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US 2018/0031295 A1Published application
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.
Claims44
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.
A portable case, comprising:
- a hard shell having an interior surface;
- a cushioning layer;
- 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 temperature-sensitive object, comprising:
- placing the object 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 object 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 the temperature in the carrying case;
- bringing the carrying case with the object to a second location or environment having an ambient temperature near or at the first temperature;
- opening the carrying case and removing the object;
- and permitting the carrying case to at least partially recharge at said second location.
2 more elements
A portable carrying case for 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.
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, 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, and at least one multi-segmented flexible PCM insert that is insertable into and removable from said portable case.
A portable carrying case, 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 defining at least one closable opening;
- and a carrying implement.
A portable carrying case, 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 arranged to form an enclosure 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.