INSULATED STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION CONTAINERS

• US 20120318808A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Savsu Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Savsu Technologies LLC
• Inventors: McCormick, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 10,253,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/592.21
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/18 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient with thermal insulation B65D81/38; ice-boxes with cooling means F25D
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/2076 in an at least partially rigid container
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/065 using vacuum F16L59/075 takes precedence

Abstract

A storage container that includes walls having complimentary-shaped edges with complex edge profiles. The complex edge profiles of adjoining walls mate with each other to form an interface that defines a thermal leak path between a storage area of the container and an exterior environment. The thermal leak path has a length that is greater than the thickness of the adjoined walls. In one example, the complex edge profile includes step-shaped features. The walls may also include one or more overlapping super-insulating panels. The panels may be joined to one another with adhesive layers. The super-insulating panels may be also be disposed in a wall including interior and exterior linings that are joined and sealed to define a space between the linings. The space may be evacuated and optionally filled with a super-insulating gas.

Claims

1. A storage container, comprising:

a plurality of walls, each wall having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a wall thickness defined therebetween, each wall formed of at least one super-insulating panel, wherein the interior surfaces of the walls together at least partially define an enclosed storage space, wherein adjoining walls have a thermal leak path located therebetween that extends between a point located outside the container and a point located in the enclosed storage space, the leak path between each pair of adjoining walls having a length along the leak path that is greater than the wall thickness of each adjoining wall.

2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the walls comprises two or more overlapped super-insulating panels.

3. The storage container of claim 2, further comprising an adhesive layer that joins the two or more panels together to form the wall.

4. The storage container of claim 3, wherein the adhesive layer comprises an insulating material.

5. The storage container of claim 2, wherein each of the overlapped panels has a different perimeter.

6. The storage container of claim 1, wherein each super-insulating panel is encapsulated in an insulating material.

7. The storage container of claim 6, wherein each super-insulating panel comprises a super-insulating material and has one or more apertures defined through the panel, the insulating material extending into the one or more apertures.

8. The storage container of claim 1, wherein each super-insulating panel comprises an aerogel material or a microporous material.

9. The storage container of claim 1, wherein each super-insulating panel comprises a vacuum panel.

10. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the interior surface or the exterior surface include a texture.

11. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the interior surface or the exterior surface of at least one of the walls comprises a reflective lining.

12. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the interior surface or the exterior surface of at least one of the walls comprises a water-resistant lining.

13. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least one pair of adjoining walls each has an edge that is complementary in shape and mates with the edge of the other adjoining wall.

14. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the shape comprises a step-shape.

15. The storage container of claim 13, wherein an adhesive layer is disposed between the edges.

16. The storage container of claim 13, wherein a gasket is disposed between the edges.

17. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least one wall is curved.

18. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least one wall is evacuated to a pressure below atmospheric pressure.

19. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least one wall is filled with a super-insulating gas at or near atmospheric pressure.

20. A storage container, comprising:

a plurality of walls arranged to at least partially define a storage space, at least one of the walls including a first super-insulating panel having a first perimeter and a second super-insulating panel having a second perimeter that is larger than the first perimeter, wherein the first and second panels overlap to thereby provide the at least one wall with an at least double super-insulation thickness and a complex edge profile extending around at least a portion of the periphery of the wall.

21. A storage container, comprising:

a plurality of walls arranged to at least partially define a storage space, wherein at least one of the walls includes two or more overlapping super-insulating panels and an adhesive layer disposed between at least two of the super-insulating panels.

22. A storage container, comprising:

a plurality of walls arranged to at least partially define a storage space, wherein at least two of the walls each include a super-insulating panel and wherein at least one pair of the walls has adjacent edges that are complimentary in shape and are mated together to define an interface, wherein the shortest distance along the interface from outside the storage container to the storage space is greater than the individual thicknesses of the two walls in the pair.

23. A storage container constructed from a plurality of walls to define a storage space, each of at least some of the walls comprising:

an interior surface having a perimeter;

an exterior surface spaced from and parallel to the interior surface and having a perimeter that is larger than the perimeter of the interior surface;

at least one edge extending between the perimeters of the interior and exterior surfaces, wherein the at least one edge includes a step-shape having a number of step surfaces parallel to the interior and exterior surfaces;

a number of insulating panels disposed between the interior and exterior surfaces, wherein the number of step surfaces is one less than the number of super-insulating panels and each step surface lies in a plane between two super-insulating panels; and

a foam material that encapsulates each of the insulating panels;

wherein mating edges of a pair of adjoining walls define an interface therebetween such that the shortest distance along the interface from outside the storage container to the storage space is greater than the thickness of the individual walls of the pair.