Magnetic thermally insulated enclosure

• US 10,221,005 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2015
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jr., Lewis William James
• Original Assignee: Jr., Lewis William James
• Inventors: James, Jr., Lewis William
• Primary Examiner(s): Perreault, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/883,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20160029762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 2205922, 22059202, 22059209, 2205921, 22059225, 220483, 206818, 206350, 24303, 2922515
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1069 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2313/04 of magnetic type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3813 rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3888 wrappers or flexible containers, e.g. pouches, bags for shock absorbing purposes B65D81/03
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00144 Magnets, e.g. used in valves or for stirring
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0067 relating to shape or materials, e.g. bag-in-box packages [BIB], pouches
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/06 Walls F25D23/08 takes precedence; containers with thermal insulation B65D81/38
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/065 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/066 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/067 Supporting elements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/12 Portable refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/06 Movable containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

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. In another particular embodiment, the magnet assembly is a removable magnet carrier that can be incorporated into the structure of the insulated enclosure.

Claims

1. 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 volume of said exterior structure;

an interior structure disposed in said inner volume of said exterior structure, said interior structure having an exterior surface and an interior surface, said interior surface of said interior structure defining an inner volume of said thermally insulated enclosure, said interior structure being coupled to said exterior structure to define an enclosed space between said interior surface of said exterior structure and said exterior surface of said interior structure;

a plurality of magnets disposed in said inner volume of said exterior structure and in said space, said interior surface of said exterior structure defining seats to position said magnets within said space; and

a thermal insulation structure disposed in said inner volume of said exterior structure and in said space between said interior structure and said exterior structure; and

a plurality of screws; and

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;

each of said screws is disposed through an associated one of said screw holes and into an associated one of said screw bosses;

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 engages an associated one of said plurality of magnets.

2. The thermally insulated enclosure of claim 1, 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.

3. The thermally insulated enclosure of claim 1, wherein each screw of said plurality of screws includes a suction cup fixed thereto.

4. The thermally insulated enclosure 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 by engaging said snap feature of said exterior structure with said complementary snap feature of said interior structure.

5. The thermally insulated enclosure of claim 4, 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.

6. The thermally insulated enclosure of claim 5, wherein said lip is formed on said interior surface of said exterior structure.

7. The thermally insulated enclosure of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of magnets includes a shunt structure, said shunt structure being disposed entirely within said space between said interior surface of said exterior structure and said exterior surface of said interior structure.

8. The thermally insulated enclosure of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of magnets is annular shaped.

9. The thermally insulated enclosure of claim 8, wherein said plurality of magnets includes four discrete magnets.

10. The thermally insulated enclosure of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of magnets is located at a different bottom corner of said thermally insulated enclosure.

11. The thermally insulated enclosure of claim 1, wherein said insulation structure is a rigid structure.

12. The thermally insulated enclosure 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.