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US 10,401,074 B2Granted
Portable apparatus and methods using phase change materials for creating a temperature stabilized environment
AssigneeFruition LLC
InventorsJames H. Goldie, Stephen Macomber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carrying case utilizes a layer of phase change materials and a thermal insulation layer in order to provide a temperature-stabilized environment for enclosed payloads during transport through an environment in which temperatures differ greatly from those to which they are normally exposed. In one aspect, the phase change materials and thermal insulation provide an extended period of temperature constancy, without the addition of either active thermal control or excessively bulky insulation.
Claims43
A portable carrying case configured to carry a musical instrument, comprising:
- six sides, each side having a length, a width, a first layer containing phase change material (PCM) extending along substantially the entire length and width of each side with a phase change temperature between 50° F. and 95° F. and a second layer comprising insulation, said six sides arranged to form an enclosure defining at least one closable opening with said first layer inside said second layer;
- and a carrying implement extending from at least one of said six sides.
A portable carrying case comprising:
- a first layer containing phase change material (PCM) with a phase change temperature between 50° F. and 95° F.;
- a second layer comprising insulation, said first layer and second layer arranged to form an enclosure defining at least one closable opening with said first layer inside said second layer;
- and a carrying implement, wherein said portable carrying case comprises a front panel and a back panel that meet at three closed edges and define said opening to said enclosure, and a flap coupled to one of said front panel and said back panel and movable from a first position where said enclosure is open to a second position where said flap covers said opening, said front panel and said back panel each comprised of said first layer and second layer.
A portable case configured to carry a musical instrument, comprising:
- a hard shell having an interior surface;
- a cushioning layer configured to receive and engage the musical instrument;
- an insulating layer;
- a phase change material (PCM) layer with a phase change temperature between 50° F. and 70° F.;
- and a handle, wherein said hard shell, said insulating layer and said PCM layer define an enclosure with at least one closable opening.
2 more elements
A portable case, comprising:
- a front panel and a back panel that meet at three closed edges and define an opening to an enclosure, and a flap coupled to one of said front panel and said back panel and movable from a first position where said enclosure is open to a second position where said flap covers said opening, a fastener coupled to said flap and to one of said front panel and said back panel, wherein said front panel and back panel are each comprised of a first layer containing phase change material with a phase change temperature between 50° F. and 70° F. disposed inside a second layer comprising insulation.
A method of transporting a musical instrument, comprising:
- placing the musical instrument in a carrying case having a plurality of layers, including a layer having a first phase change material (PCM) and an insulation layer;
- carrying the carrying case with the musical instrument from a first location at a first temperature where the first PCM in the carrying case is in a first state, into a location or environment at a second temperature which causes the first PCM in the carrying case to start changing state to a second state while stabilizing a temperature in the carrying case;
- bringing the carrying case with the musical instrument to a second location or environment having an ambient temperature near or at the first temperature;
- opening the carrying case and removing the musical instrument;
- and permitting the carrying case to at least partially recharge at said second location at said ambient temperature.
2 more elements
A portable carrying case configured to carry a musical instrument, comprising:
- a segmented, flexible first layer comprising phase change material (PCM) having a phase change temperature between 60° F. and 66° F.;
- a second layer comprising fibrous insulation, said first layer and second layer arranged to form an enclosure defining at least one closable opening;
- and a carrying implement comprising at least one of a handle and a strap, wherein said portable carrying case comprises a front panel and a back panel that meet at three closed edges and define said opening to said enclosure, and a flap coupled to one of said front panel and said back panel and movable from a first position where said enclosure is open to a second position where said flap covers said opening, said front panel and said back panel each comprised of said first layer and second layer.
A portable carrying case, comprising:
- a front panel and a back panel comprised of insulation that meet at three closed edges and define an opening to an enclosure, said front panel having a front panel inner side directed toward the enclosure and a front panel outer side directed away from the enclosure, and said back panel having a back panel inner side directed toward the enclosure and a back panel outer side directed away from the enclosure, a flap coupled to one of said front panel and said back panel and movable from a first position where said enclosure is open to a second position where said flap covers said opening and extends over one of said back panel outer side and said front panel outer side, a fastener coupled to said flap and to one of said front panel and said back panel, and at least one multi-segmented flexible PCM insert that is insertable into and removable from said portable case.
A portable carrying case configured to carry a musical instrument, comprising:
- a first layer containing phase change material (PCM) with a phase change temperature between 80° F. and 100° F.;
- a second layer comprising insulation, said first layer and second layer arranged to form an enclosure for the musical instrument defining at least one closable opening;
- and a carrying implement, wherein said portable carrying case comprises a front panel and a back panel that meet at three closed edges and define said opening to said enclosure, and a flap coupled to one of said front panel and said back panel and movable from a first position where said enclosure is open to a second position where said flap covers said opening, said front panel and said back panel each comprised of said first layer and second layer.
A portable carrying case configured to carry for a musical instrument, comprising:
- a first layer containing phase change material (PCM), a first portion of said PCM having a phase change temperature between 50° F. and 70° F. and a second portion of said PCM having a phase change temperature between 80° F. and 100° F.;
- a second layer comprising insulation, said first layer and second layer extending substantially completely around the musical instrument with said first portion of said PCM and said second portion of said PCM each extending substantially completely around the musical instrument, and said first layer and said second layer arranged to form an enclosure for the musical instrument defining at least one closable opening;
- and a carrying implement.
A portable carrying case for a musical instrument case, comprising:
- a flexible wrap having a first layer containing phase change material (PCM) with a phase change temperature between 50° F. and 95° F.;
- a second layer comprising insulation;
- first closure elements arranged in a first direction;
- second closure elements arranged in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction;
- and a carrying implement coupled to said second layer, wherein said flexible wrap assumes a first flat position with said first closure elements and said second closure elements being open, and a second position where said flexible wrap is wrapped about the musical instrument case with said first closure elements preventing said wrap from unwrapping, and said second closure elements closing opposed ends of said flexible wrap about the musical instrument case so that the musical instrument case is enveloped by said flexible wrap.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.