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 defining an outer periphery of the storage container; and   a pair of inner walls, each extending between two locations adjacent to the external wall,   wherein an inner void is defined between the inner walls, the inner void configured to receive and secure an item.   
     
     
         2 . The storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature buffering material that comprises a scaffold exposed to a temperature modulating substance. 
     
     
         3 . The storage container of  claim 2 , further comprising a liner configured to receive and envelope the temperature buffering material. 
     
     
         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 an outer void defined between at least one of the inner walls and the external wall. 
     
     
         7 . The storage container of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the lid is porous;   the external wall is non-porous; and   an inner wall of the pair of inner walls 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 an 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 defining an outer periphery of the storage container and (ii) a pair of inner walls, adjacent to the external wall, the method comprising:
 inserting a temperature buffering material into a void defined at least partially by the external wall and configured to receive the temperature buffering material;   inserting an item into an 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 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 void. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the lid is porous;   the external wall is non-porous; and   an inner wall of the pair of inner walls is non-porous.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the dewar is a double-walled vacuum flask configured to receive the storage container. 
     
     
         19 . 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 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 adjacent to 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 and secure an item.   
     
     
         20 . 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 faces;   a compression section adjacent to the guiding section and providing compression faces to ameliorate dislodging of the item;   an enlarging section adjacent to the compression section and comprising a widening faces;   a retaining section adjacent to the enlarging section and providing parallel retaining faces spaced more widely apart than the 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.