Method and device for the transportation of temperature sensitive materials

Abstract

A temperature sensitive material is transported in an insulated container. The temperature sensitive material is enclosed in an insulated container comprising a double wall container. The container has a front wall a rear wall, two side walls, and a bottom wall, and insulation material in each of the regions between the double walls of said front wall, said rear wall, said two side walls, and the bottom wall. A double wall container cover has insulation material in the cover's double walls. A releasable hinge is provided and the container cover is releasably secured to the double wall container. A temperature sensing system is provided for monitoring the temperature within the container. The monitored temperature is stored in a temperature history database.

1 . An insulated container for minimizing heat transfer between a temperature sensitive material and the environment through which the temperature sensitive materials are being transported, comprising a double wall container;
 said container having a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls, and a bottom wall, insulation material in each of the regions between the double walls of said front wall, said rear wall, said two side walls, and said bottom wall,   a double wall container cover,   insulation material in said container's cover's double walls,   releasable hinge member,   said container cover being releasably secured to said double wall container by said releasable hinge means, and   a temperature sensing system.   
   
   
       2 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein said temperature sensing system comprises means for monitoring the temperature within said container, a temperature data recording member, and a database containing stored monitored temperature data. 
   
   
       3 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , further comprising wireless transmitter for transmitting monitored temperature data. 
   
   
       4 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein said container cover is filled with a eutectic mixture having a freezing point below that of water. 
   
   
       5 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein said eutectic mixture is CaCl 2  and water. 
   
   
       6 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least four inserts dimensioned to fit within said insulated container and having dimensions, in combination, equal to or slightly less than the interior front, rear, and side wall dimensions of said insulated container, and wherein said inserts are filled with a eutectic mixture having a freezing point below that of water. 
   
   
       7 . The insulated container of  claim 6 , wherein at least four of said inserts have substantially equal dimensions, and in combination, substantially match the interior wall dimensions of said container. 
   
   
       8 . The insulated container of  claim 6 , wherein said eutectic mixture is CaCl 2  and water. 
   
   
       9 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the spaces between the double side walls of each of two opposing sides of said container, and the rear double side walls are substantially uniform and are free of wall recesses that protrude into said spaces between the double side walls of each of two opposing sides of said container, and the rear double side walls 
   
   
       10 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the front side of said container has a shallow recess, and a temperature data display and said wireless transmitter for transmitting monitored temperature data unit is mounted in said shallow recess but is otherwise free of wall recesses that protrude into said spaces between the double front walls. 
   
   
       11 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein said container has a flange region upwardly extending from each side wall and forming a “U”-shaped channel at the top of said container, said container cover being positioned within said “U”-shaped channel. 
   
   
       12 . The insulated container of  claim 11 , further comprising hand holds formed in each of said flange regions. 
   
   
       13 . The insulated container of  claim 12 , wherein said hand holds comprise openings in said flange regions and have a convex outwardly facing surface. 
   
   
       14 . The insulated container of  claim 11 , wherein said releasable hinge means comprises a cylindrical shaft member extended from opposite sides of said cover, and a curved channel in each of said flange regions said curved channel being open at the upper edge of said flange regions, extend toward the rear edge of said flange regions, and are closed at said rear edge, each cylindrical shaft member being mounted for rotary movement in said curved channel, and being removable from said curved recesses via the open upper edge of said curved recesses. 
   
   
       15 . The insulated container of  claim 11 , wherein said releasable hinge means comprises a cylindrical shaft member projecting inwardly from each of said flange regions, opposite sides of said, and a curved channel in, said curved channels being open at the lower edge of said cover, and extend toward the rear edge of said cover, and being closed at said rear edge, each cylindrical shaft member being mounted for rotary movement in said curved channel, and being removable from said curved recesses via the open end of said channel. 
   
   
       16 . The insulated container of  claim 14 , further comprising means to snap said cylindrical shaft members in place at the rear edges of said flange regions. 
   
   
       17 . The insulated container of  claim 14 , further comprising a locking member for locking said cover to said container, when said cover member is snapped in place at the rear edges of said flange regions, whereby said locking member precludes the cover from being removed from said container and prevents rotation of said cover about said releasable hinge. 
   
   
       18 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of said container has an interior ridge proximate the upper edge of the interior walls of said container, said ridge forming a longitudinal channel to receive an interior lid member, and hold said lid member in place, said lid member being a double wall member filled with a eutectic mixture. 
   
   
       19 . The insulated container of  claim 18 , wherein said cover forms a rabbet joint with the open end of the walls of said insulated container. 
   
   
       20 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein said cover forms a rabbet joint with the open end of the walls of said insulated container. 
   
   
       21 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein said cover upper side and said container bottom wall have a mating recess and ridge, said recess and said ridge having asymmetrical configurations, whereby the cover of a first container mates with the bottom of another container in only one configuration, such that the front wall of said first container and the front wall of said another container, lie in the same plane. 
   
   
       22 . The insulated container of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one flange on the upper surface of said cover, said at least one flange being positioned and dimensioned to extend into the rotational path of said cover and limit the degree of rotation of said cover about said cylindrical shaft member. 
   
   
       23 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein said double walled container and said double wall cover are blow-molded. 
   
   
       24 . The insulated container of  claim 11 , wherein said flange regions extend substantially from the front wall to the rear wall of said container and from said container upper edge to the top of said cover, when said cover is locked in place on said container. 
   
   
       25 . The insulated container of  claim 7 , wherein the width of each of at least four inserts is at least one inch, and the width plus the length of at least four inserts is equal to or slightly less than the interior wall horizontal dimensions of said container. 
   
   
       26 . The insulated container of  claim 24 , wherein the space between the double side walls of each of two opposing sides of said container, and the rear double side walls is substantially uniform and are free of recesses, the front side of said container has a shallow recess, and a temperature data display and said wireless transmitter for transmitting monitored temperature data unit is mounted in said shallow recess, said container has a flange region upwardly extending from each side wall and forming a “U”-shaped channel at the top of said container, said container cover being positioned within said “U”-shaped channel, hand holds formed in each of said flange regions, said hand holds comprising openings in said flange regions and have a convex outwardly facing surface, said releasable hinge means comprising a cylindrical shaft member extending from opposite sides of said cover, and curved channels in each of said flange regions, said curved channels being open at the upper edge of said flange regions, and extending toward the rear edge of said flange regions and being closed at said rear edge, each cylindrical shaft member being mounted for rotary movement in said curved channel, and being removable from said curved recesses via the open upper edge of said curved recesses, a locking member for locking said cover to said container, when said cover member is snapped in place at the rear edges of said flange regions, whereby said locking member precludes the cover from being removed from said container and prevents rotation of said cover about said releasable hinge, the interior of said container has an interior ridge proximate the upper edge of the interior walls of said container, having a ridge forming a longitudinal channel to receive an interior lid member, and hold said lid member in place, said lid member being a double wall member filled with a eutectic mixture, said cover forming a rabbet joint with the open end of the walls of said insulated container, said cover upper side and said container bottom wall, have a mating recess and ridge, said recess and said ridge having asymmetrical configurations, whereby the cover of a first container mates with the bottom of another container in only one configuration, such that the front wall of said first container and the front wall of said another container, lie in the same plane, said lock member being a pair of channels in said cover and in said container front wall, said channels being aligned to receive a locking device. 
   
   
       28 . The method of claim  27 , wherein said monitored temperature data is transmitted to a data receiver by a RF transmitter. 
   
   
       29 . The method of claim  27 , further comprising maintaining said temperature sensitive material a sub-ambient temperature by the enthalpy fusion of a frozen eutectic mixture within the walls of said container. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said eutectic mixture is CaCl 2  and water. 
   
   
       31 . The method of claim  27 , further comprising maintaining said temperature sensitive material at a stable temperature by means of a high heat capacity mixture within the walls of said container. 
   
   
       32 . The method of claim  27 , further comprising maintaining said temperature sensitive material in a predetermined temperature range within said container by enclosing said temperature sensitive material within a padded, filled, pouch member sealed in the manner of a quilt, said member being filled with a eutectic mixture. 
   
   
       33 . The method of claim  27 , further comprising maintaining said temperature sensitive material in a predetermined temperature range within said container by covering said temperature sensitive material with a padded, filled, blanket member sealed in the manner of a quilt, said member being filled with a eutectic mixture. 
   
   
       34 . The method of claim  27 , further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting data in said temperature history database, to a remote data receiver.