Compartmentalized refrigerant wrap

Abstract

An elongated sheet having repeating compartments and intermittent sections placed after any repeating compartment. The repeating compartments are closed membranes encasing refrigerant therein. Alternatively, the repeating compartments may be disposed with pockets for releasably retaining the refrigerant. The intermittent sections are flat in cross section and provide holes along its sides for creating a passageway therethrough. The holes may be strengthened using a grommet or the like. In use, one elongate sheet is secured to other elongated sheets in any various end-to-end and/or side-to-side combinations for creating a modular blanket of refrigerant. The sheets are secured to one another by hooks or other known means in which holes in one sheet are connected to various holes in another sheet. The refrigerant blanket may then be placed around the exterior of a large quantity of perishable goods for maintaining the temperature of the sensitive goods.

1 . A device for maintaining the temperature of perishable goods, comprising:
 an elongated sheet having repeating compartments with an intermittent section placed at one end of any successive number of repeating compartments, the elongated sheet defining a length and having opposed sides;   refrigerant secured within at least one of the repeating compartments;   a plurality of holes formed through the intermittent section; and   means for connecting at least one of the plurality of holes from a first elongated sheet to at least one of a plurality of holes from a second elongated sheet placed adjacent to the first elongated sheet.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the compartments are closed pockets for retaining the refrigerant therein. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the intermittent section has a width with opposed sides aligned with the opposed sides of the elongated sheet. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of holes are disposed on each of the opposed sides of the intermittent section. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the intermittent sections are substantially flat along their cross section. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the elongated sheet is made of a durable plastic. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the elongated sheet is made of rubber. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  and further comprising a grommet placed in the plurality of holes for increased strength. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the successive number of repeating compartments is in the range of one to five. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device further comprises a second elongated sheet having a length and opposed sides integrally formed with the elongated sheet along one of the opposed sides of the elongated sheet. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the second elongated sheet is created by a bridging seal along the corresponding sides of the elongated sheet and second elongated sheet. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the means for connecting at least one of the plurality of holes from a first elongated sheet to at least one of a plurality of holes from a second elongated sheet placed adjacent to the elongated sheet is selected from the group consisting of a tie, bungee cord, rope, hooks, and fasteners. 
   
   
       13 . A device for maintaining the temperature of perishable goods, comprising:
 an elongated sheet having repeating compartments, the elongated sheet having a length and having opposed sides;   an opening formed in at least one of the repeating compartments;   refrigerant releasably retained within at least one of the repeating compartments, the refrigerant deposited into or removed from the repeating compartments through the opening;   a plurality of holes formed through the opposed sides of the elongated sheet;   means for connecting at least one of the plurality of holes from the elongated sheet to at least one of a plurality of holes from a second elongated sheet which is placed adjacent to the elongated sheet.   
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the compartments have four sides and are integrally molded along three of the four sides. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13  and further comprising a grommet placed in the plurality of holes for increased strength. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 13  and further comprising a flap covering the opening. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the device further comprises a second elongated sheet having a length and opposed sides integrally formed with the elongated sheet along one of the opposed sides of the elongated sheet. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the means for connecting at least one of the plurality of holes from the elongated sheet to at least one of a plurality of holes from a second elongated sheet placed adjacent to the elongated sheet is selected from the group consisting of a tie, bungee cord, rope, hooks, and fasteners. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the elongated sheet is made of a flexible plastic material. 
   
   
       20 . A device for maintaining the temperature of perishable goods, comprising:
 an elongated sheet having repeating compartments, each compartment having a top surface and a bottom surface, the exterior of the top surface affixed to the exterior of the bottom surface for forming an enclosure and defining a spacing within the enclosure;   an opening formed into the enclosure for accessing the spacing;   refrigerant inserted through the opening for being releasably retained within the spacing of the enclosure;   a plurality of holes formed in the elongated sheet; and   means for connecting at least one of the plurality of holes from the elongated sheet to at least one of a plurality of holes in a second substantially identical elongated sheet which is placed adjacent to the elongated sheet.   
   
   
       21 . A device for creating a blanket from a modular construction of sheets for covering an entire quantity of perishable goods and maintaining the temperature of the perishable goods, comprising:
 an elongated sheet having at least one compartment, the compartment having a top surface and a bottom surface, the exterior of the top surface affixed to the exterior of the bottom surface for forming an enclosure and defining a spacing within the enclosure;   means for regulating the temperature of the perishable goods;   means for retaining the means for regulating the temperature of the perishable goods within the spacing of the enclosure; and   means for connecting the elongated sheet to a second substantially identical elongated sheet which is placed adjacent to the elongated sheet for creating the blanket.   
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the means for connecting the elongated sheet to a second substantially identical elongated sheet which is placed adjacent to the elongated sheet is selected from the group consisting of holes that are connected using fasteners, buttons and button slots, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, locking fasteners, stitches, staples, and heat fusion.