Isothermal container

Abstract

An isothermal container for passive refrigeration is provided. The isothermal container has a container cavity, a lid configured to seal the container cavity and a lid compartment configured to house a cooling mass. The lid compartment has a through opening formed in a bottom wall thereof, as well as a plate resting on peripheral edges of the through opening thereby closing it. The plate is made of a material having a mechanical strength higher than the mechanical strength of the material of which the lid compartment is made.

1 . An isothermal container for passive refrigeration, said isothermal container comprising a container cavity, a lid and a lid compartment configured to house a cooling mass,
 wherein said lid compartment comprises a through opening formed in a bottom wall thereof, as well as a plate that rests on peripheral edges of said through opening thereby closing it,   and wherein said plate is made of a material having a mechanical strength higher than the mechanical strength of the material of which the lid compartment is made.   
     
     
         2 . The isothermal container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid compartment is made of expanded polystyrene and the plate is made of expanded polyurethane, expanded polypropylene, cellular polyethylene or aluminum. 
     
     
         3 . The isothermal container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises one or more through-openings. 
     
     
         4 . The isothermal container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises reinforcing ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The isothermal container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         6 . The isothermal container according to  claim 1 , wherein, according to a top plan view, the lid compartment has the same size of the container cavity and is fitted on the top of the latter thus sealing it, and wherein the lid closes the top of the lid compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The isothermal container according to  claim 1 , wherein peripheral walls and a bottom wall of the container cavity comprise a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         8 . The isothermal container according to  claim 1 , further comprising locking means for locking the plate on the bottom wall of the lid compartment, said locking means being arranged between the lid and the plate and having a height substantially corresponding to the distance between the lid and the plate. 
     
     
         9 . The isothermal container according to  claim 8 , wherein the locking means comprise blocks and wherein, in an assembled configuration, said blocks are arranged on opposite sides of the through opening formed in the bottom wall of the lid compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The isothermal container according to  claim 8 , wherein the locking means are configured as an annular element and wherein, in an assembled configuration, said annular element is arranged along the periphery of the through opening formed in the lid compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The isothermal container according to  claim 8 , wherein the locking means are integrated in the lid.