Transportable storage cabinet

• US 5,749,234 A
• Filed: 10/28/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takano, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/739,148
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 62/125, 62/129, 62/185, 62/430, 62/437, 62/231, 340/309.15, 340/585, 340/636, 368/9, 368/10, 368/64, 368/66
• US Class Current: 62/125
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 16/00 Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a transportable storage cabinet for which the time at which a refrigerant has been frozen can be estimated. According to the present invention, a transportable storage cabinet, which includes a storage chamber wherein goods are stored, a refrigerant for cooling the storage chamber, and a refrigerator for freezing the refrigerant, comprises: power supply detection means for detecting a supply of power to the refrigerator; a timer for measuring elapsed time; and an elapsed time display means for displaying the elapsed time that is obtained by the timer.

Claims

1. A transportable storage cabinet, which includes a storage chamber wherein goods are stored, a refrigerant for cooling said storage chamber, and a refrigerator for freezing said refrigerant, comprising:

power supply detection means for detecting a supply of power to said refrigerator;

a timer, to be activated by a signal output by said power supply detection means, for measuring elapsed time; and

an elapsed time display means for displaying said elapsed time that is obtained by said timer.

2. A transportable storage unit as in claim 1 further comprising:

temperature detection means for acquiring a temperature reading for a refrigerant; and

refrigerant temperature display means for displaying said temperature reading for said refrigerant that is acquired by said temperature detection means before said refrigerant is frozen.

3. A transportable storage unit as in claim 1 further comprising:

temperature detection means for acquiring a temperature reading for a refrigerant;

refrigerant temperature display means for displaying said temperature reading for said refrigerant that is acquired by said temperature detection means before said refrigerant is frozen; and

determination means for determining whether or not a condition where said temperature reading for said refrigerant that is acquired by said temperature detection means is equal to or lower than a substantial freezing point and a condition where said power supply detection means detects power conditions being supplied are satisfied, and when said conditions are satisfied, for outputting a signal.

4. A transportable storage unit as in claim 3 further comprising:

a timer, to be activated by a signal output by said determination means, for measuring elapsed time following powering on and initiation of freezing of said refrigerant; and

time display means for displaying said elapsed time that is measured by said timer.

5. A transportable storage unit as in claim 1 further comprising:

determination means for determining whether or not a condition where said temperature reading for said refrigerant that is acquired by said temperature detection means is equal to or lower than a substantial freezing point and a condition where said power supply detection means detects power conditions being supplied are satisfied, and, when said conditions are satisfied, for outputting a signal;

a timer, to be activated by a signal output by said determination means, for measuring elapsed time following powering on and initiation of freezing of said refrigerant; and

time display means for displaying said elapsed time that is measured by said timer.

6. A transportable storage cabinet, which includes a storage chamber wherein goods are stored, a refrigerant for cooling said storage chamber, and a refrigerator for freezing said refrigerant, comprising:

temperature detection means for acquiring a temperature reading for a refrigerant; and

refrigerant temperature display means for displaying said temperature reading for said refrigerant that is acquired by said temperature detection means before said refrigerant is frozen.

7. A transportable storage cabinet, which includes a storage chamber wherein goods are stored, a refrigerant for cooling said storage chamber, and a refrigerator for freezing said refrigerant, comprising:

power supply detection means for detecting a supply of power to a refrigerator;

temperature detection means for acquiring a temperature reading for a refrigerant;

determination means for determining whether or not a condition where said temperature reading for said refrigerant that is acquired by said temperature detection means is equal to or lower than a substantial freezing point and a condition where said power supply detection means detects power is being supplied are satisfied, and, when said conditions are satisfied, for outputting a signal;

a timer, to be activated by a signal output by said determination means, for measuring elapsed time following powering on and initiation of freezing of said refrigerant; and

time display means for displaying said elapsed time that is measured by said timer.

8. A transportable storage unit as in claim 7, further comprising:

refrigerant temperature display means for displaying said temperature reading for said refrigerant that is acquired by said temperature detection means before said refrigerant is frozen.

9. A transportable storage cabinet, which includes a storage chamber wherein goods are stored, a refrigerant for cooling said storage chamber, and a refrigerator for freezing said refrigerant in response to a supply of power, comprising:

temperature detection means for acquiring a temperature reading for said refrigerant;

refrigerant temperature display means for displaying said temperature reading for said refrigerant acquired by said temperature detection means before said refrigerant is frozen;

power supply detection means for detecting a supply of power to said refrigerator;

determination means for determining whether there exists conditions where said temperature reading for said refrigerant that is acquired by said temperature detection means is equal to or lower than a substantial freezing point, and said power supply detection means detects power being supplied to said refrigerator, and when said conditions exist, creating an output signal;

a timer, to be activated by said output signal from said determination means, for measuring elapsed time following powering on and initiation of freezing of said refrigerant; and

time display means for displaying said elapsed time that is measured by said timer.