Insulated shipping container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shipping containers for food and beverages often require large amounts of ice or coolant to maintain temperature, are inefficient in temperature distribution, and may not maintain the desired temperature range during extended delivery times or extreme environmental conditions, leading to spoilage.
Innovation Solution
A portable insulated container with a temperature control pack and insert configuration that includes equidistant bottle storage cavities around a central temperature control cavity, providing consistent temperature distribution and protection for various bottle shapes and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If large volumes of ice or coolant are used to maintain temperature, then the temperature range is maintained, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple compartments with individual temperature control packs in each compartment. This segmentation allows each compartment to maintain temperature independently, reducing the total coolant volume needed compared to a single large coolant system, and enables targeted cooling where needed most.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control packs are nested within the compartment structure, with each pack fitting into its own cavity within the compartment walls. This nested arrangement maximizes the use of available space without adding external bulk, maintaining temperature control while minimizing the overall footprint and coolant volume.
2Temperature
If coolant is placed in specific positions, then temperature control is achieved, but uneven temperature distribution occurs across different positions in the container
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple compartments with individual temperature control packs, ensuring each compartment receives adequate cooling. This segmentation prevents the uneven temperature distribution that would occur with a single centralized coolant source, as each compartment can be optimally positioned relative to its own temperature control pack.
Solution Approach 2:
Each compartment is designed with its own temperature control pack positioned to provide optimal local cooling. This local quality approach ensures that temperature distribution is uniform within each compartment, addressing the specific thermal needs of different items stored in different locations.
3Reliability
If the container is designed for specific bottle types, then protection and temperature control are optimized, but adaptability to different bottle shapes and sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compartment design with adjustable dividers and flexible positioning allows the same container structure to accommodate multiple bottle types, shapes, and sizes while maintaining optimal temperature control. Each compartment can be configured differently to suit various bottle configurations, providing universal applicability without sacrificing temperature control reliability.
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 container effectively maintains a consistent temperature range for extended periods, reducing spoilage and damage by minimizing temperature fluctuations and bottle movement during shipping.
Implementation Method 1
The container includes an outer shell and a first insert portion that fits inside the outer shell... Each of the three or more bottle storage cavities is configured for receiving a respective one of the plurality of the bottles
Implementation Method 2
The portable insulated container includes an outer shell and a temperature control pack... to maintain the temperature within the chamber within a predetermined temperature range
Data Source
AI summary
An insulated container for storing or shipping bottles includes a body and a lid. The body has a shell and an insert portion formed from an insulating material. The lid also has a shell and an insert portion formed from the insulating which meets the insert portion of the body to form cavities. The cavities include a temperature control pack cavity and four or more separate bottle storage cavities distributed around the temperature control pack cavity. Each of the bottle storage cavities is configured for receiving a bottle from among three or more different bottle types. Each of the bottle types has a different shape and/or size than each of the other bottle types. Each of the bottle storage cavities includes at least three bottle stop features on one or more internal surfaces. Each bottle stop feature is associated with a different one of the three or more bottle types.