Apparatuses and methods for providing temperature controlled portable container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017261237-A1
Application number	US-201715454900-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2017
Priority date	Mar 10, 2016
Publication date	Sep 14, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for providing temperature control. An apparatus for temperature control comprises a portable housing configured for delivery of items, an insulated storage compartment in the portable housing and configured to hold a plurality of items during a transport of the portable housing, a temperature control device configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment, and a host coupler configured to couple with a host temperature control system to allow the host temperature control system to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment. Wherein the temperature control device is configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment without the host coupler being coupled to the host temperature control system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for temperature control comprising:
a portable housing configured for delivery of items; an insulated storage compartment in the portable housing and configured to hold a plurality of items during a transport of the portable housing; a temperature control device configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment; and a host coupler configured to couple with a host temperature control system to allow the host temperature control system to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment; wherein the temperature control device is configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment without the host coupler being coupled to the host temperature control system.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the host coupler comprises a vent to the insulated storage compartment that allows air to be exchanged with the host temperature control system.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the host coupler comprises a mechanical coupling device for securing the portable housing to the host temperature control system.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the host coupler comprises a power port for receiving power from the host temperature control system.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the host temperature control system comprises an appliance at a customer premises.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the host temperature control system comprises a temperature control system on a transport vehicle.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the host temperature control system comprises a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of portable housings enclosing storage compartments.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a vortex tube system.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment with a first temperature control method and the host temperature control system is configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment with a second temperature control method different from the first temperature control method.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a power source for powering the temperature control device, the power source comprising one of more of: a power cord, a power port, a power adapter, and a battery.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment before, during, and/or after the transport of the portable housing to a customer premises.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to automatically turn off when the host coupler is coupled to the host temperature control system.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portable housing is configured to stack with other portable housings enclosing insulated storage compartments.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portable housing comprises a front opening access door that is accessible when a plurality of portable housings are stacked.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor device for sensing one or more of the temperature in the insulated storage compartment, a movement of the portable housing, a location of the portable housing, and a content of the insulated storage compartment.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a communication device configured to communicate data collected by the sensor device to a central computer system.

17 . A method for item delivery comprising:
receiving, at a control circuit, a temperature controlled portable container order including a list of items from a customer; causing items on the list of items to be placed in a portable container unit; instructing, with the control circuit, a delivery of the portable container unit with the items on the list of items; and causing the portable container unit to be left at a customer premises until a container return process is initiated; wherein the portable container unit comprises
an insulated storage compartment configured to hold a plurality of items during a transport of the portable container unit;
a temperature control device configured to affect a temperature inside the insulated storage compartment; and
a portable housing enclosing the insulated storage compartment and the temperature control device.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
instructing a retrieval of the portable container unit; and marking the portable container unit as available for a subsequent delivery after the portable container unit retrieved from the customer is processed.

19 . The method of claim 17 , the temperature controlled portable container order comprises a periodic subscription of the list of items.

20 . A system for temperature control comprising:
a host temperature control system comprising one or more portable container couplers; and a plurality of portable containers, each portable container comprising:
an insulated storage compartment configured to hold a plurality of items during a transport of the portable container;
a temperature control device configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment; and
a host coupler configured to couple with the host temperature control system to allow the host temperature control system to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment;
wherein the temperature control device is configured to affect the temperature inside the insulated storage compartment without the host coupler being coupled to the host temperature control system.

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc

Inventors

• High Donald R
• Winkle David C

Classifications

• G06Q10/0832

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title

• F25D2400/16

  Convertible refrigerators · CPC title

• F25B49/00

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F25B9/04 Primary

  using vortex effect · CPC title

• F25D23/065

  Details · CPC title