Temperature controlled container and related methods

Abstract

A storage container is provided. The container may be insertable into a cold-storage dewar or other cold-storage container and may have multiple compartments. A payload item may be inserted into a tray and placed in one compartment for cold storage. Temperature buffering material may be inserted into one or more other compartment to provide for increased holding time at or near a desired temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage container comprising:
 an external wall comprising a cylinder defining an outer periphery of the storage container; and   a pair of inner walls, each comprising a planar chord extending between two locations on an inner surface of the external wall, the inner walls dividing the cylinder into sections,   wherein an outer void is defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall, the outer void configured to receive a temperature buffering material, and   wherein an inner void is defined between the inner walls, the inner void configured to receive an item rack to receive and secure an item in the item rack.   
     
     
         2 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature buffering material comprises a scaffold exposed to a temperature modulating substance. 
     
     
         3 . The storage container of  claim 2 , further comprising a liner configured to (1) receive and envelope the temperature buffering material and (2) configured to be inserted into the outer void. 
     
     
         4 . The storage container of  claim 3 , wherein the liner comprises a removable lid. 
     
     
         5 . The storage container of  claim 2 , wherein the scaffold comprises one or more of an aerogel, fiberglass, or cotton. 
     
     
         6 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the storage container further comprises a lid configured to cover the outer void while leaving the inner void uncovered. 
     
     
         7 . The storage container of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the lid is porous;   the external wall is non-porous; and   the inner wall is non-porous.   
     
     
         8 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the item rack comprises a handle that extends out of the storage container when the item rack is inserted into the storage container. 
     
     
         9 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the storage container is received into a double-walled vacuum flask. 
     
     
         10 . The storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising the item rack disposed inside the inner void and supporting an item for cold storage. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a storage container for cold storage of an item, wherein the storage container has (i) an external wall comprising a cylinder defining an outer periphery of the storage container and (ii) a pair of inner walls, each comprising a planar chord extending between two locations on an inner surface of the external wall, the inner walls dividing the cylinder into sections, the method comprising:
 inserting a temperature buffering material into an outer void of the storage container defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall and configured to receive the temperature buffering material;   inserting an item rack having an item received and secured therein, into the inner void; and   placing the storage container into a dewar.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature buffering material comprises a scaffold exposed to a temperature modulating substance. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising providing a liner configured to (1) receive and envelope the temperature buffering material and (2) configured to be inserted into the outer void. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the liner comprises a removable lid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the scaffold comprises one or more of an aerogel, fiberglass, or cotton. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the storage container further comprises a lid configured to cover the outer void while leaving the inner void uncovered. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the lid is porous;   the external wall is non-porous; and   the inner wall is non-porous.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the item rack comprises a handle that extends out of the storage container when the item rack is inserted into the storage container. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the dewar is a double-walled vacuum flask configured to receive the storage container. 
     
     
         20 . A storage container comprising:
 an external wall having a closed cross-sectional shape in at least one plane and defining an outer periphery of the storage container; and   a pair of inner walls, each comprising a plane between two locations on the external wall, the inner walls dividing the closed cross-sectional shape into a plurality of sections,   wherein an outer void is defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall, the outer void configured to receive a temperature buffering material, and   wherein an inner void is defined between the inner walls, the inner void configured to receive an item rack to receive and secure an item in the item rack   
     
     
         21 . An item rack for supporting an item in a container, the item rack comprising:
 a handle;   a guiding section adjacent to the handle and comprising a pair of narrowing incline faces to guide an item into the item rack;   a compression section adjacent to the guiding section and providing a pair of parallel compression faces to ameliorate dislodging of the item from the item rack;   an enlarging section adjacent to the compression section and comprising a pair of widening inclined faces;   a retaining section adjacent to the enlarging section and providing a pair of parallel retaining faces spaced more widely apart than the pair of parallel compression faces; and   a floor joining the parallel retaining faces together and providing a lowermost portion of the item rack disposed opposite from the handle.