Multi-Compartment Cooler Venting for Dry and Separate Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable coolers lack effective organization and separation of items, leading to a jumbled mess and potential soaking of contents due to the lack of compartments and inadequate insulation, making them poorly suited for storing various types of food, beverages, and personal items that require specific temperature and moisture control.
Innovation Solution
The design of thermally insulative containers with multiple compartments, including a coolant compartment and isolation compartments separated by insulative doors and thermal vents, allowing for customizable temperature zones and prevention of moisture transfer, along with features like adjustable vents and insulative materials to maintain optimal conditions for different items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single compartment design is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the organization and separation of items deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler is divided into multiple compartments including a first compartment for items to be kept cool and a second compartment for items to be kept at ambient temperature. This segmentation allows different types of items to be stored separately, improving organization while maintaining manageable device complexity through clear functional division.
2Temperature
If compartments are separated by insulative doors, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An insulative door acts as an intermediary element between the first and second compartments. This door provides thermal isolation to maintain different temperature zones while offering a simple mechanical structure that can be easily opened and closed, balancing temperature control requirements with device complexity constraints.
3Temperature
If thermal vents are added between compartments, then temperature exchange control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal vent structure includes movable components such as sliding panels or rotating flaps that can dynamically adjust the degree of thermal exchange between compartments. This dynamic design allows users to control temperature exchange based on specific needs, improving temperature management while the simple mechanical movement keeps device complexity manageable.
4Ease of operation
If multiple compartments are created, then organization capability is improved, but moisture transfer control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Moisture barriers in the form of flexible membranes or thin films are incorporated into the compartment separators and door structures. These thin film barriers effectively prevent moisture transfer from the ice compartment to other compartments while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure, as the barriers can be integrated into existing components without adding significant complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides improved organization and temperature control, keeping items cool and dry by creating separate compartments that can maintain different temperature zones and prevent moisture transfer, enhancing the storage capabilities of portable coolers.
Implementation Method 1
The at least two compartments may be sealed off from each other by a thermally insulative door
Implementation Method 2
at least one adjustable thermal vent in a surface of the second compartment for allowing the passage of heat between the first and second compartments
Implementation Method 3
the insulative container may include thermal diffusion barriers over the thermal vents, which may prevent direct air flow between the coolant compartment and the one or more isolation compartment(s) and may slow the thermal exchange
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides improved thermally insulative containers (e.g., ice chests, coolers, lunch boxes, etc.) that include one or more isolation compartment(s) that may be isolated from a storage compartment holding ice or other cooling agent(s). The isolation compartment may be used to store items that are to be kept dry and at a higher temperature than food, beverages, and other items that are typically kept in the storage compartment. In some examples, the one or more isolation compartment(s) may include thermal vents between the compartments for varying the temperature between the one or more isolation compartment(s) and the storage compartment.