Devices for maintaining food products at low temperature

Abstract

Disclosed is a thermal insulating device comprising: (a) a container or compartment for holding food and / or beverage in a cooled condition, said container comprising thermoformed liner having an average thickness of not greater than about 10 mm, said liner being formed at least in part from material selected from the group consisting of glass-clear polystyrene (GPPS), impact-modified polystyrene (HIPS), styrene-butadiene block copolymers, ASA, SAN, ABS, polyolefins, acrylates and methacrylates, polycarbonates (PCs), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and mixtures, combinations, laminates and layers of these; and (b) thermal insulation adjacent said liner and comprising a polymeric material having closed cells therein wherein said cells are formed from and / or contain a blowing agent comprising at least about 50% by weight of transHFCO-1233zd.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 788,293, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 191,141 filed on Jul. 26, 2011 (now pending), which is based on and claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 368,249 filed Jul. 27, 2010, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to devices, such as cold boxes, refrigerators, freezers and the like which are insulated and long-lasting.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Typical refrigerator appliance cabinets consist of an outer metal cabinet, an inner plastic liner and an insulating foam core, typically polyurethane foam, in the space between the metal cabinet and the li...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This present invention is about using a special foam and a specific blowing agent in devices like refrigerators and freezers. The foam is a closed cell foam made with a highly thermally efficient blowing agent called HFCO-1233zd. This foam is used in the inner walls of the device to insulate it. The benefit of this is that the foam helps to keep the device cool and the liner, which is made from a thin sheet material, is less likely to crack or deform. Using this foam and blowing agent also allows for a more cost-effective and efficient refrigeration appliance.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, applicants have come to appreciate that until a commercial refrigerator product has been manufactured under industrial conditions, and assessed for energy performance and ancillary performance in other aspects, for example, liner compatibility, adhesion to liner and metal cabinet and doors, freeze stability, and other quality aspects, the full value and performance of the system will not be fully understood.

Images