Tote container

Abstract

A portable container has an insulated vessel with a payload chamber sized to receive a payload of one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods, an insulated lid operable to close the payload chamber of the vessel, the lid being movable relative to the vessel to access the payload chamber, and one or more cooling packs that can be inserted in the payload chamber. The cooling packs include a shell that encloses a phase change material. The cooling pack(s) passively cool the one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods in the payload chamber.

Description

TOTE CONTAINERINCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

[0001] Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.BACKGROUNDField

[0002] The present disclosure is directed to a portable container, and more particularly to a tote container with one or more cooling packs for cooling temperature sensitive goods.Description of the Related Art

[0003] Portable coolers are used to store products (e.g., liquids, beverages, medicine, organs, food, etc.) in a cooled state. Some are Styrofoam containers that are often filled with ice to keep the product in a cooled state. However, the ice eventually melts, soaking the products and requiring the emptying of the liquid. Such coolers can also leak during transport, which is undesirable. Additionally, such coolers are undesirable for transporting goods across long distances due to their inability to maintain the product in a cooled state, the melting of ice and / or possible leaking of liquid from the cooler. Further, such Styrofoam coolers are brittle and can crack, and therefore have poor reusability. Therefore, such coolers are undesirable for use with temperature sensitive products (e.g., food, vaccines, medicine, organ transplants, perishable material, etc.) and failure of such containers can compromise the temperature sensitive goods. For example, when the goods are medicine, failures in such containers can lead to the loss of potency of the medicine (e.g., a vaccine).SUMMARY

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved tote container with one or more cooling packs that can (passively) maintain goods in a temperature controlled state (e.g., in a cooled state).

[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a portable container system, including: an insulated vessel having a payload chamber configured to receive a payload of one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods; an insulated lid configured to close the payload chamber of the vessel, the lid being movable relative to the vessel to access the payload chamber; and one or more cooling packs configured to be removably disposed in the payload chamber, including a shell that encloses a phase change material, the one or more cooling packs configured to passively cool the one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods.

[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the insulated vessel includes one or more vacuum insulated panels.

[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the one or more vacuum insulated panels are multiple separate vacuum insulated panels that extend along sides and bottom of the insulated vessel, surrounding the payload chamber.

[0008] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the insulated vessel is angled or tapered from an open end toward a closed end of the vessel.

[0009] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the insulated lid includes a vacuum insulated panel.

[0010] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the phase change material has a transition temperature of between about -5°C and 10°C.

[0011] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the phase change material has a transition temperature of about 5°C.

[0012] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the insulated vessel and the insulated lid are configured to fit into an outer plastic container and under an outer plastic lid.

[0013] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the insulated vessel and the insulated lid form a multi-use container.

[0014] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, further including an inner sleeve configured to removably extend within the insulated vessel and configured to receive the one or more cooling packs.

[0015] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the insulated vessel has a smaller height than length.

[0016] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the insulated lid includes one or more clamps on an underside of the insulated lid, the one or more clamps configured to removably receive and retain at least one of the one or more cooling packs adjacent an underside of the insulated lid.

[0017] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the one or more clamps are a plurality of clamps spaced apart from each other on three sides of the insulated lid.

[0018] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the one or more cooling packs are a pair of cooling packs and include a first cooing pack configured for placement adjacent a bottom of the payload chamber and a second cooling pack configured for placement adjacent an underside of the lid.

[0019] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, further including one or more buffer material panels configured to be disposed between the one or more cooling packs and the one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods in the payload chamber.

[0020] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the one or more cooling packs are configured to maintain the payload chamber at a controlled temperature for a period of 24-48 hours.

[0021] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the one or more cooling packs are configured to extend across substantially an entire width and depth of the payload chamber.

[0022] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein the lid has a shoulder that contacts the vessel so that a bottom surface of the lid extends into the vessel and so that at least one of the one or more cooling packs that is disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the lid is positioned in the vessel.

[0023] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, wherein a bottom end of the vessel having a chamfer.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure l is a schematic perspective view of a tote container for temperature sensitive or perishable goods.

[0025] Figure 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tote container of FIG.1.

[0026] Figure 2B is a schematic exploded view of the tote container of FIG. 1.

[0027] Figure 2C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tote container of FIG.1.

[0028] Figure 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tote container.

[0029] Figure 3B is a schematic exploded view of the tote container of FIG. 3 A.

[0030] Figure 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tote container.

[0031] Figure 4B is a schematic exploded view of the tote container of FIG. 4A.

[0032] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective exploded view of an outer container with a tote container disposed inside the outer container.

[0033] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the outer container with the tote container of FIG. 5.

[0034] Figure 7 is schematic perspective exploded view of the tote container of FIG. 5

[0035] Figure 8 is a schematic perspective exploded view of an outer container with a tote container disposed inside the outer container.

[0036] Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the outer container with the tote container of FIG. 8.

[0037] Figure 10 is a schematic perspective exploded view of an outer container with a tote container disposed inside the outer container.

[0038] Figure 11 is a schematic perspective exploded view of an outer container with a tote container disposed inside the outer container.

[0039] Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the outer container with the tote container of FIG. 11.

[0040] Figure 13 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the tote container of FIG. 11.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The present disclosure describes various implementations of a tote container that can be used to transport temperature sensitive goods. Advantageously, the tote containers are multi-use containers (i.e., not single use containers, such as of cardboard or Styrofoam) that inhibit (e.g., reduce, prevent) landfill waste. Also, the containers can be multiuse containers and can be made of recyclable materials (e.g. polypropylene). The tote containers have sufficient strength to allow them to be stacked on top of each other (e.g., in columns of 3-10, such as 4 or 5). The goods can be temperature sensitive and / or perishable goods that need to be kept cold, such as medicine, food (raw, such as meat, fish or poultry, or prepared food), beverages, human or animal tissue.

[0042] Figures 1-2C show a tote container 10. The tote container 10 can include a vessel 2 and a lid 4. The tote container 10 can be box shaped; however, in other examples the tote container 10 can have other suitable shapes (e.g., cylindrical). The lid 4 can be completely removable from the vessel 2, as shown in FIG. 2B. In another example, the lid 4 can be hinged to the vessel 2. The vessel 2 can have a payload chamber 3 for receiving one or more temperature sensitive goods and handles 1 (e.g., recessed openings in the vessel 2) to facilitate carrying of the tote container 10. In one example, the payload chamber 3 can have a volume of between 1500 and 2000 cubic inches, such as about 1880 cubic inches or approximately 180% more payload volume than typical tote containers.

[0043] The tote container 10 can include one or more cooling packs 5 (e.g., a single cooling pack 5) between the lid 4 and the payload chamber 3. The cooling pack(s) 5 can extend along substantially the entire width and depth of the payload chamber 3, as best shown in FIGS. 2B-2C. In one example, the cooling pack 5 is disposed proximate or adjacent (e.g., in contact with) the lid 4. The cooling pack 5 can, in one example, be made of a hard plastic material (e.g., be blow molded) and enclose or house (e.g., completely enclose) a phase change material (PCM). In one example, the PCM in the cooling pack 5 can have a transition temperature of about 5°C (e.g., the cooling pack 5 can maintain the payload in the payload chamber 3 at a temperature of about 5°C for a prolonged period of time, such as up to 36 hours). In otherexamples, the PCM in the cooling pack 5 can have a transition temperature above 0°C and below 10°C. The cooling pack(s) 5 can have other suitable transition temperatures.

[0044] In one example, the vessel 2 and the lid 4 can have an outer plastic shell 6 (e.g., 0.1 inches in thickness) and vacuum insulated panels 7 (e.g., between 0.5 inches and 1 inch, such as about % inches in thickness), so that the payload chamber 3 (and therefore the temperature sensitive goods therein) is vacuum insulated relative to the environment surrounding the tote container 10. The outer plastic shell 6 can provide the tote container 10 with impact resistance. The vacuum insulated panels 7 extend along the sides and bottom of the vessel 2, surrounding the payload chamber 3 (e.g., each of the sides and bottom of the vessel 2 can be defined by or include a separate vacuum insulated panel 7). The lid 4 can include a vacuum insulated panel 7 (e.g., enclosed in a cover, such as made of plastic). In one example, the cooling pack 5 can maintain the payload chamber at a controlled temperature for a period of 24-48 hours, such as about 36 hours. As shown in FIG. 2C, the cooling pack 5 advantageously provides an equalized temperature in the payload chamber 3 (e.g., across the payload) with a single pack (e.g., provides uniformity of payload temperature). The lid 4 can have a shoulder 4a that contacts the vessel 2 when the lid 4 is attached to the vessel 2 so that a bottom surface 4b of the lid 4 extends into the vessel 2 and so that the cooling pack 5 is positioned in the vessel 2.

[0045] Figures 3A-3B show a tote container 10A. Some of the features of the tote container 10A are similar to features of the tote container 10 in FIGS. 1-2C. Thus, reference numerals used to designate the various components of the tote container 10A are identical to those used for identifying the corresponding components of the tote container 10 in FIGS. 1- 2C, except that an “A” has been added to the numerical identifier. Therefore, the structure and description for the various features of the tote container 10 in FIGS. 1-2C are understood to also apply to the corresponding features of the tote container 10A in FIGS. 3A-3B, except as described below. Though the features below are described in connection with the container assembly 10A, the features also apply to all containers disclosed herein.

[0046] The tote container 10A differs from the tote container 10 in that the vessel 2A and lid 4A are made of a thermoplastic polymer (e.g., polypropylene) and not an outer plastic shell and vacuum panels. For example, the vessel 2A and lid 4A can have walls (e.g., sidewalls and bottom wall of vessel 2A) with a thickness of between 1 inch and 2 inches (e.g.,1 i inches). Advantageously, the vessel 2A and lid 4A are made of an impact resistant and temperature insulative material. Additionally, the tote container 10A includes two cooling packs 5A, both of which extend along substantially the entire width and depth of the payload chamber 3A, as best shown in FIG. 3A. A first cooling pack 5A1 is disposed proximate or adjacent (e.g., in contact with) the lid 4A. A second cooling pack 5A2 is disposed proximate or adjacent (e.g., in contact with) a base of the payload chamber 3A. Additionally, buffer material panels P are disposed between the cooling packs 5 Al, 5A2 and the payload chamber portion 3A2 that receives the temperature sensitive goods.

[0047] In one example, the cooling packs 5A can house PCM with a transition temperature of about 0°C (e.g., the cooling pack 5A can maintain the payload in the payload chamber 3A at a temperature of about 0°C for a prolonged period of time, such as up to 36 hours). In other examples, the PCM in the cooling packs 5A can have a transition temperature of between -5°C and 5°C. The cooling packs 5A can have other suitable transition temperatures. In one example, the cooling packs 5A can maintain the payload chamber 3A at a controlled temperature for a period of 24-48 hours, such as about 36 hours. In one example, the payload chamber 3A can have a volume of between 1000 and 1200 cubic inches, such as about 1100 cubic inches or approximately 70% more payload volume than typical tote containers.

[0048] Figures 4A-4B show a tote container 10B. Some of the features of the tote container 10B are similar to features of the tote container lOA inFIGS. 3A-3B. Thus, reference numerals used to designate the various components of the tote container 10B are identical to those used for identifying the corresponding components of the tote container 10A in FIGS. 3A-3B, except that a “B” instead of an “A” has been added to the numerical identifier. Therefore, the structure and description for the various features of the tote container 10A in FIGS. 3A-3B are understood to also apply to the corresponding features of the tote container 10B in FIGS. 4A-4B, except as described below. Though the features below are described in connection with the container assembly 10B, the features also apply to all containers disclosed herein.

[0049] The tote container 10B differs from the tote container 10A in that it does not include the buffer material panels. Additionally, the cooling packs 5B (e.g., first cooling pack 5B1 and second cooling pack 5B2) house PCM with a transition temperature of about5°C (e.g., which facilitate the removal of the buffer material panels). The cooling packs 5B can maintain the payload in the payload chamber 3B at a temperature of about 5°C for a prolonged period of time, such as up to 36 hours. In another example, the PCM of the cooling packs 5B can have a transition temperature above 0°C and below 10°C. The cooling packs 5B can have other suitable transition temperatures. In one example, the vessel 2B and lid 4B can have walls (e.g., sidewalls and bottom wall of vessel 2B) with a thickness of between 1.5 inch and 2.5 inches (e.g., 2 inches). In one example, the cooling packs 5B can maintain the payload chamber 3B at a controlled temperature for a period of 24-48 hours, such as about 36 hours. In one example, the payload chamber 3B can have a volume of between 900 and 1000 cubic inches, such as about 950 cubic inches or approximately 45% more payload volume than typical tote containers.

[0050] Figures 5-6 shows an exploded view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a plastic container 30 with a vessel 32 and a lid 34 that can receive and hold a tote container 10C therein. The tote container 10C can have a vessel 2C, a lid 4C and one or more cooling packs 5C. Some of the features of the tote container 10C and one or more cooling packs 5C are similar to features of the tote container 10 and cooling pack 5 in FIGS. 1-2C. Thus, reference numerals used to designate the various components of the tote container 10C are identical to those used for identifying the corresponding components of the tote container 10 in FIGS. 1-2C, except that a “C” has been added to the numerical identifier. Therefore, the structure and description for the various features of the tote container 10 in FIGS. 1-2C are understood to also apply to the corresponding features of the tote container 10C in FIGS. 5-7, except as described below. Though the features below are described in connection with the container assembly 10C, the features also apply to all containers disclosed herein. With reference to FIG. 7, the vessel 2C and lid 4C of the tote container 10C can be made of the same material as described above for the tote container 10 (e.g., the vessel 2C and lid 4C can be or include vacuum insulated panels) and can have one or more cooling packs 5C (e.g., a single cooling pack 5C under the lid 4C, multiple cooling packs) in the same manner as the tote container 10. In one example, the one or more cooling packs 5C can have a transition temperature of about 5°C (e.g., the cooling pack(s) 5C can maintain the payload in the payload chamber 3C at a temperature of about 5°C for a prolonged period of time, such as up to 36 hours). In another example, the one or more cooling packs 5C can have a transition temperatureof about 0°C (e.g., the cooling pack(s) 5C can maintain the payload in the payload chamber 3C at a temperature of about 0°C for a prolonged period of time, such as up to 36 hours). The cooling pack(s) 5C can have other suitable transition temperatures. The tote container IOC is advantageously sized to fit within the plastic container 30 to thereby provide the same cooling advantages as the tote container 10 when incorporated into the container 30. For example, the vessel 2C of the tote container 10C can be angled or tapered (from an open end toward a closed end of the vessel 2C) in the same manner as the vessel 32 of the outer container 30, thereby ensuring a close fit between the tote container 10C and outer container 30. In one example, each of the sides and bottom of the vessel 2C can be defined by or include a separate vacuum insulated panel, and the lid 4C can be defined by or include a separate vacuum insulated panel (e.g., enclosed in a cover, such as made of plastic).

[0051] FIGS. 8-9 show an exploded view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a plastic container 30 with a vessel 32 and a lid 34 that can receive and hold a tote container 10D therein. The tote container 10D can have a vessel 2D, a lid 4D and two cooling packs 5D1, 5D2. Some of the features of the tote container 10D and two cooling packs 5D1, 5D2 are similar to features of the tote container 10 and cooling pack 5 in FIGS. 1-2C. Thus, reference numerals used to designate the various components of the tote container 10D are identical to those used for identifying the corresponding components of the tote container 10 in FIGS. 1-2C, except that a “D” has been added to the numerical identifier. Therefore, the structure and description for the various features of the tote container 10 in FIGS. 1-2C are understood to also apply to the corresponding features of the tote container 10D in FIGS. 8-9, except as described below. Though the features below are described in connection with the container assembly 10D, the features also apply to all containers disclosed herein. With reference to FIG. 8, the vessel 2D and lid 4D of the tote container 10D can be made of the same material as described above for the tote container 10 (e.g., the vessel 2D and lid 4D can be or include vacuum insulated panels) and can have cooling packs 5D1, 5D2 (e.g., one cooling pack 5D1 under the lid 4D, and a second cooling pack 5D2 on a bottom of the pay load chamber 3D) in the same manner as the tote container 10. In one example, the cooling packs 5D1, 5D2 can have a transition temperature of about 5°C (e.g., the cooling packs 5D1, 5D2 can maintain the payload in the payload chamber 3C at a temperature of about 5°C for a prolonged period of time, such as up to 36 hours). In another example, the cooling packs 5D1, 5D2 can have atransition temperature of about 0°C (e.g., the cooling packs 5D1,5D2 can maintain the payload in the payload chamber 3C at a temperature of about 0°C for a prolonged period of time, such as up to 36 hours). The cooling packs 5D1, 5D2 can have other suitable transition temperatures. The tote container 10D is advantageously sized to fit within the plastic container 30 to thereby provide the same cooling advantages as the tote container 10 when incorporated into the container 30. For example, the vessel 2D of the tote container 10D can be angled or tapered (from an open end toward a closed end of the vessel 2D) in the same manner as the vessel 32 of the outer container 30, thereby ensuring a close fit between the tote container 10D and outer container 30. The payload chamber 3D can have a larger capacity (e.g., 75% larger) than existing tote containers. In one example, each of the sides and bottom of the vessel 2D can be defined by or include a separate vacuum insulated panel, and the lid 4D can be defined by or include a separate vacuum insulated panel (e g., enclosed in a cover, such as made of plastic).

[0052] FIG. 10 shows an exploded view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a plastic container 30 with a vessel 32 and a lid 34 that can receive and hold a tote container 10E therein. The tote container 10E can have a vessel 2E, a lid 4E and two cooling packs 5E1, 5E2. Some of the features of the tote container 10E and two cooling packs 5E1, 5E2 are similar to features of the tote container 10C and cooling pack 5D1, 5D2 in FIGS. 8-9. Thus, reference numerals used to designate the various components of the tote container 10E are identical to those used for identifying the corresponding components of the tote container 10D in FIGS. 8- 9, except that an “E” instead of a “D” has been added to the numerical identifier. Therefore, the structure and description for the various features of the tote container 10D in FIGS. 8-9 are understood to also apply to the corresponding features of the tote container 10E in FIG. 10, except as described below. Though the features below are described in connection with the container assembly 10E, the features also apply to all containers disclosed herein. The tote container 10E differs from the tote container 10D in that the lid 4E has one or more clamps 5E (e g., multiple clamps spaced apart from each other on three sides of the lid 4E) on an underside of the lid 4E that can removably receive and retain the cooing pack 5E1 against the underside of the lid 4E. In one example, each of the sides and bottom of the vessel 2E can be defined by or include a separate vacuum insulated panel, and the lid 4E can be defined by or include a separate vacuum insulated panel (e.g., enclosed in a cover, such as made of plastic).

[0053] FIGS. 11 -12 show an exploded view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a plastic container 30’ with a vessel 32’ and a lid 34’ that can receive and hold a tote container 10F therein. The container 30’ can be smaller than the container 30. The tote container 10F can have a vessel 2F, a lid 4F and one or more cooling packs 5F. Some of the features of the tote container 10F and one or more cooling packs 5F are similar to features of the tote container 10C and one or more cooling pack 5C in FIGS. 5-7. Thus, reference numerals used to designate the various components of the tote container 10F are identical to those used for identifying the corresponding components of the tote container 10C in FIGS. 5- 7, except that an “F” instead of a “C” has been added to the numerical identifier. Therefore, the structure and description for the various features of the tote container 10C in FIGS. 5-7 are understood to also apply to the corresponding features of the tote container 10F in FIGS. 11- 12, except as described below. Though the features below are described in connection with the container assembly 10F, the features also apply to all containers disclosed herein. The tote container 10F differs from the tote container 10C in that it is smaller (e.g., has a smaller height, has half the height of the tote container 10C). FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of the tote container 10F, with an inner sleeve 6F surrounded by the vessel 2F. A similar inner sleeve can be used in the vessel 2E, 2D, 2C. In some examples, the vessel 2F can include an outer layer or sleeve that covers the vacuum insulated panels of the vessel 2F, so that the vacuum insulated panels are disposed between the outer layer or sleeve and the inner sleeve 6F. A similar outer layer or sleeve can be used in the vessel 2E, 2D, 2C. In one example, a bottom end of the vessel 2F can have a chamfer. In one example, each of the sides and bottom of the vessel 2F can be defined by or include a separate vacuum insulated panel, and the lid 4F can be defined by or include a separate vacuum insulated panel (e.g., enclosed in a cover, such as made of plastic).Additional Examples

[0054] In examples of the present disclosure, a portable container system may be in accordance with any of the following clauses:

[0055] Clause 1. A portable container system, comprising: an insulated vessel having a payload chamber configured to receive a pay load of one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods; an insulated lid configured to close the payload chamber of the vessel, thelid being movable relative to the vessel to access the payload chamber; and one or more cooling packs configured to be removably disposed in the payload chamber, comprising a shell that encloses a phase change material, the one or more cooling packs configured to passively cool the one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods.

[0056] Clause 2. The system of clause 1, wherein the insulated vessel comprises one or more vacuum insulated panels.

[0057] Clause 3. The system of clause 2, wherein the one or more vacuum insulated panels are multiple separate vacuum insulated panels that extend along sides and bottom of the insulated vessel, surrounding the payload chamber.

[0058] Clause 4. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the insulated vessel is angled or tapered from an open end toward a closed end of the vessel.

[0059] Clause 5. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the insulated lid comprises a vacuum insulated panel.

[0060] Clause 6. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the phase change material has a transition temperature of between about -5°C and 10°C.

[0061] Clause 7. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the phase change material has a transition temperature of about 5°C.

[0062] Clause 8. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the insulated vessel and the insulated lid are configured to fit into an outer plastic container and under an outer plastic lid.

[0063] Clause 9. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the insulated vessel and the insulated lid form a multi-use container.

[0064] Clause 10. The system of any preceding clause, further comprising an inner sleeve configured to removably extend within the insulated vessel and configured to receive the one or more cooling packs.

[0065] Clause 11. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the insulated vessel has a smaller height than length.

[0066] Clause 12. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the insulated lid comprises one or more clamps on an underside of the insulated lid, the one or more clamps configured to removably receive and retain at least one of the one or more cooling packs adjacent an underside of the insulated lid.

[0067] Clause 13. The system of clause 12, wherein the one or more clamps are a plurality of clamps spaced apart from each other on three sides of the insulated lid.

[0068] Clause 14. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more cooling packs are a pair of cooling packs and include a first cooing pack configured for placement adjacent a bottom of the payload chamber and a second cooling pack configured for placement adjacent an underside of the lid.

[0069] Clause 15. The system of any preceding clause, further comprising one or more buffer material panels configured to be disposed between the one or more cooling packs and the one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods in the payload chamber.

[0070] Clause 16. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more cooling packs are configured to maintain the payload chamber at a controlled temperature for a period of 24-48 hours.

[0071] Clause 17. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the one or more cooling packs are configured to extend across substantially an entire width and depth of the payload chamber.

[0072] Clause 18. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the lid has a shoulder that contacts the vessel so that a bottom surface of the lid extends into the vessel and so that at least one of the one or more cooling packs that is disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the lid is positioned in the vessel.

[0073] Clause 19. The system of any preceding clause, wherein a bottom end of the vessel having a chamfer.

[0074] While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the systems and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present inventions is defined only by reference to the appended claims.

[0075] Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and / or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0076] Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0077] Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and / or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the presentdisclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.

[0078] For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0079] Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and / or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and / or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and / or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

[0080] Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

[0081] Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel” and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departsfrom exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree.

[0082] The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.

[0083] Of course, the foregoing description is that of certain features, aspects and advantages of the present invention, to which various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, the devices described herein need not feature all of the objects, advantages, features and aspects discussed above. Thus, for example, those of skill in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications and methods of use, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of these specific features and aspects of embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the discussed devices.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A portable container system, comprising: an insulated vessel having a payload chamber configured to receive a payload of one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods; an insulated lid configured to close the payload chamber of the vessel, the lid being movable relative to the vessel to access the payload chamber; and one or more cooling packs configured to be removably disposed in the payload chamber, comprising a shell that encloses a phase change material, the one or more cooling packs configured to passively cool the one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the insulated vessel comprises one or more vacuum insulated panels.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more vacuum insulated panels are multiple separate vacuum insulated panels that extend along sides and bottom of the insulated vessel, surrounding the payload chamber.

4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the insulated vessel is angled or tapered from an open end toward a closed end of the vessel.

5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the insulated lid comprises a vacuum insulated panel.

6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the phase change material has a transition temperature of between about -5°C and 10°C.

7. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the phase change material has a transition temperature of about 5°C.

8. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the insulated vessel and the insulated lid are configured to fit into an outer plastic container and under an outer plastic lid.

9. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the insulated vessel and the insulated lid form a multi-use container.

10. The system of any preceding claim, further comprising an inner sleeve configured to removably extend within the insulated vessel and configured to receive the one or more cooling packs.11 . The system of any preceding claim, wherein the insulated vessel has a smaller height than length.

12. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the insulated lid comprises one or more clamps on an underside of the insulated lid, the one or more clamps configured to removably receive and retain at least one of the one or more cooling packs adjacent an underside of the insulated lid.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more clamps are a plurality of clamps spaced apart from each other on three sides of the insulated lid.

14. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more cooling packs are a pair of cooling packs and include a first cooing pack configured for placement adjacent a bottom of the payload chamber and a second cooling pack configured for placement adjacent an underside of the lid.

15. The system of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more buffer material panels configured to be disposed between the one or more cooling packs and the one or more temperature sensitive or perishable goods in the payload chamber.

16. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more cooling packs are configured to maintain the payload chamber at a controlled temperature for a period of 24-48 hours.

17. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the one or more cooling packs are configured to extend across substantially an entire width and depth of the payload chamber.

18. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the lid has a shoulder that contacts the vessel so that a bottom surface of the lid extends into the vessel and so that at least one of the one or more cooling packs that is disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the lid is positioned in the vessel.

19. The system of any preceding claim, wherein a bottom end of the vessel having a chamfer.

Images