Implement for constant-temperature storage and storage container housing the same

An implement for storage at a constant temperature has two housings (21 and 22) that accommodate heat storage agents. One heat storage agent (41) is irremovably accommodated in one housing (21), and a hook-and-loop fastener (30) for installation in a storage container is provided on the outer surface of the other housing (22).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35. U.S.C. §371 of International Application PCT/JP2013/050139, filed Jan. 7, 2013, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-285401, filed Dec. 27, 2012. The disclosures of the above-described applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an implement for constant-temperature storage that uses a heat storage agent to store a stored article at constant temperature, and more particularly relates to an implement for constant-temperature storage that uses two heat storage agents to store a stored article at constant temperature.

BACKGROUND ART

The cooling of stored articles such as food products is conventionally realized by using a heat storage agent. A typically used heat storage agent has a melting point below 0° C., and for example, is first cooled at a low temperature in the order of −25° C. in a freezer and then removed for use. When freezing the heat storage agent, the heat storage agent is typically frozen in an environment that is at least 10° C. lower than its freezing point, and even a heat storage agent having a melting point in the vicinity of 0° C. is frequently frozen in an environment of −25° C. As a consequence, when the heat storage agent is used immediately after having been removed from a freezer, the stored article will be cooled to below 0° C.

Stored articles that are cooled using heat storage agents in this way include such articles as specimens that are preferably cooled to the level of 2-8° C. and that are preferably not cooled to 0° C. or below. When such a stored article is to be kept cool, the heat storage agent is first removed from the freezer and then left for 30 minutes to three hours at room temperature or in a refrigerator to raise the temperature of the heat storage agent to the melting point. However, removing the heat storage agent from the freezer and leaving it out for a certain time after removal is not efficient and does not allow immediate use when its use is desired.

Here, a solution can be considered in which two heat storage agents are used so as not to excessively cool a stored article. In this case, if two heat storage agents are arranged one over the other and a state is established in which the heat storage agent on the side away from the stored article is frozen and the heat storage agent on the side of the stored article is not frozen, the stored article will be indirectly cooled by the heat storage agent that is frozen by way of the heat storage agent that is not frozen. In this way, the temperature of the stored article will not fall below the freezing point of the heat storage agent that is not frozen, and excessive cooling of the stored article can thus be avoided.

In the opposite circumstances of use in a cold district, the above-described heat storage agent is used to keep a stored article at a desired temperature that is higher than the outside temperature, and in this case, the stored article can be kept at a desired temperature that is higher than the outside temperature by arranging the two heat storage agents superposed as described above and by establishing a state in which the heat storage agent on the side away from the stored article is not frozen and the heat storage agent on the side of the stored article is frozen.

An implement for constant-temperature storage in which two heat storage agents are superposed in this way to keep a stored article at a constant temperature is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 . This constant-temperature storage implement is not only constructed so as to allow installation on the inside wall surface of a storage container that holds the stored article but also includes a double-layer pocket that can accommodate heat storage agents. The stored article can be stored at a desired temperature by placing each heat storage agent in a respective pocket and by establishing a state in which either the heat storage agent on the side of the stored article or the heat storage agent on the side away from the stored article is frozen and the other heat storage agent is not frozen, as described hereinabove.

LITERATURE OF THE PRIOR ART

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Design Registration No 1433322

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, in an implement for constant-temperature storage such as described above, because a heat storage agent that is frozen is accommodated in one of the two layers of pockets and a heat storage agent that is not frozen is accommodated in the other layer, the concern arises that the heat storage agents may be inserted in the wrong pocket, and if inserted in the wrong pocket, storage of the stored article at the desired temperature will no longer be possible. Furthermore, when the constant temperature storage implement is installed on the inside wall of the storage container, there is a concern that an error may occur in the installation orientation, in which case the arrangement of the heat storage agent that is frozen and the heat storage agent that is not frozen will be the reverse of the desired arrangement even though the heat storage agent that is frozen and the heat storage agent that is not frozen have been inserted correctly as described above, and as a result, storage of the stored article at the desired temperature will no longer be possible as described above.

The present invention was realized to address the problems inherent to the above described prior art, and its object is to provide an implement for constant-temperature storage and a storage container in which, this implement, after installation, can avoid incorrect positioning of the two heat storage agents with respect to the stored article, when the two heat storage agents are arranged superimposed for the purpose of storing a stored article at constant temperature.

Means for Solving the Problem

To achieve the above-described object, the present invention is an implement for constant-temperature storage that is installed on the inside wall surface of a storage container that accommodates the stored article, the implement for constant-temperature storage including:

a first housing in which a first heat storage agent is irremovably accommodated; and

a second housing that is adjacent to a side of said inside wall surface of said first housing when the implement for constant-temperature storage is installed in said storage container and in which a second heat storage agent is removably accommodated;

wherein said second housing is provided with installation parts on the outer surface of the side that is opposite said first housing in order to install said implement for constant-temperature storage in said storage container.

In the present invention that is configured as described above, the implement for constant-temperature storage is installed in the storage container by means of installation parts that are provided on the outer surface of, of the first housing and second housing that accommodate heat storage agents for storing a stored article at a constant temperature, the second housing on the side that is opposite that of the first housing, and as a result, there is no possibility of incorrect orientation with respect to the storage container. In addition, the first heat storage agent is irremovably accommodated in the first housing and only the second heat storage agent needs be placed in the second housing at the time of use, and as a result, when a state is set in which the first heat storage agent or the second heat storage agent is in an unfrozen state and the other is in a frozen state in order to store the stored article at a desired temperature, there is no possibility of incorrectly placing this unfrozen heat storage agent and frozen heat storage agent in the first housing and second housing. In addition, because the implement for constant-temperature storage is installed in the storage container in the correct orientation as described above, and moreover, because there is no possibility of incorrect placement of the heat storage agents in the first housing and second housing, there is no possibility that the two heat storage agents will be incorrectly positioned with respect to the stored article.

In addition, if the first heat storage agent has a cushioning property and the surface of the first housing that is on the side opposite that of the second housing is flexible, not only can the stored article be protected from shocks, but the first heat storage agent will be in close contact with the outer surface of the stored article by way of the first housing, whereby the constant-temperature storage effect will be improved.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, the first heat storage agent is irremovably accommodated in the first housing, the second housing is provided with installation parts on the outer surface for installation in the storage container, and at the time of use, the second heat storage agent is placed in the second housing and the implement for constant-temperature storage is then installed in the storage container by means of the installation parts, and as a result, any incorrect positioning of the two heat storage agents, with respect to the stored article, can be avoided.

In addition, in a configuration in which the first heat storage agent has a cushioning property and the surface of the side of the first housing that is opposite that of the second housing is flexible, not only can the stored article be protected from shocks, but the first heat storage agent will be in close contact with the outer surface of the stored article by way of the first housing, whereby the constant-temperature storage effect will be improved.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are next described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1ais an outer perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of the implement for constant-temperature storage of the present invention,FIG. 1bis a view of implement for constant-temperature storage1shown inFIG. 1aas seen from the rear side, andFIG. 1cis a sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown inFIG. 1b.

As shown inFIGS. 1a-1c, the present exemplary embodiment is configured by sequentially stacking front sheet11that has flexibility, middle sheet13, and rear sheet12that are composed of materials such as aluminum.

Front sheet11and middle sheet13are sealed along their four sides, whereby the area between front sheet11and middle sheet13that is enclosed by these four sides forms first housing21. First heat storage agent41is accommodated in this housing21. By sealing front sheet11and middle sheet13along their four sides, heat storage agent41is irremovably accommodated in housing21.

Rear sheet12and middle sheet13are sealed along three sides but not along the upper side, and second housing22is formed between rear sheet12and middle sheet13with the upper side as an opening.

Hook-and-loop fastener30that serves as the installation part is attached on the upper portion of the side of rear sheet12that is opposite that of opening22.

The method of using implement for constant-temperature storage1that is configured as described above is next described.

FIG. 2ais an outer perspective view of the installation of implement for constant-temperature storage1shown inFIGS. 1a-1cin the storage container, andFIG. 2bshows the inner configuration of storage container100as seen from the direction of arrow A shown inFIG. 2a.

As shown inFIG. 2aandFIG. 2b, implement for constant-temperature storage1shown inFIGS. 1a-1cis installed in storage container100by using hook-and-loop fastener30that is attached to rear sheet12. Storage container100has base130and four sidewalls110that rise from base130, the area enclosed by base130and sidewalls110being storage space140in which a stored article is accommodated. Lid120is attached so as to allow opening and closing on the side opposite base130of storage space140, a stored article being removed or inserted when lid120is in the opened state and the stored article being stored at the desired temperature when lid120is in the closed state. Each of the surfaces on the storage-space140side of base130and sidewalls110of storage container100constitute the inside walls in the present invention.

Hook-and-loop fasteners50are attached along the sides of sidewalls110of storage container100that are opposite base130. As a result, the installing of hook-and-loop fastener30that is attached to rear sheet12of implement for constant-temperature storage1to these hook-and-loop fasteners50secures implement for constant-temperature storage1to sidewall110and installs implement for constant-temperature storage1in storage container100. Hook-and-loop fastener30is here attached to rear sheet12that is on the side of housing22that is opposite that of housing21, and as a result, implement for constant-temperature storage1is installed in storage container100with, housings21and22, housing21on the side of storage space140and housing22adjacent to housing21on the sidewall110side, whereby incorrect orientation of these housings does not occur.

Second heat storage agent42is then placed in housing22of implement for constant-temperature storage1that is installed in storage container100in this way. Housing22is between rear sheet12and middle sheet13with the upper sides of these sheets forming an opening, and heat storage agent42can thus be stored from this opening. In other words, housing22is configured to removably accommodate heat storage agent42. At this time, housing21is configured with the four sides of front sheet11and middle sheet13sealed, and heat storage agent42therefore cannot be placed in housing21, whereby the incorrect placement of heat storage agent42in housing21is prevented.

AlthoughFIGS. 2aand 2btake as an example a case in which implement for constant-temperature storage1is installed on one sidewall110of the four sidewalls110of storage container100, implements for constant-temperature storage1may obviously also be installed on two sidewalls110, three sidewalls110, or all four sidewalls110of storage container100.

As described hereinabove, when using implement for constant-temperature storage1shown inFIGS. 1a-1c, implement for constant-temperature storage1is installed by means of hook-and-loop fastener30that is attached to rear sheet12, and the installation orientation with respect to storage container100therefore will not be incorrect. In addition, because one heat storage agent41, of the two heat storage agents21and22, is irremovably accommodated in housing21, only the other heat storage agent42is installed in housing22at the time of use, and as a result, heat storage agents41and42cannot be incorrectly installed in the two housings21and22. Implement for constant-temperature storage1is therefore installed in the correct orientation in storage container100, and moreover, because heat storage agents41and42cannot be incorrectly inserted in the two housings21and22, incorrect positioning of the two heat storage agents41and42with respect to the stored article that is accommodated in storage space140of storage container100will not occur.

The effects realized by implement for constant-temperature storage1that is installed in storage container100as described above are next described.

FIG. 3is a view for describing the effects when implement for constant-temperature storage1shown inFIGS. 1a-1cis installed in storage container100as shown inFIGS. 2aand 2b. InFIG. 3, lid120of storage container100has been omitted from the figure.

When an article such as a specimen that should not be excessively cooled is to be accommodated and stored in storage container100shown inFIGS. 2aand 2b, only heat storage agent42is frozen and used while heat storage agent41is not frozen. Heat storage agent42can be removed from housing22of implement for constant-temperature storage1and can therefore be easily cooled without taking excessive space in a freezer. In addition, since heat storage agent41is not frozen, even though heat storage agent41cannot be removed from implement for constant-temperature storage1, there is no need to place implement for constant-temperature storage1in a freezer.

In this case, heat storage agent41is in an unfrozen state and therefore has a cushioning property, and further, because front sheet11has flexibility, heat storage agent41will be deformed according to the shape of article200that is accommodated in storage space140of storage container100as shown inFIG. 3, and heat storage agent41will therefore be in close contact with the outer surface of article200by way of front sheet11that makes up housing21.

In a state in which article200is accommodated in storage space140in this way, the frozen state of heat storage agent42and the unfrozen state of heat storage agent41result in the cooling of heat storage agent41by heat storage agent42through the exchange of thermal energy J1between heat storage agents41and42. Article200is then kept cool by heat storage agent41due to the exchange of thermal energy J2between heat storage agent41that has been cooled and article200. Article200is thus kept cool indirectly by heat storage agent42that is frozen by way of heat storage agent41that is not frozen. The temperature of article200consequently will not fall below the freezing point of heat storage agent41that has not been frozen, and the excessive cooling of article200can therefore be avoided.

At this time, as has been described above, heat storage agent41is in close contact with the outer surface of article200through front sheet11, whereby the effect of keeping article200cool is improved. In addition, because front sheet11is flexible, and further, because heat storage agent41is in a state having a cushioning effect, article200can be protected from shocks. In particular, when article200is accommodated in storage container100, if the size of article200is equivalent to storage space140or if multiple articles are stuffed into storage space140, the stored articles will receive pressure from the outside, but in such cases as well, heat storage agent41will serve as a cushion and can mitigate the pressure that is received.

In addition, heat storage agent41has no definite form when in an unfrozen state. As a result, if storage container100is tilted or if implement for constant-temperature storage1is attached to the inside wall surface of lid120, the concern arises that heat storage agent41will accidentally come loose from implement for constant-temperature storage1due to vibration or shaking. However, because heat storage agent41that is not frozen is irremovably accommodated in housing21, there is no chance of its accidentally coming loose from implement for constant-temperature storage1.

A case has been described by way of example in the present exemplary embodiment in which, when an article that should not be excessively cooled is to be stored and held as article200in storage container100, only heat storage agent42is frozen and heat storage agent41is not frozen, whereby heat storage agent42that has been frozen indirectly keeps article200cool by way of heat storage agent41that has not been frozen. However, under the opposite circumstances of a cold region, two heat storage agents41and42can be used to store the stored article that is accommodated in storage container100at a desired temperature that is higher than the outside temperature. Such a case would be, for example, when a stored article such as a specimen that should not be excessively cooled is to be stored in a sub-zero environment.

In this case, heat storage agent41that is accommodated in housing21is cooled to establish a frozen state, and heat storage agent42that is not frozen and that has been left at room temperature of 10° C.-20° C. is accommodated in housing22.

The consequent frozen state of heat storage agent41and unfrozen state of heat storage agent42results in the exchange of thermal energy between heat storage agents41and42and a rise in the temperature of heat storage agent41. The temperature of heat storage agent41becomes uniform in the vicinity of the melting point, whereby the stored article is stored at a temperature in the vicinity of the melting point of heat storage agent41.

Another Embodiment

FIGS. 4aand 4bare outer perspective views showing another exemplary embodiment of the implement for constant-temperature storage of the present invention,FIG. 4cshows the implement for constant-temperature storage shown inFIGS. 4aand 4bas seen from the rear, andFIG. 4dis a sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown inFIG. 4c.

As shown inFIGS. 4a-4d, the present exemplary embodiment differs from the implement shown inFIGS. 1a-1cin that: rear sheet312includes cover314that extends to the opening side of housing322; hook-and-loop fasteners331and332are provided on each of the areas of front sheet311and rear sheet312that face each other when cover314is folded over, and further, hook-and-loop fastener330is provided on, of the surface of rear sheet312that is on the side opposite that of housing322, the entire surface except for cover314.

In implement for constant-temperature storage301that is configured as described above, heat storage agent is accommodated in housing322with cover314in the wide-open state as shown inFIG. 4b, following which, by folding over cover314and adhering hook-and-loop fastener332of cover314to hook-and-loop fastener331of front sheet311as shown inFIG. 4a, the heat storage agent can be prevented from falling out of housing322. Further, by providing hook-and-loop fastener330to, of the surface of rear sheet312on the side opposite housing322, the entire surface except for cover314, and by similarly providing a hook-and-loop fastener over the entire surface of the inside wall surfaces of the storage container, and then adhering these hook-and-loop fasteners together, implement for constant-temperature storage301can be securely installed in the storage container.

Although cases have been described by way of example in the above-described exemplary embodiments in which hook-and-loop fasteners30and330were used as the installation parts for attaching the implements for constant-temperature storage1and301to a storage container, the installation parts are not limited to hook-and-loop fasteners as long as they are elements on the surfaces of rear sheets12and312that are opposite housings22and322that are attached to the storage container.