chamber at a temperature range of 17° C.+/−7° C. for at least 3 days.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the temperature-controlling device is an ice pack, liquid pack, a gel pack, or a temperature generating device.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2003084679A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.