Portable cooler

Abstract

To provide a portable cooler designed to maintain contents at a desired temperature or within a desired temperature range.SOLUTION: A portable cooler comprises: a container body having a chamber for receiving perishable items; a sleeve disposed around the chamber, and housing a phase change material or a heat storage body; a pipe conduit extending through the sleeve, and having an outer surface in thermal communication with the phase change material or heat storage body; a lid hingeable or detachably attached to the container body so as to access the chamber; and a temperature control system. The temperature control system comprises: a low-temperature heat sink in thermal communication with the pipe conduit; a high-temperature heat sink; a thermoelectric module arranged between the two heat sinks, and in thermal communication with the heat sinks; a pump operable to flow fluid through the low-temperature heat sink to cool the fluid, and to flow cooling fluid through the pipe conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material, etc., so that the phase change material or the like cools the chamber; and a circuit that controls the operation of one or both of the thermoelectric module and the pump.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Incorporation by reference to any prior application) Any and all applications in which foreign or domestic priority claims are identified in the application data sheet filed together with this application shall be incorporated herein by reference under 37 CFR 1.57 and shall be deemed to be a part of this specification. Further, this application is a divisional application having as its parent application Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-577125 filed on June 19, 2020.

[0002] The present invention relates to a portable cooler, and more specifically, a loadable portable cooler.

Background Art

[0003] Portable coolers are used to store products (liquids, beverages, drugs, organs, foods, etc.) in a cooled state. Some of them are styrofoam containers that are often filled with ice to keep the products in a cooled state. However, ice eventually melts and immerses the products, and it is necessary to remove the liquid. Such coolers are undesirable because there is a possibility of liquid leakage even during transportation. Furthermore, such coolers are not desirable for transporting articles over long distances because they cannot maintain the products in a cooled state, there is a possibility of ice melting and / or liquid leakage from the cooler. Therefore, such coolers are not desirable for use with temperature-sensitive products (foods, drugs, organ transplants, perishable materials, etc.). For this reason, there is a possibility that the products in the cooler become unusable. For example, once the efficacy of a drug (such as a vaccine) is lost, it cannot be restored, so the drug loses its efficacy and / or becomes unusable. Another drawback of existing containers is that they are disposable containers and are discarded after one use.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for an improved portable cooler design that can maintain the contents of the cooler at a desired temperature or temperature range (e.g., for transporting drugs such as vaccines, insulin, epinephrine, vials, cartridges, syringe pens, organ transplants, food, other perishable solid materials or liquid materials). Further, there is a need for an improved portable cooler design.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an improved portable cooler is provided. The cooler may have a vacuum-insulated double-wall chamber that can be sealed with a lid (e.g., a vacuum-insulated lid) if desired. Thereby, the temperature inside the chamber can be maintained (e.g., maintained substantially constant) over a long period of time (e.g., 2 days, 1 day, 12 hours, 8 hours, 6 hours, etc.). If desired, the chamber can hold perishable contents (e.g., drugs, food, other perishable items, etc.) therein, and a phase change material (e.g., one or more ice packs, phase change material sleeves) can be in thermal communication (e.g., in thermal contact) with the perishable contents. If desired, the cooler has an insulated outer housing (e.g., made of a foam such as lightweight foam).

[0006] If desired, the container may have a cooling fan and one or more air intake openings. The cooling fan is operable to cool the chamber and / or the phase change material inside the chamber.

[0007] If desired, the container has one or more sensors that detect the temperature of the chamber and / or the contents inside the chamber and transmit that information to a circuit. If desired, the detected temperature information is transmitted (e.g., wirelessly via a port on the container such as a USB port) to an electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, 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), and the electronic screen can indicate 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 recipient of the container, and / or c) the name of the shipper and / or the consignor / shipper address.

[0009] Optionally, the container has a user interface (e.g., a button), and the user interface can be actuated by the user to a) change the name of the recipient and / or the shipping / delivery address of the container, and / or b) automatically contact a package delivery service (e.g., FedEx, DHL) to request pick-up of the container for one or more of the above.

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

[0011] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a stackable portable cooler is provided, which enables power transfer between stacked coolers and charges and / or powers the cooling systems within the stacked coolers.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a stackable portable cooler is provided, which enables heat removal from each of the stacked coolers without the upper cooler interfering with the cooling function of the lower cooler in the stacking structure.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a 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, which includes one or more thermoelectric elements configured to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the chamber, and a circuit configured to control the 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 supply power to the circuit and one or both of the one or more thermoelectric elements.

[0015] Optionally, the circuit is further configured to perform wireless communication 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 the surface of the container body, and the display screen is configured to selectively display the shipping information of the portable cooler container using electronic ink. The display screen is operable to automatically change the displayed shipping address to another address (e.g., the sender's address for returning the portable cooler to the sender). Optionally, when the display screen operates to display the shipping address (e.g., the delivery address, the sender's address when the portable cooler is returned to the sender), the electronic device in the cooler wirelessly transmits a signal to the shipper notifying the shipper that a shipping label has been assigned to the portable cooler and the cooler is ready for collection and shipping.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present 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 houses a phase change material or a heat storage body. A conduit extends through the sleeve, and an outer surface of the conduit is in thermal communication with the phase change material or the heat storage body. A lid is hingedly or removably attachable 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 inserted between and in thermal communication with the cold side heat sink and the hot side heat sink. A pump is operable to flow fluid to the cold side heat sink to cool the fluid, flow the cooled fluid to the conduit within the sleeve to cool the phase change material or the heat storage body, and the phase change material or the heat storage body cools at least a portion of the chamber. A circuit is configured to control the operation of one or both of the thermoelectric module and the pump.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present 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 a heat storage body. A conduit extends through the sleeve, and an outer surface of the conduit is in thermal communication with the phase change material or the heat storage body. A lid is hingedly or removably attachable to the container body to access the chamber. The cooler container system also includes a temperature control system. The temperature control system includes a low-temperature side heat sink, a high-temperature side heat sink, and a thermoelectric module inserted between and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with at least a portion of the conduit. A pump is operable to flow fluid to the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the fluid, flow the cooled fluid to the conduit within the sleeve to cool the phase change material or the heat storage body, and the phase change material or the heat storage body cools at least a portion of the chamber. A circuit is configured to control the operation of one or more thermoelectric modules, a fan, and a pump. An electrophoretic ink display screen is configured to selectively display shipping information of 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-wall vacuum insulated container body having a chamber configured to receive and hold one or more perishable items. The system also includes a lid that is hingedly or removably attachable to the container body to access the chamber. The system also includes an electronic system that includes one or more batteries and a circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device via cellular radio. A display screen on one of the lid and the container body is configured to selectively display an electronic shipping label of the portable cooler container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Figures 1 to 23 show a cooler container assembly 1000 (“assembly”) or its components. The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000, but these features apply to all cooler containers such as the cooler containers 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ etc. disclosed herein. The assembly 1000 may include a container vessel 100, a frame 300 coupled to the container vessel 100, and a lid 400 removably attachable to the upper end T of the container vessel 100. Optionally, the lid 400 can be a double-walled vacuum lid.

[0022] In one implementation, the frame 300 may have a rectangular shape (e.g., a 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., a cylindrical shape). The frame 300 may, optionally, define one or more openings or open spaces 302 between the frame 300 and the container vessel 100 to allow air to pass through 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 lower surface 307 of the frame 300 may have one or more air intake openings 203 (e.g., an intake grill). As shown in FIG. 1, the air intake openings 203 can be arranged around at least a portion (e.g., the whole) of the perimeter of the container vessel 100.

[0024] The upper surface 304 of the frame 300 may have one or more distal ventilation openings 205A. FIG. 1 shows two distal ventilation openings 205A, but in other implementations, more or fewer openings 205A can be provided. The ventilation opening(s) 205A for exhaust may, if desired, have a curved shape (e.g., semi-circular shape). The upper 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 can be recessed with respect to the upper surface 304. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1, the frame 300 has two distal ventilation openings 205A disposed near the opposing corners of the frame 300 and two electrical contacts 32 disposed near the opposing corners of the frame 300, and each electrical contact 32 is inserted between the two distal ventilation openings 205A along the plane defining the upper surface 304.

[0025] The frame 300 has a bottom surface (e.g., lower surface) 306, which also has one or more proximal ventilation openings 205B (see FIG. 6) that are in fluid communication with the distal ventilation opening(s) 205A. The bottom surface 306 also has one or more electrical contacts 34 (see FIG. 5). If desired, the electrical contacts 34 (e.g., pin contacts, pogo pins, contact pads) can 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 upper surface 304 of the adjacent frame 300, thereby providing an electrical connection between adjacent cooler container assemblies 1000. Similarly, when stacked, the proximal ventilation openings 205B on the bottom surface 306 of one frame are substantially aligned with the distal ventilation openings 205A of the adjacent frame 300, thereby providing fluid communication (e.g., flow path, chimney path) between adjacent cooler container assemblies 1000 (see FIG. 17).

[0026] Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the cooler container assembly 1000 also includes a display screen 188. Although FIG. 1 shows the display screen 188 on the container vessel 100, alternatively (or additionally) it can be incorporated into the frame 300 and / or the lid 400. The display screen 188 can, if desired, be an electronic ink or E-ink display (e.g., an electrophoretic ink display). 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.). If desired, the display screen 188 can display a label 189 (e.g., a shipping label having one or more of the shipper's address, the recipient's address, a MaxiCode machine-readable symbol, a QR Code (registered trademark), a routing code, a barcode, and a tracking number) as shown in FIG. 15, but if desired, it can additionally or alternatively display other information (e.g., temperature history information, information regarding the contents of the container vessel 100). In another implementation, the display screen 188 can display an advertisement (e.g., for one or more of the payload components read by the RFID reader of the containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''') as further described herein.

[0027] The cooler container assembly 1000 may also include a user interface 184, if desired. In FIG. 1, the user interface 184 is on the upper 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 may be a button (e.g., a "return to home" button) if desired. In one implementation, the user interface 184 is a pushable 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, by operating the user interface 184, the information shown on the display 188, such as in the form of a shipping label shown on the E Ink display 188, can be changed. For example, by operating the user interface 184, the text associated with the shipper and the recipient can be switched, and once the recipient has completed using it, the cooler container assembly 1000 can be returned to the shipper. Additionally or alternatively, the operation of the user interface 184 causes a signal to be sent by a circuit within the assembly 1000 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 that the cooler is ready for pick-up and shipping, as further discussed below.

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

[0029] The assembly 1000 also includes a cooling system 200. The cooling system 200 can optionally be at least partially housed within the container vessel 100. In one implementation, the cooling system 200 can be housed under the chamber 126 (e.g., in one or more cavities between the base wall 126B and the lower 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). One or more thermoelectric modules (e.g., Peltier elements) 220 can be inserted between the first heat sink 210 and the second heat sink 230 (e.g., in thermal communication, in thermal contact, in direct contact).

[0030] The cooling system 200 can optionally include a fan 280 that is in fluid communication with a 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 high-temperature side heat sink 230). The cooling system 200 can include one or more fans 216 that are in fluid communication with the first heat sink 210. The fan(s) 216 is / are selectively operable to flow air through the first heat sink 210 to effect heat transfer with the first heat sink 210 (e.g., enable the low-temperature side heat sink 210 to remove heat from the air flowing through the heat sink 210). In the implementations 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 can be used and can operate in series or in parallel to provide the air flow. In one example, the fans 216A, 216B are axial fans. In another example, the fans 216A, 216B can be centrifugal fans or radial fans. Other types of fans may be used. As further described below, the cooling system 200 can flow (e.g., circulate) the 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., inner liner wall), and the cooling air cools the inner wall 126A, thereby cooling the chamber 126 and the contents within the chamber 126.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 6, the cooling system 200 discharges air (e.g., heated air that has removed heat from the high-temperature side heat sink 230) flowing through the second heat sink 230 via the air ventilation assemblies 202A, 202B, and the air enters the channels 206A, 206B in the discharge assemblies 202A, 202B via one or more openings 204A, 204B. The discharged air moves upward along the channels 206A, 206B and flows out of the cooler container assembly 1000 through the distal ventilation opening 205A. Further, the channels 206A, 206B extend to the proximal ventilation openings 205A, 205B, so that air from the lower assembly 1000 can also pass through the channels 206A, 206B and flow out through the distal ventilation openings 205A, 205B. Thus, when the assemblies 1000 are stacked on top of each other, the channels 206A, 2016B are aligned so that (hot) air can be discharged from the stacked assemblies 1000 in a chimney-like manner (see FIG. 17). As shown in FIG. 7, the intake I flows into the assembly 1000 (e.g., via the opening 203) (e.g., via the operation of the fan 280), comes into fluid contact with the second heat sink 230, and then the exhaust E is vented through the channels 206A, 206B and the distal ventilation opening 205A.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 2, 6, 9 and 10, the container vessel 100 may include one or more sleeves 130 defined between a third wall 132 and a second wall 106 (e.g., an inner liner wall). The one or more sleeves 130 may, optionally, be individual volumes disposed around at least a portion of the circumference of the second wall 106. The one or more sleeves 130 can contain a phase change material (PCM) 135 or a heat storage body therein. In one implementation, the phase change material 135 can be a solid-liquid PCM. In another implementation, the phase change material 135 can be a solid-solid PCM. The PCM 135 can advantageously passively absorb and release energy. Examples of possible PCM materials are water (which can transition to ice when cooled below its 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 heat storage body that can store and release energy.

[0033] During operation, the cooling system 200 can be operated to cool the first heat sink 210 to cool the chamber 126. The cooling system 200 can also, if desired, cool the PCM 135 (e.g., via the second wall 106 when the cooled air / coolant flows through the channel 107) to pre-cool the PCM 135 (e.g., bring the PCM 135 to a state where it can absorb energy). In one example, one or more fins can extend from the second wall 106 (e.g., within the volume of the sleeve(s) 130) to improve heat transfer to the PCM 135, for example. Advantageously, the PCM 135 operates as a passive (e.g., backup) cooling source for the chamber 126 and the contents disposed within the chamber 126. For example, when one or more air inlets 203 are partially (or fully) blocked (e.g., due to the accumulation of dust or debris within the ventilation opening 203), or when the cooling system 200 is not operating effectively due to low power or power loss, the PCM 135 can maintain the chamber 126 and the contents within the chamber 126 in a cooled state until the active cooling system can operate again to cool the chamber 126 and the contents therein.

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

[0035] During operation, fans 216A, 216B operate to pass air through a first heat sink 210 (e.g., a cold-side heat sink for cooling the air), and then the air is directed (e.g., in the direction F of FIGS. 2 and 12) into the inlet line 140 through the proximal end 142. The air flows up the inlet line 140 and exits through the distal end 144 into a channel 107 on one side of the partition wall 109 (see FIG. 8 extending between the inner wall 126A and a second wall (e.g., an inner liner wall) 106). Next, the air moves within the channel 107 around the circumference of the inner wall 126A until it reaches the partition wall 109, where the air exits the channel through 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 the air is again driven by the fans 216A, 216B over the first heat sink 210 (e.g., the cold-side heat sink 210 for cooling the air) and circulated back into the channel 107 through the inlet line 140. Although not shown, valves can be used to regulate the flow of the cooling fluid (e.g., air, another gas, liquid) during the active cooling mode and to control convective heat ingress when the cooler 1000 is operating in the passive cooling mode (e.g., when the fans 216A, 216B are not operating, when the PCM 135 is providing a cooling function, etc.). The partition wall 109 advantageously circulates the cooled air along substantially the entire surface (e.g., substantially the entire perimeter) of the chamber 126 (e.g., along the path C of FIG. 14), thereby providing cooling (e.g., cooling of substantially all portions of the inner wall 126A and thereby substantially all cooling of the chamber 126) to the chamber 126 and suppressing inefficient, non-uniform, and / or patchy 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 the air flow within the channel 107) to improve heat transfer to the inner wall 126A and / or the chamber 126. of the cold-side heat sink 210), and is circulated back into the channel 107 through the inlet line 140. Although not shown, valves can be used to regulate the flow of the cooling fluid (e.g., air, another gas, liquid) during the active cooling mode and to control convective heat ingress when the cooler 1000 is operating in the passive cooling mode (e.g., when the fans 216A, 216B are not operating, when the PCM 135 is providing a cooling function, etc.). The partition wall 109 advantageously circulates the cooled air along substantially the entire surface (e.g., substantially the entire perimeter) of the chamber 126 (e.g., along the path C of FIG. 14), thereby providing cooling (e.g., cooling of substantially all portions of the inner wall 126A and thereby substantially all cooling of the chamber 126) to the chamber 126 and suppressing inefficient, non-uniform, and / or patchy 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 the air flow within the channel 107) to improve heat transfer to the inner wall 126A and / or the chamber 126.

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

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

[0038] FIG. 18 shows an exemplary bottom view of the cooler container assembly 1000, with air proximal ventilation openings communicating with the channels 206A, 206B of the air The mouth portion 205B is shown. FIG. 18 also shows the electrical contacts 34 on the bottom surface 306 of the cooler container assembly 1000. In one example, the proximal ventilation opening 205B protrudes from the bottom surface 306 of the assembly 1000 and is able to extend into the corresponding proximal opening 205A on the upper surface 302 of the assembly 1000. In one example, the electrical contacts 34 protrude from the bottom surface 306 of the assembly 1000 and are able to extend into the corresponding openings of the electrical contacts 32 on the upper surface 302 of the assembly 1000. 306. In one example, the proximal ventilation opening 205B protrudes from the bottom surface 306 of the assembly 1000 and is able to extend into the corresponding proximal opening 205A on the upper surface 302 of the assembly 1000. In one example, the electrical contacts 34 protrude from the bottom surface 306 of the assembly 1000 and are able to extend into the corresponding openings of the electrical contacts 32 on the upper surface 302 of the assembly 1000.

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

[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, wall power or a power source within a trailer, truck, boat, airplane or other transport unit). The base 510 may have one or more charging units 520 (e.g., two charging units 520A, 520B). The charging unit 520 may have one or more connectors 505 sized and / or shaped to interface, optionally, with the proximal ventilation opening 205B. The charging unit 520 may have one or more electrical contacts 534 sized and / or shaped to interface, optionally, with the electrical contacts 34 at the bottom of the cooler container assembly 1000. In one example, the connector 505 and the electrical contact 534 may have a curved shape. In one example, both the connector 505 and the electrical contact 534 generally define a circular shape (e.g., generally corresponding to the circular shape defined by the electrical contacts 34 and the proximal ventilation opening 205B on the bottom surface 306 of the assembly 1000 generally).

[0041] Optionally, each display 188 of the assembly 1000 within the loading structure can display the charge state of one or more batteries within the corresponding assembly 1000 (e.g., charge %, charge level, remaining time the cooling system 200 can operate, etc.). Optionally, each display 188 of the assembly 1000 can indicate (e.g., via visual and / or audible signals) that the corresponding battery is fully charged.

[0042] FIG. 20 shows the top surface 302 of the cooler container assembly 1000, which may include an indicator light 195 for indicating, optionally, one or more of that the assembly 1000 is on, that the lid 400 is properly closed (e.g., via signals transmitted from one or more sensors such as proximity sensors, capacitance sensors, etc. to the control circuit of the assembly 1000), and that the cooling system 200 is operating (e.g., to cool the chamber 126).

[0043] FIG. 21 shows button 187 on the front of assembly 1000 (e.g., located below display 188). Button 187 can be actuated (e.g., by a user) to display the battery level of assembly 1000 (e.g., % charged, charge level, remaining time the cooling system 200 can operate, etc.). Button 187 can be located at other locations on assembly 1000. Button 187 can be a push button or a touch switch (e.g., capacitance) sensor.

[0044] FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of a control system for the devices described herein (e.g., cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’) (e.g., incorporated therein). In the illustrated embodiment, circuit EM (e.g., a control circuit, a microcontroller unit MCU, a computer processor(s), etc.) can receive sensed information from one or more sensors S1 to Sn (e.g., a level sensor, a volume sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an orientation sensor such as a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a battery charge sensor, a biometric sensor, a load sensor, a global positioning system or GPS sensor, a radio frequency identification or RFID reader, etc.).

[0045] In one implementation form, at least one temperature sensor Sn (for example, Sn1, Sn2, and / or Sn3) is inside the vessel 100, 100', 100''' or the lid 400, 400', 400''', is exposed to the chambers 126, 126''', and detects the temperature inside the chambers 126, 126'''. In another implementation form, 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 is exposed outside the containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' to measure the ambient temperature. In one implementation form, the RFID reader inside the vessel 100, 100', 100''' or the lid 400, 400', 400''' can read the RFID tags of the components (for example, drugs, vials, liquid containers, food packages) arranged inside the chambers 126, 126'''. The RFID reader can, if desired, record when the payload contents are inserted into the chambers 126, 126''', and additionally or alternatively, the RFID reader can, if desired, record when each of one or more payload contents is removed from the chambers 126, 126''', track their positions relative to the vessels 100, 100', 100''', and transmit this information to the circuit EM (for example, the memory of the circuit EM).

[0046] In one implementation, one or more sensors S1~Sn may include a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor can detect the ambient pressure that may indicate the altitude of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’. Optionally, the pressure sensor can transmit the detected pressure information to the circuit EM, and the circuit EM can, optionally, log or record the data from the pressure sensor and / or (e.g., to maintain the chambers 126, 126’, 126’’ at a desired temperature or temperature range) operate one or more components of the cooling systems 200, 200’’ such as the TECs 220, 220’’ and the fan(s) 280, 280’’ based at least in part on the detected pressure information from the pressure sensor. Such pressure sensor(s) can advantageously enable the cooling systems 200, 200’’ to operate such that the chambers 126, 126’, 126’’ are at the desired temperature or temperature range while the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ are in transit (e.g., at high altitude locations) on an airplane or a truck, etc.

[0047] In one implementation, one or more sensors S1 to Sn may include an accelerometer. The accelerometer can, if desired, detect the movement (e.g., sudden movement) of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. If desired, the accelerometer communicates with the circuit EM, which can log or record the data from the accelerometer if desired and / or operate one or more components of the cooling systems 200, 200'' such as the TECs 220, 220'' and the fan(s) 280, 280'' at least in part based on the information detected by the accelerometer. Such accelerometer(s) can advantageously detect, for example, when the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' fall (e.g., from a dangerous height) or when they are subjected to an impact during transportation, e.g., on an airplane or a truck. In one implementation, the accelerometer can also provide the detected orientation information of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' to the circuit EM. In another implementation, a separate orientation sensor (e.g., a gyroscope) can detect the orientation of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' and transmit the detected orientation information to the circuit EM, which can log or record the data from the orientation sensor if desired and / or operate one or more components of the cooling systems 200, 200'' such as the TECs 220, 220'' and the fan(s) 280, 280'' at least in part based on the detected orientation information.

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

[0049] Optionally, circuit EM can communicate via one or more of: a) user interface UI1 on the unit (e.g., on the body of container vessel 100 or frame 300), b) an electronic device ED (e.g., a mobile electronic device such as a mobile phone, PDA, tablet computer, laptop computer, electronic clock, desktop computer, remote server, cloud server, etc.), c) via cloud CL, or d) via a wireless communication system such as WiFi®, broadband network, and / or Bluetooth® BT (e.g., to transmit information such as detected temperature and / or position data and receive information such as user commands). For example, circuit EM can have a cellular radio or cellular radio antenna that can wirelessly communicate information (e.g., GPS location, detected temperature in the chamber, ambient temperature, etc.) (e.g., to a remote electronic device such as cloud CL, smartphone, etc.). The user can then track the location of containers 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ (e.g., via a website or app on a smartphone). When containers 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ are loaded, they can set up a MESH network (e.g., a mesh net via BLE5.0), whereby the containers 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ at the top of the loaded structure can communicate the GPS location and / or detected temperature data for each of the loaded containers 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ (via cellular radio or cellular radio antenna). For example, the MESH network can identify, optionally, the containers 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ that have the most available power to communicate GPS location and / or detected temperature data.The electronic device ED can display information associated with the operation of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''', receive information (e.g., instructions) from a user, and transmit the information to the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' (e.g., to adjust the operation of the cooling system 200), and may have a user interface UI2.

[0050] During operation, the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'' can operate to maintain the chamber 126 of the container vessel 100 at a preselected temperature or a temperature selected by the user. The cooling system can operate one or more TECs 220, 220'' to cool the chambers 126, 126'' (e.g., when the temperature of the chamber is higher than the preselected temperature, when the ambient temperature is higher than the preselected temperature, such as in summer or when transporting drugs in a hot climate location), or heat the chambers 126, 126'' (e.g., when the temperature of the chamber 126 is less than the preselected temperature, such as when the ambient temperature is less than the preselected temperature or temperature range, such as when transporting drugs in winter or in a very cold climate location).

[0051] In one implementation, the circuit EM can reverse the polarity of the TECs 220, 220'' and operate the TECs 220, 220'' to heat the chambers 126, 126'' (e.g., by heating a fluid circulating through a conduit in thermal communication with a phase change material or a heat storage body and thereby heating the chambers 126, 126''). Advantageously, such a reversal of the polarity of the TECs 220, 220'' for heating the chambers 126, 126'' (e.g., by heating a phase change material or a heat storage body through thermal communication with a fluid heated by the TECs 220, 220'') suppresses (e.g., prevents) one or more of the payload components (e.g., a drug, a vaccine, a corrosive liquid or solid) from freezing. For example, when the ambient temperature approaches a predetermined temperature (e.g., 2°C), as measured by a temperature sensor (e.g., Ta in FIG. 27A) of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', the circuit EM can reverse the polarity of the TECs 220, 220'' and operate the TECs 220, 220'' as described above to heat the chambers 126, 126''. When the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined temperature (e.g., 3°C), the circuit EM can stop the operation of the TECs 220, 220'' and heat the chambers 126, 126'' and / or reverse the polarity of the TECs 220, 220'' to their original state (e.g., a state in which the TECs 220, 220'' can operate to cool the chambers 126, 126'').

[0052] In one implementation shown in FIG. 27B, the cooler container 1000’’ can have one or more removable batteries PS’’, and the battery PS’’ can be installed in the cooler container 1000’’ (e.g., via the opening 305’’) to supply power to the TECs 220, 220’’ in an antipolar state to heat the chambers 126, 126’’. The circuit EM and the TECs 220, 220’’ can be operated with power from one or more removable batteries PS’’ instead of other batteries (PS, PS’) that supply power to other components of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’ when the circuit EM needs to operate the TEC 220 to heat the chambers 126, 126’’ (e.g., when the detected ambient temperature and / or chamber temperature is below a predetermined temperature). Advantageously, to reduce the shipping weight of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’, one or more batteries PS’’ can be installed in the cooler container assemblies 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, one or more batteries PS’’ can be installed in the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ for all shipments regardless of the expected ambient temperature.

[0053] In some embodiments, the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’, 1000’’’’ can have a separate heater unit (e.g., a resistive heater) that is in thermal communication with the chambers 126, 126’’’ (e.g., at least partially wound around the chambers 126, 126’’’), which can be operated when the ambient temperature exceeds a preselected temperature within the chambers 126, 126’’’ (e.g., after a predetermined period), such as when transporting a drug in winter or in a very cold climate location. Optionally, individual heater units (such as resistive film heaters) and / or circuitry EM can be powered from one or more batteries PS’’. The preselected temperature can be adjusted according to the contents of the container (e.g., a specific drug, a specific vaccine, food, beverage, human tissue, animal tissue, organism) and can be stored in the memory of the assembly 1000. The cooling system or heating system can operate the TEC 220 to approach the preselected temperature or a set temperature, depending on how the temperature control system operates.

[0054] Optionally, the circuit EM of the cooler containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' can provide usable records 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 smartphone or a tablet computer or a laptop or a desktop computer) and / or to the individual carrying the container (e.g., via their mobile phone, via a visual interface on the container, etc.) for (e.g., to evaluate the effectiveness of the drugs in the container, to evaluate whether the contents in the chamber 126 are spoiled, etc.) information such as the temperature history of the chamber 126, and / or communicate warnings (e.g., wirelessly) regarding the state of the chamber 126 and / or the contents within the chamber 126. Optionally, the temperature control system (e.g., a cooling system, a heating system) of the cooler containers 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 to 15 degrees Celsius or less, e.g., 10 degrees Celsius or less (e.g., within the range of 2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius), and in some examples, approximately 5 degrees Celsius.

[0055] In one implementation, the one or more sensors S1~Sn may include another air flow sensor that can monitor the air flow passing through one or both of the intake port 203 and the exhaust port 205 and through the low-temperature side fluid chamber 215, the inlet line 140, and / or the outlet line 150. When the one or more flow sensors detect that the intake port 203 is clogged (e.g., with dust) due to a decrease in air flow, the circuit EM (e.g., on the PCBA) can, if desired, reverse the operation of the fan 280 over one or more predetermined periods to draw air through the exhaust port 205 and discharge air through the intake port 203 to clean the intake port 203 (e.g., remove the clog and the dust therefrom). In another implementation, the circuit EM can alternatively or additionally send a warning to the user (e.g., wirelessly to a remote electronic device such as the user's mobile phone via a user interface on the assembly 1000) to inform the user of a potential clog in the intake port 203, whereby the user can inspect the assembly 1000 and, for example, instruct the circuit EM (e.g., via an app on the user's mobile phone) to perform a "cleaning" operation by reversing the operation of the fan 280 to discharge air through the intake port 203. In one example, the air filter can be disposed below the intake grill / vent 203 if desired.

[0056] In one implementation, one or more sensors S1 to Sn of the cooler containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' may include one or more Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors for tracking the positions of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. The position information can 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 transceiver associated with the circuit EM as described above. In one implementation, the GPS position is transmitted by the circuit EM at regular intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes, every 15 minutes, etc.) (e.g., not automatically but in response to a query or request). In another implementation, the GPS position is transmitted by the circuit EM upon receiving a request or query from a user (e.g., via an app or website through which the user can track the positions of the cooler containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''').

[0057] FIG. 23 shows a block diagram of the electronic device 180 of the cooler containers assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. The electronic device 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', display screens 188, 188''', and user interfaces 184, 184'''. Optionally, the memory module 185 communicates with the circuit EM'. In one implementation, the memory module 185 can be disposed on the same printed circuit board as other components of the circuit EM', if desired. The circuit EM' controls, if desired, the information displayed on the display screens 188, 188'''. Information (e.g., sender address, recipient address, etc.) can be transmitted to the circuit EM' via the input module 186. The input module 186 can receive such information wirelessly (e.g., via radio frequency or RF communication, via infrared or IR communication, via WiFi 802.11, via BLUETOOTH®) by using a wand (e.g., a radio frequency wand or RF wand operating on the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''', e.g., on the display screens 188, 188''', and the wand is connected to a computer system containing the shipping information). When received by the input module 186, the information (e.g., the shipping information of the shipping label displayed on the display screen 188) can be electronically stored in the memory module 185. Advantageously, one or more batteries PS' can power the electronic device 180, and thus the display screen 188, for multiple uses of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' (e.g., during up to 1000 shipments of the container assembly 1000). As described above, the electronic device 180 can wirelessly communicate a signal to a 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 pickup and shipping (e.g., when the user interface 184 is actuated by the user).

[0058] FIG. 24A shows a block diagram of one method 800 for shipping cooler containers assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. In step 810, one or more components (e.g., food(s), beverage(s), drug, biological tissue or organism) are placed within the container vessel 100 of the container assembly 1000 at a distribution facility for the components or products. In step 820, the lid 400 is closed covering the container vessel 100 when the contents are placed therein. Optionally, the lid 400 is latched to the container vessels 100, 100', 100''' via a magnetic actuated latching portion (including an electromagnet that can be deactivated with a code, such as a digital code, a code provided to the user's phone, etc.) that is actuated when the lid 400 is closed. In step 830, information (e.g., shipping label information) is communicated (e.g., loaded) to the container assembly 1000. For example, as described above, a radio frequency (RF) wand can be operated over the container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' to transfer shipping information to the input module 186 of the electronic device 180 of the container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. In step 780, the container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' are shipped to the recipient (e.g., as shown on the shipping label 189 of the display screen 188).

[0059] Optionally, assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ can be loaded, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, on a pallet P, enabling the discharge of hot air from the loaded assembly 100 (using the chimney effect) as described above, enabling the heated air to exit the loaded assembly, and enabling it to be discharged from the shipping container, for example, through one or more ventilation holes in the shipping container. Further, as described above, when all the assemblies are loaded on a power or charging base (for example, before shipping at a warehouse or distribution center, or during shipping when the shipping container has a power or charging base on which the assembly 1000 is loaded), the loaded assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ can be electrically connected, enabling power transfer between a lower assembly 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ and a higher assembly 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’. The assemblies 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ (see FIGS. 16, 19) within the loading structure can establish a bidirectional communication link for transmitting data, for example, 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, optionally, draw power from one or more of the assemblies 1000 around it (for example, above it, below it) when loaded. The cooling system 200 within the individual cooler container assembly 1000 can, optionally, remain active when the assembly 1000 is loaded on a power or charging base (such as the charging base 500 in FIG. 19), and can, for example, simultaneously charge the PCM 135 in a warehouse or shipping facility, truck, ship, airplane, etc.

[0060] FIG. 24B shows a block diagram of a method 800' for returning container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000'''. In step 850, after receiving the container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''', the lids 400, 400'' can be opened relative to the container vessels 100. Optionally, before opening the lids 400, 400'', the lids 400, 400'' are 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 from the shipper to the recipient via a keypad and / or biometric identification on the vessels 100, 100', 1000'' or the lids 400, 400'', 400'''). A user's smartphone or other electronic device having the unlocking code communicates with the containers 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' via, for example, Bluetooth or RFID to unlock the lids 400, 400'', 400''' from the vessels 100, 100', 100''' (e.g., by positioning or placing the smartphone or electronic device near the vessel and / or lid). In step 860, the contents (e.g., drugs, food, beverages, organisms, or tissues) are removed from the container vessel 100. In step 870, the lid 400 is closed on the container vessel 100. In step 880, a user interface 184 (e.g., a button) is actuated to switch the shipper and recipient information within the display screen 188, advantageously enabling the container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' to be returned to the original shipper for reuse without the need to re-enter the shipping information on the display screens 188, 188'''. Optionally, the actuation of the user interfaces 184, 184''' in step 880 wirelessly communicates a signal to the shipper (e.g., UPS, FedEx, DHL) (e.g., by the electronic device 180) notifying 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.In one example, the loading structure of the cooler container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' or assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' can also send notifications to both the end user and the origin facility during an event, for example, that the payload has been delivered or send a warning if necessary.

[0061] The display screens 188, 188''' and labels 189 facilitate the transportation of the container assembly 1000 advantageously without the need to print separate labels for the container assembly 1000. Further, the display screens 188, 188''' and the user interfaces 184, 184''' advantageously facilitate the return of the container system 1000 to the shipper (e.g., without the need to re-enter shipping information and without printing any labels), and the container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' can be reused to re-ship the contents to the same or different recipients, etc. The reuse of the container assemblies 1000, 1000', 1000'', 1000''' for the delivery of perishable materials (e.g., pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, biological tissues, or organisms) advantageously reduces the shipping costs by enabling the reuse of the container vessel 100 (compared to commonly used cardboard containers that are discarded after one use).

[0062] Figure 25 shows a partial exploded view of the cooler container 1000'. Some of the features of the cooler container 1000' are similar to those of the cooler container 1000 in FIGS. 1-24B. Therefore, the reference numerals 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 in FIGS. 1-24B, except that a prime (') is added to the numerical identifier. Thus, 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 apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000' in FIG. 25, except as otherwise described below. The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000', but these features apply to all cooler containers disclosed herein, such as the cooler containers 1000, 1000'', 1000''', etc.

[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 within a module 350' that can be removably coupled to the cooler container 1000'. In one implementation, the power storage devices PS, PS' can be disposed on one or more loading structures on the platform 352' and electrically connected to the electrical contacts 34' below the platform 352', if desired. The module 350' can be coupled to the cooler container 1000' (e.g., to the frame 300' of the cooler container 1000') if desired, 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 the platform 352' is adjacent to or generally in the same plane as the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300'. of the cooler container 1000' and the platform 352' is adjacent to the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300' or generally in the same plane as the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300'. The platform 352' is adjacent to the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300' or generally in the same plane as the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300'. The platform 352' is adjacent to the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300' or generally in the same plane as the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300'. The platform 352' is adjacent to the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300' or generally in the same plane as the bottom surface 306' of the frame 300'.

[0064] Module 350’ is locked in a fixed position on the cooler container 1000’ (for example, via a latching mechanism such as a spring-loaded latch mechanism, a screw connection, a magnetic connection, etc.). When the module 350’ is coupled to the cooler container 1000’ (for example, locked in a fixed position on the cooler container 1000’), the display 188’ can optionally register (for example, display) the fact that the module 350’ is coupled and can optionally indicate the charge level of the power storage devices PS, PS’ of the module 350’. Power can be provided from the power storage devices PS, PS’ to electronic devices (for example, Peltier element 220, fan 280, circuit EM) within the cooler container 1000’ via, for example, electrical contacts between the module 350’ and the cooler container 1000’ (for example, electrical contacts on the frame 300’ that contact the electrical contacts of the module 350’). In another implementation, power is transmitted from the power storage devices PS, PS’ within the module 350’ to electronic devices (for example, Peltier element 220, fan 280, circuit EM) within the cooler container 1000’ via an inductive coupling.

[0065] Advantageously, the module 350’ can be detached and removed from the cooler container 1000’ to replace the power storage devices PS, PS’, or to replace the module 350’. Thus, the module 350’ can be replaceable and / or substitutable. The power storage devices (for example, batteries) PS, PS’ within the module 350’ can be optionally charged (or recharged) 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 a charging station or base 500 before being coupled to the cooler container 1000’ as described above.

[0066] Figure 26 shows a schematic 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 in FIGS. 1-24B and the cooling container 1000' in 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 in FIGS. 1-24B and the cooler container 1000' in FIG. 25, except that a double prime ( '') is added 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, are understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000'' in FIG. 26, except as otherwise explained below. The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000'', but these features apply to all cooler containers, such as the cooler containers 1000', 1000, etc. disclosed herein.

[0067] The cooler container 1000'' may have one or more sleeves 130'' disposed around the chamber 126'' of the container 1000'', which may be filled with temperature-sensitive contents (e.g., drugs, vaccines, tissues). The sleeve(s) 130'' may be individual volumes disposed around the chamber 126'' if desired. The sleeve 130'' can accommodate a phase change material (PCM) or heat storage medium 135'' therein. In one implementation, the phase change material 135'' can be a solid-liquid PCM. In another implementation, the phase change material 135'' can be a solid-solid PCM. The PCM 135'' has the advantage of being able to passively absorb and release energy. Examples of possible PCM materials are water (which can transition to ice when cooled below its 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 heat storage medium that can store and release energy.

[0068] The cooler container 1000’’ may include a cooling system 200’’ if desired. 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 a closed-loop system if desired. The cooling system 200’’ includes conduits 140’’ through which a cooling fluid (e.g., a coolant 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 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’’ if desired. The conduit 140’’ may include a first conduit 140A’’ that extends between the first heat sink 210’’ and the sleeve(s) 130’’. The conduit 140’’ also includes a second conduit 140B’’ that extends through the sleeve(s) 130’’ and is in fluid communication with the first conduit 140A’’. The reservoir 148’’ is in fluid communication with the opposite end of the second conduit 140B’’. The conduit 140’’ also includes a third conduit 140C’’ that extends between the reservoir 148’’ and the pump 146’’. The conduit 140’’ also includes a fourth conduit 140D’’ that extends between the pump 146’’ and the first heat sink 210’’.

[0069] During operation, the TEC(s) 220’’ is (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’’ is (are) operated, if desired, 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’’). If desired, 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’’) that are in fluid communication with the first conduit 140A’’ and the fourth conduit 140D’’. The pump 146’’ is 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 then flows through the first conduit 140A’’ and is directed into the sleeve(s) 130’’ via the second conduit 140B’’, where the cooling fluid removes heat from the PCM 135’’, thereby precooling the PCM 135’’ (e.g., putting the PCM 135’’ in a state where it can absorb energy). Next, the fluid exits the sleeve(s) 130’’ and flows into the reservoir 148’’. From the reservoir 148’’, the fluid flows to the pump 146’’ via the third conduit 140C’’, where the pump 146’’ pumps the liquid again to flow through or past the first heat sink 210’’ via the fourth conduit 140D’’.

[0070] Advantageously, the cooling fluid (e.g., liquid) rapidly cools the PCM 135'' within the sleeve(s) 130'' to precool the PCM 135''. Optionally, the second conduit 140B'' within the sleeve(s) 130'' extends in a coiled (e.g., helical) manner through the sleeve(s) 130'', thereby increasing the surface area of the second conduit 140B'' that contacts 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 / precooling of the PCM 135''. In one example, the chamber 126'' of the cooler container 1000'' can be cooled to between about 2 and 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'' can have a valve (e.g., a bleed valve) that can bleed the cooling fluid from the cooling system 200'' or introduce the cooling fluid into the cooling system 200''.

[0071] The cooler container 1000’’ can, if desired, exclude the battery and electronic devices, such that the cooling system 200’’ does not operate while the cooler container 1000’’ is in transit (e.g., on a trailer, truck, airplane, boat, vehicle, 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 of the chamber 126’’). The cooling system 200’ can, if desired, 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 supplies power to one or more of the TEC(s) 220’’, pump 146’’, and fan(s) 280’’ which operate as described above (e.g., by a circuit within the container 1000’’) to pre-cool the PCM 135’’. Once the PCM 135’’ is pre-cooled, the cooler container 1000’’ can be removed from the power base and the chamber 126’’ can be filled with temperature-sensitive contents (e.g., drugs, vaccines, tissue, etc.) and the cooler container 1000’’ is 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 while transporting the cooler container 1000’’ to its destination.

[0072] As described above, the cooler containers 1000’’ can be stacked on top of each other as desired, with the bottom cooler container 1000’’ disposed on a power base, whereby power is transmitted upward from the power base through the stacking structure of the cooler containers 1000’’ (e.g., the PCM 135’’ in all stacked containers 1000’’ is precooled substantially simultaneously). In one example, each cooler container 1000’’ has an amount of cooling fluid in its closed loop cooling system 200’’, and power is transmitted from each container 1000’’ to the container above it to operate the cooling system 200’’ to precool the PCM 135’’. However, this requires that each container 1000’’ always have an amount of cooling fluid therein.

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

[0074] Figures 27A-27B show schematic views of a modified example of the cooling container 1000''. Figures 27A-27B add fins 149'' to the second conduit 140B'' within the sleeve(s) 130'' (for example, 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 enabling the cooling fluid to precool the PCM 135''. The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000'', but these features are also applicable to all cooler containers such as the cooler containers 1000', 1000'' disclosed in this specification.

[0075] The container 1000'' may have one or more temperature sensors Sn1 in communication with the conduit 140'' (for example, the conduit section 140B''), one or more temperature sensors Sn2 in communication with the chamber 126'', and / or one or more temperature sensors Sn3 within the sleeve(s) 130'' (for example, in thermal communication with the PCM 135''). The one or more temperature sensors Sn1, Sn2, Sn3 can communicate with the circuit EM, and the circuit EM can operate one or both of the TEC(s) 220'' and the fan(s) 280'' based at least in part on the temperature sensed from the sensors Sn1, Sn2, and / or Sn3. The container 1000'' may optionally have one or more sensors Ta that sense the ambient temperature and communicate with the circuit EM. The temperature sensed from the sensor Ta can provide an indication of the humidity level to the circuit EM, and the circuit EM can operate one or both of the TEC(s) 220'' and the fan(s) 280'' based at least in part on the temperature sensed from the sensor(s) Ta. The cooler container 1000'' may optionally have a shut-off valve 147'', which can be selectively actuated by the circuit EM to prevent (for example, prevent) the flow of liquid through the conduit 140'' (for example, when there is a malfunction within a component of the cooler container 1000'' such as the pump 146'' or the 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 a channel or path 215'' through the first heat sink 230'', where heat can be transferred from the first heat sink 230'' to the air. Next, the air is discharged from the vessel 100'' through one or more discharge openings 205''. Although FIG. 27B shows the intake opening 203'' and the discharge opening 205'' in the same plane or surface, in other implementations, the intake opening 203'' and the discharge opening 205'' may be on separate planes (e.g., separate planes oriented 180° apart, separate planes oriented 90° apart). For example, the discharge opening 205'' may be on the front surface of the container 1000'' (e.g., the surface having the display of the container 1000''), and the intake opening 203'' may be on the rear surface of the container 1000''' oriented 180° apart. In another implementation, the discharge opening 205'' may be on the rear surface of the container 1000'', and the intake opening 203'' may be on the front surface of the container 1000''' (e.g., the surface having the display of the container 1000'') oriented 180° apart.

[0077] Optionally, the cooling system may be located at one corner of the cooler container 1000'' (e.g., along one edge), as shown in FIG. 27B. In another implementation, the cooling system can be dispersed around at least a portion of the chamber 126'' (e.g., can be completely dispersed around the chamber 126''). The first heat si The heat sink 230’’ is in thermal communication with one or more (plural available) TECs 220’’, which are 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’’ through which a fluid (e.g., a liquid such as water) flows. The second heat sink 210’’ cools the fluid as the fluid in the conduit 140’’ flows through the second heat sink 210’’, transfers heat to the TEC 220’’, and the TEC transfers the heat to the first heat sink 230’’, which transfers the heat to the air discharged through the discharge opening(s) 205’’. The cooled liquid in the conduit 140’’ precools the PCM 135’’ in the sleeve(s) 130’’ through 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 the cooler container 1000’’ having one or more removable batteries PS’’ that can be optionally installed to power the circuit EM and one or both of the TECs 220, 220’’ or a separate heater to prevent (e.g., prevent) one or more of the payload contents from freezing in cold climates or being exposed to high temperatures in hot climates as described above.

[0078] FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of a variant 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. 28, except as otherwise described below. FIG. 26 shows a second conduit 140B’’ vibrating horizontally, while FIG. 28 shows a second conduit 140B’’’ vibrating vertically within the sleeve(s) 130’’. 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.

[0079] FIG. 29 is a schematic view of a modified example 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 otherwise explained below. FIGS. 27A - 27B show a second conduit 140B'' having fins 149'' disposed around a conduit 140B'' that vibrates in the horizontal direction, while FIG. 29 shows a second conduit 140B''' having fins 149''' disposed around a conduit 140B''' that vibrates in the vertical direction within a sleeve(s) 130''. The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000'', but these features apply to all cooler containers such as the cooler containers 1000', 1000'' disclosed herein.

[0080] FIG. 30 is a schematic view of a modified example 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. 31, except as otherwise explained below. Different from the second conduit 104B'' of FIG. 26, the second conduit 140B'''' extends helically within a sleeve(s) 130'' (the sleeve 130'' is excluded 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 apply to all cooler containers such as the cooler containers 1000', 1000'' disclosed herein.

[0081] FIG. 31 is a schematic view of a modified example 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 to 26, are understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000'' of FIG. 31, except as otherwise described below. Different from the second conduit 140B'' of FIG. 26, the second conduit 140B'''''' extends horizontally and vibrates within the sleeve(s) 130'' (the sleeve 130'' is excluded to more clearly show the shape of the conduit 140B''). The fins 149'''' are disposed around the conduit 140B'''''' and assist in heat dissipation as described above. The second conduit 140B'''''' extends between the inlet IN and the outlet OUT. The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000'', but these features apply to all cooler containers such as the cooler containers 1000', 1000'' disclosed in this specification.

[0082] FIG. 32 is a schematic view of a modified example of the cooler container 1000'' of FIG. 28. The structure and description of various features of the cooler container 1000'', and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1 to 28, are understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooler container 1000'' of FIG. 32, except as otherwise described below. Different from 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., the fourth wall) 104'. The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000'', but these features apply to all cooler containers such as the cooler containers 1000', 1000'' disclosed in this specification.

[0083] FIG. 33 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the cooler container 1000'''. Some of the features of the cooler container 1000''' are similar to those of the cooler container 1000 in FIGS. 1-24B. Therefore, the reference numbers used to designate the various components of the cooling container 1000''' are the same as those used to identify the corresponding components of the cooling container 1000 in FIGS. 1-24B, except that the numerical identifier is appended with '''. Therefore, the structure and description of the various features of the cooling container 1000, and how it operates and is controlled in FIGS. 1-24B, are understood to apply to the corresponding features of the cooling container 1000''' in FIG. 33, except as otherwise described below. The following features are described in relation to the cooler container assembly 1000''', but these features apply to all cooler containers such as the cooler containers 1000, 1000'' disclosed herein.

[0084] The cooler container 1000''' is different from the cooler container 1000 in various respects. For example, the cooler container 1000''' does not include a fan (such as fan 280) or an air intake opening (such as intake opening 203). The cooler container 1000''' also does not include a thermoelectric module or TEC (such as Peltier element 220). Further, the cooler container 1000''' does not include a flow path for flowing air or another fluid through the container to cool the container. FIG. 33 shows a cross-section of the container 1000''', but those skilled in the art will recognize that the container 1000''' in one implementation form is symmetric with respect to the cross-sectional plane (for example, the container has a generally box-shaped or cubic outer shape, such as a square cross-section along a cross-section with respect to the cross-sectional plane in FIG. 33), whereby the number of containers 1000''' that can be stored within a given volume (such as a delivery truck) can be advantageously maximized. The container 1000''' may have other suitable shapes (such as a cylindrical shape, a rectangular shape, etc.).

[0085] The cooler container 1000''' has a vessel 100''' and an outer housing 102'''. Optionally, the outer housing 102''' has one or more parts. In the illustrated implementation, the outer housing 102''' has two parts, including a first (e.g., outer) part 102A''' and a second (e.g., inner) part 102B''' optionally. In other implementations, the outer housing 102''' may have fewer (e.g., 1) or more (e.g., 3, 4, etc.) parts.

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

[0087] The second part 102B''' is optionally made of a thermally insulating material such as a foamed material. Other suitable materials can be used. In another implementation, the second part 102B''' can be made of a shock-resistant (e.g., compressible) material additionally or alternatively.

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

[0089] Container 1000’’’ also includes a vacuum insulation chamber 107’’’ (e.g., a double-wall insulation chamber) defined between an outer wall 106A’’’ and an inner wall 106B’’’. The walls 106A’’’ and 106B’’’ extend along the perimeter and base of the chamber 126’’’ of the container 1000’’’. Thus, the chamber 126’’’ for receiving corrosive contents (e.g., drugs, food, other corrosive substances, etc.) is surrounded by the vacuum insulation chamber 107’’’ around its outer periphery and base, thereby suppressing (e.g., preventing) heat transfer (e.g., loss of cooling) from the chamber 126’’’ through its outer periphery or base.

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

[0091] Chamber 126''' can be sealed with a lid 400'''. Optionally, the lid 400''' includes at least a portion 410''' made of a heat insulating material (e.g., a foamed material) to suppress (e.g., prevent) heat transfer (e.g., loss of cooling) from the chamber 126''' through the opening at the top of the container 1000''' sealed by the lid 400'''. The lid 400''' optionally includes a double-wall vacuum insulation structure 420''' that at least partially surrounds (e.g., completely surrounds) the side and top walls of the portion 410''' of the heat insulating material that can further suppress (e.g., prevent) loss of cooling from the chamber 126'''. In another implementation, the lid 40''' can optionally be hollow and have a space into which a phase change material can be inserted to further reduce heat transfer from the chamber 126'''.

[0092] The container 1000''' includes an electronic display screen 188''' (e.g., on the side or top surface of the container 1000'''). The display screen 188''' can optionally be an electronic ink or E-ink display (e.g., an electrophoretic ink display). 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 the sender's address, the recipient's address, a Maxicode machine-readable symbol, a QR code (registered trademark), a routing code, a barcode, and a tracking number) as shown in FIG. 15, but optionally, additionally or alternatively, can display other information (e.g., temperature history information, information regarding the contents of the container 1000''').

[0093] The cooler container assembly 1000''' may also include a user interface 184''', if desired. In FIG. 33, the user interface 184''' is on the side of the container 1000'''. In another implementation, the user interface 184''' is disposed on the upper surface (e.g., a corner) of the housing 102''' of the container 1000''' and / or on the surface of the lid 400'''. The user interface 184''' may be a button (e.g., a "return to home" button), if desired. In one implementation, the user interface 184''' is a pushable 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, by operating the user interface 184''', the information shown on the display 188''', such as in the form of a shipping label shown on the E Ink display 188''', can be changed. For example, by operating the user interface 184''', the text associated with the shipper and the recipient can be switched, and once the recipient has completed using it, the cooler container assembly 1000''' can be returned to the shipper. Additionally or alternatively, the operation of the user interface 184''' causes a signal, as described above, that a shipping label (e.g., a new shipping label) has been assigned to the portable cooler 1000''' and that the cooler is ready for consolidation and shipping to be transmitted (e.g., automatically transmitted) by a circuit within the assembly 1000''' to the shipper (e.g., UPS, FedEx, DHL).

[0094] Advantageously, the cooler containers 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ can be reused multiple times (e.g., 500 times, 1000 times, 1500 times, 20000 times), providing a sustainable cooler container for the delivery of perishable materials (e.g., pharmaceuticals, food, other perishables). In addition, the containers 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ are easy to use and streamline the shipping process. For example, the user interface 184’’’ (e.g., a button) facilitates returning the container without the need to print a new shipping label or contact the shipper separately for pick-up, thereby improving the productivity of the personnel handling the packages. The cooler containers 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’ can be stacked, for example, in a column of six containers 1000, 1000’, 1000’’, 1000’’’, and the user can load and unload them without the need for a ladder.

[0095] Additional embodiments In embodiments of the present disclosure, the portable cooler container system can be according to any of the following clauses. Clause 1. A portable cooler container with active temperature control, comprising a container body having a chamber, a frame coupled to the lower and upper ends 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 and one or more proximal ventilation openings and one or more distal ventilation openings that are in fluid communication via one or more ventilation channels, and one or more proximal electrical contacts and one or more distal electrical contacts, a lid removably attachable to the container body to access the chamber, a temperature control system, and the temperature control system comprises a low-temperature side heat sink, a high-temperature side heat sink, A thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink; A high-temperature side fan operable to draw air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the high-temperature side heat sink, and discharge the heated air through the distal ventilation opening; One or more low-temperature side fans operable to flow air above the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the air and introduce it into a channel in thermal communication with the chamber, thereby cooling the chamber; One or more batteries; A circuit configured to control the operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the high-temperature side fan, and the low-temperature side fan to cool at least a portion of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or temperature range; A portable cooler container comprising the above. Clause 2. The portable cooler container according to Clause 1, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen being configured to selectively display the shipping information of the portable cooler container using electronic ink. Clause 3. The portable cooler container according to Clause 1 or 2, further comprising a button or touch screen operable by a user to automatically switch the sender information and the recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 4. The portable cooler container according to any one of Clauses 1 to 3, further comprising a phase change material or a 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. The portable cooler container according to any one of Clauses 1 to 4, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber or the temperature control system and transmit the detected information to the circuit. Clause 6. At least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature within the chamber and transmit the detected temperature to the circuit, and the circuit is configured to transmit the detected temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. The portable cooler container according to any one of Clauses 1 to 5. Clause 7. The container body is stackable such that electrical contacts in one container body contact electrical contacts in an adjacent container body, and a proximal ventilation opening in one container body is aligned with a distal ventilation opening in an adjacent container body, thereby enabling heated air to be discharged chimney-like from the stacked containers. The portable cooler container according to any one of Clauses 1 to 6. Clause 8. A portable cooler container with active temperature control, A container body having a chamber, A frame coupled to the lower and upper ends 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 ventilation openings, and one or more distal ventilation openings that are in fluid communication via one or more ventilation channels, one or more proximal electrical contacts, and one or more distal electrical contacts. A frame, A lid removably attachable to the container body for accessing the chamber, A temperature control system, Comprising, The temperature control system is, A low-temperature side heat sink, A high-temperature side heat sink, A thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink, A high-temperature side fan operable to draw air through the air intake openings, heat the air above the high-temperature side heat sink, and discharge the heated air through the distal ventilation openings. A cooling loop operable to flow a cooling fluid above the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the fluid, and to cause the fluid to flow into a channel in thermal communication with the chamber, thereby cooling the chamber. One or more batteries A circuit configured to control the operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the high-temperature side fan, and the low-temperature side fan to cool at least a portion of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or temperature range. A portable cooler container comprising the above. Clause 9. A portable cooler container with active temperature control, A container body having a chamber A frame coupled to the lower and upper ends 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 ventilation openings, and one or more distal ventilation openings that are in fluid communication via one or more ventilation channels, one or more proximal electrical contacts, and one or more distal electrical contacts. A lid removably attachable to the container body for accessing the chamber A temperature control system Comprising the above The temperature control system A low-temperature side heat sink A high-temperature side heat sink A thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink. A high-temperature side fan operable to draw air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the high-temperature side heat sink, and discharge the heated air through the distal ventilation opening. One or more low-temperature side fans operable to flow air above the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the air and cause the air to flow into a channel in thermal communication with the chamber, thereby cooling the chamber. One or more batteries A circuit configured to control the operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the high-temperature side fan, and the low-temperature side fan to cool at least a part of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or temperature range; A portable cooler container comprising the same. Clause 10. The portable cooler container according to Clause 9, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen being configured to selectively display the shipping information of the portable cooler container using electronic ink. Clause 11. The portable cooler container according to Clause 9 or 10, further comprising a button or a touch screen operable by a user to automatically switch the sender information and the recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 12. The portable cooler container according to any one of Clauses 9 to 11, further comprising a phase change material or a 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 13. The portable cooler container according to any one of Clauses 9 to 12, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber or the temperature control system and transmit the detected information to the circuit. Clause 14. At least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature inside the chamber and transmit the detected temperature to the circuit, and the circuit is configured to transmit the detected temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. The portable cooler container according to any one of Clauses 9 to 13. Clause 15. The container body is stackable such that the electrical contacts in one container body contact the electrical contacts in an adjacent container body, and the proximal ventilation openings in one container body are aligned with the distal ventilation openings in an adjacent container body, thereby enabling heated air to be discharged chimney-like from the stacked containers. The portable cooler container according to any one of Clauses 9 to 14. Clause 16. A portable cooler container equipped with active temperature control, a container body having a chamber, a frame coupled to the lower and upper ends 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 ventilation openings, and one or more distal ventilation openings that are in fluid communication via one or more ventilation channels, one or more proximal electrical contacts, and one or more distal electrical contacts; a lid detachably attachable to the container body for accessing the chamber, a temperature control system, comprising The temperature control system a low-temperature side heat sink, a high-temperature side heat sink, a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink; a high-temperature side fan operable to draw air through the air intake openings, heat the air above the high-temperature side heat sink, and discharge the heated air through the distal ventilation openings; a cooling loop operable to flow a cooling fluid above the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the fluid and introduce it into a channel in thermal communication with the chamber, thereby cooling the chamber; one or more batteries, A circuit configured to control the operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the high-temperature side fan, and the low-temperature side fan to cool at least a portion of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or temperature range. A portable cooler container comprising the same. Clause 17. The portable cooler container according to any one of Clauses 1 to 16, wherein the one or more batteries are provided in a module detachably coupled to the cooler container, and the module is replaceable. Clause 18. A portable cooler container system, A container body having a chamber, A sleeve disposed around the chamber and containing a phase change material or a heat storage body, A conduit extending through the sleeve within a coiled path, the outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the phase change material or the heat storage body, A lid detachably coupled to the container body to access the chamber, A temperature control system, Comprising: The temperature control system includes: A low-temperature side heat sink in thermal communication with the conduit, A high-temperature side heat sink, A thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink, A high-temperature side fan operable to draw air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the high-temperature side heat sink, and discharge the heated air through the distal ventilation opening, A pump operable to flow a fluid to the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the fluid and flow the cooled fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material or the heat storage body so that the phase change material or the heat storage body cools at least a portion of the chamber, A circuit configured to control the operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the high-temperature side fan, and the pump, A portable cooler container system comprising Clause 19. The portable cooler container system according to clause 18, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen being configured to selectively display the shipping information of the portable cooler container using electronic ink. Clause 20. The portable cooler container system according to clause 18 or 19, further comprising a button or touch screen operable by a user to automatically switch the sender information and the recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 21. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 18 to 20, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber or the temperature control system and transmit the detected information to the circuit. Clause 22. At least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature inside the chamber and transmit the detected temperature to the circuit, and the circuit is configured to transmit the detected temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 18 to 21. Clause 23. The container body is stackable such that the electrical contacts in one container body contact the electrical contacts in the adjacent container body, and the proximal ventilation opening in one container body is aligned with the distal ventilation opening in the adjacent container body, thereby enabling heated air to be discharged chimney-like from the stacked containers. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 18 to 2 2. Clause 24. The temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively attachable to the container body to precool or cool the phase change material or the heat storage body. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 18 to 23. Clause 25. A portable cooler container system, a container body having a chamber, a sleeve disposed around the chamber and containing a phase change material, a conduit extending through the sleeve within a coiled path, the outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the phase change material, the conduit, a lid removably attachable to the container body for accessing the chamber, a temperature control system, comprising, The temperature control system a low-temperature side heat sink in thermal communication with the conduit, a high-temperature side heat sink, a thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink, a high-temperature side fan operable to draw air through the air intake opening, heat the air above the high-temperature side heat sink, and discharge the heated air through the distal ventilation opening, a pump operable to flow a fluid to the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the fluid so that the phase change material cools at least a portion of the chamber, and to flow the cooled fluid through the conduit within the sleeve to precool the phase change material, a circuit configured to control the operation of one or more of the thermoelectric module, the high-temperature side fan, and the pump, A portable cooler container system comprising. Clause 26. The portable cooler container system according to clause 25, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen being configured to selectively display shipping information of the portable cooler container using electronic ink. Clause 27. The portable cooler container system according to clause 25 or 26, further comprising a button or touch screen operable by a user to automatically switch the sender information and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 28. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 25 to 27, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber or the temperature control system and transmit the detected information to the circuit. Clause 29. At least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature inside the chamber and transmit the detected temperature to the circuit, and the circuit is configured to transmit the detected temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 25 to 28. Clause 30. The container body is stackable such that electrical contacts in one container body contact electrical contacts in an adjacent container body, and a proximal ventilation opening in one container body is aligned with a distal ventilation opening in an adjacent container body, thereby enabling heated air to be discharged chimney-like from the stacked containers. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 25 to 29. Clause 31. The temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively attachable to the container body to precool the phase change material. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 25 to 30. Clause 32. A portable cooler container system, a chamber configured to receive one or more corrosive components, a first wall circumferentially disposed around the chamber and below the base of the chamber, A second wall circumferentially disposed around and below the base portion of the first wall, the second wall being spaced apart from the first wall to define a gap therebetween, the gap being under vacuum, thereby thermally insulating the first wall from the second wall and thereby insulating the chamber, the second wall; An outer housing disposed around the second wall; A lid removably attachable above the chamber so as to substantially seal the chamber; An electronic display screen configured to selectively display an electronic shipping label for the portable cooler container; A portable cooler container system comprising. Clause 33. The portable cooler container system according to clause 32, further comprising a circuit configured to communicate with the electronic display screen. Clause 34. The portable cooler container system according to clause 32 or 33, further comprising a phase change material or a heat storage body in thermal communication with the chamber to cool the one or more corrosive components. Clause 35. a) Automatically switching the sender information and the recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender; b) Automatically contacting the shipper to warn the shipper that a new electronic shipping label has been issued and that the container is ready for pickup. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 32 to 34, further comprising a button or a touch screen operable by the user to perform one or both of the above. Clause 36. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 32 to 35, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber and transmit the detected parameters to the circuit. Clause 37. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 32 to 36, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature inside the chamber. Clause 38. The portable cooler container system according to any one of Clauses 32 to 37, wherein the circuit is configured to communicate with a cloud-based server system or a remote electronic device. Clause 39. The portable cooler container system according to 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 according to any one of Clauses 32 to 39, wherein the outer housing includes a heat insulating material. Clause 41. The portable cooler container system according to any one of Clauses 32 to 40, wherein the lid is a vacuum insulation lid. Clause 42. A portable cooler container system, a container body having a chamber configured to receive one or more corrosive items, a sleeve disposed around the chamber and containing a phase change material or a heat storage body, a conduit extending through the sleeve, wherein an outer surface of the conduit is in thermal communication with the phase change material or the heat storage body, a lid that can be hingedly or removably coupled to the container body to access the chamber, a temperature control system, comprising, The temperature control system includes: a low-temperature 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 side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink, a pump operable to flow a fluid to the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the fluid, and to flow the cooled fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to precool the phase change material or the heat storage body so that the phase change material or the heat storage body is configured to cool at least a portion of the chamber, a circuit configured to control the 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 according to clause 42, wherein the conduit extends through the sleeve along a coiled path. Clause 44. The portable cooler container system according to clause 42 or 43, further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, the display screen being configured to selectively display shipping information of the portable cooler container. Clause 45. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 42 to 44, wherein the display screen is an electrophoretic ink display. Clause 46. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 42 to 45, further comprising a button or a touch screen manually operable by a user to automatically switch shipper information and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate return of the portable cooler container to the shipper. Clause 47. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 42 to 46, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber or the temperature control system and transmit the detected information to the circuit. Clause 48. At least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature inside the chamber and transmit the detected temperature to the circuit, the circuit being configured to transmit the detected temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 42 to 47. Clause 49. The portable cooler container system according to any one of clauses 42 to 48, wherein the container body is stackable such that electrical contacts in one container body contact electrical contacts in an adjacent container body. Clause 50. At least a portion of the temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively attachable to the container body to cool the phase change material or the heat storage body, the portable cooler container system according to any one of Clauses 42 to 49. Clause 51. The portable cooler container system according to any one of Clauses 42 to 50, further comprising one or more fins extending from the outer surface of the conduit and in thermal communication with the phase change material or the 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 that is hingedly or removably attachable to the container body to access the chamber, An electronic system of the container body, An electronic display screen provided on one of the lid and the container body and configured to selectively display an electronic shipping label for the portable cooler container, Comprising, 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 cellular radio, A portable cooler container comprising. Clause 54. The portable cooler container system of Clause 53, further comprising one or more volumes of phase change material or heat storage body for cooling the one or more perishable items. Clause 55. a) Automatically switch the sender information and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender; and b) Automatically contact the shipper to alert the shipper that a new electronic shipping label has been issued and that the container is ready for collection. The portable cooler container system according to Clause 53 or 54 further comprises a button or touch screen that can be manually activated by the user to perform one or both of the above operations. Clause 56. The portable cooler container system according to any one of Clauses 53 to 55 further comprises one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber and transmit the detected parameters to the circuit. Clause 57. At least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature inside the chamber. The portable cooler container system according to any one of Clauses 53 to 56. Clause 58. The electronic display screen is an electrophoretic ink display screen. The portable cooler container system according to any one of Clauses 53 to 57. Clause 59. The lid is a vacuum insulation lid. The portable cooler container system according to any one of Clauses 53 to 58. Clause 60 A portable cooler container system, 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 storage body, A conduit extending through the sleeve, the outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the phase change material or the heat storage body, A lid hingedly or removably coupled to the container body to access the chamber, A temperature control system, Comprising, The temperature control system is, A low-temperature 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-side heat sink and the high-temperature-side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature-side heat sink and the high-temperature-side heat sink, a pump operable to flow a fluid against the low-temperature-side heat sink to cool the fluid so that the phase change material or the heat storage body cools at least a portion of the chamber, and to flow the cooled fluid into the conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material or the heat storage body, a circuit configured to control the operation of one or both of the thermoelectric module and the pump, A portable cooler container system, comprising: Article 61 The portable cooler container system according to Article 60, wherein the conduit extends through the sleeve along a coiled path. Article 62 further comprising a display screen disposed on one or both of the container body and the lid, The portable cooler container system according to Article 60, wherein the display screen is configured to selectively display shipping information of the portable cooler container. Article 63 The portable cooler container system according to Article 62, wherein the display screen is an electrophoretic ink display. Article 64 The portable cooler container system according to Article 62, further comprising a button or a touch screen manually operable by a user to automatically switch shipper information and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate return of the portable cooler container to the shipper. Article 65 The portable cooler container system according to Article 60, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber or the temperature control system and transmit the detected information to the circuit. Article 66 At least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature in the chamber and transmit the detected temperature to the circuit. The circuit is configured to transmit the detected temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. The portable cooler container system according to clause 65, characterized by this. Clause 67 The container body is stackable such that the electrical contacts in one container body contact the electrical contacts in an adjacent container body. The portable cooler container system according to clause 60, characterized by this. Clause 68 At least a portion of the temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively attachable to the container body to cool the phase change material or the heat storage body when coupled to the container body. The portable cooler container system according to clause 60, characterized by this. Clause 69 The portable cooler container system according to clause 60, further comprising one or more fins extending from the outer surface of the conduit and in thermal communication with the phase change material or the heat storage body. Clause 70 The container body is a vacuum-insulated container body. The portable cooler container system according to clause 60, characterized by this. Clause 71 A portable cooler container system, 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 storage body, A conduit extending through the sleeve, the outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the phase change material or the heat storage body, A lid that is hingedly or removably coupled to the container body to access the chamber, A temperature control system, A display screen configured to selectively display the shipping information of the portable cooler container; comprising; The temperature control system; A low-temperature side heat sink in thermal communication with at least a part of the conduit; A high-temperature side heat sink; A thermoelectric module disposed between the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink; A pump operable to flow a fluid to the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the fluid so that the phase change material or the heat storage body cools at least a part of the chamber, and to flow the cooled fluid to the conduit in the sleeve to cool the phase change material or the heat storage body; A circuit configured to control the operation of one or both of the thermoelectric module and the pump; A portable cooler container system, characterized by comprising the above. Clause 72 The portable cooler container system according to Clause 71, characterized in that the conduit extends along a coiled path through the sleeve. Clause 73 The portable cooler container system according to Clause 71, further comprising a button or a touch screen manually operable by a user to automatically switch the sender information and the recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender. Clause 74 The portable cooler container system according to Clause 71, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber or the temperature control system and transmit the detected information to the circuit. Clause 75 At least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature in the chamber and transmit the detected temperature to the circuit; The portable cooler container system according to clause 74, wherein the circuit is configured to transmit the detected temperature data to a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device. Clause 76 The portable cooler container system according to clause 71, wherein the container body is stackable such that electrical contacts in one container body contact electrical contacts in an adjacent container body. Clause 77 The portable cooler container system according to clause 71, wherein at least a portion of the temperature control system is disposed outside the container body and is selectively attachable to the container body to cool the phase change material or the heat storage body when coupled to the container body. Clause 78 A portable cooler container system, a double-walled vacuum-insulated container body having a chamber configured to receive and hold one or more perishable items, a lid that is hingedly or removably coupled to the container body to access the chamber, an electronic system of the container body, an electronic display screen provided on one of the lid and the container body and configured to selectively display an electronic shipping label for the portable cooler container, comprising, the electronic system comprising, one or more batteries, a circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device via cellular radio, characterized in that. Clause 79 The portable cooler container system according to clause 78, further comprising one or more removable phase change materials or heat storage bodies for cooling the one or more perishable items. Clause 80 a) Automatically switch the sender information and recipient information on the display screen to facilitate the return of the portable cooler container to the sender. b) Automatically contact the shipper and warn the shipper that a new electronic shipping label has been issued and the container is ready for collection. The portable cooler container system according to clause 78, further comprising a button or touch screen manually operable by the user so as to perform one or both of the above. Clause 81 The portable cooler container system according to clause 78, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect one or more parameters of the chamber and transmit the detected parameters to the circuit. Clause 82 The portable cooler container system according to clause 81, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature inside the chamber. Clause 83 The portable cooler container system according to clause 78, wherein the electronic display screen is an electrophoretic ink display screen. Clause 84 The portable cooler container system according to clause 78, wherein the lid is a vacuum insulation lid.

[0096] While certain 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 disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein can be embodied in a variety of other forms. The features disclosed herein are applicable to containers for transporting any kind of perishable item (e.g., pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, biological tissue or organisms), and the present invention is understood to extend to such other containers as well. Further, various omissions, substitutions, and changes to the systems and methods described herein can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to embrace forms or modifications that fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined only by reference to the appended claims.

[0097] Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in connection with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood as applicable to any other aspect, embodiment, or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification, unless inconsistent. All features disclosed in this specification (including the appended claims, abstract, and drawings), and / or all steps of any method or process so disclosed, can be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not limited to the details of the foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel or any novel combination of features disclosed in this specification (including the appended claims, abstract, and drawings), or to any novel or any novel combination of steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0098] Furthermore, the specific features described in the context of separate implementations of this disclosure can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, the various features described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented separately in multiple implementations, or in any suitable sub-combination. Further, although features may be described above as acting in a particular combination, one or more features from the claimed combination may, in some cases, be deleted from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a sub-combination or a variant of a sub-combination.

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

[0100] For the purposes of the present disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. It is not necessarily the case that all such advantages can be achieved according to 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," etc., generally, unless otherwise specified or otherwise understood within the context in which it is used, is intended to convey that a particular embodiment includes a particular feature, element, and / or step, while other embodiments do not. Thus, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that a feature, element, and / or step is required in any way in one or more embodiments, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for determining whether these features, elements, and / or steps are included in or should be performed in any particular embodiment, with or without user input or prompting.

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

[0103] Terms such as "about," "approximately," "generally," and "substantially" as used herein, to the extent used herein, represent values, amounts, or characteristics that are close to the recited value, amount, or characteristic and still achieve the desired function or desired result. For example, the terms "about," "approximately," "generally," and "substantially" can refer to amounts that are within less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 1%, less than 0.1%, and less than 0.01% of the recited amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms "substantially parallel" and "generally parallel" refer to values, amounts, or characteristics that deviate from exact parallel by 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree or less.

[0104] The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosure of the preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, but may be defined by the claims presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification, or by claims that may be presented in the future. The language of the claims should be interpreted broadly based on the language used in the claims and not be limited to the examples described in this specification or the examples described during the examination of this application, and these examples should be construed as non-exclusive. Rather, it should be construed as including all equivalents.

Claims

1. A portable cooler container system, comprising: A heat-insulated container body having a payload chamber configured to receive one or more products; A sleeve disposed around the payload chamber for containing a heat storage body, the heat storage body being in thermal communication with the payload chamber; A conduit extending through the sleeve, the outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the heat storage body; A lid operable to access the payload chamber; A temperature control system, comprising: A low-temperature heat sink in thermal communication with at least a portion of the conduit; A high-temperature 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 through the low-temperature heat sink to cool the fluid and then flow the cooled fluid through the conduit in the sleeve to cool the heat storage body; One or more sensors for detecting one or more parameters of the portable cooler container system; One or more power storage elements configured to supply power to the one or more sensors; One or more electrical connectors on the heat-insulated container body through which power is transmitted to the one or more power storage elements and the temperature control system; A circuit for controlling the operation of the temperature control system.

2. The portable cooler container system according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage body contains a phase change material.

3. The portable cooler container system according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage body is configured to cool the payload chamber while the temperature control system is not operating.

4. The portable cooler container system according to claim 1, wherein the payload chamber is vacuum-insulated.

5. The portable cooler container system according to claim 1, wherein the payload chamber is foam-insulated.

6. The portable cooler container system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include the temperature of the payload chamber.

7. The portable cooler container system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include the temperature of the high-temperature heat sink and / or the low-temperature heat sink.

8. The portable cooler container system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include the temperature of the fluid in the conduit.

9. The portable cooler container system according to claim 1, further comprising a digital display configured to display information detected from the one or more sensors.

10. The portable cooler container system according to claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate the one or more parameters to a remote electronic device.

11. A portable cooler container system, a thermally insulated container body having a payload chamber configured to receive one or more products, a conduit extending around the payload chamber, an outer surface of the conduit being in thermal communication with the payload chamber, a lid operable to access the payload chamber, a temperature control system a low-temperature 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 side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink and in thermal communication with the low-temperature side heat sink and the high-temperature side heat sink, a temperature control system comprising a pump operable to flow a fluid against the low-temperature side heat sink to cool the fluid, and to flow the cooled fluid through the conduit to cool the payload chamber. one or more sensors for detecting one or more parameters of the portable cooler container system, one or more power storage elements configured to supply power to the one or more sensors, one or more electrical connectors on the thermally insulated container body through which power is transmitted to the one or more power storage elements and the temperature control system, A portable cooler container system comprising a circuit for controlling the operation of the temperature control system.

12. The portable cooler container system according to claim 11, further comprising a sleeve disposed around the payload chamber and containing a phase change material, the phase change material being in thermal communication with the conduit and the phase change material being in thermal communication with the payload chamber, the pump being operable to flow the cooled fluid through the conduit to fill the phase change material.

13. The portable cooler container system according to claim 12, wherein the phase change material is configured to cool the payload chamber while the temperature control system is not operating.

14. The portable cooler container system according to claim 11, wherein the payload chamber is vacuum insulated.

15. The portable cooler container system according to claim 11, wherein the payload chamber is foam insulated.

16. The portable cooler container system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more parameters include the temperature of the payload chamber.

17. The portable cooler container system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more parameters include the temperature of the high temperature side heat sink and / or the low temperature side heat sink.

18. The portable cooler container system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more parameters include the temperature of the fluid in the conduit.

19. The portable cooler container system according to claim 11, further comprising a digital display configured to display information detected from the one or more sensors.

20. The portable cooler container system according to claim 11, further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate the one or more parameters to a remote electronic device.

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