Magnetic thermally insulated enclosure

Abstract

A novel thermally insulated enclosure includes an insulated wall and a magnet assembly coupled thereto for mounting the insulated enclosure to ferromagnetic structures. In a particular embodiment, the magnet assembly includes a plurality of magnets coupled to the insulated wall. In another particular embodiment, the magnet assembly is a removable magnetic device that can be connected and disconnected from the insulated enclosure.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing a thermally insulated enclosure, said method comprising:
 providing an exterior structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface, said interior surface of said exterior structure defining an inner region of said exterior structure;   providing a plurality of magnets;   providing an insulation structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface, said interior surface of said insulation structure defining an inner region of said insulation structure;   providing an interior structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface, said interior surface of said interior structure defining an inner region of said thermally insulated enclosure;   positioning said plurality of magnets in said inner region of said exterior structure;   positioning said insulation structure in said inner region of said exterior structure;   positioning said interior structure in said inner region of said insulation structure, said plurality of magnets and said insulation structure being disposed between said exterior structure and said interior structure; and   fixing said interior structure to said exterior structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said exterior structure defines a plurality of screw holes;   said exterior surface of said interior structure defines a plurality of screw bosses coaxially aligned with said plurality of screw holes; and   said step of fixing said interior structure to said exterior structure includes inserting a plurality of screws through said screw holes and into said plurality of screw bosses.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of said magnets defines a through-hole, each of said screws being disposed through a respective one of said through-holes of said magnets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said insulation structure defines a plurality of through-holes, each of said screw bosses being disposed in a respective one of said through-holes of said insulation structure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said insulation structure defines a plurality of through-holes;   each of said screw bosses are disposed in a respective one of said through-holes of said insulation structure; and   each of said screw bosses engage a complementary one of said plurality of magnets.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said exterior structure defines a snap feature;   said interior structure defines a complementary snap feature adapted to engage said snap feature of said exterior structure; and   said exterior structure and said interior structure are coupled via engaging said snap feature of said exterior structure and said complementary snap feature of said interior structure.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at one of said snap feature and said complementary snap feature is a lip and the other of said snap features and said complementary snap features is a lip engaging structure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said lip is formed on said interior surface of said exterior structure. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said interior surface of said exterior structure defines a plurality of magnet seats, each of said plurality of magnets being seated in a respective one of said plurality of magnet seats. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of magnets includes a shunt structure. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of magnets is annular shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of magnets is located at a different bottom corner of said thermally insulated enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of providing said plurality of magnets includes providing four discrete magnets. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said insulation structure is a rigid structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising fixing providing a second plurality of screws to selectively replace said plurality of screws, said second plurality of screws each including a suction cup attached thereto. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said exterior structure defines a snap feature;   said interior structure defines a complementary snap feature adapted to engage said snap feature of said exterior structure; and   said step of fixing said interior structure to said exterior structure further includes engaging said snap feature of said exterior structure and said complementary snap feature of said interior structure.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said exterior structure is a rigid structure that is formed before said thermally insulated enclosure is assembled;   said interior structure is a rigid structure that is formed before said thermally insulated enclosure is assembled;   said insulation structure is a rigid structure that is formed before said thermally insulated enclosure is assembled.   
     
     
         18 . A thermally insulated enclosure comprising:
 an exterior structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface, said interior surface of said exterior structure defining an inner region of said exterior structure;   a plurality of magnets disposed in said inner region of said exterior structure;   an insulation structure disposed in said inner region of said exterior structure, said insulation structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface, said interior surface of said insulation structure defining an inner region of said insulation structure; and   an interior structure disposed in said inner region of said insulation structure, said interior structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface, said interior surface of said interior structure defining an inner region of said thermally insulated enclosure, said interior structure being coupled to said exterior structure.   
     
     
         19 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said exterior structure defines a plurality of screw holes;   said exterior surface of said interior structure defines a plurality of screw bosses coaxially aligned with said plurality of screw holes; and   further comprising a plurality screws disposed through said screw holes and into said plurality of screw bosses.   
     
     
         20 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 19 , wherein each of said magnets defines a through-hole, each of said screws being disposed through a respective one of said through-holes of said magnets. 
     
     
         21 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 20 , wherein said insulation structure defines a plurality of through-holes, each of said screw bosses being disposed in a respective one of said through-holes of said insulation structure. 
     
     
         22 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 19 , wherein
 said insulation structure defines a plurality of through-holes;   each of said screw bosses are disposed in a respective one of said through-holes of said insulation structure; and   each of said screw bosses engage a complementary one of said plurality of magnets.   
     
     
         23 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 19 , wherein each screw of said plurality of screws includes a suction cup fixed thereto. 
     
     
         24 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said exterior structure defines a snap feature;   said interior structure defines a complementary snap feature adapted to engage said snap feature of said exterior structure; and   said exterior structure and said interior structure are coupled via engaging said snap feature of said exterior structure and said complementary snap feature of said interior structure.   
     
     
         25 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of said snap feature and said complementary snap feature is a lip and the other of said snap feature and said complementary snap feature is a lip engaging structure. 
     
     
         26 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 25 , wherein said lip is formed on said interior surface of said exterior structure. 
     
     
         27 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein said interior surface of said exterior structure defines a plurality of magnet seats, each of said plurality of magnets being seated in a respective one of said plurality of magnet seats. 
     
     
         28 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein each of said plurality of magnets includes a shunt structure. 
     
     
         29 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein each of said plurality of magnets is annular shaped. 
     
     
         30 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 29 , wherein said plurality of magnets includes four discrete magnets. 
     
     
         31 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein each of said plurality of magnets is located at a different bottom corner of said thermally insulated enclosure. 
     
     
         32 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein said insulation structure is a rigid structure. 
     
     
         33 . The thermally insulated enclosure of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said exterior structure is a rigid structure that is formed before said thermally insulated enclosure is assembled;   said interior structure is a rigid structure that is formed before said thermally insulated enclosure is assembled;   said insulation structure is a rigid structure that is formed before said thermally insulated enclosure is assembled.