The Figures show an embodiment of a container 1 that comprises refrigerated gel and maintains a transported material's temperature over periods of time. That embodiment includes an exterior body-portion 100 having sides 102 that extend vertically from a base-portion 104. Support legs 140 extend downward from the base-portion 104 and fit within recesses 430 in a support device 400. The support legs 140 are preferably 2-5″ long. The support device 400 has a body 410 that is connected to and supported by wheels 420 so that the container 1 can be moved by rolling the support device 400. The wheels 420 are preferably 5″ rotating wheels. The support device 400 is preferably constructed such that the support device 400 and container 1 can be lifted by a forklift, and the forklift can approach the support device from a plurality of sides.
As an alternative to a separate dolley or support device 400, as described above, casters could be molded directly into the base portion 104.
The body portion 100 can be formed by one-piece seamless molded construction, e.g., by a known rotational molding process. Preferably, the body portion 100 is made from FDA approved high-impact polyethylene. The rotationally molded polyethylene provides a sturdy and easy to clean surface for the container 1.
Insulation may be in the body portion 100 and the insulation is preferably urethane insulation such as polyurethane foam. A lid 150 is located adjacent to the top edges of the sides 102.
The sides 102 and the base-portion 104 have outside and inside surfaces. Preferably, the container is formed with eight sides 102. The outside surfaces 110 of the sides 102 are preferably flat surfaces that are configured so that the outside of the body portion 100 and the lid 150 have an octagonal cross section when viewed in the vertical direction. Alternately, other configurations, e.g., three sides, four sides, five sides, six sides, etc., can be used. The outside surfaces 110 of the sides 102 can be rectangular in shape and extend in the long dimension from the base-portion 104 to the top of the sides 102, the short dimensions of the surfaces 110 can be adjacent to one another. The inside surfaces of the sides 102 can have correspondingly flat surfaces. In addition, the body-portion 100 could have a cylindrical outer surface.
Alternatively, the body portion 100 could be made from some other rigid construction such as a collection of panels that could be shipped flat and assembled into a container at location. Such panels could be made from any suitable materials including, but not limited to, cardboard panels with a foam interior.
In one embodiment, the container 1 includes knobs or posts 158 on the lid 150 to facilitate handling of the closed container 1.
As seen in
Furthermore, a pocket 356 may be molded or otherwise formed on the outer surface of the container 1 for holding shipping information.
The inside surfaces of the sides 102 and the base 104 together define an enclosed space 106 for containment and an opening 108 between the enclosed space 106 and the area outside the container 1. The lid 150 can be fastened to the top edges of the sides 102 thereby covering the opening 108. Preferably, when the lid 150 is fastened to the tops of the sides 102, fluid communication between the enclosed space 106 and the area outside the container 1 is prevented. This can be aided by provision of a sealing membrane (not shown) between the lid 150 and the tops of the sides 102.
The inside surface of the base-portion 104 can have a first level 122 and a second level 124. The first level 122 is concentrically arranged inside the second level 124, and is recessed with respect to the second level 124. That is, the first level 122 is lower than the second level 124, thereby defining a step up to the second level 124. The second level 124 is adjacent to the inside surfaces of the sides 102.
Gel-sleeves 300 have sides 310 that define a containment space 320 for holding gel-packs 350. Preferably, three gel-packs 350 are stored in each gel-sleeve 300, although any suitable number of gel-packs 350 can alternately be stored. The gel-packs 350 are preferably 64 oz. packs of thermal gel, although gel packs of other sizes can also be used. An example of a commercially available gel-pack is a 64 oz. Gel Brick available from SCA Inc. (part no. FPP64). The gel-sleeves 300 can rest on the second level 124 and against the inside surfaces of the sides 102. Preferably, the number of gel-sleeves 300 corresponds to the number of flat surfaces 110 of the sides 102. The gel-sleeves 300 are preferably provided with handles 305 at the top of the gel-sleeve 300 for gripping by a user. The gel-sleeves 300 can be made from corrugated polypropylene or any other suitable material. The dimensions of the gel-sleeves 300 are preferably around 9″×2″ inches×33″ (±2″). The gel-sleeves could be malleable bags, e.g., mesh bags.
When used with a multi-sided body-portion, the gel sleeves are preferably made of a trapezoidal shape, as can be seen in
In an alternative embodiment, the gel-sleeves 300 could contain a coolant directly, i.e., without using gel packs. For example, pellets of dry ice could be placed in the gel sleeves 300. The type of coolant would preferably depend on whether the contents are to be shipped in a refrigerated state or in a frozen state.
A contents-container 200 is provided for containment of a substance to be transported. The contents-container 200 is preferably in a cylindrical shape and thermally insulated. The contents-container 200 can be made of stainless steel or any other suitable material. The outer diameter of the contents-container 200 is preferably the same or slightly smaller than a diameter of the first level 122, thereby allowing the contents-container to rest on the first level 122 within the second level 124. The contents-container 200 defines an enclosed space therein and an opening between that enclosed space and the area outside the contents-container 200. The contents-container 200 preferably holds between 35 L and 200 L of contents. A lid 210 is provided for attachment to the contents-container 200 thereby covering the opening and preferably preventing fluid communication between the enclosed space in the contents-container 200 and the area outside the contents-container 200. A gasket seal (not shown) can aid in the prevention of fluid communication. There are many different means that can be used to attach the lid 210, but preferably the lid 210 is screwed onto the contents-container 200 by way of mating female and male threads. Alternately, many known clamping and fastening means could adequately serve to fasten the lid 210 in place.
One example of a contents container that could be used with the present invention is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,343, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In an alternative embodiment, the contents-container could be in the form of a soft bag, instead of the rigid contents-container 200 described above.
A shock-spacer 240 is constructed of shock absorbing material, e.g., elastic material such as extruded polyethylene foam, and is fitted above the contents-container lid 210 and below the lid 150. The shock-spacer 240 can have an o-shaped cross section. Preferably, when assembled, the shock-spacer 240 is adjacent and against the contents-container lid 240 and the lid 150, thereby stabilizing the contents-container 200.
A pressure-plate 220 is preferably made of stainless steel, but can be made from most other metals or synthetic materials such as plastics or composite materials. The pressure-plate 220 is dimensioned to fit adjacent to the first level 122 and within the second level 124. The pressure-plate 220 can have a circular shape and be shaped like a disk. The pressure-plate 220 fits adjacent to the contents-container 200 and the first level 122, preferably against the contents-container 200 and the first level 122.
The lid 150 can be attached to the tops of the sides 102 in many ways. One way is with fastener members 162 that are connected to the sides 102 and through openings 165 in the lid 150, with a head 164 on one end of the fastener member 162. The radius of the head 164 is larger than the radius of the openings 165. The other end of each the fastener members 162 is preferably threaded so that it can be engaged in a respective socket in the upper portion of the side walls 102. Other well known clamping and fastening devices can be used.
As noted above, certain thermal requirements are desired. For example, it is desired to configure the container 1 so that contents of the contents-container 200 can be maintained at a temperature between 2-8 degrees centigrade for at least 120 hours under normal shipping conditions when assembled within the container 1. Alternately, it may be adequate to maintain the temperature for up to 72 hours, 30 hours, or as little as 24 hours.
Also, certain physical dimensions are advantageous in achieving those thermal properties. For example, the outside dimensions of the container body portion 100 can be about 38″ in diameter and 53.5″ tall (±5″). The internal dimensions can be about 24″ in diameter and 39″ tall (±5″). The radial width of the second level 124 can be around 2-3″.
Some preferred embodiments have been shown in the foregoing, but it should be stressed that the invention is not limited to these, but may be embodied in other ways within the subject-matter defined in the following claims and equivalents thereof.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/803,095, filed on May 24, 2007.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60803095 | May 2006 | US |