Abstract:
A portable conditioned storage unit includes a platform transportable on a trailer or vehicle having a storage box thereon. The interior of the storage box is insulated and suitable for storing wild game or other goods within a cage situated within the storage box in spaced relation to permit the circulation of conditioned air about the cage. A removable modular unit having standard air conditioning components operates in attachment to the storage box to heat and cool the insulated interior and goods within the cage. The storage unit is powered by an external electrical source or built-in electrical generator.

Description:
DOMESTIC PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/299,713, filed Jun. 20, 2001 is claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable conditioned storage unit useful for cooling, heating, or freezing, and more particularly to a versatile cold storage unit designed for use by hunters, fishermen, and other for storing fresh items such as meat, dairy products, vegetables, fish, or flowers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Many have a need for storing fresh items in quantities of up to 500 pounds. For instance, hunters may dress deer and need a place to store several hundred pounds of dressed meat while continuing to hunt, otherwise the meat may spoil unless transported immediately. Likewise, some farmers have a need for storing fresh vegetables, meat, or dairy products to prepare for transport to market without expending money on a refrigerated truck. Fishermen may like to cold store fish from a day&#39;s catch to preserve the fish until transported or cleaned and packaged. And, businesses, such as florists for flowers, have a need for a cost-effective means for storing their fresh products in a portable cold environment. 
     In the past, large, one-piece refrigerated containers, such as ones sitting on a flatbed trailer, were designed for outdoor events. These type containers would be hauled to a location and unloaded from the trailer using heavy equipment. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,838 to Cavalea, an improvement on these type containers involved providing a portable refrigeration unit that could be assembled at a remote location without the need for heavy equipment. However, these prior containers were large in size and lacked the versatility required by those such as hunters or fishermen. A need continues to exist for a cold storage unit that can be transported closer to where goods such as fresh meat or the like are to be supplied so that the goods can be immediately stored without losing any of their quality that can be preserved by regulating their temperature. 
     Standard size and type refrigerators or coolers have been used in the past to solve these needs. However, typical refrigerated containers are too small, cannot be temperature regulated, and cannot freeze quickly or at all. Further, standard freezers are not economical for hunters or like because of size and weight and difficulty in transporting and unloading. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a portable cold storage unit with open cooling and heating system that is temperature regulated to very low temperatures such that the unit may freeze very quickly, and provide ample cold or hot storage space for up to 500 pounds of material such as dressed meat. 
     In accordance with the invention, the cold storage unit is portable and designed to mount to a platform for loading onto a vehicle or transport by a vehicle. The platform may be provided trailer equipment to be hauled by a vehicle such as an ATV (all terrain vehicle) or loaded onto the bed of a truck or trailer. The invention&#39;s cold storage unit includes a modular cooling unit that is separable from the platform and a storage box. By removing the modular cooling unit, it may be exchanged for a different capacity unit. Further, the fluid flow of the cooling unit is reversible such that the cooling unit may also act as a heat pump for heating the storage box. Thus, the cold storage unit may also be used to store cooked meats and the like. 
     A storage box is connected to a reversible cooling unit and attached to the platform. The box is constructed of wood and supported by aluminum metal struts. The construction of the box provides a light weight storage solution with excellent insulating properties that is also durable for outdoor use and transport. 
     The platform arrangement of the storage box and modular cooling unit is especially versatile and additional functional features may be added. In particular, the inventor contemplates that optional components including a hot or cold water supply tank, a sink or wash basin, a pair of gas or electric heating elements, a storage compartment for cooking implements, and an ice maker may be added onto the platform along with the storage box and modular cooling unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a front perspective view of a portable conditioned storage unit made in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a front perspective view of the portable conditioned storage unit having a front door in an open position. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the portable conditioned storage unit. 
     FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the portable conditioned storage unit and modular heating and cooling unit according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 a  is an enlarged partial top elevational view of the modular unit and depicting the flow of fluids for cooling a storage box. 
     FIG. 4 b  is an enlarged partial top elevational view of the modular unit including a heating element and depicting the flow of fluids for heating a storage box. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the relationship of components within the modular unit when used for refrigeration or freezing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed to exemplify the principles of the invention. 
     A portable conditioned storage unit  10  is illustrated in FIG.  1  and will be referred to generally hereafter as the portable unit. The portable unit  10  is designed to load on a truck or trailer or to be mounted on a platform  12  for transport by vehicles. For example, the portable unit  10  may be small enough and light weight to pull by an ATV or to load in the back of a pickup truck. The portable unit  10  is especially useful by hunter, farmers, and fishermen for transport to some remote woods, field, or fishing boat for use in storing fresh meats. 
     The portable unit  10  includes a modular cooling and heating unit  14  that is affixed to the platform  12 , but is easily removed and separated from the portable unit  10  for cleaning or exchanging. Said modular cooling and heating unit  14  may also be referred to herein as a modular cooling unit or simply a modular unit. The modular unit  14  is particular advantageous in that it may be interchanged with a larger or smaller capacity modular unit  14  according to the needs of the user. The modular unit  14  comprises basic cooling components similar to those used in a home air conditioning window unit. These components include a compressor  16 , a condenser  18 , a condenser fan  20 , a receiver  22 , an evaporator  24 , an evaporator fan  26 , a condenser fan motor  28 , an evaporator fan motor  30 , and a thermostat  32 . The operation and schematic relation of these components within the modular unit  14  are shown in detail in the schematic illustration of FIG. 5 showing the relationship of the various elements including the condenser arrangement, the evaporator arrangement, and other components. FIG. 4 a  illustrates the flow of fluids through a typical modular unit  14  arranged for refrigeration of the storage box  34 . By reversing the flow of fluids through the modular unit  14  as shown in FIG. 4 b,  the unit may be used for heating the storage box  34 . 
     A storage box  34  is arranged on the platform  12  in relation to the modular cooling unit  14  such that the operation of the modular unit  14  will control the temperature inside of the storage box  34 . Operation of the modular cooling unit  14  is regulated by the thermostat  32 . The coolant in the described modular unit  14  freezes very rapidly as a result of using a systemic approach like the systems used in home air conditioning units. Thus, unlike conventional refrigeration units, the modular unit  14  may cause the storage box  34  to reach a temperature of about 10 degrees in less than 30 minutes. However, the modular cooling unit  14  may also be regulated to provide a higher temperature as needed using the thermostat  32 . 
     The storage box  34  may also be used for storing items such as cooked meats that need to be kept warm. By reversing the fluid flow in the cooling unit  14  as depicted in FIG. 4 b,  the compressor  16  serves as a heat pump, and, by adding a heating element  58 , the modular unit becomes a modular heating unit for heating the storage box  14 . Thus, the portable unit  10  is versatile according to the needs of the user. 
     The storage box  34  is attached to the platform  12  and rests thereon supported by several metal struts, preferably constructed of lightweight aluminum. The storage box  34  comprises an insulated wood structure including a floor  36 , four side walls  38 , and a top  40  that provides an insulated interior. Typically, the insulated box will be able to maintain a temperature below freezing three to four hours after a unit shuts off when the low temperature was previously reached. Either a side wall  38  or the top  40  may be designed to provide a door  56  that opens to insert items to be stored in the storage box  34 . Alternatively, the top  40  could be left open for convenience in loading items, but with decreased efficiency. A cage  42  with a bottom  44  and four side walls  46  is attached within the storage box  14  in spaced relation to the inside surface and insulated interior provided by the side walls  38  of the storage box  34 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, about two inches of space is left between the cage  42  and the walls  38  and the floor  36  of the storage box  14  for circulation of the conditioning air about the cage  42 . 
     The cage  42  size will vary according to the design specifications of the portable unit  10 . In a standard forty-eight (48) cubic foot portable unit up to five-hundred (500) pounds of material can be placed in the cage  42  and stored within the storage box  34 . The portable units  10  could be designed with storage boxes  34  as large as eight feet by eight feet by sixteen feet or as small as three feet by three feet by one foot. 
     Accordingly, the portable unit  10  has a very flexible design and can be provided a number of optional components for incorporation into the modular unit  14 . Typical options that will be included in the modular unit  14  include a hot or cold water supply tank  48  and water pump that will be useful for cleaning or providing drinking water. Further, a sink or wash basin connected to the water supply may be incorporated, as well as eye burners of electric or gas for cooking. Finally, an unconditioned storage container may be incorporated into the modular cooling unit, and an ice maker may be added into the refrigerated storage box. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, a gas generator  50  may also be incorporated into the modular unit  14  to provide a power source for the portable unit  10 . The schematic view depicted in FIG. indicates the provision of electric power to the modular cooling unit via an electrical control panel  52  or a sufficient battery, depending upon the size and use of the unit. 
     From the foregoing description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein. It should be understood therefore that these embodiments of the invention are intended as an exemplification of the invention only and that the invention is not limited thereto. It is to be understood, therefore, that it is intended that the claims are to cover all such modifications that will fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.