Multi-compartment insulated container systems

Abstract

Multi-compartment insulated container systems and methods of using the same are described. In one embodiment, a container system includes a frame. The frame may include perimeter walls and interior walls interconnecting the perimeter walls, thereby forming a plurality of container sections having openings. At least one interior wall may be configured to facilitate heat transfer between neighboring container sections via heat conducting material. The system may include a plurality of access hatches covering at least some of the openings. The plurality of access hatches may be configured to retard heat transfer between the exterior of the frame and the interior via heat insulating material. In some embodiments, the frame may be configured to be housed within an exterior container. The exterior container may be thermally insulated.

1 . A system comprising:
 a frame configured to be housed within an exterior container, the frame comprising:
 perimeter walls; 
 interior walls interconnecting the perimeter walls, thereby forming a plurality of container sections having openings; 
 wherein at least one interior wall is configured to facilitate heat transfer between neighboring container sections via heat conducting material; and 
   a plurality of access hatches covering at least some of the openings, wherein the plurality of access hatches are configured to retard heat transfer between the exterior of the frame and the interior via heat insulating material.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter walls are configured to retard heat transfer between the exterior of the frame and the interior via heat insulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one interior wall is at least partially hollow. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one interior wall is configured to retard heat transfer between neighboring container sections via heat insulating material. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior walls are configured to facilitate a thermal cascade from one compartment section to the next. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein heat transfer characteristics of at least some of the interior walls are configurable by a user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first interior wall includes a slot formed in an edge of the first interior wall. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  comprising:
 at least one removable heat conducting insert configured to slide into the at least one slot; and 
 at least one removable heat insulating insert configured to slide into the at least one slot. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each access hatch of the plurality of access hatches covers one respective opening. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one access hatch of the plurality of access hatches covers at least two openings. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of space filling bodies configured to fill empty spaces within one or more container sections.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one space filling body comprises heat insulating material. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one space filling body comprises heat conducting material. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is integral to the exterior container. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is removable from the exterior container. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 placing a first item into an opening of a first container section of a plurality of container sections, the plurality of container sections being disposed within a heat insulated exterior container;
 wherein the plurality of container sections is formed by a frame comprising perimeter walls and interior walls interconnecting the perimeter walls; 
 wherein at least one interior wall is configured to facilitate heat transfer between a neighboring container section via heat conducting material; and 
 wherein the first container section includes an opening; and 
   closing a first access hatch of the first container section, thereby covering the opening and   insulating the first item from an ambient environment via heat insulating material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising controlling the temperature of the first item via heat conduction between a second container section and at least one neighboring container section. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 placing a second item into a third container section; and   controlling the temperature of the second item via heat conduction between the third container section and at least one neighboring container section.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first item is controlled to a substantially different temperature than the second item. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the controlling step comprises creating a thermal cascade from a first perimeter wall to an opposite perimeter wall.