Methods of manufacturing temperature-stabilized storage containers

• US 8,322,147 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• 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): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comings, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US13/199,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20110308201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 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, 532/03, 532/04, 532/21, 532/28, 532/29, 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:

wrapping at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet around at least one storage region including at least one medicinal material to be stored, wherein the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet includes at least one first ultra efficient insulation material;

wrapping at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet around the at least one storage region including at least one 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 around the at least one storage region including at least one medicinal material to be stored, wherein the thermal seal includes 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 and the at least one 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 wrapping at least one layer of second thermal barrier sheet around the at least one storage region includes wrapping the at least one second layer around at least one region of the at least one layer of first thermal barrier sheet.

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

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one first ultra efficient insulation material is predominately the same as the at least one second ultra efficient insulation material.

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

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

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

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one medicinal material to be stored is in a desired temperature range when it is placed within one or more of the at least one storage region.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one material to be stored is in a desired temperature range before completion of the thermal seal.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein creating a thermal seal around the at least one storage region 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.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein creating a thermal seal around the at least one storage region 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.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein attaching together 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 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.

13. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

creating a vacuum between at least two layers of thermal barrier sheet.

14. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

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

15. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

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

16. The method as in claim 1, 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.

17. 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.

18. The method as in claim 1, comprising:

attaching one or more devices to the container.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein the one or more devices include one or more:

sensors, temperature indicators, communications devices, or display devices.

20. 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.