Transport container environmental control lid

Abstract

A transport container lid (10) is provided which includes a power source (24) providing electrical power to the container lid. An environmental control unit (20) electrically powered by the power source (24) and producing conditioned air is provided, wherein the environmental control unit (20) contains a fan (12) to distribute the conditioned air. A controller (28) in operative communication with the power source (24) and the environmental control unit (20) is provided, wherein the controller (28) adjusts the operation of the environmental control unit (20) based upon a command input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transport container lid comprising:
 a power source providing electrical power to the transport container lid;   an environmental control unit electrically powered by the power source and producing conditioned air, wherein the environmental control unit contains a fan to distribute the conditioned air; and   a controller in operative communication with the power source and the environmental control unit,   wherein the controller adjusts the operation of the environmental control unit based upon a command input.   
     
     
         2 . The transport container lid of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one of a sensor and a control input module to transmit a command input to the controller to adjust the performance of the environmental control unit, wherein the sensor is located internal to the transport container lid.   
     
     
         3 . The transport container lid of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the sensor is configured to identify a specific cargo and transmit a command input to the controller to adjust the performance of the environmental control unit based upon the specific cargo.   
     
     
         4 . The transport container lid of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the control input module further comprises at least one of a visual display, a key pad and a touchscreen visual display.   
     
     
         5 . The transport container lid of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the control input module is located on an exterior surface of the transport container lid.   
     
     
         6 . The transport container lid of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the control input module is connected wirelessly to the controller and located off the transport container lid.   
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a transport container comprising a base and an environmental control lid, the method comprising:
 electrically powering, using a power source internal to the environmental control lid, a plurality of components of the transport container;   conditioning air, using an environmental control unit internal to the environmental control lid, the transport container, wherein the environmental control unit includes a fan to distribute conditioned air.   controlling, using a controller internal to the environmental control lid, a plurality of components of the transport container, wherein controlling comprises operating the power source and the environmental control unit.   adjusting, using the controller, the operation of the environmental control unit based upon a command input.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 transmitting a command input to the controller to adjust the operation of the environmental control unit using at least one of a sensor and a control input module, wherein the sensor is located internal to the environmental control lid.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the sensor identifies a specific cargo and transmits a command input to the controller to adjust the performance of the environmental control unit based upon the specific cargo.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the control input module further comprises at least one of a visual display, a key pad and a touchscreen visual display.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the control input module is located on an exterior surface of the transport container.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the control input module is connected wirelessly to the controller and located off the transport container.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the base is collapsible and may be folded when not in use.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the base is collapsible and may be folded when not in use.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the base is collapsible and may be folded when not in use.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the base is collapsible and may be folded when not in use.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the base is collapsible and may be folded when not in use.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the base is collapsible and may be folded when not in use.