Storage container

Abstract

A storage container includes an insulating container having an opening; a temperature controlling unit that is independent of the insulating container and detachably attached to the opening of the insulating container in a manner closing and sealing a portion of the opening; and a main lid attached to the opening of the insulating container in a manner closing and sealing an other portion of the opening. The temperature controlling unit is composed of an insulative sub-lid; and a temperature controlling subunit provided on the sub-lid. The temperature controlling subunit is composed of a base fitted into a through-hole formed on the sub-lid; and a Stirling refrigerator including a temperature control effect member thermally exposed inside the insulating container. Accordingly, the interior of the insulating container of an arbitrary size can be cooled, and items can be continuously stored longer than when using conventional solid carbon dioxide or cold reserving agent.

1 . A storage container comprising:
 an insulating container which has an opening;   a temperature controlling unit which is independent of said insulating container, said temperature controlling unit being detachably attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal a portion of said opening; and   a main lid which is attached to said opening of said insulating container in such a manner as to close and seal an other portion of said opening, wherein said temperature controlling unit comprises:   an insulative sub-lid; and   a temperature controlling subunit which is provided on said sub-lid, said temperature controlling subunit comprises:   a base which is fitted into a through-hole formed on said sub-lid; and   a Stirling refrigerator, said Stirling refrigerator including a temperature control effect member which is thermally exposed inside said insulating container.   
   
   
       2 . The storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said temperature controlling subunit further includes an attachment member for attaching said temperature controlling subunit to said sub-lid. 
   
   
       3 . The storage container according to  claim 2 , wherein said main lid, said sub-lid and said insulating container are made of foam synthetic resins. 
   
   
       4 . The storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage container is a portable cooler box. 
   
   
       5 . The storage container according to  claim 4 , wherein said temperature controlling unit is detached and the opening of said insulating container is closed and sealed by the lid of said insulating container when the cooling of said temperature controlling unit is not required at the time of transporting, by manpower, said storage container where the temperature of the interior thereof is already controlled by said temperature controlling unit. 
   
   
       6 . The storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said main lid is divided into a plurality of small lids. 
   
   
       7 . The storage container according to  claim 6 , wherein said small lids are foldably connected to form said main lid. 
   
   
       8 . The storage container according to  claim 7 , wherein a flexible piece is provided on both ends of the small lids with respect to an alignment direction thereof, said flexible piece being provided with a first hook-and-loop fastener, while a second hook-and-loop fastener corresponding to said first hook-and-loop fastener is provided on said insulating container and said sub-lid. 
   
   
       9 . The storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein said temperature controlling unit is attached to a substantially central portion in the opening of said insulating container so that the opening of said insulating container may be divided by said temperature controlling unit into two smaller openings, said two smaller openings being capable of being opened or closed and sealed by said main lid, respectively. 
   
   
       10 . The storage container according to  claim 9 , wherein a mounting surface contacting respective lower surfaces of said main lid and said sub-lid is formed along a circumference of the opening of said insulating container, while said temperature controlling unit is movably provided on said mounting surface. 
   
   
       11 . The storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein a step member is formed on said sub-lid and said main lid so that the step member of said main lid contacts the step member of said sub-lid.