Temperature-Regulating Containment System

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a temperature-regulating containment system for actively heating and/or cooling a liquid to a desired liquid temperature, and methods of making and using such a temperature-regulating containment system, whereby the temperature-regulating containment system comprises: (i) a container having an internal cavity defined by a sidewall upwardly extending from a bottom wall, the internal cavity configured to contain liquid which has a liquid temperature; (ii) a temperature regulator operatively coupled to the internal cavity, the temperature regulator configured to regulate the temperature of the internal cavity and the liquid therein; (iii) a pressurizable chamber disposed between the internal cavity and the temperature regulator; and (iv) a pressure regulator operatively coupled to the chamber, the pressure regulator configured to regulate the pressure of the chamber.

1 . A temperature-regulating containment system for actively heating and/or cooling a liquid to a desired liquid temperature, comprising:
 a container having an internal cavity defined by a sidewall upwardly extending from a bottom wall, said internal cavity configured to contain liquid which has a liquid temperature;   a temperature regulator operatively coupled to said internal cavity, said temperature regulator configured to regulate the temperature of said internal cavity and said liquid therein;   a pressurizable chamber disposed between said internal cavity and said temperature regulator; and   a pressure regulator operatively coupled to said chamber, said pressure regulator configured to regulate the pressure of said chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein when said liquid temperature is below said desired liquid temperature:
 said pressure within said chamber can be increased; and   said temperature regulator can provide heat to said liquid within said internal cavity to heat said liquid to said desired liquid temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein when said liquid temperature is above said desired liquid temperature:
 said pressure within said chamber can be increased; and   said temperature regulator can remove heat from said liquid within said internal cavity to cool said liquid to said desired liquid temperature.   
     
     
         4 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , said sidewall formed from a thermally-conductive material. 
     
     
         9 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , said bottom wall formed from a thermally-conductive material. 
     
     
         10 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer shell coupled to said container. 
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature regulator comprises a heating element. 
     
     
         14 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature regulator comprises a cooling element. 
     
     
         21 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature regulator comprises a heating element and a cooling element. 
     
     
         30 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , said chamber adjacent at least a portion of said sidewall. 
     
     
         35 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 34 , said chamber adjacent at least a portion of a sidewall outer surface of said sidewall. 
     
     
         36 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 35 , said chamber also adjacent a portion of said bottom wall. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein a container outer surface of said container and an outer shell inner surface of an outer shell provide the walls which define said chamber. 
     
     
         39 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber comprises a discrete chamber element disposed between a container outer surface of said container and an outer shell inner surface of an outer shell. 
     
     
         40 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 39 , wherein said chamber comprises a plurality of discrete lateral chambers radially surrounding said sidewall in circumferentially spaced-apart relation. 
     
     
         41 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 40 , said lateral chambers fluidicly coupled to one another. 
     
     
         42 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 41 , further comprising a bottom chamber fluidicly coupled to said lateral chambers. 
     
     
         43 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein an increased pressure condition of said chamber resulting from ingress of a heat transfer medium thermally couples said temperature regulator and said liquid. 
     
     
         44 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein a decreased pressure condition of said chamber resulting from egress of a heat transfer medium thermally uncouples said temperature regulator and said liquid. 
     
     
         45 . The temperature-regulating containment system of  claim 1 , wherein a decreased pressure condition of said chamber resulting from egress of a heat transfer medium thermally uncouples the ambient environment and said liquid. 
     
     
         46 - 108 . (canceled)