Thermal receptacle with phase change material

• US 7,059,387 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kolowich J. Bruce
• Original Assignee: Kolowich J. Bruce
• Inventors: Kolowich, J. Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US11/258,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 165/10, 165/135, 165/902, 165/918, 220/421, 220/446, 220/426, 220/469, 220/658, 220/659, 220/23.89, 215/13.1, 215/12.1, 215/382, 624/573, 624/51, 624/574, 219/432, 219/430, 219/433, 219/439
• US Class Current: 165/10
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/127 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot vacuum bottles A47J41/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2416 with a heat storage element or material
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2444 Drinking cups with heating means drinking vessels with means for keeping liquid hot without integral heating means A47G19/2288
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0044 comprising heat or cold storing elements or material, i.e. energy transfer within the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3846 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3874 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/063 Materials absorbing or liberating heat during crystallisation; Heat storage materials
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0008 the heat storage material being enclosed in plate-like or laminated elements, e.g. in plates having internal compartments
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/217 Class D power amplifiers; Switching amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2173 of the bridge type
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/38 DC amplifiers with modulator at input and demodulator at output; Modulators or demodulators specially adapted for use in such amplifiers switched capacitor amplifiers H03F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/902 Heat storage

Abstract

A liquid receptacle for rapidly lowering the temperature of a liquid contained therein to a warm range suitable for human contact and maintaining the liquid in the warm range for an extended period of time includes an inner vessel with an open upper end and a closed lower end and a wall connecting the upper and lower end. An insulated outer shell is spaced from the inner vessel to define an interstitial chamber between the inner vessel and the outer shell. A phase change material occupies the chamber and regeneratively absorbs thermal energy from the liquid to cool the liquid and then releases the thermal energy back to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid.

Claims

1. A baby bottle for rapidly lowering the temperature of a liquid contained therein to a warm range suitable for infant contact and maintaining the liquid in the warm range for an extended period of time, the baby bottle comprising:

an inner vessel having an open upper end and closed lower end and a wall connecting the upper end and the lower end;

an outer shell spaced from the inner vessel defining an interstitial chamber therebetween;

a drinking outlet closing the upper end of the inner vessel, the drinking outlet including a nipple; and

a phase change material disposed within the chamber for regeneratively absorbing thermal energy from the liquid and then releasing the thermal energy to the liquid to maintain the temperature of the liquid.

2. The baby bottle according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell is an insulated shell.

3. The baby bottle according to claim 2, wherein the insulated outer shell is a one piece insulated shell.

4. The baby bottle according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell includes an inner layer and an outer layer with an evacuated void therebetween for vacuum insulating the outer shell.

5. The baby bottle according to claim 1, wherein the insulated outer shell includes a plastic outer layer and an inner layer of insulating foam.

6. The baby bottle according to claim 1, further comprising a timing device.

7. The baby bottle according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature indicator for indicating the temperature of the liquid.

8. The liquid receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the phase change material has a solid to liquid phase change temperature within the range of 110°

F. to 160°

F.

9. A receptacle according to claim 8, wherein the phase change material is selected from the group consisting of naturally occurring fatty acids.

10. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the phase change material is palmitic acid.

11. The liquid receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the inner vessel is formed from a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 150 Watts/meter-degree Kelvin.

12. The liquid receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper, and copper alloys.