U.S. patent application number 11/539242 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for cooling container assembly.
Invention is credited to Pamela R. MOORE.
Application Number | 20070144205 11/539242 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37943196 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070144205 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MOORE; Pamela R. |
June 28, 2007 |
COOLING CONTAINER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A passive cooling container assembly for keeping food cool is
disclosed. The assembly comprises an outer, thermally-insulating
shell and an inner, thermally-conductive shell nested into and
possibly affixed to the outer shell. The inner shell has a recessed
volume at a bottom of the inner shell. A removable cold disk is
provided and is configured to rest within the recessed volume of
the inner shell. The cold disk comprises a material which may be
thermally cooled and permanently encapsulated within a casing. The
cooling container assembly also includes a removable food container
capable of being nested into the inner shell. Optionally, a
removable lid is also provided which fits onto the food
container.
Inventors: |
MOORE; Pamela R.;
(Tallmadge, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAHN LOESER & PARKS, LLP
One GOJO Plaza
Suite 300
AKRON
OH
44311-1076
US
|
Family ID: |
37943196 |
Appl. No.: |
11/539242 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60725463 |
Oct 11, 2005 |
|
|
|
60760487 |
Jan 20, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/457.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 41/0044 20130101;
F25D 2303/0845 20130101; F25D 2331/804 20130101; F25D 2331/812
20130101; F25D 2303/0832 20130101; F25D 2303/082 20130101; F25D
3/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/457.6 |
International
Class: |
F25D 3/08 20060101
F25D003/08 |
Claims
1. A cooling container assembly, said assembly comprising: a
thermally-insulating outer shell; a thermally-conductive inner
shell configured to nest within said outer shell, said inner shell
having a recessed volume at a bottom portion of said inner shell; a
removable cold disk configured to rest within said recessed volume
of said inner shell, said cold disk comprising a chillable,
freezable, or activatable material; and a removable food container
configured to nest within said inner shell.
2. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said removable
food container includes a rim circumscribing an upper edge of said
removable food container.
3. The cooling container assembly of claim 2 further comprising a
lid capable of being snapped onto said rim of said removable food
container, wherein said lid is not a double-walled structure with
an insulating air gap or vacuum gap therebetween.
4. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein there are no
handles attached to or integrated into any portion of said
assembly.
5. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 further comprising at
least one volume of gas between at least one portion of said
thermally-insulating outer shell and at least one portion of said
thermally-conductive inner shell.
6. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 further comprising at
least one vacuum gap between at least one portion of said
thermally-insulating outer shell and at least one portion of said
thermally-conductive inner shell.
7. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said
chillable, freezable, or activatable material of said cold disk
includes at least one of water, a gel material, a liquid material,
a solid material, a semi-solid material, and an alcohol-based
liquid.
8. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said removable
cold disk further comprises a casing permanently encapsulating said
chillable, freezable, or activatable material.
9. The cooling container assembly of claim 8 wherein said casing of
said cold disk comprises at least one of a plastic material and an
aluminum material.
10. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said
thermally-insulating outer shell comprises a thermally-insulating
plastic material.
11. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said
thermally-insulating outer shell is opaque.
12. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said
thermally-insulating outer shell is at least partially
transparent.
13. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said
thermally-conductive inner shell comprises an aluminum
material.
14. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said
removable food container comprises a stainless steel material.
15. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said
thermally-conductive inner shell is permanently affixed to said
thermally-insulating outer shell.
16. The cooling container assembly of claim 1 wherein said
thermally-conductive inner shell is removable from said
thermally-insulating outer shell.
17. A method of assembling a cooling container, said method
comprising: nesting a thermally-conductive inner shell into a
thermally-insulating outer shell; placing a removable cold disk
into a recessed volume at a bottom portion of said inner shell; and
nesting a removable food container into said inner shell over said
cold disk.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising snapping a removable
lid onto said removable food container, wherein said lid is not a
double-walled structure with an insulating air gap or vacuum gap
therebetween.
19. A method of keeping food cool, said method comprising:
chilling, freezing, or activating a removable cold disk; placing
said food into a removable food container and chilling said food in
said removable food container; placing said cold disk into a
recessed volume at a bottom portion of a thermally-conductive inner
shell that is nested into a thermally-insulating outer shell; and
nesting said chilled food container, containing said chilled food,
into said inner shell.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising snapping a removable
lid onto said removable food container, wherein said lid is not a
double-walled structure with an insulating air gap or vacuum gap
therebetween.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY
REFERENCE
[0001] This U.S. patent application claims priority to and the
benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/725,463
filed on Oct. 11, 2005, and Provisional U.S. Patent Application
Ser. No. 60/760,487 filed on Jan. 20, 2006.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to
cooling containers. More particularly, certain embodiments of the
present invention relate to a nested, passive cooling container
assembly which uses a cold disk for keeping food cool within the
container assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various types of food containers exist which attempt to keep
food cool and/or warm in various ways. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,701,757 describes a portable food refrigeration system. The
system includes an outer pan constructed from a rigid insulating
material and including at least one handle secured to the upper
exterior portion. The system also includes a gel pack removably
positioned on the interior bottom surface and which is freezable.
The system further includes an inner pan formed to a shape similar
to the outer pan for retaining food an including at least one
handle secured to the upper exterior portion. The inner pan is
slidably positionable within the interior of the outer pan to
produce a nested relationship between the inner and outer pans. One
of the pans has a sealing protrusion located substantially adjacent
to and along the upper edge of the one pan. The other pan has a
sealing groove located substantially adjacent to and along the
upper edge of the other pan such that, when the pans are placed in
a nested relationship, the sealing groove and the sealing
protrusion are moved into a mated condition. The mated condition of
the sealing protrusion and the sealing groove forms a substantially
air tight barrier and resists movement of the inner pan out of the
nested relationship with the outer pan.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,946 describes a food container including
a bowl having a double-wall structure, including an interior wall
made of metal material and an exterior wall made of plastic
material. The interior wall defines an interior chamber and has a
bottom wall portion and a sidewall portion. The sidewall portion is
integrally formed with and extends upwardly from the bottom wall
portion and has a tapered upper lip. The exterior wall has a bottom
wall portion and a sidewall portion. The sidewall portion is
integrally formed with and extends upward from the bottom wall
portion and has an upper rim. The exterior and interior walls are
positioned substantially parallel to each other and are spaced
apart. The tapered upper lip of the interior wall is air-tightly
connected to the upper rim of the exterior wall, thereby forming a
top edge of the bowl and a sealed chamber between the interior and
exterior walls. A lid is sized to span the top edge of the bowl for
covering the interior chamber of the bowl. The lid has a
double-wall structure including a bottom wall made of metal
material and a top wall made of plastic material. The top and
bottom walls of the lid each have a circumferential edge. The top
and bottom walls are positioned in a substantially parallel and
spaced apart relationship. The circumferential edge of the top wall
is air-tightly connected to the circumferential edge of the bottom
wall, thereby forming a sealed chamber between the top and bottom
walls. The interior wall of the bowl and the bottom wall of the lid
are polished for substantially reducing and preventing heat
radiation. The sealed chamber of the bowl and the sealed chamber of
the lid substantially reduce and prevent heat conduction. The
tapered upper lip of the interior wall of the bowl substantially
reduces and prevents heat convection. The container is able to keep
food warm for an extended period of time.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,970 describes a plate comprising a
substantially curved surface having a recess formed in the center
of the surface. A reusable cold disk is provided in the recess. A
removable cover is also provided to form an empty space between the
cover made of a cylindrical main body with a closed top and an open
bottom, and the surface of the plate. The top of the cover is
provided with a depression in which a reusable cold disk is
placed.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. Re. 35,437 describes a container for milk and
cereal comprising a milk reservoir having an opening and a
resealable fluid-tight cap means removably secured over the
opening. There is at least one freeze pack adjacent to the milk
reservoir and filled with a freezable substance, and a cereal
compartment adjacent to the milk reservoir and having an opening
and a cover removably secured over the cereal compartment opening.
At least one valve is interposed between the milk reservoir and the
cereal compartment. The valve has a closed positioned for keeping
the milk and cereal separate and an open position for allowing the
milk to enter the cereal compartment.
[0007] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional,
traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of
skill in the art, through comparison of such systems and methods
with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the
present application with reference to the drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An embodiment of the present invention comprises a cooling
container assembly. The cooling container assembly includes a
thermally-insulating outer shell and a thermally-conductive inner
shell configured to nest within the outer shell. The inner shell
has a recessed volume at a bottom portion of the inner shell. The
cooling container assembly further includes a removable cold disk
configured to rest within the recessed volume of the inner shell.
The cold disk comprises a chillable, freezable, or activatable
material. The cooling container assembly also includes a removable
food container configured to nest within the inner shell.
[0009] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a
method of assembling a cooling container. The method includes
nesting a thermally-conductive inner shell into a
thermally-insulating outer shell. The method further includes
placing a removable cold disk into a recessed volume at a bottom
portion of the inner shell. The method also includes nesting a
removable food container into the inner shell over the cold
disk.
[0010] A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a
method of keeping food cool. The method includes chilling,
freezing, or activating a removable cold disk. The method further
includes placing the food into a removable food container and
chilling the food in the removable food container. The method also
includes placing the cold disk into a recessed volume at a bottom
portion of a thermally-conductive inner shell that is nested into a
thermally-insulating outer shell. The method further includes
nesting the chilled food container, containing the chilled food,
into the inner shell.
[0011] Yet another embodiment of the present invention comprises a
cooling container assembly including an outer, thermally-insulating
shell and a thermally-conductive inner shell which is nested into
and affixed to the outer shell. The inner shell has a recessed
volume at a bottom of the shell. A removable cold disk is
configured to rest, unattached, within the recessed volume of the
inner shell. The cold disk comprises a material, capable of being
chilled, frozen, or activated, which is permanently encapsulated
within a casing made of, for example, metal or plastic. The
assembly also comprises a removable food container capable of being
nested into the inner shell without forming an air-tight seal or a
liquid-tight seal between the food container and the inner shell. A
removable lid which fits onto the food container is also optionally
provided. The lid is not a double-walled structure with an
insulating air gap or vacuum gap in between.
[0012] These and other advantages and novel features of the present
invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof,
will be more fully understood from the following description and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates three exemplary embodiments of a cooling
container assembly, in accordance with various aspects of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates the nested configuration of the first
exemplary embodiment of a cooling container of FIG. 1, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates certain features of the first embodiment
of FIG. 2, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates several exemplary lidded configurations
of the first embodiment of FIG. 2, in accordance with various
aspects of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates the nested configuration of the second
exemplary embodiment of a cooling container of FIG. 1, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary un-lidded configuration and
two exemplary lidded configurations of the second embodiment of
FIG. 5, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates the nested configuration of the third
exemplary embodiment of a cooling container of FIG. 1, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary un-lidded configuration and
an exemplary lidded configuration of the third embodiment of FIG.
7, in accordance with various aspects of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of
assembling any of the various cooling container assembly
embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-8, in accordance with various aspects
of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of
keeping food cool using any of the various cooling container
assembly embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-8, in accordance with various
aspects of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 11 is an exemplary graph illustrating the
cold-preserving capability of the embodiment of FIG. 5 without a
lid, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 12 is an exemplary graph of FIG. 11 with the additional
cold-preserving capability shown when a lid is provided, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates three exemplary embodiments of a cooling
container assembly, in accordance with various aspects of the
present invention. A first embodiment 100 is configured as a deep
bowl. A second embodiment 200 is configured as a shallow dish or
platter, and a third embodiment 300 is configured as a sectioned
dish or platter. The bowl 100 may be used, for example, for keeping
potato salad cool. The platter 200 may be used, for example, for
keeping applesauce cool. The sectioned platter 300 may be used, for
example, for keeping a variety of cut vegetables cool and
separated. All three cooling container assembly embodiments are
very similar in construction as will be described herein.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates the nested configuration of the first
exemplary embodiment 100 of a cooling container assembly of FIG. 1,
in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The
assembly 100 includes a thermally-insulating outer shell 110 and a
thermally-conductive inner shell 120 nested into and permanently or
removably attached to the outer shell 110. As used herein, the
phrase "nested into" means "put snugly together inside of". As used
herein, the term "thermally-insulating" means "substantially
preventing the conduction of thermal energy". As used herein, the
term "thermally-conductive" means "substantially facilitating the
conduction of thermal energy". Therefore, the thermally-insulating
outer shell is an outer shell that substantially prevents the
conduction of thermal energy therethrough, and the
thermally-conductive inner shell is an inner shell that
substantially facilitates the conduction of thermal energy
therethrough.
[0027] Permanent attachment of the inner shell 120 to the outer
shell 110 may be accomplished by means of an adhesive, for example,
or some other permanent fastening means. Removably attached, as
used herein, may mean that the inner shell 120 is simply resting
within the outer shell 110 due to the force of gravity.
Alternatively, removably attached may mean that there is a means
for fastening the inner shell 120 within the outer shell 110 such
that the inner shell 120 may be easily de-fastened from the outer
shell 110 (e.g., via a snap-on means).
[0028] There may be at least one layer or volume of air (or some
other gas), for example, between at least a portion of the inner
shell 120 and at least a portion of the outer shell 110 for
insulating purposes. Alternatively, there may be at least one
vacuum gap between at least a portion of the inner shell 120 and at
least a portion of the outer shell 110 for insulating purposes.
Some other insulating material (e.g., an insulating foam material)
may be configured between the outer shell 110 and the inner shell
120 instead, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the
present invention. The outer shell 110 may comprise a
thermally-insulating plastic material, for example, and the inner
shell 120 may comprise a thermally-conductive metal such as
aluminum, for example. The outer shell 110 may be at least
partially transparent or may be opaque, having at least one color,
for example.
[0029] The inner shell 120 includes a recessed volume 125 (see FIG.
3) configured to accept a chilled or a frozen cold disk 130. The
recessed volume is substantially centered within the bottom of the
inner shell 120, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. The cold disk 130 may comprise, for example, frozen
water permanently encapsulated in a disk-shaped plastic, a soft gel
pack permanently fitted into an aluminum material casing, for
example, or any liquid (e.g., an alcohol-based liquid), solid, or
semi-solid material that may be chilled, frozen, or activated to
cool down. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the
present invention, the cold disk 130 does not include any
encapsulating casing but, instead, comprises only the chillable,
freezable, or activatable material (e.g., ice formed in an ice tray
which is substantially in the shape of the recessed volume).
[0030] Even though the term disk is used herein, the shape of the
cold disk 130 may be any convenient shape for fitting into the
recessed volume 125 of the inner shell 120. The cold disk 130 fits
into and rests within the recessed volume 125 such that the cold
disk 130 makes thermally-conductive contact with the inner shell
120. As a result, cold is conducted up the walls of the metal
(e.g., aluminum) inner shell 120. The cold disk 130 is easily
removable from the inner shell 120 either by tipping the inner
shell 120 (and connected outer shell 110) upside down, or by using
ones fingers to insert into notches in the sides or top of the cold
disk 130 and pulling the cold disk out of the recessed volume. As
an alternative, the notches may be in the inner shell 120 adjacent
to the cold disk 130. As a result, the cold disk 130 may be removed
from the assembly 100 and placed in, for example, a freezer for
freezing. Alternatively, the cold disk may comprise a disposable
chemical pack that, when activated, cools down. The disposable
chemical pack is a consumable product that may be thrown away once
the pack has been exhausted.
[0031] Chemical packs may be activated in various ways. For
example, some chemical packs are activated by shaking or squeezing.
Other chemical packs are activated by allowing oxygen to react with
the chemical substance within the pack. A chemical reaction allows
heat to be absorbed, resulting in cooling.
[0032] The assembly 100 further includes a removable inner bowl or
food container 140 made out of, for example, a stainless steel
material for holding food. The bowl 140 is configured to fit into
the inner shell 120 in a nested manner without forming a seal
between the bowl 140 and the inner shell 120. As a result, the food
is kept cool by at least the thermally conductive inner shell 120
which is in thermal contact with the cold disk 130. It is desirable
to cool the food to a desired temperature (e.g., in a refrigerator)
before placing the food in the assembly 100. The desired
temperature may be a temperature at which the food is to be served,
or may be a temperature cooler than that.
[0033] As an option, the assembly 100 further includes a removable
lid (e.g., a plastic lid) 150 which fits over top of the bowl 140
and may be snapped onto the bowl 140. The lid may be a
thermally-insulating lid. However, the lid may not be a
double-walled structure with an insulating air-gap or vacuum gap in
between. Instead, the lid may be a single, solid
thermally-insulating material (e.g., plastic), in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention. The overall dimensions of
the container assembly 100 may range from being very deep and
bowl-shaped to being very flat and shallow, such as described in
the second and third embodiments herein. In general, any shape may
be accommodated (e.g., round and deep, or rectangular and
flat).
[0034] In a typical configuration, the removable food container 140
includes a rim 145 circumscribing an upper edge of the food
container 140. The lid 150 is capable of being snapped onto the rim
145 to enclose any food which is placed within the food container
140. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the
lid 150 is at least partially transparent in order to see any food
inside the food container 140. In accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention, the lid 150 is opaque.
[0035] Therefore, in accordance with various embodiments of the
present invention, the nested configuration 100 with the cold disk
130 provides an environment in which food may stay cold longer. The
assembly 100 is a passive cooling container assembly. That is,
there are no active components requiring power to keep the food
cool. The cold disk, the insulating materials, and the thermally
conductive materials in the nested configuration provide the
ability to keep the food cool for a longer period of time.
[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates certain features of the first embodiment
100 of FIG. 2, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the cold disk 130 may be
removed from the recessed volume 125 of the inner shell 120. Also,
the food container 140 may be removed from the inner shell 120. The
outer shell 110 is permanently or removably attached to the inner
shell 120. In accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, there are no handles attached to or integrated into any
portion of the cooling container assembly.
[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates several exemplary lidded configurations
of the first embodiment of FIG. 2, in accordance with various
aspects of the present invention. The lid 150 may be very shallow
or significantly concave, for example. The lid 150 may be snapped
onto the food container 140, and then subsequently removed.
[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates the nested configuration of the second
exemplary embodiment 200 of a cooling container of FIG. 1, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The
second embodiment 200 is similar in construction to the first
embodiment 100 except that the second embodiment 200 is of a much
shallower and flatter shape, constituting a platter-like or
plate-like container assembly 200. The container assembly 200
comprises an outer insulating shell 210 (e.g., an insulating
plastic shell) which is attached to an inner thermally conductive
shell 220 (e.g., an aluminum shell that fits, in a nested manner,
within the plastic shell 210 and is permanently or removably
attached thereto). There may be an insulating layer of air, for
example, or a vacuum between the outer plastic shell 210 and the
inner shell 220. Some other insulating material may be configured
between the outer shell 210 and the inner shell 220 instead, in
accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present
invention.
[0039] The inner shell 220 includes a recessed volume to accept a
chilled or frozen cold disk 230. Again, the cold disk 230 may
comprise, for example, frozen water permanently encapsulated in a
disk-shaped plastic, a soft gel pack permanently fitted into an
aluminum casing, for example, or any other encapsulated material
that may be chilled, frozen, or activated. The cold disk 230 fits
into and rests within the recessed volume such that the cold disk
230 makes thermally conductive contact with the inner shell 220. As
a result, cold is conducted up the walls of the inner aluminum
shell 220. The cold disk 230 is easily removable from the inner
shell 220 either by tipping the inner shell 220 (and connected
outer shell 210) upside down, or by using ones fingers to insert
into notches in the sides or top of the cold disk 230 and pulling
the cold disk out of the recessed volume. Again, the notches may be
in the inner shell 220 adjacent to the cold disk 230. As a result,
the cold disk 230 may be removed from the assembly 200 and placed
in a freezer for freezing.
[0040] The assembly 200 further includes a removable inner platter
or food container 240 made out of, for example, stainless steel for
holding food. The platter 240 fits into the inner shell 220 in a
nested manner without forming a seal between the platter 240 and
the inner shell 220. As a result, the food is kept cool by at least
the thermally conductive inner shell 220 which is in thermal
contact with the cold disk 230. It is desirable to cool the food to
a desired temperature (e.g., in a refrigerator) before placing the
food in the assembly 200.
[0041] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary un-lidded configuration and
two exemplary lidded configurations of the second embodiment 200 of
FIG. 5, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention. The assembly 200 further includes a removable insulating
lid (e.g., plastic lid) 250 which fits over top of the platter 240
and snaps onto the platter 240. The lid may not be a double-walled
structure with an insulating air-gap or vacuum gap in between.
Again, the lid 250 may be relatively flat or more concave in
shape.
[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates the nested configuration of the third
exemplary embodiment 300 of a cooling container of FIG. 1, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The third
embodiment 300 is essentially the same as the second embodiment 200
(and very similar to the first embodiment 100) except that the
platter 240 is replaced with a removable sectioned or
compartmentalized vegetable plate 340 to form the container
assembly 300. The plate 340 includes dividers or walls 341 to
allow, for example, vegetables or other food items to be kept
separated from each other within the plate 340. Again, the
container assembly 300 may further include a removable insulating
(e.g., plastic) lid 250 that fits over top of the plate 340 and
snaps onto the plate 340. Again, the lid 250 may not be a
double-walled structure with an insulating air-gap or vacuum in
between the walls. Also, there are no handles designed into the
assembly 300.
[0043] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary un-lidded configuration and
an exemplary lidded configuration of the third embodiment 300 of
FIG. 7, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention. In accordance with various embodiments of the present
invention, the outer insulating shells 110 and 210 may comprise a
colored, transparent plastic (e.g., a blue transparent plastic)
such that the respective inner metal shells 120 and 220 may be
observed through the shells 110 and 210. Such a feature provides a
desirable aesthetic look to the cooling container assembly.
[0044] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method 900 of
assembling any of the various cooling container assembly
embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-8, in accordance with various aspects
of the present invention. In step 910, a thermally-conductive inner
shell is nested into a thermally-insulating outer shell. In step
920, a removable cold disk is placed into a recessed volume at a
bottom portion of the inner shell. In step 930, a removable food
container is nested into the inner shell over the cold disk. In
step 940, a removable lid is snapped onto the removable food
container, wherein the lid is not a double-walled structure with an
insulating air gap or a vacuum gap therebetween (i.e., between the
two walls of the double-walled structure).
[0045] FIG. 10 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method 1000 of
keeping food cool using any of the various cooling container
assembly embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-8, in accordance with various
aspects of the present invention. In step 1010, a removable cold
disk is chilled (reduced in temperature, e.g., in a freezer),
frozen (reduced in temperature to at least the point where a liquid
material or gel material within the cold disk transitions to a
solid material state), or activated (e.g., shaken or squeezed). In
step 1020, food is placed into a removable food container and the
food is chilled in the removable food container (e.g., in a
refrigerator). In step 1030, the chilled or frozen cold disk is
placed into a recessed volume at a bottom portion of a
thermally-conductive inner shell that is nested into a
thermally-insulating outer shell. In step 1040, the chilled food
container, containing the chilled food, is nested into the inner
shell. In step 1050, a removable lid is snapped onto the removable
food container, wherein the lid is not a double-walled structure
with an insulating air gap or vacuum gap therebetween.
[0046] In accordance with various alternative embodiments of the
present invention, the food could be chilled by itself (e.g., in a
refrigerator), without being in the removable food container when
being chilled. The food container may or may not be separately
chilled. Also, the inner shell (with or without the outer shell)
could be chilled before assembling the cooling container assembly
for use. Furthermore, the nested combination of the outer shell,
the inner shell, and the food container could be chilled before
placing the cold disk in the recessed volume of the inner shell and
before placing food in the food container. Other methods of
pre-chilling various elements of the cooling container assembly may
be possible as well.
[0047] FIG. 11 is a graph 1100 illustrating the cool-preserving
capability of the embodiment 200 of FIG. 5 without a lid, in
accordance with various aspects of the present invention. Two
amounts of applesauce (80 oz. each) were pre-chilled to about 43
degrees F (point 1101) and placed in two separate food containers
240 of the assembly 200. The applesauce in the containers was about
1 inch deep. The first food container 240 served as a control and
was left out to sit on a glass table, without a lid, over a period
of time at ambient temperature (about 76 to 79 degrees F.), (see
plot 1110). The second food container 240 was nested into the inner
shell 220 (which is attached to the insulating outer shell 210)
with a pre-frozen cold disk in the recessed volume of the inner
shell, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The second food container 240 was left out to sit on a glass table,
also without a lid, over the same period of time at the same
ambient temperature (see plot 1110) as the first food container
240. Temperature measurements were taken at three different points
within the applesauce for the first food container (plots
1121-1123) and the second food container (plots 1131-1133).
[0048] Temperatures at a first point "B" (plots 1121 and 1131) were
measured about a half inch down within the applesauce over the cold
disk. Temperatures at a second point "F" (plots 1122 and 1132) were
measured about a half inch down within the applesauce about half
way between the center of the food container 240 and the rim of the
food container 240. Temperatures at a third point "H" (plots 1123
and 1133) were measured near the rim of the food container 240
about a half inch down within the applesauce.
[0049] As can be seen from the graph 1100, a significant
temperature gap 1140 develops between the applesauce in the first
food container and the applesauce in the second food container of
the present invention. The temperature gap 1140 illustrates the
cool-preserving capability of the assembly 200 when in the nested
configuration with the cold disk 230 compared to not being in the
nested configuration with the cold disk. Again, neither the first
nor the second food containers 240 had a lid during these
measurements.
[0050] FIG. 12 is the graph 1100 of FIG. 11 with the additional
cool-preserving capability (plot 1150) shown when a lid is
provided, in accordance with various aspects of the present
invention. The point "F" was measured for temperature over time
once again. The ambient temperature (plot 1111) was a couple of
degrees higher during these measurements than during the previous
measurements, however, and the starting pre-chilled temperature
1102 of the applesauce was about 41 degrees F. instead of 43
degrees F. as before. Ignoring these differences, having the lid
allowed the temperature at point "F" to remain about 6 degrees
cooler (e.g., see point 1151) over time than without the lid (e.g.,
see point 1152). Also, having the lid and the cold disk in the
nested configuration allows the temperature at point "F" to remain
about 15 degrees cooler (e.g., see point 1151) after more than two
hours compared to having the food sitting in an open bowl with no
cold disk or nested configuration (see point 1153).
[0051] In summary, embodiments of the present invention provide a
passive cooling container assembly comprising a nested structure of
an outer shell, an inner shell, a cold disk, a food container, and,
optionally, a lid which allows food to remain cooler longer.
[0052] While the invention has been described with reference to
certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In
addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the invention without
departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the
invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed,
but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *