Closure and Closure System for Maintaining the Value or Integrity of Perishables by Regulating Temperature

Abstract

A closure for increasing the storage life of perishables, which comprises a material with heating or cooling properties; a closure chamber comprising a chamber wall configured to house the material with heating or cooling properties; a seal structure for sealing or engaging the closure chamber to a perishable storage container for controlling the temperature in a perishable storage container; a fastening system to secure the closure chamber on a perishable storage container allowing the material with heating or cooling properties to act on stored perishables. The closure may act as part of a closure system that contains the closure with or without the material; and the container that stores perishables and may accommodates the material with heating or cooling properties in many configurations.

Description

BACKGROUND

In the transport or temporary storage of perishables, maintaining their value or integrity is paramount. For purposes of this discussion, “perishables” are things that need to maintain a certain temperature or temperature range to retain their integrity or value. When electric refrigeration is not readily available, coolers with ice or ice packs are often used for storage and transport in the medical, laboratory, film, beverage, food or other industries. People often transport perishables, such as food requiring refrigeration or heat to maintain its integrity in plastic or glass storage containers for later consumption. The sealed plastic and glass storage containers are traditionally refrigerated for temporary storage and transport in coolers with ice or ice packs, this however, often results in a bulky package, which is cumbersome to transport. People that forgo using a cooling method because of the inconvenience risk perishable spoilage. On the other hand, hot food or other perishables are traditionally heavily insulated to maintain their integrity or value. However, without a heat source the integrity or value may lapse quickly. If perishables could be transported conveniently while maintaining their integrity, this could greatly improve the art.

Containers for transporting perishables come in all sizes and shapes, this often makes it difficult to find the rights cooler or insulating jacket to accommodate the container. In addition, the different types of perishables transported and stored in containers have different temperature requirements for maintaining their integrity or value. If the containers and cooing or heating mechanisms could be configured per container, transportation and storage of perishables could be more effective.

SUMMARY

The problem of keeping perishables cold or hot during storage and transport, and the inconvenience of using separate bulky coolers and ice packs for this purpose is solved by a chamber that contains or receives a substance with a high heat of fusion, high specific heat capacity, or capable of under going an endothermic or exothermic reaction at ambient temperature, where the chamber is attached to a closure configurable to fit a perishable storage or transport container, or where the chamber is configured to a container in a manner that addresses the shape and size of the container and needs of the perishable being stored or transported.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a top side view of an embodiment of the closure system with a utensil holder.

FIG. 2 shows an elevation view of a version of the closure system.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section view of a select part of a version of the closure system highlighting the closure chamber.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an embodiment of the container portion of the closure system.

FIG. 5 shows a top side view of a version of the closure system without a utensil holder.

FIG. 6 shows the bottom side of a version of the closure.

FIG. 7 shows an elevation view of an embodiment of the closure system featuring a version of a base chamber for cooling and heating.

FIG. 8 shows a top side view of a version of the closure system.

DESCRIPTION

The term perishables as used herein applies equally to things that need to retain heat, as well as, things that need to stay cold to maintain their integrity or value. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 3, an embodiment of a closure 2 comprises a material with heating and cooling properties 9, a closure chamber 24, a seal structure 17 and a part of a fastening system 4, 5, and 11 (As shown in FIG. 3, the other part of the fastening system 10 is attached to a container 3).

The material with heating and cooling properties 9 may be configured to fit the needs of the perishable stored or transported. If the perishable needs refrigeration, the material 9 may be a substance with a high heat of fusion such as water, gel refrigerant, dry ice or an other substance; or a substance capable of undergoing an endothermic reaction at ambient temperature. If the perishable needs to retain heat, the material 9 may be a substance with a high specific heat capacity, such as water or a substance capable of undergoing a chemical exothermic reaction. The material 9 may be permanently contained in the closure chamber 24 or it may be separately contained such that it is removable from the closure chamber 24. The same is said for other chambers including a base chamber 23, and a wall chamber 21, shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. The material 9 maybe permanently contained or removable from the closure chamber 24, base chamber 23 or the wall chamber 21. If separately contained, the material 9 may be contained in a flexible pouch or a hard pouch for easy removal for recharging or replacing. The pouches are recharged by adding heat or cold. As shown in FIG. 4, a pouch 13 with a pouch corner 14 is contained in wall chamber 21 and filled with material 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, the closure chamber 24 contains material 9 and the chamber wall 8 completely encapsulates the closure chamber 24 where the material 9 is stored. As shown in FIGS. 6 & 8, the closure 2 has an opening 18 for filling the closure chamber 24 with material 9. As shown in FIG. 6, the opening 18 is permanently sealed after it is filled. In the alternative, as shown in FIG. 7, the closure chamber 24 has a screw top for opening and closing. The opening 18, may take on another form suitable for inserting and removing a soft or hard pouch 13 containing material 9. An opening for inserting a pouch into closure chamber 24 may be a door on the top of the closure 2 or on the bottom of the closure 2 with a locking or latching mechanism to hold the door in place. In the alternative, the opening may be on the side wall of the closure chamber 24a. Any convenient configuration could work.

A version of a soft pouch 13 is shown in FIG. 4. The pouch 13 is configured to fit ergonomically around the corners (where pouch corner 14 is shown) of the wall chamber 13, the corner pouch 14 having an inner length that is shorter than the outer length or a thinness to accommodate corners. The pouch 13 may be optimized to fill the volume of the wall chamber 21 or minimized to fill less than the volume of the wall chamber 21 if less material 9 is needed to act on the perishables. These same configurations could be made to fit the needs of the closure chamber 24 and the base chamber 24. The wall chamber 21 is comprised of

In one embodiment, the pouch 13 could be configured to fit in the wall chamber 21 of the container 3, where the container 3 has a concave shape with an opening at the top, like a bowl. In this configuration, the pouch 13 is be shaped in the form of several triangles, the flats of one side of the triangles would run along the top edge of the wall chamber 21, the bottom tips of the triangles would approach the base of the wall chamber 21, which extends to the base of the container. The triangles could be separate or formed together with a connection feature that allowed for flexibility and ergonomic bend of the the triangles around the concave shape of the wall chamber 21. The wall chamber 21 is sized to fit a pouch 13.

The top of the closure 2 as shown in FIG. 5 may be a flat surface. As shown in FIG. 1, the top of the closure 2 may contain a depression 6 for holding a utensil 7. The utensil 7 contacts the walls of the depression 6 and is held in by friction. A cover (not shown) may be used to cover the utensil 7 and is held in the depression 6 by friction caused by the side walls of the depression 6.

In another embodiment of the invention, the closure 2 has a raised center debossed feature 27, allowing for the expansion of freezing liquid, an opening 18, a cap 26 and a cap receiver 28 for filling and emptying the closure chamber 24 with material 6. The debossed feature 27 is configured to prevent it from filling with material 9, when the closure chamber 24 is filled with material 9. The cap 26 and cap receiver 28 may be a screw cap configuration or any other type of cap packaging system that prevents liquid from leaking out of the closure chamber 24.

The closure chamber 24 may be designed in a variety of ways such that its base, the base being on the side of the closure chamber 24 that interacts with the container 3, extends into the container 3, is flush with the top of the container 3 or recessed above container 3. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, the closure chamber 24 extends into the container 3, this is preferable for cooling and heating. As shown in FIG. 6, the closure chamber 24 is surrounded by a seal structure 17 that may contain a rubber, silicon, other type of gasket or no gasket at all for engaging the top of the container rim 20.

In another embodiment of the invention, pouch 13 may be configured to snap on to the inside or outside of the outer wall 15. In this version of the invention the inner wall 14 and thus, 21 the wall chamber is not present. The pouch 13 may be a standard reusable cold pack that is square, or rectangular. The pouch 13 may snap into the outer wall 15 with a snap fit assembly, whereby the outer wall 15 and pouch 13 have mating elements which possess a temporary interference during assembly, but once assembled they interlock. Pouch 13 may also snap fit onto the inner or outer wall of the closure 2 and/or container base 30. In this version, the closure chamber 24 and/or base chamber 23 are not present. The pouch 13 may be shaped to fit the closure 2 and/or container base 30. The pouch 13 may be attached with Velcro, screwed on, or fastened in any other manner. The snap fit assembly may be incorporated into the walls of the closure system 1, whereby a pouch 13 with square corners will snap fit into the closure 2, and/or container base 30 and/or outer wall 15. In this configuration, each inside square corner of the closure 2 and/or container base 30 and/or outer wall 15 fits tightly with each outside corner of a pouch 13, which may be a standard sized hard reusable ice pack.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a part of a fastening system 4, 5, and 11 is connected to the top of the closure 2. A plurality of tabs 4 are connected along the top outside edge of the closure 2, equally distributed on all sides. The tab 4 may contain a tab lining 5 made with a soft pliable material such as silicon or another material for comfortable opening and closing. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the tab 4 contains one or more latches 11 for engaging a base latch lip 10 for the purpose of securing the closure 2 to the container 3. The closure system 1 comprises of the closure 2 and the container 3. The fastening system comprising 4, 5, 10, and 11 may be different than shown and described above. The closure 2 and the container 3 may be fastened by a screw cap system; closure lip 25 may act as a latch, latching onto the container rim 20; or any other type of packaging closure mechanism.

The closure 2 can be configured to fit on a wide variety of shaped and sized containers. The closure 2 could be round, square, oval, or rectangular. The closure chamber 24 is configurable to meet the thermal needs of the perishable in a container or container 3. The depth of the closure chamber 24 can vary in size depending on the amount of cooling or heating the perishable requires. The varying depth of the closure chamber, as well as the diameter or length and width limits the amount of material 9 that can be contained in the closure chamber 24. The placement of material 9 in chambers 21, 23, and 24 can be configured to meet the thermal and size needs of a perishable. The closure 2 may not need a closure chamber 24 when the base chamber 23 provides sufficient thermal engagement, or vice-versa. The side chamber is configurable and can take the place of chamber 24 or chamber 23 if the needs of the perishable call for a certain configuration.

The container 3 for storing perishables comprises an outer wall 15 and an inner wall 16, the outer wall 15 and inner wall 16 may run parallel to each other and may be of similar heights; the wall chamber 21 created by the inner wall 15 and outer wall 16 for containing the material 9 for heating or cooling; an opening 29 on the wall chamber 21 top for inserting and removing the material 9 with heating or cooling properties; a container base 30 connected to the bottom of the inner wall 15 and the outer wall 16, a container cavity 12 bounded by the inner wall 15 and the container base 12 for holding perishables. The wall chamber may be of different shapes and sizes necessary to accommodate material 9. For example, the inner wall 15 and outer wall 16 may be convex, concave or linear. The wall chamber 3 may be located in the center of the container 3 with the container cavity 12 surrounding the wall chamber 3 and the container cavity 12 being bounded by the outer wall 15. The wall chamber 21 could be tubular to allow for a larger amount of material 9. The inner wall 16 and outer wall 15 may be comprised of insulation, plastic, or a moisture barrier. The outer portion of the base chamber 23 may be a guard or a guide rail for securing the pouch to the container base. The guard or guide rail (not shown) may be attached to the base chamber 23 or removable.

The closure 1 and the closure system 2 can easily be made in a couple steps. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a portion of the closure 1 comprising closure tab 4, Latch 11, seal structure 17 (excluding any gasket), closure lip 25, chamber wall 8 (excluding chamber lid 22), can be created by injection molding in a single unit. The closure chamber lid 22 is then molded in separately and sealed with a technique, “Branded live with iron” at interface 19. The opening 18 is then filled with material 9. Once filled, the opening 18 is sealed closed. Additionally, the tab lining 5 may be added to the tab 4, and a gasket may be added to seal structure 17 if desired. Closure system 2 may be made with similar techniques. This is just one example of the steps and method involved. The closure 1 and the closure system 2 maybe comprised in part of insulation, moisture barrier, plastic, metal, rubber or any suitable material. However, the process and techniques for making closure 1 and the closure system 2 would have to be modified. The injection molding is preferred, but another method may be just as suitable.

Claims

1. A closure for increasing the storage life of perishables, which comprises: a. a material with heating or cooling properties;b. a closure chamber comprising a chamber wall and configured to house the material with heating or cooling properties;c. a seal structure for sealing or engaging the closure chamber to a perishable storage container for controlling the temperature in a perishable storage container;d. a fastening system to secure the closure chamber on a perishable storage container allowing the material with heating or cooling properties to act on stored perishables.

2. A closure of claim 1, wherein the closure chamber is a structure permanently integrated into the closure.

3. A closure of claim 2, wherein the closure chamber wall encloses the closure chamber on multiple sides, wherein a chamber wall is open for receiving and removing a pouch containing the material with heating or cooling properties.

4. A closure of claim 3, wherein the closure chamber wall comprises a latch or guard or guide rails for securing the pouch to the chamber wall.

5. A closure of claim 1, wherein the closure chamber wall comprises a guard or guide rails for securing the pouch to the chamber wall.

6. A closure of claim 1, wherein the closure chamber comprises a lattice structure for housing the removable pouch containing the material with heating or cooling properties.

7. The closure of claim 1, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties is removable from the closure chamber and the closure chamber comprises an opening for adding or removing the material with heating or cooling properties.

8. A closure of claim 2, wherein the closure chamber holds the removable pouch containing the material heating or cooling properties with friction.

9. The closure of claim 1, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties comprises a substance with a high heat of fusion.

10. The closure of claim 1, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties comprises a substance with a high specific heat capacity.

11. The closure of claim 1, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties comprises a substance capable of an exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction.

12. The closure of claim 1, wherein the seal structure comprises a seal, a housing wherein the seal is housed, the housing is secured to the closure chamber, and the seal engages a top rim of a perishable food container.

13. The closure according claim 12, wherein the fastening system for securing the closure chamber on a perishable storage container comprises one or more tabs and one or more latches, the one or more latches coordinate and interlock with a latch lip on a perishable food container.

14. The closure according to claim 12, wherein the fastening system for securing the closure chamber on a perishable storage container comprises a threading system for screwing the closure onto a perishable food container that contains receiving threads on a top rim.

15. The closure according to claim 12, wherein the fastening system for securing the closure chamber on a perishable storage container comprises the closure lip that latches onto a top rim of a container.

16. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure chamber has a bottom surface area the size of the inside of a perishable storage container opening for thermal transfer between the perishable container and the opening.

17. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the top outer surface of the closure chamber comprises of a utensil, a depression for storing the utensil, a mechanism for holding a utensil, and the utensil is stored within the depression.

18. The closure of claim 16, wherein a moisture barrier is attached to the base of the chamber wall.

19. The closure of claim 1, where the closure is lined with insulation.

20. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure chamber comprises a. a raised debossed portion on the top of the closure chamber for allowing of the expansion of a freezing liquid,b. an opening for filling the closure chamber with a material with heating or cooling properties configured to prevent raised debossed portion from filling with the material.c. a removable cap for securing the opening.d. a cap receiver configured to fit with the removable cap creating a liquid tight seal.e. a bottom portion for transferring thermal energy between the closure chamber and a perishable storage container.

21. The closure of claim 20, where the material with heating or cooling properties comprises water.

22. A closure system for increasing the storage life of perishables, which comprises: a. a material with heating or cooling properties;b. a container for storing perishables, which comprises an outer wall and an inner wall; a wall chamber created by the inner wall and the outer wall for containing the material with heating or cooling properties; an opening on the wall chamber top for inserting and/or removing the material with heating or cooling properties; a container base connected to the bottom of the inner wall and the outer wall, a container cavity bounded by the inner wall and the container base for holding perishables. A closure comprising a seal structure for the wall chamber and container to maintain thermal stability and a fastening system for securing the closure and the container together.

23. A closure of claim 22, wherein the wall chamber is a structure permanently integrated into the closure.

24. A closure of claim 22, wherein the outer wall is a guard or guide rail for securing a removable pouch containing the material with heating or cooling properties to the chamber wall.

25. A closure of claim 22, wherein the closure chamber comprises a lattice structure for housing the removable pouch containing the material with heating or cooling properties.

26. The closure system of claim 22, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties is removable from the wall chamber and the wall chamber comprises an opening for adding or removing the material with heating or cooling properties.

27. The closure system of claim 22, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties is not removable, but permanently contained in the wall chamber.

28. The closure system of claim 22, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties comprises a substance with a high heat of fusion.

29. The closure system of claim 22, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties comprises a substance with a high specific heat capacity.

30. The closure system of claim 22, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties comprises a substance capable of an exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction

31. A closure system of claim 22, wherein the container base has a base chamber for inserting the material with heating or cooling properties configured to fit in the base chamber.

32. A closure of claim 31, wherein the outer portion of the base chamber comprises a guard or a guide rail for securing the pouch to the container base.

33. A closure system of claim 22, wherein the closure comprises a closure chamber and closure chamber opening for inserting the material with heating or cooling properties.

34. A closure system of claim 22, where the container and the closure are made of a plastic material.

35. A closure system of claim 26, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties is contained in the flexible pouch designed to fit ergonomically into the wall chamber, wherein the pouch is designed thinner to fit around the corners of the wall chamber, and thicker to fit on the sides of the wall chamber to provide more thermal stabilization.

36. A closure system of claim 26, wherein the material with heating or cooling properties comprises the pouch designed to fit into the wall chamber where the pouch is designed to fit perfectly in a wall chamber of any shape.

37. A closure system of claim 26, wherein the wall chamber and the base chamber are merged to create one continuous chamber, filled with a material with heating or cooling properties, and the closure also contains a material with heating or cooling properties.

38. A closure system of claim 35 where the closure system is lined with insulation.

39. A closure system of claim 36 where the closure system is lined with insulation.

40. A closure system of claim 37 where the closure system is lined with insulation.

41. A closure system for increasing the storage life of perishables, which comprises: a. a material with heating or cooling properties;b. a pouch that is filled with the material with heating or cooling properties;c. a container for storing or transporting perishables;d. a closure that attaches to the container;e. a seal for preserving the freshness of perishables in the container and sealing the closure to the container;f. a fastener for ensuring the closure engages the container;g. a snap fit fastener for fastening the pouch onto an inner or outer walls of the container and the closure.