Multi-layer insulation composite material having at least one thermally-reflective layer with through openings, storage container using the same, and related methods

• US 8,603,598 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokitae LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tokitae LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Erik
• Application Number:
  US12/220,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20100018981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 428/35.7, 428136-138, 428/120, 428/69, 220/592.2, 220/592.21, 220/592.26
• US Class Current: 428/35.7
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/38 with thermal insulation vacuum bottles or the like A47J41/00 ; thermal insulation of domestic water storage heaters F24H1/182
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3823 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/026 Mattresses, mats, blankets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/027 Bands, cords, strips or the like for helically winding around a cylindrical object
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/029 layered
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/08 Means for preventing radiation, e.g. with metal foil
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/141 in which the temperature of the medium is below that of the ambient temperature rigid pipes of wood F16L9/006; vacuum insulation F16L59/065
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/231 Filled with gas other than air; or under vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24182 Inward from edge of web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24314 Slit or elongated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 including nonapertured component

Abstract

In an embodiment, a multi-layer insulation (MLI) composite material includes a first thermally-reflective layer and a second thermally-reflective layer spaced from the first thermally-reflective layer. At least one of the first or second thermally-reflective layers includes a plurality of through openings configured to at least partially obstruct transmission therethrough of infrared electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength greater than a threshold wavelength. A region between the first and second thermally-reflective layers impedes heat conduction between the first and second thermally-reflective layers. Other embodiments include a storage container including a container structure that may be at least partially formed from such MLI composite materials, and methods of using such MLI composite materials.

Claims

1. A storage container, comprising:

a container structure defining at least one storage chamber, the container structure at least partially transparent to visible electromagnetic radiation so that an object stored in the at least one storage chamber is at least partially visible through the container structure, the container structure including multi-layer insulation (MLI) composite material having first and second thermally-reflective layers, with a region between the first and second thermally-reflective layers that impedes heat conduction therebetween, at least one of the first or second thermally-reflective layers including a plurality of through openings, at least some of the plurality of through openings having a lateral opening dimension and being configured to,

at least partially obstruct transmission therethrough of infrared electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength greater than a threshold wavelength, wherein the lateral opening dimension is proportional to the threshold wavelength; and

at least partially allow transmission therethrough of the visible electromagnetic radiation.

2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of through openings are arranged in a substantially periodic pattern.

3. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of through openings are arranged in a substantially non-periodic pattern.

4. The storage container of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of through openings include a first plurality of through openings and a second plurality of through openings; and

the first thermally-reflective layer includes the first plurality of through openings, and the second thermally-reflective layer includes the second plurality of through openings which are not positioned in substantial registry with the first plurality of through openings.

5. The storage container of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of through openings include a first plurality of through openings and a second plurality of through openings; and

the first thermally-reflective layer includes the first plurality of through openings, and the second thermally-reflective layer includes the second plurality of through openings which are positioned in substantial registry with the first plurality of through openings.

6. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the threshold wavelength is related to an opening dimension of at least a portion of the plurality of through openings.

7. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the threshold wavelength is proportional to an opening dimension of at least a portion of the plurality of through openings.

8. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the threshold wavelength is about twice the lateral opening dimension.

9. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of through openings are configured to at least partially allow transmission therethrough of the visible electromagnetic radiation over substantially the entire visible electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

10. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of through openings are configured to at least partially allow transmission therethrough of the visible electromagnetic radiation over only part of the visible electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

11. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the threshold wavelength is from about 1 μ

m to about 15 μ

m.

12. The storage container of claim 11, wherein the threshold wavelength is from about 8 μ

m to about 12 μ

m.

13. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the first and second thermally-reflective layers are spaced from each other by an electrostatic repulsive force.

14. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the first and second thermally-reflective layers are spaced from each other by a magnetic repulsive force.

15. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the first and second thermally-reflective layers are spaced from each other by spacer elements.

16. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the region includes at least one low-thermal conductivity material selected from the group consisting of an aerogel, a foam, and a mass of fibers.

17. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first or second thermally-reflective layers includes a substrate on which at least one layer is disposed.

18. The storage container of claim 17, wherein the substrate comprises an inorganic substrate.

19. The storage container of claim 17, wherein the substrate comprises a flexible, polymeric substrate.

20. The storage container of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first or second thermally-reflective layers of the MLI composite material includes a metallic layer, a doped semiconductor layer, a photonic crystal layer, or an infrared-reflective coating.

21. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first or second thermally-reflective layers is electrically conductive.

22. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the through openings are generally elliptical slots.

23. The storage container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of through openings are configured to at least partially obstruct transmission of the infrared electromagnetic radiation therethrough having a selected polarization direction.

24. The storage container of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of through openings include a first plurality of elongated through slots and a second plurality of elongated through slots; and

the first thermally-reflective layer includes the first plurality of elongated through slots and the second thermally-reflective layer includes the second plurality of elongated through slots oriented in substantially the same directional orientation as the first plurality of elongated through slots.

25. The storage container of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of through openings include a first plurality of elongated through slots and a second plurality of elongated through slots; and

the first thermally-reflective layer includes the first plurality of elongated through slots and the second thermally-reflective layer includes plurality of elongated through slots oriented in a substantially different directional orientation than that of the first plurality of elongated through slots.

26. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of through openings include:

a first plurality of elongated through slots; and

a second plurality of elongated through slots oriented in substantially the same directional orientation as the first plurality of elongated through slots.

27. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of through openings include:

a first plurality of elongated through slots; and

a second plurality of elongated through slots oriented in a substantially different directional orientation than that of the first plurality of elongated through slots.

28. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the MLI composite material includes at least another thermally-reflective layer that is reflective to electromagnetic radiation that can damage a biological substance positioned within the at least one storage chamber.

29. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the MLI composite material forms at least part of a window in the container structure for viewing an object positioned in the at least one storage chamber.

30. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the MLI composite material forms substantially all of the container structure.

31. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the container structure includes:

a receptacle; and

a lid configured to be attached to the receptacle.

32. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the container structure is configured to provide controllable egress of an object stored in the at least one storage chamber.