# US 9,752,808 B2 · Temperature maintaining case > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,808 B2 - Document ID: US9752808B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/958,765 - Filed: 2015-12-03 - Published: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-18 - Assignees: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Ken Nakamura; Hisashi Kanou; Noriaki Yukawa; Toshio Mitsuyasu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752808B2 ## CPC - F25B 21/04: reversible - F25D 11/006: {with cold storage accumulators} - F25B 2321/023: Mounting details thereof - F25B 2321/0251: by a gas - F25D 2700/12: Sensors measuring the inside temperature - H10N 10/13: characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - 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) - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A temperature maintaining case includes a main body having a recessed storage chamber formed by a heat-insulating wall, and a lid body mounted on the main body capable of closing an opening of the storage chamber. Further, the temperature maintaining case includes: a heat storage member exposed to the storage chamber; a thermoelectric device having a first heat transferring surface and a second heat transferring surface opposite to the first heat transferring surface, the first heat transferring surface being connected to the heat storage member; a control device configured to drive and control the thermoelectric device; and a cover member mounted on the main body. The cover member is capable of selecting an exposed state and a shielded state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A temperature maintaining case comprising: a main body having a recessed storage chamber formed by a heat-insulating wall; a lid body mounted on the main body capable of closing an opening of the storage chamber; a heat storage member exposed to the storage chamber in order to maintain a temperature in the storage chamber within a predetermined temperature range with reference to a target temperature; a thermoelectric device having a first heat transferring surface and a second heat transferring surface opposite to the first heat transferring surface, the first heat transferring surface being connected to the heat storage member; a control device configured to drive and control the thermoelectric device; and a cover member mounted on the main body, wherein the cover member is capable of selecting an exposed state in which the second heat transferring surface of the thermoelectric device is exposed to an outside, and a shielded state in which the second heat transferring surface of the thermoelectric device is shielded from the outside. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 1, wherein: the heat storage member and the thermoelectric device are provided as being accommodated in the heat-insulating wall; the heat-insulating wall is provided with an outside air introducing passage for introducing outside air to the second heat transferring surface of the thermoelectric device; and the outside air introducing passage is opened or closed by selecting of the exposed state of the cover member or the shielded state of the cover member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 2, wherein the cover member has a projecting heat-insulating member buried and accommodated in the outside air introducing passage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 2, wherein the heat storage member is provided to constitute part of a wall of the storage chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 2, wherein: the second heat transferring surface of the thermoelectric device is formed of a heatsink attached to the thermoelectric device, and the heatsink has a portion exposed to the outside air introducing passage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 2, wherein: the outside air introducing passage penetrates through the main body, and a blower fan is disposed at least on one side of the outside air introducing passage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 1, wherein the main body has a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature in the storage chamber, an alarm device configured to issue an alarm by at least one of light and sound, and an alarm control circuit configured to cause the alarm device to issue the alarm when the temperature in the storage chamber exceeds the predetermined temperature range with reference to the target temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 7, wherein the alarm control circuit uses, as a power supply in the exposed state, outer power supply providing member connected for supplying power to the thermoelectric device, and uses, as the power supply in the shielded state, the thermoelectric device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 8, further comprising a battery as an alternative power supply when the thermoelectric device generates small power. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 1, wherein: lock member is provided between the lid body and the cover member for fixing the cover member together with the lid body to the main body, and the lock member is capable of locking when the cover member enters the shielded state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 2, wherein the outside air introducing passage includes: a first passage extending along the second heat transferring surface and having opposite ends each communicating with the outside; and a second passage extending from an intermediate portion of the first passage in a direction perpendicular to or crossing the second heat transferring surface, an extending end of the second passage communicating with the outside. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The temperature maintaining case according to claim 11, wherein the outside air is introduced from the extending end of the second passage.