Methods of manufacturing temperature-stabilized storage containers

• US 8,069,680 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokitae LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tokitae LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Gates, William H. III, Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comings, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US12/012,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20090145163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 62/60, 623/71, 624/571, 624/572, 220/592.2, 220/592.25, 220/592.26, 277/650, 428/34.1, 428/35.9, 531/70, 531/71, 534/52, 534/53, 534/77, 535/58, 535/59, 206/528, 206/531, 206/532
• US Class Current: 62/60
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 11/50 Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins apparatus or devices for forming pockets in or from sheets, blanks or webs B65B47/00

Abstract

Methods disclosed herein include methods of manufacturing integrally thermally-sealed storage containers. Methods include creating at least one indentation in at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet, wherein the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet includes at least one first ultra efficient insulation material and wherein the at least one indentation is in a size and shape substantially conforming with material to be stored; placing material to be stored within one or more of the at least one indentation; placing at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet adjacent to the material to be stored, wherein the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet includes at least one second ultra efficient insulation material; and creating a thermal seal between at least two layers of thermal barrier sheet, substantially thermally sealing the material to be stored.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an integrally thermally-sealed storage container, comprising:

creating at least one indentation in at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet, wherein the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet includes at least one first ultra efficient insulation material and wherein the at least one indentation is in a size and shape substantially conforming with at least one storage region;

placing medicinal material to be stored within one or more of the at least one indentation, wherein the medicinal material to be stored is in a temperature range of 2°

C. to 8°

C. when it is placed within one or more of the at least one indentation;

placing at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet adjacent to the medicinal material to be stored, wherein the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet includes at least one second ultra efficient insulation material; and

creating a thermal seal between at least two layers of thermal barrier sheet, substantially thermally sealing the medicinal material to be stored in the at least one storage region, wherein the medicinal material to be stored is maintained in the temperature range of 2°

C. to 8°

C. during creation of the thermal seal.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one first ultra efficient insulation material includes at least one super insulation material.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet includes at least one spacer unit.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one second ultra efficient insulation material includes at least one super insulation material.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the material to be stored includes liquid.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the material to be stored includes at least one package.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the material to be stored is in a desired temperature range before the thermal seal is completed.

8. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

creating a vacuum within one or more of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet.

9. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

creating a vacuum within one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet.

10. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

cutting one or more of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet.

11. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

cutting one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet.

12. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

placing at least one layer of nontoxic lining material within one or more of the at least one indentation.

13. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

attaching one or more devices to the container.

14. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

placing one or more heat sink units in thermal contact with one or more of the at least one storage region.

15. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

placing at least one layer of nontoxic lining material within one or more of the at least one storage region.

16. The method as in claim 1, wherein creating a thermal seal between at least two layers of thermal barrier sheet comprises:

enclosing one or more edge of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet and one or more edge of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet with at least one layer of third thermal barrier sheet.

17. The method as in claim 1, wherein creating a thermal seal between at least two layers of thermal barrier sheet comprises:

sealing one or more of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet and one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet to at least one intermediate material.

18. The method as in claim 1, wherein creating a thermal seal between at least two layers of thermal barrier sheet comprises:

attaching together one or more of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet and one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein attaching together one or more of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet and one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet comprises:

creating structural alterations in at least one of the one or more of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet and one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet.

20. A method of manufacturing an integrally thermally-sealed storage container, comprising:

spreading out at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet, wherein the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet includes at least one first ultra efficient insulation material;

creating at least one indentation in the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet, wherein the at least one indentation is of a size and shape substantially conforming with at least one storage region;

placing medicinal material to be stored within one or more of the at least one indentation in the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet, wherein the medicinal material to be stored is in a temperature range of 2°

C. to 8°

C. when it is placed within one or more of the at least one indentation;

placing at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet adjacent to the medicinal material to be stored, wherein the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet includes at least one second ultra efficient insulation material;

wrapping one or more ends of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet and one or more ends of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet with at least one layer of third thermal barrier sheet as part of a creation of a thermal seal, wherein the medicinal material to be stored is maintained in the temperature range of 2°

C. to 8°

C. during creation of the thermal seal.

21. The method as in claim 20, wherein the material to be stored is in a desired temperature range before the completion of the thermal seal.

22. The method as in claim 20, wherein the material to be stored includes liquid.

23. The method as in claim 20, wherein the material to be stored includes at least one package.

24. The method as in claim 20, wherein the at least one first ultra efficient insulation material includes at least one superinsulation material.

25. The method as in claim 20, wherein the at least one second ultra efficient insulation material includes at least one superinsulation material.

26. The method as in claim 20, wherein the at least one layer of third thermal barrier sheet includes at least one third ultra efficient insulation material.

27. The method as in claim 20, comprising:

creating a vacuum within one or more layers of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet.

28. The method as in claim 20, comprising:

creating a vacuum within one or more layers of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet.

29. The method as in claim 20, comprising:

cutting one or more layers of first, second or third thermal barrier sheet.

30. The method as in claim 20, comprising:

creating one or more markings on an outer surface of one or more of the at least one layer of first or second thermal barrier sheet.

31. The method as in claim 20, comprising:

placing at least one layer of nontoxic lining material within one or more of the at least one indentation.

32. The method as in claim 20, comprising:

attaching one or more devices to the container.

33. The method as in claim 20, comprising:

placing one or more heat sink units in thermal contact with one or more of the at least one storage region.

34. The method as in claim 20, comprising:

thermally sealing one or more of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet to one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet.

35. The method as in claim 34, wherein thermally sealing one or more of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet to one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet comprises:

sealing both the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet and one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet to at least one intermediate material.

36. The method as in claim 20, comprising:

thermally sealing one or more of the at least one layer of third thermal barrier sheet to one or more of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet and to one or more of the at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet, respectively.

37. The method as in claim 36, wherein thermally sealing comprises:

creating structural alterations in at least one layer of first, second or third thermal barrier sheet.