A picnic cooler that includes a food compartment, a gas tank compartment, an off/on electric spigot, a first sealing rings with a first apertures a second sealing ring with a second aperture, and two cooling apparatuses. The cooling apparatus includes a twisting piping system and an upper metallic plate that serves as the bottom of the food compartment. The ratio between the diameter of the second aperture and the diameter of the first aperture is between 1.8 to 2.2 and the ratio between the inner surface area of the food compartment and the outer surface area of the first and second piping systems is between 9 to 17.

A picnic cooler that includes a food compartment, a gas tank compartment, an off/on electric spigot, a first sealing rings with a first apertures a second sealing ring with a second aperture, and two cooling apparatuses. The cooling apparatus includes a twisting piping system and an upper metallic plate that serves as the bottom of the food compartment. The ratio between the diameter of the second aperture and the diameter of the first aperture is between 1.8 to 2.2 and the ratio between the inner surface area of the food compartment and the outer surface area of the first and second piping systems is between 9 to 17.

A portable thermal insulated apparatus for cooling or heating items stored therein. The thermal insulated apparatus includes a container having a lid that removably secures to an open first end thereof and a reservoir unit that removably secures to an open second end. The container includes an inner tube and an outer tube forming an insulated double-wall sealed at both ends in which the lid and reservoir unit can be connected thereto. The reservoir unit removably receives a thermal unit that provides cooling or heating to the contents of the container when affixed thereto. The thermal unit is separable from the reservoir unit, such that the thermal units are interchangeable as needed. In some embodiments, the thermal unit is directly securable to the lid and the second end of the container is permanently sealed.

A semi-passive cooling system for a component exposed to a fluid flow utilizes a hierarchical vasculature and a sacrificial transpirant to cool the component. The component includes a body that defines a transpirant reservoir and the hierarchical vasculature. The transpirant is configured to transition between a solid phase and a vapor phase over an operating temperature range of the component.

A semi-passive cooling system for a component exposed to a fluid flow utilizes a hierarchical vasculature and a sacrificial transpirant to cool the component. The component includes a body that defines a transpirant reservoir and the hierarchical vasculature. The transpirant is configured to transition between a solid phase and a vapor phase over an operating temperature range of the component.

A refrigerator includes a temperature-controlled drawer within a fresh food compartment. The drawer includes a temperature dampening member in thermal communication with a freezing air source and an interior or the drawer. The member is made of a thermally conductive material. In use, heat is conducted away from the interior of the drawer through the temperature dampening member in communication with the freezing air source. Thus, freezing of a foodstuff within the drawer is minimized or prevented, a temperature variance within the drawer is minimized, and humidity within the drawer is not adversely affected by dry freezing air source.

A dispenser assembly for a refrigerator door. The dispenser assembly including a superjacent housing having an open front and an ice chute extending from a rear of the superjacent housing. The ice chute has a proximal end integrally attached to the rear of the superjacent housing and an open distal end. A subjacent housing has an upper end attachable to a lower end of the superjacent housing. The subjacent housing has an open front defining a cavity for receiving a container. The lower end of the superjacent housing is configured to sealingly engage with the upper end of the subjacent housing.

Provided is a transport device which can perform easily thermal storage temperature controlling treatment of the thermal storage material even at a cell transport destination. The transport device of the present invention includes: a thermally insulated container that has a cylindrical shape and a bottom, a thermal storage material disposed along the inner circumferential surface of the thermally insulated container, and a temperature control unit that is detachably fitted on the thermally insulated container and is for performing thermal storage temperature controlling treatment on the thermal storage material, wherein the temperature controlling unit comprises a heat transferring body for performing the thermal storage temperature control processing on the thermal storage material when the unit is fitted on the thermally insulated container, and a storage space formed inside the heat-transferring body for storing a stored object so that the object can be freely put in and taken out.

Provided is a transport device which can perform easily thermal storage temperature controlling treatment of the thermal storage material even at a cell transport destination. The transport device of the present invention includes: a thermally insulated container that has a cylindrical shape and a bottom, a thermal storage material disposed along the inner circumferential surface of the thermally insulated container, and a temperature control unit that is detachably fitted on the thermally insulated container and is for performing thermal storage temperature controlling treatment on the thermal storage material, wherein the temperature controlling unit comprises a heat transferring body for performing the thermal storage temperature control processing on the thermal storage material when the unit is fitted on the thermally insulated container, and a storage space formed inside the heat-transferring body for storing a stored object so that the object can be freely put in and taken out.

Method and system for maintaining temperature-sensitive materials within a target temperature range for an extended time. In one embodiment, the system keeps materials within a temperature range of +2° C. to +8° C. and includes an insulated container, a product box, ice packs, and organic phase-change material (PCM) packs. The ice packs are preconditioned to a very low temperature, such as −20° C. The organic PCM packs do not require preconditioning and may be kept at room temperature. In use, the frozen ice packs and the warm organic PCM packs may be loaded into the insulated container, together with a payload in the product box. Preferably, the frozen ice packs are sandwiched between a pair of organic PCM packs on each face of the product box. The masses of ice and organic PCM are selected so that, upon thermal equilibration, the ice and organic PCM are within the target temperature range.