Portable cooler
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable coolers are inadequate for maintaining temperature-sensitive products like vaccines and organs during transport due to ice melting and potential leakage, leading to product spoilage and environmental issues from single-use containers.
Innovation Solution
A portable cooler with a vacuum-insulated double wall chamber, phase change materials, and an active temperature control system using thermoelectric elements, along with a cooling fan and sensors for temperature monitoring, and a user interface for managing shipping information and power transfer between stacked units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ice is used to cool products in portable coolers, then cooling effect is achieved, but ice melts and soaks products requiring emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an absorbent material as an intermediary layer between the ice and the products. This absorbent material absorbs the melted ice water, preventing it from soaking the products. The absorbent material acts as a mediator that manages the liquid byproduct (melted ice) while preserving the useful function (cooling effect).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of melted ice (liquid that soaks products) into a beneficial function by using the absorbent material to capture and retain the meltwater. The melted ice, which would otherwise be harmful, is transformed into a contained liquid reservoir that maintains cooling through evaporation or capillary action while preventing product damage.
2Ease of manufacture
If single-use containers are used, then product transport is simple, but containers end up in landfills causing environmental issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reusable container system where the cooler and its components (including the absorbent material) are designed to be recovered and reused after the cooling function is complete. Instead of discarding the container after single use, the system allows for multiple reuse cycles, thereby reducing environmental waste while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the container system to perform multiple functions: cooling products, absorbing meltwater, and being reused for subsequent cooling cycles. The absorbent material and container structure are designed with universal applicability for various temperature-sensitive products, increasing the value-to-waste ratio and reducing environmental impact through repeated use.
3Length of moving object
If existing coolers are used for long distance transport, then product delivery is possible, but temperature control is inadequate leading to product spoilage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the cooling system by introducing phase change materials that maintain a constant temperature during phase transition. This parameter change (from active cooling with melting ice to passive phase change cooling) provides more stable and reliable temperature control throughout the transport journey, preventing product spoilage even during long-distance transport.
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
Maintains desired temperatures for extended periods, prevents product spoilage, and allows for efficient reuse of the cooler, reducing environmental impact and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The cooler can optionally have a vacuum-insulated double wall chamber that can be sealed with a lid
Implementation Method 2
The cooler can optionally have a vacuum-insulated double wall chamber
Implementation Method 3
the chamber can hold perishable contents (e.g., medicine, food, other perishables, etc.) therein and a phase change material (e.g., one or more ice packs, a phase change material sleeve) in thermal communication
Implementation Method 4
The container comprises a container body having a chamber defined by a base and an inner peripheral wall of the container body. The container also comprises a temperature control system comprising one or more thermoelectric elements configured to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the chamber
Implementation Method 5
the container can 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 in the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A portable cooler container is provided. The temperature control system cools a chamber of the container to transport temperature sensitive contents via the container. An electronic display screen on one of the lid and the container body selectively displays an electronic shipping label for the portable cooler container.