# US 2021/0180809 A9 · Portable Apparatus and Methods Using Phase Change Materials for Creating a Temperature Stabilized Environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0180809 A9 - Document ID: US20210180809A9 - Status: Published application - Kind: A9 - Application number: 16/539,264 - Filed: 2019-08-13 - Published: 2021-06-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-25 - Assignees: Fruition LLC - Applicants: Fruition LLC - Inventors: James H. Goldie; Stephen Macomber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210180809A9 ## CPC - A45C 3/001: {Flexible materials therefor} - F24F 5/0021: {using phase change material [PCM] for storage} - A45C 3/00: Flexible luggage; Handbags (collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00) - A45C 7/00: Collapsible or extensible {purses,} luggage, bags or the like - A45C 13/001: {Accessories} - A45C 13/002: {Protective covers} - A45C 13/008: {for making water- or air-tight} - A45C 13/02: Interior fittings; Means, {e.g. inserts,} for holding and packing articles - A45C 13/10: Arrangement of fasteners - A45C 15/00: Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other {objects or} articles (A45C1/08, A45C3/14, {A45C11/321, A45C13/28} take precedence) - A45C 2007/0004: {convertible into an open planar surface, e.g. a sheet} - A45C 2013/026: {Inserts} - A45C 2013/1015: {of hook and loop type} - F25D 2400/36: Visual displays - G10G 7/005: {Carrying cases for musical instruments (interior fittings for luggage A45C13/02)} - Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage - A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - 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) - G10G: REPRESENTATION OF MUSIC; RECORDING MUSIC IN NOTATION FORM; ACCESSORIES FOR MUSIC OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. SUPPORTS (music stands A47B; non-musical aspects of musical toy instruments A63H5/00; metronomes G04F5/02; teaching music G09B15/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A portable carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said temperature display has one side attached to said first layer to measure a temperature of said first layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A portable carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said temperature display includes a first display that shows a shorter temperature range with relatively finer resolution and a second display that shows a wider temperature range with relatively coarser resolution. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A portable carrying case according to claim 1 wherein said PCM layer has a transparent flexible cover on an exterior of said carrying case to permit visual and tactile observation of a state of said first layer. ### Claim 5 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The portable carrying case according to claim 5, further comprising a temperature display is located in or on one of said front panel and back panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The portable carrying case according to claim 5, wherein said front panel and said back panel define openings for receiving said first layer containing PCM. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The portable carrying case according to claim 6, wherein said first layer includes a plurality of multi-segmented elements each foldable into at least a stack of two strata. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The portable carrying case according to claim 8, wherein said first layer when in a folded configuration fits into a one quart bag. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The portable carrying case according to claim 10, wherein said front panel and said back panel meet at a periphery, said periphery having a straight portion and at least one curved portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The portable carrying case according to claim 10, wherein said at least a front panel and a back panel further comprises at least one side panel, and said carrying implement is coupled to said at least one side panel.