Freezing box

Abstract

To provide a freezing box which can freeze an object in a short period of time, and can maintain a freezing state for a long period of time.SOLUTION: A freezing box 1 comprises a vessel 2 having: a main body 21 having a recess 211; a coating film 22 for covering an opening of the recess 211; an accommodation part 24 for partitioning a space S2 defined by the recess 211 and the coating film 22 into a first region S21 and a second region S22; and a cooling medium 23 including a first solution 231 arranged in the first region S21, and a second solution 232 arranged in the second region S22 and higher than the first solution 231 in a solidification point. Then, food F is placed on the coating film 23 in a state that the cooling medium 23 is cooled so that only the second solution 232 out of the first solution 231 and the second solution 232 is solidified, thus freezing the food F.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a freeze box. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Cited Document 1 describes a freezing box that can freeze an object to be frozen in a short time. Such a freezing box has a structure in which the object to be frozen is sandwiched between a container and a lid. The container and the lid each have a main body with a recess, a liquid or gel-like refrigerant disposed in the recess, and a coating film that covers the opening of the recess to prevent the refrigerant from leaking out, and when the object to be frozen is sandwiched between them, both coating films are in close contact with the surface of the object to be frozen. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-197260 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, such a freezing box is stored in a freezer for use, but if it is used without being stored in a freezer, that is, if the freezing box with the refrigerant cooled is placed outside the freezer and an object to be frozen is stored in this freezing box, the heat quantity of the refrigerant will be insufficient, and the object to be frozen will not be able to be frozen in a short time, or even if the object to be frozen can be frozen in a short time, it will be difficult to maintain the frozen state for a long period of time.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a freezing box which is capable of freezing an object in a short time and maintaining the object in a frozen state for a long period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Such an object can be achieved by the present invention described below.

[0007] (1) a body having a recess; A coating film that covers the opening of the recess; a partition portion that divides a space defined by the recess and the coating film into a first region and a second region; a container having a cooling medium including a first solution disposed in the first region and a second solution disposed in the second region and having a higher freezing point than the first solution.

[0008] (2) A freezing box as described in (1) above, in which the object to be frozen is placed on the coating film while the cooling medium is cooled so that only the second solution of the first solution and the second solution is solidified, thereby freezing the object to be frozen.

[0009] (3) A pair of the containers, The freezing box according to (2) above, wherein the object to be frozen is sandwiched between the coating film of one of the containers and the coating film of the other of the containers.

[0010] (4) The second region is located on a bottom surface side of the recess, The freezing box according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the first region is located between the second region and the coating film.

[0011] (5) A freezing box according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the second region is dispersedly disposed in the first region.

[0012] (6) A freezing box according to any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the covering film is flexible.

[0013] (7) A freezing box according to any one of (1) to (6) above, wherein the freezing point of the first solution is −25° C. or lower.

[0014] (8) A freezing box according to any one of (1) to (7) above, wherein the freezing point of the first solution is −7° C. or lower. Effect of the Invention

[0015] The freezing box of the present invention can be used in such a way that the object to be frozen is placed on the coating film while the cooling medium is cooled so that only the second solution of the first and second solutions is frozen, thereby freezing the object to be frozen. In this way, the second solution can maintain the first solution at a low temperature for a long time. Therefore, the object to be frozen can be frozen in a shorter time, and the frozen state can be maintained for a longer time. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a freezing box according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which food is placed in the freezing box shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the freezing box shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which food is placed in the freezing box shown in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the freezing box shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a freezing box according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the freezing box shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the freezing box shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the freezing box shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the freezing box shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a freezing box according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the freezing box of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] First Embodiment The freezing box 1 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is used to freeze (freeze) food F, which is an object to be frozen. The food F is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include fresh foods such as seafood such as fish, shrimp, squid, octopus, and shellfish, fruits such as strawberries, apples, bananas, mandarin oranges, peaches, and grapes, vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, eggplant, and carrot, meat such as beef, pork, chicken, and horse meat, processed foods obtained by processing (cooking) these fresh foods, noodles made from grain flour such as wheat flour, rice flour, and buckwheat flour, and rice (cooked rice). In addition, the object to be frozen is not limited to the food F, and may be any object such as plants (fresh flowers, bulbs, and seeds), corpses, various organs, blood, sperm, and eggs.

[0019] The freezing box 1 has a pair of containers 2. For ease of explanation, one of the containers will be referred to as the lid 3 below. The containers 2 and the lid 3 are connected via a connector 4 so as to be able to open and close. However, this is not limited thereto, and the containers 2 and the lid 3 do not have to be connected. The freezing box 1 also has a locking mechanism (not shown) that keeps the lid 3 closed. There is no particular limitation on the configuration of the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may also be omitted.

[0020] The container 2 has a main body 21 having a recess 211 opening on an upper surface 210 that faces the lid 3, a sheet-like coating film 22 that covers the opening of the recess 211, and a cooling medium 23 filled in a space S2 defined by the recess 211 and the coating film 22. Similarly, the lid 3 has a main body 31 having a recess 311 opening on a lower surface 310 that faces the container 2, a sheet-like coating film 32 that covers the opening of the recess 311, and a cooling medium 33 filled in a space S3 defined by the recess 311 and the coating film 32. Such a freezing box 1 is configured to freeze food F sandwiched between the container 2 and the lid 3 with the cooling media 23, 33.

[0021] The main bodies 21 and 31 can be made of various resin materials such as silicone resin, or various metal materials such as aluminum and stainless steel. In particular, the main bodies 21 and 31 of this embodiment have an insulating structure having an insulating layer 212 and 312 inside, respectively. This suppresses heat exchange between the inside and outside through the main bodies 21 and 31. This reduces energy loss, and the food F can be efficiently cooled by the cooling medium 23 and 33. Therefore, the food F can be frozen in a shorter time by the cooling medium 23 and 33, and the frozen state can be maintained for a longer period of time. The insulating layer 212 and 312 is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, various insulating materials such as porous urethane foam, an air layer, a vacuum layer, or the like.

[0022] The coating film 22 is in the form of a sheet and is joined to the upper surface 210 of the main body 21 so as to close the opening of the recess 211. Similarly, the coating film 32 is in the form of a sheet and is joined to the lower surface 310 of the main body 31 so as to close the opening of the recess 311. The coating films 22, 32 are impermeable to moisture. This allows the spaces S2, S3 to be sealed liquid-tightly, and the cooling media 23, 33 filled in the spaces S2, S3 can be prevented from leaking. This prevents contact between the cooling media 23, 33 and the food F, and ensures the hygiene of the food F. The method of joining the coating films 22, 32 to the main body 21, 31 is not particularly limited.

[0023] Moreover, the coating films 22, 32 each have flexibility and elasticity. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the food F is sandwiched between the container 2 and the lid 3, the coating films 22, 32 elastically deform to conform to the outer shape of the food F. Therefore, the coating films 22, 32 come into contact with a wide range, preferably the entire surface of the food F, and a gap (a heat insulating layer consisting of an air layer) is unlikely to form between the food F and the coating films 22, 32. As a result, the food F can be efficiently cooled by the cooling media 23, 33. Therefore, the food F can be frozen in a shorter time by the cooling media 23, 33, and the frozen state can be maintained for a longer period of time.

[0024] The constituent materials of the coating films 22, 32 are not particularly limited as long as they have the above-mentioned functions, but it is preferable to use various rubber materials such as natural rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, silicone rubber, and fluororubber as the main material. This makes it possible to easily obtain the coating films 22, 32 that are excellent in biocompatibility and have sufficient flexibility and stretchability. In addition, in order for the cooling medium 23, 33 to efficiently remove the heat from the food F, it is preferable that the coating films 22, 32 are as thin as possible while maintaining their strength. It is also preferable to increase the thermal conductivity of the coating films 22, 32 by adding a thermally conductive filler such as metal, graphite, carbon black, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, and alumina to the coating films 22, 32.

[0025] 1, when the lid 3 is closed without the food F being sandwiched, the coating films 22, 32 are in contact over almost the entire area. This prevents a gap (a heat insulating layer consisting of an air layer) from being formed between the coating films 22, 32, and allows the coating films 22, 32 to come into contact with a wider range, preferably the entire area, of the surface of the food F when the food F is sandwiched between the container 2 and the lid 3. This allows the food F to be efficiently cooled by the cooling media 23, 33. This allows the food F to be frozen in a shorter time by the cooling media 23, 33, and further allows the frozen state to be maintained for a longer period of time.

[0026] However, this is not limited thereto, and for example, as shown in Fig. 3, when the lid 3 is closed without sandwiching the food F, the coating films 22, 32 may be spaced apart. This makes it possible to sandwich the food F between the container 2 and the lid 3, and to form a space S4 between the coating films 22, 32 into which the cooling media 23, 33 pressed by the food F retreats. This makes it possible to prevent an excessive increase in pressure of the cooling media 23, 33 when the food F is sandwiched, and effectively suppresses temperature increases and leakage of the cooling media 23, 33 due to pressure increases.

[0027] 4, it is preferable that the coating films 22, 32 located around the food F contact each other when the food F is sandwiched. This allows the coating films 22, 32 to contact a wider range, preferably the entire surface of the food F. As a result, the food F can be frozen by the cooling media 23, 33 in a shorter time, and the frozen state can be maintained for a longer period of time.

[0028] The size of the gap between the coating films 22, 32 is not particularly limited, and can be set appropriately depending on the capacity of the freezing box 1 and the size of the food F to be sandwiched.

[0029] 1 and 2, the cooling medium 23 is filled in the liquid-tight space S2 defined by the recess 211 and the coating film 22, and the cooling medium 33 is filled in the liquid-tight space S3 defined by the recess 311 and the coating film 32. The cooling mediums 23 and 33 are densely filled in the spaces S2 and S3. However, this is not limited thereto, and the cooling mediums 23 and 33 do not have to be densely filled in the spaces S2 and S3.

[0030] The cooling medium 23 contains a first solution 231 and a second solution 232 having a higher freezing point than the first solution 231. A bag-shaped storage section 24 is disposed in the space S2 as a partition, and the storage section 24 divides the space S2 into a first region S21 outside the storage section 24 and a second region S22 inside the storage section 24. The first region S21 is filled with the first solution 231, and the second region S22 is filled with the second solution 232. This allows the first solution 231 and the second solution 232 to be filled in the space S2 in a separated state so as not to mix with each other.

[0031] The same is true for the cooling medium 33. The cooling medium 33 contains a first solution 331 and a second solution 332 having a higher freezing point than the first solution 331. A bag-shaped storage section 34 is disposed in the space S3 as a partition, and the storage section 34 divides the space S3 into a first region S31 outside the storage section 34 and a second region S32 inside the storage section 34. The first region S31 is filled with the first solution 331, and the second region S32 is filled with the second solution 332. This allows the first solution 331 and the second solution 332 to be filled in the space S3 in a separated state so as not to be mixed with each other.

[0032] The storage sections 24, 34 are positioned toward the bottom side of the recesses 211, 311, and the first solutions 231, 331 are filled between the storage sections 24, 34 and the coating films 22, 32. As described later, the freezing box 1 is used with the first solutions 231, 331 in a liquid state and the second solutions 232, 332 in a solid state. Therefore, by filling the first solutions 231, 331 in a liquid state between the second solutions 232, 332 and the coating films 22, 32, elastic deformation of the coating films 22, 32 following the food F is permitted. In particular, in this embodiment, the storage sections 24, 34 are fixed to the recesses 211, 311, and unintended movement of the storage sections 24, 34 toward the coating films 22, 32 is prevented. Therefore, the above-mentioned effects can be reliably achieved.

[0033] The storage parts 24, 34 have flexibility and elasticity, respectively, similar to the coating films 22, 32. This allows, for example, expansion of the second solutions 232, 332 due to solidification. The constituent materials of the storage parts 24, 34 are not particularly limited, respectively, and may be, for example, materials similar to the coating films 22, 32. However, without being limited thereto, the storage parts 24, 34 may each be hard. In addition, in this embodiment, the storage parts 24, 34 are used as partition parts, but as long as the spaces S2, S3 can be partitioned into the first regions S21, S31 and the second regions S22, S32, there is no limitation thereto, and for example, as shown in FIG. 5, partition films 25, 35 that partition the spaces S2, S3 into upper and lower parts may be used.

[0034] The freezing box 1 configured as above is used as follows. First, the freezing box 1 is cooled, and the first solutions 231, 331 remain liquid, while only the second solutions 232, 332 are solidified to become solid (ice). Next, the food F is placed on the coating film 22, and the lid 3 is closed and locked, so that the food F is sandwiched between the container 2 and the lid 3, more specifically, between the coating films 22, 32. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the cooling media 23, 33 come into close contact with the food F via the coating films 22, 32, and remove heat from the food F. As a result, the food F is cooled and eventually frozen. In particular, in this embodiment, the food F is cooled from both sides by the cooling media 23, 33, so that the food F can be cooled and frozen evenly in a short time.

[0035] The first solutions 231, 331, which have been heated by absorbing heat from the food F, are cooled by the second solutions 232, 332. As described above, the second solutions 232, 332 are solids. Therefore, the second solutions 232, 332 continue to absorb heat from the first solutions 231, 331 and cool them while increasing in temperature to their melting points (sensible heat). After increasing in temperature to their melting points, the second solutions 232, 332 do not increase in temperature until they absorb the heat of fusion from the first solutions 231, 331 and become liquid, and continue to cool the first solutions 231, 331 (latent heat). The heat of fusion required to turn a solid into a liquid is much higher than the specific heat of a liquid, so by using the second solutions 232, 332 as solids, the first solutions 231, 331 can be kept at a low temperature for a longer period of time.

[0036] In this way, the freezing box 1 allows the first solutions 231, 331 to be kept at a low temperature for a long period of time by the solidified second solutions 232, 332. This allows the food F to be frozen in a shorter period of time, and further allows the food F to be maintained in a frozen state for a longer period of time.

[0037] In particular, in this embodiment, the first solutions 231, 331 are located between the coating films 22, 32 and the second solutions 232, 332. Therefore, convection occurs in the first solutions 231, 331 due to the temperature difference between the part located near the coating films 22, 32 and warmed by absorbing heat from the food F and the part located near the second solutions 232, 332 and cooled by the second solutions 232, 332. Therefore, the first solutions 231, 331 can be cooled evenly and efficiently by the second solutions 232, 332. Therefore, the food F can be frozen in a shorter time, and the frozen state can be maintained for a longer period of time. In addition, the frozen state of the food F becomes more stable.

[0038] The freezing point of the first solutions 231, 331 is not particularly limited, but is preferably -25°C or lower, and more preferably -30°C or lower. This makes it difficult for the first solutions 231, 331 to solidify, even if the freezing box is cooled using, for example, a general commercial freezer with an internal temperature of -30°C to -20°C, as well as a general household freezer with an internal temperature of -20°C to -18°C. In other words, the first solutions 231, 331 can be maintained in a liquid state. This makes the freezing box 1 easy to use. In addition, the first solutions 231, 331 can be cooled to a sufficiently low temperature while remaining in a liquid state. This allows the food F to be frozen in a shorter time while allowing elastic deformation of the coating films 22, 32 conforming to the external shape of the food F.

[0039] In particular, by setting the freezing point of the first solution 231, 331 to -25°C or lower, the first solution 231, 331 can be cooled to a temperature sufficiently lower than the maximum ice crystal formation zone while remaining liquid. This shortens the time that the food F remains in the maximum ice crystal formation zone during the process of cooling and freezing the food F. This reduces the size of the ice crystals that are formed, and effectively avoids the promotion of chemical reactions due to freeze concentration. As a result, damage to the food F is suppressed, and deterioration of the quality of the food F can be suppressed. The "maximum ice crystal formation zone" refers to the temperature zone in which ice crystals are likely to grow during the process of freezing the food, and generally refers to the temperature zone of -1°C to -5°C at which food begins to freeze.

[0040] On the other hand, the freezing point of the second solutions 232, 332 is not particularly limited as long as it is higher than the freezing point of the first solutions 231, 331, but is preferably lower than the maximum ice crystal formation zone. Specifically, it is preferably -15°C or higher and -7°C or lower. In other words, the second solutions 232, 332 are preferably frozen at -15°C or higher and -7°C or lower. This allows the second solutions 232, 332 to maintain the first solutions 231, 331 at a temperature lower than the maximum ice crystal formation zone for a longer period of time. In addition, the second solutions 232, 332 can be frozen not only in a commercial freezer with an internal temperature of about -30°C to -20°C, but also in a general household freezer with an internal temperature of about -20°C to -18°C. This results in a highly convenient freezing box 1.

[0041] Here, if the volume of the second solution 232 is too large relative to the volume of the first solution 231, the elastic deformation of the coating films 22, 32 following the shape of the food F may be hindered depending on the shape of the food F. On the other hand, if the volume of the second solution 232 is too small relative to the volume of the first solution 231, the cooling performance of the first solution 231 by the second solution 232 may be reduced depending on the filling amount of the second solution 232. Therefore, although not particularly limited, for example, the volume of the first solution 231: the volume of the second solution 232 is preferably 30:70 to 70:30, more preferably 40:60 to 60:40, and further preferably 50:50. As a result, the first solution 231 and the second solution 232 are filled in a balanced manner, and the above-mentioned problems are unlikely to occur. The same applies to the volume ratio of the first solution 331 and the second solution 332.

[0042] The first solutions 231, 331 and the second solutions 232, 332 are not particularly limited, and may be, for example, various oils such as vegetable oil, mineral oil, and chemically synthesized oil, various alcohols such as ethanol and ethylene glycol, water mixed with alcohol, ammonia water, salt water, an aqueous solution of calcium chloride, an aqueous solution of various sugars such as glucose, or a solution mixed with a freezing point depressant. However, among these, it is preferable to use a solution that is safe for living organisms, and from this viewpoint, in this embodiment, an aqueous solution of calcium chloride is used as the first solutions 231, 331, and salt water is used as the second solutions 232, 332. The first solutions 231, 331 and the second solutions 232, 332 may be in the form of a gel obtained by mixing a gelling agent (thickening stabilizer) into the above-mentioned solution.

[0043] <Second embodiment> The freezing box 1 of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment described above, except that the configurations of the storage sections 24, 34 are different.

[0044] 6, the freezing box 1 of this embodiment has a plurality of storage sections 24 filled with the second solution 232. The plurality of storage sections 24 are dispersedly arranged in the first solution 231. That is, in this embodiment, a plurality of second regions S22 are dispersedly arranged in the first region S21. In this manner, by distributing the second solution 232 in the first solution 231, the first solution 231 can be uniformly cooled by the second solution 232 without unevenness.

[0045] Similarly, the freezing box 1 of this embodiment has a plurality of storage sections 34 filled with the second solution 332. The plurality of storage sections 34 are disposed in a dispersed manner in the first solution 331. That is, in this embodiment, a plurality of second regions S32 are disposed in a dispersed manner in the first region S31. In this manner, by distributing the second solution 332 in the first solution 331, the first solution 331 can be uniformly cooled by the second solution 332 without unevenness.

[0046] The housing parts 24, 34 are not particularly limited, and may be made of, for example, various resin materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., various metal materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, etc., hard materials, or soft and stretchable materials such as various rubber materials such as silicone rubber, fluororubber, etc. In this embodiment, the housing parts 24, 34 are made of polypropylene.

[0047] In this embodiment, the multiple storage sections 24 are allowed to move freely in the first solution 231, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, each storage section 24 may be connected to the other storage sections 24 or to the inner wall of the recess 211 by an anchor member 26. This restricts the movement of the storage sections 24 in the first solution 231, making it easier to maintain the multiple storage sections 24 dispersed in the first solution 231. The same applies to the storage sections 34.

[0048] The anchor member 26 is not particularly limited, but is preferably, for example, a linear or string-like member that is flexible and stretchable. By using the linear or string-like anchor member 26, the volume of the anchor member 26 can be sufficiently reduced, and the reduction in the volume of the first solution 231 can be suppressed. In addition, the convection of the first solution 231 is less likely to be hindered. In addition, by using the flexible and stretchable anchor member 26, the containing portion 24 can move in the first solution 231 in response to the elastic deformation of the coating film 22 when the food F is sandwiched, and the elastic deformation of the coating film 22 is not hindered.

[0049] In addition, in this embodiment, since the storage section 24 can move freely in the first solution 231, there is a risk that the storage section 24 may float to the liquid surface of the first solution 231. If the storage section 24 floats to the liquid surface of the first solution 231, the contact area between the storage section 24 and the first solution 231 may decrease, and the cooling ability of the first solution 231 by the second solution 232 may decrease. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a mesh-like film 27 may be disposed in the first solution 231, and the storage section 24 may be dispersed below the film 27. With this configuration, the film 27 can prevent the storage section 24 from floating to the liquid surface of the first solution 231. Therefore, the first solution 231 can be kept at a low temperature for a longer period of time. The same applies to the storage section 34.

[0050] The film 27 is not particularly limited, but is preferably, for example, a flexible and stretchable material, so that the elastic deformation of the covering film 22 when the food F is sandwiched is not inhibited.

[0051] In addition, in the process of cooling the freezing box 1 for use, the second solutions 232, 332 are cooled slowly, which may cause the second solutions 232, 332 to be supercooled, and the second solutions 232, 332 may not freeze. Therefore, in order to suppress the supercooling of the second solution 232, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, a core member 28 that serves as a core of ice may be stored in the storage unit 24. The core member 28 has a specific heat that is sufficiently smaller than that of the second solution 232. Therefore, in the process of cooling the freezing box 1 for use, a temperature difference is likely to occur between the second solution 232 and the core member 28, and the temperature difference can suppress the supercooling of the second solution 232. Therefore, the second solution 232 can be frozen more reliably. The core member 28 is not particularly limited, but can be made of a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel. This results in the core member 28 having a specific heat that is sufficiently lower than that of the second solution 232. The same applies to the storage unit 34.

[0052] As another method for suppressing supercooling of the second solutions 232, 332, for example, a method of mixing an appropriate amount of a supercooling suppressant such as vanadium or sulfur into the second solutions 232, 332 is also preferable. By such a method, supercooling of the second solutions 232, 332 can also be suppressed.

[0053] 10, in order to suppress an increase in the internal pressure of the storage section 24 caused by an increase in the volume of the second solution 232 due to freezing, a certain amount of air (gas) may be filled in the storage section 24 to provide an air layer 29. This makes it possible to effectively suppress damage to the storage section 24. The same applies to the storage section 34.

[0054] <Third embodiment> The freezing box 1 of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment described above, except that the configuration of the lid 3 is different.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 11, the lid 3 of the freezing box 1 of this embodiment is composed of a plate-shaped main body 31. Unlike the first and second embodiments described above, this type of lid 3 does not have the function of cooling and freezing the food F. In other words, in the freezing box 1 of this embodiment, the food F is cooled and frozen only by the cooling medium 23 contained in the container 2.

[0056] The third embodiment as described above can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0057] Although the freezing box of the present invention has been described above based on the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the configuration of each part can be replaced with any configuration that exerts the same function, and any configuration can be added. In addition, the above-mentioned embodiments can be appropriately combined.

[0058] For example, the lid 3 may be omitted. Furthermore, the freezing box 1 of the present invention can be used not only to freeze unfrozen food F as described above, but also to thaw frozen food F. For example, by sandwiching frozen food F in the freezing box 1 in an unfrozen state, heat exchange occurs between the cooling media 23, 33 and the food F, and the food F can be thawed in a shorter time than, for example, natural thawing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1...freezing box, 2...container, 21...main body, 210...upper surface, 211...recess, 212...insulating layer, 22...coating film, 23...cooling medium, 231...first solution, 232...second solution, 24...container, 25...partition film, 26...anchor member, 27...membrane, 28...core member, 29...air layer, 3...lid, 31...main body, 310...lower surface, 311...recess, 312...insulating layer, 32...coating film, 33...cooling medium, 331...first solution, 332...second solution, 34...container, 35...partition film, 4...number, F...food, S2...space, S21...first region, S22...second region, S3...space, S31...first region, S32...second region, S4...space

Claims

1. A body having a recess; A coating film that covers the opening of the recess; a partition portion that divides a space defined by the recess and the coating film into a first region and a second region; a container having a cooling medium including a first solution disposed in the first region and a second solution disposed in the second region and having a higher freezing point than the first solution.

2. 2. The freeze box according to claim 1, wherein the object to be frozen is placed on the coating film in a state in which the cooling medium is cooled so that only the second solution of the first solution and the second solution is solidified, thereby freezing the object to be frozen.

3. A pair of the containers, 3. The freezing box according to claim 2, wherein the object to be frozen is sandwiched between the coating film of one of the containers and the coating film of the other of the containers.

4. The second region is located on a bottom surface side of the recess, The freeze box of claim 1 , wherein the first region is located between the second region and the covering membrane.

5. 4. The freezing box according to claim 1, wherein the second regions are distributed throughout the first region.

6. The freezing box according to claim 1 , wherein the covering film is flexible.

7. 7. The freezing box according to claim 1, wherein the freezing point of the first solution is −25° C. or lower.

8. 8. The freezing box according to claim 1, wherein the freezing point of the first solution is −7° C. or lower.

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