Claims
- 1. A container for objects susceptible to damage upon changes in temperature comprising:
- a. an enclosure having a lower portion, a top portion and a side portion between the lower and top portions thereby defining an inner space;
- b. a first heat sink in the enclosure;
- c. a holder means in the inner space for holding at least one of said objects at a predetermined location in the inner space;
- d. an indicator in the inner space for indicating that said inner space has been subjected to temperatures above or below a predetermined temperature; and
- e. an open space filled with a gas and extending between the indicator and the predetermined location, whereby the indicator is subjected to substantially the same temperatures as the predetermined location.
- 2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the holder means is adapted to hold a plurality of said compositions at a plurality of determined locations, the indicator is located centrally of the predetermined locations.
- 3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the open space extends between each of the predetermined locations and the indicator.
- 4. A container according to claim 3 wherein the predetermined locations are substantially equidistant from the indicator.
- 5. A container according to claim 1 wherein the heat sink comprises a substance which exhibits a phase change at a temperature slightly above the predetermined temperature.
- 6. A container according to claim 1 wherein a first heat sink is disposed substantially below the predetermined location whereby said holder means and composition is disposed substantially away from said heat sink.
- 7. A container according to claim 6 wherein the top portion contains a second heat sink is disposed substantially above the predetermined location whereby the holder means retains said objects, being disposed substantially below said second heat sink.
- 8. A container according to claim 1 wherein the holder means comprises a panel above the first thermal moderator, the panel having at least one aperture therethrough for receiving at least one of the objects.
- 9. A container according to claim 4 wherein the panel is thin and planar.
- 10. A container according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined location is placed from the side portion and the gas is also disposed between the predetermined location and the side portion.
- 11. A container according to claim 1 wherein said heat sink further comprises an energy absorbing substance that exhibits a phase change at a temperature slightly above or below a predetermined temperature.
- 12. A container according to claim 1 wherein said heat sink further comprises a phase change substance selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, starch, alcohols, phenols and water.
- 13. A container according to claim 1 wherein said heat sink is carboxymethylcellulose and water.
- 14. A container according to claim 1 wherein said lid is adapted to receive a second heat sink and wherein said second heat sink further comprises an energy absorbing substance that exhibits a phase change at a temperature slightly above or below a predetermined temperature.
- 15. A container according to claim 1 wherein said second heat sink further comprises a phase change material chosen from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, phenols, alcohols, water, and starch.
- 16. A container according to claim 1 wherein the plate means comprises a panel above the first heat sink, the panel having at least one aperture therethrough adapted to receive at least one of said vessels.
- 17. A container according to claim 1 wherein the plate means comprises a panel located above the first heat sink, the panel having a plurality of equally spaced apertures therethrough for receiving a like number of said vessels.
- 18. A container according to claim 1 wherein the panel is thin and planar.
- 19. A container according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of apertures are arrayed in equidistant relation to a central aperture.
- 20. A container for transporting and storing vessels containing a composition susceptible to physicochemical alteration upon changes in temperature comprising:
- a. a plurality of upstanding walls integral with a base and forming an inner space closed on one end and open on the other;
- b. a first heat sink disposed within said base;
- c. a lid adapted to nest within said open end formed by said upstanding walls;
- d. a second heat sink disposed within said lid;
- e. an insulating insert disposed alongside the inner surfaces of said upstanding walls;
- f. a plate disposed on said insulating insert thereby dividing said container into a top chamber and a bottom chamber, said plate means possessing a center point and an aperture therethrough, and a plurality of apertures in equidistant relation there around, said apertures adapted to removably retain a like number of vessels therethrough and to suspend said vessels within said bottom chamber above said insulated base and spaced away from said insulating insert;
- g. an insulating gas surrounding said vessels and substantially filling the top and bottom chambers; and
- h. a temperature indicator disposed within the center aperture for indicating that the inner space has been subjected to temperatures either above or below a predetermined level.
- 21. A container according to claim 20 wherein said heat sink further comprises a material that exhibits a phase change at a temperature slightly above or below a predetermined temperature.
- 22. A container according to claim 20 wherein said heat sink further comprises an phase change material selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, alcohols, phenols, starches, and water.
- 23. A container according to claim 20 wherein said heat sink is comprised of carboxymethylcellulose and water.
- 24. A container according to claim 20 wherein said lid is adapted to receive a second heat sink and wherein said second heat sink further comprises an energy absorbing substance that exhibits a phase change at a temperature slightly above or below a predetermined temperature.
- 25. A container according to claim 20 wherein said second heat sink further comprises an energy absorbing substance chosen from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, phenols, alcohols, starches, and water.
- 26. A container according to claim 20 wherein the plate means comprises a panel above the first heat sink, the panel having at least one aperture therethrough for receiving at least one of said vessels.
- 27. A container according to claim 20 wherein the plate means comprises a panel located above the first heat sink, the panel having a plurality of equally spaced apertures therethrough for receiving a like number of said vessels.
- 28. A container according to claim 20 wherein the panel is thin and planar.
- 29. A container according to claim 20 wherein a plurality of apertures are arrayed in equidistant relation to a central aperture.
- 30. A container according to claim 20 wherein the array of apertures is circular around said central aperture.
- 31. A container according to claim 20 wherein the array of apertures is square around said central aperture.
- 32. A container according to claim 20 wherein the array of apertures is triangular around said central aperture.
- 33. A container according to claim 20 wherein the array of apertures circumscribes a figure which is equilateral.
- 34. A container according to claim 1 wherein the temperature indicator further comprises:
- a. a dome;
- b. a divider ring;
- c. a casing means closed on the bottom thereof so that the overall shape of said tube approximates the size and shape of said vessels to be contained Within a vial holder;
- d. a tube containing a material that when exposed to temperatures above or below a specified temperature the change will be visible.
- 35. A temperature indicator according to claim 34 wherein said tube further comprises a capillary tube open on one end with a bulbous portion on the other.
- 36. A temperature indicator according to claim 34 wherein said tube further comprises a capillary tube open on one end with a bulbous portion on the other wherein said article is frangible.
- 37. A temperature indicator according to claim 34 wherein an indicator undergoes a color change when exposed to changes in temperature.
BACKGROUND
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/359,802 filed Dec. 20, 1994 which is now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
445335 |
Nov 1912 |
FRX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
359802 |
Dec 1994 |
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