# US 12,759,706 B2 · Container for storing and serving frozen confectionery items > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,706 B2 - Document ID: US12759706B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/610,790 - Filed: 2020-05-05 - Published: 2022-08-04 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-14 - Assignees: Magnum Icc US, LLC - Applicants: Magnum ICC US, LLC - Inventors: Leonie Martine Diks-Warmerdam; Johannes Krieg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759706B2 ## CPC - B64D 11/0007: {Devices specially adapted for food or beverage distribution services} - A47J 41/0044: {comprising heat or cold storing elements or material, i.e. energy transfer within the vessel} - A47J 41/0061: {the elements being detachable or the food holding vessel being replaceable} - F25D 3/06: Movable containers - F25D 11/006: {with cold storage accumulators} - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - 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 A thermally insulated container for storing and serving frozen confectionery items, wherein the container is preferably arranged to be removably mounted within a service cart, such as an inflight service cart. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermally insulated container for storing and serving frozen confectionery items, the container comprising: a thermally insulated housing defining an insulated chamber, the thermally insulated housing having at least one openable side to allow access to the chamber; a product storage assembly mounted within the insulated chamber, the product storage assembly comprising: a frame having at least three walls thereby delineating a three-sided perimeter; at least one product container for containing a plurality of the frozen confectionery items, the at least one product container being positioned within the frame; at least a first reservoir of phase change material, positioned in contact with the frame or the at least one product container; wherein the product storage assembly is mounted such that it is separated from the thermally insulated housing by an air gap, the air gap having a width of 1 mm to 10 mm, wherein the air gap extends around all sides of the at least one product container and is present over at least 80 percent of the internal surface area of the thermally insulated housing and wherein the at least one product container is engageable within the frame such that the at least one product container can be moved relative to the frame in a slidable manner. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air gap is present over at least 90% of the internal surface area of the thermally insulated housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product storage assembly comprises a thermally conductive boundary having at least three sides which are in thermal contact with one another during storage of the frozen confectionery items, the thermally conductive boundary being provided by the frame and/or the at least one product container and wherein the reservoir of phase change material is positioned in thermal contact with the thermally conductive boundary. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one product container provides the thermally conductive boundary. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the frame provides the thermally conductive boundary. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has four or five walls thereby delineating a four-sided or five-sided perimeter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air gap has a width of 2 to 8 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product storage assembly additionally comprises a second reservoir of phase change material positioned in contact with the frame or the at least one product container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container additionally comprises dry ice positioned in contact with the reservoir of phase change material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one product container is a shelf, a tray, a drawer, a box, a carton, or an insulated bag. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one product container is engageable with the frame such that the at least one product container can be moved relative to the frame in a slidable manner between an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one product container is engageable with the frame such that the at least one product container can be moved relative to the frame in a slidable manner between an open position and a closed position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A service cart comprising at least one insulated container as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for storing and serving frozen confectionery items using a thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising: cooling the reservoir(s) of phase change material to a temperature of less than −6° C.; mounting the product storage assembly within the insulated chamber of the thermally insulated housing such that the cooled reservoir(s) of phase change material are in contact with the frame or the at least one product container and the at least one product container is loaded with a plurality of frozen confectionery items; wherein the product storage assembly is mounted such that it is separated from the thermally insulated housing by a gap, the gap having a width of 1 mm to 10 mm, wherein the gap is present over at least 80% of the internal surface area of the thermally insulated housing; storing the frozen confectionery items within the insulated chamber for a period of up to 24 hours and serving the frozen confectionery items during the storage period by opening the openable side of the thermally insulated housing and removing at least one of the frozen confectionery items from the insulated chamber, and then closing the openable side of the thermally insulated housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method for storing and serving frozen confectionery items as claimed in claim 14, wherein: the frozen confectionery items are loaded into a product container that is engageable with the frame such that the product container can be moved relative to the frame in a slidable manner between an open position and a closed position; and the frozen confectionery items are served by opening the openable side of the thermally insulated housing, sliding the product container to the open position and removing at least one of the frozen confectionery items. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gap is present over at least 95% of the internal surface area of the thermally insulated housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container according to claim 1, wherein the product storage assembly is mounted within the insulated chamber by hanging. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container according to claim 1, wherein six thermally insulated walls delimiting the insulated chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The thermally insulated container according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises two opposing walls connected by an intermediary wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) Thermally insulated container as claimed in claim 19, wherein the product container comprises a drawer, a box, a carton, or an insulated bag.