U.S. patent application number 15/731449 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-13 for stackable freezer pack.
The applicant listed for this patent is Heinz Weber. Invention is credited to Heinz Weber.
Application Number | 20180356143 15/731449 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62386111 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180356143 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weber; Heinz |
December 13, 2018 |
Stackable freezer pack
Abstract
A freezer pack which has a body in the shape of a cuboid, a
first face of the body having a plurality of recesses and a second
face opposite to the first face having a plurality of projections
extending outwardly therefrom, the projections and the recesses
being sized and located such that a projection on the second face
will mate with a recess on a first face of a second cuboid.
Inventors: |
Weber; Heinz; (Beaconsfield,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Weber; Heinz |
Beaconsfield |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
62386111 |
Appl. No.: |
15/731449 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2331/804 20130101;
F25D 2303/08222 20130101; F25D 3/06 20130101; B65D 21/0204
20130101; F25D 3/08 20130101; A61F 7/10 20130101; F25D 2303/08221
20130101; A61F 2007/108 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 3/06 20060101
F25D003/06 |
Claims
1. A freezer pack comprising: a body in the shape of a cuboid; a
first face of said body having a plurality of recesses; a second
face of said body opposite to said first face having a plurality of
projections extending outwardly therefrom; said projections and
said recesses being sized and located such that a projection on
said second face will mate with a recess on a first face of a
second cuboid.
2. The freezer pack of claim 1 wherein said body is formed of a
plastic material.
3. The freezer pack of claim 2 wherein said body is filled with a
coolant.
4. The freezer pack of claim 1 wherein said first face of said body
has a plurality of recesses, said plurality of recesses being a
multiple of four.
5. The freezer pack of claim 1 wherein said first face and said
second face have an anti expansion member securing said first and
second faces together.
6. The freezer pack of claim 1 wherein one face of said cuboid has
an aperture formed therein, a plug sealing said aperture, and a
cover meeting with said cuboid to limit access to said plug and
aperture.
7. The freezer pack of claim 1 wherein said first face of said body
has a plurality of channels communicating with at least one of said
recesses.
8. A freezer pack system comprising: first and second freezer
packs, each freezer pack having a body in the shape of a cuboid; a
first face of each of said bodies having a plurality of recesses; a
second face opposite to said first face having a plurality of
projections; said projections on said first body being arranged and
sized to fit within said recesses on said first face of said second
body.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to freezer packs and more
particularly, relates to an improved freezer pack and a freezer
pack system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of freezer packs among consumers is widespread. The
freezer packs are normally designed so as to have a body with a
coolant placed therein. The freezer pack is utilized to keep
objects cooler than would normally be the case. Typically, when it
is desired to transport food from a first location to a further
location, and the food is either cold or frozen, freezer packs are
placed next to the food to retard any warming of the food. Although
reference is made herein to food, the freezer pack may obviously be
utilized for other similar purposes.
[0003] Generally, the freezer packs are in the form of a container
which holds the coolant therein. The container may either be of a
rigid material or alternatively, may be formed of a flexible
material. Often, freezer packs formed of a flexible material are
utilized to cool down body parts, which is frequently required in
the case of an injury such as a sprain or the like. However, the
flexible or rigid containers may be utilized interchangeably.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved freezer pack which is stackable and can provide greater
cooling efficiency.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a freezer pack comprising a body in the shape of a cuboid,
a first face of the body having a plurality of recesses, a second
face of the body opposite to the first face having a plurality of
projections extending outwardly therefrom, the projections and the
recesses being sized and located such that a projection on the
second face will mate with a recess on a first face of a second
cuboid.
[0006] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is also provided a freezer pack system comprising, first and
second freezer packs, each freezer pack having a body in the shape
of a cuboid, a first face of each of the bodies having a plurality
of recesses, a second face opposite to the first face having a
plurality of projections, the projections on the first body being
arranged and sized to fit within the recesses on the first face of
the second body.
[0007] The term "freezer pack" is used herein for any container
which is designed to be utilized to cool (and sometimes warm) an
adjacent object. These freezer packs are widely available and are
also known as gel packs, ice packs, cold packs etc.
[0008] The freezer packs or gel packs contain a coolant which may
be selected from known materials widely used for such a purpose.
Generally, water, a refrigerant gel or a like fluid is utilized.
The coolant can absorb a considerable amount of heat due to the
high latent heat of fusion of water. When using water, additives to
improve the properties thereof are often used--i.e. substances to
prevent bacterial growth in the pack and materials to prevent the
water from solidifying so that it remains a thick gel throughout
use. Gel packs have been known to be made by adding hydroxy ethyl
cellulose, sodium polyacrylate, vinyl-coated silicone gel, etc.
[0009] As mentioned above, the ice packs are occasionally used as a
means of warming an item rather than cooling. Both uses fall within
the scope of the present invention.
[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
package is formed of a suitable plastic material such as
polyethelene. Many plastic materials are widely known in the art
and one skilled in the art can readily select a suitable
material.
[0011] The body of the freezer pack has a generally cuboid
configuration. It will be understood that although the
configuration is "substantially" or "generally" cuboid, it may
differ from a true cuboid configuration by having, for example,
rounded corners and the like. However, the freezer pack does have
six faces with two of the faces being generally recognized as an
upper face and a bottom face with the remaining four faces being
end and/or side walls. For purposes of this application, the term
"cuboid" will include such deviations from a true cuboid
recognizing that the key elements would be the six faces of the
package.
[0012] According to the present invention, the upper face will have
a plurality of recesses formed therein. Preferably, the number of
recesses is a multiple of four with at least one of each of the
recesses being located proximate a corner of the upper face.
Preferably the number of recesses/projections will be any of four,
eight or sixteen.
[0013] On the bottom face, the cuboid will be provided with a
plurality of projections, each of the projections being sized and
arranged to mate with a recess of an adjoining first face of a
further cuboid. The use of projections and recesses for locking
materials together is well known in the art and need not be
elaborated on herein. It suffices to say that preferably the
projections and recesses are designed and arranged so as to have a
"snap fit" arrangement wherein one can sense and hear that the
projections and recesses fit together. Such an arrangement is well
known in the art and widely used, for example, in the case of "toy"
building blocks.
[0014] Utilizing the arrangement of the present invention, it has
been found that not only does one provide a stackable freezer pack
which can more easily be stored in a freezer or the like, but the
freezer pack also has a higher efficiency in heat transfer. In some
instances, the increased efficiency can amount up to approximately
30%. This can be the result of increased surface area of the
freezer pack of the present invention.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there
are provided three different sizes of freezer packs--a first one
having a somewhat square top and bottom face with four recesses and
projections thereon. A second size would be rectangular and have
eight projections and recesses in a four by two configuration while
a still larger size would be substantially square and have sixteen
such recesses and projections arranged in a four by four
configuration.
[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, one of the faces
will have "channels" formed therein. These channels will not only
serve to increase the surface area and thus the thermal efficiency
of the package, but they may also serve as a reservoir for
condensation formed on the package. Preferably, the channels will
be formed on the face which has recesses and the recesses will
collect any moisture present. Thus, if desired, the channels may be
angled so as to direct the moisture to the recesses.
[0017] The ice pack of the present invention may also have
anti-expansion members. Thus, when the relatively larger top and
bottom faces are utilized, the top and bottom faces may have a
member connecting the two faces so as to limit expansion of the
body. The provision of such anti-expansion members will also again
increase the surface area of the ice pack which will result in a
greater thermal efficiency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Having thus generally described the invention, reference
will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments
thereof, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice pack container
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A
of FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ice pack container of
FIG. 1 showing a sealing member in a partially open position;
[0023] FIG. 4 is an elevational view as seen from the left hand
side of FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 5 is an end elevational view thereof;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a top plan view thereof;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view thereof;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of an
ice pack according to the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 10 is an end elevational view thereof;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a side elevational view thereof;
[0031] FIG. 12 is an end elevational view with the cover being in
an open position;
[0032] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the
present invention;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a front view of a sealing member according to the
present invention;
[0034] FIG. 15 is a rear view thereof;
[0035] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sealing member in an open
position;
[0036] FIG. 17 is a perspective view thereof;
[0037] FIG. 18 is a side elevational view thereof;
[0038] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the stackability of
the ice pack units according to the present invention; and
[0039] FIG. 20 is a bottom view of a further embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference
characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a first
embodiment according to the present invention and which ice pack
unit is generally referred to by reference numeral 10.
[0041] Ice pack 10 is in the general form of a cuboid. While the
general configuration is cuboidal, the ice pack will have rounded
corners. Ice pack 10 includes a top wall 12, and a bottom wall 14.
Ice pack 10 also includes a pair of side walls 16, 18 and a pair of
end walls 20, 22.
[0042] Ice pack 10 has, on its top wall 12, a plurality of
projections 24 while on a bottom wall 14, there are provided a
plurality of recesses 26. Each of projections 24 and recesses 26 is
sized such that a projection 24 will engage with a recess 26
preferably in a snap fit relationship. Thus, as may be seen in FIG.
8, the interior wall of surrounding recess 26 may include
protrusions 27 which will act to provide a tight seal with
projections 24. Alternatively, the wall recess 26 may be provided
with an undercut and projections 24 may have a slightly enlarged
end. Such an arrangement is well known in the art. It suffices to
say that a person skilled in the art is able to provide a snap fit
arrangement.
[0043] An anti-expansion member 28, in the illustrated embodiment,
comprises an inwardly extending conical member 30 which is formed
on top wall 12 and a inwardly extending conical member 32 formed in
bottom wall 14. Conical members 30 and 32 meet to have a common
wall 34. This arrangement limits the expansion of ice pack 10.
[0044] In an end wall 20 there is provided a filling aperture 36
which will have a raised collar or flange 37 extending
thereabout.
[0045] A sealing member 38 generally designated by reference
numeral 38 has a central wall 40 and a pair of end walls 42 and 44.
Central wall 40 has an inner circular flange 46 and an outer
circular flange 48 extending outwardly therefrom. Flanges 46 and 48
are designed to fit around the raised collar or flange 37 to
thereby seal the filling aperture 36. Central wall 40 is also
provided with a relatively small aperture 50 formed therein. A lid
or cover 52 is hingedly connected to sealing member 38 and on one
surface thereof, has a projection 54 which is designed to engage
with aperture 50 to retain lid 52 in position.
[0046] A larger ice pack unit 110 is illustrated in FIG. 9. Ice
pack 110 has many common features with ice pack 10 and similar
reference numerals in the 100's are employed for similar
components. Thus, ice pack unit 110 will have a configuration in
the form of a cuboid. Ice pack 110 includes a top wall 112 and a
bottom wall 114. Ice pack unit 110 also includes side walls 116,
118 and end walls 120, 122. On top wall 112 there are provided a
plurality of projections 124 with corresponding recesses being
provided on bottom wall 114. In the illustrated arrangement, there
are eight such projections with the ice pack unit 110 having a
length double that of ice pack 10.
[0047] A further embodiment of the invention includes an ice pack
210 which also has many common features with ice pack 10 and
similar reference numerals in the 200's are employed for similar
components. Ice pack 210 also has a cuboid configuration with
substantially square top wall and bottom wall. In the illustrated
embodiment, it will be seen that there are a total of sixteen
projections and recesses in a four by four configuration. In this
embodiment, on bottom wall or face 214, there are provided a
plurality of channels 250 which are in communication with recesses
226. Channels 250 are arranged to direct any condensation or the
like to the recesses 226. Also, as previously mentioned, they
provide an increased surface area and an increased thermal
efficiency. Channels 250 may, if so desired, have a slope to direct
moisture to the recesses 226.
[0048] It will be understood that the above described embodiments
are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
* * * * *