Abstract:
A traveling bag for carrying temperature-sensitive medications such as insulin which includes a sensor monitoring the interior temperature and an exterior display showing the measured temperature. In one embodiment the bag interior includes a compartment for storing medication, an assembly for securely holding three insulin pens, and a compartment for holding a container of freezing material. A second embodiment of the bag omits the freezing material compartment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a traveling bag for carrying temperature-sensitive medications such as insulin, and more particularly to a bag which includes a sensor to monitor the interior temperature which is continuously displayed on an exterior gauge. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Diabetics and other persons under medical treatment often are required to take injections to forestall unconsciousness or other ill effects. In many cases the medication must be stored at a temperature considerably lower than the ambient temperature. Patients who remain at home or whose job responsibilities never require them to travel can store their medications in a refrigerator. For business people who must travel and vacationers, the ability to travel freely often is greatly constrained because they must always keep medications with them to allow proper time-phased administration of dosage, and can find themselves unavoidably in a hot climate where a medication can be spoiled by overheating. Insulin is particularly susceptible to deterioration and must be maintained at a temperature between 38° F. and 84° F. Other commonly prescribed medications which are temperature unstable are glyceryltrinitrate, benzodiazepines, prochlorperazine, penicillin, pseudoephedrine, promethazine, prednisolone and captopril. 
     Bags, cases, coolers and pouches for carrying temperature-sensitive medications, particularly insulin, are described in the related art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,148,515 to R. Jentis et al. discloses an insulin travel kit which includes a bimetallic thermostatic element which controls the discharge of liquid refrigerant from a supply bottle into a heat-exchange coil encircling an insulin bottle wherein the refrigerant is evaporated and from which the resultant gas is discharged into the air. The element is contiguous to the coil. Whenever the temperature measured by the element rises above 40° F., the element curls so as press against the hook of a valve stem, rocking a throttle valve member on its seat until refrigerant is released. When the temperature goes back down to 40° F., the element bends in the reverse direction, permitting the throttle valve member to rock back into closed position. These reverse temperature regulating actions occur repeatedly and automatically. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,998 to F. Taylor discloses a travel kit having thermally insulated peripheral and bottom walls determining a cavity sized to receive an inner container. The container and a top lid determine an annular chamber which is filled almost full with water which is then frozen into an annular ring of ice surrounding a compartment in the container upper portion. An insulin bottle within the compartment remains cold because, in addition to its being thermally insulated, as the frozen water melts, ice remains afloat and in thermal contact with the compartment outer wall. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,954 to L. M. Sheehan et al. discloses a portable cooler consisting largely of insulative foam material for transporting medications which must be kept at lower than ambient temperature. The cooler includes an ice compartment and a medicine compartment. Each compartment contains a metallic heat sink. The sinks are thermally and mechanically connected by a heat tube, i.e., a sealed container containing a substance having a well-defined boiling point which may depend on the pressure within the tube. When the tube lower end is colder than the boiling point, the substance collects at the lower end in liquid form. If the temperature at the lower end thereafter increases to the boiling point, the substance begins to boil and heat is absorbed as some of the substance is converted into a gas. The gas carries the heat to the tube upper end where the heat is released as the gas condenses back into a liquid which trickles down the walls of the tube to collect again at the lower end. The tube thus provides a one-way path for heat transfer from the medicine compartment to the ice compartment, and acts as a thermostat to limit the temperature of the medicine compartment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,158 to J. H. Campbell discloses a flexible, insulated open-mouth pouch having a pair of opposed walls joined to form a bottom, and a water-repellent liner. Each wall has a layer of insulating material sandwiched between two outer and inner wall layers. The liner includes front and rear partitions bounding a central pocket for holding a refrigerant. The front partition forms together with the liner front wall a compartment for holding a vial of insulin, and the rear partition forms together with the liner rear wall a compartment for holding a hypodermic syringe. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,793 to E. G. Ehmann discloses a pocket-sized traveling case for storing insulin. The case includes thermally insulated front and back covers pivotally attached to each other by a central binder, and is opened and closed by a zipper. The inside of the back cover is provided with nn elastic upper strap stitched to form a pair of loops, each of which receives an insulin bottle, and an elastic lower strap which holds a container of freezing material, such as “Blue Ice.” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,581 to H. R. Galloway et al. discloses a container for protecting medications in the form of tablets from heat and light. The container is internally insulated by a multi-layer reflecting shield including two aluminum foil layers and an expanded polystyrene layer. A tube containing the tablets is surrounded by a heat sink made from a synthetic resin which does not absorb the vapor phase of the contained medication. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,364 to S. Yeager discloses a portable medicine protector including a hollow walled container having a cavity filled with a suitable liquid (e.g., water or Blue Ice) which may be frozen in a household freezer. A depression or cavity formed in the container receives medicine such as bottles of liquid. To inhibit freezing of the medicine, the bottom and sides of the cavity have ribbed members which prevent direct contact between a medicine bottle and the side walls of the container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,480 to W. C. Sexton discloses an insulated carrier for-transporting insulin or other medications subject to rapid deterioration or degradation when exposed to ambient temperature conditions. The carrier includes a central block of expanded polystyrene foam, shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped, which has a cylindrical vertical bore. A polystyrene lid is hingedly attached to the block top and a polystyrene base block is secured to the base bottom. A vial of medication is inserted into a plastic vial with a removable lid which is inserted into the bore. The plastic vial rests on a hollow ball which contains a refreezable liquid, such as water, or a degraded collagen matrix containing thermal and chemical stabilizers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,791 to S. Yeager discloses a portable medicine carrier for transporting medications stored in vials. The carrier is filled with a liquid that freezes at a temperature that is approximately equal to the desired storage temperature of the medication. Formed in the top surface of the carrier is a cavity which accepts vials of medication. Within the cavity are compartments of various sizes so as to accommodate a variety of vial shapes and sizes. The carrier is placed in a freezer to allow the liquid to freeze. The vials are then placed within appropriate compartments. The side walls of the cavity include ribbed members transverse to the width of the carrier which prevent vials from contacting the side walls. 
     Although these references address the need for a portable medication carrier, none provides means to monitor and display the temperature within the carrier, so that a user can be assured that the medication has remained sufficiently cold and also be apprised in time to take appropriate measures should the temperature exceed the acceptable limit. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a traveling bag which provides an exteriorly visible display of its interior temperature. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a traveling bag which can keep temperature-sensitive medications or other materials well below ambient temperature. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a thermally insulated bag which is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     Other objects of the invention will become evident when the following description is considered with the accompanying drawing figures. In the figures and description, numerals indicate the various features of the invention, like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other objects are achieved by the present invention which in one aspect provides a traveling bag including a case having a thermally insulated front portion with a front side having an exterior surface, a thermally insulated back portion, and a thermally insulated central portion pivotally attached to the front and back portions so that they are pivotal relative to each other between a closed position in which they are generally parallel, and an open position in which they are pivoted away from each other. The case is closable when the front and back portions are in the closed position by closing a zipper. When closed the case determines a thermally insulated cavity. The bag further includes a pouch having a front portion, with an exterior surface, attached to a circumferential frame portion having a circumferential edge attached to the exterior surface of the case front side. The bag further includes means for measuring the temperature within the cavity, and means for displaying the measured temperature at a preselected exterior portion of the bag. 
     In another aspect the invention provides a traveling bag which includes a rectangular case including a thermally insulated front portion having a front side, with planar exterior and interior surfaces, attached to a first U-shaped frame portion. The case further includes a thermally insulated back portion having a back side, with a planar interior surface, attached to a second U-shaped frame portion. The case further includes a thermally insulated central portion, with a planar interior surface, pivotally attached to the first and second frame portions so that they are pivotal relative to each other between a closed position in which they are generally parallel, and an open position in which they are pivoted away from each other. The case is closable when the front and back portions are in the closed position by closing a zipper mutually attached to the first and second frame portions. When closed the case determines a thermally insulated cavity. The bag further includes a pouch having a front portion, with an exterior surface, attached to a circumferential frame portion having a circumferential edge attached to the exterior surface of the case front side. The exterior surface of the pouch front portion has a rectangular cutout wherein is disposed a liquid crystal display of a temperature gauge disposed within the pouch. The bag further includes a temperature-sensing element rigidly mounted on the upper surface of a base of thermally insulative material attached to the interior surface of the central portion. The element is in electrical communication with the temperature gauge. The bag further includes an expandable compartment determined by a rectangular wall having three edges attached to the interior surface of the case front side and a fourth unattached edge bounding a closable opening. The bag further includes an assembly including an elasticized strap attached along parallel lines to the interior surface of the case front side so as to determine a plurality of open-ended receptacles, and a rectangular shield having three edges attached to the interior surface of the case front side and a fourth unattached edge bounding an opening proximate and parallel to the receptacles. The bag further includes a compartment for receiving a container of freezing material determined by a rectangular wall attached along four edges to the interior surface of the case back side. The compartment is accessible by opening a zipper in the wall. 
     In still another aspect the invention provides a traveling bag which includes a rectangular case including a thermally insulated front portion having a front side, with planar exterior and interior surfaces, attached to a first U-shaped frame portion. The case further includes a thermally insulated back portion having a back side, with a planar interior surface, attached to a second U-shaped frame portion. The case further includes a thermally insulated central portion, with a planar interior surface, pivotally attached to the first and second frame portions so that they are pivotal relative to each other between a closed position in which they are generally parallel, and an open position in which they are pivoted away from each other. The case is closable when the front and back portions are in the closed position by closing a zipper mutually attached to the first and second frame portions. When closed the case determines a thermally insulated cavity. The bag further includes a pouch having a front portion, with an exterior surface, attached to a circumferential frame portion having a circumferential edge attached to the exterior surface of the case front side. The exterior surface of the pouch front portion has a rectangular cutout wherein is disposed a liquid crystal display of a temperature gauge, switchable between the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales, disposed within the pouch. The bag further includes a temperature-sensing element rigidly mounted on the upper surface of a base of thermally insulative material attached to the interior surface of the central portion. The element is in electrical communication with the temperature gauge. The bag further includes an expandable compartment determined by a rectangular wall having three edges attached to the interior surface of the case front side and a fourth unattached edge bounding a closable opening. The bag further includes an assembly including an elasticized strap attached along parallel lines to the interior surface of the case front side so as to determine a plurality of open-ended receptacles, and a rectangular shield having three edges attached to the interior surface of the case front side and a fourth unattached edge bounding an opening proximate and parallel to the receptacles. 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention and other objects, aspects and advantages thereof will be gained from a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiment read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings provided herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a closed thermally insulated bag for transporting medications or other temperature-sensitive materials, having an exteriorly mounted LCD showing the temperature in the bag interior. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the open FIG. 1 bag showing a zippered compartment holding a container of freezing material, a temperature-sensing element mounted on a thermally insulating base, a cable connecting the element and FIG. 1 display, an expandable storage compartment, and a dual portion assembly for securely holding insulin pens. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 1 bag taken along the line  3 — 3 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a closed thermally insulated bag for transporting medications or other temperature-sensitive materials, having an externally mounted LCD showing the temperature in the bag interior. 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the open FIG. 4 bag showing a temperature-sensing element mounted on a thermally insulating base, a cable connecting the element and FIG. 4 display, an expandable storage compartment, and a dual portion assembly for securely holding insulin pens. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 4 bag taken along the line  6 — 6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the present invention is open to various modifications and alternative constructions, the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings will be described herein in detail. It is to be understood, however, there is no intention to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed. On the contrary, it is intended that the invention cover all modifications, equivalences and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. 
     Where used herein, the word “attached” means that the two parts referred to are either fabricated in a single piece or are sewn or glued together. However, other forms of attachment may be suitable, consistent with simplicity of manufacture and reliability of operation. Where used herein, the words “connects”, “connected” and “connecting” mean that the two parts referred to (e.g., an electrical cable and a temperature-sensing element) can be readily separated after being joined together. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a traveling bag  10  according to the invention includes a generally rectangular case  12  having a front portion  14  and a back portion  16  pivotally attached to each other by a central portion  18 . Case front portion  14  includes a front side  20 , having a generally planar exterior surface  20 A, generally orthogonal and attached to a U-shaped frame portion  22  having rounded edges  22 A,  22 B,  22 C,  22 D. Case back portion  16  includes a back side  24  generally orthogonal and attached to a U-shaped frame portion  26  having rounded edges  26 A,  26 B,  26 C,  26 D which coincide, respectively, with edges  22 A,  22 B,  22 C,  22 D. Frame portions  22  and  26  are attached by a wide-band zipper  28 A- 28 B which opens and closes the case  12 . The bag  10  further includes a pouch  30  having a front portion  32  generally orthogonal and attached to a circumferential frame portion  34  having a zipper  34 Z and a circumferential edge  36  attached to surface  20 A. Front portion  32  has an exterior surface  32 A having a generally rectangular cutout  32 C in which is disposed a liquid crystal display (LCD)  38  showing the temperature inside the case  12 . A plastic window  38 W centered over cutout  32 C and attached to surface  32 A protects the LCD  38 . As shown in FIG. 3, sides  20  and  24 , frame portions  22  and  26 , and central portion  18  each have outer and inner layers of fabric  40 A,  40 B, respectively, between which is disposed a layer  42  of thermally insulative material. Preferably, layer  42  is {fraction (3/8+L )}-inch thick DACRON™. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, case front side  20  has an interior surface  20 B, which is a portion of the interior surface of fabric layer  40 B, to which is attached an expandable storage compartment  44  determined by a generally rectangular fabric wall  46  having edges  46 A,  46 B,  46 C sewn to surface  20 B, and an unsewn edge  46 D bounding an opening  48  closable with a VELCRO™ patch  44 V. Also attached to surface  20 B is an assembly  50  for securely holding insulin pens or the like including an elasticized fabric strap  52  sewn to surface  20 B along lateral lines  52 A,  52 B,  52 C,  52 D, thereby determining open-ended receptacles  54 A,  54 B,  54 C. Assembly  50  further includes a generally rectangular shield  56  having edges  56 A,  56 B,  56 C sewn to surface  20 B, and an unsewn edge  56 D bounding an opening  58 . Case back side  24  has an interior surface  24 B, which also is a portion of the interior surface of fabric inner layer  40 B, to which a generally rectangular moisture-proof fabric wall  60  is attached along edges  60 A,  60 B,  60 C,  60 D which meet at vertices proximate to frame portion edges  26 A,  26 B,  26 C,  26 D. Wall  60  and surface  24 B determine a compartment  62 , accessible by opening a zipper  64 , which receives a substantially flat container of freezing material such as a gel refrigerant  66 . 
     Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, central portion  18  has an interior surface  18 B, which also is a portion of the interior surface of fabric inner layer  40 B, to which is attached a base  70  of thermally insulative material having a generally planar upper surface  70 S on which is rigidly mounted a temperature-sensing element  72 . A fabric layer  74 , having a generally rectangular cutout  74 H with a mesh  74 M superposed over element  72 , covers the base  70 . As shown in FIG. 3, an electrical cable  76  connects element  72  and a temperature gauge  80 , powered by a battery  82 , whose face is the LCD  38  protected by window  38 W (see FIG.  1 ). Preferably, base  70  is polyisourethane, about  5 / 8 -inch in thickness, manufactured by Celotex, Inc. of Tampa, Fla. Preferably, element  72  is a thermistor having a range from about −10° F. to about +130° F. As shown in FIG. 3, gauge  80  is covered with a VELCRO™ layer  84  so that articles or a hand inserted into pouch  30  cannot interfere with the gauge. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of a traveling bag  100  according to the invention includes a generally rectangular case  102  having a front portion  104  and a back portion  106  pivotally attached to each other by a central portion  108 . Case front portion  104  includes a front side  110 , having a generally planar exterior surface  110 A, generally orthogonal and attached to a U-shaped frame portion  112  having rounded edges  112 A,  112 B,  112 C,  112 D. Case back portion  106  includes a back side  114  generally orthogonal and attached to a U-shaped frame portion  116  having rounded edges  116 A,  116 B,  116 C,  116 D which coincide, respectively, with edges  112 A,  112 B,  112 C,  112 D. Frame portions  112  and  116  are attached by a wide-band zipper  118 A- 118 B which opens and closes the case  102 . The bag  100  further includes a pouch  120  having a front portion  122  generally orthogonal and attached to a circumferential frame portion  124  having a zipper  124 Z and a circumferential edge  126  attached to surface  110 A. Front portion  122  has an exterior surface  122 A having a generally rectangular cutout  122 C in which is disposed a LCD  128 . A plastic window  128 W centered over cutout  122 C and attached to surface  122 A protects the LCD  128 . As shown in FIG. 6, sides  110  and  114 , frame portions  112  and  116 , and central portion  108  each have outer and inner layers of fabric  130 A,  130 B, respectively, between which is disposed a layer  132  of thermally insulative material. Preferably, layer  132  is {fraction (3/8+L )}-inch thick DACRON™. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, case front side  110  has an interior surface  110 B, which is a portion of the interior surface of fabric layer  130 B, to which is attached an expandable storage compartment  134  determined by a generally rectangular fabric wall  136  having edges  136 A,  136 B,  136 C sewn to surface  110 B, and an unsewn edge  136 D bounding an opening  138  closable with a VELCROTM patch  134 V. Also attached to surface  110 B is an assembly  140  for securely holding insulin pens or the like including an elasticized fabric strap  142  sewn to surface  110 B along lateral lines  142 A,  142 B,  142 C,  142 D, thereby determining open-ended receptacles  144 A,  144 B,  144 C. Assembly  140  further includes a generally rectangular shield  146  having edges  146 A,  146 B,  146 C sewn to surface  110 B, and an unsewn edge  146 D bounding an opening  148 . 
     Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, central portion  108  has an interior surface  108 B, which also is a portion of the interior surface of fabric inner layer  130 B, to which is attached a base  160  of thermally insulative material having a generally planar upper surface  160 S on which is rigidly mounted a temperature-sensing element  162 . A fabric layer  164 , having a generally rectangular cutout  164 H with a mesh  164 M superposed over element  162 , covers the base  160 . An electrical cable  166  connects element  162  and a temperature gauge  170 , powered by a battery  172 , whose face is the LCD  128  protected by window  128 W (see FIG.  4 ). Gauge  170  includes a switch  174  allowing a user to select between a Fahrenheit or a Celsius reading on LCD  128 . Preferably, base  160  is polyisourethane, about {fraction (5/8+L )}-inch in thickness. Preferably, element  162  is a thermistor. As shown in FIG. 6, gauge  170  is covered with a VELCRO™ layer  176  so that articles or a hand inserted into pouch  120  cannot interfere with the gauge, particularly with switch  174 .