Rigid Refreezable Portable Storage Container Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional portable storage containers fail to keep food and beverages fresh and cold due to their non-insulating materials, with existing solutions either being bulky or requiring frequent refreezing of ice packs.
Innovation Solution
A rigid insert for portable storage containers featuring hollow walls filled with a refreezable material, allowing the insert to be stacked and fitted within a standard container, with optional divider panels for segmentation, and designed to maintain temperature for extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a soft-sided, collapsible insert with ice packs is used, then insulation performance is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring storage and refreezing of multiple bulky ice packs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the insulation function and cooling function into a single integrated rigid container structure. The hollow walls contain refreezable material directly within the container walls themselves, eliminating the need for separate ice packs and their storage compartments. This consolidation reduces device complexity while maintaining temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The refreezable material is pre-integrated into the hollow walls of the container during manufacturing. This preliminary incorporation means the cooling mechanism is already in place and ready for use, eliminating the need for users to separately store, handle, and refreeze multiple ice packs during operation.
2Temperature
If a rigid, insulated container is used, then temperature maintenance is improved, but portability deteriorates due to increased size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-walled hollow structures that provide insulation functionality without the bulk of traditional rigid insulated containers. The hollow walls act as thermal barriers while maintaining a compact, lightweight form factor that preserves portability.
3Weight of moving object
If traditional non-insulating portable storage containers are used, then portability is improved, but temperature maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of refreezable material (freezing and melting cycles) integrated into the hollow walls. This phase change mechanism provides active temperature regulation, allowing the lightweight container to maintain refrigerated temperatures for extended periods without sacrificing portability.
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 effectively keeps food and beverages at a refrigerated temperature for several hours, eliminating the need for bulky insulation and frequent ice pack refreezing, while allowing for easy stacking and storage.
Implementation Method 1
the space between the inner and outer layers is configured to receive a refreezable material
Implementation Method 2
The housing comprises a base and a wall extending outwardly from the base, the wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a space therebetween that is configured to receive a refreezable material
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is described herein for storing and transporting food and beverages, comprising a rigid housing configured to fit within a container, the housing comprising a base and a wall extending outwardly from the base, the wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a space therebetween, a refreezable material disposed in the space. The base is configured with a rigid protrusion having an outer dimension shaped to generally match the dimension of the inner layer of the wall of the interior space of housing in order that the rigid protrusion can be inserted within the interior space of another apparatus of the same configuration. Other products, systems and methods also are disclosed.