Temperature Controlled Container and Related Methods

This application is a Continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/538,295, entitled “TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED CONTAINER AND RELATED METHODS” which was filed on Dec. 13, 2023. The contents of the foregoing application, is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

This disclosure relates generally to storage racks and more specifically to temperature-controlled storage racks.

Shipping of items across the world has become increasingly important to many organizations and individuals. Items that are shipped frequently need to be packed so that they are not damaged during transit. Oftentimes various void fill materials are used to cushion items against the jolts and jostles associated with shipping. For example, bubble wrap, air pillows, packing peanuts, and crumpled paper are all common void fill materials. These materials can be ineffective when used for shipments of items requiring temperature-controlled environments. For example, air cushioned void fill (e.g., bubble wrap and/or air pillows) can deflate due to their loss of internal pressure at low temperatures or over-inflate and pop at higher temperatures. As another example, packing peanuts and crumpled paper can become rigid and fragile, thereby losing their cushioning properties. Further, internal temperatures of many temperature-controlled storage containers (e.g., dewars) can quickly leave an optimal temperature range once a temperature preservative (e.g., liquid N) is depleted. Therefore, in view of the above, there is a need for an improved temperature controlled rack.

A storage container is provided. The storage container may include an external wall. The external wall may be a cylinder defining an outer periphery of the storage container. The storage container may include a pair of inner walls, each having a planar chord extending between two locations on an inner surface of the external wall, the inner walls dividing the cylinder into three sections. In various embodiments, an outer void is defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall, the outer void configured to receive a temperature buffering material. The inner void is defined between the inner walls, the inner void configured to receive an item rack to receive and secure an item in the item rack.

A further storage container is provided. The storage container may have an external wall having a closed cross-sectional shape in at least one plane and defining an outer periphery of the storage container. The storage container may have a pair of inner walls, each defining a plane between two locations on the external wall, the inner walls dividing the closed cross-sectional shape into a plurality of sections. In various embodiments, an outer void is defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall, the outer void configured to receive a temperature buffering material. In various embodiments, an inner void is defined between the inner walls, the inner void configured to receive an item rack to receive and secure an item in the item rack.

The storage container and/or further storage container may have one or more further feature. In various embodiments, the temperature buffering material is a scaffold exposed to a temperature modulating substance. The storage container may include a liner configured to (1) receive and envelope the temperature buffering material and (2) configured to be inserted into the outer void. The liner may include a removable lid. The scaffold may be one or more of an aerogel, fiberglass, or cotton. The storage container may include a lid configured to cover the outer void while leaving the inner void uncovered. The lid may be porous. The external wall may be non-porous. The inner wall may be non-porous. The item rack may have a handle that extends out of the storage container when the item rack is inserted into the storage container. There may also be a double-walled vacuum flask configured to receive the storage container. The item rack may be disposed inside the inner void and supporting an item for cold storage.

A method is also provided. The method may be a method of using a storage container for cold storage of an item, wherein the storage container has (i) an external wall including a cylinder defining an outer periphery of the storage container and (ii) a pair of inner walls, each having a planar chord extending between two locations on an inner surface of the external wall, the inner walls dividing the cylinder into three sections. The method may include inserting a temperature buffering material into an outer void of the storage container defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall and configured to receive the temperature buffering material. The method may include inserting an item rack having an item received and secured therein, into the inner void. The method may include placing the storage container into a dewar.

The method may be provided with one or more further feature. The storage container may have one or more further feature. In various embodiments, the temperature buffering material is a scaffold exposed to a temperature modulating substance. The storage container may include a liner configured to (1) receive and envelope the temperature buffering material and (2) configured to be inserted into the outer void. The liner may include a removable lid. The scaffold may be one or more of an aerogel, fiberglass, or cotton. The storage container may include a lid configured to cover the outer void while leaving the inner void uncovered. The lid may be porous. The external wall may be non-porous. The inner wall may be non-porous. The item rack may have a handle that extends out of the storage container when the item rack is inserted into the storage container. The dewar may be a double-walled vacuum flask configured to receive the storage container. The item rack may be disposed inside the inner void and supporting an item for cold storage.

An item rack may be provided for supporting an item in a container. The item rack may include a handle. The item rack may have a guiding section adjacent to the handle and having a pair of narrowing incline faces to guide an item into the item rack. The item rack may have a compression section adjacent to the guiding section and providing a pair of parallel compression faces to ameliorate dislodging of the item from the item rack. The item rack may have an enlarging section adjacent to the compression section and providing a pair of widening inclined faces. The item rack may have a retaining section adjacent to the enlarging section and providing a pair of parallel retaining faces spaced more widely apart than the pair of parallel compression faces. A floor may join the parallel retaining faces together and provide a lowermost portion of the item rack disposed opposite from the handle.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.

Temperature-controlled storage and shipping can be considered a subset of the overall supply chain. Temperature-controlled storage and shipping containers can be useful in shipping temperature-sensitive foods, medical substances, and scientific research materials by preventing them from becoming spoiled or degraded during transit. Many packages can benefit from an uninterrupted series of temperature-controlled production, storage and distribution activities, along with the associated equipment and logistics, which maintain the shipment in the desired temperature range. The need for a successful and thriving temperature-controlled storage and shipping network has never been more apparent.

Many containers for specimens transported via temperature-controlled storage and shipping networks are ill-equipped for the coarseness of the shipping process. Oftentimes, packages are jostled, tossed, stored sideways or upside down, crushed, or subjected to any number of potentially damaging forces. While various void fill materials can be used to cushion the contents of packages, these traditional approaches function poorly in the cold chain. Further, many carriers can leave temperature-controlled storage and shipping containers in locations outside of a desired temperature range for extended periods of time. While insulated containers (e.g., dewars) can be used in these situations, these traditional approaches may not maintain temperatures in the desired range for long enough and can be difficult to transport due to their size and/or weight. Therefore, disclosed herein is a novel storage container that can both protect an item from shipping while at the same time maintain an item in a desired temperature range for an extended period of time.

Turning to the drawings,illustrates an exemplary storage container. Generally speaking, all or a portion of storage containercan be made from a variety of different materials. For example, storage containercan be made of metal, wood, plastic, ceramic, and/or some other rigid or semi-rigid material. In various embodiments, elements of the storage container can be made from a thermal insulating and/or thermal conducting material. In many embodiments, storage containercan comprise an internal wall, an external wall, and a bottom wall(not shown). Generally speaking, internal wallcan be located proximate to a center and/or interior of container, external wallcan be located near a periphery and/or exterior of container, and a bottom wallcan be located on a bottom of container. In many embodiments, external wallcan circumscribe, encompass, and/or surround internal wall. In various embodiments, there can be multiple internal walls. In some embodiments, external walland/or bottom wallcan be insulated from an environment surrounding the container. In this way, a hold time of container(e.g., a time period during which the contents of the container remain within a target temperature range) can be increased. Generally speaking, bottom wallcan comprise a substantially planar surface and conform to a shape of one or more cross sections of internal walland/or external wall. In this way, a bottom wallcan prevent items, racks, and temperature buffering materials from exiting or falling out of containerthrough a bottom plane of the container. Internal walland/or external wallcan come in a variety of shapes. For example, internal walland/or external wallcan have a substantially planar shape, a substantially arcuate shape, be joined at one or more corners, and/or be joined with itself. In this way, voids can be formed in containerthat more specifically conform to a shape of an item, rack, or temperature buffering material stored in the voids.

In various embodiments, internal walland/or external wallcan define one or more voids and/or compartments. For example, inner voidand/or outer voidcan be created by internal walland external wall. While inner voidis shown with an oblong (e.g. stadium) cross section and outer voidis shown with a circular sector cross section, the shape of an internal and outer void can vary. For example, a central void can comprise a triangular cross section and an outer void can comprise a circular sector cross section, a central void can comprise a circular cross section and an outer void can comprise an annular cross section, a central void can comprise a square or rectangular cross section and an outer void can comprise a multiply-connected rectangular polygon cross section, or many other combinations of shapes. In this way, an inner void can be customized for an item and/or item rack stored within the inner void.

In many embodiments, containercan comprise a lid. In many embodiments, containercan comprise a plurality of lids. Generally speaking, lidcan be configured to cover an entrance to outer void. In some embodiments, lidcan sit within an/or occlude outer void. In these or other embodiments, lidcan sit on top of outer voidand/or have an overhand extending out over one or more of internal walland/or external wall. In many embodiments, lidcan be coupled to one or more of internal walland/or external wall. For example, lidcan be hingedly coupled to one or more of internal walland/or external wallvia hinge. In these embodiments, hingecan swing up so that lidis above voidwhen open and/or it can swing down so that lidis within voidwhen open. There may be two lids, each on opposite corresponding sides of the container, each lidproviding a semicircular planar cover that occludes outer void. Thus one may appreciate that two different outer voidsmay extend between outer walland an inner wall, and each inner wallmay define walls of an inner voidbetween the outer voids.

In various embodiments, lidcan have one or more cutouts. In these embodiments, cutoutsenable lidto become porous, thereby allowing gas exchange between outer voidand an external environment. In this way, a buildup of pressure from gases emitted by a temperature preservative (e.g., COor N) can be avoided. In various embodiments, one or more of internal walland/or external wallcan be non-porous, thereby preventing a temperature preservative and/or the external environment from leaking and/or flooding into inner voidand contacting whatever item is held within.

In various embodiments, lidcan comprise a first locking mechanism. In various embodiments, first locking mechanismcan be configured to couple with a second locking mechanism. In this way, a position of lidcan be secured when containeris in use. While first locking mechanismand second locking mechanismare shown inas a tab and slot configuration, first locking mechanismand second locking mechanismcan come in a variety of forms. For example, first locking mechanismand second locking mechanismcan comprise slot and pin, ball bearing and dugout, and many other locking mechanisms that do not obstruct the movement of lid.

In various embodiments, storage containercan comprise one or more handles. Handlescan extend out of one or more of internal walland/or external wall. Handlesmay be metal. Handlescan be constructed from and/or coated with an insulating material. In various embodiments, handlescan pass through lidvia one or more handle cutouts. In this way, lidcan be actuated without being obstructed by handles. In this way, a user of containercan pick up item rack() using a bare hand and/or a lightly insulated glove.

Turning ahead in the drawings,illustrates a partially exploded view of container system. In various embodiments, container systemcan comprise containerand temperature buffering material. In various embodiments, temperature buffering materialcan comprise linerand/or lid. While systemuses the linerand the lid, it should be understood that a temperature preservative and/or scaffold can be added directly to internal outer void() of container. Generally speaking, linercan be configured to fit within outer void() and therefore can have a shape complementary to and/or smaller than outer void(). In various embodiments, linercan contain and/or envelope one or more of a scaffold and/or a temperature preservative. Generally speaking, a scaffold (not shown) can be configured to be exposed to a temperature modulating substance (such as a cryogen) and/or contain a temperature preservative (such as a cryogen), thereby extending a hold time (e.g., a time where an item can be held in a specific temperature range) of container. In some embodiments, a scaffold can comprise one or more of an aerogel, fiberglass, cotton, or some other material configured compatibly with a specific temperature preservative. In these or other embodiments, lidcan be configured to be removably coupled to liner, thereby sealing (e.g., in a porous or an airtight manner) linerand retaining its contents. In many embodiments, lidcan be configured to sit adjacent to lidwhen lidis closed. In various embodiments, linerand/or lidcan be made of material suitable for containing a specific temperature preservative. For example, if the temperature preservative is liquid nitrogen, linerand/or lidcan be made from a material configured to withstand cold temperatures. As another example, if the temperature preservative is a hot pad, linerand/or lidcan be made from a material configured to withstand elevated temperatures.

Turning ahead in the drawings,illustrates a partially exploded view of container systemwith a storage container having a partially-inserted item rack. In many embodiments, container systemcan comprise containerand item rack. In various embodiments, item rackcan comprise a bodyand/or a handle. Generally speaking, a shape and/or structure of the bodycan be configured to receive and hold an item. For example, the bodyas shown inis configured to receive and hold a fluid bag and to provide protection to the bag to ameliorate risk of damage to the bag. Other bodies for item rackcan also be used. As other examples, a microcentrifuge rack and/or a test tube rack can be used as a body. Handlecan extend out of one or more of inner void and/or outer void. Handlecan be constructed from metal. Handlecan be constructed from and/or coated with an insulating material. In this way, a user of containercan remove item rackusing a bare hand and/or a lightly insulated glove.

With attention to, a container systemis shown. In many embodiments, systemcan comprise a containerand/or an outer insulator. Generally speaking, outer insulatorcan be configured to receive the containerand maintain the containerat a specified temperature. In some embodiments, the containercan be configured to extend a hold time of a container systemhaving an outer insulatorby providing additional temperature preservation for an item. While the outer insulatoris shown into be a double walled vacuum flask (e.g., a dewar), the outer insulatorcan take a variety of forms based on a temperature range required for an item. For example, the outer insulatorcan comprise a cooler configured to hold water ice.

Containercan be manufactured in a number of different ways. For example, one or more elements of containercan be extruded through a die and then coupled together using techniques suitable for the material (e.g., welding for metals, adhesives for many types of materials. As another example, one or more elements of containercan be created by rolling, pressing, and/or machining various metals. As a final example, containercan be printed using a 3D printer.

Having introduced various aspects of the storage container, with reference to, now is a convenient time to discuss example configurations of the same. For instance, in various embodiments, a storage containerhas an external wallhaving a closed cross-sectional shape in at least one plane and defining an outer periphery of the storage container. The storage container may also have a pair of inner walls, each comprising a plane between two locations on the external wall, the inner wallsdividing the closed cross-sectional shape into a plurality of sections. The plurality of sections may include one or more outer voidand an inner void. For instance, an outer voidis defined between at least one of the inner wallsand the external wall, the outer voidconfigured to receive a temperature buffering material. The inner voidmay be defined between the inner walls, the inner voidconfigured to receive an item rackto receive and secure an item in the item rack.

Similarly, a storage containermay have an external wallcomprising a cylinder defining an outer periphery of the storage container. The storage containermay have a pair of inner walls, each comprising a planar chord extending between two locations on an inner surface of the external wall, the inner wallsdividing the cylinder into three sections. An outer voidis defined between at least one of the inner wallsand the external wall, the outer voidconfigured to receive a temperature buffering material. An inner voidis defined between the inner walls. The inner voidis configured to receive an item rackto receive and secure an item in the item rack.

Turning now to, a methodof using a storage container is also shown. The method may include inserting a temperature buffering material into an outer void of the storage container defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall and configured to receive the temperature buffering material (block). The method may include inserting an item rack having an item received and secured therein, into the inner void (block). Finally, the method may include placing the storage container into a dewar (block).

With reference now to, an example embodiment of item rackis shown in detail.shows a containerand an item rackremoved from the container. The item rack has two handles, one on each side of an upper end of the item rackfor ready grasping and access. The item rackhas a bodyfor extending from the handlesand into the container.shows a cutaway view of an item rackinserted into the containeras discussed elsewhere herein.shows a view of the item rackinserted into the containerwithout a cutaway. Finally,shows detailed aspects of an example item rack. The item rackmay be a formed piece of sheet metal. The item rackmay be a formed piece of plastic. The item rackmay be made of any suitable material.

Referring to, but particularly to, the handle(s)of the item rackmay have different portions. For instance, an extending flangeof the handlemay be a flange protruding upwardly (e.g., away from the container) in a direction away from an interior of the container when the item rackis installed in the container. The extending flangemay support a lip member. The limp membermay be a flange that is bent at an angle relative to the extending flange. The lip membermay facilitate grasping of the handle, by a tool or by a hand, for insertion and removal of the item rackfrom the container.

The bodyof the item rackmay have different portions. For instance, the bodymay have a guiding section. The guiding sectionmay be adjacent to the handleand may aid in guiding an item being placed into the item rack. For instance, the guiding sectionmay be a section opened relatively widely and transitioning to a relatively narrower area to guide an item more easily into the item rack. The guiding sectionmay have a first edge sectionand a second edge section. The first edge sectionand the second edge sectionmay be adjacent to the handle(s)and may be generally parallel to a wall of the container. The first edge sectionand second edge sectionmay provide structural rigidity to the bodyand initial guidance to an item being inserted into the item rack. The guiding sectionmay also have a first narrowing incline faceand a second narrowing incline face. The first narrowing incline faceand the second narrowing incline facemay be inclined toward one another at locations increasingly farther from the handle(s)along the body. The combination of these two faces provides a narrowing ramp or funnel to guide an item into the item rack.

The bodymay have a compression section. The compression sectionmay be adjacent to the guiding section. The compression sectionmay be a narrowest portion of the bodyand may aid in retention of the item in the item rackby at least one of pressing against the item from opposing sides, and/or providing a narrowed passage to ameliorate a tendency of the item to dislodge from the item rack. The compression section may have a first compression faceand a second compression face. The first compression faceand the second compression facemay be parallel. In various embodiments the compression faces,may be parallel with an inner wall of the container. The compression section may thus provide a pair of parallel compression faces,to ameliorate dislodging of the item from the item rack.

The bodymay have an enlarging section. The enlarging sectionmay have a first widening incline faceand a second widening incline face. The first widening incline faceand the second widening incline facemay be inclined away from one another at locations increasingly farther from the handle(s)along the body. The enlarging sectionmay provide a transition from the compression sectionto a larger section in which all or part of an item may be retained. As such, the first widening incline facemay be a reflection of the first narrowing incline faceand the second widening incline facemay be a reflection of the second narrowing incline face.

The bodyof the item rackmay have a retaining section. The retaining sectionmay be adjacent to the enlarging sectionand provide a portion of the bodythat is farthest from the handle(s). The retaining sectionmay include a first retaining faceand a second retaining face. The first retaining faceand the second retaining faceeach may be generally parallel to a wall of the container. The first retaining facemay extend away from the first widening incline faceand the second retaining facemay extend away from the second widening incline face.

The first retaining faceand the second retaining facemay be joined by floor. The floormay be a flange extending between and connecting the first retaining faceand the second retaining face. The floormay close a lowermost portion of the body(e.g., a portion farthest from the handle(s)) and provide a resting surface for an item in the item rack.

Thus, in various embodiments, an item rackis provided for supporting an item in a container. The item rackmay include a handle. The item rack may have a guiding sectionadjacent to the handleand comprising a pair of narrowing incline faces,to guide an item into the item rack. The item rackmay have a compression sectionadjacent to the guiding sectionand providing a pair of parallel compression faces,to ameliorate dislodging of the item from the item rack. The item rackmay have an enlarging sectionadjacent to the compression sectionand comprising a pair of widening inclined faces,. The item rackmay have a retaining sectionadjacent to the enlarging sectionand providing a pair of parallel retaining faces,spaced more widely apart than the pair of parallel compression faces,. A floormay join the parallel retaining faces,together and provide a lowermost portion of the item rackdisposed opposite from the handle.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.

The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the apparatus, methods, and/or articles of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements mechanically and/or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled together, but not be mechanically or otherwise coupled together. Coupling may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant. “Electrical coupling” and the like should be broadly understood and include electrical coupling of all types. The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable.

As defined herein, two or more elements are “integral” if they are comprised of the same piece of material. As defined herein, two or more elements are “non-integral” if each is comprised of a different piece of material.

As defined herein, “approximately” can, in some embodiments, mean within plus or minus ten percent of the stated value. In other embodiments, “approximately” can mean within plus or minus five percent of the stated value. In further embodiments, “approximately” can mean within plus or minus three percent of the stated value. In yet other embodiments, “approximately” can mean within plus or minus one percent of the stated value.

Although temperature controlled containers and their related methods have been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the disclosure and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims. For example, to one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent that any element ofmay be modified, and that the foregoing discussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. For example, one or more of the elements ofmay include different structures and functions.

All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the embodiment claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unless such benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are stated in such claim.

Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.