Single Component Flat Panel Cooling Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention is a unitary cooling apparatus capable of standard freezing time despite heavy insulation. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a zipper component which extends along the edges of a top surface and bottom surface allowing the top and bottom to be pivoted outward or inward and the cooling apparatus flattened along the seams which connect the sides. A plurality of cube structures positioned along a plurality of channels allows rapid cooling using a minimum of frozen fluid.

1 . A single component flat panel cooling apparatus designed to be inserted directly into a freezer comprised of:
 four unitary freezing panels joined at the sides to form a single rectangular structure that may be collapsed to a substantially flat position for storage within a freezer;   a bottom surface which pivots backward into a flush position over said rectangular structure in a collapsed position;   a top surface which pivots backward into a flush position over said rectangular structure in a collapsed position; and   at least one weight resistant zipper.   
   
   
       2 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of said four unitary freezing panels are comprised of:
 a fabric layer;   an insulation layer;   an inner reflective layer;   a top layer and a backing layer containing a plurality of cubes with a plurality of channels between said cubes filled with fluid; and   a polyethylene layer.   
   
   
       3 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said fabric layer is a nylon blend containing anti-freeze material. 
   
   
       4 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said insulation layer is notched foam. 
   
   
       5 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said inner reflective layer is PE-LD metalized polyethylene. 
   
   
       6 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said top layer and said backing layer are layers of a blend of polyester and nylon. 
   
   
       7 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cooling apparatus is has a height of one to three inches in the collapsed position. 
   
   
       8 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said cubes are filled with a fluid other than water and channels which allow for circulation of air between said cubes in a freezer. 
   
   
       9 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said top surface and said bottom surface further include an insulation layer. 
   
   
       10 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said top surface and said bottom surface further include an inner reflective layer. 
   
   
       11 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 1  which further includes a panel insertion channel. 
   
   
       12 . A method of manufacturing a single component flat panel cooling apparatus designed to be directly inserted into a freezer comprised of:
 assembling unitary freezing panels, said four unitary freezing panels comprised of a fabric layer, an insulation layer, an inner reflective layer, a multi-channeled fluid layer containing a plurality of ice cubes separated by channels and a polyethylene layer,   attaching said polyethylene layer to said inner reflective layer using stitching wherein said stitching runs along at least one of said channels;   attaching said four unitary freezing panels together to form a rectangular structure having flexible seams between said four unitary freezing panels;   adding a zipper along the top edge of said rectangular structure and a zipper along the bottom edge of said rectangular structure, wherein said zippers are double-stitched to said rectangular structure to further secure said fabric layer, said insulation layer, said inner reflective layer, said multi-channel fluid layer and said polyethylene layer of said four unitary freezing panels together; and   attaching a top surface with a zipper along one of said top edges of said rectangular structure and a bottom surface with a zipper to one of said bottom edges of said rectangular structure using a panel of fabric which permanently secures said top surface and said bottom surface to said rectangular structure and allows said top surface and said bottom surface to pivot backward and flat.   
   
   
       13 . The method of manufacturing a single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 12  which further includes creating channels between said plurality of ice cubes to allow for circulation of air between said plurality of cubes when stored in a freezer. 
   
   
       14 . The method of manufacturing a single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 12  which further includes creating seams so that said rectangular structure may be flattened and said top surface and said bottom surface pivoted. 
   
   
       15 . A single component flat panel cooling apparatus designed to be inserted directly into a freezer comprised of:
 four unitary freezing panels joined at the sides to form a single rectangular structure that may be collapsed to a substantially flat position for storage within a freezer; wherein said rectangular structure folds to less than three inches;   a bottom surface which pivots backward into a flush position over said rectangular structure in a collapsed position;   a top surface which pivots backward into a flush position over said rectangular structure in a collapsed position; and   at least one weight resistant zipper.   
   
   
       16 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 15  wherein each of said four unitary freezing panels are comprised of:
 a fabric layer;   an insulation layer;   an inner reflective layer;   a top layer and a backing layer containing a plurality of cubes with a plurality of channels between said cubes filled with fluid having a standard freezing time; and   a polyethylene layer.   
   
   
       17 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said top surface and said bottom surface further include an insulation layer. 
   
   
       18 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said top surface and said bottom surface further include an inner reflective layer. 
   
   
       19 . The single component flat panel cooling apparatus of  claim 15  herein said fabric layer is a nylon blend containing anti-freeze material.