WO2015042841A1

WO2015042841A1 - A method and system for providing an indication of a temperature of contents contained in an enclosed volume

Info

Publication number: WO2015042841A1
Application number: PCT/CN2013/084361
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chik Sum Chan
Original assignee: Kado Industrial Co. Limited
Priority date: 2013-09-26
Filing date: 2013-09-26
Publication date: 2015-04-02
Also published as: HK1223679A1; CN105992936A

Abstract

A method for providing an indication of a temperature of contents (12) contained within an enclosed volume (14) comprises the steps of: providing a temperature measuring apparatus (18) and a control device (20); and measuring a temperature of the control device (20) within the enclosed volume (14) to provide an indication of the temperature of the contents (12) contained within the enclosed volume (14).

Description

A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN INDICATION OF A TEMPERATURE OF CONTENTS CONTAINED IN AN ENCLOSED VOLUME

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method and system for providing an indication of a temperature of contents contained in an enclosed volume. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively to cool boxes which are adapted to keep the contents contained therein at a temperature lower than the ambient or surrounding external temperature.

Background Art

Containers for holding contents at lowered or elevated temperatures are known. One example is sometimes referred to as a “warm box” which is used to keep the contents of the container at an elevated temperature compared to the temperature of an ambient or surrounding external environment. Warm boxes are commonly used by fast food outlets to keep food warm for home delivery.

An example of a container for holding contents at a lowered temperature is commonly referred to as a “cool box” or a “cold box”, although the container may not actually comprise a box as such. For example, applicant’s US patent number 6474095 discloses a cool box comprising a collapsible container having a number of walls which are movable relative to one another between a collapsed configuration in which at least a major surface of at least two of the walls are in contact with each other, and an expanded configuration in which the walls define a cavity adapted to receive contents such as an article, e.g. cans or bottles of soft drinks and beers, and the walls contain a casing containing a coolable liquid.

Cool boxes can also be employed for more critical applications such as the transport of transplantable human organs where maintaining the temperature of the organ to be transplanted within a relatively narrow lowered temperature range is critical to the health of the organ, or the storage of temperature sensitive vaccines or the like.

There are, of course, many other uses for both warm boxes and cool boxes.

In the above examples, but more particularly, although not exclusively, in the case of cool boxes for transporting human organs, it can be useful to have an indication of the current temperature of the contents of the container, i.e. in the case of transplantable human organs, an indication of the current temperature of the human organ within its container. However, directly measuring the temperature of the human organ is not normally considered desirable.

One solution to the foregoing problem is to place a means for measuring the temperature inside the closed container, but a disadvantage of this is that the temperature measurement obtained is likely to be a measure of the temperature of the air within the container which may be quite different to the current temperature of the contents, e.g. the human organ. This may be because the air in the container has been cooled over a period of time longer than the time period during which the contents have been present in the container. Thus, the contents, once placed in the container, may not yet have had an opportunity to cool to the extent that the air has already cooled. Whilst, in most applications, a ‘false’ temperature reading for the contents of the container may not cause too much inconvenience, the same is not necessarily true for contents whose condition is sensitive to their containment temperature.

Technical Problem

An object of the invention is to mitigate or obviate to some degree one or more problems associated with prior art storage or transport containers such as warm boxes and cool boxes.

The above object is met by the combination of features of the main claims; the sub-claims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for contents where it is possible to obtain a temperature reading from within the container that is indicative of the temperature of the contents of the container without directly measuring the temperature of the contents.

One skilled in the art will derive from the following description other objects of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing statements of object are not exhaustive and serve merely to illustrate some of the many objects of the present invention.

Technical Solution

In a first main aspect, the invention provides a method of providing an indication of a temperature of contents contained within an enclosed volume, the method comprising the steps of: providing a temperature measuring apparatus and a control device; and measuring a temperature of the control device within the enclosed volume to provide an indication of the temperature of the contents contained within the enclosed volume.

This has the advantages that the measured temperature is obtained without contacting the contents to directly measure the temperature of the contents, and avoids the problem of obtaining a “false” temperature reading for the contents from a measure of the temperature of any air within the container.

In a second main aspect, the invention provides a system for providing an indication of a temperature of contents contained within an enclosed volume, said system comprising: a closable container defining said enclosed volume; a temperature measuring apparatus; and a control device; wherein the control device is positioned within the container and the temperature measuring apparatus is arranged to measure a temperature of said control device to provide an indication of the temperature of contents contained within the container.

In a third main aspect, the invention provides a container for a system according to the second main aspect of the invention, said container comprising a closable container.

In a fourth main aspect, the invention provides a control device for a system according to the second main aspect of the invention, said control device comprising a container of water or a water based solution. Said container may have formed therein or affixed to a surface thereof means for receiving a temperature measuring probe of a temperature measuring apparatus. The receiving means may be adapted to hold a temperature measuring probe closely adjacent to or in contact with a surface of the container.

In a fifth main aspect, the invention provides a kit of parts for a system according to the second main aspect of the invention for providing an indication of a temperature of contents contained within an enclosed volume, said kit of parts comprising at least: a temperature measuring apparatus; and a control device; wherein the control device is positioned within the enclosed volume and the temperature measuring apparatus is arranged to measure a temperature of said control device to provide an indication of the temperature of contents contained within the enclosed volume.

The summary of the invention does not necessarily disclose all the features essential for defining the invention; the invention may reside in a sub-combination of the disclosed features.

Description of Drawings

The foregoing and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments which are provided by way of example only in connection with the accompanying figures, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a schematic representation of a system in accordance with a first main embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the system of Fig. 1;

Figure 3a is a an example of a first preferred embodiment of a control device according to the invention;

Figure 3b is a an example of a second preferred embodiment of a control device according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a front view of a container side wall control device holding means in accordance with the invention;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a system in accordance with a second main embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a view of the embodiment of Fig. 6 in a collapsed state.

Mode for Invention

The following description is of preferred embodiments by way of example only and without limitation to the combination of features necessary for carrying the invention into effect.

Reference in this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments, but not other embodiments.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, shown in a generally schematic form is a first embodiment of a system in accordance with the invention. The system 10 is adapted to provide an indication of a current temperature of contents 12 contained within an enclosed volume 14 defined by a closable container 16. In addition to the container 16, the system comprises a temperature measuring apparatus 18 and a control device 20. The control device 20 is placed within the container spaced away from, i.e. separate from, the contents 12, although the control device 20 could in some applications be placed closely adjacent to, on, against or even under the contents 12. The control device 20 is a passive device. Whilst in this embodiment, the control device 20 is depicted as resting on the same wall of the container 16 as the contents 12, the container 16 may be arranged such that the control device 20 is accommodated on another wall of the container 16 to that on which the contents 12 are supported.

The container 16 may comprise a cool box or a warm box and may therefore comprise commonly known structures of such cool boxes or warm boxes. In some applications, the container 16 merely comprises a simple storage or transport box without any cooling or warming means or without any means for maintaining a cooled or warmed interior, but in preferred embodiments the container is adapted to store contents for transport or otherwise at an elevated or lowered temperature or temperature range compared to the temperature of an ambient or surrounding environment.

The container 16 has a lid 22 which closes an opening of the container 16, but any closable container could be employed in the system of the invention. It is only necessary that the container 22 when in use is closed so as to prevent or at least substantially reduce air flow into the interior volume 14 of the container 16 which might adversely affect the measurement of temperature in accordance with the invention as explained below.

The temperature measuring apparatus 18 preferably comprises a temperature read out means 24 and a temperature probe 26 for measuring temperatures. The temperature probe 26 is positioned closely adjacent to or against a surface of the control device 20 to measure the temperature of said control device 20 at its surface. The measured temperature can be read at the temperature read out means 24 which may comprise a digital display. The temperature probe 26 is connected by a cable 28 to the temperature read out means 24. In such a case, an aperture or channel 30 is formed through a side wall of the container 16 to provide a passageway for the cable 28, although in some embodiments the cable 28 may be arranged to pass through a main opening of the container 16 normally closed by the lid 22. In yet other embodiments of the invention, there may be no requirement for a cable 28 as the temperature read out means 24 and the temperature probe 26 may be adapted to communicate wirelessly.

It will be understood that any suitable means for measuring a temperature at a surface of the control device can be employed including thermometers, thermocouple devices or the like. It is only necessary that the temperature at the control device 20 can be measured and that a user can derive said measured temperature from a read out means 24 such as a digital display or a thermometer gauge or the like.

It will be seen that the temperature read out means 24 is positioned on an exterior wall 25 of the container 16 to enable the measured temperature at the surface of the control device 20 to be read without opening the container. The exterior wall 25 may be provided with means 27 for holding the read out means 24. The means 27 may comprise adhesive pads for permanently holding the read out means 24 in place or means for detachably holding the read out means 24 such as Velcro™ straps, a pocket (not shown) or any other suitable retaining structure. The temperature read out means 24 may include a power supply and processor for the temperature measuring apparatus 18.

In use, the temperature probe 26 is positioned closely adjacent to or against a surface of the control device 20 in order to measure the temperature of said control device 20. Preferably, the surface of the control device 20 near to or against which the temperature probe 26 is positioned is a surface of the control device 20 that is spaced away from a wall of the container, particularly if that wall of the container 16 has associated with it any means, passive or active, for lowering or elevating the temperature within the container. Preferably also, the surface chosen as the temperature measurement surface of the control device is a surface facing the interior of the container 16 and which may be in contact with the air filling the enclosed volume 14 of the container 16. This has the advantage that a user can be confident that the measured temperature at the surface of the control device 20 is a measure of the temperature of the control device and not a measure of the temperature of a wall of the container 16 and furthermore confident that said measured temperature is indicative of the current temperature of the contents 12 of the container rather than the air filling the enclosed volume 14 of the container 16. It will be appreciated that, whilst in preferred embodiments, the temperature probe 26 is positioned to be closely adjacent to or against a surface of the control device, it may be inserted into the control device 20 and the control device may be adapted to receive the probe 26 in a suitably shaped recess or the like.

The contents 12 that may be placed within the container 16 may comprise anything that a user may wish to store and/or transport in a container. In some applications, the container may comprise a warm box for transporting ‘take away’ food, i.e. home delivered cooked food from a restaurant. In other applications, the container 16 may comprise a cold box for storing food and drinks or the like. In yet other applications, the container 16 may be of a type adapted to stored temperature sensitive medicines or vaccines. In yet further applications, the container may be adapted to transport human tissue material such as human organs for transplant under controlled temperature conditions.

In some of these applications, and more particularly the latter, the ability to monitor a temperature which is indicative of the temperature of the contents 12 as opposed to the temperature of the air in the container 16 can prove invaluable in successfully transporting the contents and maintaining them in a prime condition for their intended purpose. Consequently, it may be advantageous to select as the control device 20 a device that exhibits the same or similar thermal properties to the contents 12 intended to be stored and/or transported. The control device 20 may comprise a block of material selected as being representative of the thermal properties of the contents 12. In one example, this might comprise a piece of meat such as pork which is representative of a human organ. Thus, it is possible to measure the temperature of the piece of pork to provide a highly accurate indicative temperature of the human organ content 12 in the container 16. The piece of pork may be provided with a protective covering to prevent any contamination of the human organ and may be discarded after use. However, in all applications of the embodiments of the invention, it is preferred that the control device 20 does not comprise animal tissue, but comprises inanimate material that can be cleaned as required and reused.

In some applications, the control device 20 may comprise a block of metal or a block of a plastics material. However, it is preferred that it comprises a container of water or a water based solution such as a saline solution. Referring to Fig. 3a, shown is a first preferred embodiment of the control device 20 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the control device 20 comprises a water proof container 20 of saline solution. The container 20 comprises a flexible plastics material sachet 21 of saline solution. The sachet 21 is sealed with little or no air therein. Fig. 3b shows a second preferred embodiment of the control device 20 according to the invention which differs from the embodiment of Fig. 3a only in that it has a pocket 23 adapted for receiving the probe 26 of the temperature measuring apparatus 18. The pocket 23 enables the probe to be securely held against the surface of the control device 20.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the contents 12 are supported on a thermal energy flow management device 32 which may be placed on a top surface of a bottom wall of the container 16 as shown or comprise or be incorporated into said bottom wall of the container 16. The thermal energy flow management device 32 may comprise a cooling block containing a coolable liquid for lowering the temperature of the contents and the air within the container 16 or it may comprise an insulator layer for maintaining a lowered or an elevated temperature within the container 16 such as, for example, keeping hot food warm.

Also shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is the fact that the control device 20 is also placed on said thermal energy flow management device 32, but it will be understood that it may not be positioned on said same device 32, but may be placed adjacent or against another such device positioned within or comprising a part of another wall of the container. In preferred embodiments of the container 16, the contents 12 are supported as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 whilst the control device is positioned at a side wall of the container 16. In preferred embodiments of the container 16, all of the walls of the container 16 will comprise or have incorporated therein a thermal energy flow management device such as device 32 including the lid 22 of the container 16.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, in order to enable the control device 20 to be supported on a side wall of the container 16, there is provided a control device holding means 34 comprising a pocket 36 formed in a surface material 38 of an internal wall 40 of the container 16, said pocket being adapted to receive the control device 20 (delimited by dotted line 42). In order to hold the temperature measuring probe 26 (delimited by dotted line 44), there may be provided a second smaller pocket 46 adapted to receive the temperature probe 26 and to hold it closely adjacent to or against a surface of the control device 20, although this second pocket 46 is not required where the control device 20 of Fig. 3b is employed. The second pocket 46 is formed in a front face of the control device pocket 36 which faces the enclosed volume 14 of the container 16 spaced away from a thermal energy flow management device 32 incorporated into the wall 40.

In a main method in accordance with the invention, a user places the contents 12 in the container 16 and then periodically, or as deemed desirable or necessary, reads a temperature being displayed on the read out means 24, said displayed temperature being taken as indicative of the current temperature of the contents 12. This has the advantages that the measured temperature is obtained without contacting the contents 12 to directly measure the temperature of the contents 12 and avoids the problem of possibly obtaining a “false” temperature reading for the contents 12 from a measure of the temperature of any air within the container 16.

To improve the reliability of the indicative measured temperatures taken at the control device 20, the method preferably includes, prior to the step of measuring a temperature of the control device 20 within the container 16, the step of removing the control device 20 from a storage location and placing the control device 20 into the container 16. To further improve accuracy of the indicative temperatures, the method preferably includes, prior to, simultaneously with, or just after the step of placing the control device into the enclosed volume, the step of removing the contents from a storage location and placing said contents into the enclosed volume. The advantage here is that the control device is not chilled or warmed or otherwise had its temperature altered by comparison to the contents 12 by having been present in the container for a significant period of time prior to the contents 12 being placed into the container 16.

Preferably also, the control device 20 is stored in a same or similar storage environment as the contents 12 prior to being placed into the enclosed volume and this may include storing said control device 20 and said contents 12 in the same storage location such that, when they are placed into the container, they are at the same temperature. Where a control device 20 has been carefully selected as having similar thermal characteristics to those of the contents 12, this latter step of the preferred method results in the measured temperature at the control device 20 being highly indicative of the current temperature of the contents 12.

Referring to Fig. 6, shown is another embodiment of a container system 100 according to the invention. In the description of this embodiment, like parts are denoted by the same numerals as employed in Figs. 1 to 5, but preceded by a “1”.

In this embodiment, the container 116 comprises a collapsible container 116 with a plurality of side wall members 140 (a to d), a lid 122 and a bottom wall member 150. Each of the side wall members 140 (a to d), lid 122 and bottom wall 150 comprises or has inserted or incorporated therein a thermal energy flow management device (not shown) as already describer herein. Two of said side wall members 140b, d are foldable inwardly of the enclosed volume 114 of the container 116 about vertical fold lines 160a, b. To enable said two side walls 140b, d to be foldable, their respective thermal energy flow management devices comprise two separate parts on respective sides of the fold lines 160a, b. When the two sidewall members 140b, d are folded inwardly, the resulting collapsing of the container 116 draws the front and back side wall members 140a, c closer together with the lid 122 lying behind the back side wall member 140a. However, before the two foldable side wall members 140b, d can be folded inwardly, it is necessary that the thermal energy flow management device of the bottom wall member 150 is swung up behind the front side wall member 140c within the interior of the container 116. Fig. 7 shows the container in its collapsed state.

The thermal energy flow management devices each comprise a coolable agent contained within a plastic housing formed principally of polyurethane.

In its expanded configuration of Fig. 6 with the lid 122 in a closed position, the side walls 140 (a to d), bottom wall 150 and lid 122 define an enclosed volume 114 in which a temperature of contents placed in the container 116 can be controlled.

In like manner to other embodiments of the invention, this embodiment includes a control device 120 positioned in a first pocket 136 provided on an internal side wall of the container 116. A second pocket is provided for accommodating a temperature measuring probe 126 of a temperature measuring apparatus 118 in close proximity to the control device 120 or pressing against it. The temperature measuring apparatus 118 includes a read out means 124 mounted on a front exterior face of the front side wall member 140c and held detachably in place by a holding means 127. Operation of this embodiment is as described with respect to the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 5.

The invention may be provided as a kit of parts, said kit of parts comprising the temperature measuring apparatus 18, 118 and a control device 20, 120 for use with any conventional container, cool box or warm box.

In general, the invention provides a method of providing an indication of a temperature of contents contained within an enclosed volume comprising the steps of: providing a temperature measuring apparatus and a control device; and measuring a temperature of the control device within the enclosed volume to provide an indication of the temperature of the contents contained within the enclosed volume.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and do not limit the scope of the invention in any manner. It can be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be used with any embodiment. The illustrative embodiments are not exclusive of each other or of other embodiments not recited herein. Accordingly, the invention also provides embodiments that comprise combinations of one or more of the illustrative embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the invention as herein set forth can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the appended claims.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Claims

A method of providing an indication of a temperature of contents contained within an enclosed volume, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a temperature measuring apparatus and a control device;

measuring a temperature of the control device within the enclosed volume to provide an indication of the temperature of the contents contained within the enclosed volume.
The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to the step of measuring a temperature of the control device within the enclosed volume, the method further comprises the step of removing the control device from a storage location and placing the control device into the enclosed volume.
The method of claim 2, wherein, prior to, simultaneously with, or just after the step of placing the control device into the enclosed volume, the method comprises the step of removing the contents from a storage location and placing said contents into the enclosed volume.
The method of claim 3, wherein the control device is stored in a same or similar storage environment as the contents prior to said control device and said contents being placed into the enclosed volume.
The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature measuring apparatus comprises a temperature read out means and a temperature probe for measuring temperatures and the method further comprises the steps of placing the temperature probe closely adjacent to or against a surface of the control device to measure the temperature of said control device and reading the measured temperature at the temperature read out means.
The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of placing the temperature read out means externally of the enclosed volume.
The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises the step of providing means within the enclosed volume for holding a temperature probe of the temperature measuring apparatus closely adjacent to or in contact with the control device where said surface of the control device is exposed to air within the enclosed volume.
The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises the step of providing a control device comprising a block of material selected as being representative of the thermal properties of the contents.
The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein it comprises the step of providing a control device comprising a flexible container of water or a water based liquid.
The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises the step of providing a closable container defining the enclosed volume.
The method of claim 10, wherein it comprises the step of placing the contents within the container on a thermal energy flow management device and wherein said thermal energy flow management device comprises or is incorporated into a wall of the container.
The method of claim 11, wherein said thermal energy flow management device is a cooling block containing a coolant liquid.
The method of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein it comprises the step of placing the control device adjacent to or against the thermal energy flow management device or adjacent to or against another thermal energy flow management device comprising or incorporated into a wall of the container.
A system for providing an indication of a temperature of contents contained within an enclosed volume, said system comprising:

a closable container defining said enclosed volume;

a temperature measuring apparatus; and

a control device;

wherein the control device is positioned within the container and the temperature measuring apparatus is arranged to measure a temperature of said control device to provide an indication of the temperature of contents contained within the container.
A container for a system according to claim 14, said container comprising a closable container and wherein an outside wall of the container has means for removably attaching a temperature read out means of a temperature measuring apparatus to the container.
The container of claim 15, wherein a wall of the container has a channel formed therethrough to provide a passageway for a cable connecting the temperature read out means to a temperature measuring probe of the temperature measuring apparatus.
The container of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the container has means adapted to hold a temperature probe closely adjacent to or in contact with a control device received within the container, said means comprising a pocket formed in a surface material of an internal wall of the container, said pocket being adapted to receive the control device.
The container of claim 17, wherein said pocket comprises a second smaller pocket adapted to receive the temperature probe to hold it closely adjacent to or against a surface of the control device, the second pocket being formed in a front face of the control device pocket.
The container of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the container comprises a collapsible container.
A control device for a system according to claim 14, said control device comprising a container of water or a water based solution, said container having affixed to a surface thereof means for receiving a temperature measuring probe of a temperature measuring apparatus, said receiving means holding a temperature measuring probe closely adjacent to or in contact with said surface of the container.
The container of claim 20, wherein the container comprises a flexible plastics material sachet of saline solution.
The container of claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the means for receiving a temperature measuring probe comprises a pocket affixed to or former integrally with the surface of the container.
A kit of parts for a system according to claim 14 for providing an indication of a temperature of contents contained within an enclosed volume, said kit of parts comprising:

a temperature measuring apparatus; and

a control device;

wherein the control device is positioned within the enclosed volume and the temperature measuring apparatus is arranged to measure a temperature of said control device to provide an indication of the temperature of contents contained within the enclosed.
The kit of parts of claim 23, wherein it includes a container defining said enclosed volume.