Insulated and ventilated refrigerant bunker

Abstract

A refrigerated bunker comprising a body defining an enclosed space for holding dry ice; at least one ventilation port defined through an outside wall of the body, the ventilation port configured for venting gaseous carbon dioxide from the enclosed space as the dry ice sublimates; and a port controller configured for selectively interrupting the ventilation port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerated bunker configured for use with a portable insulated ice chest, said refrigerated bunker comprising:
 a body, said body defining an enclosed space for holding dry ice, said body comprising at least one inside wall facing said enclosed space, said body comprising at least one outside wall, said body comprising an insulative portion between said inside wall and said outside wall, said body comprising at least one ventilation port defined through said outside wall, said insulative portion, and said inside wall, said ventilation port configured for venting gaseous carbon dioxide from said enclosed space to an outside space adjacent said outside wall as said dry ice sublimates; and   a port controller configured for interrupting said at least one ventilation port, wherein said ventilation port can be adjusted from a closed position where the port controller interrupts the ventilation port, to an open position where the port controller does not interrupt the ventilation port;   wherein in said closed position gaseous carbon dioxide from said enclosed space is generally prevented from venting to said outside space, thereby providing a lower level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates, and   wherein in said open position gaseous carbon dioxide from said enclosed space is allowed to vent to said outside space, thereby providing an increased level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said port controller is configured for adjustment to a partially open position where the port controller partially interrupts said at least one port, thereby providing a moderate level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a plurality of ventilation ports, and wherein said port controller is configured for adjustment to a partially open position where the port controller interrupts a portion of said plurality of ventilation ports. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said outside wall comprises an elongated channel having a channel bottom and two side walls, said ventilation port terminating in said channel bottom. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 4 , wherein said port controller comprises a slidable portion configured for sliding engagement with said channel, said slidable portion configured to be moved between the closed position wherein said slidable portion covers said ventilation port to the open position where said slidable portion does not cover said ventilation port. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said port controller comprises a rotatable portion configured to be rotated between the closed position wherein said rotatable portion covers said ventilation port to the open position where said rotatable portion does not cover said ventilation port. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerated bunker comprises a plurality of indicia configured for indicating to a user when said port controller is in said open position and when said port controller is in said closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 7 , wherein said indicia corresponding to different levels of cooling. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said insulative portion comprises an insulative substance sandwiched between said at least one outside wall and said at least one inside wall. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said outside wall comprises a releasable mounting portion for releasably mounting said refrigerated bunker within a portable insulated ice chest. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a plurality of ventilation ports, wherein said port controller is configured for adjustment to a partially open position where the port controller partially interrupts said at least one port, thereby providing a moderate level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates, wherein in said partially open position said port controller interrupts a portion of said plurality of ventilation ports, wherein said outside wall comprises an elongated channel having a channel bottom and two side walls, wherein said ventilation port terminates in said channel bottom; wherein said port controller comprises a slidable portion configured for sliding engagement with said channel, said slidable portion configured to be moved between the closed position wherein said slidable portion covers said ventilation port to the open position where said slidable portion does not cover said ventilation port. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a plurality of ventilation ports, wherein said port controller is configured for adjustment to a partially open position where the port controller partially interrupts said at least one port, thereby providing a moderate level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates, wherein in said partially open position said port controller interrupts a portion of said plurality of ventilation ports, wherein said port controller comprises a rotatable portion configured to be rotated between the closed position wherein said rotatable portion covers said ventilation port to the open position where said rotatable portion does not cover said ventilation port. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said port controller is configured for adjustment to a partially open position where the port controller partially interrupts said at least one port, thereby providing a moderate level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates, and wherein said insulative portion comprises an insulative substance sandwiched between said at least one outside wall and said at least one inside wall. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , wherein said portable insulated ice chest has a lid, and said body is configured for attachment to said lid or is incorporated in said lid. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure release mechanism configured to vent over-pressurization of the enclosed space. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerated bunker for use with a portable insulated ice chest having a cooling space, said refrigerated bunker comprising:
 a body, said body defining an enclosed space for holding dry ice, said body comprising at least one inside wall facing said enclosed space, said body comprising at least one outside wall, said body comprising an insulative portion between said inside wall and said outside wall, said body comprising at least one ventilation port defined through said outside wall, said insulative portion, and said inside wall, said ventilation port configured for venting gaseous carbon dioxide from said enclosed space to an outside space adjacent said outside wall as said dry ice sublimates, wherein said body comprises a plurality of ventilation ports; and   a port controller configured for interrupting said at least one ventilation port, wherein said ventilation port can be adjusted from a closed position where the port controller interrupts the ventilation port, to an open position where the port controller does not interrupt the ventilation port, wherein said port controller is configured for adjustment to a partially open position where the port controller partially interrupts said at least one port, thereby providing a moderate level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates, wherein said port controller is configured for adjustment to a partially open position where the port controller interrupts a portion of said plurality of ventilation ports;   wherein in said closed position gaseous carbon dioxide from said enclosed space is generally prevented from venting to said outside space, thereby providing a lower level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates,   wherein in said open position gaseous carbon dioxide from said enclosed space is allowed to vent to said outside space, thereby providing an increased level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates, and   wherein said outside wall comprises a releasable mounting portion for releasably mounting said refrigerated bunker within said cooling space.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 16 , wherein said outside wall comprises an elongated channel having a channel bottom and two side walls, said ventilation port terminating in said channel bottom, and wherein said port controller comprises a slidable portion configured for sliding engagement with said channel, said slidable portion configured to be moved between the closed position wherein said slidable portion covers said ventilation port to the open position where said slidable portion does not cover said ventilation port. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 16 , wherein said port controller comprises a rotatable portion configured to be rotated between the closed position wherein said rotatable portion covers said ventilation port to the open position where said rotatable portion does not cover said ventilation port. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerated bunker of  claim 16 , wherein said outside wall comprises an elongated channel having a channel bottom and two side walls, said ventilation port terminating in said channel bottom, and wherein said port controller comprises a slidable portion configured for sliding engagement with said channel, said slidable portion configured to be moved between the closed position wherein said slidable portion covers said ventilation port to the open position where said slidable portion does not cover said ventilation port; wherein said insulative portion comprises an insulative substance sandwiched between said at least one outside wall and said at least one inside wall; and wherein said refrigerated bunker comprises at least one indicia configured for indicating to a user when said port controller is in said open position and when said port controller is in said closed position. 
     
     
         20 . A portable insulated ice chest, said portable insulated ice chest comprising:
 front, rear, and side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, the walls together defining a first enclosed space, said walls comprising insulation; and   a refrigerated bunker mounted within said portable insulated ice chest, said refrigerated bunker said refrigerated bunker comprising:
 a body, said body defining a second enclosed space for holding dry ice, said body comprising at least one inside wall facing said second enclosed space, said body comprising at least one outside wall, said body comprising an insulative portion between said inside wall and said outside wall, said body comprising at least one ventilation port defined through said outside wall, said insulative portion, and said inside wall, said ventilation port configured for venting gaseous carbon dioxide from said second enclosed space to said first enclosed space as said dry ice sublimates, wherein said body comprises a plurality of ventilation ports; and 
 a port controller configured for interrupting said at least one ventilation port, wherein said ventilation port can be adjusted from a closed position where the port controller interrupts the ventilation port, to an open position where the port controller does not interrupt the ventilation port, wherein said port controller is configured for adjustment to a partially open position where the port controller partially interrupts said at least one port, thereby providing a moderate level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates, and wherein said port controller is configured for adjustment to a partially open position where the port controller interrupts a portion of said plurality of ventilation ports; 
   wherein in said closed position gaseous carbon dioxide from said second enclosed space is generally prevented from venting to said first enclosed space, thereby providing a lower level of cooling of said outside space by convection as said dry ice sublimates,   wherein in said open position gaseous carbon dioxide from said second enclosed space is allowed to vent to said first enclosed space, thereby providing an increased level of cooling of said first enclosed space by convection as said dry ice sublimates, and   wherein said outside wall comprises a releasable mounting portion for releasably mounting said refrigerated bunker within said cooling space.