Storage container

Abstract

A storage container includes an insulating container having an opening; a temperature controlling unit that is independent of the insulating container and detachably attached to the opening of the insulating container in a manner closing and sealing a portion of the opening; and a main lid attached to the opening of the insulating container in a manner closing and sealing an other portion of the opening. The temperature controlling unit is composed of an insulative sub-lid; and a temperature controlling subunit provided on the sub-lid. The temperature controlling subunit is composed of a base fitted into a through-hole formed on the sub-lid; and a Stirling refrigerator including a temperature control effect member thermally exposed inside the insulating container. Accordingly, the interior of the insulating container of an arbitrary size can be cooled, and items can be continuously stored longer than when using conventional solid carbon dioxide or cold reserving agent.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11 / 185,050, filed on Jul. 20, 2005, the benefit of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120, and is further incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority to Japanese patent application No. JP2004-242952 filed on Aug. 23, 2004 and No. JP2004-278464 filed on Sep. 24, 2004, which both are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a temperature controlling unit and a storage container using the same, and more particularly, to a storage container for transportation.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In general, a conventional container for transportation comprises an insulating container and a cover, both made of foam synthetic resins, and holds solid carbon dioxide, a cold reserving agent or the like inside, there...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a storage container with a temperature controlling unit. The temperature controlling unit is detachably attached to the insulating container and can be easily replaced with a new one when needed. The container is portable and can be easily transported. The main lid, sub-lid, and insulating container are made of foam synthetic resins, which make the container lightweight and inexpensive. The container can be closed and sealed with a lid when not needed for cooling, and the lid can be opened and closed easily. The container can be used as a portable cooler box. The temperature controlling unit can be detached and replaced by the lid when not needed for cooling. The container is made of foam synthetic resins, which make it lightweight and inexpensive. The container can be easily opened and closed with a small lid, and the main lid can be hingeably attached to the insulating container. The container can be cooled to a low temperature using the Stirling refrigerator, which uses gasified carbon dioxide instead of solid carbon dioxide, reducing running costs and environmental burden.

Problems solved by technology

The container which cools the interior by solid carbon dioxide, a cold reserving agent or the like, however, has a problem such that as solid carbon dioxide sublimes or the cold reserving agent melts down due to heat from stored items or heat from the exterior of the container, it takes a lot of trouble for refilling solid carbon dioxide or replacing the cold reserving agent to keep the stored items in the container for a long time.

In the case of using solid carbon dioxide, its repetitive use over a long period of time increases not only the amount of the solid carbon dioxide, which eventually increases the running cost, but also the density of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as the solid carbon dioxide gasifies due to the sublimation.

While the containers of the above described Japanese publications neither require such a labor nor suffer such an environmental burden, they are unable to store items with larger volumes than the internal volumes of the containers due to the pre-limited inner volumes, and they are relatively heavy and expensive.

Accordingly, there is a problem in using them for transportation.

Images