Patent ID: 7043935

Claim:
An enclosure thermal shield comprising: an open container defining a payload chamber surrounded by walls formed of a highly thermally insulating material; a closure member having a layer of a highly thermally insulating material for opening and closing the container; a first highly thermally conducting layer lining an interior surface of the walls of the container; a second highly thermally conducting layer lining an interior surface of the closure member, the first highly thermally conducting layer being in thermal contact with the second highly thermally conducting layer to form a thermal circuit when the closure member closes the container; a layer of thermal insulation material lining an interior surface of the first highly thermally conducting layer, said layer of thermal insulation material having a thermal conductivity of 0.08 W/m-K or less and a thickness of at least 0.003 meters; and a heat reservoir in thermal contact with the thermal circuit, wherein the heat reservoir is recessed in the closure member and is separated from the payload chamber.