GB2113823A - Thermally-insulated container - Google Patents

Thermally-insulated container Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2113823A
GB2113823A GB08202199A GB8202199A GB2113823A GB 2113823 A GB2113823 A GB 2113823A GB 08202199 A GB08202199 A GB 08202199A GB 8202199 A GB8202199 A GB 8202199A GB 2113823 A GB2113823 A GB 2113823A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
container
compartment
lid
ballast
thermally
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08202199A
Inventor
Edward Risdon Pratt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB08202199A priority Critical patent/GB2113823A/en
Publication of GB2113823A publication Critical patent/GB2113823A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/02—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using ice, e.g. ice-boxes
    • F25D3/06—Movable containers
    • F25D3/08—Movable containers portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/38—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
    • B65D81/3825—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container with one or more containers located inside the external container
    • B65D81/3834—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container with one or more containers located inside the external container the external tray being formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2303/00—Details of devices using other cold materials; Details of devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D2303/08—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid
    • F25D2303/082—Devices using cold storage material, i.e. ice or other freezable liquid disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/804—Boxes

Abstract

A thermally-insulated container, for holding bottles (11) of milk or other dairy products (16) delivered to a doorstep and maintaining them at a sufficiently low temperature as to preserve the freshness of their contents over several hours in sunlight, comprises a lid (2) and an internally-partitioned body (1) having an externally-accessible compartment (14) which is separate from the interior and serves to hold ballast, e.g. a brick (17), for the container. The body (1) and the lid (2) are formed from a thermally-insulating material (7), such as expanded polystyrene, covered by inner and outer shells (3, 4, 5, 6) of a rigid, wear-resistant plastics sheeting. An ice-pack or freezer pack may be provided within the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Thermally-insulated container The present invention relates to thermallyinsulated containers, and is particularly concerned with cold-storage boxes for perishable foodstuffs.
It is a well-known problem with doorstep deliveries of milk and other dairy products that, if the delivery is left on the doorstep in sunlight or in a warm ambient air temperature while the occupants of a house are away during the day, the products rapidly lose their freshness and soon go off. Furthermore, the exposure of milk to direct sunlight destroys vitamins in the milk and considerably reduces its nutrient value, even if the milk itself does not actually go off.
Thermally-insulated food storage boxes for outdoor use, such as picnic boxes, are already known, but these have a lightweight construction which is not really suited to being left on a doorstep at the mercy of the elements and roaming pats. Whilst a suitable weight could, of course, be placed in the box, this would reduce the useful storage space and may cause damage to the box or its contents.
The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a container which is adapted to hold milk bottles and other dairy products delivered to a doorstep, and maintain the products at a sufficiently low temperature that they are still reasonably fresh after a period of several hours in direct sunlight.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a thermally-insulated container comprising a lid and a body formed from thermally-insulating material covered by inner and outer shells, in which the interior of the container body is partitioned into a number of compartments suitable for bottles and containers of dairy products and the like, and the container body is provided with an externallyaccessible ballast compartment which is separate from the interior.
The shells forming the lid and body of the container may be made from aluminium sheet or a plastics material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene sheeting, and the thermal insulation preferably comprises expanded polystyrene beads or sheeting, although other materials may be used. Indeed, in one possible embodiment, the lid and container are formed from sheets of expanded polystyrene covered on the inner and outer surfaces by bonded polyethylene sheeting, although it is preferred that the inner and outer shells of the container are rigid and wear-resistant.
The externally-accessible ballast compartment may comprise a slot parallel to the base of the container body for a slab or tray of ballast, a liquidtight compartment for water ballast, or a central recess in the body for a brick or the like. In the latter case the ballast compartment would reduce the internal space of the container, but it would be arranged to underlie a compartment for smaller items such as cream cartons.
One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially-sectioned side view of a container according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a partiaEly-sectioned end view of the container of Figure 1.
Referring now to the drawings, a thermallyinsulated container comprises a body 1 and lid 2 which are formed from respective inner and outer shells 3, 4, 5, 6 of 2 mm polypropylene sheeting.
The spaces between the shells 3, 4, 5, 6 are filled by 8 mm expanded polystyrene sheeting 7, which serves as thermal insulation. The lid 2 is fixed to the body 1 by hinge strips 8, and a conventional catch 9 is provided to keep the lid 2 closed.
Typically, the container is 35 cm iong, 25 cm wide and 26 cm high.
The interior of the body 1 is divided by two partitions 10 into four compartments suitable for milk bottles 11 or the like, and a further partition '12 defines a compartment along one side for an ice-pack or freezer pack 13 which serves to chill the contents of the container. Recessed centrally into the body 1, is a separate externally-accessible compartment 14 which underlies a shallow internal compartment 14 or tray 1 5 for smaller items such as cream cartons 16, cheeses or the like.
The exiernai compartment 14 serves to hold ballast for the container, in this case a brick 17, and has a thickened floor 1 8 which is integral with the outer shell 4 of the body 1. A raised lip 19 may also be formed at each end of the compartment 14 to retain the ballast brick 15 in position.
The exterior of the body 1 is provided with a delivery instruction indicator 20, as with known milk bottle holders, and may also have provision for an address lable (not shown).
In an alrernative embodiment, the container body has a hollow base or pedestal which can be filled with water ballast. Although the base or pedestal may be detachable from the container, it is preferably formed integrally with the body and can be filled with a sufficient volume of water to make the container difficult to carry, thereby discouraging theft. In this latter case, the base or pedestal would be filled through a closable hole within the container body, and -the lid would be lockable.
1. A thermally-insujated container comprising a lid and a body formed from thennally-insulating material covered by inner and outer shells, in which the interior of the container body is partitioned into a number of compartments suitable for bottles and containers of dairy products and the like, and the container body is provided with an externally-accessible ballast compartment which is separate from the interior.
2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, in which the ballast compartment comprises a central recess in the body for a brick or the like.
3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, in which the ballast compartment underlies a shallow
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Thermally-insulated container The present invention relates to thermallyinsulated containers, and is particularly concerned with cold-storage boxes for perishable foodstuffs. It is a well-known problem with doorstep deliveries of milk and other dairy products that, if the delivery is left on the doorstep in sunlight or in a warm ambient air temperature while the occupants of a house are away during the day, the products rapidly lose their freshness and soon go off. Furthermore, the exposure of milk to direct sunlight destroys vitamins in the milk and considerably reduces its nutrient value, even if the milk itself does not actually go off. Thermally-insulated food storage boxes for outdoor use, such as picnic boxes, are already known, but these have a lightweight construction which is not really suited to being left on a doorstep at the mercy of the elements and roaming pats. Whilst a suitable weight could, of course, be placed in the box, this would reduce the useful storage space and may cause damage to the box or its contents. The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a container which is adapted to hold milk bottles and other dairy products delivered to a doorstep, and maintain the products at a sufficiently low temperature that they are still reasonably fresh after a period of several hours in direct sunlight. Accordingly, the present invention provides a thermally-insulated container comprising a lid and a body formed from thermally-insulating material covered by inner and outer shells, in which the interior of the container body is partitioned into a number of compartments suitable for bottles and containers of dairy products and the like, and the container body is provided with an externallyaccessible ballast compartment which is separate from the interior. The shells forming the lid and body of the container may be made from aluminium sheet or a plastics material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene sheeting, and the thermal insulation preferably comprises expanded polystyrene beads or sheeting, although other materials may be used. Indeed, in one possible embodiment, the lid and container are formed from sheets of expanded polystyrene covered on the inner and outer surfaces by bonded polyethylene sheeting, although it is preferred that the inner and outer shells of the container are rigid and wear-resistant. The externally-accessible ballast compartment may comprise a slot parallel to the base of the container body for a slab or tray of ballast, a liquidtight compartment for water ballast, or a central recess in the body for a brick or the like. In the latter case the ballast compartment would reduce the internal space of the container, but it would be arranged to underlie a compartment for smaller items such as cream cartons. One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially-sectioned side view of a container according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a partiaEly-sectioned end view of the container of Figure 1. Referring now to the drawings, a thermallyinsulated container comprises a body 1 and lid 2 which are formed from respective inner and outer shells 3, 4, 5, 6 of 2 mm polypropylene sheeting. The spaces between the shells 3, 4, 5, 6 are filled by 8 mm expanded polystyrene sheeting 7, which serves as thermal insulation. The lid 2 is fixed to the body 1 by hinge strips 8, and a conventional catch 9 is provided to keep the lid 2 closed. Typically, the container is 35 cm iong, 25 cm wide and 26 cm high. The interior of the body 1 is divided by two partitions 10 into four compartments suitable for milk bottles 11 or the like, and a further partition '12 defines a compartment along one side for an ice-pack or freezer pack 13 which serves to chill the contents of the container. Recessed centrally into the body 1, is a separate externally-accessible compartment 14 which underlies a shallow internal compartment 14 or tray 1 5 for smaller items such as cream cartons 16, cheeses or the like. The exiernai compartment 14 serves to hold ballast for the container, in this case a brick 17, and has a thickened floor 1 8 which is integral with the outer shell 4 of the body 1. A raised lip 19 may also be formed at each end of the compartment 14 to retain the ballast brick 15 in position. The exterior of the body 1 is provided with a delivery instruction indicator 20, as with known milk bottle holders, and may also have provision for an address lable (not shown). In an alrernative embodiment, the container body has a hollow base or pedestal which can be filled with water ballast. Although the base or pedestal may be detachable from the container, it is preferably formed integrally with the body and can be filled with a sufficient volume of water to make the container difficult to carry, thereby discouraging theft. In this latter case, the base or pedestal would be filled through a closable hole within the container body, and -the lid would be lockable. CLAIMS
1. A thermally-insujated container comprising a lid and a body formed from thennally-insulating material covered by inner and outer shells, in which the interior of the container body is partitioned into a number of compartments suitable for bottles and containers of dairy products and the like, and the container body is provided with an externally-accessible ballast compartment which is separate from the interior.
2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, in which the ballast compartment comprises a central recess in the body for a brick or the like.
3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, in which the ballast compartment underlies a shallow internal compartment suitable for small bottles and containers.
4. A container as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the ballast compartment has a floor constituted by an integral, thickened portion of the outer shell.
5. A container as claimed in Claim 1, in which the ballast compartment comprises a hollow base or pedestal for the container, which can be filled with a liquid or granular ballast.
6. A container as claimed in Claim 5, in which the base or pedestal is integral with the body of the container.
7. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the inner and outer shells of the lid and body are made from rigid, wear-resistant plastics sheeting.
8. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the thermallyinsulating material comprises expanded polystyrene.
9. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the lid is hinged to the body and catch means are provided to hold the lid closed.
1 0. A container as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the body is provided with an external delivery instruction indicator.
11. A thermally-insulated container substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
GB08202199A 1982-01-26 1982-01-26 Thermally-insulated container Withdrawn GB2113823A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08202199A GB2113823A (en) 1982-01-26 1982-01-26 Thermally-insulated container

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08202199A GB2113823A (en) 1982-01-26 1982-01-26 Thermally-insulated container

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2113823A true GB2113823A (en) 1983-08-10

Family

ID=10527893

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08202199A Withdrawn GB2113823A (en) 1982-01-26 1982-01-26 Thermally-insulated container

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2113823A (en)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2147989A (en) * 1983-10-11 1985-05-22 Rubber Injection Moulding Co L Insulated milk bottle container
GB2192983A (en) * 1986-07-16 1988-01-27 Ray Hinton Hinged lid ice-box
GB2233436A (en) * 1989-06-29 1991-01-09 Kate Haynes Thermally insulated containers
GB2235757A (en) * 1989-08-24 1991-03-13 Shades Technics Ltd Thermally-insulated storage units
GB2253334A (en) * 1991-03-07 1992-09-09 Poeton & Clark Ltd Insulated containers
WO1994007769A1 (en) * 1992-10-02 1994-04-14 Air Conditioning Installations Limited Storing temperature sensitive products
EP0711964A1 (en) * 1994-11-08 1996-05-15 N.R. Development Limited A container for preserving and transporting perishable goods
AT406522B (en) * 1998-07-28 2000-06-26 Herbert Hollenstein Gmbh Portable cooling container, in particular for drinks in bottles or cans
CN107226286A (en) * 2017-08-11 2017-10-03 安徽优乐亿乳业有限公司 One kind is used for dairy produce conveying arrangement

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2147989A (en) * 1983-10-11 1985-05-22 Rubber Injection Moulding Co L Insulated milk bottle container
GB2192983A (en) * 1986-07-16 1988-01-27 Ray Hinton Hinged lid ice-box
GB2233436A (en) * 1989-06-29 1991-01-09 Kate Haynes Thermally insulated containers
GB2235757A (en) * 1989-08-24 1991-03-13 Shades Technics Ltd Thermally-insulated storage units
GB2236838A (en) * 1989-08-24 1991-04-17 Shades Technics Ltd Thermally-insulated storage units
GB2253334A (en) * 1991-03-07 1992-09-09 Poeton & Clark Ltd Insulated containers
GB2253334B (en) * 1991-03-07 1994-08-31 Poeton & Clark Ltd Insulated meal containers
WO1994007769A1 (en) * 1992-10-02 1994-04-14 Air Conditioning Installations Limited Storing temperature sensitive products
EP0711964A1 (en) * 1994-11-08 1996-05-15 N.R. Development Limited A container for preserving and transporting perishable goods
AT406522B (en) * 1998-07-28 2000-06-26 Herbert Hollenstein Gmbh Portable cooling container, in particular for drinks in bottles or cans
CN107226286A (en) * 2017-08-11 2017-10-03 安徽优乐亿乳业有限公司 One kind is used for dairy produce conveying arrangement

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7097034B2 (en) Carrier
US5493874A (en) Compartmented heating and cooling chest
EP1238922B1 (en) Portable insulated container for transporting refrigerated or frozen goods
US5419152A (en) Apparatus for packaging temperature sensitive materials for transportation
JP2599802B2 (en) Methods for maintaining products at a desired temperature at or near 0 ° C. and containers therefor
US7730739B2 (en) Portable cooler with built-in refrigerant cubes
US6609392B1 (en) Apparatus and method for a temperature protected container
CN101415622A (en) Container for transporting cooled goods
JP2007118972A (en) Constant temperature cold box and method for keeping cold at constant temperature
US5425521A (en) Thermal spacer device
GB2113823A (en) Thermally-insulated container
EP1220800B1 (en) Thermally insulated container cover
US5352502A (en) Foldable freeze gel wrap
US2728200A (en) Refrigerated shipping containers
WO1998031608A1 (en) Insulated transport container
JP2939602B2 (en) Uniform temperature holding container
JPH0142539Y2 (en)
US10969166B2 (en) Insert for hard cooler
US5924304A (en) Insulated holder for lunch boxes
JP2002243340A (en) Method for transporting perishable food and delivering it to home and container for cold-insulating perishable food
JP2552485B2 (en) Perishable transportation method
JP2003160173A (en) Cold-reserving packaging container, cold-reserving container, refrigerant storage container, and cold and warm control partition, and transportation method
KR101982638B1 (en) Superchilling packaging system for fresh delivery
JPH0526448Y2 (en)
JPS6333276A (en) Packaging method

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)