# US 11,994,340 B2 · Rigid refreezable portable storage container insert > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,340 B2 - Document ID: US11994340B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/935,898 - Filed: 2020-07-22 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-28 - Applicants: Scott M Jennie - Inventors: Scott M Jennie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994340B2 ## CPC - F25D 3/08: portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally - F25D 23/069: {Cooling space dividing partitions} - F25D 2303/0831: the liquid is disposed in the space between the walls of the container - F25D 2303/0843: on the side of the product - F25D 2303/0845: below the product - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract An apparatus is described herein for storing and transporting food and beverages, comprising a rigid housing configured to fit within a container, the housing comprising a base and a wall extending outwardly from the base, the wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a space therebetween, a refreezable material disposed in the space, and a divider panel configured to be removably mounted in the housing. Other products, systems and methods also are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a first divider panel, and a rigid housing configured to fit within a portable storage container, the housing comprising a base including an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a vertical wall having a length and extending outwardly from the base, forming an interior space, the vertical wall including first, second, third and fourth rectangular wall sections each having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a refreezable material wall space therebetween that is configured to receive a refreezable material, the vertical wall having a single aperture configured to receive the refreezable material within all of the first, second, third and fourth wall sections, the inner layer of the vertical wall including a first vertical channel that extends along substantially the entire length of the vertical wall, the first vertical channel being configured to support the first divider panel in the interior space of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base includes an inner layer and an outer layer defining a refreezable material base space therebetween that is configured to contain a refreezable material, and wherein both the refreezable material base space and the refreezable material wall space can be filled with a refreezable material through the single aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first divider panel is configured to be removably mounted in the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to hold ingestible substances. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to allow the housing to nest in another housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a divider storage compartment formed on the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second divider panel configured to be mounted in the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first divider panel and the second divider panel can be stored in the interior space when not in use. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the base is generally flat and includes a first horizontal channel recessed relative to the interior surface of the base, the first horizontal channel being configured to support the first divider panel in the interior space of the housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the inner layer of the first vertical wall and the interior surface of the base includes a recessed second channel configured to support a second removable divider panel in the interior space of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the recessed second channel includes a vertical recessed second channel extending substantially along the entire length of the inner layer of the vertical wall and a horizontal recessed second channel extending along the interior surface of the base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion of the first channel and the portion of the second channel that are formed on the interior surface of the base are perpendicular to one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is dimensioned to fit entirely inside a lunch box. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the base is formed by an inner base component and the exterior surface of the base is formed by an outer base component, and the outer base component is thicker than the inner base component to provide enhanced stability to the apparatus. ### Claim 15 An apparatus, comprising: a rigid, unitary housing configured to fit within a portable storage container, the housing comprising a base including an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a wall extending outwardly from the base, forming an interior space, the wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a refreezable material wall space therebetween filled with a refreezable material, the base being rectangular with a rigid protrusion having an outer rectangular dimension shaped to generally match the rectangular dimension of the inner layer of the wall of the interior space of housing in order that the rigid protrusion can be inserted vertically within the interior space of another apparatus of the same configuration, the base being formed with an inner layer and an outer layer defining a refreezable material base space therebetween filled with the refreezable material, a single aperture formed on either the wall or the base, the single aperture being configured to receive the refreezable material to fill both the refreezable material wall space and the refreezable material base space. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the housing is configured to receive a removable divider panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first removable divider panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the refreezable material comprises at least one of a liquid and a gel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the housing is configured to hold ingestible substances. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a first divider panel storage compartment formed on the housing.