Patent Publication Number: US-9834360-B2

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

Description:
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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 a    is an outer perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of the implement for constant-temperature storage of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1 b    is a view as seen from the rear side of the implement for constant-temperature storage shown in  FIG. 1   a.    
         FIG. 1 c    is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 1   b.    
         FIG. 2 a    is an outer perspective view when the implement for constant-temperature storage shown in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    is being installed in a storage container. 
         FIG. 2 b    shows the inner construction of the storage container as seen from the direction of arrow A shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
         FIG. 3  is a view for describing the effect when the implement for constant-temperature storage shown in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    is installed in the storage container as shown in  FIGS. 2 a    and  2   b.    
         FIG. 4 a    is an outer perspective view showing another exemplary embodiment of the implement for constant-temperature storage of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4 b    is an outer perspective view showing the other exemplary embodiment of the implement for constant-temperature storage of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4 c    is a view as seen from the rear side of the implement for constant-temperature storage shown in  FIG. 4 a    and  FIG. 4   b.    
         FIG. 4 d    is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 4   c.    
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are next described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1 a    is an outer perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of the implement for constant-temperature storage of the present invention,  FIG. 1 b    is a view of implement for constant-temperature storage  1  shown in  FIG. 1 a    as seen from the rear side, and  FIG. 1 c    is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 1   b.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c   , the present exemplary embodiment is configured by sequentially stacking front sheet  11  that has flexibility, middle sheet  13 , and rear sheet  12  that are composed of materials such as aluminum. 
     Front sheet  11  and middle sheet  13  are sealed along their four sides, whereby the area between front sheet  11  and middle sheet  13  that is enclosed by these four sides forms first housing  21 . First heat storage agent  41  is accommodated in this housing  21 . By sealing front sheet  11  and middle sheet  13  along their four sides, heat storage agent  41  is irremovably accommodated in housing  21 . 
     Rear sheet  12  and middle sheet  13  are sealed along three sides but not along the upper side, and second housing  22  is formed between rear sheet  12  and middle sheet  13  with the upper side as an opening. 
     Hook-and-loop fastener  30  that serves as the installation part is attached on the upper portion of the side of rear sheet  12  that is opposite that of opening  22 . 
     The method of using implement for constant-temperature storage  1  that is configured as described above is next described. 
       FIG. 2 a    is an outer perspective view of the installation of implement for constant-temperature storage  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    in the storage container, and  FIG. 2 b    shows the inner configuration of storage container  100  as seen from the direction of arrow A shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 2 a    and  FIG. 2 b   , implement for constant-temperature storage  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    is installed in storage container  100  by using hook-and-loop fastener  30  that is attached to rear sheet  12 . Storage container  100  has base  130  and four sidewalls  110  that rise from base  130 , the area enclosed by base  130  and sidewalls  110  being storage space  140  in which a stored article is accommodated. Lid  120  is attached so as to allow opening and closing on the side opposite base  130  of storage space  140 , a stored article being removed or inserted when lid  120  is in the opened state and the stored article being stored at the desired temperature when lid  120  is in the closed state. Each of the surfaces on the storage-space  140  side of base  130  and sidewalls  110  of storage container  100  constitute the inside walls in the present invention. 
     Hook-and-loop fasteners  50  are attached along the sides of sidewalls  110  of storage container  100  that are opposite base  130 . As a result, the installing of hook-and-loop fastener  30  that is attached to rear sheet  12  of implement for constant-temperature storage  1  to these hook-and-loop fasteners  50  secures implement for constant-temperature storage  1  to sidewall  110  and installs implement for constant-temperature storage  1  in storage container  100 . Hook-and-loop fastener  30  is here attached to rear sheet  12  that is on the side of housing  22  that is opposite that of housing  21 , and as a result, implement for constant-temperature storage  1  is installed in storage container  100  with, housings  21  and  22 , housing  21  on the side of storage space  140  and housing  22  adjacent to housing  21  on the sidewall  110  side, whereby incorrect orientation of these housings does not occur. 
     Second heat storage agent  42  is then placed in housing  22  of implement for constant-temperature storage  1  that is installed in storage container  100  in this way. Housing  22  is between rear sheet  12  and middle sheet  13  with the upper sides of these sheets forming an opening, and heat storage agent  42  can thus be stored from this opening. In other words, housing  22  is configured to removably accommodate heat storage agent  42 . At this time, housing  21  is configured with the four sides of front sheet  11  and middle sheet  13  sealed, and heat storage agent  42  therefore cannot be placed in housing  21 , whereby the incorrect placement of heat storage agent  42  in housing  21  is prevented. 
     Although  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    take as an example a case in which implement for constant-temperature storage  1  is installed on one sidewall  110  of the four sidewalls  110  of storage container  100 , implements for constant-temperature storage  1  may obviously also be installed on two sidewalls  110 , three sidewalls  110 , or all four sidewalls  110  of storage container  100 . 
     As described hereinabove, when using implement for constant-temperature storage  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c   , implement for constant-temperature storage  1  is installed by means of hook-and-loop fastener  30  that is attached to rear sheet  12 , and the installation orientation with respect to storage container  100  therefore will not be incorrect. In addition, because one heat storage agent  41 , of the two heat storage agents  21  and  22 , is irremovably accommodated in housing  21 , only the other heat storage agent  42  is installed in housing  22  at the time of use, and as a result, heat storage agents  41  and  42  cannot be incorrectly installed in the two housings  21  and  22 . Implement for constant-temperature storage  1  is therefore installed in the correct orientation in storage container  100 , and moreover, because heat storage agents  41  and  42  cannot be incorrectly inserted in the two housings  21  and  22 , incorrect positioning of the two heat storage agents  41  and  42  with respect to the stored article that is accommodated in storage space  140  of storage container  100  will not occur. 
     The effects realized by implement for constant-temperature storage  1  that is installed in storage container  100  as described above are next described. 
       FIG. 3  is a view for describing the effects when implement for constant-temperature storage  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    is installed in storage container  100  as shown in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   . In  FIG. 3 , lid  120  of storage container  100  has 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 container  100  shown in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   , only heat storage agent  42  is frozen and used while heat storage agent  41  is not frozen. Heat storage agent  42  can be removed from housing  22  of implement for constant-temperature storage  1  and can therefore be easily cooled without taking excessive space in a freezer. In addition, since heat storage agent  41  is not frozen, even though heat storage agent  41  cannot be removed from implement for constant-temperature storage  1 , there is no need to place implement for constant-temperature storage  1  in a freezer. 
     In this case, heat storage agent  41  is in an unfrozen state and therefore has a cushioning property, and further, because front sheet  11  has flexibility, heat storage agent  41  will be deformed according to the shape of article  200  that is accommodated in storage space  140  of storage container  100  as shown in  FIG. 3 , and heat storage agent  41  will therefore be in close contact with the outer surface of article  200  by way of front sheet  11  that makes up housing  21 . 
     In a state in which article  200  is accommodated in storage space  140  in this way, the frozen state of heat storage agent  42  and the unfrozen state of heat storage agent  41  result in the cooling of heat storage agent  41  by heat storage agent  42  through the exchange of thermal energy J 1  between heat storage agents  41  and  42 . Article  200  is then kept cool by heat storage agent  41  due to the exchange of thermal energy J 2  between heat storage agent  41  that has been cooled and article  200 . Article  200  is thus kept cool indirectly by heat storage agent  42  that is frozen by way of heat storage agent  41  that is not frozen. The temperature of article  200  consequently will not fall below the freezing point of heat storage agent  41  that has not been frozen, and the excessive cooling of article  200  can therefore be avoided. 
     At this time, as has been described above, heat storage agent  41  is in close contact with the outer surface of article  200  through front sheet  11 , whereby the effect of keeping article  200  cool is improved. In addition, because front sheet  11  is flexible, and further, because heat storage agent  41  is in a state having a cushioning effect, article  200  can be protected from shocks. In particular, when article  200  is accommodated in storage container  100 , if the size of article  200  is equivalent to storage space  140  or if multiple articles are stuffed into storage space  140 , the stored articles will receive pressure from the outside, but in such cases as well, heat storage agent  41  will serve as a cushion and can mitigate the pressure that is received. 
     In addition, heat storage agent  41  has no definite form when in an unfrozen state. As a result, if storage container  100  is tilted or if implement for constant-temperature storage  1  is attached to the inside wall surface of lid  120 , the concern arises that heat storage agent  41  will accidentally come loose from implement for constant-temperature storage  1  due to vibration or shaking. However, because heat storage agent  41  that is not frozen is irremovably accommodated in housing  21 , there is no chance of its accidentally coming loose from implement for constant-temperature storage  1 . 
     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 article  200  in storage container  100 , only heat storage agent  42  is frozen and heat storage agent  41  is not frozen, whereby heat storage agent  42  that has been frozen indirectly keeps article  200  cool by way of heat storage agent  41  that has not been frozen. However, under the opposite circumstances of a cold region, two heat storage agents  41  and  42  can be used to store the stored article that is accommodated in storage container  100  at 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 agent  41  that is accommodated in housing  21  is cooled to establish a frozen state, and heat storage agent  42  that is not frozen and that has been left at room temperature of 10° C.-20° C. is accommodated in housing  22 . 
     The consequent frozen state of heat storage agent  41  and unfrozen state of heat storage agent  42  results in the exchange of thermal energy between heat storage agents  41  and  42  and a rise in the temperature of heat storage agent  41 . The temperature of heat storage agent  41  becomes 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 agent  41 . 
     Another Embodiment 
       FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are outer perspective views showing another exemplary embodiment of the implement for constant-temperature storage of the present invention,  FIG. 4 c    shows the implement for constant-temperature storage shown in  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    as seen from the rear, and  FIG. 4 d    is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 4   c.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 a -4 d   , the present exemplary embodiment differs from the implement shown in  FIGS. 1 a -1 c    in that: rear sheet  312  includes cover  314  that extends to the opening side of housing  322 ; hook-and-loop fasteners  331  and  332  are provided on each of the areas of front sheet  311  and rear sheet  312  that face each other when cover  314  is folded over, and further, hook-and-loop fastener  330  is provided on, of the surface of rear sheet  312  that is on the side opposite that of housing  322 , the entire surface except for cover  314 . 
     In implement for constant-temperature storage  301  that is configured as described above, heat storage agent is accommodated in housing  322  with cover  314  in the wide-open state as shown in  FIG. 4 b   , following which, by folding over cover  314  and adhering hook-and-loop fastener  332  of cover  314  to hook-and-loop fastener  331  of front sheet  311  as shown in  FIG. 4 a   , the heat storage agent can be prevented from falling out of housing  322 . Further, by providing hook-and-loop fastener  330  to, of the surface of rear sheet  312  on the side opposite housing  322 , the entire surface except for cover  314 , 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 storage  301  can 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 fasteners  30  and  330  were used as the installation parts for attaching the implements for constant-temperature storage  1  and  301  to 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 sheets  12  and  312  that are opposite housings  22  and  322  that are attached to the storage container.