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 such as musical instruments 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.
Claims12
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;
- a carrying implement;
- and
- a temperature display, 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, and wherein said temperature display is located in or on one of said front panel and back panel.
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 at least one edge and define said opening to said enclosure, side flaps extending from at least one of said front panel and said back panel and having mating fastening elements such that in one configuration said side flaps are folded over one of said front panel and said back panel and cause said front panel and back panel to form said enclosure, and a closure 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 fora stringed instrument, comprising:
- a first layer containing phase change material (PCM) having a phase change temperature between 50° F. and 95° F.;
- a second layer comprising insulation;
- a closure element;
- and
- a carrying implement, wherein
- said first layer and said second layer are arranged to form a case or pouch with at least a front panel and a back panel forming a enclosure with a curvilinear portion and an opening adapted to receive a stringed instrument or stringed instrument case, said opening closable by said closure element, and said carrying implement extending from said case or pouch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.