Integrated thermal elements in a thermally controlled container

Abstract

A thermally controlled container includes one or more thermal elements configured to engage with at least one of a top, a bottom, or a plurality of walls of the thermally controlled container. The one or more thermal elements have at least one engagement feature that engages with a body of the thermally controlled container. At least one of the thermal elements forms a part of at least one of the top, a bottom, or a plurality of walls of the thermally controlled container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interchangeable thermal element for a storage system, the thermal element comprising:
 a top;   a bottom;   at least one sidewall connecting the top to the bottom;   at least one endwall connecting the top to the bottom;   at least one engagement feature positioned on the at least one endwall; and   a thermal material contained within a volume defined at least partially by the at least one sidewall, the at least one endwall, the bottom, and the top.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal element of  claim 1 , further comprising a first material and a second material, the first material being a thermally conductive material and the second material being a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal element of  claim 2 , wherein the first material forms a first sidewall of the thermal element and the second material forms a second sidewall of the thermal element. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal element of  claim 1 , further comprising at least first one alignment feature. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal element of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal material is a fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal element of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermally conductive material and a vacuum layer that is thermal insulating. 
     
     
         7 . A thermally controlled container; the container comprising:
 a body having a top, a bottom, and one or more walls;   an aperture in at least one of the top, the bottom, or the one or more walls, the aperture having at least one aperture; and   one or more thermal elements configured to be positioned in the aperture, the one or more thermal elements being configured to be heated and cooled independent of the body.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising an aperture in the top. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the aperture is configured to receive a plurality of thermal elements. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more walls includes a curved wall. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more walls comprises an inner wall and an outer wall positioned on opposing sides of the aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more thermal elements include one or more first engagement features and the body includes one or more second engagement features, at least one of the one or more first engagement features being configured to mate with at least one of the one or more second engagement features. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more thermal elements include one or more sidewall alignment features. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more thermal elements include one or more endwall alignment features. 
     
     
         15 . A thermally controlled container, the container comprising:
 a body having a plurality of walls, a top, and a bottom, wherein the plurality of walls, top, and bottom at least partly defining an interior volume;   one or more apertures, the one or more apertures being located in the plurality walls, top, and bottom and defined by a plurality of aperture surfaces; and   one or more thermal elements, the one or more thermal elements being configured to be positioned in at least one of the plurality of apertures, the one or more thermal elements being configured to be heated and cooled.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , further comprising thermally insulating material adjacent an outer aperture surface. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 15 , at least one of the plurality of aperture surfaces defining at least part of the interior volume. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more thermal elements include one or more first engagement features and the body includes one or more second engagement features, at least one of the one or more first engagement features being configured to mate with at least one of the one or more second engagement features. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more thermal elements includes a first material and a second material, the first material being a thermally conductive material and the second material being a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the one or more thermal elements has a thermal element top, a thermal element bottom, and one or more sidewalls, at least one of the thermal element top or thermal element bottom including a thermally insulating material and at least a portion of the one or more sidewalls being a thermally conductive material.