Temperature stabilizing cargo compartment, including a freeze and heat barrier, for transport container constructed with thermal resistant materials

• US 20140144161A1
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temperashield Limited
• Original Assignee: Eco-Bat Technologies Limited (Quexco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pointer, Robin L, DiNello, P. Mario, Altomonte, Joseph, Raymond, Robert C
• Granted Patent: US 9,834,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/32 Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub infusion needles A61M5/158; Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body A61M5/42, A61M5/46 take precedence; guide needles for catheters A61M25/065; Devices for protection of needles apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising needles A61M5/001
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/38 with thermal insulation vacuum bottles or the like A47J41/00 ; thermal insulation of domestic water storage heaters F24H1/182
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3823 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3858 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls; for shock absorbing purposes B65D81/1275
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3862 with a foam formed container located inside a folded box
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/041 Rigid liners fixed to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/06 Coverings, e.g. for insulating purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 8/06 using gases C23C8/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 16/00 Biochemical treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, e.g. enzymatic
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/06 Walls F25D23/08 takes precedence; containers with thermal insulation B65D81/38
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/231 Filled with gas other than air; or under vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24149 Honeycomb-like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24628 Nonplanar uniform thickness material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249956 Void-containing component is inorganic

Abstract

Novel method of preserving the internal environmental air temperature and thereby stabilizing the temperature within the cargo compartment of a transport container, and thereby protecting the cargo itself from degradation due to temperature fluxuations, including a freeze and heat barrier attained through the characteristics of the article of manufacture, composition of matter, and method of preservation of the internal environmental air temperature and proximate cargo within said cargo compartment; along with a machine or devise that is used as either a stand-alone container, or as an insert to retrofit existing containers so as to make said retrofitted devices capable of providing cooling over an extended period of time are disclosed. The inserted cargo compartments described herein are particularly useful for temperature-stabilizing cargo compartment shipping containers that are required to maintain a temperature below ambient for a time sufficient to complete delivery of the container and its contents. The shipping containers can be utilized to cost-effectively transport temperature-sensitive products.

Claims

1. What is claimed is a method of stabilizing of the interior air temperature of the temperature stabilizing cargo compartment (or “

TSCC”

), manufactured from at least one wall being comprised of but not limited to a vacuum insulated panel (or “

VIP”

), for a transport container wherein said TSCC is effective in maintaining the air temperature at a substantially constant temperature (usually <

8°

C.). Said TSCC will also provide a freeze barrier, protecting the cargo within the TSCC from becoming too cold due to proximity to the cooling agent.

The TSCC has the capacity to prolong the interior cargo compartment air temperature at <

8°

C. with a freeze barrier between the cargo and coolant, inhibiting the cargo from reaching a temperature of 0°

C., for a period of time no less than one hour with the possibility of sustaining said stable temperatures for as long as 150 hours, depending upon the specification and heat sensitivity of the cargo. By utilizing thermal resistant materials (or “

TRM”

) including but not limited to VIP technology, the environment within the TSCC is prevented from falling below or rising above established temperature parameters, and thereby protect the efficacy of the cargo within.

The disclosed method, apparatus, and design, whereby a product is preserved at a prescribed temperature range by maintaining the temperature of the air of the interior environment of a TSCC within an acceptable range, thereby stabilizing cargo compartment of a transport carrier, of any size or shape, that is constructed from TRM including but not limited to “

VIP”

on at least one surface.

Said temperature stabilizing cargo compartment can then be used as a stand-alone shipping container or in one embodiment, as an insert into existing transport containers as a retrofit;

or an entirely new transport container.

As described in claim 1, rather than cooling or warming the cargo itself which is cooled or warmed to the desired temperature in advance of depositing said cargo into the temperature stabilizing cargo compartment;

one embodiment of this invention is to construct a TSCC capable of maintaining the temperature of the air within the temperature stabilizing cargo compartment, as prescribed by the manufacturer, recipient, or logical utility of transporting the cargo therein; and

does not necessarily embody the reducing or elevating of the core temperature of the cargo itself by some mechanical process or refrigerant, unless this occurs by proximity to the cooler or warmer air as a natural occurrence, however the embodiment claimed herein references the cooling or warming of only the air within the TSCC by proximity to the cooling or heating source, and by proximity to the cargo itself as a cooling and/or warming source, and thereafter using the desired TRM including but not limited to VIP to keep the air within the TSCC from significantly changing temperatures.

A method as recited in claims 1, wherein the cargo itself would aid in stabilizing the interior air temperature of the temperature stabilizing cargo compartment as the cargo would emit a degree of energy that would be contained within the compartment cavity.

The TSCC described as claim 1 having certain thermal resistance properties as described as claim 1 for a transport container or insert into an existing container, comprising of a cylindrical shape, or sidewalls, a top and bottom walls, defining a cavity that is adapted to contain a product therein;

constructed from thermal resistant materials including but not limited to VIP on at least one surface area albeit one wall, floor, or lid, depending upon the requirements for the preservation of the cargo disposed to dissipate heat generated in said absorber outside of said product cavity.

The TSCC having certain thermal resistance properties as described as claim 1 for a transport container or insert into an existing container, as a temperature stabilizing cargo compartment for a cold chain container for the transport of various serums, samples, vaccines, and other non-specific perishables or products or materials wherein it is important to maintain a constant, cool environment in which the interior cargo compartment is constructed from TRM including but not limited to VIP, provides for improved performance over traditional materials used for construction of cold chain containers including but not limited to fiberglass, expanded polystyrene (or “

EPS”

), and other foams and polymers alone.

A temperature stabilizing cargo compartment having certain thermal resistance properties as described as claim 1 for a transport container or insert into an existing container, as a TSCC for a cold chain transport container, wherein an interior and exterior wall are constructed from TRM including but not limited to VIP, and encased in materials that exhibit relative impermeability properties, including but not limited to polymers embellished with a thin-film vacuum deposition layer of various metallic, metal, and any other material that inhibits the release of gas or moisture forming a cavity that can be used as a cargo compartment and protected by a layer of materials exhibiting relative impermeability properties, including but not limited to polymers, metals, glass, wood, and fiberglass, wherein various materials sensitive to heat or cold degradation necessitate the constant maintenance of a cargo compartment interior air temperature <

8°

C. and >

0°

C. or transversely >

8°

C. when a warm air temperature is initially introduced into the TSCC and is required by the utility of the container and the cargo.

A temperature stabilizing cargo compartment having certain thermal resistance properties as described as claim 1 for a transport container or insert into an existing container, as a temperature stabilizing cargo compartment for a cold chain transport container, wherein an interior cargo compartment is formed by a cavity being constructed with at least one surface albeit at least one wall, floor, or top or all enclosure surfaces constructed from thermal resistant materials including but not limited to vacuum insulation panels, having the properties of preserving a cargo compartment interior air temperature <

8°

C. and >

0°

C., for no less than one hour, utilizing ice made from water as the coolant, including but not limited to frozen gel packs, loose ice, chilled water in a water tight enclosure, ice made from other forms of coolants, phase change materials, dry ice, thermoelectric materials, crystals, or devices, and all other methods of cooling the air within said cargo compartment, and the option of cooling the cargo itself through direct contact with the coolant, depending on the sensitivity of the cargo to direct contact with moisture and other forms of coolants.

A temperature stabilizing cargo compartment having certain thermal resistance properties as described as claim 1 for a transport container or insert into an existing container, as a temperature stabilizing cargo compartment for a warm chain transport container, wherein an interior cargo compartment is formed by a cavity being constructed with at least one surface albeit at least one wall, floor, or top or all enclosure surfaces constructed from thermal resistant materials including but not limited to vacuum insulation panels, having the properties of preserving a cargo compartment interior air temperature >

8°

C. for no less than one hour or more, utilizing a heat source including but not limited to gas or electric heating unit(s), thermoelectric crystals, materials, or devices, chemical reaction, heated stones, or hot water in a water tight enclosure, hot water in a hot water jacket designed into the temperature stabilizing cargo compartment, and all other methods of maintaining warm air within said cargo compartment, and the option of warming the cargo itself through direct contact with the heat source, depending on the sensitivity of the cargo to direct contact with moisture and other heat sources.

A temperature stabilizing cargo compartment having certain thermal resistance properties as described as claim 1 for a transport container or insert into an existing container, as a temperature stabilizing cargo compartment for a cold chain transport container, wherein an interior cargo compartment is formed by a cavity being constructed with at least one surface albeit a cylindrical cavity, or at least one wall, floor, or top or all enclosure surfaces by VIP, PIR, or other TRM having the properties of preserving a cargo compartment interior air temperature <

8°

C. for no less than one hour or more, utilizing ice made from water as the coolant, and also including but not limited to frozen gel packs, loose ice, chilled water in a water tight enclosure, ice made from other forms of coolants, and all other methods of cooling the air within said cargo compartment, and the option of cooling the cargo itself through direct contact with the coolant, depending on the sensitivity of the cargo to direct contact with moisture and other forms of coolants;

that can be inserted into an existing transport container of any size, including but not limited to small, hand-held coolers up to truck mounted transport containers, and even shipping containers, without exception for size, construction material, or purpose. “

TSCC”

, “

Temperature Stabilizing Cargo Compartment”

by name and reference is hereby claimed for this invention.

A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said cargo is a pharmaceutical product, biological product, and other temperature sensitive material whereby a constant or near constant temperature must be maintained during transport.

A method as recited in claims 1, wherein said cargo is protected from freezing by stabilizing the air temperature within the cargo compartment interior, and inhibiting a decline in temperature due to proximity to a refrigerant inside or outside of the cargo compartment cavity; and

a method as recited in claim 1, wherein said air temperature is stabilized at the temperature introduced by the placement of the designated product into the cargo compartment cavity.

A method as recited in claims 1, wherein said air temperature within the cargo compartment cavity is stabilized at a temperature consistent with the product prior to placement within the cargo compartment cavity within a variance of 1-10 degree. C.

A method as recited in claims 1, wherein the thermal resistant material would also provide a freeze barrier or transversely a heat barrier between the coolant, or heat source, depending on the prescribed utility of the transport container.

A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the TSCC made from thermal resistant material including but not limited to VIP from 1/10″

up to 6″

thick;

with at least 1 surface being made from a thermal resistant material;

is encased with an impermeable material on at least 1 side;

with a closable lid, bottom, and up to 4 sides;

functioning as a containment chamber for the air environment inside of the cavity created by the top, bottom, and sides of the temperature stabilizing cargo compartment;

surrounded on at least one side by a refrigerant or heat source that does not come into direct contact with the cargo itself; and

fitted into an existing transport container, or as a stand-alone shipping container encased in cardboard or polycardboard.

2. What is being claimed is:

A temperature stabilizing cargo compartment apparatus, made from thermal resistant materials including but not limed to vacuum insulated panels that can be inserted as a retrofit inside of an existing transport container or box; and

can be assembled from multiple sheets, or one continuous sheet, wrapped into a cylinder or any shape for a temperature stabilizing cargo compartment constructed from thermal resistant materials, including but not limited to vacuum insulation panels, having the properties of preserving a cargo compartment interior air temperature <

8°

C. and >

0°

C., or folded into a box like form, and made from one piece of thermal resistant materials including but not limited to vacuum insulation panels and closed with a magnetic lid, or other fastening device, both models forming a cavity that becomes a temperature stabilizing cargo compartment for a transport container. A brand name of “

Pack In The Box™

”

has been claimed by this embodiment of the invention.

3. What is claimed is:

a modified surface of an article used in manufacturing a TSCC having antimicrobial properties by constructing said TSCC from materials, components, particulates, etc., forming an antimicrobial composite. Additionally antimicrobial properties can be achieved by exposing materials to a modifying gas including but not limited to sulfur trioxide, fluorine, and others in a molecular metamorphosis technology (MMT) process, and subsequently exposed to and bonded with an antimicrobial agent including but not limited to silver, copper, zinc, iodine, alkyl amine ethoxylate propoxylate, triclosan, and many other effective antimicrobials that will not leach said agents from the polymer surface to the cargo; and

also said components of said surface or may be exposed to said gas treatment. Additionally in this embodiment is the claim that said article undergoing said MMT treatment can attribute certain properties to the article including but not limited to antimicrobial, antistatic, hydrophobic, antistatic, and bondable, as well as provide a barrier making said article impermeable to some degree, depending upon the desired MMT treatment, and desired properties, as well as the chemistry of the material being treated. In this embodiment the antimicrobial surface acts as a shell for the TSCC cavity enclosed by a thermal resistant material including but not limited to vacuum insulated panels.

4. What is being claimed is:

One embodiment wherein a structure or member made with a proprietary process of powder impression molding (PIM) whereby one embodiment of the invention discloses at least one heated mold with a powdered resin applied to said mold until said resin coated mold is then sandwiched as it were, to at least one other heated mold with similarly coated resin deposit of one or more materials;

having a heat activated foam core, and may include but not exclusively, a ridged reinforcement material placed within the mold as filler material. Said reinforcement material can be, but is not limited to various other types of foam, steel, aluminum, magnesium bamboo, wood, metal, other rigid plastics, glass, fiberglass, rubber, straw, newspaper, cardboard, corrugated or honeycomb reinforcement structure, plasticized material, regrind plastic, stone, concrete, carbon fiber composites, carbon fiber constructions, Kevlar, and/or other recyclable materials. In this embodiment said structure is a shell for the temperature stabilizing cargo compartment cavity enclosed by a thermal resistant material including but not limited to vacuum insulated panels.

5. What is being claimed is:

One embodiment of the invention discloses at least one structure made from but not limited to various types of foam, steel, aluminum, magnesium bamboo, wood, metal, other rigid plastics, glass, fiberglass, rubber, straw, newspaper, cardboard, corrugated or honeycomb reinforcement structure, plasticized material, regrind plastic, stone, concrete, carbon fiber composites, carbon fiber constructions, Kevlar and/or other recyclable materials, and/or (p) Foam Insert composite, and placing said article inside of controlled chamber, wherein the article is encapsulated with an outer skin that air-hardens and provides a ridged protective surface, that can also be a soft (as in the case of a polyuria or polyurethane encapsulant) outer skin depending on the utility of the transport container. Said surface of the structure can be modified, even metalized by various processes, including, but not limited to MMT, in order to prevent vapor permeability, and reflective qualities as a heat deterrent. In this embodiment said structure is a shell for the temperature stabilizing cargo compartment cavity enclosed by a thermal resistant material including but not limited to vacuum insulated panels.

6. What is claimed is:

An ergonomic container for the transport of various serums, samples, vaccines, and other products or materials wherein it is important to maintain a cool environment in which the proximal side wall is inwardly curved in a contour adapted to an adult human user'"'"'s body. The container will have a bottom, a proximal side wall, a distal side wall, and two end walls defining a cavity, wherein the side walls and end walls have an outwardly-turned peripheral top edge forming a lip, the lip being extended downward along a portion of the proximal side wall a distance greater than the lip extends downward along the end walls to form a cushion portion, the cushion portion defining a smoothly curved surface of which the lower edge is an extension of the lip. Upward channeled vents are provided along the periphery of the container between the lip and the end walls and side walls other than the cushion portion to allow for reduction of condensation or drainage of melting ice. A centrally located handle grip is molded into the top of the container that snuggly fits over the top of the cargo area but is recessed into the square or rectangle cargo container. The top can be clamped in place and locked with a standard lock placed through a hole molded into the top and clamps that can be affixed to the sides of the container. The container will have molded in slotted handles on the sides of the container whereby adjustable straps can be attached for ease of transport similar to a backpack, or over one shoulder.

A cold chain transport container as in claim 6, wherein the cavity has a longitudinal axis and the proximal side is curved inwardly towards the axis in a contour adapted to an adult human body.

A cold chain transport container according to claim 6, wherein a double walled cargo compartment is molded into the center of the container. The interior of the cargo compartment can hold various serums, samples, vaccines, and other products or materials wherein it is important to maintain a cool environment.

The container as in claim 6, wherein the distal side wall is curved outwardly from the axis in a contour substantially symmetrical to the contour of the proximal side wall.

An ergonomic container comprising;

(a) a bottom, a proximal side wall, a distal side wall, and two end walls defining a cavity, wherein the cavity has a double-walled cargo area that can hold both a coolant in one compartment, and serums, samples, vaccines, and other products or materials wherein it is important to maintain a cool environment in the larger interior cargo area that may be secured in a holding rack or compartmental dividers;

(b) upward channeled vents are provided along the periphery of the container between the lip and the end walls and side walls other than the cushion portion to allow for reduction of condensation or drainage of melting ice;

(c) a centrally located handle grip is molded into the top of the container that snuggly fits over the top of the cargo area but is recessed into the square or rectangle cargo container;

(d) the top can have a double walled construction whereby the bottom portions of the protruding lid inset can be detached with a finger and snapped back in place, from the bottom surface of the lid to provide an area where coolant materials or ice can be loaded into the lid to provide for cooling of the contents of the cargo material;

(e) the top can be clamped in place and locked with a standard lock placed through a hole molded into the top and clamps that can be affixed to the sides of the container;

(f) the container will have molded in slotted handles on the sides of the container whereby adjustable straps can be attached for ease of transport similar to a backpack, or over one shoulder.

An ergonomic container 6, wherein the distal side wall is curved outwardly from the axis in a contour substantially symmetrical to the contour of the proximal side wall.

An ergonomic container as in claim 6, wherein the side walls and end walls have an outwardly-turned peripheral top edge forming a lip.

A cold chain transport container as in claim 6, wherein the lip is extended downward along at least a portion of the proximal side wall to form a cushion portion.

An ergonomic container according to claim 6, wherein upward channeled vents are provided along the periphery of the container between the lip and the end walls and side walls other than the cushion portion.

An ergonomic container 6, wherein the center is hollow and contains a molded-in double-walled cargo compartment that provides a compartment for coolant and a larger compartment the transport of various serums, samples, vaccines, and other products or materials wherein it is important to maintain a cool environment in which the proximal side wall is inwardly curved in a contour adapted to an adult human user'"'"'s body. In this embodiment said structure is a shell for the temperature stabilizing cargo compartment cavity enclosed by a thermal resistant material including but not limited to vacuum insulated panels.

7. A design for a shipping container or transportation trailer container with a utility of maintaining perishable cargo with the interior cargo compartment being lined with a vacuum insulated panel or other thermal resistant material for the purpose of temperature stabilization of the air inside of the cargo compartment.

A TSCC designed as a retrofit—

“

Pack in the Box™

”

for existing shipping containers, truck transport trailers, cargo compartments of trucks, trains, buses, and any other form of transporting perishable items. Said TSCC is an insert into the cargo cavity of said transport containers, and is applicable to any size transport container, and is comprised of at least one surface being constructed from vacuum insulated panels or other thermal resistant material for the purpose of temperature stabilization of the air inside of the cargo compartment.

8. What is claimed is:

A method of preserving ice or other coolants from melting defrosting in a container. Said method is embodied in a closed compartment whereby said container is lined on at least one surface with a vacuum insulated panel or other thermal resistant materials. When said compartment is stabilized by means of a thermal resistant material, the air in said compartment remains cold for an extended period of time, therefore the cooling properties of the ice or other coolant is extended to self-preserve said ice or coolant for an extended period of time no less than one hour up to 150 hours.

9. What is claimed is:

A temperature-stabilizing cargo compartment container, comprising;

a) a bottom container portion comprising a bottom wall and at least a first sidewall defining a cavity adapted to contain a product therein;

b) a top container portion comprising a top surface and a bottom surface and adapted to combine with said bottom container portion to define a product cavity, said top container portion forming a top wall for said container;

c) at least a first cooling or heating apparatus located within the interior cavity of the container including but not limited to ice made from water, gel packs, phase-change material;

energy emitting crystals, and other chemical or mechanical heating or cooling apparatus, depending on the desired air temperature within the cavity. In this embodiment said structure is an apparatus that is utilized to form a temperature stabilizing cargo compartment cavity enclosed by a thermal resistant material including but not limited to vacuum insulated panels.

10. An absorber of condensation collected within the cargo compartment cavity of the container including but not limited to an evaporator having a cooling surface for providing cooling to said product cavity and an absorber for absorbing vapor and liquid condensation formed in said cavity and/or evaporator.