US 2002/0000918 A1 · Advanced thermal container

Abstract

An advanced thermal container has a thermally insulated open receptacle, a thermally insulated closure member, a data monitoring system incorporated into the container that can send and receive information via wireless communication, and a sealing system to minimize heat transfer and air exchange between the interior and exterior of the container. Hard plastic casing enclosing foam-encased vacuum insulation panels is used to construct the insulated receptacle and closure member. The closure member and receptacle each have an elongated portion with shoulders above and below the elongated portion. When the container is closed, a lower seal and an upper seal are compressed between the mating lower and upper shoulders, respectively. The onboard data monitoring system records important parameters concerning the internal and external environments of the container, particularly temperature information, as well as other significant events such as the number of times the container was opened during transit.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A thermal container comprising:

an open receptacle defining a chamber surrounded by walls formed of thermal insulation material, the receptacle having an opening surrounded by a perimeter, the perimeter having first and second shoulders facing toward the opening and separated by a transition surface that is transverse to the shoulders;
and
a closure member having a layer of thermal insulation material for opening and closing the receptacle, the closure member having a perimeter having first and second shoulders that mate with and seal the shoulders of the receptacle and a transition surface located between the shoulders of the closure member that mates with the transition surface of the receptacle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Advanced thermal container

Life of this patent

Advanced thermal container

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20