Insulated Storage Container with Configurable Temperature Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage containers lack the ability to efficiently manage varying temperature requirements for different items, as well as flexibility in reconfiguration for different uses, leading to suboptimal storage and transportation conditions.

Innovation Solution

A portable insulated storage container with a selectively configurable internal cavity and receptacles in the lid for thermal devices, allowing for independent temperature control of multiple storage areas, which can be easily reconfigured using dividers and bins to accommodate items with different temperature needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a storage container uses a single unified cooling system, then the structure is simple, but it cannot provide different temperature zones for items with different temperature requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature zone configurationVSAvoidcontainer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage container is divided into multiple separate storage areas (first storage area, second storage area, etc.) that can be independently configured. Each storage area can have its own cooling requirements met through separate receptacles for thermal devices, allowing different temperature zones without requiring a complex unified system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacles in the lid are designed to universally accommodate various thermal devices (ice packs, cold packs, frozen gel packs). The same receptacle structure serves multiple storage areas, providing a multi-functional solution that simplifies the overall design while enabling temperature zone configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the storage container is designed with fixed compartments, then the structure is stable, but it cannot be easily reconfigured for different uses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereconfiguration capabilityVSAvoidreconfiguration ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The storage container uses removable dividers that can be dynamically repositioned or removed to change the configuration of storage areas. The lids can be removed entirely or repositioned, allowing the container to be easily reconfigured for different uses without complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The dividers and lids are designed to nest within the container structure when not in use, allowing easy storage and retrieval. The modular components can be nested together to maintain a compact form while enabling quick reconfiguration when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Temperature

If multiple ice packs are used to cool multiple storage areas, then temperature control is improved, but the weight and volume of the container increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoidcontainer weight

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple thermal devices (ice packs, cold packs, frozen gel packs) are combined and stored together in a single receptacle located in the lid. This merged approach allows a single storage area to share cooling resources with adjacent areas through thermal conduction, reducing the total number of thermal devices needed while maintaining temperature control precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lid acts as an intermediary structure that houses the receptacles for thermal devices. By positioning the thermal devices in the lid rather than distributing them throughout the container, the system reduces overall weight while still providing effective cooling to multiple storage areas through the lid's thermal conduction to the storage areas below.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables effective temperature management for diverse items, reduces the need for excessive cooling packs, and allows for easy reconfiguration for different uses, improving storage and transportation efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

A portable insulated storage container includes an insulated body, an insulated lid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

Ice packs, cold packs, and/or cooling packs may be placed in an interior portion of a storage container defined by the side walls and bottom wall to keep the interior portion of the storage container at a desired temperature that is lower than the ambient temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10443918B2Configurable insulated storage container

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 OTTER PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

A portable insulated storage container includes an insulated body, an insulated lid, and a retainer. The insulated body has an internal cavity for storing one or more items. The internal cavity is selectively and reversibly configurable into two or more storage areas. The insulated lid engages the insulated body to close the internal cavity. The insulated lid includes receptacles each configured for receiving a cold pack or other thermal device. Each of the receptacles aligns with a respective one of the storage areas when the insulated lid engages the body. The retainer removably retains the cold pack in one of the receptacles.