Insulated container

Abstract

An insulated container may include a rigid container surrounding an insulation layer formed from a post-industrial, pre-consumer card waste. The insulation layer may include a natural fiber lamination layer on an outer surface of the insulation layer or may be housed in a biodegradable plastic. The insulated layer may be manufactured in a capital “T” shape such that it may be folded for compact transportation prior to end use. The folded insulation layer may bound by a separable band. The separable band may be removed when folded insulation layer is placed in the rigid container. The insulation layer and the band may be biodegradable in an anaerobic environment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation application claiming priority to International Application No. PCT / US18 / 32101, filed on May 10, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 609,102, filed on Dec. 21, 2017. This application also claims priority as a continuation-in-part of Hague Design Application No. 35 / 001,472, filed on Dec. 22, 2017. This application also claims priority to U.S. Divisional patent application Ser. No. 15 / 959,801 filed on Apr. 23, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 436,417, filed on Feb. 17, 2017 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 338,136, filed on May 18, 2016. This application is also a Continuation-in-Part of PCT / US2017 / 018461, filed on Feb. 17, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 338,136, filed on May 18, 2016. The contents of each application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.TECHNI...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention is an insulated shipping container which affords safe transportation of temperature sensitive products, which has a consistent density, which maintains an in internal temperature relative to an external temperature, which is efficiently and economically manufactured, which is lightweight, and which minimizes negative impacts to the environment.

[0012]According to one aspect of the invention, the use of polyethylene film wrapped around pads manufactured from cotton waste can be eliminated. No wrapping is required by the present invention and exposed fibers alone can be utilized. Because the fibers are pre-consumer, according to the present invention, the risk of cross contamination from post-consumer recycled products is eliminated.

[0013]Alternatively, a natural fiber lamination may be applied to surfaces in order to provide a smoother surface wherein images and indicia may be applied. The elimination of poly wrap may provide an environmental benefit and also be a cost saving measure. The entirety of the insulation layer, whether including fibers alone or also including the laminated layer is biodegradable in anaerobic environments.

[0026]According to another embodiment of the invention, the insulated container may include an insulation layer formed from a post-industrial, pre-consumer cotton waste, a rigid cardboard container surrounding the insulation layer, and a natural fiber lamination layer applied to a contact surface of the insulation layer. According to such an embodiment, the cotton waste may include cotton waste generated from one or more of cotton processing, cotton manufacturing, and / or cotton converting. According to such an embodiment, the insulation layer may be biodegradable in an anaerobic environment. According to such an embodiment, the insulation layer may be capable of maintaining a constant internal temperature for 48 hours where three 500 ML and two 250 ML IV bags are cooled by four 24 oz frozen ice packs placed at the top and bottom below a payload.

Problems solved by technology

However, many of these packages and devices are expensive and heavy (as with the refrigeration and heat sinks) or are harmful to the environment (as with some refrigeration and also the foams and plastics) or both.

However, these products may be prone to contamination from yarn dies, applied chemicals, and other contaminants which the clothing may have acquired during the period of use.

The post-consumer material must be cleaned and shredded ahead of reprocessing, however, this process does not eliminate yarn dies and the possibility of contaminants.

Therefore, because of the contamination and residual colorization issues these products require that any insulation manufactured from post-consumer cotton be wrapped in another material such as plastic.

This use of plastic and other barriers undermines the environmental incentive for using a recycled product by posing additional environmental concerns.

It may also further add to the manufacturing costs.

Another problem in the art is that insulated containers are often manufactured by a different company than a packager who sends products.

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