Insulated container having a temperature monitoring device

• US 8,152,367 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation US (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation US (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Roberts, William Peyton, Kennedy, Thomas D., Windisch, Tom, Hagood, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAPLAN VERBITSKY, GAIL
• Application Number:
  US12/109,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20080272131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 374/100, 374/141, 374117-119, 374/208, 374/163, 374/183, 374 30- 39, 374/4, 374/57, 374/109, 340/870.17
• US Class Current: 374/141
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2217/00 Temperature measurement using electric or magnetic components already present in the system to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

The invention provides an insulated container having a temperature monitoring device that can be used to maintain an object stored in the container at a temperature that is below the normal operating temperature of the temperature monitoring device while still permitting the taking of measurements of the interior of the container. The container includes an RF transponder having an RF antenna, a temperature sensor, and a battery that is operatively connected to the transponder and the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is positioned in the container so that it is in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container. The battery is positioned at least partially in one of the walls of the container at a location that is spaced apart from the temperature sensor and that is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery.

Claims

1. An insulated container having an embedded temperature sensor, the container comprising:

a plurality of walls defining a container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the walls comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container;

a radio frequency transponder having a radio frequency circuit and a radio frequency antenna;

a temperature sensor disposed in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container;

an electric circuit extending through at least a portion of at least one of the walls and interconnecting the temperature sensor with the radio frequency antenna so that a temperature measurement of the interior space can be retrieved from the temperature sensor by communicating with the transponder; and

a battery that is at least partially disposed in one of the walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the radio frequency transponder and the temperature sensor, and wherein the position of the battery within the wall is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery, and wherein the battery and the radio frequency antenna are disposed in a housing having an interior space and wherein the electric circuit extends through an opening in the housing so that the temperature sensor is disposed at a location outside of the interior space of the housing.

2. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the walls comprises a removable lid.

3. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the container has a generally rectangular shape, and wherein the plurality of walls includes 4 side walls, a bottom wall, a mouth opposite the bottom wall defining an opening into the interior space of the container, and a lid for closing the opening.

4. The insulated container of claim 3, wherein the temperature sensor and radio frequency transponder are disposed in the lid of the container.

5. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency antenna is at least partially disposed in at least one of the walls of the container.

6. The insulated container of claim 5, wherein the radio frequency antenna is disposed in one of the walls of the container adjacent to an outer surface of the container, and wherein the temperature sensor is embedded in one of the walls at a spaced apart location from the radio frequency antenna.

7. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is embedded in one of the walls at a spaced apart location from the battery.

8. The insulated container of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor and the battery are spaced apart from each other by a distance of between about 0.5 and 12 inches.

9. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor and the radio frequency transponder are embedded within a wall of the container at a spaced apart location from each other.

10. The insulated container of claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor and the radio frequency transponder are separated from each other by a distance of between about 0.5 and 12 inches.

11. The insulated container of claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor and the radio frequency transponder are separated from each other by a distance of between about 1 and 6 inches.

12. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the container has a generally cylindrical shape.

13. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is in direct contact with an atmosphere of the interior space.

14. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein a portion of the wall containing the temperature sensor separates the temperature sensor from the interior space of the container.

15. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein one or more of the walls comprise a foamed material.

16. The insulated container of claim 15, wherein the foam comprises a polyolefin, polyurethane, polystyrene, or a combination thereof.

17. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein one or more of the walls includes a metallized film or metallic foil layer that is disposed between the temperature sensor and the radio frequency antenna.

18. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is at least partially disposed in the interior of the container.

19. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor and a portion of the electric circuit are at least partially disposed in the interior of the container.

20. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein a refrigerant having a temperature of about −

70°

C. is disposed in the interior space of the container and wherein the battery comprises an electrolyte that freezes at temperatures approaching or below −

40°

C.

21. A method of preparing an insulated container having a temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a container having a plurality of walls, the container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the walls comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container;

positioning a temperature sensor within the container in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container, wherein the temperature sensor is electrically interconnected with a radio frequency transponder; and

positioning a battery at least partially in one of the walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the transponder and the temperature sensor via an electric circuit, and wherein the position of the battery is spaced apart from the interior space of the container so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery, wherein the battery and the radio frequency antenna are disposed in a housing having an interior space and wherein the electric circuit extends through an opening in the housing and is in electrical communication with the temperature sensor so that the temperature sensor is disposed at a location outside of the interior space of the housing.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the temperature sensor is at least partially disposed in the interior of the container.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of positioning the temperature monitoring device includes the steps of:

providing a housing in which the temperature sensor, radio frequency transponder, and the battery are disposed, and wherein the temperature sensor includes an electric circuit that interconnects the temperature sensor with the battery;

extending the temperature sensor through an opening in the housing; and

positioning the temperature sensor in a spaced apart location from the battery.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the electric circuit has a length that is between about 1 and 12 inches.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the steps of positioning the temperature sensor and the battery include the step of forming at least one of the walls of the container around the temperature sensor and the battery, wherein the battery and an electric circuit interconnecting the battery with the temperature sensor are disposed at least partially in the thus formed wall.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned adjacent to an inner surface of the container and the battery is positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the container.

27. A method of monitoring the temperature of a temperature-sensitive object, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a temperature-sensitive object in the interior space of an insulated container, the container comprising;

i. a container having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior space, wherein the container comprise a thermal insulation material, and wherein the inner surface of the container faces the interior space of the container;

ii. a radio frequency transponder having a radio frequency antenna;

iii. a temperature sensor disposed in a temperature monitoring relationship with the interior space of the container, and that is interconnected with the radio frequency antenna via an electric circuit so that a temperature measurement of the interior space can be retrieved from the temperature sensor by communicating with the transponder; and

iv. a battery that is at least partially disposed in one or more walls of the container, wherein the battery is operatively connected with the radio frequency transponder and the temperature sensor, and wherein the position of the battery within the wall is selected so that the battery does not experience a temperature that is below an operating temperature of the battery; and

wherein the battery and the radio frequency antenna are disposed in a housing having an interior space and wherein the electric circuit extends through an opening in the housing so that the temperature sensor is disposed at a location outside of the interior space of the housing; and

placing a refrigerant in the interior space of the container to maintain the temperature-sensitive object at a temperature that is below the normal operating temperature of the battery.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the object comprises a product selected from the group of pharmaceuticals, electronics, chemicals, cosmetic products, biological products, transplant tissues and transplant organs, and combinations thereof.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of wirelessly retrieving the temperature of the interior space of the container.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the temperature sensor is at least partially disposed in the interior of the container.