US3974658A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact refrigeration unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-08-20
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Granted: 1976-08-17
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Expires: 1995-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A completely self-contained portable refrigeration unit for maintaining cans or bottles containing food products (e.g., beer, soft drinks, fruit juices, etc.) at a predetermined substantially constant temperature (e.g., 35° to 50°F.) for a relatively long period of time (10 to 24 hours or more). The unit includes an outer insulating case or container and an internal refrigeration cartridge having a plurality of curved surfaces adapted to contact the surface of the products (e.g., sides or ends). The cartridge is filled with a refrigerant substance (e.g., gel refrigerant with predetermined eutectic point) capable of maintaining the curved surfaces of the cartridge at substantially the desired refrigerating temperature for the desired period of time. The dimensions of the outer container and cartridge are such that individual products are in contact either with one of the curved cartridge surfaces or with one of the other products, to thereby achieve conductive refrigeration with minimum reliance on convection.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard F. Starrett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:29
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D25/00; B65D25/02; F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/02; F25D3/06; F25D3/08; F25D5/00; F25D5/02; F25D2303/00; F25D2303/08; F25D2303/082; F25D2303/0822; F25D2303/08222; F25D2331/00; F25D2331/80; F25D2331/801; F25D2331/803; F25D2331/804; F25D2331/805; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/90; Y02W; Y02W90/00; Y02W90/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A self-contained contact refrigeration unit characterized by an ability to maintain a plurality of substantially cylindrical beverage containers at a desired constant temperature for a relatively prolonged period of time, comprising: an outer insulating container, an internal refrigeration cartridge nested within said outer container, said refrigeration cartridge having a plurality of curved heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with a plurality of said substantially cylindrical beverage containers, said refrigeration cartridge being substantially filled with a refrigerant substance capable of maintaining the temperature of said curved heat conducting surfaces at a substantially constant refrigerating temperature for a period of the order of at least 10 to 24 hours, and a plurality of substantially cylindrical beverage containers substantially filling the space within said container so that individual containers are either in close heat exchange contact with one of said curved heat conducting surfaces or with another of said beverage containers, whereby heat transfer for refrigeration purposes is achieved primarily by conduction between said beverage containers and said refrigeration cartridge to maintain each of said beverage containers at a substantially uniform temperature as related to the surface temperature of said curved surfaces and as predetermined by the nature of the refrigerant substance within said refrigeration cartridge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A self-contained contact refrigeration unit characterized by an ability to maintain a plurality of substantially cylindrical beverage containers at a desired constant temperature for a relatively prolonged period of time, comprising: an outer insulating container, an internal refrigeration cartridge nested within said outer container, said refrigeration cartridge having a plurality of curved heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with a plurality of said substantially cylindrical beverage containers, said refrigeration cartridge being substantially filled with a refrigerant substance capable of maintaining the temperature of said curved heat conducting surfaces at a substantially constant refrigerating temperature for a period of the order of at least 10 to 24 hours, and a plurality of substantially cylindrical beverage containers substantially filling the space within said container so that individual containers are either in close heat exchange contact with one of said curved heat conducting surfaces or with another of said beverage containers, whereby heat transfer for refrigeration purposes is achieved primarily by conduction between said beverage containers and said refrigeration cartridge to maintain each of said beverage containers at a substantially uniform temperature as related to the surface temperature of said curved surfaces and as predetermined by the nature of the refrigerant substance within said refrigeration cartridge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 1 wherein the curved heat conducting surfaces of said refrigeration cartridge are contoured and dimensioned to contact at least 10 to 30% of the outer surface of a beverage container in heat exchange contact therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 1 wherein said refrigeration cartridge is positioned at the bottom of said outer insulating container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 1 wherein said refrigeration cartridge is positioned at the top of said outer insulating container, and beneath a closure therefor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 1 wherein said refrigerant substance is a gel refrigerant in the form of a eutectic mixture having a fusion point within the range from about -20° to +40°F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 5 wherein the eutectic mixture forming said gel refrigerant is composed essentially of starch, water and borax.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 6 wherein said starch is ungelatinized starch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 6 wherein said starch is pregelatinized starch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 6 wherein said eutectic mixture includes a small amount of a metallic salt to lower the freezing point of said gel refrigerant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 1 wherein said refrigerant substance is composed essentially of xanthan gum, borax and water, said refrigerant substance being capable of forming a gel upon vigorous agitation by hand.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 10 wherein said refrigerant substance additionally includes sodium chloride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A contact refrigeration unit as in claim 1 wherein said refrigerant substance is prechilled by rapid expansion of a liquified gas into said refrigeration cartridge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
165 words
A contact refrigeration method for maintaining the temperature of substantially cylindrical beverage containers in a portable unit at a desired constant temperature for a relatively long period of time, comprising the steps of isolating a plurality of cylindrical beverage containers within an insulated environment, contacting at least one layer of said substantially cylindrical beverage containers with a refrigeration unit having correspondingly curved heat conducting surfaces which are contoured to provide intimate surface contact with said beverage containers, the degree of contact between said refrigeration unit and said beverage containers being such that at least 10 to 30% of the outer surface of said beverage containers is in heat exchange contact with said refrigeration unit, said refrigeration unit being substantially filled with a gel refrigerant substance at a temperature below its fusion temperature, and holding said beverage containers in isolation with said refrigeration unit for a period of time sufficient to permit the latent heat of fusion of the refrigerant substance to be substantially entirely consumed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
165 words
A contact refrigeration method for maintaining the temperature of substantially cylindrical beverage containers in a portable unit at a desired constant temperature for a relatively long period of time, comprising the steps of isolating a plurality of cylindrical beverage containers within an insulated environment, contacting at least one layer of said substantially cylindrical beverage containers with a refrigeration unit having correspondingly curved heat conducting surfaces which are contoured to provide intimate surface contact with said beverage containers, the degree of contact between said refrigeration unit and said beverage containers being such that at least 10 to 30% of the outer surface of said beverage containers is in heat exchange contact with said refrigeration unit, said refrigeration unit being substantially filled with a gel refrigerant substance at a temperature below its fusion temperature, and holding said beverage containers in isolation with said refrigeration unit for a period of time sufficient to permit the latent heat of fusion of the refrigerant substance to be substantially entirely consumed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein said refrigerant substance is a gel refrigerant having a fusion temperature within the range from about -20° to +40°F.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 14 wherein said gel refrigerant has a latent heat of fusion within the range from about 8 to 200 B.T.U. per pound at the fusion temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as in claim 12 wherein said refrigerating unit is filled with an endothermic rheopexic gel refrigerant of the type which sets to a gel upon agitation, and said refrigeration unit is initially agitated to effect an endothermic reduction in temperature of said gel refrigerant substance.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein, following agitation, said gel refrigerant substance is solidified by subjecting the same to a low temperature environment below its fusion temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein, following agitation, said gel refrigerant is solidified by the low temperature environment achieved by said endothermic reduction in temperature of said gel refrigerant substance.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-17 | 1980-02-16 | 1980-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-17 | 1984-02-16 | 1984-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-17 | 1988-02-16 | 1988-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |