INSULATED CONTAINER UTILIZING NON-CONTACT COOLING

Abstract

An insulated container that provides non-contact cooling. A cooling medium is maintained in a reservoir or pocket that is separate from a food compartment. In an embodiment, the insulated container includes a tube or manifold for moving cold water around the food compartment. A battery powered, solar powered, or hand operated pump may be provided for moving the fluids around the food compartment. A liner for the food compartment may be formed of a highly thermally conducted material, such as aluminum, to maximize heat transfer between reservoir, and/or the tube or manifold system and the liner.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/887,183 filed Jan. 30, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insulated containers, sometimes called “coolers,” are prevalent in contemporary life. Insulated containers are often used for picnics or for outdoor activities such as camping or tailgating at sporting events. In addition, insulated containers are becoming more prevalent in the medical industry, where they are used to move transplant organs and other articles that need to remain cold during transport. Also, the need to transport commercial goods such as perishable foods, live foodstuffs, drinks, medicines, and environmental samples is becoming more important.

Often, a user desires to store items in an insulated container and keep those items cool, but does not want those items to come into contact with ice. For example, a user may have a number of sandwiches, baked goods, or other items that the user wishes to keep dry, but cold. Many conventional insulated containers include a compartment at a top of the insulated container for the items that are to be kept cold, and ice is placed at the bottom of the container to keep the inside of the container cold. However, humidity levels within the compartment may still be high because of the presence of ice within the insulated container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description of some embodiments that are presented later.

In accordance with an embodiment, an insulated container provides non-contact cooling. That is, the insulated cooler provides cooling without ice, water, or another cooling medium contacting items that are to be cooled. In an embodiment, the cooling medium is maintained in a reservoir or pocket that is separate from a food compartment. In an embodiment, ice or another cooling medium is not included within a food compartment at all.

In accordance with an embodiment, a reservoir is provided for cubed ice, block ice, blue ice, frozen gel packs, or some other cold medium. The reservoir is positioned to remove heat from (e.g., in thermal contact with) a food compartment for the insulated container.

In an embodiment, the insulated container includes a tube or manifold for moving cold water around the food compartment. A battery powered, solar powered, or hand operated pump may be provided for moving the fluids around the food compartment. A liner for the food compartment may be formed of a highly thermally conductive material, such as aluminum, to maximize heat transfer between the tube or manifold system and the liner.

In an embodiment, the insulated container includes a plug or drain for removing water from the reservoir and/or tube/manifold system. The drain may work by gravity, or a pump may be utilized to remove water from the system.

In an alternate embodiment, a siphon-type system may be used for circulating water around the manifold. Other structures may be used for removing heat from the food compartment, including a thermosiphon or a heat pipe.

In other alternate embodiments, a cooling source other than ice may be used, such as a blue ice pack.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an insulated container in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a section view of the insulated container of FIG. 1 taken along the section lines 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of an insulated container in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exploded side perspective view of an insulated container in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the insulated container of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of the insulated container of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of an insulated container including a hand pump;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of an insulated container including an ice reservoir at a front portion of the insulated container in accordance with an alternate embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a front view of an insulated container in accordance with an alternate embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of a side perspective view of the insulated container of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an insulated container 20 in accordance with an embodiment. The insulated container 20 includes sidewalls 22 and a lid 24. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, handles 26 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) are provided on opposite sides of the insulated container 20 for transport.

Briefly described, insulated containers in accordance with an embodiment include a reservoir for a cooling medium, such as water and ice, that is separate from a food compartment for the insulated container. As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, a dry food compartment 28 is segregated from an ice reservoir 30.

In practice, a user places ice, ice and water, or another cooing medium, such as blue ice or frozen gel packs, into the reservoir 30. The cooling medium absorbs heat from the dry compartment 28 via a thermally conducted liner 32. The liner 32 may be formed, for example, of aluminum or another thermally conductive material. The liner 32 is preferably in contact with an interior of the reservoir 30 and the interior of the dry compartment 28, so that maximum thermal conduction may be provided. The liner 32 may extend partially or completely around the dry compartment 28. In an embodiment, the liner 32 extends around the inside of all of the sidewalls 22 of the insulated container 20, but the liner may additionally or alternatively extend underneath a portion or all of the dry compartment 28 or around selected portions of the dry compartment.

The reservoir 30 may be a pocket formed in one or more of the sidewalls 22 of the insulated container 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the reservoir 30 is a pocket positioned along a front side of the insulated container. However, the reservoir may be positioned at other locations within the insulated container, including within the lid 24, at other positions in the sidewalls 22, or in the bottom of the insulated container.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of an insulated container 33. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the insulated container 33 includes a bladder 34 positioned on the inside of the insulated container. The bladder 34 is a flexible membrane designed to hold a fluid, and serves as the reservoir in this embodiment. The bladder 34 includes an inner wall 35 that provides separation between an internal compartment of the bladder 34 and a dry compartment 36. Insulation 37 is positioned on an opposite side of the bladder 34. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the bladder 34 includes buttons 38 that attach to the insulation 37 to keep the bladder in place. Reinforcement ribs 31, such as I-beams, may be used to connect the rear and inner walls 35 of the bladder 34 from separating when filled, in much as the same manner as an airbed utilizes such ribs or coils, as described in U.S. Publication Number 2007/0044243. A drain 39, such as a conventional cooler spigot, is provided for draining the bladder 34.

In use, the bladder 34 is filled with ice or another cold medium, such as cold water, and the bladder 34 provides cooling, or heat removal, for items within the dry compartment 36. In an embodiment, ice water is placed in the bladder 34. However, in an alternate embodiment, the bladder 34 may include only water, and ice may be maintained in a separate compartment, or in a separate part of the bladder 34. After use, a user drains the bladder 34 using the drain 39.

FIG. 4 shows an insulated container 40 in accordance with another embodiment. The insulated container 40 includes sidewalls 42 and a lid 44 hinged to one of the back sidewalls. Handles 46 are provided on opposite sides of the insulated container 40 for transport.

The insulated container 40 includes a dry compartment 48 and an ice reservoir 50. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a liner 52 extends around and under the dry compartment 48 and the ice reservoir 50. A wall 53 separates the ice reservoir 50 and the dry compartment 48.

The ice reservoir 50 is in fluid communication with cooling tubes 54 that extend around the liner 52. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the cooling tubes 54 are formed by a single tube that wraps in a coil around the liner 52. The upper and lower portions (i.e., the ends) of the single tube are in fluid communication with the ice reservoir 50. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the liner 52 fits within the sidewalls 42 of the insulated container 40. When in place, as is shown in FIG. 6, insulation may be blown around the cooling tubes 54 and the liner 52 to position the liner in place and to provide an insulation function.

In the embodiments shown in the drawings, a drain plug 58 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is provided for draining the reservoir 50. The drain plug 58 may additionally or alternatively be in fluid communication with the cooling tubes 54.

A pump 60 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5) is provided for pumping water from the ice reservoir 50 through the cooling tubes 54. The pump may be, for example, battery operated, solar powered, or AC powered. In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, a hand pump 62 may be provided for an insulated container 140.

In operation, a user places water and ice or another cold, preferably at least part fluid, medium within the ice reservoir 50. The dry compartment 48 may be used for receiving food stuffs or other items. The wall 53 and the liner 52 are preferably made of a thermally conductive material, such as aluminum. The pump 60 is used to drive water from the ice reservoir 30 around the cooling tubes 54 and back into the reservoir 50. Thus, heat transfer is maximized between the ice reservoir 50 and the liner 52. In this manner, heat may be efficiently removed from the dry compartment 48. After a user has either melted all the ice or is finished with the insulated container 40, the drain plug 58 may be opened, allowing water and/or ice to flow out of the ice reservoir 50 and the cooling tubes 54. If needed, the pump 60 may be operated to remove any additional water from the cooling tubes 54.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, an indentation 64 may be provided in the lid 44 for matching the top of the ice reservoir 50. This indentation may be used to close and seal the top of the ice reservoir 50, minimizing heat absorption by the ice reservoir. Other structures may be used, including a gasket or another type of seal.

FIG. 8 shows an insulated container 70 in accordance with another embodiment. The insulated container 70 in FIG. 8 is similar to the insulated container 40 in FIG. 5, but instead of having a reservoir 50 that is within a liner 52, a reservoir 74 for the insulated container 70 is included in a pocket of sidewalls 72 of the insulated container 70. A dry compartment 73 is positioned on the inside of the insulated container 70. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a drain plug 76 is provided on the front of the insulated container 70, and a pump 78 is positioned adjacent to the ice reservoir 74.

Other mechanisms or structures may be used to increase thermal transfer between the ice reservoir and the liner and/or food compartment. For example, instead of the pump, a siphon-type system may be used for circulating water around a liner. Other structures may be used for removing heat from the food compartment, including a thermosiphon or a heat pipe. Heat pipes and thermosiphons are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,505.

An alternate embodiment of an insulated container 80 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the insulated container 80 includes an ice channel 82 that extends around the front, bottom, and rear sides of a dry compartment 84 for the insulated container. The dry compartment 84 may be lined with a sufficient thermally conductive liner material, such as aluminum. Insulation may be included on the outside of the ice channel 82. In addition, insulation 86 (FIG. 9) may be provided at the ends of the ice channel 82. A lid 88 may fit over the top of the insulated container 80, and may close the dry compartment 84 and both ends of the ice channel 82. The ice channel 82 may be opened at one or both ends, and provides an extended pocket through which ice water or another cold medium may be put in contact with the dry compartment 84. When the ice melts, a user may turn the insulated container 80 upside down, or a drain plug may be provided for draining the ice channel.

The insulated containers described herein provide a manner in which to store foodstuffs or other items in a dry, cold container. Separate reservoirs are provided for a cooling medium and food stuffs. In this manner, food or other items may remain cold within the insulated container, without having contact with ice or the humidity levels associated with being in an ice compartment.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. An insulated container, comprising:

an insulated housing configured and designed to be transported by a user;

a dry compartment in the housing; and

a cold medium reservoir in the housing, separated from the dry compartment, and for receiving a cold medium.

2. The insulated container of claim 1, further comprising a thermally conductive liner material extending between the cold medium reservoir and the dry compartment.

3. The insulated container of claim 2, wherein the thermally conductive liner extends around a substantial portion of the dry compartment.

4. The insulated container of claim 1, further comprising a conduit extending from the cold medium reservoir against at least a portion of the dry compartment.

5. The insulated container of claim 1, further comprising a thermally conductive liner material extending between the conduit and the dry compartment.

6. The insulated container of claim 5, wherein the conduit and the liner extend substantially around the dry compartment.

7. The insulated container of claim 6, further comprising a pump for circulating fluid between the cold medium reservoir and the conduit.

8. The insulated container of claim 5, further comprising a pump for circulating fluid between the cold medium reservoir and the conduit.

9. The insulated container of claim 4, further comprising a pump for circulating fluid between the cold medium reservoir and the conduit.

10. The insulated container of claim 9, wherein the pump comprises a hand pump that is pumped from an outside of the housing.

11. The insulated container of claim 9, further comprising a drain for the conduit.

12. The insulated container of claim 4, further comprising a drain for the conduit.

13. The insulated container of claim 1, further comprising a drain for the reservoir.

14. The insulated container of claim 1, further comprising a lid for fitting over the housing, and wherein the lid comprises a seal for closing the reservoir when the lid is closed over the housing.

15. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the reservoir extends under the dry compartment.

16. The insulated container of claim 1, wherein the reservoir extends along two sides of the dry compartment.