Abstract: The invention includes a container for storing liquids, the container including a blending chamber for holding a larger volume of liquid, and an opening that can be selectively sealed or unsealed. The container also includes a sampling chamber for holding a smaller volume of liquid, and another opening that can be selectively sealed or unsealed. The blending chamber is located within and is at least partially surrounded by the sampling chamber. Fluidically connecting the blending chamber and the sampling chamber is a siphon having an upper opening in the blending chamber and a lower opening in the sampling chamber. The siphon includes a siphoning level, which is a fluid height in the blending chamber at which liquid will siphon from the blending chamber to the sampling chamber.

Abstract: At least one method and container are described for maintaining a target temperature within the container. The container generally includes a vacuum insulated body; a lid couplable to the vacuum insulated body; a heatsink, coupled to the lid, wherein a portion of the heatsink is positionable within the vacuum insulated body; and at least one thermoelectric cell coupled to the heatsink, wherein the at least one thermoelectric cell is operated to promote the transfer of heat between the inside of the container and the outside of the container to cool the inside of the container or to warm the inside of the container. The container may be arranged so that internal and external portions of the heatsink may be arranged in a decoupled position to reduce heat transfer therebetween.

Abstract: An electronic module is provided with a housing with a base and walls extending transversely from the base. The housing comprises an inlet port and an outlet port formed through the walls. A circuit board assembly is supported by the housing and includes electronics that generate heat during operation. A cold plate is mounted to the walls of the housing to define a manifold. The housing and the cold plate are in thermal communication with the circuit board assembly for transferring heat generated by the electronics. A baffle is disposed within the manifold for directing coolant flow. Elastic material is disposed over a distal end of the baffle and adapted to engage a lower surface of the cold plate in an interference fit to block coolant leakage.

Abstract: An insulated bag includes a pair of opposing main panels; and a pair of opposing side panels, each side panel attached to each main panel, the main panels and the side panels defining a bag cavity within the insulated bag; the main panels and the side panels defined in an insulated blank, the insulated blank including a first paper layer; and a paper fiber pad coupled to the first paper layer, the paper fiber pad having paper reinforcement fibers interlocked with about 2% to about 25% by weight of a meltable PE/PP bi-component thermoplastic binder fiber distributed substantially randomly, wherein subjecting the repulpable shipping container to a repulpability test produces greater than 85% fiber yield.

Abstract: The present disclosure may be embodied as a drinking vessel having an insulating body. The insulating body includes a cavity for containing a liquid. The cavity has a bottom and a cylindrical side wall. A top portion of the cylindrical side wall is internally threaded. The insulating body further includes a base with a storage mount. The storage mount is internally threaded. A lid having a drinking orifice is provided. The lid is externally threaded. The lid is configured to couple with the threads of the cavity or the threads of the storage mount such that the lid may be selectively coupled. The drinking vessel may further include a clamping ring. The clamping ring is externally threaded to couple with the cavity or the storage mount. The clamping ring is configured to cooperate with the cavity to secure a can or bottle within the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a food product having a cover and a removable liner are discussed. The cover has a top and bottom opening and a sidewall that extends at least partially between the top and bottom opening. At least one aperture is disposed on the sidewall. The removable liner can be inserted within the cover to form the apparatus for receiving the food product. After use of the removable liner, a user can dispose the removable liner by using the aperture to lift the cover with the removable liner inside, and dropping the removable liner into a waste receptacle.

Abstract: A parcel locker system is disclosed that includes a rigid container having an external surface, an internal area that is configured to receive and hold a parcel, a door that is configured to be reversibly opened and closed, a door lock that is configured to be wirelessly activated and deactivated, a digital indicator located on the external surface (which signals whether the door lock is activated or deactivated), a means for attaching the rigid container to a floor or wall surface, and a power source. The system further includes a camera that is configured and oriented to capture video content of a delivery person located adjacent to the rigid container and wirelessly transmit such video content. In addition, the system includes a software application that is configured to receive transmitted video content from the camera and, according to a user's command, wirelessly issue an instruction to the door lock to deactivate for a period of time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a package receptacle assembly that is integrated into a column of a home. The compartment in some embodiments has a door that is positioned in a front wall of the compartment so that the door is positioned between the rear wall of the compartment and a front door of a home, which obscures the door from view. The door in some arrangements has a locking assembly, which is configured to send out notification and provide remote control of the locking assembly in various iterations of the present invention. Some embodiments have a chute that extends through the column and between the compartment and the roof to allow delivery of a package onto the roof and through the column to the compartment, such as by way of a UAV. Other embodiments include a chute that extends from the compartment to the home.

Abstract: A container apparatus can include a container and an insert assembly. The insert assembly can include four elongate members. The four elongate members can include light emitting devices for illuminating the interior of the container and/or temperature altering elements for cooling and/or heating the interior of the container. The container can have a rectangular base and a rectangular sidewall extending upwardly from the base. The sidewall can define four corners of the container, and four elongate recesses can be formed in the sidewall proximate the four corners of the sidewall to receive the elongate light members. The recesses can be sized and shaped to conform to the elongate insert members so that the insert members can be releasably retained within the elongate recesses.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a passive temperature controlled container for passively maintaining a specified temperature range in a storage chamber of the container for a predetermined amount of time. The passive temperature controlled container may be configured to have an inner PCM layer and an outer PCM layer, with an air chamber layer between the two PCM layers to allow for the free movement of air around all six sides of the container.

Abstract: Ambient service apparatuses and methods associated with providing ambient service in a premise are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus for providing on premise ambient service may be provided. The apparatus may include a profile engine to interact with a cloud ambient service provider to receive at least one of a profile of a user of a premise or a profile of one or more visitors of the premise, wherein the profiles are associated with the provision of ambient service to a visitor of the premise on behalf of the user. The apparatus may further include a management module coupled to the profile engine to interact with one or more peripherals at the premise to provide ambient service to one or more visitors of the premise, on behalf of the user, based at least in part on the user or visitor profile. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: A container apparatus can include a container and an insert assembly. The insert assembly can include four elongate members. The four elongate members can include light emitting devices for illuminating the interior of the container and/or temperature altering elements for cooling and/or heating the interior of the container. The container can have a rectangular base and a rectangular sidewall extending upwardly from the base. The sidewall can define four corners of the container, and four elongate recesses can be formed in the sidewall proximate the four corners of the sidewall to receive the elongate light members. The recesses can be sized and shaped to conform to the elongate insert members so that the insert members can be releasably retained within the elongate recesses.

Abstract: A vented stop bead and a vented weep screed are used to vent a stucco or plaster wall. The vented stop bead has a base panel with a stop bead wall extending from the base panel at a first location and a spacing member wall extending from the base panel at a second location, wherein a spacing member is connected to the spacing member wall. A vented portion is positioned between the stop bead wall and the spacing member wall, wherein the vented portion has a venting structure positioned through the base panel between the first and second locations. The vented weep screed has a nailing fin with a first leg extending therefrom at a first location. A second leg extends from the nailing fin at a second location, the second leg having at least one venting structure positioned through the second leg.

Abstract: An insulated shipping liner includes a flexible sealed sack having a first layer and second layer sealed together about their outer peripheral edges to form a housing. An insulating layer made from a single sheet of foam material is located within the housing and is configured to be folded such that a first side portion, second side portion and middle portion create a substantially rectangular box form, with the first and second side portions defining opposing sides of the box form, the middle portion defining a bottom of the box form, the substantially rectangular top flap defining at least part of a top of the box form, and the opposing substantially rectangular first and second side flaps defining at least part of other opposing sides of the box form. The box form can be placed in a container to form an insulated container for shipping and/or storage.

Abstract: A hinge assembly includes a first monument piece having a first knuckle and a monument leaf attached, and a second monument piece having a first knuckle and a monument leaf attached to the first knuckle of the second monument piece, with the second monument piece spaced apart from the first monument piece by a monument piece space. A door piece includes an intermediate door knuckle extending across the monument piece space, and a door leaf coupled to the intermediate door knuckle. A pin extends through the first knuckle of the first monument piece, the first knuckle of the second monument piece, and the intermediate door knuckle. When the hinge assembly is mounted to a door and monument, a space is formed between the intermediate door knuckle and the monument to define a vent gap through the hinge assembly.

Abstract: A container is provided for a liquid operating medium of a motor vehicle. The container includes: i) an outer container which forms a container volume; ii) at least one heating device which is designed to thaw frozen operating medium, and iii) a partition which divides the container volume into a proximal region and a distal region. The proximal region is arranged closer to the at least one heating device than the distal region. The partition is designed to let through more operating medium between the proximal region and the distal region in the installation position of the container than in an oblique position of the container.

Abstract: A modular food holding bin has multiple food holding units or bins, which can be connected and disconnected from each other in multiple different configurations. Each bin can be set to its own temperature, independently of the others. The modular holding bin includes a power recover mode.

Abstract: A ventilation structure is set on a parting portion between an outer wall member and an eave member, and extends in a longitudinal direction along the parting portion. The ventilation structure includes an outer wall base member, the outer wall member provided on the outer wall base member through a furring strip, the eave member provided upward beyond the outer wall member and an upper end of the furring strip, and a ventilation member set in a space between the outer wall base member, the furring strip, the outer wall member and the eave member for ventilating an aeration layer between the outer wall base member and the outer wall member and an exterior. The ventilation member is constituted of a frame member and an aeration member set on the frame member. The frame member includes a first vertical portion, a top surface portion, a second vertical portion and a bottom surface portion. The aeration member includes a plurality of vent holes passing through the same from an outer surface to an inner surface.

Abstract: A container apparatus can include a container and an insert assembly. The insert assembly can include four elongate members. The four elongate members can include light emitting devices for illuminating the interior of the container and/or temperature altering elements for cooling and/or heating the interior of the container. The container can have a rectangular base and a rectangular sidewall extending upwardly from the base. The sidewall can define four corners of the container, and four elongate recesses can be formed in the sidewall proximate the four corners of the sidewall to receive the elongate light members. The recesses can be sized and shaped to conform to the elongate insert members so that the insert members can be releasably retained within the elongate recesses.

Abstract: A convective weep screed for draining water that penetrates exterior cladding of an exterior wall of a building away from the building and for removing moisture located in the space between the weather resistant barrier of the wall and the exterior cladding and for providing ventilation to the space between the weather resistant barrier and the exterior cladding. The weep screed provides a pathway to the space between the weather resistant barrier and the exterior cladding to permit water/moisture/moisture vapor that collects there to drain therefrom and to permit air to gain access to said space, thereby providing an uninterrupted pathway for air to ventilate and dry said space.

Abstract: A liquid delivery module including: a base plate positioned through an opening made in a wall of a liquid tank; a pump assembly configured to pump liquid from the base plate and to deliver the liquid to a supply line, via a hydraulic connector; a cover adapted to be fixed to the base plate. The pump assembly is mounted outside the tank. The hydraulic connector is partially or entirely integrated to the cover.

Abstract: A container apparatus can include a container and an insert assembly. The insert assembly can include four elongate members. The four elongate members can include light emitting devices for illuminating the interior of the container and/or temperature altering elements for cooling and/or heating the interior of the container. The container can have a rectangular base and a rectangular sidewall extending upwardly from the base. The sidewall can define four corners of the container, and four elongate recesses can be formed in the sidewall proximate the four corners of the sidewall to receive the elongate light members. The recesses can be sized and shaped to conform to the elongate insert members so that the insert members can be releasably retained within the elongate recesses.

Abstract: A double-walled insulated cooking pot has a food vessel, a sleeve positioned around the food vessel, a first insulator, and a second insulator. The insulators are affixed between the food vessel's wall(s) and the sleeve. The outer surface of the wall(s), the inner surface of the sleeve, and the insulators define a vacuum space. An insulated cover for the cooking pot has an upper layer, a lower layer, and a cover insulator. The cover insulator is sealingly engaged with an outer edge of an inner surface of the upper layer and an inner surface of the lower layer. The upper layer, the lower layer, and the cover insulator define a vacuum space within the cover. The pot and cover can be constructed such that the surfaces of the vacuum spaces are reflective.

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus comprised of a plurality of pods in the form of an annular cylindrical sleeve. All pods containing liquid are to be frozen for the purpose of dynamically transfer/impart its charged thermal energy to a directly contacted beverage object placed within. The pods are joined to each other by latitudinal elastic bands allowing it to expand readily and grip onto varying size beverage containers. Furthermore, the plurality of pods and a beverage container are disposed in an insulated holder; a sealable cap is then inserted to seal off and insulate the discharging of thermal energy therein from ambient conditions. A beverage in the form of can or bottle might be placed in the apparatus to achieve desired chill temperature for an extended length of time in high ambient temperature conditions.

Abstract: A refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, includes a storage chamber delimited by an inner container and a pressure sensor disposed outside the storage chamber. The pressure sensor communicates with the storage chamber by way of a connection housing anchored in an opening of a wall surface of the inner container. An exposed surface of the connection housing facing the storage chamber is flush with the surrounding wall surface.

Abstract: A therapeutic purse configured with a therapeutic device including a cushion, or a thermal pouch is provided. The therapeutic purse is an enclosure having an interior volume and at least one opening to the interior volume and a closure feature. In one embodiment, the interior volume of the purse comprises a therapeutic pocket configured for containing a therapeutic device. In yet another embodiment, the therapeutic purse comprises a hot or cold pouch that may comprise a substance that may be transferred into a conduit coupled to the strap.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a home includes providing a structural base on a ground surface adjacent to and outside the outer walls, the structural base comprising one or more air passages; installing insulation adjacent to an outer surface of the outer walls, the insulation being supported by the structural base; and installing siding material on an outer surface of the insulation, the siding material and the existing outer walls enclosing the insulation and defining a flow path, a top of the flow path comprising one or more air passages into the attic space such that air flows along the insulation in the flow path between the structural base and the attic space. A plurality of new trusses may be supported at an apex of the existing roof that overhanging the existing outer walls and the insulation, the trusses sloping direction of the slope of the existing roof.

Abstract: An appliance that includes a storage compartment includes either a drawer or a wire basket located in the storage compartment, a handle, and a trim portion. The drawer or basket stores at least one item and the drawer is movable relative to the storage compartment. The handle is snappingly secured to a peripheral edge of the drawer or basket. The trim portion is snappingly secured to at least one edge of the drawer or basket where the trim portion is secured independently of the handle. In another example, a humidity control device is located on the drawer and controls the humidity within the interior portion of the drawer. A knob that controls the humidity control device is received through a cutout in the trim portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to cover a propane tank located on a property by providing a shell that covers, hides and protects the propane tank; and beautifying and blending with the current landscape and enhancing the value of the property.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a container suitable for use in the disinfection of blood glucose meters and other medical devices. In one embodiment, the container comprises a tray with a formed cavity in it, such that a blood glucose meter or medical device may be placed and retained in it. In certain related embodiments, the meter has been wrapped in a disinfection wipe prior to placement into the container.

Abstract: A portable cooler includes a generally horizontal bottom surface and a generally vertical rear surface, a handle coupled to the cooler body, and a sliding surface that is neither horizontal nor vertical coupled between the bottom surface and to the rear surface. In some embodiments the sliding surface may be an angled planer surface, or may be curved. A foot platform provides leverage for tilting the portable cooler rearward when a foot of a user is placed on the foot platform and rearward pressure is applied to the handle. The portable cooler may include wheels that each have a width of approximately 10% of a width of the cooler body. At least one of the wheels may include a groove and a material within the groove that is softer that the durable material of the at least one wheel.

Abstract: A system for storing high level radioactive waste. In one embodiment, the invention can be a system comprising an overpack body extending along a vertical axis and having a cavity for storing high level radioactive waste, the cavity having an open top end and a floor; an overpack lid positioned atop the overpack body to enclose the open top end of the cavity; an air inlet vent for introducing cool air into the cavity, the air inlet vent extending from an opening in an outer surface of the overpack body to an opening in the floor; and an air outlet vent in the overpack lid for removing warmed air from the cavity.

Abstract: This invention is directed to form openings in the heat shrink film for allowing cooling air to circulate between the articles while maintaining the structural integrity of the heat shrunk film. This is accomplished by slitting the heat shrink film and forming slots between the slitted parts of the film.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided solar water pasteurizers that are portable, efficient, inexpensive and easy to use. In its simplest form, the solar pasteurizer includes a transparent container such as a bag or envelope that contains at least one energy converting structure and has sufficient insulation to enable heating water to a temperature of at least 65° C. (and preferably to a temperature of at least 70° C.) for a time sufficient to achieve pasteurization (at 65-70° C., a period of only about 6 minutes is required for pasteurization). Invention solar pasteurizers are particularly useful for pasteurizing water. In additional embodiments, invention solar pasteurizers include additional features, such as, for example, a water pasteurization indicator, and a receptacle for retaining same within the invention container.

Abstract: Chilled food, frozen food at low temperatures that retain food quality outside of the source of cold, and retaining hot food in the Wonder Boxes—preserving food in the Wonder Boxes after their removal from the source of heat. All of this, using appropriate Wonder Boxes with two panels or more, with water or another substance in between. The idea underlying the development of the Wonder Boxes is to allow students, who take sandwiches prepared in the morning and eaten at lunchtime, proper preservation. Another example is in the purchase of frozen or chilled food at the market and bringing it to the refrigerator at home only several hours later. Purchasing hot food, bringing it home and eating it hot. Prevents reheating. In our modern world, we do not enable manufacturers and distributors to transport chilled or frozen food without proper refrigeration. Anyone who does so, is immediately subject to shipment disqualification.

Abstract: A device for storing food and displaying food for service includes a base with a side wall extending upwardly from the base and a puck assembly removably disposed therein. The puck assembly has a generally flat plate surface on one side and a functional surface with a plurality of food receptacles formed thereon on the opposite side, a sealed cavity disposed between the plate surface and the functional surface, and a cooling substance disposed in the sealed cavity. A food tray is disposed proximate the puck assembly, and a lid shaped to alternatively fit on the top surface of the wall of the base and to fit on the external surface of the bottom of the base such that the base can nest in the lid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container for refrigerated goods. The container includes a body part and a front part coupled to the body part. The front part is formed by a pair of side pieces and at least one central piece extending to and connected to the side pieces. The central piece has a constant cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A thermally insulated VIP sandwich shipper for a temperature sensitive payload is provided. The shipper comprises an outer shell, an inner shell and vacuum insulated panels sandwiched therebetween. The outer shell and the inner shell may be unitary rigid structures made of an expanded foam material and comprising a bottom having a perimeter and sides extending from the bottom perimeter and terminating in a rim. The inner shell rim may be spaced from the outer shell rim to define a gap, the gap being sealed to create an enclosed space within which the vacuum insulated panels are located. Each vacuum insulated panel may be oriented substantially orthogonally to at least one adjacent vacuum insulated panel and have an edge that abuts the adjacent vacuum insulated panels.

Abstract: A food storage system allows at least one warm item and one cool item, especially foods to be stored and transported together. A housing with a closable internal volume receives at least one container for the cool items and one container form the warm items. In each of these containers, cool items and warm items are paired with a appropriate phase change material that either absorbs heat or emits heat. The items and the phase change materials can be separately contained.

Abstract: A soft-sided insulated container assembly with a removable thermal storage member mounted therein. The container has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion forms a body and the second portion forms a lid movable between a first position obstructing access to a chamber defined in the first portion and a second position permitting access. The lid has a structural frame having members defining a seat for the thermal storage member when the lid is in the first position. The storage member has portions operable matingly to engage the frame members.

Abstract: The present invention is generally related containers for storing and organizing consumable and non-consumable goods.

Abstract: Webbing, FDA approved, inserted into various cooler sizes, used to strain water and ice is disclosed. By using the “Cooler Web”, one can lift out the cold drinks. The “Cooler Web” supports a onetime breach of the cooler and ALL of its contents (except ice and water) and allows for no wet/cold hands and no foreign debris back into the cooler.

Abstract: A food storage system including a secondary bowl that is adapted to be positioned at least partially on and/or in a main lid. The secondary bowl is adapted to be detachable from the main lid.

Abstract: A cooler includes a cooler body including one or more cooler walls. The cooler further includes a cover configured to be disposed around an exterior of the cooler body, the cover being sized and dimensioned to generally cover an exterior of the one or more cooler walls of the cooler body. The cover preferably includes a moisture-absorbent material. The cover also preferably includes an image, logo, symbol, or text; or a panel preferably includes the image, logo, symbol, or text, which panel is removably attachable to the cover.

Abstract: A beer keg includes a container having a base and a wall extending upward from a periphery of the base. A liner within the container includes a base, sidewalls and a mouth. The base of the liner interlocks with the base of the container to prevent relative rotation therebetween. A valve is disposed over the mouth of the liner.

Abstract: A new blood unit cooling system was designed to cool blood rapidly to about 22° C. and maintain it at about that temperature, even in ambient temperature extremes, for several hours. The system incorporating a preferred eutectic solution including 98% 1-dodecanol 1.5% myristyl alcohol and 0.5% 1-decanol (having a melting point of about 23° C.) contained in a sealed flexible polymer layer, was used to cool whole blood-filled bags. The preferred design uses inner and outer containers, each made of transparent polyethylene sheets, where the inner compartments are filled with the solution and sealed, and then placed into each compartment in an outer container, wherein two compartments in the outer container are separated by a flattened and sealed portion of the polyethylene.

Abstract: A refrigerating assembly temporarily stores an item at a first temperature lower than an ambient temperature. A container receives the item and a shell is adapted for removably receiving the container therein. The container has a sidewall having a cavity therein containing an amount of a refrigerant medium having a second temperature lower than the ambient temperature for temporarily maintaining the item received in the container at the first temperature. The shell has an outer surface which is at the ambient temperature and an inner surface which has a layer of thermally insulating material mounted thereon for thermally insulating the shell from the container, thereby maintaining the outer surface at the ambient temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cargo container that is light weight, strong, which forms an ultraviolet light, weather/dust particle barrier and which controls the climate inside the cargo container to protect the integrity of the cargo.

Abstract: A thermal core includes a hollow body with at least one engagement element for engaging a corresponding engagement element on a container, a central portion for heat-transfer with a container base, a thermal medium within the hollow body, a bottom wall on the hollow body, and at least one pocket in the bottom wall with at least one of twist-off features or pry-off features. A product to remove a closure from a container includes a wall, and a multi-functional pocket in the wall that includes laterally spaced and diametrically overlapping semi-circumferential pockets including a first pocket having container closure pry-off features and a second pocket having container closure twist-off features.

Abstract: An insulated container system and a temperature control insert that is configured to maintain a payload chamber temperature over a minimum length of time to enable goods within the payload chamber to be shipped over distances while being maintained within a desired temperature range.