Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/38—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
  • B65D81/3813—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
  • B65D81/3823—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
  • B65D81/24—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants
  • B65D81/30—Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants by excluding light or other outside radiation
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D23/00—General constructional features
  • F25D23/06—Walls
  • F25D23/065—Details
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2201/00—Insulation
  • F25D2201/10—Insulation with respect to heat
  • F25D2201/12—Insulation with respect to heat using an insulating packing material
  • F25D2201/128—Insulation with respect to heat using an insulating packing material of foil type
  • F25D2201/1282—Insulation with respect to heat using an insulating packing material of foil type with reflective foils
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
  • F25D2400/10—Refrigerator top-coolers

Definitions

• Insulated containers also called “coolers,” are prevalent in contemporary life.
• Insulated containers are often used for picnics or for outdoor activities such as camping or sporting events.
• insulated containers are becoming more prevalent in the medical industry, where the containers are used to move transplant organs and other articles that need to remain cold during transport.
• the need to transport commercial goods such as perishable food, drink, medicine, and environmental samples is becoming more important.
• an insulated container having a reflective film or coating for blocking the transmission of radiation through the insulated container.
• the reflective material is provided on a lid for the insulated container, for example on the lower portion of the lid for the insulated container.
• the insulated container may be a rigid structure.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulated container incorporating embodiments
• FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of an insulated container in accordance with another embodiment.
• FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of yet another insulated container in accordance with another embodiment.
• FIG. 1 shows an insulated container 20 in accordance with embodiments.
• the insulated container 20 includes a box 22 having a lid 24 that fits on top.
• the lid 24 may be hinged to the box 22, or may be a separate, detached structure.
• the insulated container 20 shown in the drawings is a conventional insulated container, sometimes called a "cooler” or a “box cooler,” but aspects of the invention may be used on any type of insulated container, including insulated beverage jugs, thermoelectric coolers, and other insulated products. Aspects herein are particular relevant, however, to an insulated container having rigid sides and a rigid lid.
• the box 22 includes sidewalls 26 and an upper opening 28.
• the sidewalls may be insulated, for example, with polyurethane foam, polyisocyanurate foam, expanded polystyrene (EPS), or another suitable material.
• EPS expanded polystyrene
• the lid 24 includes a top section 30 having sidewalls 32.
• a lower, protruding portion 34 extends downward from the top portion 30.
• This protruding portion 34 includes sidewalls 36 that are configured to engage inner surfaces of the sidewalls 26 of the box 22 when the lid 24 is placed on top of the box. This engagement seals the insulated container and ensures good closure and minimal heat loss.
• reflective material 40 is included on or in the insulated container, preferably on or in the lid 24. This reflective material 40 may be positioned on an outer surface of the lid 24, or may be included internal to the lid.
• the reflective material 40 is provided as a thin layer of a reflective composition, and may be a sheet, an emulsion, or another structure capable of blocking electromagnetic radiation through the insulated container, slowing heat loss through the container.
• the reflective material 40 may be as simple as aluminum foil and could be a more technical aluminized coating on a layer of carrier film.
• the reflective film can also be a laminate that will have various layers such as nylon, polyester, or polypropylene that will provide benefits such as some additional structure, tear strength, puncture resistance, scratch resistance, and UV protection for the substrate. Other materials may be used in accordance with desired properties of the reflective material 40.
• the reflective material 40 is positioned on a underside of the lid 24.
• the reflective material 40 is positioned on the underside of the protruding portion 34 of the lid 24.
• the reflective material 40 is exposed to the inner portion of the box 22 when the insulated container 20 is closed.
• reflective material 140 is positioned not only on the lower surface of the protruding portion 134, but also around the sidewalls 136 of the protruding portion.
• the reflective material 40 or 140 faces the inner compartment of the insulated container 20.
• the reflective material thereby blocks entry of heat due to radiation into the cooler, thus prolonging the cooling life of items in the cooler.
• the reflective material may be positioned in other places in the lid 24.
• a separate panel 50 includes reflective material 240 thereon. This panel fits into a lower side of the lid 224, for example by snaps, screws, or other fasteners.
• the panel 50 may be reversed, with the reflective material trapped between the panel 50 and the underside of the lid 224.
• the reflective material 40, 140, 240 because it is located on or in the lid 24, 124, 224, is positioned between the top of the insulated container 220 and the interior of the insulated container. In this manner, the reflective material may block radiation of

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

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Publications (2)

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• 2013
  • 2013-01-04 WO PCT/US2013/020384 patent/WO2013103890A2/fr not_active Ceased

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