US20090200320A1 - Storage container - Google Patents
Storage container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090200320A1 US20090200320A1 US12/425,511 US42551109A US2009200320A1 US 20090200320 A1 US20090200320 A1 US 20090200320A1 US 42551109 A US42551109 A US 42551109A US 2009200320 A1 US2009200320 A1 US 2009200320A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- lid
- temperature controlling
- insulating container
- storage container
- opening
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 claims description 49
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 claims description 48
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 claims description 48
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 28
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 abstract description 18
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 14
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 abstract description 14
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 abstract description 11
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 abstract description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009429 electrical wiring Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920001821 foam rubber Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005679 Peltier effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- -1 and desirably Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920006351 engineering plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940126601 medicinal product Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003252 repetitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000859 sublimation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008022 sublimation Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
- F25B9/14—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
-
- 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
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
-
- 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
- F25D19/00—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
- F25D19/003—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors with respect to movable containers
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- 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
- F25D19/00—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
- F25D19/02—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors plug-in type
-
- 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
- F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2323/06—Details of walls not otherwise covered
- F25D2323/061—Collapsible walls
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a temperature controlling unit and a storage container using the same, and more particularly, to a storage container for transportation.
- a conventional container for transportation comprises an insulating container and a cover, both made of foam synthetic resins, and holds solid carbon dioxide, a cold reserving agent or the like inside, thereby cooling the interior of the storage container.
- Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-304402 discloses an electronic cooling or heating container comprising an insulating container with an openable and closable lid, in which the insulating container has a built-in cooling or heating unit (corresponding to a temperature controlling unit of the present invention).
- 2553022 discloses a cooling or heating container with a lid which openably and closably covers the opening of an insulating box (corresponding to an insulating container of the present invention), and has a built-in cooling or heating apparatus (corresponding to the temperature controlling unit of the present invention).
- Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-311576 discloses a cooling box with a lid which openably and closably covers the opening of a box (corresponding to the insulating container of the present invention), and has a built-in a cooling apparatus (corresponding to the temperature controlling unit of the present invention).
- the container which cools the interior by solid carbon dioxide, a cold reserving agent or the like has a problem such that as solid carbon dioxide sublimes or the cold reserving agent melts down due to heat from stored items or heat from the exterior of the container, it takes a lot of trouble for refilling solid carbon dioxide or replacing the cold reserving agent to keep the stored items in the container for a long time.
- solid carbon dioxide its repetitive use over a long period of time increases not only the amount of the solid carbon dioxide, which eventually increases the running cost, but also the density of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as the solid carbon dioxide gasifies due to the sublimation.
- the present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage container which enables the storage of items over a long period of time at low running cost and allows its volume to be set relatively freely.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively lightweight and inexpensive storage container.
- a storage container is a storage container comprising: an insulating container which has an opening; a temperature controlling unit which is independent of said insulating container, said temperature controlling unit being detachably attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal a portion of said opening; and a main lid which is attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal an other portion of said opening, wherein said temperature controlling unit comprises: an insulative sub-lid; and a temperature controlling subunit which is provided on said sub-lid, said temperature controlling subunit comprises: a base which is fitted into a through-hole formed on said sub-lid; and a Stirling refrigerator, said Stirling refrigerator including a temperature control effect member which is thermally exposed inside said insulating container.
- the temperature controlling unit that is independent of the insulating container is detachably attached to the opening of the insulating container in a manner closing and sealing a portion of the opening, while the main lid is openably and closably attached to an other portion of the opening to thereby constitute the storage container, whereby the interior of the container is cooled.
- the insulating container and the main lid may be chosen as long as they are within a range that allows the temperature controlling unit to be attached thereto, it is possible to set a volume of the storage container relatively freely.
- the temperature controlling unit can be simply formed by fitting the base provided on the temperature controlling subunit into the through-hole of the sub-lid.
- the storage container according to the second aspect of the present invention is the one where the temperature controlling subunit further includes an attachment member for attaching said temperature controlling subunit to said sub-lid.
- the temperature controlling device is attached to the sub-lid together with the temperature controlling subunit by the attachment member, whereby not only can the temperature controlling unit be assembled easily but the temperature controlling units of various sizes can be easily obtained by attaching the common temperature controlling subunit to the sub-lids of various sizes.
- the storage container according to the third aspect of the present invention is the one where the main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container are made of foam synthetic resins.
- the main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container can be made lightweight and inexpensive, and thus not only can the storage container be relatively made lightweight and inexpensive, but also can the main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container be relatively easily formed to an arbitrary size.
- the storage container according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the one where the container is a portable cooler box.
- the storage container according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the one where said temperature controlling unit is detached and the opening of said insulating container is closed and sealed by the lid of said insulating container, when the cooling of said temperature controlling unit is not required at the time of transporting, by manpower, the storage container where the temperature of the interior thereof is already controlled by said temperature controlling unit.
- the temperature controlling unit can be detached and replaced by the lid of the insulating container at the time of transportation, whereby the storage container as a whole can be made lighter.
- the storage container according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the one where the main lid is divided into a plurality of small lids.
- the insulating container is large-sized, in other words, even if the main lid is large-sized, it is possible to easily open and close the main lid. Also, as the opened area of the insulating container can be minimized when items to be stored are put in or taken out of the storage container, the temperature change inside the insulating container can be minimized.
- the storage container according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is the one where the small lids dividing the main lid are foldably connected, thereby forming the main lid.
- the main lid can be easily opened or closed by folding the main lid to thereby reduce the turning radius.
- the storage container according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is the one where a flexible piece is provided on both ends of the small lids with respect to an alignment direction thereof, said flexible piece being provided with a first hook-and-loop fastener, while a second hook-and-loop fastener corresponding to said first hook-and-loop fastener is provided on said insulating container and said sub-lid.
- the main lid can be hingeably attached to one edge of the opening of the insulating container by flexing the flexible piece. Further, the main lid can be opened and closed toward either one of both ends of the small lids with respect to the alignment direction thereof by releasing a first hook-and-loop fastener of either one of the flexible pieces provided on both ends of the small lids from a second hook-and-loop fastener fixed to one edge of the opening of the insulating container.
- the storage container according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is the one where said temperature controlling unit is attached to a substantially central portion in the opening of said insulating container so that the opening of said insulating container may be divided by said temperature controlling unit into two smaller openings, said two smaller openings being capable of being opened or closed and sealed by said main lid, respectively.
- the relatively heavy temperature controlling unit is located on the substantially central portion in the opening of the insulating container, i.e. the substantial center of the insulating container, whereby the center of gravity of the storage container can be prevented from being biased, so that it can be easily transported by manpower, while leading to small deviation of the temperature in the interior of the insulating container.
- the storage container according to the tenth aspect of the present invention is the one where a mounting surface contacting respective lower surfaces of said main lid and said sub-lid is formed along a circumference of the opening of said insulating container, while said temperature controlling unit is movably provided on said mounting surface.
- the container according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention is the one where a step member is formed on said sub-lid and said main lid so that the step member of said main lid contacts the step member of said sub-lid.
- the step member of the main lid contacts the step member of the sub-lid, thereby reducing the possibility of forming a gap between the main lid and the sub-lid, and thus the insulating performance of the storage container can be enhanced.
- FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention representing a storage container using a temperature controlling unit;
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the essential parts of the storage container
- FIG. 3 is a right side view of the storage container
- FIG. 4 is a right side view of the storage container with the temperature controlling unit detached and a second lid attached;
- FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the fifth embodiment
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the essential parts of the storage container using the temperature controlling unit.
- FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the storage container
- FIG. 11 is a right side view of the storage container using the temperature controlling unit
- FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the sixth embodiment
- FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container one of small lids of which is folded to open;
- FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container the other of the small lids of which is folded to open;
- FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container in which the main lid shown in FIG. 13 is fully opened by flexing the flexible pieces;
- FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container in which the main lid shown in FIG. 14 is fully opened by flexing the flexible pieces;
- FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the seventh embodiment
- FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container the main lid of which is fully opened
- FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container in which the main lid is fully opened and the temperature controlling unit is moved from the central portion;
- FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the eighth embodiment.
- FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.
- Reference number 1 denotes a storage container, and the storage container 1 comprises a temperature controlling unit 2 and an insulating container 3 .
- the temperature controlling unit 2 comprises a lid 4 formed with a through-hole 4 A in a substantial center thereof, and a temperature controlling subunit 5 .
- the lid 4 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- a step member 4 B is formed on the through-hole 4 A, and a later described base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is placed on the step member 4 B.
- the temperature controlling subunit 5 comprises a Stirling refrigerator 6 as a temperature controlling device, a casing 7 for containing the Stirling refrigerator 6 , and the base 8 for supporting the Stirling refrigerator 6 and the casing 7 .
- the Stirling refrigerator 6 is set up side down.
- a heat absorbing sink 9 is attached to a heat absorbing portion 6 B, formed on a leading end of a cylindrical portion 6 A of the Stirling refrigerator 6 , in a heat-conductive manner, and a heat exhausting sink 10 is attached to a heat exhausting portion 6 C formed on a base end of the cylindrical portion 6 A in a heat-conductive manner.
- the heat absorbing sink 9 is attached to a lower surface side of the base 8 in an exposed manner, and the heat exhausting sink 10 is arranged in the interior of the casing 7 .
- a lower portion of the casing 7 is formed with an opening 7 A for air intake and an attachment member 7 B for fixing the temperature controlling subunit 5 .
- An upper portion thereof is formed with an opening 7 C for air exhaust, and a fan 11 is attached to the opening 7 C.
- a sealing member 12 is provided in between the outer circumference of the heat exhausting sink 10 and the inner wall of the casing 7 , so that the space can be sealed.
- a substantial center of the base 8 is formed with a through-hole 8 A, and the outer circumference of the base 8 is formed with a step member 8 B in association with the step member 4 B, so that the base 8 can fit into the through-hole 4 A.
- the inner diameter of the through-hole 8 A is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 6 A of the Stirling refrigerator 6 , and space between the cylindrical portion 6 A and the through-hole 8 A is sealed by a sealing member 13 which is made of an insulative foam rubber or the like.
- the heat absorbing sink 9 is so formed as to have a size not to protrude from the outer circumference of a lower portion of the base 8 .
- a fan 14 is so provided adjacent to the heat absorbing sink 9 as to allow airflow to pass through the heat absorbing sink 9 .
- a temperature control effect member A is structured by the heat absorbing portion 6 B of the Stirling refrigerator 6 , the heat absorbing sink 9 and the fan 14 .
- An operating member 15 is provided on a front side of the casing 7 , and a non-illustrated controlling circuit is accommodated in the operating member 15 .
- the insulating container 3 is so structured as to include a right wall 3 A, a left wall 3 B, a front wall 3 C, a rear wall 3 D, a bottom wall 3 E and a lid 16 for the insulating container 3 as a second lid.
- Each of the walls 3 A, 3 B, 3 C, 3 D, 3 E, and lid 16 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and each of the entire surfaces is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- the surfaces of the walls 3 A, 3 B, 3 C, 3 D and 3 E to be the outside surface of the storage container are covered with a cover 17 made of an infrared reflection film.
- the edge of the lid 16 is attached to an upper end of the cover 17 . According to the aforementioned structure, it is possible to easily and inexpensively manufacture the insulating container 3 of an arbitrary size.
- the temperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled.
- the heat exhausting sink 10 is attached to the heat exhausting portion 6 C of the Stirling refrigerator 6
- the sealing member 13 is attached to the outer circumference between the heat absorbing portion 6 B and the heat exhausting portion 6 C in the cylindrical portion 6 A.
- the sealing member 12 is attached to the circumference of the heat exhausting sink 10
- the Stirling refrigerator 6 is accommodated in the casing 7 with the Stirling refrigerator 6 being in a handstand condition.
- the fan 11 is attached to the exhausting opening 7 C of the casing 7 .
- the casing 7 accommodating the Stirling refrigerator 6 is attached to the base 8 by the attachment member 7 B, and the cylindrical portion 6 A of the Stirling refrigerator 6 is fit through the through-hole 8 A of the base 8 . At this time, the space between the through-hole 8 A and the cylindrical portion 6 A is sealed by the sealing member 13 .
- the heat absorbing sink 9 is attached to the heat absorbing portion 6 B formed on the leading end of a cylindrical portion 6 A of the Stirling refrigerator 6 , and the fan 14 is attached to adjacent to the heat absorbing sink 9 .
- Electrical wirings of the Stirling refrigerator 6 , the fans 11 and 14 are connected to the non-illustrated controlling circuit, and the controlling circuit is accommodated in the operating member 15 .
- the temperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled thus way.
- the assembled temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the through-hole 4 A of the lid 4 . That is, the base 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 4 A in such a manner as to allow the step member 8 B formed on the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on the step 4 B of the through-hole 4 A, whereby the temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the lid 4 .
- the heat absorbing sink 9 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of the base 8 , the heat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 4 A when the temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the lid 4 .
- the temperature controlling unit 2 is structured by attaching the temperature controlling subunit 5 to the lid 4 thus way, it is possible to obtain the temperature controlling units 2 of various sizes, that is, the temperature controlling units 2 that can match the insulating containers 3 of various sizes, by using the common temperature controlling subunit 5 and changing the lid 4 only.
- the lid 4 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus the lids 4 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture the temperature controlling unit 2 inexpensively.
- the operation of the first embodiment will now be explained.
- items which were refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating container 3 , and the temperature controlling unit 2 is attached to an opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 .
- the temperature controlling unit 2 is so attached as to allow the heat absorbing sink 9 and the fan 14 to be in the interior of the insulating container 3 .
- the operating member 15 is operated, thereby operating the Stirling refrigerator 6 and the fans 11 , 14 .
- the heat absorbing portion 6 B is brought into a low temperature state
- the heat exhausting portion 6 C is brought into a high temperature state.
- the heat absorbing portion 6 B brought into the low temperature state absorbs heat from the heat absorbing sink 9 thermally contacting the heat absorbing portion 6 B and the air inside the insulating container 3 where the heat absorbing sink 9 is exposed, and conducts this absorbed heat to the heat exhausting portion 6 C.
- the heat conducted to the heat exhausting portion 6 C is exhausted from the heat exhausting sink 10 .
- As the air inside the insulating container 3 is allowed to flow the heat absorbing sink 9 by the fan 14 , it is evenly and efficiently cooled by the Stirling refrigerator 6 .
- the insulating container 3 itself is made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, it has an extremely light-weight structure, and the temperature controlling unit 2 also has a relatively light-weight structure as including the lid 4 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and the temperature controlling subunit 5 using the relatively light Stirling refrigerator 6 . Accordingly, the storage container 1 using the temperature controlling unit 2 as a whole can have a relatively light-weight structure.
- the interior of the storage container 1 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature.
- the temperature controlling unit 2 may be detached and the opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 may be closed and sealed by the lid 16 of the insulating container 3 , when the cooling of the temperature controlling unit 2 is not required.
- the temperature controlling subunit 5 using the Stirling refrigerator 6 as the temperature controlling device, is attached to the insulative lid 4 , and the heat absorbing sink 9 , forming the temperature control effect member A of the temperature control subunit 5 , is thermally exposed at one side of the lid 4 as to work as the temperature controlling unit 2 , whereby the interior of the insulating container 3 of an arbitrary size, with the opening 3 F closed and sealed by the temperature controlling unit 2 , can be cooled, and thus items to be stored can be continuously stored for a longer time compared with solid carbon dioxide and a cold reserving agent conventionally used.
- the first embodiment of the present invention not only enables the lid 4 and further the entire temperature controlling unit 2 to be light and inexpensive, but also allows the lid 4 to be easily structured in an arbitrary size.
- the Stirling refrigerator 6 is attached to the lid 4 together with the temperature controlling subunit 5 by the attachment member 7 B, whereby the temperature controlling units 2 of various sizes can be easily assembled by attaching the common temperature controlling subunit 5 to the lids 4 of various sizes.
- the running cost can be reduced, and environmental burden can be suppressed as gasified carbon dioxide is not generated.
- Making the insulating container 3 of foam synthetic resin can make the insulating container 3 light and inexpensive. Accordingly, not only the whole container 1 can be made light and inexpensive, but also the insulating container 3 can be easily structured in an arbitrary size.
- the temperature controlling unit 2 in transporting the storage container 1 whose interior is cooled by the temperature controlling unit 2 , by manpower, the temperature controlling unit 2 may be detached and the opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 may be closed and sealed by the lid 16 of the insulating container 3 , when the cooling of the temperature controlling unit 2 is not required, whereby the storage container 1 as a whole when transported by manpower can be made lighter.
- the temperature controlling device is the Stirling refrigerator 6 which is small in size and light, and able to cool the interior of the storage container 1 to a very low temperature at low power, the interior of the storage container 1 can be cooled to a very low temperature at a low running cost, and the storage container 1 as a whole can have a light-weight structure.
- a temperature controlling unit 21 of a storage container 20 comprises a lid 22 formed with a through-hole 22 A on a substantial center thereof, and a temperature controlling subunit 23 .
- the lid 22 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- a step member 22 B is formed on the through-hole 22 A, and a later described base 25 of the temperature controlling subunit 23 is placed on the step member 22 B.
- the temperature controlling subunit 23 is so comprised as to include the Stirling refrigerator 6 as the temperature controlling device, a casing 24 for containing the Stirling refrigerator 6 , and the base 25 for supporting the Stirling refrigerator 6 and the casing 24 .
- the Stirling refrigerator 6 is laterally supported, a heat absorbing sink 27 is attached to the heat absorbing portion 6 B, formed on the leading end of the cylindrical portion 6 A of the Stirling refrigerator 6 , in a heat-conductive manner via a heat conductive block 26 , and the heat exhausting sink 10 is attached to the heat exhausting portion 6 C formed on the base end of the cylindrical portion 6 A in a heat-conductive manner.
- the heat absorbing sink 27 is attached to a lower surface side of the base 25 in an exposed manner, and the heat exhausting sink 10 is arranged inside the casing 24 .
- the heat absorbing portion 6 B and the heat conductive block 26 are covered with an insulating material 28 inside the casing 24 .
- the casing 24 is formed with an opening 24 A for air intake on a cylindrical portion 6 A side of the Stirling refrigerator 6 .
- a lower portion of the casing 24 is formed with an attachment member 24 B for fixing the temperature controlling subunit 23 .
- a body portion 6 D side of the Stirling refrigerator 6 of the casing 24 is formed with opening 24 C for air exhaust, and the fan 11 is attached to the opening 24 C.
- a through-hole 24 D for allowing the heat conductive block 26 to pass through is formed on a lower portion of the casing 24 adjacent to the cylindrical portion 6 A of the Stirling refrigerator 6 .
- the sealing member 12 is provided in between the outer circumference of the heat exhausting sink 10 and the inner wall of the casing 24 , so that the space can be sealed.
- the base 25 is formed with a through-hole 25 A in association with the heat conductive block 26 , and the outer circumference of the base 25 is formed with a step member 25 B in association with the step member 22 B, so that the base 25 can fit into the through-hole 22 A.
- the inner size of the through-hole 25 A is larger than the outer size of the heat conductive block 26 , and space between the heat conductive block 26 and the through-hole 25 A is sealed by a sealing member 29 which is made of an insulative foam rubber or the like.
- the heat absorbing sink 27 is so formed as to have a size not to protrude from the outer circumference of a lower portion of the base 25 .
- the fan 14 is so provided adjacent to the heat absorbing sink 27 as to allow airflow to pass through the heat absorbing sink 27 .
- a temperature control effect member B is structured by the heat absorbing portion 6 B of the Stirling refrigerator 6 , the heat conductive block 26 , the heat absorbing sink 27 and the fan 14 .
- a non-illustrated operating member is provided on a front side of the casing 24 , and a non-illustrated controlling circuit is accommodated in the operating member.
- the temperature controlling subunit 23 is assembled.
- the heat exhausting sink 10 is attached to the heat exhausting portion 6 C of the Stirling refrigerator 6
- the heat conductive block 26 is attached to the heat absorbing portion 6 B of the cylindrical portion 6 A
- the outer circumferences of the heat absorbing portion 6 B and the heat conductive block 26 are covered with the insulating material 28 and the sealing member 29 .
- the sealing member 12 is attached to the circumference of the heat exhausting sink 10
- the Stirling refrigerator 6 is laterally accommodated in the casing 24 .
- the heat conductive block 26 is allowed to pass through the through-hole 24 D.
- the fan 11 is attached to the exhausting opening 24 C of the casing 24 .
- the casing 24 accommodating the Stirling refrigerator 6 is attached to the base 25 by the attachment member 24 B, and the heat conductive block 26 is fit through the through-hole 25 A of the base 25 . At this time, the space between the through-hole 25 A and the heat conductive block 26 is sealed by the sealing member 29 .
- the heat absorbing sink 27 is attached to a lower end of the heat conductive block 26 , and the fan 14 is attached to adjacent to the heat absorbing sink 27 .
- the electrical wirings of the Stirling refrigerator 6 , the fans 11 and 14 are connected to the non-illustrated controlling circuit, and the controlling circuit is accommodated in the non-illustrated operating member.
- the temperature controlling subunit 23 is assembled thus way.
- the assembled temperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the through-hole 22 A of the lid 22 . That is, the base 25 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 22 A in such a manner as to allow the step member 25 B formed on the base 25 of the temperature controlling subunit 23 to mount on the step 22 B of the through-hole 22 A, whereby the temperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the lid 22 .
- the heat absorbing sink 27 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of the base 25 , the heat absorbing sink 27 does not interfere with the through-hole 22 A when the temperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the lid 22 .
- the temperature controlling unit 21 is structured by attaching the temperature controlling subunit 23 to the lid 22 thus way, it is possible to obtain the temperature controlling units 21 of various sizes, that is, the temperature controlling units 21 that can match the insulating containers 3 of various sizes, by using the common temperature controlling subunit 23 and changing the lid 22 only.
- the lid 22 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus the lids 22 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture the temperature controlling unit 21 inexpensively.
- the operation of the second embodiment will now be explained.
- items which were refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating container 3 , and the temperature controlling unit 21 is attached to the opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 .
- the temperature controlling unit 21 is so attached as to allow the heat absorbing sink 27 and the fan 14 to be in the interior of the insulating container 3 .
- the non-illustrated operating member is operated, thereby operating the Stirling refrigerator 6 and the fans 11 , 14 .
- the heat absorbing portion 6 B is brought into a low temperature state
- the heat exhausting portion 6 C is brought into a high temperature state.
- the heat absorbing portion 6 B brought into the low temperature state absorbs heat from the heat conductive block 26 and the heat absorbing sink 27 both thermally contacting the heat absorbing portion 6 B and the air inside the insulating container 3 where the heat absorbing sink 27 is exposed, and conducts this absorbed heat to the heat exhausting portion 6 C.
- the heat conducted to the heat exhausting portion 6 C is exhausted from the heat exhausting sink 10 .
- As the air inside the insulating container 3 is allowed to flow the heat absorbing sink 27 by the fan 14 , it is evenly and efficiently cooled by the Stirling refrigerator 6 .
- the insulating container 3 itself is made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, it has an extremely light-weight structure, and the temperature controlling unit 21 also has a relatively light-weight structure as including the lid 22 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and the temperature controlling subunit 23 using the relatively light Stirling refrigerator 6 . Accordingly, the storage container 20 using the temperature controlling unit 21 as a whole can have a relatively light-weight structure.
- the interior of the storage container 20 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature.
- Reference number 30 denotes a storage container, and the storage container 30 comprises a temperature controlling unit 31 and a lid 32 .
- the lid 32 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- the lid 32 is openably and closably attached to an opening 33 F of a later described insulating container 33 which constitutes the temperature controlling unit 31 .
- the temperature controlling unit 31 comprises an insulating container 33 and the temperature controlling subunit 23 .
- the insulating container 33 is so structured as to include a right wall 33 A, a left wall 33 B, a front wall (not illustrated), a rear wall 33 D and a bottom wall 33 E.
- Each of the walls 33 A, 33 B, 33 D, 33 E, and non-illustrated front wall is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and each of the entire surfaces is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- the surfaces of the walls 33 A, 33 B, 33 D, and 33 E, and the non-illustrated front wall to be the outside surface of the storage container are covered with a cover 34 made of an infrared reflection film.
- the right wall 33 A is formed with a through-hole 33 G
- the through-hole 33 G is formed with a step member 33 H
- the step member 25 B formed on the outer circumference of the base 25 of the temperature controlling subunit 23 contact the step member 33 H in association with the step member 33 H, so that the base 25 can fit into the through-hole 33 G.
- the Stirling refrigerator 6 inside thereof is in a standing condition, other structures thereof are the same as those of the second embodiment.
- the temperature controlling subunit 23 is assembled.
- the assembling of the temperature controlling subunit 23 is the same as that of the second embodiment.
- the assembled temperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the through-hole 33 G formed in the right wall 33 A of the insulating container 33 . That is, the base 25 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 33 G in such a manner as to allow the step member 25 B formed on the base 25 of the temperature controlling subunit 23 to contact the step member 33 H of the through-hole 33 G, whereby the temperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the insulating container 33 .
- the heat absorbing sink 27 since the heat absorbing sink 27 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of the base 25 , the heat absorbing sink 27 does not interfere with the through-hole 33 G when the temperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the insulating container 33 .
- the temperature controlling unit 31 is structured by attaching the temperature controlling subunit 23 to the insulating container 33 thus way, it is possible to obtain the temperature controlling units 31 of various sizes, that is, the temperature controlling units 31 that can match the lids 32 of various sizes, by using the common temperature controlling subunit 23 and changing the insulating container 33 only.
- each of the walls 33 A, 33 B, 33 D, 33 E and the non-illustrated front wall of the insulating container 33 is basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus the insulating containers 33 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture the temperature controlling unit 31 inexpensively.
- the walls 33 A, 33 B, 33 D, 33 E and the non-illustrated front wall of the insulating container 33 are individually formed, but they may be integrally formed with one another. The insulating containers 33 of various sizes can be also easily and inexpensively obtained in this case.
- the operation of the third embodiment will now be explained.
- items which were refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating container 33 of the temperature controlling unit 31 , and the lid 32 is attached to an opening 33 F of the insulating container 33 .
- the operation of the temperature controlling subunit 23 is the same as those of the second embodiment.
- the lid 32 itself is made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, it has an extremely light-weight structure
- the temperature controlling unit 31 also has a relatively light-weight structure as including the insulating container 33 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and the temperature controlling subunit 23 using the relatively light Stirling refrigerator 6 .
- the storage container 30 using the temperature controlling unit 31 as a whole can have a relatively light-weight structure.
- the insulating container 33 is made of a foam synthetic resin
- the insulating container 33 , and further the entire temperature controlling unit 31 can be light and inexpensive, but also the insulating container 33 can be structured in an arbitrary size.
- Reference number 40 denotes a storage container, and the storage container 40 comprises a temperature controlling unit 41 , a main lid 42 and the insulating container 3 .
- the temperature controlling unit 41 comprises a sub-lid 43 formed with a through-hole 43 A on a substantial center thereof, and the temperature controlling subunit 5 .
- the sub-lid 43 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- the sub-lid 43 is so formed as to have a size partially closing and sealing the opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 .
- a step member 43 B is formed on the through-hole 43 A, and the step member 8 B, formed on the outer circumference of the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 in association with the step member 43 B, so contacts the step member 43 B as to allow the base 8 to fit into the through-hole 43 A, whereby the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is placed on the sub-lid 43 .
- the main lid 42 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- the main lid 42 is openably and closably attached to the opening 3 F in such a manner as to close and seal the remaining portion of the opening 3 F not closed and sealed by the temperature controlling unit 41 .
- the temperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled.
- the assembling of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment.
- the assembled temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the through-hole 43 A formed in the sub-lid 43 . That is, the base 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 43 A in such a manner as to allow the step member 8 B formed on the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on the step 43 B of the through-hole 43 A, whereby the temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43 .
- the heat absorbing sink 9 since the heat absorbing sink 9 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of the base 8 , the heat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 43 A when the temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43 .
- the temperature controlling unit 41 is structured by attaching the temperature controlling subunit 5 to the sub-lid 43 thus way, it is possible to obtain the temperature controlling units 41 of various sizes, that is, the temperature controlling units 41 that can match the insulating containers 3 and the main lids 42 of various sizes, by using the common temperature controlling subunit 5 and changing the sub-lid 43 only.
- the sub-lid 43 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus the sub-lids 43 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture the temperature controlling unit 41 inexpensively.
- the temperature controlling unit 41 is so attached to the opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 as to partially close and seal the opening 3 F, and the main lid 42 is so attached to the remaining portion of the opening 3 F which is not closed and sealed by the temperature controlling unit 41 .
- the temperature controlling unit 41 is so attached as to allow the heat absorbing sink 9 and the fan 14 to be the interior of the insulating container 3 .
- the operation of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus explanations thereof will be omitted at here.
- the insulating container 3 and the main lid 42 are made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, they have extremely light-weight structure, and the temperature controlling unit 41 also has a relatively light-weight structure as including the sub-lid 43 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and the temperature controlling subunit 5 using the relatively light Stirling refrigerator 6 . Accordingly, the storage container 40 using the temperature controlling unit 41 as a whole can have a relatively light-weight structure.
- the sub-lid 43 and the insulating container 3 are covered with infrared reflection films, it is possible to prevent infrared, that is, heat from entering into the interior of the storage container 40 from the outside thereof, the interior of the storage container 40 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature. Further, as the temperature controlling unit 41 and the main lid 42 are individually provided, the opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 included in the storage container 40 can be easily opened and items to be stored can be easily put into and taken out from the storage container 40 with the temperature controlling unit 41 attached to the opening 3 F and the light main lid 42 opened.
- the fourth embodiment is made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, the sub-lid 43 and further the entire temperature controlling unit 41 can be light and inexpensive. Moreover, the sub-lid 43 can be easily structured in an arbitrary size. Additionally, the base 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 43 A in such a manner as to allow the step member 8 B formed on the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on the step 43 B of the through-hole 43 A, whereby the temperature controlling subunit 5 can be attached to the sub-lid 43 .
- Reference number 50 denotes a storage container, and the storage container 50 comprises a temperature controlling unit 51 and the insulating container 3 .
- the temperature controlling unit 51 comprises a frame 53 which is formed in such a shape that two quadrangles with same widths are arranged as to have respective one edges to come in contact with each other, thereby having the common edge, the main lid 42 openably and closably attached to a first opening 53 A as the opening of the frame 53 , the sub-lid 43 attached to a second opening 53 B, as the opening of the frame 53 , and formed with the through-hole 43 A on the substantial center thereof, and the temperature controlling subunit 5 to be attached to the through-hole 43 A.
- the frame 53 is so formed that the first opening 53 A is larger than the second opening 53 B.
- the frame 53 is made of a material having small heat conductivity like a synthetic resin, and desirably, engineering plastic of high-strength.
- the main lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 have the same structures as the fourth embodiment.
- foam synthetic resin of the main lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 foam polyurethane, foam polystyrene, etc. can be used.
- one edge of the main lid 42 is freely movably fixed to the frame 53 , thereby openably and closably closing and sealing the first opening 53 A.
- the sub-lid 43 has, as same as the fourth embodiment, the through-hole 43 A formed with the step member 43 B for placing the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 .
- the temperature controlling subunit 5 has the same structure as the first embodiment.
- the insulating container 3 has the right wall 3 A, the left wall 3 B, the front wall 3 C, the rear wall 3 D, the bottom wall 3 E and the lid 16 for the insulating container 3 as the second lid, and it has a foldable structure.
- Each of the walls 3 A, 3 B, 3 C, 3 D, and 3 E, and the lid 16 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and each of the entire surfaces is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- the surfaces of the walls 3 A, 3 B, 3 C, 3 D, and 3 E to be the outside surface of the container 3 are covered with the cover 17 .
- the cover 17 is as same as that of the first embodiment.
- the edge of the lid 16 is freely movably attached to the upper end of the cover 17 .
- the temperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled and attached to the sub-lid 43 .
- the heat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 43 A when the temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43 .
- the main lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 with the temperature controlling subunit 5 , attached thereto thus way, are attached to the first opening 53 A and the second opening 53 B, respectively.
- the sub-lid 43 is fixed to the second opening 53 B of the frame 53
- the main lid 42 is so attached to the first opening 53 A as to allow the one edge thereof to be freely movable for the frame 53 . That is, the main lid 42 freely movably attached to the frame 53 openably and closably closes and seals the first opening 53 A.
- the temperature controlling unit 51 is structured by attaching the main lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 with the temperature controlling subunit 5 attached thereto, to the frame 53 , the same effectiveness as those of the aforementioned embodiments can be obtained by using the common temperature controlling subunit 5 and changing the frame 53 , the main lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 .
- the main lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 are also covered with an infrared reflection film in this embodiment, but each basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus they can obtain the same effectiveness as those of the aforementioned embodiments.
- the temperature controlling unit 51 is so attached to the upper end of the insulating container 3 as to close and seal the opening of the insulating container 3 .
- the temperature controlling unit 51 is so attached as to allow the frame 53 to contact the upper end of the insulating container 3 , that is, as to allow the heat absorbing sink 9 and the fan 14 to be the interior of the insulating container 3 .
- the operation of the temperature controlling subunit 5 , the main lid 42 , the sub-lid 43 and the insulating container 53 are the same as the aforementioned embodiment.
- the frame 53 is made of a low heat-conductive material, it is possible to prevent infrared, that is, heat from entering into the interior of the storage container 50 from the outside thereof via the frame 53 .
- infrared that is, heat from entering into the interior of the storage container 50 from the outside thereof via the frame 53 .
- the storage container 50 is unused, it can save space by detaching the temperature controlling unit 51 and folding the insulating container 52 as explained above.
- the frame 53 is made of a synthetic resin or the like as a low heat-conductive material, it is possible to prevent heat from entering into the interior of the storage container 50 from the outside thereof, and thus the temperature of the interior thereof can be efficiently controlled.
- Reference number 60 denotes a storage container, and the storage container 60 comprises the temperature controlling unit 41 , a main lid 61 and the insulating container 3 .
- the temperature controlling unit 41 comprises the sub-lid 43 formed with the through-hole 43 A on a substantial center thereof, and the temperature controlling subunit 5 .
- the sub-lid 43 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- the sub-lid 43 is so formed as to have a size partially closing and sealing the opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 .
- the step member 43 B is formed on the through-hole 43 A, while the step member 8 B, formed on the outer circumference of the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 , corresponding to the step member 43 B is abutted against the stem member 43 B so that the base 8 may be fitted into the through-hole 43 A, whereby the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is placed on the sub-lid 43 .
- a step member 43 C is formed adjacent to the main lid 61 in the sub-lid 43 , while a step member 63 A, formed on one end portion of a later-described small lid 63 of the main lid 61 , corresponding to the step member 43 C, is abutted against the step member 43 C, whereby the main lid 61 is placed on the sub-lid 43 .
- the main lid 61 is divided into a plurality of small lids 62 , 63 , which are foldably connected with each other.
- the small lids 62 , 63 are each made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and their entire surfaces are each covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- the main lid 61 formed by these mutually-foldably connected small lids 62 , 63 is openably and closably attached to the opening 3 F in such a manner as to close and seal the remaining portion of the opening 3 F that is not closed and sealed by the temperature controlling unit 41 .
- a plurality of rectangular flexible pieces 64 , 65 are each attached to both ends of the small lids 62 , 63 constructing the main lid 61 with respect to the alignment direction thereof.
- These flexible pieces 64 , 65 are preferably made of cloth, flexible sheet or the like.
- Male and female hook and loop fasteners X (first fasteners) are attached to these flexible pieces 64 , 65 , respectively.
- a female or male hook and loop fastener Y (second fastener) disengageably engaging with the hook and loop fastener X of the flexible piece 64 is attached to an outside surface of the upper end of the insulating container 3 in the vicinity of the opening 3 F.
- another female or male hook and loop fastener Y disengageably engaging with the hook and loop fastener X of the flexible piece 65 is attached to an upper surface of the sub-lid 43 adjacent to the opening 3 F.
- said main can be fixed in a manner closing and sealing the opening 3 F of said insulating container 3 .
- the temperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled.
- the assembling of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment.
- the assembled temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the through-hole 43 A formed in the sub-lid 43 . That is, the base 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 43 A in such a manner as to allow the step member 8 B formed on the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on the step 43 B of the through-hole 43 A, whereby the temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43 .
- the heat absorbing sink 9 since the heat absorbing sink 9 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of the base 8 , the heat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 43 A when the temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43 .
- the temperature controlling unit 41 is structured by attaching the temperature controlling subunit 5 to the sub-lid 43 thus way, it is possible to obtain the temperature controlling units 41 of various sizes, that is, the temperature controlling units 41 that can match the insulating containers 3 and the main lids 61 of various sizes, by using the common temperature controlling subunit 5 and changing the sub-lid 43 only.
- the sub-lid 43 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus the sub-lids 43 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture the temperature controlling unit 41 inexpensively.
- the temperature controlling unit 41 is so attached to the opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 as to partially close and seal the opening 3 F, and the main lid 61 is so attached to the remaining portion of the opening 3 F which is not closed and sealed by the temperature controlling unit 41 .
- the temperature controlling unit 41 is so attached as to allow the heat absorbing sink 9 and the fan 14 to be disposed in the interior of the insulating container 3 .
- the operation of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus explanations thereof will be omitted at here.
- the insulating container 3 and the main lid 61 are made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, they have extremely light-weight structure, and the temperature controlling unit 41 also has a relatively light-weight structure as being composed of the sub-lid 43 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and the temperature controlling subunit 5 using the relatively light Stirling refrigerator 6 . Accordingly, the storage container 60 using the temperature controlling unit 41 can have a relatively light-weight structure as a whole.
- the peripheral surfaces of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape forming the main lid 61 , the sub-lid 42 and the insulating container 3 are covered with infrared reflection films, it is possible to prevent infrared rays or heat from entering into the interior of the storage container 60 from the outside thereof, so that the interior of the storage container 60 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature.
- the temperature controlling unit 41 and the main lid 61 are individually provided, the opening 3 F of the insulating container 3 constituting the storage container 60 can be easily opened so that items to be stored can be easily put into and then taken out from the storage container 60 by simply opening the lightweight main lid 61 with the temperature controlling unit 41 being attached to the opening 3 F.
- said main lid 61 is divided into a plurality of the small lids 62 , 63 foldably connected with each other, it is possible to open or close the same still easily even when said heat insulation container 3 , i.e., said main lid 61 is large-sized in such a manner as to fold up said main lid 61 to make its turning radius small if the main lid 61 is to be fully opened. Moreover, since an opening area at the time of storing or taking out items can be reduced to minimum by opening or closing only one of the small lids 62 and 63 , the temperature change in said insulating container 3 can be reduced to minimum.
- said main lid 61 is fixedly attached in such a manner as to close and seal the opening 3 F, using the substantially rectangular flexible pieces 64 , 65 provided with the first hook and loop fastener X and attached to both ends of the small lids 62 , 63 constituting the main lid 61 in the alignment direction thereof; and the second hook and loop fastener Y attached to said insulating container 3 and the sub-lid 42 , whereby it is possible to hingeably open or close said main lid 61 in any direction by detaching one of said flexible pieces 64 , 65 to which the first hook and loop fastener X is attached from any one of the second hook and loop fasteners Y while flexing the other of the flexible pieces 64 , 65 by an external force.
- the same effectiveness as that of the aforementioned fourth embodiment can be obtained by the sixth embodiment.
- the main lid 61 is divided into a plurality of small lids 62 , 63 being foldably connected with each other, not only can the main lid 61 be further easily opened and closed by folding the main lid 61 to make the turning radius small, but also can the opening area of the insulating container 3 be reduced to minimum by opening either one of the small lids 62 , 63 only, thereby enabling the temperature change in the interior of the insulating container 3 to be minimized.
- said main lid 61 is provided with the flexible pieces 64 , 65 provided with the first hook and loop fastener X and attached to both ends of the small lids 62 , 63 in the alignment direction thereof; and the second hook and loop fastener Y is attached to said insulating container 3 and the sub-lid 42 , whereby it is possible to hingeably open or close said main lid 61 in any direction by detaching any one of the first hook and loop fasteners X attached to the small lids 62 , 63 from the corresponding second hook and loop fastener Y.
- Reference number 70 denotes a storage container, and the storage container 70 comprises a temperature controlling unit 71 , main lids 73 , 74 and an insulating container 72 . Further, the temperature controlling unit 71 is attached to the substantially central portion in an opening 72 E of the insulating container 72 , and the opening 72 E of the insulating container 72 is divided by the temperature controlling unit 71 into two smaller openings 72 G, 72 H, said two smaller openings 72 G, 72 H being opened or closed and sealed by the main lids 73 , 74 , respectively.
- the temperature controlling unit 71 comprises a sub-lid 75 formed with a through-hole 75 A in a substantial center thereof, and the temperature controlling subunit 5 .
- the sub-lid 75 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- the sub-lid 75 is so formed as to have a size partially closing and sealing the opening 72 E of the insulating container 72 .
- a step member 75 B is formed on the through-hole 75 A, and the step member 8 B, formed on the outer circumference of the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 in association with the step member 75 B, so contacts the step member 75 B as to allow the base 8 to fit into the through-hole 75 A, whereby the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is placed on the sub-lid 75 .
- step members 75 C and 75 D are formed at the ends of said sub-lid 75 that demarcate said openings 72 G and 72 H, respectively.
- the step member 73 A formed at one end of said main lid 73 corresponding to said step member 75 C is allowed to abut to this step member 75 C so that said main lid 73 may be placed on said sub-lid 75 .
- the step member 74 A formed at the other end of said main lid 74 corresponding to said step member 75 D is allowed to abut to this step member 75 D so that said main lid 74 may be placed on said sub-lid 75 .
- the insulating container 72 is so structured as to include a right wall 72 A, a left wall 72 B, a front wall (not illustrated), a rear wall 72 C and a bottom wall 72 D.
- Each of the walls 72 A, 72 B, 72 C, and 72 D is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and each of the entire surfaces is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- Upper ends of these right wall 72 A, left wall 72 B, front wall (not illustrated), rear wall 72 C have the same height, and they constitute a mounting surface 72 F in a manner surrounding the opening 72 E.
- each of the main lids 73 , 74 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and each of the entire surfaces is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer.
- These main lids 73 , 74 are openably and closably attached to the opening of the insulating container 72 so as to close and seal the smaller openings 72 G, 72 H.
- the temperature controlling unit 71 is formed so that it is movable on the mounting surface 72 F when the both main lids 73 , 74 are opened.
- the temperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled.
- the assembling of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment.
- the assembled temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the through-hole 75 A formed in the sub-lid 75 . That is, the base 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 75 A in such a manner as to allow the step member 8 B formed on the base 8 of the temperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on the step 75 B of the through-hole 75 A, whereby the temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 75 .
- the heat absorbing sink 9 since the heat absorbing sink 9 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of the base 8 , the heat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 75 A when the temperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 75 .
- the temperature controlling unit 71 is structured by attaching the temperature controlling subunit 5 to the sub-lid 75 thus way, it is possible to obtain the temperature controlling units 71 of various sizes, that is, the temperature controlling units 71 that can match the insulating containers 72 and the main lids 73 , 74 of various sizes, by using the common temperature controlling subunit 5 and changing the sub-lid 75 only.
- the sub-lid 75 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus the sub-lids 75 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture the temperature controlling unit 71 inexpensively.
- the temperature controlling unit 71 is so attached to the opening 72 E of the insulating container 72 as to partially close and seal the opening 72 E, and the main lids 73 , 74 are attached to the openings 72 G, 72 H which are not closed and sealed by the temperature controlling unit 71 .
- the temperature controlling unit 71 is so attached as to allow the heat absorbing sink 9 and the fan 14 to be disposed inside the insulating container 72 .
- the operation of the temperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus explanations thereof will be omitted here.
- the insulating container 72 and the main lids 73 , 74 are made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, they have extremely light-weight structure, and the temperature controlling unit 71 also has a relatively light-weight structure as it is composed of the sub-lid 75 made of the tabular foam synthetic resin and the infrared reflection film, and the temperature controlling subunit 5 using the relatively light Stirling refrigerator 6 . Accordingly, the storage container 70 using the temperature controlling unit 71 can have a relatively light-weight structure as a whole.
- the peripheral surfaces of the foam synthetic resin-made tabular members forming the main lids 73 , 74 , the sub-lid 75 and the insulating container 72 are covered with infrared reflection films, it is possible to prevent infrared rays or heat from entering into the interior of the storage container 70 from the outside thereof, whereby the interior of the storage container 70 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature.
- the opening 72 E of the insulating container 72 constituting the storage container 70 can be easily opened so that items to be stored can be easily put into and then taken out from the storage container 70 by opening the light main lids 73 , 74 with the temperature controlling unit 71 being attached to the opening 72 E.
- the temperature controlling unit 71 is attached to the substantially central portion in the opening 72 E of the insulating container 72 , and the two smaller openings 72 G, 72 H demarcated by the temperature controlling unit 71 are opened or closed and sealed by the main lids 73 , 74 , respectively. Accordingly, when the storage container 70 is transported by manpower, the relatively heavy temperature controlling unit 71 is located on the substantially central portion in the opening 72 E of the insulating container 72 , i.e. the substantial center of the insulating container 72 , whereby the center of gravity of the storage container 70 can be prevented from being biased, so that it can be easily transported by manpower, while leading to small deviation of the temperature in the interior of the insulating container 72 .
- the mounting surface 72 F in a manner surrounding the opening 72 E of the insulating container 72 that is abutted against the lower surfaces 73 B, 74 B of the main lids 73 , 74 and the lower surface 75 E of the sub-lid 75 , while said temperature controlling unit 71 is movably provided on said mounting surface 72 F.
- step members 75 C, 75 D are formed on said sub-lid 75 , so that the step members 73 A, 74 A of the respective ends of said main lids 73 , 74 are abutted against these step members 75 C, 75 D of said sub-lid 75 , thereby reducing the possibility of forming a gap between the main lids 73 , 74 and the sub-lid 75 , and thus the insulating performance of the insulating container 72 can be enhanced.
- the temperature controlling unit 71 is attached to the substantially central portion in the opening 72 E of the insulating container 72 , and thus, when the storage container 70 is transported by manpower, the center of gravity of the storage container 70 can be prevented from being biased, so that it can be easily transported by manpower, while enabling the deviation of the temperature inside the insulating container 72 to be decreased.
- said temperature controlling unit 71 is movably provided on said mounting surface 72 F, even when relatively bigger items stored in said insulating container 72 are taken out therefrom, or even when items stored beneath the temperature controlling unit 71 are taken out therefrom, they can be easily taken out by shifting the temperature controlling unit 71 on the mounting surface 72 F.
- the step members 75 C, 75 D are formed on said sub-lid 75 , so that the step members 73 A, 74 A of the respective ends of said main lids 73 , 74 are abutted against these step members 75 C, 75 D of said sub-lid 75 , thus enhancing the insulating performance of the insulating container 72 , thereby enabling the interior of sad insulating container 72 to be cooled efficiently.
- the present invention is aimed at providing a storage container which enables storage of items for a longer period of time at low running cost and allows its volume to be set freely.
- the main lid and the temperature controlling unit are provided so as to be detachably attached to the opening of the insulating container, thereby enabling an arbitral combination of the main lid and the temperature controlling unit.
- the storage container thus constituted can have many applications required for both hot and cold insulation of foods and medicinal products, etc.
- the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and can be modified within the scope of the present invention.
- a thermo module utilizing the Peltier effect may be used as illustrated in FIG. 20
- a heater may be used as illustrated in FIG. 21
- the temperature controlling subunit is exposed from the lid, the sub-lid or the insulating container, but it may be so structured as to be accommodated by the lid, the sub-lid or the insulating container.
- the second lid is attached to the insulating container, but it may be an independent lid from the insulating container.
- the main lid is freely movably attached to the frame in the fifth embodiment, but as long as it opens or closes the opening of the frame, it may be freely movably attached to, for instance, the sub-lid.
- the frame is formed with two openings in the fifth embodiment, but it may be formed with one opening and both the main lid and the sub-lid may cover this opening.
- the frame may be formed with more than or equal to three openings, the sub-lid may cover one of the openings, and the other openings may be opened or closed by several main lids.
- the main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container are made of foam synthetic resins, but other insulating materials, for instance, a vacuum insulation panel or the like may be used.
- a vacuum insulation panel or the like may be used.
- insulation properties thereof are improved, thus preventing heat from entering the interior of the storage container from the outside thereof, whereby the interior of the storage container can be cooled to further cold temperature and rapidly.
Abstract
A storage container includes an insulating container having an opening; a temperature controlling unit that is independent of the insulating container and detachably attached to the opening of the insulating container in a manner closing and sealing a portion of the opening; and a main lid attached to the opening of the insulating container in a manner closing and sealing an other portion of the opening. The temperature controlling unit is composed of an insulative sub-lid; and a temperature controlling subunit provided on the sub-lid. The temperature controlling subunit is composed of a base fitted into a through-hole formed on the sub-lid; and a Stirling refrigerator including a temperature control effect member thermally exposed inside the insulating container. Accordingly, the interior of the insulating container of an arbitrary size can be cooled, and items can be continuously stored longer than when using conventional solid carbon dioxide or cold reserving agent.
Description
- This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11/185,050, filed on Jul. 20, 2005, the benefit of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120, and is further incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority to Japanese patent application No. JP2004-242952 filed on Aug. 23, 2004 and No. JP2004-278464 filed on Sep. 24, 2004, which both are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a temperature controlling unit and a storage container using the same, and more particularly, to a storage container for transportation.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- In general, a conventional container for transportation comprises an insulating container and a cover, both made of foam synthetic resins, and holds solid carbon dioxide, a cold reserving agent or the like inside, thereby cooling the interior of the storage container. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-304402 discloses an electronic cooling or heating container comprising an insulating container with an openable and closable lid, in which the insulating container has a built-in cooling or heating unit (corresponding to a temperature controlling unit of the present invention). Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 2553022 discloses a cooling or heating container with a lid which openably and closably covers the opening of an insulating box (corresponding to an insulating container of the present invention), and has a built-in cooling or heating apparatus (corresponding to the temperature controlling unit of the present invention). Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-311576 discloses a cooling box with a lid which openably and closably covers the opening of a box (corresponding to the insulating container of the present invention), and has a built-in a cooling apparatus (corresponding to the temperature controlling unit of the present invention).
- The container which cools the interior by solid carbon dioxide, a cold reserving agent or the like, however, has a problem such that as solid carbon dioxide sublimes or the cold reserving agent melts down due to heat from stored items or heat from the exterior of the container, it takes a lot of trouble for refilling solid carbon dioxide or replacing the cold reserving agent to keep the stored items in the container for a long time. In the case of using solid carbon dioxide, its repetitive use over a long period of time increases not only the amount of the solid carbon dioxide, which eventually increases the running cost, but also the density of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as the solid carbon dioxide gasifies due to the sublimation. While the containers of the above described Japanese publications neither require such a labor nor suffer such an environmental burden, they are unable to store items with larger volumes than the internal volumes of the containers due to the pre-limited inner volumes, and they are relatively heavy and expensive. Accordingly, there is a problem in using them for transportation.
- The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage container which enables the storage of items over a long period of time at low running cost and allows its volume to be set relatively freely.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively lightweight and inexpensive storage container.
- A storage container according to a first aspect of the present invention is a storage container comprising: an insulating container which has an opening; a temperature controlling unit which is independent of said insulating container, said temperature controlling unit being detachably attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal a portion of said opening; and a main lid which is attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal an other portion of said opening, wherein said temperature controlling unit comprises: an insulative sub-lid; and a temperature controlling subunit which is provided on said sub-lid, said temperature controlling subunit comprises: a base which is fitted into a through-hole formed on said sub-lid; and a Stirling refrigerator, said Stirling refrigerator including a temperature control effect member which is thermally exposed inside said insulating container.
- Thus, in order that the temperature control effect member of the temperature control subunit may be thermally exposed inside the insulating container, the temperature controlling unit that is independent of the insulating container is detachably attached to the opening of the insulating container in a manner closing and sealing a portion of the opening, while the main lid is openably and closably attached to an other portion of the opening to thereby constitute the storage container, whereby the interior of the container is cooled. Further, as any arbitrary sizes of the insulating container and the main lid may be chosen as long as they are within a range that allows the temperature controlling unit to be attached thereto, it is possible to set a volume of the storage container relatively freely. Furthermore, as the interior space defined by the insulating container and the lid is cooled by the temperature controlling unit, items to be stored can be stored for a longer period of time. Moreover, as solid carbon dioxide, etc. is not used in cooling the interior of the storage container by the temperature controlling unit, the running cost thereof can be reduced, and environmental burden can be suppressed as gasified carbon dioxide is not generated. Additionally, the temperature controlling unit can be simply formed by fitting the base provided on the temperature controlling subunit into the through-hole of the sub-lid. In addition to the foregoing, as the interior of the storage container is cooled by the Stirling refrigerator, the interior of the storage container can be cooled to a very low temperature at a low running cost, and the container as a whole can relatively have a light-weight structure.
- The storage container according to the second aspect of the present invention is the one where the temperature controlling subunit further includes an attachment member for attaching said temperature controlling subunit to said sub-lid.
- Thus, the temperature controlling device is attached to the sub-lid together with the temperature controlling subunit by the attachment member, whereby not only can the temperature controlling unit be assembled easily but the temperature controlling units of various sizes can be easily obtained by attaching the common temperature controlling subunit to the sub-lids of various sizes.
- The storage container according to the third aspect of the present invention is the one where the main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container are made of foam synthetic resins.
- Accordingly, the main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container can be made lightweight and inexpensive, and thus not only can the storage container be relatively made lightweight and inexpensive, but also can the main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container be relatively easily formed to an arbitrary size.
- The storage container according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the one where the container is a portable cooler box.
- Accordingly, it is possible to transport the storage container in which the temperature of the interior of the insulating container is controlled to cool the interior thereof.
- The storage container according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the one where said temperature controlling unit is detached and the opening of said insulating container is closed and sealed by the lid of said insulating container, when the cooling of said temperature controlling unit is not required at the time of transporting, by manpower, the storage container where the temperature of the interior thereof is already controlled by said temperature controlling unit.
- Accordingly, the temperature controlling unit can be detached and replaced by the lid of the insulating container at the time of transportation, whereby the storage container as a whole can be made lighter.
- The storage container according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the one where the main lid is divided into a plurality of small lids.
- Accordingly, even if the insulating container is large-sized, in other words, even if the main lid is large-sized, it is possible to easily open and close the main lid. Also, as the opened area of the insulating container can be minimized when items to be stored are put in or taken out of the storage container, the temperature change inside the insulating container can be minimized.
- The storage container according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is the one where the small lids dividing the main lid are foldably connected, thereby forming the main lid.
- Thus, even when opening or closing only one of the small lids, it is possible to remove the risk of losing the same as it interconnects with an other of the small lids. And even when fully opening or closing the main lid, the main lid can be easily opened or closed by folding the main lid to thereby reduce the turning radius.
- The storage container according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is the one where a flexible piece is provided on both ends of the small lids with respect to an alignment direction thereof, said flexible piece being provided with a first hook-and-loop fastener, while a second hook-and-loop fastener corresponding to said first hook-and-loop fastener is provided on said insulating container and said sub-lid.
- Thus, the main lid can be hingeably attached to one edge of the opening of the insulating container by flexing the flexible piece. Further, the main lid can be opened and closed toward either one of both ends of the small lids with respect to the alignment direction thereof by releasing a first hook-and-loop fastener of either one of the flexible pieces provided on both ends of the small lids from a second hook-and-loop fastener fixed to one edge of the opening of the insulating container.
- The storage container according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is the one where said temperature controlling unit is attached to a substantially central portion in the opening of said insulating container so that the opening of said insulating container may be divided by said temperature controlling unit into two smaller openings, said two smaller openings being capable of being opened or closed and sealed by said main lid, respectively.
- Thus, when the storage container is transported by manpower, the relatively heavy temperature controlling unit is located on the substantially central portion in the opening of the insulating container, i.e. the substantial center of the insulating container, whereby the center of gravity of the storage container can be prevented from being biased, so that it can be easily transported by manpower, while leading to small deviation of the temperature in the interior of the insulating container.
- The storage container according to the tenth aspect of the present invention is the one where a mounting surface contacting respective lower surfaces of said main lid and said sub-lid is formed along a circumference of the opening of said insulating container, while said temperature controlling unit is movably provided on said mounting surface.
- Thus, even when relatively bigger stored items are taken out from the storage container, or even when stored items lying beneath the temperature controlling unit are taken out from the storage container, they can be easily taken out therefrom by moving the temperature controlling unit on the mounting surface.
- The container according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention is the one where a step member is formed on said sub-lid and said main lid so that the step member of said main lid contacts the step member of said sub-lid.
- Thus, the step member of the main lid contacts the step member of the sub-lid, thereby reducing the possibility of forming a gap between the main lid and the sub-lid, and thus the insulating performance of the storage container can be enhanced.
- These objects, other objects, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:
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FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention representing a storage container using a temperature controlling unit; -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the essential parts of the storage container; -
FIG. 3 is a right side view of the storage container; -
FIG. 4 is a right side view of the storage container with the temperature controlling unit detached and a second lid attached; -
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the fifth embodiment; -
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the essential parts of the storage container using the temperature controlling unit; -
FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the storage container; -
FIG. 11 is a right side view of the storage container using the temperature controlling unit; -
FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the sixth embodiment; -
FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container one of small lids of which is folded to open; -
FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container the other of the small lids of which is folded to open; -
FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container in which the main lid shown inFIG. 13 is fully opened by flexing the flexible pieces; -
FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container in which the main lid shown inFIG. 14 is fully opened by flexing the flexible pieces; -
FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the seventh embodiment; -
FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container the main lid of which is fully opened; -
FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view illustrating the storage container in which the main lid is fully opened and the temperature controlling unit is moved from the central portion; -
FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the eighth embodiment; -
FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view illustrating a storage container using a temperature controlling unit according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. - The first embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 4 .Reference number 1 denotes a storage container, and thestorage container 1 comprises atemperature controlling unit 2 and an insulatingcontainer 3. - The
temperature controlling unit 2 comprises alid 4 formed with a through-hole 4A in a substantial center thereof, and atemperature controlling subunit 5. Thelid 4 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer. Astep member 4B is formed on the through-hole 4A, and a later describedbase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is placed on thestep member 4B. Thetemperature controlling subunit 5 comprises aStirling refrigerator 6 as a temperature controlling device, acasing 7 for containing theStirling refrigerator 6, and thebase 8 for supporting theStirling refrigerator 6 and thecasing 7. TheStirling refrigerator 6 is set up side down. Aheat absorbing sink 9 is attached to aheat absorbing portion 6B, formed on a leading end of acylindrical portion 6A of theStirling refrigerator 6, in a heat-conductive manner, and aheat exhausting sink 10 is attached to aheat exhausting portion 6C formed on a base end of thecylindrical portion 6A in a heat-conductive manner. Theheat absorbing sink 9 is attached to a lower surface side of thebase 8 in an exposed manner, and theheat exhausting sink 10 is arranged in the interior of thecasing 7. A lower portion of thecasing 7 is formed with anopening 7A for air intake and anattachment member 7B for fixing thetemperature controlling subunit 5. An upper portion thereof is formed with an opening 7C for air exhaust, and afan 11 is attached to theopening 7C. A sealingmember 12 is provided in between the outer circumference of theheat exhausting sink 10 and the inner wall of thecasing 7, so that the space can be sealed. A substantial center of thebase 8 is formed with a through-hole 8A, and the outer circumference of thebase 8 is formed with astep member 8B in association with thestep member 4B, so that thebase 8 can fit into the through-hole 4A. The inner diameter of the through-hole 8A is larger than the outer diameter of thecylindrical portion 6A of theStirling refrigerator 6, and space between thecylindrical portion 6A and the through-hole 8A is sealed by a sealingmember 13 which is made of an insulative foam rubber or the like. Theheat absorbing sink 9 is so formed as to have a size not to protrude from the outer circumference of a lower portion of thebase 8. Afan 14 is so provided adjacent to theheat absorbing sink 9 as to allow airflow to pass through theheat absorbing sink 9. A temperature control effect member A is structured by theheat absorbing portion 6B of theStirling refrigerator 6, theheat absorbing sink 9 and thefan 14. An operatingmember 15 is provided on a front side of thecasing 7, and a non-illustrated controlling circuit is accommodated in the operatingmember 15. - The insulating
container 3 is so structured as to include aright wall 3A, aleft wall 3B, afront wall 3C, arear wall 3D, abottom wall 3E and alid 16 for the insulatingcontainer 3 as a second lid. Each of thewalls lid 16 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and each of the entire surfaces is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer. When assembled as the insulatingcontainer 3, the surfaces of thewalls cover 17 made of an infrared reflection film. The edge of thelid 16 is attached to an upper end of thecover 17. According to the aforementioned structure, it is possible to easily and inexpensively manufacture the insulatingcontainer 3 of an arbitrary size. - Next, how to assemble the
temperature controlling unit 2 of the first embodiment will now be explained. First, thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled. To be more precise, theheat exhausting sink 10 is attached to theheat exhausting portion 6C of theStirling refrigerator 6, and the sealingmember 13 is attached to the outer circumference between theheat absorbing portion 6B and theheat exhausting portion 6C in thecylindrical portion 6A. The sealingmember 12 is attached to the circumference of theheat exhausting sink 10, theStirling refrigerator 6 is accommodated in thecasing 7 with theStirling refrigerator 6 being in a handstand condition. Thefan 11 is attached to theexhausting opening 7C of thecasing 7. Thecasing 7 accommodating theStirling refrigerator 6 is attached to thebase 8 by theattachment member 7B, and thecylindrical portion 6A of theStirling refrigerator 6 is fit through the through-hole 8A of thebase 8. At this time, the space between the through-hole 8A and thecylindrical portion 6A is sealed by the sealingmember 13. Theheat absorbing sink 9 is attached to theheat absorbing portion 6B formed on the leading end of acylindrical portion 6A of theStirling refrigerator 6, and thefan 14 is attached to adjacent to theheat absorbing sink 9. Electrical wirings of theStirling refrigerator 6, thefans member 15. Thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled thus way. The assembledtemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the through-hole 4A of thelid 4. That is, thebase 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 4A in such a manner as to allow thestep member 8B formed on thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on thestep 4B of the through-hole 4A, whereby thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to thelid 4. At this time, as explained above, since theheat absorbing sink 9 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of thebase 8, theheat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 4A when thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to thelid 4. As thetemperature controlling unit 2 is structured by attaching thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to thelid 4 thus way, it is possible to obtain thetemperature controlling units 2 of various sizes, that is, thetemperature controlling units 2 that can match the insulatingcontainers 3 of various sizes, by using the commontemperature controlling subunit 5 and changing thelid 4 only. Although thelid 4 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus thelids 4 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture thetemperature controlling unit 2 inexpensively. - Next, the operation of the first embodiment will now be explained. First, items which were refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating
container 3, and thetemperature controlling unit 2 is attached to anopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3. At this time, thetemperature controlling unit 2 is so attached as to allow theheat absorbing sink 9 and thefan 14 to be in the interior of the insulatingcontainer 3. The operatingmember 15 is operated, thereby operating theStirling refrigerator 6 and thefans Stirling refrigerator 6 operates, theheat absorbing portion 6B is brought into a low temperature state, while theheat exhausting portion 6C is brought into a high temperature state. Theheat absorbing portion 6B brought into the low temperature state absorbs heat from theheat absorbing sink 9 thermally contacting theheat absorbing portion 6B and the air inside the insulatingcontainer 3 where theheat absorbing sink 9 is exposed, and conducts this absorbed heat to theheat exhausting portion 6C. The heat conducted to theheat exhausting portion 6C is exhausted from theheat exhausting sink 10. As the air inside the insulatingcontainer 3 is allowed to flow theheat absorbing sink 9 by thefan 14, it is evenly and efficiently cooled by theStirling refrigerator 6. As thefan 11 operates, fresh air flows in via theopening 7A for air intake of thecasing 7, passes through theheat exhausting sink 10, the surroundings of abody portion 6D of theStirling refrigerator 6 and thefan 11 via the opening 7C for air exhaust, and exhausted to the exterior of thecasing 7. At this time, theheat exhausting sink 10 and thebody portion 6D of theStirling refrigerator 6 are cooled by airflow generated by thefan 11. As the interior of the insulatingcontainer 3 is cooled thus way, the items inside the insulatingcontainer 3 are cooled. As the insulatingcontainer 3 itself is made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, it has an extremely light-weight structure, and thetemperature controlling unit 2 also has a relatively light-weight structure as including thelid 4 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and thetemperature controlling subunit 5 using the relativelylight Stirling refrigerator 6. Accordingly, thestorage container 1 using thetemperature controlling unit 2 as a whole can have a relatively light-weight structure. As the surroundings of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape forming thelid 4 and the insulatingcontainer 3 are covered with infrared reflection films, it is possible to prevent infrared, that is, heat from entering into the interior of thestorage container 1 from the outside thereof, the interior of thestorage container 1 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature. In transporting thestorage container 1 where the temperature of the interior thereof is already controlled by thetemperature controlling unit 2, by manpower, as illustrated inFIG. 4 , thetemperature controlling unit 2 may be detached and theopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3 may be closed and sealed by thelid 16 of the insulatingcontainer 3, when the cooling of thetemperature controlling unit 2 is not required. - As explained above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the
temperature controlling subunit 5, using theStirling refrigerator 6 as the temperature controlling device, is attached to theinsulative lid 4, and theheat absorbing sink 9, forming the temperature control effect member A of thetemperature control subunit 5, is thermally exposed at one side of thelid 4 as to work as thetemperature controlling unit 2, whereby the interior of the insulatingcontainer 3 of an arbitrary size, with theopening 3F closed and sealed by thetemperature controlling unit 2, can be cooled, and thus items to be stored can be continuously stored for a longer time compared with solid carbon dioxide and a cold reserving agent conventionally used. As thelid 4 is made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape in a single-piece manner, the first embodiment of the present invention not only enables thelid 4 and further the entiretemperature controlling unit 2 to be light and inexpensive, but also allows thelid 4 to be easily structured in an arbitrary size. Moreover, according to the first embodiment, by attaching thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to thelid 4 by theattachment member 7B, theStirling refrigerator 6 is attached to thelid 4 together with thetemperature controlling subunit 5 by theattachment member 7B, whereby thetemperature controlling units 2 of various sizes can be easily assembled by attaching the commontemperature controlling subunit 5 to thelids 4 of various sizes. As solid carbon dioxide, etc. is not used for the cooling the interior of thestorage container 1, the running cost can be reduced, and environmental burden can be suppressed as gasified carbon dioxide is not generated. Making the insulatingcontainer 3 of foam synthetic resin can make the insulatingcontainer 3 light and inexpensive. Accordingly, not only thewhole container 1 can be made light and inexpensive, but also the insulatingcontainer 3 can be easily structured in an arbitrary size. According to the first embodiment, in transporting thestorage container 1 whose interior is cooled by thetemperature controlling unit 2, by manpower, thetemperature controlling unit 2 may be detached and theopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3 may be closed and sealed by thelid 16 of the insulatingcontainer 3, when the cooling of thetemperature controlling unit 2 is not required, whereby thestorage container 1 as a whole when transported by manpower can be made lighter. Further, according to the first embodiment, as the temperature controlling device is theStirling refrigerator 6 which is small in size and light, and able to cool the interior of thestorage container 1 to a very low temperature at low power, the interior of thestorage container 1 can be cooled to a very low temperature at a low running cost, and thestorage container 1 as a whole can have a light-weight structure. - Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to
FIG. 5 . The same structure portions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numbers, and explanations thereof will be omitted. Atemperature controlling unit 21 of astorage container 20 comprises alid 22 formed with a through-hole 22A on a substantial center thereof, and atemperature controlling subunit 23. Thelid 22 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer. Astep member 22B is formed on the through-hole 22A, and a later describedbase 25 of thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is placed on thestep member 22B. Thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is so comprised as to include theStirling refrigerator 6 as the temperature controlling device, acasing 24 for containing theStirling refrigerator 6, and thebase 25 for supporting theStirling refrigerator 6 and thecasing 24. TheStirling refrigerator 6 is laterally supported, aheat absorbing sink 27 is attached to theheat absorbing portion 6B, formed on the leading end of thecylindrical portion 6A of theStirling refrigerator 6, in a heat-conductive manner via a heatconductive block 26, and theheat exhausting sink 10 is attached to theheat exhausting portion 6C formed on the base end of thecylindrical portion 6A in a heat-conductive manner. Theheat absorbing sink 27 is attached to a lower surface side of the base 25 in an exposed manner, and theheat exhausting sink 10 is arranged inside thecasing 24. Theheat absorbing portion 6B and the heatconductive block 26 are covered with an insulatingmaterial 28 inside thecasing 24. Thecasing 24 is formed with anopening 24A for air intake on acylindrical portion 6A side of theStirling refrigerator 6. A lower portion of thecasing 24 is formed with anattachment member 24B for fixing thetemperature controlling subunit 23. Abody portion 6D side of theStirling refrigerator 6 of thecasing 24 is formed withopening 24C for air exhaust, and thefan 11 is attached to theopening 24C. A through-hole 24D for allowing the heatconductive block 26 to pass through is formed on a lower portion of thecasing 24 adjacent to thecylindrical portion 6A of theStirling refrigerator 6. The sealingmember 12 is provided in between the outer circumference of theheat exhausting sink 10 and the inner wall of thecasing 24, so that the space can be sealed. Thebase 25 is formed with a through-hole 25A in association with the heatconductive block 26, and the outer circumference of thebase 25 is formed with astep member 25B in association with thestep member 22B, so that the base 25 can fit into the through-hole 22A. The inner size of the through-hole 25A is larger than the outer size of the heatconductive block 26, and space between the heatconductive block 26 and the through-hole 25A is sealed by a sealingmember 29 which is made of an insulative foam rubber or the like. Theheat absorbing sink 27 is so formed as to have a size not to protrude from the outer circumference of a lower portion of thebase 25. Thefan 14 is so provided adjacent to theheat absorbing sink 27 as to allow airflow to pass through theheat absorbing sink 27. A temperature control effect member B is structured by theheat absorbing portion 6B of theStirling refrigerator 6, the heatconductive block 26, theheat absorbing sink 27 and thefan 14. A non-illustrated operating member is provided on a front side of thecasing 24, and a non-illustrated controlling circuit is accommodated in the operating member. - Next, how to assemble the
temperature controlling unit 21 of the second embodiment will now be explained. First, thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is assembled. To be more precise, theheat exhausting sink 10 is attached to theheat exhausting portion 6C of theStirling refrigerator 6, the heatconductive block 26 is attached to theheat absorbing portion 6B of thecylindrical portion 6A, and the outer circumferences of theheat absorbing portion 6B and the heatconductive block 26 are covered with the insulatingmaterial 28 and the sealingmember 29. The sealingmember 12 is attached to the circumference of theheat exhausting sink 10, theStirling refrigerator 6 is laterally accommodated in thecasing 24. At this time, the heatconductive block 26 is allowed to pass through the through-hole 24D. Thefan 11 is attached to theexhausting opening 24C of thecasing 24. Thecasing 24 accommodating theStirling refrigerator 6 is attached to thebase 25 by theattachment member 24B, and the heatconductive block 26 is fit through the through-hole 25A of thebase 25. At this time, the space between the through-hole 25A and the heatconductive block 26 is sealed by the sealingmember 29. Theheat absorbing sink 27 is attached to a lower end of the heatconductive block 26, and thefan 14 is attached to adjacent to theheat absorbing sink 27. The electrical wirings of theStirling refrigerator 6, thefans temperature controlling subunit 23 is assembled thus way. The assembledtemperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the through-hole 22A of thelid 22. That is, thebase 25 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 22A in such a manner as to allow thestep member 25B formed on thebase 25 of thetemperature controlling subunit 23 to mount on thestep 22B of the through-hole 22A, whereby thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to thelid 22. At this time, as explained above, since theheat absorbing sink 27 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of thebase 25, theheat absorbing sink 27 does not interfere with the through-hole 22A when thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to thelid 22. As thetemperature controlling unit 21 is structured by attaching thetemperature controlling subunit 23 to thelid 22 thus way, it is possible to obtain thetemperature controlling units 21 of various sizes, that is, thetemperature controlling units 21 that can match the insulatingcontainers 3 of various sizes, by using the commontemperature controlling subunit 23 and changing thelid 22 only. Although thelid 22 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus thelids 22 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture thetemperature controlling unit 21 inexpensively. - Next, the operation of the second embodiment will now be explained. First, items which were refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating
container 3, and thetemperature controlling unit 21 is attached to theopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3. At this time, thetemperature controlling unit 21 is so attached as to allow theheat absorbing sink 27 and thefan 14 to be in the interior of the insulatingcontainer 3. The non-illustrated operating member is operated, thereby operating theStirling refrigerator 6 and thefans Stirling refrigerator 6 operates, theheat absorbing portion 6B is brought into a low temperature state, while theheat exhausting portion 6C is brought into a high temperature state. Theheat absorbing portion 6B brought into the low temperature state absorbs heat from the heatconductive block 26 and theheat absorbing sink 27 both thermally contacting theheat absorbing portion 6B and the air inside the insulatingcontainer 3 where theheat absorbing sink 27 is exposed, and conducts this absorbed heat to theheat exhausting portion 6C. The heat conducted to theheat exhausting portion 6C is exhausted from theheat exhausting sink 10. As the air inside the insulatingcontainer 3 is allowed to flow theheat absorbing sink 27 by thefan 14, it is evenly and efficiently cooled by theStirling refrigerator 6. As thefan 11 operates, fresh air flows in via theopening 24A for air intake of thecasing 24, passes through theheat exhausting sink 10, the surroundings of abody portion 6D of theStirling refrigerator 6 and thefan 11 via theopening 24C for air exhaust, and exhausted to the outside of thecasing 24. At this time, theheat exhausting sink 10 and thebody portion 6D of theStirling refrigerator 6 are cooled by airflow generated by thefan 11. As the interior of the insulatingcontainer 3 is cooled thus way, the items inside the insulatingcontainer 3 are cooled. As the insulatingcontainer 3 itself is made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, it has an extremely light-weight structure, and thetemperature controlling unit 21 also has a relatively light-weight structure as including thelid 22 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and thetemperature controlling subunit 23 using the relativelylight Stirling refrigerator 6. Accordingly, thestorage container 20 using thetemperature controlling unit 21 as a whole can have a relatively light-weight structure. As the surroundings of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape forming thelid 22 and the insulatingcontainer 3 are covered with infrared reflection films, it is possible to prevent infrared, that is, heat from entering into the interior of thestorage container 20 from the outside thereof, the interior of thestorage container 20 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature. - The same effectiveness as that of the first embodiment can be obtained according to the second embodiment.
- Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to
FIG. 6 . The same structure portions as the aforementioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numbers, and explanations thereof will be omitted. Explanations of the similar effectiveness will be also omitted here.Reference number 30 denotes a storage container, and thestorage container 30 comprises atemperature controlling unit 31 and alid 32. Thelid 32 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer. Thelid 32 is openably and closably attached to anopening 33F of a later described insulating container 33 which constitutes thetemperature controlling unit 31. - The
temperature controlling unit 31 comprises an insulating container 33 and thetemperature controlling subunit 23. The insulating container 33 is so structured as to include aright wall 33A, aleft wall 33B, a front wall (not illustrated), arear wall 33D and abottom wall 33E. Each of thewalls walls cover 34 made of an infrared reflection film. Theright wall 33A is formed with a through-hole 33G, the through-hole 33G is formed with astep member 33H, and thestep member 25B formed on the outer circumference of thebase 25 of thetemperature controlling subunit 23 contact thestep member 33H in association with thestep member 33H, so that the base 25 can fit into the through-hole 33G. In thetemperature controlling subunit 23, theStirling refrigerator 6 inside thereof is in a standing condition, other structures thereof are the same as those of the second embodiment. - Next, how to assemble the
temperature controlling unit 31 of the third embodiment will now be explained. First, thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is assembled. The assembling of thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is the same as that of the second embodiment. The assembledtemperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the through-hole 33G formed in theright wall 33A of the insulating container 33. That is, thebase 25 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 33G in such a manner as to allow thestep member 25B formed on thebase 25 of thetemperature controlling subunit 23 to contact thestep member 33H of the through-hole 33G, whereby thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the insulating container 33. At this time, as explained above, since theheat absorbing sink 27 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of thebase 25, theheat absorbing sink 27 does not interfere with the through-hole 33G when thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is attached to the insulating container 33. As thetemperature controlling unit 31 is structured by attaching thetemperature controlling subunit 23 to the insulating container 33 thus way, it is possible to obtain thetemperature controlling units 31 of various sizes, that is, thetemperature controlling units 31 that can match thelids 32 of various sizes, by using the commontemperature controlling subunit 23 and changing the insulating container 33 only. Although the insulating container 33 is covered with an infrared reflection film and thecover 34, but each of thewalls temperature controlling unit 31 inexpensively. In the third embodiment, although thewalls - Next, the operation of the third embodiment will now be explained. First, items which were refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating container 33 of the
temperature controlling unit 31, and thelid 32 is attached to anopening 33F of the insulating container 33. The operation of thetemperature controlling subunit 23 is the same as those of the second embodiment. As thelid 32 itself is made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, it has an extremely light-weight structure, and thetemperature controlling unit 31 also has a relatively light-weight structure as including the insulating container 33 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and thetemperature controlling subunit 23 using the relativelylight Stirling refrigerator 6. Accordingly, thestorage container 30 using thetemperature controlling unit 31 as a whole can have a relatively light-weight structure. As the surroundings of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape forming thelid 32 and the insulating container 33 are covered with infrared reflection films, it is possible to prevent infrared, that is, heat from entering into the interior of thestorage container 30 from the outside thereof, the interior of thestorage container 30 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature. - The same effectiveness as those of the aforementioned embodiments can be obtained by the third embodiment. In addition, according to the third embodiment, as the insulating container 33 is made of a foam synthetic resin, the insulating container 33, and further the entire
temperature controlling unit 31 can be light and inexpensive, but also the insulating container 33 can be structured in an arbitrary size. - Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to
FIG. 7 . The same structure portions as the aforementioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numbers, and explanations thereof and effectiveness will be omitted.Reference number 40 denotes a storage container, and thestorage container 40 comprises atemperature controlling unit 41, amain lid 42 and the insulatingcontainer 3. - The
temperature controlling unit 41 comprises a sub-lid 43 formed with a through-hole 43A on a substantial center thereof, and thetemperature controlling subunit 5. The sub-lid 43 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer. The sub-lid 43 is so formed as to have a size partially closing and sealing theopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3. Astep member 43B is formed on the through-hole 43A, and thestep member 8B, formed on the outer circumference of thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 in association with thestep member 43B, so contacts thestep member 43B as to allow thebase 8 to fit into the through-hole 43A, whereby thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is placed on the sub-lid 43. - The
main lid 42 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer. Themain lid 42 is openably and closably attached to theopening 3F in such a manner as to close and seal the remaining portion of theopening 3F not closed and sealed by thetemperature controlling unit 41. - Next, how to assemble the
temperature controlling unit 41 of the fourth embodiment will now be explained. First, thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled. The assembling of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The assembledtemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the through-hole 43A formed in the sub-lid 43. That is, thebase 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 43A in such a manner as to allow thestep member 8B formed on thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on thestep 43B of the through-hole 43A, whereby thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43. At this time, as explained above, since theheat absorbing sink 9 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of thebase 8, theheat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 43A when thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43. As thetemperature controlling unit 41 is structured by attaching thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to the sub-lid 43 thus way, it is possible to obtain thetemperature controlling units 41 of various sizes, that is, thetemperature controlling units 41 that can match the insulatingcontainers 3 and themain lids 42 of various sizes, by using the commontemperature controlling subunit 5 and changing the sub-lid 43 only. Although the sub-lid 43 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus thesub-lids 43 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture thetemperature controlling unit 41 inexpensively. - Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment will now be explained. First, items which were refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating
container 3, thetemperature controlling unit 41 is so attached to theopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3 as to partially close and seal theopening 3F, and themain lid 42 is so attached to the remaining portion of theopening 3F which is not closed and sealed by thetemperature controlling unit 41. At this time, thetemperature controlling unit 41 is so attached as to allow theheat absorbing sink 9 and thefan 14 to be the interior of the insulatingcontainer 3. The operation of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus explanations thereof will be omitted at here. As the insulatingcontainer 3 and themain lid 42 are made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, they have extremely light-weight structure, and thetemperature controlling unit 41 also has a relatively light-weight structure as including the sub-lid 43 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and thetemperature controlling subunit 5 using the relativelylight Stirling refrigerator 6. Accordingly, thestorage container 40 using thetemperature controlling unit 41 as a whole can have a relatively light-weight structure. As the surroundings of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape forming themain lid 42, the sub-lid 43 and the insulatingcontainer 3 are covered with infrared reflection films, it is possible to prevent infrared, that is, heat from entering into the interior of thestorage container 40 from the outside thereof, the interior of thestorage container 40 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature. Further, as thetemperature controlling unit 41 and themain lid 42 are individually provided, theopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3 included in thestorage container 40 can be easily opened and items to be stored can be easily put into and taken out from thestorage container 40 with thetemperature controlling unit 41 attached to theopening 3F and the lightmain lid 42 opened. - The same effectiveness as those of the aforementioned embodiments can be obtained by the fourth embodiment. In addition, according to the fourth embodiment, as the sub-lid 43 is made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, the sub-lid 43 and further the entire
temperature controlling unit 41 can be light and inexpensive. Moreover, the sub-lid 43 can be easily structured in an arbitrary size. Additionally, thebase 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 43A in such a manner as to allow thestep member 8B formed on thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on thestep 43B of the through-hole 43A, whereby thetemperature controlling subunit 5 can be attached to the sub-lid 43. - Next, the fifth embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to
FIGS. 8 to 11 . The same structure portions as the first and fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numbers.Reference number 50 denotes a storage container, and thestorage container 50 comprises atemperature controlling unit 51 and the insulatingcontainer 3. - The
temperature controlling unit 51 comprises aframe 53 which is formed in such a shape that two quadrangles with same widths are arranged as to have respective one edges to come in contact with each other, thereby having the common edge, themain lid 42 openably and closably attached to afirst opening 53A as the opening of theframe 53, the sub-lid 43 attached to asecond opening 53B, as the opening of theframe 53, and formed with the through-hole 43A on the substantial center thereof, and thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to be attached to the through-hole 43A. - The
frame 53 is so formed that thefirst opening 53A is larger than thesecond opening 53B. Theframe 53 is made of a material having small heat conductivity like a synthetic resin, and desirably, engineering plastic of high-strength. - The
main lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 have the same structures as the fourth embodiment. As the foam synthetic resin of themain lid 42 and the sub-lid 43, foam polyurethane, foam polystyrene, etc. can be used. In the fifth embodiment, one edge of themain lid 42 is freely movably fixed to theframe 53, thereby openably and closably closing and sealing thefirst opening 53A. The sub-lid 43 has, as same as the fourth embodiment, the through-hole 43A formed with thestep member 43B for placing thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5. Thetemperature controlling subunit 5 has the same structure as the first embodiment. - The insulating
container 3 has theright wall 3A, theleft wall 3B, thefront wall 3C, therear wall 3D, thebottom wall 3E and thelid 16 for the insulatingcontainer 3 as the second lid, and it has a foldable structure. Each of thewalls lid 16 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and each of the entire surfaces is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer. When assembled as the insulatingcontainer 3, the surfaces of thewalls container 3 are covered with thecover 17. Thecover 17 is as same as that of the first embodiment. The edge of thelid 16 is freely movably attached to the upper end of thecover 17. As the insulatingcontainer 3 is foldable, it can save space by folding thewalls lid 16 when unused. - Next, how to assemble the
temperature controlling unit 51 of the fifth embodiment will now be explained. First, as same as the first and the fourth embodiments, thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled and attached to the sub-lid 43. At this time, as same as the fourth embodiment, theheat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 43A when thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43. - The
main lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 with thetemperature controlling subunit 5, attached thereto thus way, are attached to thefirst opening 53A and thesecond opening 53B, respectively. To be more precise, the sub-lid 43 is fixed to thesecond opening 53B of theframe 53, while themain lid 42 is so attached to thefirst opening 53A as to allow the one edge thereof to be freely movable for theframe 53. That is, themain lid 42 freely movably attached to theframe 53 openably and closably closes and seals thefirst opening 53A. As thetemperature controlling unit 51 is structured by attaching themain lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 with thetemperature controlling subunit 5 attached thereto, to theframe 53, the same effectiveness as those of the aforementioned embodiments can be obtained by using the commontemperature controlling subunit 5 and changing theframe 53, themain lid 42 and the sub-lid 43. Although themain lid 42 and the sub-lid 43 are also covered with an infrared reflection film in this embodiment, but each basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus they can obtain the same effectiveness as those of the aforementioned embodiments. - Next, the operation of the fifth embodiment will now be explained. First, items which were refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating
container 3, and thetemperature controlling unit 51 is so attached to the upper end of the insulatingcontainer 3 as to close and seal the opening of the insulatingcontainer 3. At this time, thetemperature controlling unit 51 is so attached as to allow theframe 53 to contact the upper end of the insulatingcontainer 3, that is, as to allow theheat absorbing sink 9 and thefan 14 to be the interior of the insulatingcontainer 3. The operation of thetemperature controlling subunit 5, themain lid 42, the sub-lid 43 and the insulatingcontainer 53 are the same as the aforementioned embodiment. - According to the fifth embodiment, as the
frame 53 is made of a low heat-conductive material, it is possible to prevent infrared, that is, heat from entering into the interior of thestorage container 50 from the outside thereof via theframe 53. When thestorage container 50 is unused, it can save space by detaching thetemperature controlling unit 51 and folding the insulating container 52 as explained above. - As explained above, the same effectiveness as those of the aforementioned embodiments can be obtained by the fifth embodiment. In addition, according to the fifth embodiment, as the
frame 53 is made of a synthetic resin or the like as a low heat-conductive material, it is possible to prevent heat from entering into the interior of thestorage container 50 from the outside thereof, and thus the temperature of the interior thereof can be efficiently controlled. - Next, the sixth embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to
FIGS. 12 to 16 . The same structure portions as the aforementioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numbers, and explanations thereof as well as effectiveness thereof will be omitted.Reference number 60 denotes a storage container, and thestorage container 60 comprises thetemperature controlling unit 41, amain lid 61 and the insulatingcontainer 3. - The
temperature controlling unit 41 comprises the sub-lid 43 formed with the through-hole 43A on a substantial center thereof, and thetemperature controlling subunit 5. The sub-lid 43 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer. The sub-lid 43 is so formed as to have a size partially closing and sealing theopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3. Thestep member 43B is formed on the through-hole 43A, while thestep member 8B, formed on the outer circumference of thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5, corresponding to thestep member 43B is abutted against thestem member 43B so that thebase 8 may be fitted into the through-hole 43A, whereby thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is placed on the sub-lid 43. On the other hand, astep member 43C is formed adjacent to themain lid 61 in the sub-lid 43, while astep member 63A, formed on one end portion of a later-describedsmall lid 63 of themain lid 61, corresponding to thestep member 43C, is abutted against thestep member 43C, whereby themain lid 61 is placed on the sub-lid 43. - The
main lid 61 is divided into a plurality ofsmall lids small lids main lid 61 formed by these mutually-foldably connectedsmall lids opening 3F in such a manner as to close and seal the remaining portion of theopening 3F that is not closed and sealed by thetemperature controlling unit 41. - Further, a plurality of rectangular
flexible pieces small lids main lid 61 with respect to the alignment direction thereof. Theseflexible pieces flexible pieces flexible piece 64 is attached to an outside surface of the upper end of the insulatingcontainer 3 in the vicinity of theopening 3F. On the other hand, another female or male hook and loop fastener Y (second fastener) disengageably engaging with the hook and loop fastener X of theflexible piece 65 is attached to an upper surface of the sub-lid 43 adjacent to theopening 3F. - Thus, said main can be fixed in a manner closing and sealing the
opening 3F of said insulatingcontainer 3. At this moment, it is possible to open or close only onesmall lid 62 by disengaging saidflexible piece 64 from said hook and loop fastener Y attached to the outside surface at the upper side of said insulatingcontainer 3, as illustrated inFIG. 13 . Likewise, it is also possible to open or close only the othersmall lid 63 by disengaging saidflexible piece 65 from the hook and loop fastener Y attached to the upper surface of said sub-lid 43, as illustrated inFIG. 14 . Moreover, it is possible to hingeably open or close saidmain lid 61 as a whole, in such a manner as shown inFIG. 15 , by flexing saidflexible piece 65 from the state illustrated inFIG. 13 by an external force. Likewise, it is possible to hingeably open or close saidmain lid 61 as a whole, in such a manner as shown inFIG. 16 , by flexing saidflexible piece 64 from the state illustrated inFIG. 14 by an external force. - Next, how to assemble the
temperature controlling unit 41 of the sixth embodiment will now be explained. First, thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled. The assembling of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The assembledtemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the through-hole 43A formed in the sub-lid 43. That is, thebase 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 43A in such a manner as to allow thestep member 8B formed on thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on thestep 43B of the through-hole 43A, whereby thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43. At this time, as explained above, since theheat absorbing sink 9 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of thebase 8, theheat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 43A when thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 43. As thetemperature controlling unit 41 is structured by attaching thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to the sub-lid 43 thus way, it is possible to obtain thetemperature controlling units 41 of various sizes, that is, thetemperature controlling units 41 that can match the insulatingcontainers 3 and themain lids 61 of various sizes, by using the commontemperature controlling subunit 5 and changing the sub-lid 43 only. Although the sub-lid 43 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus thesub-lids 43 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture thetemperature controlling unit 41 inexpensively. - Next, the operation of the sixth embodiment will now be explained. First, items refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating
container 3, and then thetemperature controlling unit 41 is so attached to theopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3 as to partially close and seal theopening 3F, and themain lid 61 is so attached to the remaining portion of theopening 3F which is not closed and sealed by thetemperature controlling unit 41. At this time, thetemperature controlling unit 41 is so attached as to allow theheat absorbing sink 9 and thefan 14 to be disposed in the interior of the insulatingcontainer 3. The operation of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus explanations thereof will be omitted at here. As the insulatingcontainer 3 and themain lid 61 are made of a light foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, they have extremely light-weight structure, and thetemperature controlling unit 41 also has a relatively light-weight structure as being composed of the sub-lid 43 made of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape and an infrared reflection film, and thetemperature controlling subunit 5 using the relativelylight Stirling refrigerator 6. Accordingly, thestorage container 60 using thetemperature controlling unit 41 can have a relatively light-weight structure as a whole. As the peripheral surfaces of a foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape forming themain lid 61, the sub-lid 42 and the insulatingcontainer 3 are covered with infrared reflection films, it is possible to prevent infrared rays or heat from entering into the interior of thestorage container 60 from the outside thereof, so that the interior of thestorage container 60 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature. Further, as thetemperature controlling unit 41 and themain lid 61 are individually provided, theopening 3F of the insulatingcontainer 3 constituting thestorage container 60 can be easily opened so that items to be stored can be easily put into and then taken out from thestorage container 60 by simply opening the lightweightmain lid 61 with thetemperature controlling unit 41 being attached to theopening 3F. - Furthermore, as said
main lid 61 is divided into a plurality of thesmall lids heat insulation container 3, i.e., saidmain lid 61 is large-sized in such a manner as to fold up saidmain lid 61 to make its turning radius small if themain lid 61 is to be fully opened. Moreover, since an opening area at the time of storing or taking out items can be reduced to minimum by opening or closing only one of thesmall lids container 3 can be reduced to minimum. - Furthermore, said
main lid 61 is fixedly attached in such a manner as to close and seal theopening 3F, using the substantially rectangularflexible pieces small lids main lid 61 in the alignment direction thereof; and the second hook and loop fastener Y attached to said insulatingcontainer 3 and the sub-lid 42, whereby it is possible to hingeably open or close saidmain lid 61 in any direction by detaching one of saidflexible pieces flexible pieces - The same effectiveness as that of the aforementioned fourth embodiment can be obtained by the sixth embodiment. In addition, according to the sixth embodiment, as the
main lid 61 is divided into a plurality ofsmall lids main lid 61 be further easily opened and closed by folding themain lid 61 to make the turning radius small, but also can the opening area of the insulatingcontainer 3 be reduced to minimum by opening either one of thesmall lids container 3 to be minimized. Further, saidmain lid 61 is provided with theflexible pieces small lids container 3 and the sub-lid 42, whereby it is possible to hingeably open or close saidmain lid 61 in any direction by detaching any one of the first hook and loop fasteners X attached to thesmall lids - Next, the seventh embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to
FIG. 17 to 19 . The same structure portions as the aforementioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numbers, and explanations thereof and effectiveness will be omitted.Reference number 70 denotes a storage container, and thestorage container 70 comprises atemperature controlling unit 71,main lids container 72. Further, thetemperature controlling unit 71 is attached to the substantially central portion in anopening 72E of the insulatingcontainer 72, and theopening 72E of the insulatingcontainer 72 is divided by thetemperature controlling unit 71 into twosmaller openings smaller openings main lids - The
temperature controlling unit 71 comprises a sub-lid 75 formed with a through-hole 75A in a substantial center thereof, and thetemperature controlling subunit 5. The sub-lid 75 is made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and its entire surface is covered with an infrared reflection film as an infrared reflection layer. The sub-lid 75 is so formed as to have a size partially closing and sealing theopening 72E of the insulatingcontainer 72. Astep member 75B is formed on the through-hole 75A, and thestep member 8B, formed on the outer circumference of thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 in association with thestep member 75B, so contacts thestep member 75B as to allow thebase 8 to fit into the through-hole 75A, whereby thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is placed on the sub-lid 75. - On the other hand,
other step members openings step member 73A formed at one end of saidmain lid 73 corresponding to saidstep member 75C is allowed to abut to thisstep member 75C so that saidmain lid 73 may be placed on saidsub-lid 75. Likewise, thestep member 74A formed at the other end of saidmain lid 74 corresponding to saidstep member 75D is allowed to abut to thisstep member 75D so that saidmain lid 74 may be placed on saidsub-lid 75. - The insulating
container 72 is so structured as to include aright wall 72A, aleft wall 72B, a front wall (not illustrated), arear wall 72C and abottom wall 72D. Each of thewalls right wall 72A, leftwall 72B, front wall (not illustrated),rear wall 72C have the same height, and they constitute a mountingsurface 72F in a manner surrounding theopening 72E. - Then,
lower surfaces main lids lower surface 75E of the sub-lid 75 of thetemperature controlling unit 71 are abutted onto the mountingsurface 72F, thus allowing saidmain lids temperature controlling unit 71 to be placed on the mountingsurface 72F. - With these walls being assembled as the insulating
container 72, the outside surfaces of thesewalls cover member 76 made of an infrared reflection film. According to the structure, it is possible to easily and inexpensively manufacture the insulatingcontainer 72 of an arbitrary size. - Also, each of the
main lids main lids container 72 so as to close and seal thesmaller openings temperature controlling unit 71 is formed so that it is movable on the mountingsurface 72F when the bothmain lids - Next, how to assemble the
temperature controlling unit 71 of the seventh embodiment will now be explained. First, thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is assembled. The assembling of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The assembledtemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the through-hole 75A formed in the sub-lid 75. That is, thebase 8 is fitted in and engaged with the through-hole 75A in such a manner as to allow thestep member 8B formed on thebase 8 of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to mount on thestep 75B of the through-hole 75A, whereby thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 75. At this time, as explained above, since theheat absorbing sink 9 is formed to have the size not to protrude from the outer circumference of the lower portion of thebase 8, theheat absorbing sink 9 does not interfere with the through-hole 75A when thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is attached to the sub-lid 75. As thetemperature controlling unit 71 is structured by attaching thetemperature controlling subunit 5 to the sub-lid 75 thus way, it is possible to obtain thetemperature controlling units 71 of various sizes, that is, thetemperature controlling units 71 that can match the insulatingcontainers 72 and themain lids temperature controlling subunit 5 and changing the sub-lid 75 only. Although the sub-lid 75 is covered with an infrared reflection film, but basically made of an insulative foam synthetic resin in a tabular shape, in a single-piece manner, and thus thesub-lids 75 of various sizes can be easily and inexpensively obtained. Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture thetemperature controlling unit 71 inexpensively. - Next, the operation of the seventh embodiment will now be explained. First, items refrigerated or frozen beforehand by a refrigerator or a freezer is taken in the insulating
container 72, and then thetemperature controlling unit 71 is so attached to theopening 72E of the insulatingcontainer 72 as to partially close and seal theopening 72E, and themain lids openings temperature controlling unit 71. At this time, thetemperature controlling unit 71 is so attached as to allow theheat absorbing sink 9 and thefan 14 to be disposed inside the insulatingcontainer 72. The operation of thetemperature controlling subunit 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus explanations thereof will be omitted here. - As the insulating
container 72 and themain lids temperature controlling unit 71 also has a relatively light-weight structure as it is composed of the sub-lid 75 made of the tabular foam synthetic resin and the infrared reflection film, and thetemperature controlling subunit 5 using the relativelylight Stirling refrigerator 6. Accordingly, thestorage container 70 using thetemperature controlling unit 71 can have a relatively light-weight structure as a whole. As the peripheral surfaces of the foam synthetic resin-made tabular members forming themain lids container 72 are covered with infrared reflection films, it is possible to prevent infrared rays or heat from entering into the interior of thestorage container 70 from the outside thereof, whereby the interior of thestorage container 70 can be not only efficiently cooled, but also cooled to a very low temperature. Further, as thetemperature controlling unit 71 and themain lids opening 72E of the insulatingcontainer 72 constituting thestorage container 70 can be easily opened so that items to be stored can be easily put into and then taken out from thestorage container 70 by opening the lightmain lids temperature controlling unit 71 being attached to theopening 72E. - The
temperature controlling unit 71 is attached to the substantially central portion in theopening 72E of the insulatingcontainer 72, and the twosmaller openings temperature controlling unit 71 are opened or closed and sealed by themain lids storage container 70 is transported by manpower, the relatively heavytemperature controlling unit 71 is located on the substantially central portion in theopening 72E of the insulatingcontainer 72, i.e. the substantial center of the insulatingcontainer 72, whereby the center of gravity of thestorage container 70 can be prevented from being biased, so that it can be easily transported by manpower, while leading to small deviation of the temperature in the interior of the insulatingcontainer 72. - Further, there is formed the mounting
surface 72F in a manner surrounding theopening 72E of the insulatingcontainer 72 that is abutted against thelower surfaces main lids lower surface 75E of the sub-lid 75, while saidtemperature controlling unit 71 is movably provided on said mountingsurface 72F. Thus, even when relatively bigger stored items are taken out from thestorage container 70, or even when stored items lying beneath thetemperature controlling unit 71 are taken out therefrom, they can be easily taken out by shifting thetemperature controlling unit 71 on the mountingsurface 72F to thereby widen anopening area 72J. Moreover, thestep members sub-lid 75, so that thestep members main lids step members main lids container 72 can be enhanced. - The same effectiveness as those of the aforementioned embodiments can be obtained by the seventh embodiment. In addition, according to the seventh embodiment, the
temperature controlling unit 71 is attached to the substantially central portion in theopening 72E of the insulatingcontainer 72, and thus, when thestorage container 70 is transported by manpower, the center of gravity of thestorage container 70 can be prevented from being biased, so that it can be easily transported by manpower, while enabling the deviation of the temperature inside the insulatingcontainer 72 to be decreased. - Further, since said
temperature controlling unit 71 is movably provided on said mountingsurface 72F, even when relatively bigger items stored in said insulatingcontainer 72 are taken out therefrom, or even when items stored beneath thetemperature controlling unit 71 are taken out therefrom, they can be easily taken out by shifting thetemperature controlling unit 71 on the mountingsurface 72F. Moreover, thestep members sub-lid 75, so that thestep members main lids step members container 72, thereby enabling the interior of sad insulatingcontainer 72 to be cooled efficiently. - It should be noted that the present invention is aimed at providing a storage container which enables storage of items for a longer period of time at low running cost and allows its volume to be set freely. Specifically, the main lid and the temperature controlling unit are provided so as to be detachably attached to the opening of the insulating container, thereby enabling an arbitral combination of the main lid and the temperature controlling unit. As a result, the storage container thus constituted can have many applications required for both hot and cold insulation of foods and medicinal products, etc.
- The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments, and can be modified within the scope of the present invention. For instance, whilst the Stirling refrigerator is used as the temperature controlling device in each of the aforementioned embodiments, other, for instance, a thermo module utilizing the Peltier effect may be used as illustrated in
FIG. 20 , or a heater may be used as illustrated inFIG. 21 In the aforementioned embodiments, the temperature controlling subunit is exposed from the lid, the sub-lid or the insulating container, but it may be so structured as to be accommodated by the lid, the sub-lid or the insulating container. In the above described embodiments, the second lid is attached to the insulating container, but it may be an independent lid from the insulating container. - The main lid is freely movably attached to the frame in the fifth embodiment, but as long as it opens or closes the opening of the frame, it may be freely movably attached to, for instance, the sub-lid. The frame is formed with two openings in the fifth embodiment, but it may be formed with one opening and both the main lid and the sub-lid may cover this opening. The frame may be formed with more than or equal to three openings, the sub-lid may cover one of the openings, and the other openings may be opened or closed by several main lids.
- The main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container are made of foam synthetic resins, but other insulating materials, for instance, a vacuum insulation panel or the like may be used. When the main lid, the sub-lid and the insulating container are made of a vacuum insulation panel, insulation properties thereof are improved, thus preventing heat from entering the interior of the storage container from the outside thereof, whereby the interior of the storage container can be cooled to further cold temperature and rapidly.
Claims (11)
1. A storage container comprising:
an insulating container which has an opening;
a temperature controlling unit which is independent of said insulating container, said temperature controlling unit being detachably attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal a portion of said opening; and
a main lid which is attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal an other portion of said opening, wherein said temperature controlling unit comprises:
an insulative sub-lid; and
a temperature controlling subunit which is provided on said sub-lid, said temperature controlling subunit comprises:
a base which is fitted into a through-hole formed on said sub-lid; and
a Stirling refrigerator, said Stirling refrigerator including a temperature control effect member which is thermally exposed inside said insulating container.
2. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein said temperature controlling subunit further includes an attachment member for attaching said temperature controlling subunit to said sub-lid.
3. The storage container according to claim 2 , wherein said main lid, said sub-lid and said insulating container are made of foam synthetic resins.
4. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein said storage container is a portable cooler box.
5. The storage container according to claim 4 , wherein said temperature controlling unit is detached and the opening of said insulating container is closed and sealed by the lid of said insulating container when the cooling of said temperature controlling unit is not required at the time of transporting, by manpower, said storage container where the temperature of the interior thereof is already controlled by said temperature controlling unit.
6. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein said main lid is divided into a plurality of small lids.
7. The storage container according to claim 6 , wherein said small lids are foldably connected to form said main lid.
8. The storage container according to claim 7 , wherein a flexible piece is provided on both ends of the small lids with respect to an alignment direction thereof, said flexible piece being provided with a first hook-and-loop fastener, while a second hook-and-loop fastener corresponding to said first hook-and-loop fastener is provided on said insulating container and said sub-lid.
9. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein said temperature controlling unit is attached to a substantially central portion in the opening of said insulating container so that the opening of said insulating container may be divided by said temperature controlling unit into two smaller openings, said two smaller openings being capable of being opened or closed and sealed by said main lid, respectively.
10. The storage container according to claim 9 , wherein a mounting surface contacting respective lower surfaces of said main lid and said sub-lid is formed along a circumference of the opening of said insulating container, while said temperature controlling unit is movably provided on said mounting surface.
11. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein a step member is formed on said sub-lid and said main lid so that the step member of said main lid contacts the step member of said sub-lid.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/425,511 US20090200320A1 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2009-04-17 | Storage container |
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2004-242952 | 2004-08-23 | ||
JP2004242952A JP4235151B2 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2004-08-23 | Storage |
JP2004278464A JP2006090665A (en) | 2004-09-24 | 2004-09-24 | Refrigeration unit and cold insulation box using the refrigeration unit |
JP2004-278464 | 2004-09-24 | ||
US11/185,050 US20060037327A1 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2005-07-20 | Temperature controlling unit and container using the same |
US12/425,511 US20090200320A1 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2009-04-17 | Storage container |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/185,050 Continuation-In-Part US20060037327A1 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2005-07-20 | Temperature controlling unit and container using the same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090200320A1 true US20090200320A1 (en) | 2009-08-13 |
Family
ID=40938033
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/425,511 Abandoned US20090200320A1 (en) | 2004-08-23 | 2009-04-17 | Storage container |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090200320A1 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140338387A1 (en) * | 2013-05-15 | 2014-11-20 | Jish-Shyan Jiang | Assembled temperature controlling device |
US20160348962A1 (en) * | 2014-01-31 | 2016-12-01 | The Coca-Cola Company | Systems and methods for vacuum cooling a beverage |
CN107518730A (en) * | 2015-02-12 | 2017-12-29 | 宁波高新区夏远科技有限公司 | A kind of bottom sets the cup of Stirling engine |
KR101838259B1 (en) * | 2017-09-05 | 2018-03-13 | 백계영 | Cold and hot box |
US20190323756A1 (en) * | 2018-04-19 | 2019-10-24 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
US10989466B2 (en) | 2019-01-11 | 2021-04-27 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
US11118827B2 (en) | 2019-06-25 | 2021-09-14 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler |
US11162716B2 (en) | 2019-06-25 | 2021-11-02 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler |
US11668508B2 (en) | 2019-06-25 | 2023-06-06 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler |
US11788783B2 (en) * | 2017-11-07 | 2023-10-17 | MVE Biological Solutions US, LLC | Cryogenic freezer |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140338387A1 (en) * | 2013-05-15 | 2014-11-20 | Jish-Shyan Jiang | Assembled temperature controlling device |
US10746459B2 (en) * | 2014-01-31 | 2020-08-18 | The Coca-Cola Company | Systems and methods for vacuum cooling a beverage |
US20160348962A1 (en) * | 2014-01-31 | 2016-12-01 | The Coca-Cola Company | Systems and methods for vacuum cooling a beverage |
CN107518730A (en) * | 2015-02-12 | 2017-12-29 | 宁波高新区夏远科技有限公司 | A kind of bottom sets the cup of Stirling engine |
KR101838259B1 (en) * | 2017-09-05 | 2018-03-13 | 백계영 | Cold and hot box |
US11788783B2 (en) * | 2017-11-07 | 2023-10-17 | MVE Biological Solutions US, LLC | Cryogenic freezer |
US10941972B2 (en) | 2018-04-19 | 2021-03-09 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
US10852047B2 (en) | 2018-04-19 | 2020-12-01 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
US10670323B2 (en) * | 2018-04-19 | 2020-06-02 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
US11067327B2 (en) | 2018-04-19 | 2021-07-20 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
US20190323756A1 (en) * | 2018-04-19 | 2019-10-24 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
US11927382B2 (en) | 2018-04-19 | 2024-03-12 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
US10989466B2 (en) | 2019-01-11 | 2021-04-27 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler with active temperature control |
US11118827B2 (en) | 2019-06-25 | 2021-09-14 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler |
US11162716B2 (en) | 2019-06-25 | 2021-11-02 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler |
US11365926B2 (en) | 2019-06-25 | 2022-06-21 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler |
US11466919B2 (en) | 2019-06-25 | 2022-10-11 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler |
US11668508B2 (en) | 2019-06-25 | 2023-06-06 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable cooler |
US11719480B2 (en) | 2019-06-25 | 2023-08-08 | Ember Technologies, Inc. | Portable container |
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Owner name: TWINBIRD CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SAITO, RYOSUKE;NOMIZU, TOSHIKATSU;ODA, KIYOTAKA;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:022559/0394 Effective date: 20090413 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |