Portable Cooler

Abstract

The portable cooler container system (1000'') comprises a container body (100'') having a chamber for receiving perishable goods, a sleeve (130'') disposed around the chamber and containing a phase change material (135'') or heat store, a conduit (140'') extending through the sleeve and having an outer surface in thermal communication with the phase change material or heat store, a lid (400'') hingeable or removably connectable to the container body to access the chamber, and a temperature control system, the temperature control system including a cryogenic cooler (140'') in thermal communication with at least a portion of the conduit. a high-temperature-side heat sink (230''); a thermoelectric module (220'') disposed between the low-temperature-side heat sink and the high-temperature-side heat sink and in thermal communication with the heat sink; a pump (146'') operable to flow a fluid against the low-temperature-side heat sink to cool the fluid and to flow the cooling fluid through a conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material or heat store, such that the phase change material or heat store cools at least a portion of the chamber; and circuitry to control the operation of one or both of the thermoelectric module and the pump.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (Incorporation by reference to any priority application) Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in an Application Data Sheet filed with this application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57 and are to be considered a part of this specification.

[0002] The present invention relates to portable coolers, and more particularly to stackable portable coolers. [Background technology]

[0003] Portable coolers are used to store products (liquids, beverages, medicines, organs, food, etc.) in a chilled state. Some are Styrofoam containers that are often filled with ice to keep the product chilled. However, the ice eventually melts to immerse the product and require the liquid to be removed. Such coolers are undesirable because they may leak during transportation. Furthermore, such coolers are undesirable for transporting items over long distances due to the inability to keep the product chilled, the ice melting, and / or the possibility of liquid leaking from the cooler. Thus, such coolers are undesirable for use with temperature sensitive products (food, medicines, organ grafts, perishable materials, etc.). This may render the product in the cooler unusable. For example, the efficacy of a medicine (such as a vaccine) cannot be restored once it has been lost, so the medicine becomes ineffective and / or unusable. Another drawback of existing containers is that they are disposable containers and are discarded after one use. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Thus, there is a need for improved portable cooler designs (e.g., for transporting pharmaceuticals such as vaccines, insulin, epinephrine, vials, cartridges, syringe pens, organ grafts, food, and other perishable solid or liquid materials) that can maintain the contents of the cooler at a desired temperature or temperature range. Further, there is a need for improved portable cooler designs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an improved portable cooler is provided. The cooler may have a vacuum insulated double walled chamber that may be optionally sealed with a lid (e.g., a vacuum insulated lid). This allows the temperature within the chamber to be maintained (e.g., substantially constant) for an extended period of time (e.g., 2 days, 1 day, 12 hours, 8 hours, 6 hours, etc.). Optionally, the chamber may hold perishable contents therein (e.g., medicine, food, other perishables, etc.), and a phase change material (e.g., one or more ice packs, a phase change material sleeve) may be in thermal communication (e.g., in thermal contact) with the perishable contents. Optionally, the cooler has an outer housing that is insulated (e.g., made of foam, such as lightweight foam).

[0006] Optionally, the container may include a cooling fan and one or more air intake openings, the cooling fan operable to cool the chamber and / or the phase change material within the chamber.

[0007] Optionally, the container includes one or more sensors that sense the temperature of the chamber and / or the contents within the chamber and communicate that information to the circuitry. Optionally, the sensed temperature information is communicated (e.g., wirelessly via a port on the container, such as a USB port) to an electronic device (e.g., a smart phone, a cloud server, a remote laptop or desktop computer, a USB drive).

[0008] Optionally, the container has an electronic screen (e.g., a digital screen) that may show one or more of: a) the temperature detected by a temperature sensor in the chamber, b) the name and / or shipping / delivery address of the container's destination, and / or c) the sender's name and / or shipper / sender address.

[0009] Optionally, the container has a user interface (e.g., a button) that can be activated by a user to one or more of: a) change the destination name and / or shipping / delivery address of the container, and / or b) automatically contact a package delivery service (e.g., FedEx, DHL) to request pickup of the container.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a portable cooler container is provided with an active temperature control system that operates to heat or cool a chamber of the vessel to approach a suitable temperature set point for the contents of the cooler container.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, stackable portable coolers are provided that allow for power transfer between stacked coolers to charge and / or power the cooling systems within the stacked coolers.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, stackable portable coolers are provided, which allows the upper cooler to remove heat from each of the stacked coolers without interfering with the cooling function of the lower cooler within the stacking structure.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a stackable portable cooler container with active temperature control is provided. The container includes a container body having a chamber defined by a base and an inner peripheral wall of the container body. The container also includes a temperature control system including one or more thermoelectric elements configured to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the chamber, and circuitry configured to control operation of the one or more thermoelectric elements to heat or cool at least a portion of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or temperature range.

[0014] Optionally, the container may include one or more batteries configured to provide power to one or both of the circuitry and the one or more thermoelectric elements.

[0015] Optionally, the circuitry is further configured to wirelessly communicate with a cloud-based data storage system and / or a remote electronic device.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a portable cooler container with active temperature control is provided. A display screen is disposed on a surface of the container body, the display screen configured to selectively display shipping information for the portable cooler container using electronic ink. The display screen is operable to automatically change the displayed shipping address to another address (e.g., a sender's address for returning the portable cooler to the sender). Optionally, the display screen is activated to display the shipping address (e.g., a delivery address, a sender's address for when the portable cooler is to be returned to the sender) causing electronics within the cooler to wirelessly communicate a signal to a shipper notifying the shipper that a shipping label has been assigned to the portable cooler and that the cooler is ready for pick-up and shipping.

[0017] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a portable cooler container system is provided. The cooler container system includes a container body having a chamber configured to receive one or more perishable items. A sleeve is disposed around the chamber and contains a phase change material or heat store. A conduit extends through the sleeve, an outer surface of the conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material or heat store. A lid is hingeably or removably coupleable to the container body for accessing the chamber. The cooler container system also includes a temperature control system. The temperature control system includes a cold side heat sink in thermal communication with at least a portion of the conduit, a hot side heat sink, and a thermoelectric module interposed between and in thermal communication with the cold side heat sink and the hot side heat sink. The pump is operable to flow a fluid against the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid and to flow a cooling fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material or heat store, which cools at least a portion of the chamber. A circuit is configured to control operation of one or both of the thermoelectric module and the pump.

[0018] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a portable cooler container system is provided. The cooler container system includes a container body having a chamber configured to receive one or more temperature sensitive products. A sleeve is disposed around the chamber and contains a phase change material or heat store. A conduit extends through the sleeve, an outer surface of the conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material or heat store. A lid is hingeably or removably coupleable to the container body to access the chamber. The cooler container system also includes a temperature control system. The temperature control system includes a cold side heat sink in thermal communication with at least a portion of the conduit, a hot side heat sink, and a thermoelectric module interposed between and in thermal communication with the cold side heat sink and the hot side heat sink. A pump is operable to flow a fluid against the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid and to flow a cooling fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material or heat store, such that the phase change material or heat store cools at least a portion of the chamber. The circuitry is configured to control operation of the one or more thermoelectric modules, the fan, and the pump.The electrophoretic ink display screen is configured to selectively display shipping information on the portable cooler container.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a portable cooler container system is provided. The system includes a double-walled, vacuum insulated container body having a chamber configured to receive and hold one or more perishable items. The system also includes a lid hingeably or removably coupleable to the container body to access the chamber. The system also includes an electronic system including one or more batteries and circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate with a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device via cellular radio. A display screen of one of the lid and the container body is configured to selectively display an electronic shipping label for the portable cooler container. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1]FIG. 2 is a perspective front view and a top view of the cooler container. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cooler container taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partial assembly view of the cooler container of FIG. 1 , excluding the frame. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a partial assembly view of the cooler container of FIG. 1 , excluding the frame and outer vessel wall. [Diagram 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the subassembly of FIG. 4 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the subassembly of FIG. 4 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of a partial assembly of the cooler container of FIG. 1 , excluding the frame and outer vessel wall. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partial assembly of the cooler container of FIG. 1 , excluding the frame and outer vessel wall. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partial assembly of the cooler container of FIG. 1 , excluding the frame and outer vessel wall. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the subassembly of FIG. 9 , excluding the frame and outer vessel wall. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective bottom view of the subassembly of FIG. 9 , excluding the frame and outer vessel wall. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the subassembly of FIG. 9 , excluding the frame and outer vessel wall. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of the components of the cooler container of FIG. 1 , excluding the frame and the outer vessel wall and the inner liner wall. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the components of FIG. 13 , excluding the frame and outer vessel wall and inner liner wall. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cooler container showing the displays on the surface of the container. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing multiple cooler containers stacked on a pallet. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a loaded cooler container. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective bottom view of the cooler container. [Figure 19] A schematic diagram of a cooler container loaded onto a charging base is shown. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial perspective top view of a cooler container. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective front view of a cooler container. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing communication between a cooler container and a remote electronic device. [Diagram 23] FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram showing electronics within the cooler container related to the operation of the cooler container's display screen. [Figure 24A] 2 shows a block diagram of a method for operating the cooler container of FIG. 1. [Figure 24B] 2 shows a block diagram of a method for operating the cooler container of FIG. 1. [Diagram 25] FIG. 2 is a front partial exploded view of the cooler container. [Figure 26] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cooler container system. [Figure 27A] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cooler container system. [Figure 27B] FIG. 27B is a partial cross-sectional view of the cooler container system of FIG. 27A. [Figure 27C] FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary cooler container system. [Figure 28] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a cooler container system. [Figure 29] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a portion of a conduit of a cooler container system. [Diagram 30] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a portion of a conduit of a cooler container system. [Diagram 31] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a portion of a conduit of a cooler container system. [Diagram 32] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a portion of a cooler container system. [Diagram 33] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cooler container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] 1-23 illustrate a cooler container assembly 1000 ("assembly") or components thereof. The following features are described with respect to cooler container assembly 1000, however, these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as cooler containers 1000', 1000'', 1000''', disclosed herein. Assembly 1000 may include a container vessel 100, a frame 300 coupled to container vessel 100, and a lid 400 removably coupleable to a top end T of container vessel 100. Optionally, lid 400 may be a double-walled vacuum lid.

[0022] In one implementation, the frame 300 may have a rectangular shape (e.g., square shape) with two or more (e.g., four) pillars 301. However, in other implementations, the frame 300 may have other suitable shapes (e.g., cylindrical shape). The frame 300 optionally defines one or more openings or open spaces 302 between the frame 300 and the container vessel 100 to allow air to pass or flow through the openings or spaces 302 (e.g., even when multiple cooler container assemblies 1000 are stacked on top of and beside each other, as shown in FIG. 16 ).

[0023] The underside 307 of the frame 300 may have one or more air intake openings 203 (e.g., air intake grilles). As shown in FIG. 1, the air intake openings 203 may be disposed around at least a portion (e.g., the entirety) of the circumference of the container vessel 100.

[0024] The top surface 304 of the frame 300 may have one or more distal vent openings 205A. FIG. 1 shows two distal vent openings 205A, but in other implementations, more or fewer openings 205A may be provided. The exhaust vent opening(s) 205A may have a curved shape (e.g., semicircular shape) if desired. The top surface 304 of the frame 300 may have one or more electrical contacts 32 (e.g., contact pads, curved contacts). If desired, the electrical contacts 32 may be recessed relative to the top surface 304. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1, the frame 300 has two distal vent openings 205A disposed near opposing corners of the frame 300 and two electrical contacts 32 disposed near opposing corners of the frame 300, each electrical contact 32 being inserted between two distal vent openings 205A along a plane that defines the top surface 304.

[0025] The frame 300 has a bottom surface (e.g., lower surface) 306, which also has one or more proximal vent openings 205B (see FIG. 6) in fluid communication with the distal vent opening(s) 205A. The bottom surface 306 also has one or more electrical contacts 34 (see FIG. 5). Optionally, the electrical contacts 34 (e.g., pin contacts, pogo pins, contact pads) may protrude from the bottom surface 306. Advantageously, when the cooler container assemblies 1000 are stacked (in a row), the electrical contacts 34 on the bottom surface 306 of one frame 300 contact the electrical contacts 32 on the top surface 304 of an adjacent frame 300, thereby providing an electrical connection between the adjacent cooler container assemblies 1000. Similarly, when loaded, the proximal vent opening 205B on the bottom surface 306 of one frame substantially aligns with the distal vent opening 205A of an adjacent frame 300, thereby providing fluid communication (e.g., flow paths, chimney paths) between adjacent cooler container assemblies 1000 (see FIG. 17 ).

[0026] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the cooler container assembly 1000 also includes a display screen 188. While FIG. 1 illustrates the display screen 188 on the container vessel 100, it may alternatively (or additionally) be incorporated into the frame 300 and / or the lid 400. The display screen 188 may optionally be an electronic ink or E-ink display (e.g., an electrophoretic ink display). In another implementation, the display screen 188 may be a digital display (e.g., a liquid crystal display or LCD, a light emitting diode or LED, etc.). Optionally, the display screen 188 may display a label 189 (e.g., a shipping label having one or more of a sender's address, a recipient's address, a MaxiCode machine readable symbol, a QR code, a routing code, a bar code, and a tracking number) as shown in FIG. 15, but may additionally or alternatively display other information (e.g., temperature history information, information regarding the contents of the container vessel 100) as desired. In another implementation, the display screen 188 may display advertisements (e.g., for one or more of the payload components read by the RFID reader of the container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''), as further described herein.

[0027] The cooler container assembly 1000 may also optionally include a user interface 184. In FIG. 1, the user interface 184 is on the top surface 304 of the frame 300. In another implementation, the user interface 184 is disposed on the container vessel 100 and / or the lid 400. The user interface 184 is optionally a button (e.g., a "return to home" button). In one implementation, the user interface 184 is a depressible button. In another implementation, the user interface 184 is a capacitive sensor (e.g., a touch-sensitive sensor, a touch-sensitive switch). In another implementation, the user interface 184 is a sliding switch (e.g., a sliding lever). In another implementation, the user interface 184 is a rotatable dial. In yet another implementation, the user interface 184 may be a touch screen portion (e.g., separate from or incorporated as part of the display screen 188). Advantageously, actuation of user interface 184 can change the information shown on display 188, such as the form of the shipping label shown on E-ink display 188. For example, actuation of user interface 184 can toggle the text associated with the sender and recipient, and allow cooler container assembly 1000 to be shipped back to the sender once the recipient is done with it. Additionally or alternatively, actuation of user interface 184 can cause circuitry within assembly 1000 to send a signal to a shipper (e.g., UPS, FedEx, DHL) informing the shipper that a shipping label (e.g., a new shipping label) has been assigned to the portable cooler and the cooler is ready for pick-up and shipping, as discussed further below.

[0028] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the cooler container assembly 1000 along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. The assembly 100 can optionally have one or more legs 303 protruding from the bottom surface 306. The legs can facilitate positioning and / or interlocking one assembly 1000 on top of another assembly 1000 when stacking them together. The container vessel 100 can have a chamber 126 defined by an interior wall 126A and a base wall 126B and sized to releasably hold one or more materials or products to be cooled (e.g., solids, liquids, food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, biological materials, or tissues). The chamber 126 can be cylindrical in shape in one implementation.

[0029] The assembly 1000 also includes a cooling system 200. The cooling system 200 can be housed at least partially in the container vessel 100, if desired. In one implementation, the cooling system 200 can be housed below the chamber 126 (e.g., in one or more cavities between the base wall 126B and the bottom end B of the cooler container assembly 1000). The cooling system 200 can include a first heat sink 210 (e.g., a cold side heat sink), one or more thermoelectric modules or TECs (e.g., Peltier elements) 220, and a second heat sink 230 (e.g., a hot side heat sink). The one or more thermoelectric modules (e.g., Peltier elements) 220 can be inserted between (e.g., in thermal communication, in thermal contact, in direct contact with) the first heat sink 210 and the second heat sink 230.

[0030] The cooling system 200 may optionally include a fan 280 in fluid communication with the second heat sink 230. The fan 280 is selectively operable to flow air through the second heat sink 230 to effect heat transfer from the second heat sink 230 (e.g., remove heat from the hot-side heat sink 230). The cooling system 200 may include one or more fans 216 in fluid communication with the first heat sink 210. The fan(s) 216 are selectively operable to flow air through the first heat sink 210 to effect heat transfer with the first heat sink 210 (e.g., allow the cold-side heat sink 210 to remove heat from the air flowing through the heat sink 210). In the implementation shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, two fans 216A, 216B are in fluid communication with the first heat sink 210. In one example, the fans 216A, 216B are operable to flow air in the same direction. However, more or fewer fans 216 may be used and may operate in series or parallel to provide airflow. In one example, the fans 216A, 216B are axial fans. In another example, the fans 216A, 216B may be centrifugal or radial fans. Other types of fans may be used. As described further below, the cooling system 200 may flow (e.g., circulate) cooling air cooled by the first heat sink 210 into a channel 107 defined between the inner wall 126A and the second wall 106 (e.g., an inner liner wall), where the cooling air cools the inner wall 126A, thereby cooling the chamber 126 and contents within the chamber 126.

[0031] 6, the cooling system 200 exhausts air (e.g., heated air that has removed heat from the hot-side heat sink 230) flowing through the second heat sink 230 via the air vent assemblies 202A, 202B, which enter the channels 206A, 206B in the exhaust assemblies 202A, 202B via one or more openings 204A, 204B, and the exhausted air travels upward along the channels 206A, 206B and exits the cooler container assembly 1000 via the distal vent opening 205A. Additionally, the channels 206A, 206B extend to the proximal vent openings 205A, 205B, allowing air from the lower assembly 1000 to also pass through the channels 206A, 206B and exit via the distal vent openings 205A, 205B. Thus, when assemblies 1000 are stacked together, channels 206A, 2016B align such that (hot) air can be exhausted from stacked assemblies 1000 (see FIG. 17). As shown in FIG. 7, intake air I flows into assembly 1000 (e.g., via opening 203) and comes into fluid contact with second heat sink 230 (e.g., via operation of fan 280), and then exhaust air E is vented through channels 206A, 206B and distal vent opening 205A.

[0032] 2, 6, 9 and 10, the container vessel 100 may include one or more sleeves 130 defined between the third wall 132 and the second wall 106 (e.g., inner liner wall). The one or more sleeves 130 may be separate volumes disposed around at least a portion of the circumference of the second wall 106, as desired. The one or more sleeves 130 may house a phase change material (PCM) 135 or thermal storage therein. In one implementation, the phase change material 135 may be a solid-liquid PCM. In another implementation, the phase change material 135 may be a solid-solid PCM. The PCM 135 may advantageously passively absorb and release energy. Examples of possible PCM materials are water (which may transition to ice when cooled below freezing temperature), organic PCMs (e.g., bio-based or paraffin, or derived from carbohydrates and lipids), inorganic PCMs (e.g., salt hydrates), and inorganic eutectic materials. However, the PCM 135 can be any thermal mass capable of storing and releasing energy.

[0033] During operation, the cooling system 200 can operate to cool the first heat sink 210 to cool the chamber 126. The cooling system 200 can also optionally cool the PCM 135 (e.g., via the second wall 106 as cooled air / coolant flows through the channels 107) to pre-cool the PCM 135 (e.g., to bring the PCM 135 into a state in which it can absorb energy). In one example, one or more fins can extend from the second wall 106 (e.g., into the volume of the sleeve(s) 130), for example, to enhance heat transfer to the PCM 135. Advantageously, the PCM 135 operates as a passive (e.g., back-up) cooling source for the chamber 126 and contents disposed therein. For example, if one or more of the air intakes 203 are partially (or completely) blocked (e.g., due to dust or debris accumulation in the air openings 203) or if the cooling system 200 is not operating effectively due to low power or due to a loss of power, the PCM 135 can keep the chamber 126 and the contents therein cool until the active cooling system is again operational and able to cool the chamber 126 and the contents therein.

[0034] 1-19, the container vessel 100 may include a fourth wall 104 (e.g., an outer liner wall) that defines an annular channel 105 between the fourth wall 104 (e.g., an outer liner wall) and a second wall 106 (e.g., an inner liner wall). In one implementation, the annular channel 105 may be under negative pressure (e.g., a vacuum), thereby advantageously inhibiting heat transfer by cooling air flowing through the annular channel 105 to inhibit (e.g., prevent) loss of cooling power and / or improve efficiency of the cooling loop. The outer vessel wall 102 is disposed around the fourth wall 104. An inlet line (e.g., cold air inlet line, tube, pipe, or conduit) 140 may have a proximal end 142 in fluid communication with one end 215A of the cold air fluid chamber 215 and may extend to a distal end 144 in communication with the channel 107 between the inner wall 126A and the second wall (e.g., an inner liner wall) 106. The outlet line (e.g., cold air exhaust line, tube, pipe, or conduit) 150 has a proximal end 152 in communication with the channel 107 between the inner wall 126A and the second wall 106, and can extend to a distal end 154 in fluid communication with the opposite end 215B of the cold fluid chamber 215. Advantageously, the cold fluid chamber 215, the inlet line 140, the outlet line 150, and the channel 107 define a closed system through which a cooling fluid (e.g., chilled air, chilled liquid coolant) passes to cool the inner wall 126A, thereby cooling the chamber 126. The air vent assemblies 202A, 202B are disposed about the fourth wall 104 (e.g., the outer liner wall), and a gap or channel 103 is defined between the air vent assemblies 202A, 202B (see Figures 3-4).

[0035] During operation, the fans 216A, 216B operate to move air through the first heat sink 210 (e.g., a cold side heat sink to cool the air), which is then directed into the inlet line 140 (e.g., in the direction F in Figs. 2, 12) via the proximal end 142. The air flows up the inlet line 140 and exits via the distal end 144 into the channel 107 on one side of the partition wall 109 (see Fig. 8, which extends between the inner wall 126A and the second wall (e.g., inner liner wall) 106). The air then travels within the channel 107 around the circumference of the inner wall 126A until it reaches the partition wall 109, where it exits the channel via the proximal end 152 of the outlet line 150. The air exits the outlet line 150 at the distal end 154 and enters the opposite end 215B of the cold fluid chamber 215 where it is again driven by the fans 216A, 216B over the first heat sink 210 (e.g., a cold side heat sink 210 for cooling the air) and circulated again via the inlet line 140 into the channel 107. Although not shown, valves can be used to regulate the flow of cooling fluid (e.g., air, another gas, liquid) during an active cooling mode as well as to control convective heat ingress when the cooler 1000 is operating in a passive cooling mode (e.g., when the fans 216A, 216B are not operating, the PCM 135 is providing the cooling function, etc.). The partition wall 109 advantageously circulates cooled air (e.g., along path C in FIG. 14 ) along substantially the entire surface (e.g., substantially the entire perimeter) of the chamber 126, thereby providing cooling to the chamber 126 (e.g., cooling to substantially all portions of the inner wall 126A, thereby cooling substantially all of the chamber 126) and reducing inefficient, uneven and / or spotty cooling of the chamber 126. In one example, one or more fins can extend from the second wall 106 into the channel 107 (e.g., along the direction of air flow in the channel 107) to, for example, enhance heat transfer to the inner wall 126A and / or the chamber 126.

[0036] The cold air fluid chamber 215 is separated from the hot air fluid chamber 218 (see FIGS. 5-6). In one implementation, a thermal insulating material can be inserted between the cold air fluid chamber 215 and the hot air fluid chamber 218. The assembly 1000 can include electronics (e.g., at least partially located below the base wall 126B, in a cavity between the base wall 126B and the bottom B of the assembly 1000) operable to control operation of the fans 280, 216A, 216B, thermoelectric module(s) (TEC) 220, and the display 188. The electronics can include circuitry (e.g., control circuitry, one or more processors on a printed circuit board, a CPU or central processing unit, sensors) that controls operation of the cooling system 200, and, optionally, one or more batteries for providing power to one or more of the circuitry, the fans 280, 216A, 216B, the regulating valves, and the thermoelectric module(s) (TEC) 220. In one implementation, the assembly 1000 may optionally have a power button or switch that is operable by a user to turn the cooling system on or off.

[0037] Optionally, the bottom B of the assembly 1000 defines at least a portion of a removable end cap for accessing the electronics (e.g., to replace one or more batteries, to perform maintenance on the electronics such as the PCBA, etc.). A power button or switch is accessible by a user (e.g., can be pressed to turn on the cooling system 200, can be pressed to turn off the cooling system 200, can be pressed to optionally pair the cooling system 200 with a mobile electronic device, etc.). Optionally, the power switch can be generally located in the center of the end cap (e.g., such that it is aligned / extends along an axis of symmetry of the container vessel 100).

[0038] FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary bottom view of the cooler container assembly 1000, showing the proximal vent opening 205B in communication with the channels 206A, 206B of the air vent assemblies 202A, 202B. FIG. 18 also illustrates the electrical contacts 34 on the bottom surface 306 of the cooler container assembly 1000. In one example, the proximal vent opening 205B protrudes from the bottom surface 306 of the assembly 1000, allowing it to extend into a corresponding proximal opening 205A on the top surface 302 of the assembly 1000. In one example, the electrical contacts 34 protrude from the bottom surface 306 of the assembly 1000, allowing it to extend into a corresponding opening of the electrical contacts 32 on the top surface 302 of the assembly 1000.

[0039] 19 shows multiple cooler container assemblies 1000 stacked on top of one another. In one example, the bottom of the assemblies 1000 can be placed on a power or charging base 500. The electrical contacts 32, 34 of the assemblies 1000 allow power to be transferred from one assembly 1000 to the assembly 1000 above it, allowing each of the assemblies 1000 in the stacking structure to receive power from a single charging base 500, advantageously allowing the assemblies 1000 to be powered (e.g., have their batteries charged) simultaneously.

[0040] The charging base 500 may have a platform or base 510 optionally coupled to an electrical cord 512 (which may be connected to a portable power source, such as, for example, a wall power source or a power source in a trailer, truck, boat, airplane, or other transportation unit). The base 510 may have one or more charging units 520 (e.g., two charging units 520A, 520B). The charging units 520 may optionally have one or more connectors 505 sized and / or shaped to interface with the proximal vent openings 205B. The charging units 520 may optionally have one or more electrical contacts 534 sized and / or shaped to interface with the electrical contacts 34 at the bottom of the cooler container assembly 1000. In one example, the connectors 505 and electrical contacts 534 may have a curved shape. In one example, the connector 505 and the electrical contacts 534 together define a generally circular shape (e.g., generally corresponding to the circular shape defined by the electrical contacts 34 and the proximal vent opening 205B on the bottom surface 306 of the assembly 1000).

[0041] Optionally, the display 188 of each of the assemblies 1000 in the loading structure may display the charge status (e.g., % charged, charge level, remaining time that the cooling system 200 may operate, etc.) of one or more batteries in the corresponding assembly 1000. Optionally, the display 188 of each of the assemblies 1000 may indicate (e.g., via a visual and / or audio signal) when the corresponding battery is fully charged.

[0042] FIG. 20 shows the top surface 302 of the cooler container assembly 1000, which may optionally include indicator lights 195 to indicate one or more of: that the assembly 1000 is on, that the lid 400 is properly closed (e.g., via a signal sent from one or more sensors, such as a proximity sensor, a capacitance sensor, etc., to the control circuitry of the assembly 1000), and that the cooling system 200 is operating (e.g., to cool the chamber 126).

[0043] 21 shows a button 187 on the front of the assembly 1000 (e.g., located below the display 188). The button 187 can be activated (e.g., by a user) to display the battery level of the assembly 1000 (e.g., % charged, charge level, remaining time that the cooling system 200 can operate, etc.). The button 187 can be located elsewhere on the assembly 1000. The button 187 can be a depressible button or a touch switch (e.g., capacitance) sensor.

[0044] FIG. 22 illustrates a block diagram of a control system for (e.g., incorporated within) a device described herein (e.g., cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''). In the illustrated embodiment, circuitry EM (e.g., control circuitry, microcontroller unit MCU, computer processor(s), etc.) can receive sensed information from one or more sensors S1-Sn (e.g., level sensors, volume sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, orientation sensors such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, battery charge sensors, biometric sensors, load sensors, Global Positioning System or GPS sensors, Radio Frequency Identification or RFID readers, etc.).

[0045] In one implementation, at least one temperature sensor Sn (e.g., Sn1, Sn2, and / or Sn3) is in the vessel 100, 100', 100''' or the lid 400, 400', 400''' and exposed to the chamber 126, 126''' to sense the temperature in the chamber 126, 126'''. In another implementation, additionally or alternatively, at least one temperature sensor Sn,Ta (see FIG. 27A) is on the vessel 100, 100', 100''' or the lid 400, 400', 400''' and exposed to the outside of the container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' to measure the ambient temperature. In one implementation, an RFID reader in the vessel 100, 100', 100''' or lid 400, 400', 400''' can read the RFID tags of components (e.g., medications, vials, liquid containers, food packages) disposed within the chamber 126, 126'''. The RFID reader can optionally record when payload contents are inserted into the chamber 126, 126''', and additionally or alternatively, the RFID reader can optionally record when each of one or more payload contents are removed from the chamber 126, 126''', to track their location relative to the vessel 100, 100', 100''', and communicate this information to the circuit EM (e.g., a memory of the circuit EM).

[0046] In one implementation, one or more of sensors S1-Sn may include a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor may optionally sense an ambient pressure, which may be indicative of an altitude of cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. Optionally, the pressure sensor may communicate the sensed pressure information to circuitry EM, which may optionally log or record data from the pressure sensor and / or operate one or more components of cooling system 200, 200'', such as TEC 220, 220'' and fan(s) 280, 280'', based at least in part on the sensed pressure information from the pressure sensor (e.g., to maintain chamber 126, 126', 126'' at a desired temperature or temperature range). Such pressure sensor(s) may advantageously enable the cooling system 200, 200'' to operate as if the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' is in transit (e.g., at a high altitude location), such as on an airplane or truck, while the chambers 126, 126', 126'' are at a desired temperature or temperature range.

[0047] In one implementation, the one or more sensors S1-Sn may include an accelerometer. The accelerometer may optionally detect motion (e.g., sudden movement) of the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. Optionally, the accelerometer is in communication with a circuit EM, which may optionally log or record data from the accelerometer and / or operate one or more components of the cooling system 200, 200'', such as the TEC 220, 220'' and the fan(s) 280, 280'', based at least in part on information detected from the accelerometer. Such an accelerometer(s) may advantageously detect, for example, when the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' has been dropped (e.g., from a dangerous height) or has been impacted during transportation, such as on an airplane or truck. In one implementation, the accelerometer may also provide circuit EM with sensed orientation information of cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. In another implementation, a separate orientation sensor (e.g., a gyroscope) may sense the orientation of cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' and communicate the sensed orientation information to circuit EM, which may optionally log or record data from the orientation sensor and / or operate one or more components of cooling system 200, 200'', such as TEC 220, 220'' and fan(s) 280, 280'', based at least in part on the sensed orientation information.

[0048] Circuitry EM may be housed within container vessel 100. Circuitry EM may receive information from and / or send information (e.g., commands) to one or more heating or cooling elements HC, such as TEC 220 (e.g., to operate each of the heating or cooling elements in a heating mode and / or a cooling mode, turn off, turn on, vary the power output, etc.), and may optionally send information to one or more power storage devices PS (e.g., batteries, for charging the batteries, managing the power provided by the batteries to one or more heating or cooling elements, etc.).

[0049] Optionally, the circuit EM may include wireless transmitters, receivers and / or transceivers for communicating (e.g., transmitting information such as sensed temperature and / or location data and receiving information such as user commands) with one or more of: a) a user interface UI1 on the unit (e.g., on the body of the container vessel 100 or the frame 300); b) an electronic device ED (e.g., a mobile electronic device such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, an electronic watch, a desktop computer, a remote server, a cloud server, etc.); c) via the cloud CL; or d) via a wireless communication system such as WiFi, a broadband network and / or Bluetooth BT. For example, the circuit EM may have a cellular radio antenna or a cellular radio through which information (e.g., GPS location, sensed temperature in the chamber, ambient temperature, etc.) can be communicated wirelessly (e.g., to the cloud CL, a remote electronic device such as a smartphone, etc.). A user can then track the location of the container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' (e.g., via a website or app on the smartphone). As the containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' are loaded, they can set up a MESH network (e.g., mesh net over BLE 5.0) so that the containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' at the top of the loading structure can communicate (via cellular radio or cellular radio antenna) GPS location and / or sensed temperature data for each of the loaded containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. For example, the MESH network can identify the container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' that has the most available power to communicate GPS location and / or sensed temperature data, if desired.The electronic device ED may have a user interface UI2 capable of displaying information associated with the operation of the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' and capable of receiving information (e.g., instructions) from a user and communicating that information to the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' (e.g., to adjust the operation of the cooling system 200).

[0050] In operation, the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'' can operate to maintain the chamber 126 of the container vessel 100 at a preselected or user selected temperature. The cooling system can operate one or more TECs 220, 220'' to cool the chamber 126, 126'' (e.g., when the temperature of the chamber is above a preselected temperature, when the ambient temperature is above a preselected temperature, e.g., when the drug is being shipped in the summer or to a location with a hot climate) or to heat the chamber 126, 126'' (e.g., when the temperature of the chamber 126 is below a preselected temperature, e.g., when the ambient temperature is below a preselected temperature or temperature range, e.g., when the drug is being shipped in the winter or to a location with a very cold climate).

[0051] In one implementation, the circuit EM can reverse the polarity of the TEC 220, 220″ and operate the TEC 220, 220″ to heat the chamber 126, 126″ (e.g., by heating a fluid circulating through a conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material or heat store to heat it, thereby heating the chamber 126, 126″). Advantageously, such reversal of the polarity of the TEC 220, 220″ to heat the chamber 126, 126″ (e.g., by heating the phase change material or heat store via thermal communication with the fluid heated by the TEC 220, 220″) inhibits (e.g., prevents) one or more of the payload components (e.g., drugs, vaccines, putrefactive liquids or solids) from freezing. For example, when the ambient temperature approaches a predetermined temperature (e.g., 2° C.), as measured, for example, by a temperature sensor (e.g., Ta in FIG. 27A ) in the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000′, 1000″, the circuit EM can reverse the polarity of the TEC 220, 220″ and operate the TEC 220, 220″ as described above to heat the chamber 126, 126″. When the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined temperature (e.g., 3° ​​C.), the circuit EM can stop operation of the TEC 220, 220″ to heat the chamber 126, 126″ and / or reverse the polarity of the TEC 220, 220″ to their original state (e.g., a state in which the TEC 220, 220″ can operate to cool the chamber 126, 126″).

[0052] In one implementation shown in FIG. 27B, the cooler container 1000'' can have one or more removable batteries PS'' that can be installed in the cooler container 1000'' (e.g., via opening 305'') to power the TEC 220, 220'' in a reverse polarity condition to heat the chamber 126, 126''. The circuitry EM and TEC 220, 220'' can be operated from power from the one or more removable batteries PS'' instead of other batteries (PS, PS') that power other components of the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'' when the circuitry EM needs to operate the TEC 220 to heat the chamber 126, 126'' (e.g., when the sensed ambient and / or chamber temperature falls below a predetermined temperature). Advantageously, to reduce the shipping weight of the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''', the one or more batteries PS'' can be installed, if desired, in the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' only when shipped to a climate where the ambient temperature is likely to drop below a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 2° C.) and / or when shipped to a climate where the ambient temperature is likely to rise above a second predetermined temperature (e.g., 15° C., 20° C., 30° C., etc.). In another implementation, the one or more batteries PS'' can be installed in the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' for all shipments, regardless of the expected ambient temperature.

[0053] In some implementations, the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''', 1000''' can have a separate heater unit (e.g., a resistive heater) in thermal communication with the chamber 126, 126''' (e.g., wrapped at least partially around the chamber 126, 126''') that can be operated when the ambient temperature exceeds a preselected temperature in the chamber 126, 126''' (e.g., after a predetermined period of time), such as during the winter or when transporting medication to a location in very cold climates. If desired, the separate heater unit (e.g., a resistive heater) and / or circuitry EM can be powered from one or more batteries PS''. The preselected temperature can be tailored to the contents of the container (e.g., a particular medication, a particular vaccine, food, beverage, human tissue, animal tissue, organism) and can be stored in the memory of the assembly 1000. The cooling or heating system may operate the TEC 220 to approach a preselected temperature or set point, depending on how the temperature control system is operated.

[0054] Optionally, the circuitry EM of the cooler container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' can communicate (e.g., wirelessly) to a remote location (e.g., a cloud-based data storage system, a remote computer, a remote server, a mobile electronic device such as a smart phone or tablet computer or a laptop or desktop computer) and / or to an individual carrying the container (e.g., via their mobile phone, via a visual interface on the container, etc.) information such as the temperature history of the chamber 126 to provide a usable record (e.g., to assess the effectiveness of a drug in the container, to assess whether the contents in the chamber 126 are spoiled, etc.) and / or alerts regarding the condition of the chamber 126 and / or the contents in the chamber 126. Optionally, a temperature control system (e.g., a cooling system, a heating system) of the cooler container 1000, 1000', 1000'' can automatically operate the TEC 220 to heat or cool the chamber 126 of the container vessel 100 to approach a preselected temperature. In one implementation, the cooling system 200 can cool and maintain one or both of the chamber 126 and the contents therein at or below 15 degrees Celsius, such as below 10 degrees Celsius (e.g., within the range of 2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius), and in some examples at approximately 5 degrees Celsius.

[0055] In one implementation, the one or more sensors S1-Sn may include another airflow sensor that may monitor airflow through one or both of the inlet 203 and the outlet 205, through the cold side fluid chamber 215, the inlet line 140, and / or the outlet line 150. If the one or more flow sensors detect that the inlet 203 is clogged (e.g., with dust) due to reduced airflow, the circuitry EM (e.g., on the PCBA) may optionally reverse the operation of the fan 280 for one or more predetermined periods of time to draw air through the outlet 205 and expel air through the inlet 203 to clean (e.g., unclog and remove dust therefrom) the inlet 203. In another implementation, circuit EM can additionally or alternatively send an alert to the user (e.g., via a user interface on assembly 1000, wirelessly to a remote electronic device such as the user's cell phone) to inform the user of a potential clog in intake 203, so that the user can inspect assembly 1000 and command circuit EM (e.g., via an app on the user's cell phone) to perform a "cleaning" operation, for example, by running fan 280 in reverse to exhaust air through intake 203. In one example, an air filter can be placed under intake grill / vent 203, if desired.

[0056] In one implementation, the one or more sensors S1-Sn of the cooler container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' may include one or more global positioning system (GPS) sensors for tracking the location of the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. The location information may be communicated to a remote location (e.g., a mobile electronic device, a cloud-based data storage system, etc.) by a transmitter (e.g., a cellular radio antenna or cellular radio) and / or a transceiver associated with the circuit EM, as described above. In one implementation, the GPS location is communicated by the circuit EM (e.g., not automatically, but in response to a query or request) at regular intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes, every 15 minutes, etc.). In another implementation, the GPS location is communicated by the circuit EM upon receiving a request or query, such as from a user (e.g., via an app or website that allows the user to track the location of the cooler container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''').

[0057] FIG. 23 illustrates a block diagram of the electronics 180 of the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. The electronics 180 may include a circuit EM' (e.g., including one or more processors on a printed circuit board). The circuit EM' communicates with one or more batteries PS', a display screen 188, 188''', and a user interface 184, 184'''. Optionally, a memory module 185 is in communication with the circuit EM'. In one implementation, the memory module 185 may be disposed on the same printed circuit board as other components of the circuit EM', if desired. The circuit EM' optionally controls the information displayed on the display screen 188, 188'''. Information (e.g., sender address, recipient address, etc.) may be communicated to the circuit EM' via an input module 186. The input module 186 may receive such information wirelessly (e.g., via radio frequency or RF communication, via infrared or IR communication, via WiFi 802.11, via BLUETOOTH, etc.), such as by using a wand (e.g., a radio frequency or RF wand operating on the container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''', e.g., a display screen 188, 188''', which is connected to a computer system containing the shipping information). Once received by the input module 186, the information (e.g., shipping information on a shipping label displayed on the display screen 188) may be stored electronically in the memory module 185. Advantageously, one or more batteries PS' may power the electronics 180, and thus the display screen 188, for multiple uses of the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' (e.g., during up to 1000 shipments of the container assembly 1000). As described above, the electronics 180 can wirelessly communicate a signal to a shipping carrier (e.g., UPS, FedEx, DHL) notifying the shipping carrier that a shipping label (e.g., a new shipping label) has been assigned to the portable cooler and the cooler is ready for pick-up and shipping (e.g., when the user interface 184 is activated by the user).

[0058] FIG. 24A illustrates a block diagram of one method 800 for shipping cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. At step 810, one or more components (e.g., food(s), beverage(s), pharmaceutical, biological tissue or organism) are placed in the container vessel 100 of the container assembly 1000, such as at a distribution facility for the components or products. At step 820, the lid 400 is closed over the container vessel 100 once the contents have been placed therein. Optionally, the lid 400 is locked to the container vessel 100, 100', 100''' (e.g., via a magnetically actuated lock including an electromagnet that is activated when the lid 400 is closed, which may be turned off with a code, such as a digital code, a code provided to the user's phone, etc.). At step 830, information (e.g., shipping label information) is communicated (e.g., loaded) into the container assembly 1000. For example, as described above, a radio frequency (RF) wand may be operated on the container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' to transfer the shipping information to the input module 186 of the electronics 180 of the container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. At step 780, the container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' is shipped to a recipient (e.g., displayed on the shipping label 189 of the display screen 188).

[0059] Optionally, the assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000", 1000'" can be stacked, for example, on a pallet P, as shown in FIG. 16, allowing hot air to be vented from the loaded assemblies 100 (using a chimney effect) as described above, allowing heated air to exit the loaded assemblies, e.g., to be vented from the shipping container via one or more vents in the shipping container. Additionally, as described above, the loaded assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000", 1000'" can be electrically connected (e.g., when all assemblies are loaded onto the power or charging base, e.g., prior to shipment at a warehouse or distribution center, or during shipment if the shipping container has a power or charging base on which the assemblies 1000 are loaded) to allow power transfer between the lower assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000", 1000"' and the higher assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000", 1000"'. The assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' (see FIGS. 16, 19) in the loading structure can establish a bidirectional communication link for transmitting data, such as temperature history and battery consumption data. In one example, if one of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' is low power, it can draw power from one or more of the assemblies 1000 around it (e.g., above it, below it) when loaded, if desired. The cooling systems 200 in the individual cooler container assemblies 1000 can remain active and simultaneously charge the PCMs 135 when the assembly 1000 is loaded onto a power or charging base (such as charging base 500 in FIG. 19), for example, in a warehouse or shipping facility, on a truck, on a ship, on an airplane, etc.

[0060] FIG. 24B shows a block diagram of a method 800′ for returning the container assembly 1000, 1000′, 1000″, 1000′″. After receiving the container assembly 1000, 1000′, 1000″, 1000′″ at step 850, the lid 400, 400″ can be opened relative to the container vessel 100. Optionally, prior to opening the lid 400, 400″, the lid 400, 400″ is unlocked relative to the container vessel 100 (e.g., using a code such as a digital code or an RFID code on the user's mobile phone provided by the shipper to the recipient via a keypad and / or biometric identification on the vessel 100, 100′, 1000″ or the lid 400, 400″, 400′″). A user's smartphone or other electronic device with the unlocking code can communicate, for example, via Bluetooth or RFID to the container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''', to unlock the lid 400, 400'', 400''' from the vessel 100, 100', 100''' (e.g., by positioning or placing the smartphone or electronic device near the vessel and / or lid). At step 860, the contents (e.g., medication, food, beverage, organism or tissue) are removed from the container vessel 100. At step 870, the lid 400 is closed on the container vessel 100. At step 880, user interface 184 (e.g., a button) is actuated to toggle between sender and recipient information within display screen 188, advantageously allowing container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' to be returned to the original sender for reuse without having to re-enter shipping information on display screen 188, 188''. Optionally, actuation of user interface 184, 184''' at step 880 wirelessly communicates (e.g., by electronics 180) a signal to the shipper (e.g., UPS, FedEx, DHL) notifying the shipper that a shipping label (e.g., a new shipping label) has been assigned to the portable cooler and that the cooler is ready for pick-up and shipping.In one example, the cooler container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' or the loading structure of the assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' can also send notifications to both the end user as well as the originating facility during certain events, such as when a payload is delivered or when an alert is sent as needed.

[0061] The display screen 188, 188''' and the label 189 advantageously facilitate shipping of the container assembly 1000 without having to print a separate label for the container assembly 1000. Additionally, the display screen 188, 188''' and the user interface 184, 184''' advantageously facilitate returning the container system 1000 to the sender (e.g., without having to re-enter shipping information, without having to print any labels), and the container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' may be reused to ship the contents again to the same or a different recipient, etc. The reuse of the container assembly 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''' for delivery of perishable materials (e.g., medicines, food, beverages, living tissue, or organisms) advantageously reduces shipping costs (e.g., compared to commonly used cardboard containers that are discarded after a single use) by allowing the container vessel 100 to be reused.

[0062] FIG. 25 illustrates a partial exploded view of the cooler container 1000'. Some of the features of the cooler container 1000' are similar to the features of the cooler container 1000 of FIGS. 1-24B. Accordingly, the reference numbers used to designate the various components of the cooler container 1000' are identical to those used to identify the corresponding components of the cooler container 1000 of FIGS. 1-24B, except for the addition of "'" to the numerical identifier. Accordingly, the structure and description of the various features of the cooler container 1000, and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1-24B, are understood to also apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000' of FIG. 25, except as described below. Although the following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000', these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as cooler containers 1000, 1000'', 1000'''', etc., disclosed herein.

[0063] The cooler container 1000' differs from the cooler container 1000 in that one or more power storage devices (e.g., batteries) PS, PS' are located in a module 350' that can be removably coupled to the cooler container 1000'. In one implementation, the power storage devices PS, PS' can be optionally placed on one or more loading structures on the platform 352' and electrically connected to electrical contacts 34' below the platform 352'. The module 350' can be optionally coupled to the cooler container 1000' (e.g., to the frame 300' of the cooler container 1000') such that the power storage devices PS, PS' extend into a compartment (e.g., a compartment within the frame 300') within the cooler container 1000' and such that the platform 352' is adjacent to or generally flush with the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300'.

[0064] The module 350' locks into place on the cooler container 1000' (e.g., via a latching mechanism, such as a spring-loaded latching mechanism, a screw coupling, a magnetic coupling, etc.). Once the module 350' is coupled (e.g., locked into place on the cooler container 1000'), the display 188' can optionally register (e.g., indicate) that the module 350' is coupled and can optionally indicate the charge level of the power storage device PS, PS' of the module 350'. Power can be provided to electronics (e.g., Peltier element 220, fan 280, circuitry EM) within the cooler container 1000' from the power storage device PS, PS', for example, via electrical contacts between the module 350' and the cooler container 1000' (e.g., electrical contacts on the frame 300' that contact electrical contacts of the module 350'). In another implementation, power is transferred from the power storage devices PS, PS' in the module 350' to the electronics (eg, Peltier element 220, fan 280, circuitry EM) in the cooler container 1000' via inductive coupling.

[0065] Advantageously, the module 350' can be disconnected and removed from the cooler container 1000' to replace the power storage device PS, PS' or to replace the module 350'. Thus, the module 350' can be replaceable and / or replaceable. The power storage device (e.g., battery) PS, PS' in the module 350' can be charged (or recharged) as desired while coupled to the cooler container 1000'. In another implementation, the module 350' can be removed from the cooler container 1000' and charged (or recharged) separately on the charging station or base 500 before being coupled to the cooler container 1000' as described above.

[0066] FIG. 26 shows a schematic diagram of a cooler container 1000″. Some of the features of the cooler container 1000″ are similar to the features of the cooler container 1000 of FIGS. 1-24B and the cooler container 1000′ of FIG. 25. Accordingly, the reference numbers used to designate the various components of the cooler container 1000″ are the same as those used to identify the corresponding components of the cooler container 1000 of FIGS. 1-24B and the cooler container 1000′ of FIG. 25, except for the addition of “″” to the numerical identifier. Accordingly, the structure and description of the various features of the cooler container 1000″ and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1-25 will be understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 26, except as described below. Although the following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000″, these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as the cooler containers 1000′, 1000, disclosed herein.

[0067] The cooler container 1000'' may have one or more sleeves 130'' disposed around the chamber 126'' of the container 1000'' that may be filled with temperature sensitive contents (e.g., medicine, vaccine, tissue). The sleeve(s) 130'' may be separate volumes disposed around the chamber 126'', as desired. The sleeve 130'' may house a phase change material (PCM) or thermal mass 135'' therein. In one implementation, the phase change material 135'' may be a solid-liquid PCM. In another implementation, the phase change material 135'' may be a solid-solid PCM. The PCM 135'' has the advantage that it can passively absorb and release energy. Examples of possible PCM materials are water (which may transition to ice when cooled below freezing temperature), organic PCMs (e.g., bio-based or paraffin, or derived from carbohydrates and lipids), inorganic PCMs (e.g., salt hydrates), and inorganic eutectic materials. However, the PCM 135'' can be any thermal mass capable of storing and releasing energy.

[0068] The cooler container 1000'' may optionally include a cooling system 200''. In other examples described below, at least a portion of the cooling system 200'' may be external to the container 1000''. The cooling system 200'' is optionally a closed loop system. The cooling system 200'' optionally includes a conduit 140'' through which a cooling fluid (e.g., a cooling liquid such as water) flows. In some implementations, the cooling fluid may be water. In some implementations, the cooling fluid may be a water mixture (e.g., a water-alcohol mixture, a mixture of water and ethylene glycol, etc.). The cooling system 200'' may optionally include one or more of a first heat sink 210'' (e.g., a solid-liquid heat exchanger), a thermoelectric module(s) or TEC(s) 220'', a second heat sink 230'', a fan(s) 280'', a pump 146'', and a reservoir 148''. The conduit 140'' may include a first conduit 140A'' extending between the first heat sink 210'' and the sleeve(s) 130''. The conduit 140'' also includes a second conduit 140B'' extending through the sleeve(s) 130'' and in fluid communication with the first conduit 140A''. The reservoir 148'' is in fluid communication with an opposite end of the second conduit 140B''. The conduit 140'' also includes a third conduit 140C'' extending between the reservoir 148'' and the pump 146''. The conduit 140'' also includes a fourth conduit 140D'' extending between the pump 146'' and the first heat sink 210''.

[0069] During operation, the TEC(s) 220'' are operated (as described above in connection with the cooling containers 1000, 1000') to remove heat from the first heat sink 210'' and transfer the heat to the second heat sink 230''. The fan(s) 280'' are optionally operated to dissipate heat from the second heat sink 230'', thereby enabling the TEC(s) 220'' to remove additional heat from the first heat sink 210'' (e.g., cool the first heat sink 210''). Optionally, the first heat sink 210'' (e.g., a solid-liquid heat exchanger) can at least partially define one or more flow paths (e.g., within the body of the heat sink 210'') in fluid communication with the first conduit 140A'' and the fourth conduit 140D''. The pump 146'' can be selectively operated (e.g., by a controller of the cooling system 200'' or the container 1000'') to flow a cooling fluid (e.g., a liquid) through the conduit 140'' and through or past the first heat sink 210'' where the cooling fluid is cooled. The cooled cooling fluid is then directed through the first conduit 140A'' via the second conduit 140B'' into the sleeve(s) 130'' where the cooling fluid removes heat from the PCM 135'', thereby pre-cooling the PCM 135'' (e.g., making the PCM 135'' ready to absorb energy). The fluid then exits the sleeve(s) 130'' and flows into the reservoir 148''. From the reservoir 148'', the fluid flows via a third conduit 140C'' to the pump 146'', where the pump 146'' again pumps the liquid through or to the first heat sink 210'' via a fourth conduit 140D''.

[0070] Advantageously, the cooling fluid (e.g., liquid) rapidly cools the PCM 135'' in the sleeve(s) 130'' to pre-cool the PCM 135''. Optionally, the second conduit 140B'' in the sleeve(s) 130'' extends in a coil (e.g., helical) manner through the sleeve(s) 130'', thereby increasing the surface area of ​​the second conduit 140B'' in contact with the PCM 135'', thereby increasing the amount of heat transfer between the cooling fluid and the PCM 135''. This configuration of the second conduit 140B'' advantageously results in more rapid cooling / pre-cooling of the PCM 135''. In one example, the chamber 126'' of the cooler container 1000'' can be cooled to about 2 to about 8°C (e.g., 0°C, 1°C, 2°C, 3°C, 4°C, 5°C, 6°C, 7°C, 8°C, 9°C, 10°C, etc.). Optionally, the reservoir 148'' may have a valve (eg, a bleed valve) that may bleed cooling fluid from or introduce cooling fluid into the cooling system 200''.

[0071] The cooler container 1000'' can optionally exclude batteries and electronics, such that the cooling system 200'' does not operate while the cooler container 1000'' is in transit (e.g., trailer, truck, plane, boat, car, etc.). Rather, during transit, the chamber 126'' of the cooler container 1000'' is cooled by the pre-cooled PCM 135'' (e.g., the PCM 135'' is the primary cooling mechanism for the chamber 126''). The cooling system 200' can optionally operate when the cooler container 1000'' is placed on a power base (e.g., at a home shipping location, hospital, etc.). For example, the cooler container 1000'' has electrical contacts that selectively contact electrical contacts on the power base when the cooler container 1000'' is placed on the power base. The power base provides power to one or more of the TEC(s) 220'', pump 146'', and fan(s) 280'', which operate as described above (e.g., by circuitry within container 1000'') to pre-cool the PCM 135''. Once the PCM 135'' has been pre-cooled, the cooler container 1000'' can be removed from the power base, the chamber 126'' can be filled with temperature sensitive contents (e.g., drugs, vaccines, tissue, etc.), and the cooler container 1000'' can be shipped to its destination as described above. The pre-cooled PCM 135'' can operate to maintain the contents within the chamber 126'' in a cooled state during transport of the cooler container 1000'' to its destination.

[0072] As mentioned above, the cooler containers 1000'' can be stacked on top of each other if desired, with the bottom cooler container 1000'' disposed on a power base, whereby power is transferred from the power base upwards through the loading structure of the cooler containers 1000'' (e.g., the PCMs 135'' in all loaded containers 1000'' are pre-cooled substantially simultaneously). In one example, each cooler container 1000'' has a quantity of cooling fluid in its closed-loop cooling system 200'', and power is transferred from each container 1000'' to the container above it to operate its cooling system 200'' to pre-cool its PCMs 135''. However, this requires that each container 1000'' have a quantity of cooling fluid therein at all times.

[0073] In another example, the cooler container(s) 1000'' can optionally have quick disconnect connectors that allow the conduits 140'' of each loaded container 1000'' to be in fluid communication with one another when the containers 1000'' are loaded (e.g., each container 1000'' has an open-loop cooling system). In this example, the cooling system 200'' (e.g., including the first heat sink 210'', the TEC(s) 220'', the second heat sink 230'', the fan(s) 280'', the pump 146'', and the reservoir 148'') can be located in communication or housed within the power base rather than within the vessel 100'' of the cooler container(s) 1000''. The power base may have quick disconnect connectors (e.g., quick disconnect connectors between different sections of conduit 140'', where some sections such as 140A'', 140C'', 140B'' are outside the container 1000''' and only conduit section 140B'' is inside the container 1000'') that detachably mate with quick disconnect connectors on the containers 1000'' connected to the power base, and each container 1000'' may have quick disconnect connectors or valves that allow it to fluidly connect with the containers 1000'' disposed above it (e.g., allowing the conduit 140'' of a container to fluidly connect with the conduit 140'' of the container 1000'' disposed above it). Advantageously, this allows the PCMs 135'' in each of the loaded containers 1000'' to be pre-cooled simultaneously, allowing for a reduction in the weight and / or size of the cooler container 1000'' (e.g., because the cooling system 200'' and cooling fluid are not contained within the container 1000'' during transportation of the container 1000''), thereby reducing the transportation costs of shipping the cooling containers 1000''.

[0074] 27A-27B show schematic diagrams of variations of the cooling container 1000''. FIGS. 27A-27B add fins 149'' to the second conduit 140B'' in the sleeve(s) 130'' (e.g., the fins 149'' extend between the walls of the sleeve(s) 130''), thereby increasing the surface area in contact with the PCM 135'' through which heat can be transferred between the PCM 135'' and the second conduit 140B'' and allowing the cooling fluid to pre-cool the PCM 135''. The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000'', but these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as the cooler containers 1000', 1000'', disclosed herein.

[0075] The container 1000'' may have one or more temperature sensors Sn1 in communication with the conduit 140'' (e.g., with the conduit section 140B''), one or more temperature sensors Sn2 in communication with the chamber 126'', and / or one or more temperature sensors Sn3 in the sleeve(s) 130'' (e.g., in thermal communication with the PCM 135''). The one or more temperature sensors Sn1, Sn2, Sn3 may be in communication with a circuit EM, which may operate one or both of the TEC(s) 220'' and the fan(s) 280'' based at least in part on the temperatures sensed from the sensors Sn1, Sn2, and / or Sn3. The container 1000'' may optionally have one or more sensors Ta that sense an ambient temperature and communicate with the circuit EM. The temperature sensed from sensor Ta can provide an indication of the humidity level to circuit EM, which can operate one or both of TEC(s) 220'' and fan(s) 280'' based at least in part on the temperature sensed from sensor(s) Ta. Cooler container 1000'' can optionally include a shutoff valve 147'' that can be selectively actuated by circuit EM to inhibit (e.g., prevent) the flow of liquid through conduit 140'' (e.g., when there is a malfunction in a component of cooler container 1000'' such as pump 146'' or TEC(s) 220'').

[0076] Referring to FIG. 27B, air enters the vessel 100'' through one or more air intake openings 203'' and is driven by one or more fans 280'' through channels or pathways 215'' and through a first heat sink 230'' where heat may be transferred from the first heat sink 230'' to the air. The air is then exhausted from the vessel 100'' through one or more exhaust openings 205''. While FIG. 27B shows the intake openings 203'' and exhaust openings 205'' in the same plane or surface, in other implementations the intake openings 203'' and exhaust openings 205'' may be on separate planes (e.g., separate planes oriented 180° apart, separate planes oriented 90° apart). For example, exhaust opening 205'' may be on a front surface of container 1000'' (e.g., a surface having a display of container 1000'') and intake opening 203'' may be on a rear surface of container 1000'' oriented 180 degrees apart. In another implementation, exhaust opening 205'' may be on a rear surface of container 1000'' and intake opening 203'' may be on a front surface of container 1000'' (e.g., a surface having a display of container 1000'') oriented 180 degrees apart.

[0077] If desired, the cooling system may be located at one corner (e.g., along one edge) of the cooler container 1000'' as shown in FIG. 27B. In another implementation, the cooling system may be distributed around at least a portion of the chamber 126'' (e.g., distributed completely around the chamber 126''). The first heat sink 230'' is in thermal communication with one or more TEC(s) 220'', which is in thermal communication with a second heat sink 210'' (e.g., a solid-liquid heat exchanger). The second heat sink 210'' is in thermal communication with a conduit 140'' that carries a fluid (e.g., a liquid such as water). The second heat sink 210'' cools the fluid in the conduit 140'' as it flows through it and transfers the heat to the TEC 220'', which transfers the heat to the first heat sink 230'', which transfers the heat to air exhausted via exhaust opening(s) 205''. The cooled liquid in the conduit 140'' pre-cools the PCM 135'' in the sleeve(s) 130'' via the fins 149'' (e.g., the phase change material or PCM 135'' is in a state where it can absorb energy to cool at least a portion of the chamber 126''). FIG. 27C shows another implementation of cooler container 1000'' having one or more removable batteries PS'' that may be optionally installed to power one or both of circuits EM and TEC 220, 220'' or a separate heater, as described above, to inhibit (e.g., prevent) one or more of the payload contents from freezing in cold climates or being exposed to high temperatures in hot climates.

[0078] FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of a variation of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 26. The structure and description of various features of the cooler container 1000″ and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1-26 are understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 28, except as described below. While FIG. 26 illustrates a second conduit 140B″ that oscillates horizontally, FIG. 28 illustrates a second conduit 140B′″ that oscillates vertically within the sleeve(s) 130″. Although the following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000″, these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as cooler containers 1000′, 1000″, disclosed herein.

[0079] FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram of a variation of the cooler container 1000″ of FIGS. 27A-27B. The structure and description of various features of the cooler container 1000″ and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1-27B are understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 29, except as described below. While FIGS. 27A-27B show a second conduit 140B″ having fins 149″ disposed about the horizontally oscillating conduit 140B″, FIG. 29 shows a second conduit 140B′″ having fins 149′″ disposed about the vertically oscillating conduit 140B′″ within the sleeve(s) 130″. Although the following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000″, these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as the cooler containers 1000′, 1000″, disclosed herein.

[0080] FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram of a variation of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 26. The structure and description of the various features of the cooler container 1000″ and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1-26 are understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 31, except as described below. Unlike the second conduit 104B″ of FIG. 26, the second conduit 140B″ extends helically within the sleeve(s) 130″ (the sleeves 130″ have been removed to more clearly show the shape of the conduit 140B″). The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000″, but these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as the cooler containers 1000′, 1000″, disclosed herein.

[0081] FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram of a variation of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 26. The structure and description of the various features of the cooler container 1000″ and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1-26 are understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 31, except as described below. Unlike the second conduit 140B″ of FIG. 26, the second conduit 140B″″′ extends in a horizontally oscillating manner within the sleeve(s) 130″ (the sleeves 130″ have been removed to more clearly show the shape of the conduit 140B″). Fins 149″″ are disposed around the conduit 140B′″″ to aid in heat dissipation as described above. The second conduit 140B′″″ extends between an inlet IN and an outlet OUT. Although the following features are described with respect to cooler container assembly 1000'', these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as cooler containers 1000', 1000'', disclosed herein.

[0082] FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram of a variation of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 28. The structure and description of the various features of the cooler container 1000″ and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1-28 are understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 32, except as described below. Unlike the cooler container 1000″ of FIG. 28, FIG. 32 adds fins 131 that extend from the outer surface of the sleeve(s) 130″ to the outer wall (e.g., fourth wall) 104′. Although the following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000″, these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as the cooler containers 1000′, 1000″, disclosed herein.

[0083] FIG. 33 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of cooler container 1000'''. Some of the features of cooler container 1000''' are similar to the features of cooler container 1000 of FIGS. 1-24B. Accordingly, the reference numbers used to designate various components of cooler container 1000''' are identical to those used to identify corresponding components of cooler container 1000 of FIGS. 1-24B, except for the addition of "'''" to the numerical identifier. Accordingly, the structure and description of various features of cooler container 1000, and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1-24B, will be understood to also apply to corresponding features of cooler container 1000''' of FIG. 33, except as described below. Although the following features are described in relation to cooler container assembly 1000''', these features also apply to all cooler containers, such as cooler containers 1000, 1000'', disclosed herein.

[0084] The cooler container 1000''' differs from the cooler container 1000 in various ways. For example, the cooler container 1000''' does not include a fan (such as fan 280) or an air intake opening (such as air inlet opening 203). The cooler container 1000''' also does not include a thermoelectric module or a TEC (such as Peltier element 220). Additionally, the cooler container 1000''' does not include a flow path for flowing air or another fluid through the container to cool the container. While FIG. 33 shows a cross-section of the container 1000''', one skilled in the art will recognize that the container 1000''' in one implementation is symmetrical about the cross-sectional plane (e.g., the container has a generally box-like or cubic profile, such as having a square cross-section along a transverse plane relative to the cross-sectional plane in FIG. 33), which may advantageously maximize the number of containers 1000''' that may be stored in a given volume (e.g., a delivery truck). The container 1000''' may have other suitable shapes (eg, cylindrical, rectangular, etc.).

[0085] The cooler container 1000''' includes a vessel 100''', an outer housing 102'''. Optionally, the outer housing 102''' has one or more portions. In the illustrated implementation, the outer housing 102''' optionally has two portions including a first (e.g., outer) portion 102A''' and a second (e.g., inner) portion 102B'''. In other implementations, the outer housing 102''' can have fewer (e.g., one) or more (e.g., three, four, etc.) portions.

[0086] First portion 102A''' optionally provides an outer shell. As shown in FIG. 33, first portion 102A''' optionally covers at least a portion (e.g., not all) of an exterior surface of container 1000'''. For example, in one implementation, first portion 102A''' covers at least the edges of container 1000'''. In one implementation, first portion 102A''' covers only the edges of container 1000'''. In one implementation, first portion 102A''' is made from an impact resistant material such as plastic. Other suitable materials can be used. In another implementation, first portion 102A''' may additionally or alternatively be made from a thermally insulating material.

[0087] The second portion 102B''' is optionally made from a thermally insulating material, such as a foam material. Other suitable materials can be used. In another implementation, the second portion 102B''' can additionally or alternatively be made from an impact resistant (e.g., compressible) material.

[0088] In some implementations, the outer housing 102''' includes only the first portion 102A''' (e.g., the housing 102''' is defined only by the first portion 102A''') and excludes the second portion 102B'''. In some implementations, the outer housing 102''' includes only the second portion 102B''' (e.g., the housing 102''' is defined only by the second portion 102B''') and excludes the first portion 102A'''.

[0089] Container 1000''' also includes a vacuum insulated chamber 107''' (e.g., a double-walled insulated chamber) defined between outer wall 106A''' and inner wall 106B''', with walls 106A''', 106B''' extending along the perimeter and base of chamber 126''' of container 1000'''. Thus, chamber 126''' receiving perishable contents (e.g., medicines, food, other perishables, etc.) is surrounded about its perimeter and base by vacuum insulated chamber 107''', which inhibits (e.g., prevents) heat transfer (e.g., loss of cooling) from chamber 126''' through its perimeter or base.

[0090] The cooler container 1000''' optionally includes a phase change material 135''' that may be disposed within the container 1000'''. In one implementation, the phase change material (PCM) 135''' or thermal storage is provided (e.g., housed) within a sleeve 130''' that is surrounded by the inner wall 106B''' and defines the inner wall 126A''' of the chamber 126'''. In another implementation, the phase change material or thermal storage may alternatively be disposed within one or more packs (e.g., one or more ice packs) within the chamber 126''', the chamber 126''' being defined by the inner wall 106B'''. In another implementation, the phase change material 135''' or thermal storage may be provided within the sleeve 130''' as well as within separate pack(s) (e.g., one or more ice packs) inserted within the chamber 126''' (e.g., around the perishable contents).

[0091] The chamber 126''' may be sealed with a lid 400'''. Optionally, the lid 400''' includes at least a portion 410''' made of an insulating material (e.g., a foam material) to reduce (e.g., prevent) heat transfer (e.g., loss of cooling) from the chamber 126''' through an opening in the top of the container 1000''' sealed with the lid 400'''. The lid 400''' optionally includes a double-walled vacuum insulation structure 420''' at least partially surrounding (e.g., entirely surrounding) the side and top walls of the portion 410''' of insulating material, which may further reduce (e.g., prevent) loss of cooling from the chamber 126'''. In another implementation, the lid 40''' may be hollow, optionally having a space into which a phase change material may be inserted to further reduce heat transfer from the chamber 126'''.

[0092] The container 1000''' includes an electronic display screen 188''' (e.g., on a side, on a top surface of the container 1000'''). The display screen 188''' can be an electronic ink or E-ink display (e.g., an electrophoretic ink display) if desired. In another implementation, the display screen 188''' can be a digital display (e.g., a liquid crystal display or LCD, a light emitting diode or LED, etc.). Optionally, the display screen 188''' can display a label (e.g., a shipping label having one or more of a sender's address, a recipient's address, a MaxiCode machine readable symbol, a QR code, a routing code, a bar code, and a tracking number) as shown in FIG. 15, but can additionally or alternatively display other information (e.g., temperature history information, information regarding the contents of the container 1000''') if desired.

[0093] The cooler container assembly 1000'' may also optionally include a user interface 184'''. In FIG. 33, the user interface 184''' is on a side of the container 1000'''. In another implementation, the user interface 184''' is disposed on a top surface (e.g., a corner) of the housing 102''' and / or a surface of the lid 400''' of the container 1000'''. The user interface 184''' may optionally be a button (e.g., a "return to home" button). In one implementation, the user interface 184''' is a depressible button. In another implementation, the user interface 184''' is a capacitive sensor (e.g., a touch-sensitive sensor, a touch-sensitive switch). In another implementation, the user interface 184''' is a sliding switch (e.g., a sliding lever). In another implementation, the user interface 184''' is a rotatable dial. In yet another implementation, the user interface 184''' may be a touch screen portion (e.g., separate from or incorporated as part of the display screen 188'''). Advantageously, actuation of the user interface 184''' may change the information shown on the display 188''', such as the form of the shipping label shown on the E-ink display 188'''. For example, actuation of the user interface 184''' may toggle the text associated with the sender and recipient, and allow the cooler container assembly 1000''' to be shipped back to the sender once the recipient is done with it. Additionally or alternatively, actuation of the user interface 184''' may cause circuitry within the assembly 1000''' to send (e.g., automatically send) a signal to a shipper (e.g., UPS, FedEx, DHL) informing the shipper that a shipping label (e.g., a new shipping label) has been assigned to the portable cooler 1000''' and the cooler is ready for pick-up and shipping, as described above.

[0094] Advantageously, cooler container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' can be reused multiple times (e.g., 500, 1000, 1500, 20000 times), providing a sustainable cooler container for the delivery of perishable materials (e.g., medicines, food, other perishables). Additionally, container 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' is easy to use and streamlines the shipping process. For example, user interface 184'''' (e.g., buttons) facilitates returning the container without having to print a new shipping label and without having to separately contact the shipper for pickup, thereby improving the productivity of personnel handling the packages. The cooler containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' can be stacked, for example, in a row of six containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''', allowing a user to load and dismantle them without the need for ladders.

[0095] Additional Embodiments In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the portable cooler container system may be according to any of the following provisions: Clause 1. A portable cooler container with active temperature control, comprising: a container body having a chamber; a frame coupled to a lower end and an upper end of the container, the frame having a plurality of openings that allow air to flow around the container, the frame having one or more air intake openings, one or more proximal vent openings, and one or more distal vent openings in fluid communication via one or more vent channels, one or more proximal electrical contacts, and one or more distal electrical contacts; a lid removably connectable to the container body for accessing the chamber; A temperature control system; Equipped with The temperature control system is A low-temperature heat sink; A high temperature side heat sink; a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink; a hot side fan operable to draw in air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the hot side heat sink, and exhaust the heated air through the distal vent opening; one or more cold side fans operable to direct air over the cold side heat sink to cool the air and into channels in thermal communication with the chamber, thereby cooling the chamber; one or more batteries; a circuit configured to control operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the hot side fan, and the cold side fan to cool at least a portion of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or range of temperatures; A portable cooler container. Clause 2. The portable cooler container described in clause 1, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen configured to selectively display shipping information for the portable cooler container using electronic ink. Clause 3. A portable cooler container as described in clause 1 or 2, further comprising a button or touch screen operable by a user to automatically switch between sender information and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate returning the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 4. A portable cooler container as described in any one of clauses 1 to 3, further comprising a phase change material or heat storage body in thermal communication with the chamber and the channel, the phase change material or the heat storage body being configured to be cooled by a cooling fluid flowing through the channel. Clause 5. A portable cooler container as described in any one of clauses 1 to 4, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of the chamber or temperature control system and communicate the sensed information to the circuitry. Clause 6. A portable cooler container as described in any one of clauses 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the chamber and communicate the sensed temperature to the circuitry, and the circuitry is configured to communicate the sensed temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. Clause 7. A portable cooler container as described in any one of clauses 1 to 6, wherein the container bodies are stackable such that electrical contacts in one container body contact electrical contacts in an adjacent container body, and a proximal vent opening in one container body aligns with a distal vent opening in an adjacent container body, thereby allowing heated air to be exhausted in a chimney-like manner from the stacked containers. Clause 8. A portable cooler container with active temperature control, a container body having a chamber; a frame coupled to a lower end and an upper end of the container, the frame having a plurality of openings that allow air to flow around the container, the frame having one or more air intake openings, one or more proximal vent openings, and one or more distal vent openings in fluid communication via one or more vent channels, one or more proximal electrical contacts, and one or more distal electrical contacts; a lid removably connectable to the container body for accessing the chamber; A temperature control system; Equipped with The temperature control system is A low-temperature heat sink; A high temperature side heat sink; a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink; a hot side fan operable to draw in air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the hot side heat sink, and exhaust the heated air through the distal vent opening; a cooling loop operable to flow a cooling fluid over the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid and into a channel in thermal communication with the chamber, thereby cooling the chamber; one or more batteries; a circuit configured to control operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the hot side fan, and the cold side fan to cool at least a portion of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or range of temperatures; A portable cooler container. Clause 9. A portable cooler container with active temperature control, a container body having a chamber; a frame coupled to a lower end and an upper end of the container, the frame having a plurality of openings that allow air to flow around the container, the frame having one or more air intake openings, one or more proximal vent openings, and one or more distal vent openings in fluid communication via one or more vent channels, one or more proximal electrical contacts, and one or more distal electrical contacts; a lid removably connectable to the container body for accessing the chamber; A temperature control system; Equipped with The temperature control system is A low-temperature heat sink; A high temperature side heat sink; a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink; a hot side fan operable to draw in air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the hot side heat sink, and exhaust the heated air through the distal vent opening; one or more cold side fans operable to direct air over the cold side heat sink to cool the air and into channels in thermal communication with the chamber, thereby cooling the chamber; one or more batteries; a circuit configured to control operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the hot side fan, and the cold side fan to cool at least a portion of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or range of temperatures; A portable cooler container. Clause 10. The portable cooler container of clause 9, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen configured to selectively display shipping information for the portable cooler container using electronic ink. Clause 11. A portable cooler container as described in clause 9 or 10, further comprising a button or touch screen operable by a user to automatically switch between sender and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate returning the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 12. A portable cooler container as described in any one of clauses 9 to 11, further comprising a phase change material or heat storage body in thermal communication with the chamber and the channel, the phase change material or heat storage body being configured to be cooled by a cooling fluid flowing through the channel. Clause 13. A portable cooler container as described in any one of clauses 9 to 12, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of the chamber or temperature control system and communicate the sensed information to the circuitry. Clause 14. A portable cooler container as described in any one of clauses 9 to 13, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the chamber and communicate the sensed temperature to the circuitry, and the circuitry is configured to communicate the sensed temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. Clause 15. A portable cooler container as described in any one of clauses 9 to 14, wherein the container bodies are stackable such that electrical contacts in one container body contact electrical contacts in an adjacent container body, and a proximal vent opening in one container body aligns with a distal vent opening in an adjacent container body, thereby allowing heated air to be exhausted in a chimney-like manner from the stacked containers. Clause 16. A portable cooler container with active temperature control, comprising: a container body having a chamber; a frame coupled to a lower end and an upper end of the container, the frame having a plurality of openings to allow air to flow around the container, the frame having one or more air intake openings, one or more proximal vent openings, and one or more distal vent openings in fluid communication via one or more vent channels, one or more proximal electrical contacts, and one or more distal electrical contacts; a lid removably connectable to the container body for accessing the chamber; A temperature control system; Equipped with The temperature control system is A low-temperature heat sink; A high temperature side heat sink; a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink; a hot side fan operable to draw in air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the hot side heat sink, and exhaust the heated air through the distal vent opening; a cooling loop operable to flow a cooling fluid over the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid and into a channel in thermal communication with the chamber, thereby cooling the chamber; one or more batteries; a circuit configured to control operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the hot side fan, and the cold side fan to cool at least a portion of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or range of temperatures; A portable cooler container. Clause 17. A portable cooler container as described in any one of clauses 1 to 16, wherein the one or more batteries are provided in a module that is removably connectable to the cooler container, the module being replaceable. Clause 18. A portable cooler container system comprising: a container body having a chamber; a sleeve disposed around the chamber and containing a phase change material or a heat store; a conduit extending through the sleeve in a coiled path, an outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the phase change material or heat store; a lid removably coupled to the container body for accessing the chamber; A temperature control system; Equipped with The temperature control system is a cold side heat sink in thermal communication with the conduit; A high temperature side heat sink; a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink; a hot side fan operable to draw in air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the hot side heat sink, and exhaust the heated air through the distal vent opening; a pump operable to flow a fluid against the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid and to flow the cooling fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material or heat store such that the phase change material or heat store cools at least a portion of the chamber; a circuit configured to control operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the hot side fan, and the pump; A portable cooler container system comprising: Clause 19. The portable cooler container system of clause 18, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen configured to selectively display shipping information for the portable cooler container using electronic ink. Clause 20. The portable cooler container system of clause 18 or 19, further comprising a button or touch screen operable by a user to automatically switch between sender and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 21. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 18 to 20, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of the chamber or temperature control system and communicate the sensed information to the circuit. Clause 22. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 18 to 21, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the chamber and communicate the sensed temperature to the circuitry, and the circuitry is configured to communicate the sensed temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. Clause 23. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 18 to 22, wherein the container bodies are stackable such that electrical contacts in one container body contact electrical contacts in an adjacent container body, and a proximal vent opening in one container body aligns with a distal vent opening in an adjacent container body, thereby allowing heated air to be exhausted in a chimney-like manner from the stacked containers. Clause 24. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 18 to 23, wherein the temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively coupleable to the container body for pre-cooling or cooling the phase change material or heat storage body. Clause 25. A portable cooler container system comprising: a container body having a chamber; a sleeve disposed around the chamber and containing a phase change material; a conduit extending through the sleeve in a coiled path, an exterior surface of the conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material; a lid removably connectable to the container body for accessing the chamber; A temperature control system; Equipped with The temperature control system is a cold side heat sink in thermal communication with the conduit; A high temperature side heat sink; a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink; a hot side fan operable to draw in air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the hot side heat sink, and exhaust the heated air through the distal vent opening; a pump operable to flow a fluid against the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid and to flow the cooling fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to pre-cool the phase change material such that the phase change material cools at least a portion of the chamber; a circuit configured to control operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the hot side fan, and the pump; A portable cooler container system comprising: Clause 26. The portable cooler container system of clause 25, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen configured to selectively display shipping information for the portable cooler container using electronic ink. Clause 27. The portable cooler container system of clause 25 or 26, further comprising a button or touch screen operable by a user to automatically switch between sender and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 28. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 25 to 27, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of the chamber or temperature control system and communicate the sensed information to the circuit. Clause 29. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 25 to 28, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the chamber and communicate the sensed temperature to the circuitry, and the circuitry is configured to communicate the sensed temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. Clause 30. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 25 to 29, wherein the container bodies are stackable such that electrical contacts in one container body contact electrical contacts in an adjacent container body, and a proximal vent opening in one container body aligns with a distal vent opening in an adjacent container body, thereby allowing heated air to be exhausted in a chimney-like manner from the stacked containers. Clause 31. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 25 to 30, wherein the temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively coupleable to the container body for pre-cooling the phase change material. Clause 32. A portable cooler container system comprising: a chamber configured to receive one or more perishable components; a first wall disposed circumferentially around the chamber and below a base of the chamber; a second wall disposed circumferentially about the first wall and below a base portion of the first wall, the second wall being spaced from the first wall to define a gap therebetween, the gap being under a vacuum, thereby insulating the first wall from the second wall, thereby insulating the chamber; an outer housing disposed about the second wall; a lid removably connectable over the chamber to substantially seal the chamber; an electronic display screen configured to selectively display an electronic shipping label for said portable cooler container; A portable cooler container system comprising: Clause 33. The portable cooler container system of clause 32, further comprising circuitry configured to communicate with said electronic display screen. Clause 34. The portable cooler container system of clause 32 or 33, further comprising a phase change material or heat store in thermal communication with said chamber for cooling said one or more perishable components. Clause 35. The portable cooler container system of any one of clauses 32-34, further comprising a button or touch screen actuable by a user to do one or both of the following: a) automatically switch between sender and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate return of the portable cooler container to the sender; and b) automatically contact a shipper to alert the shipper that a new electronic shipping label has been issued and that the container is ready for pickup. Clause 36. The portable cooler container system of any one of clauses 32 to 35, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of the chamber and communicate the sensed parameters to the circuit. Clause 37. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 32 to 36, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature within the chamber. Clause 38. The portable cooler container system of any one of clauses 32 to 37, wherein the circuitry is configured to communicate with a cloud-based server system or a remote electronic device. Clause 39. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 32 to 38, wherein the electronic display screen is an electronic ink display screen. Clause 40. The portable cooler container system of any one of clauses 32-39, wherein the outer housing comprises a thermally insulating material. Clause 41. The portable cooler container system described in any one of clauses 32 to 40, wherein the lid is a vacuum insulated lid. Clause 42. A portable cooler container system comprising: a container body having a chamber configured to receive one or more perishable items; a sleeve disposed around the chamber and containing a phase change material or a heat store; a conduit extending through the sleeve, an outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the phase change material or heat storage; a lid hingeably or removably connectable to the container body for accessing the chamber; A temperature control system; Equipped with The temperature control system is a cold side heat sink in thermal communication with at least a portion of the conduit; A high temperature side heat sink; a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink; a pump operable to flow a fluid against the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid and to flow the cooling fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to pre-cool the phase change material or heat store such that the phase change material or heat store is configured to cool at least a portion of the chamber; a circuit configured to control operation of one or both of the thermoelectric module and the pump; A portable cooler container system comprising: Clause 43. The portable cooler container system of clause 42, wherein the conduit extends through the sleeve along a coiled path. Clause 44. The portable cooler container system of clause 42 or 43, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen configured to selectively display shipping information for the portable cooler container. Clause 45. The portable cooler container system of any one of clauses 42 to 44, wherein the display screen is an electrophoretic ink display. Clause 46. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 42 to 45, further comprising a button or touch screen manually operable by a user to automatically switch between sender information and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 47. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 42 to 46, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of the chamber or temperature control system and communicate the sensed information to the circuitry. Clause 48. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 42 to 47, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the chamber and communicate the sensed temperature to the circuitry, and the circuitry is configured to communicate the sensed temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. Clause 49. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 42 to 48, wherein the container bodies are stackable such that electrical contacts in one container body contact electrical contacts in an adjacent container body. Clause 50. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 42 to 49, wherein at least a portion of the temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively coupleable to the container body for cooling the phase change material or heat storage body. Clause 51. The portable cooler container system of any one of clauses 42 to 50, further comprising one or more fins extending from an outer surface of said conduit and in thermal communication with said phase change material or heat storage body. Clause 52. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 42 to 51, wherein the container body is a vacuum insulated container body. Clause 53. A portable cooler container, a double-walled vacuum insulated container body having a chamber configured to receive and hold one or more perishable items; a lid hingeably or removably connectable to the container body for accessing the chamber; an electronic system of the container body; an electronic display screen disposed on one of the lid and the container body, the electronic display screen configured to selectively display an electronic shipping label for the portable cooler container; Equipped with The electronic system is one or more batteries; a circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device via a cellular radio; A portable cooler container. Clause 54. The portable cooler container system of clause 53, further comprising one or more volumes of phase change material or thermal mass for cooling said one or more perishable items. Clause 55. The portable cooler container system of clause 53 or 54, further comprising a button or touch screen manually actuable by a user to one or both of: a) automatically switch sender and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate return of the portable cooler container to the sender; and b) automatically contact a shipper to alert the shipper that a new electronic shipping label has been issued and that the container is ready for pickup. Clause 56. The portable cooler container system of any one of clauses 53 to 55, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of the chamber and communicate the sensed parameters to the circuit. Clause 57. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 53 to 56, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature within the chamber. Clause 58. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 53 to 57, wherein the electronic display screen is an electrophoretic ink display screen. Clause 59. A portable cooler container system as described in any one of clauses 53 to 58, wherein the lid is a vacuum insulated lid.

[0096] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. It is understood that the features disclosed herein are applicable to containers transporting any type of perishable goods (e.g., medicines, food, beverages, living tissue or organisms), and the present invention extends to such other containers. Moreover, various omissions, substitutions, and modifications of the systems and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The scope of the present invention is therefore defined solely by reference to the appended claims.

[0097] It should be understood that features, materials, properties, or groups described in connection with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are applicable to any other aspect, embodiment, or example described in this section or elsewhere herein, unless inconsistent. All features disclosed herein (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), and / or all steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations in which at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. Protection is not limited to the details of the foregoing embodiments. Protection extends to any novel or any novel combination of features disclosed herein (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), or any novel or any novel combination of steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0098] Moreover, certain features that are described in the disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Furthermore, although features may be described above as acting in a particular combination, one or more features from a claimed combination may, in some cases, be deleted from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or a variation of the subcombination.

[0099] Furthermore, although operations may be shown in the figures or described herein in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown, or in sequential order, or all operations need not be performed to achieve desirable results. Other operations not shown or described may be incorporated into the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, simultaneously with, or between the operations described. Furthermore, operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps performed in the illustrated and / or disclosed processes may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain steps described above may be omitted and other steps may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of certain embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, it should be understood that the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and that the components and systems described may generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged in multiple products.

[0100] For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, one skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein, without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0101] Conditional language such as "can," "could," "might," "may," and the like, unless otherwise stated or understood otherwise within the context in which it is used, is intended to generally convey that certain embodiments include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while other embodiments do not. Thus, such conditional language is not intended to generally imply that features, elements, and / or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for determining, with or without user input or prompts, whether those features, elements, and / or steps are to be included in or performed in any particular embodiment.

[0102] Conjunctions such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y, and Z," unless specifically stated otherwise, are understood in the context in which they are generally used to convey that an item, term, etc. can be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is generally not intended to imply that a particular embodiment requires the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

[0103] Language of degree as used herein, such as the terms "approximately," "about," "generally," and "substantially," refers to a value, amount, or characteristic that is close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic and still operates to achieve a desired function or result. For example, the terms "approximately," "about," "generally," and "substantially" can refer to an amount that is within less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 1%, less than 0.1%, and less than 0.01% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms "approximately parallel" and "substantially parallel" refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that deviates from exact parallelism by no more than 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degrees.

[0104] The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosure of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere herein, but may be defined by the claims presented in this section or elsewhere herein, or presented in the future. The language of the claims should be interpreted broadly based on the language used in the claims, and not limited to the examples described herein or during prosecution of this application, which examples should be interpreted as non-exclusive.

Claims

1. 1. A portable cooler container system comprising: a container body having a chamber configured to receive one or more perishable items; a sleeve disposed around the chamber and housing a phase change material or a thermal mass; a conduit extending through the sleeve, an outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the phase change material or the heat store; a lid hinged or removably coupled to the container body to access the chamber; a temperature control system at least partially contained within the container body around at least the chamber; and Equipped with The temperature control system includes: a cold side heat sink in thermal communication with at least a portion of the conduit; A high temperature side heat sink; a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink; a pump operable to channel a fluid against the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid and to channel the cooled fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material or the thermal mass such that the phase change material or the thermal mass cools at least a portion of the chamber; a circuit configured to control operation of one or both of the thermoelectric module and the pump; A portable cooler container system comprising:

2. 2. The portable cooler container system of claim 1, wherein the conduit extends through the sleeve along a coiled path.

3. a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid; 2. The portable cooler container system of claim 1, wherein the display screen is configured to selectively display shipping information of the container body.

4. 4. The portable cooler container system of claim 3, wherein said display screen is an electrophoretic ink display.

5. 4. The portable cooler container system of claim 3, further comprising a button or touch screen manually operable by a user to automatically switch between sender and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate returning the container body to the sender.

6. 10. The portable cooler container system of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of the chamber or the temperature control system and communicate the sensed parameters to the circuitry.

7. at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature in the chamber and communicate the sensed temperature to the circuit; 7. The portable cooler container system of claim 6, wherein the circuitry is configured to communicate the sensed temperature to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device.

8. 10. The portable cooler container system of claim 1, wherein the container bodies are stackable such that electrical contacts on one container body contact electrical contacts on an adjacent container body.

9. 2. The portable cooler container system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively coupleable to the container body to cool the phase change material or the heat storage body when coupled to the container body.

10. 10. The portable cooler container system of claim 1, further comprising one or more fins extending from said exterior surface of said conduit and in thermal communication with said phase change material or said heat storage body.

11. 2. The portable cooler container system of claim 1, wherein the container body is a vacuum insulated container body.

12. 1. A portable cooler container system comprising: a container body having a chamber configured to receive one or more temperature sensitive products; a sleeve disposed around the chamber and containing a phase change material or a heat store; a conduit extending through the sleeve, an outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the phase change material or the heat store; a lid hinged or removably coupled to the container body to access the chamber; A temperature control system; a display screen configured to selectively display shipping information for the container body; Equipped with The temperature control system includes: a cold side heat sink in thermal communication with at least a portion of the conduit; A high temperature side heat sink; a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature heat sink and the high-temperature heat sink; a pump operable to channel a fluid against the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid and to channel the cooled fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material or the thermal mass such that the phase change material or the thermal mass cools at least a portion of the chamber; a circuit configured to control operation of one or both of the thermoelectric module and the pump; Equipped with 11. The portable cooler container system of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is configured to automatically switch sender and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate return of the portable cooler container to the sender, and is configured to send a signal to a shipper notifying the shipper that the container body is ready for pickup and shipping.

13. 13. The portable cooler container system of claim 12, wherein the conduit extends through the sleeve along a coiled path.

14. 13. The portable cooler container system of claim 12, further comprising a button or touch screen manually operable by a user to automatically switch between sender and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate returning the container body to the sender.

15. 13. The portable cooler container system of claim 12, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of the chamber or the temperature control system and communicate the sensed parameters to the circuitry.

16. at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature in the chamber and communicate the sensed temperature to the circuit; 16. The portable cooler container system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry is configured to communicate the sensed temperature to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device.

17. 13. The portable cooler container system of claim 12, wherein the container bodies are stackable such that electrical contacts on one container body contact electrical contacts on an adjacent container body.

18. 13. The portable cooler container system of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively coupleable to the container body to cool the phase change material or the heat store when coupled to the container body.

19. 1. A portable cooler container system comprising: a double-walled vacuum insulated container body having a chamber configured to receive and hold one or more perishable items; a lid hinged or removably coupled to the double-walled vacuum insulated container body for accessing the chamber; An electronic system of the double-walled vacuum insulated container body; an electronic display screen disposed on one of the lid and the double-walled vacuum insulated container body and configured to selectively display an electronic shipping label for the double-walled vacuum insulated container body; Equipped with The electronic system includes: one or more batteries; a circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device via a cellular radio; Equipped with 14. The portable cooler container system of claim 13, wherein the circuitry is configured to automatically switch sender and recipient information on the electronic display screen to facilitate return of the portable cooler container to the sender, and is configured to send a signal to a shipper notifying the shipper that the double walled vacuum insulated container body is ready for pickup and shipping.

20. 20. The portable cooler container system of claim 19, further comprising one or more removable phase change materials or heat stores for cooling said one or more perishable items.

21. a) automatically switching between sender and recipient information on the electronic display screen to facilitate the return of the double walled vacuum insulated container body to the sender; b) automatically contacting a shipper to alert the shipper that a new electronic shipping label has been issued and that the double walled vacuum insulated container body is ready for pickup; 20. The portable cooler container system of claim 19, further comprising a button or touch screen manually actuatable by a user to do one or both of the following:

22. 20. The portable cooler container system of claim 19, further comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more parameters of said chamber and communicate said sensed parameters to said circuitry.

23. 23. The portable cooler container system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the chamber.

24. 20. The portable cooler container system of claim 19, wherein said electronic display screen is an electrophoretic ink display screen.

25. 20. The portable cooler container system of claim 19, wherein the lid is a vacuum insulated lid.

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