Phase change material (pcm) belts

Abstract

A container assembly for controlling the thermal condition of cargo includes an insulated container having a cover and a pair of belt assemblies having a plurality of pouches. The container may comprise handles and/or a detachable and/or adjustable shoulder strap. The container assembly further includes a plurality of phase-changing material packs configured to provide for the control of the temperature of cargo contained within the container. The phase-changing material packs are positioned within the belt assemblies and are thermally conditioned prior to use. The belt assemblies may be made of a durable material and may be configured to provide for the expedient exchange of thermal energy between the phase-changing material packs and an exterior of the belt assemblies. The belt assemblies may comprise features that provide for the efficient orienting of the belt assemblies within the container and/or the appropriate selection of phase-changing material packs for a respective belt assembly.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a thermal condition of cargo contained within a cargo container, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) at least one belt assembly, wherein the at least one belt assembly is configured to be received within the cargo container, wherein the at least one belt assembly comprises at least one pouch having a hollow interior; and   (b) at least one phase-changing material pack comprising phase-changing material, wherein the at least one pouch of the at least belt assembly is configured to receive the at least one phase-changing material pack.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phase-changing material pack comprises a first phase-changing material pack and a second phase-changing material pack. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first phase-changing material pack comprises a first phase-changing material and wherein the second phase-changing material pack comprises a second phase-changing material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first phase-changing material has a first melting point and wherein the second phase-changing material has a second melting point. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first phase-changing material and the second phase-changing material have the same melting point. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one belt assembly comprises a first belt assembly and a second belt assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein an at least one pouch of the first belt assembly is configured to receive at least one of the first phase-changing material pack and wherein an at least one pouch of the second belt assembly is configured to receive at least one of the second phase-changing material pack. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first belt assembly and the second belt assembly are configured to provide for proper orientation of the first belt assembly and the second belt assembly relative one another within the cargo container. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one pouch of the at least one belt assembly is configured to receive at least one of the first phase-changing material pack and at least one of the second phase-changing material pack. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one belt assembly comprises features to provide for proper conditioning of the at least one phase-changing material pack disposed within the at least one pouch of the at least one belt assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the features comprise color-coding. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the features comprise markings. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phase-changing material pack comprises features to provide for proper conditioning of the at least one phase-changing material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the features comprise color-coding. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the features comprise markings. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the belt assembly comprises a durable material. 
     
     
         17 . A belt assembly, the belt assembly comprising:
 (a) at least one pouch having a hollow interior, wherein the at least one pouch comprises a durable material; and   (b) at least one phase-changing material pack comprising a phase-changing material, wherein the at least one pouch is configured to receive the at least one phase-changing material pack.   
     
     
         18 . The belt assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising features configured to provide for proper conditioning of the at least one phase-changing material pack. 
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling a thermal condition of cargo within a container assembly, wherein the container assembly comprises an insulated container configured to receive the cargo, at least one belt assembly configured to be received within the hollow interior of the insulated container, wherein the at least one belt assembly comprises at least one pouch, and at least one phase-changing material pack, wherein the at least one pouch of the at least belt assembly is configured to receive the at least one phase-changing material pack, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing the at least one phase-changing material pack within the at least one pouch of the at least one belt assembly;   (b) conditioning the at least one phase-changing material pack by placing the at least one belt assembly within a thermal conditioning apparatus;   (c) packing the at least one belt assembly within the hollow interior of the insulated container such that the at least one belt assembly defines an interior cavity within the hollow interior of the insulated container; and   (e) packing the cargo within the interior cavity.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one belt assembly comprises at least a first belt assembly having at least one pouch and a second belt assembly having at least one pouch, wherein the at least one phase-changing material pack comprises a first phase-changing material pack and a second phase-changing material pack, the method further comprising the steps of:
 (a) placing the first phase-changing material pack within the at least one pouch of the first belt assembly;   (b) placing the second phase-changing material pack within the at least one pouch of the second belt assembly; and   (c) orienting the first belt assembly and the second belt assembly within the hollow interior of the insulated container.