Rigid refreezable portable storage container insert
View Patent ↗An apparatus is described herein for storing and transporting food and beverages, comprising a rigid housing configured to fit within a container, the housing comprising a base and a wall extending outwardly from the base, the wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a space therebetween, a refreezable material disposed in the space. The base is configured with a rigid protrusion having an outer dimension shaped to generally match the dimension of the inner layer of the wall of the interior space of housing in order that the rigid protrusion can be inserted within the interior space of another apparatus of the same configuration. Other products, systems and methods also are disclosed.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a rigid, unitary housing configured to fit within a portable storage container, the unitary housing comprising a base including an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a wall having a length and extending outwardly from the base, forming an interior space, the wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a refreezable material wall space therebetween that is configured to receive a refreezable material,
wherein the base is configured with a rigid protrusion having an outer dimension shaped to match the dimension of the inner layer of the wall of the interior space of the unitary housing in order that the rigid protrusion can be inserted within the interior space of another apparatus of the same configuration.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to contain a refreezable material.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the wall and the base have separate apertures configured to receive the refreezable material.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interior space formed by the base and the wall is configured to be a shape comprising at least one of rectangular, round, oval, pentagonal, and hexagonal.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vertical wall has a single aperture configured to receive the refreezable material in the refreezable material wall space.
6 . An apparatus, comprising:
a first divider panel, and
a rigid unitary housing configured to fit within a portable storage container, the unitary housing comprising a base including an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a wall extending outwardly from the base, forming an interior space, the wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a refreezable material space therebetween that is configured to receive a refreezable material, at least one of the inner layer of the wall and the interior surface of the base including a first channel configured to support the first divider panel in the interior space of the unitary housing wherein the base is configured with a rigid protrusion having an outer dimension shaped to match the dimension of the inner layer of the wall of the interior space of housing in order that the rigid protrusion can be inserted within the interior space of another apparatus of the same configuration, and
wherein the rigid protrusion includes a divider storage compartment comprising an indented section that is sized to receive the first divider panel when it is not mounted within the interior space.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the base contains a refreezable material.
8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first divider panel is configured to be removably mounted in the housing.
9 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the base has a rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal shape.
10 . The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a second divider panel configured to be mounted in the housing, wherein at least one of the first divider panel and the second divider panel can be stored in the interior space between adjacent inserts when not in use.
11 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first channel extends along both the inner layer of the wall and the interior surface of the base.
12 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the inner layer of the wall and the interior surface of the base includes a second channel configured to support a second divider panel in the interior space of the housing.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second channel extends along both the inner layer of the wall and the interior surface of the base.
14 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the portion of the first channel and the portion of the second channel that are formed on the interior surface of the base are perpendicular to one another.
15 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the wall and the base comprise a thermoplastic material, thermoset material, a metal, or a rigid composite.
16 . The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a second divider panel configured to be mounted in the housing, wherein the indented section is sized to receive the second divider panel when it is not mounted within the interior space.
17 . An apparatus, comprising:
a rigid, unitary housing configured to fit within a portable storage container, the unitary housing comprising a base including an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a wall extending outwardly from the base, forming an interior space, the wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a refreezable material space therebetween, the base being at least one of rectangular, pentagonal, and hexagonal, the wall being-tapered to enable multiple unitary housings to be stacked on one another, and
a refreezable material disposed in the refreezable material space in direct contact with the inner layer of the wall.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the refreezable material comprises at least one of a liquid and a gel.
19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a first divider panel configured to be removably mounted in the unitary housing.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the inner layer of the wall and the interior surface of the base including a first channel configured to support the first divider panel in the interior space of the unitary housing.