3995results about "Containers with thermal insulation" patented technology

A collapsible insulated container has a base wall and a peripheral wall with an open end defining an enclosure. The peripheral wall has at least two layers and is divided into elongate pockets between the layers, with foldable crease lines between adjacent pockets. Each pocket contains a flexible-walled, insulating gel pack which substantially fills the pocket. The crease lines may be defined by stitching securing the outer and inner layers of the container together. The gel packs may be surrounded by matting, foam or mesh material which is sewn into the lines of stitching, or may have integral peripheral rims sewn into the lines of stitching. The container is foldable between an erect, open condition and a storage condition in which it is folded along the crease lines into a substantially flattened package.

A soft sided insulated cooler bag has a base and side panels. The base includes a rigid or semi-rigid reinforcement or batten that serve to provide a relatively hard or stiff edge about which the bag can be panel folded over on itself. The upper edge of the bag has a length that is as great as half the periphery of the bottom panel. The bag can be collapsed to a flat position and then panel folded to a storage position. Retainers are provided to keep the bag in the storage position. The bag has lifting apparatus, which may be strap. The straps may be anchored to the bag at a plurality of anchor points, some of which may be sliding keepers, such that the handle can be moved to a first position in which the bag may be held in a predominantly up-and-down orientation, and to a second position in which the bag may be held in a predominantly flat or horizontal position.

A collapsible insulated bag designed to allow items retained within an inner pouch thereof to remain within predetermined temperature ranges for predetermined periods of time and wherein the bags are designed to be easily compressed or compacted for storage or shipment to end users. The bags include at least an outer reflective layer, an intermediate open foam layer and the inner pouch layer.

A soft-sided insulated container assembly is made of a flexible wall structure that is movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. In one variation of the deployed position it resembles a tote-bag; in another variation of folding the deployed position corresponds to a generally box-like shape. The container includes a self-inflating wall structure that has an inner layer or skin, an outer layer or skin, and a resilient, open-cell insulating layer trapped between the two skins. A valve governs the ability to take in or to expel air. The outer layer may be thicker and more robust that the inner layer, the better to resist abrasion or punctures. The inner layer may be reflective. There may be a removable internal liner. That liner may be transparent.

A highly adaptable beverage container insulator is designed for a significant size range of beverage containers. The insulator is tubular with open ends that are formed from two elastic panels. Each panel has straight top and bottom edges with elastic hems. The side edges of each panel are slightly curved to maintain the properties and proper appearance of the insulator. To form the insulator, two of the panels are joined along their side edges to form a tube. The insulator is placed around a beverage container to better insulate the container and maintain the temperature of the beverage located therein. The insulator accommodates significant variation in the size and shape of beverage containers. For example, a smaller version of the insulator is readily adaptable to conform to both a standard twelve ounce soda can and to a ten ounce juice bottle.

An insulating cup or container (50) and a method of manufacturing it comprises (first embodiment) providing a sidewall blank (12B) having two sections separated by a fold score (15), and a separate insulating sheet (18) (corrugated, ribbed, embossed, foamed, perforated, etc.) which is adhesively fastened to one of the sections. The blank is folded in half along the fold score, to form a three-layered assembly with the insulating sheet in the middle. To reduce the thickness of the seam, the blank is thinned in the area adjacent a fold score prior to folding. The assembly is wrapped around a mandrel to bring the outer edges together at a side seam (22S) to form a sidewall 12. The side seam is sealed, the bottom is added, and the rim is formed. In a second embodiment, the insulating layer can be a coating on one or both of the sections of the two-section starting blank. In a third embodiment, the insulating section (40) is integral with, and extends from, one edge of the starting blank. It is folded over first to form the middle layer of the wrappable assembly. The width of the seam is reduced while being reinforced at the top by using edge tabs, thereby providing a rounder cup and one which is less susceptible to top leakage due to an unsealed top curl. One tab extends at the fold line from the top edge of one section, which is shorter, to the top edge of the adjacent and higher section. A second tab extends out from the top of the side edge of the higher section so that it overlaps and seals the other tab when the cup is formed.

The insulated container and insert are formed of relatively soft and flexible panels having relatively thick cores of thermal insulation captured between thin impervious sheets. The outer container has a closable top, and the insert has an open top. The insert is about half the height of the outer container, allowing ice or other cooling material, beverage cans and / or bottles, etc., to be placed in the bottom of the outer container with the insert resting thereon for the carriage of food therein. As the outer bottom surface of the insert will be moist from contact with ice or the like therebelow, the outer container includes a drop down panel that may be lowered for placement of the insert thereon to preclude contamination of the bottom of the insert with loose sand or the like. Additional carrying handles and straps are provided, as well as outer pockets on the outer container.

A soft-sided insulated container assembly includes a collapsible cooler body made of insulated panels. The body is to be carried by an arrangement of lifting apparatus that includes asymmetrically arranged fittings. One lifting fitting may be an inboard shoulder strap. Another fitting may an handle located on an outboard portion of face of the container body, and may be at a height for engagement by the hand of the user. The soft-sided insulated container assembly may have a liner to contain liquids. The soft-sided insulated container assembly may have an easy access lid. The insulated container may be collapsed to a flat position, and secured in place. In one embodiment the asymmetric lifting arrangement includes a shoulder strap attached to the sides of the container in a manner that distributes the load into the sides of the container, and a grip, such as a handle, located on the lower portion of the front side of the container. The grip may be attached to the container so as to pull up on the bottom of the container when used by a person.

A soft sided insulated cooler bag has a base and side panels. The base includes a rigid or semi-rigid reinforcement or batten that serve to provide a relatively hard or stiff edge about which the bag can be panel folded over on itself. The upper edge of the bag has a length that is as great as half the periphery of the bottom panel. The bag can be collapsed to a flat position and then panel folded to a storage position. Retainers are provided to keep the bag in the storage position.

An insulated container for shipping, transporting, or storing warm or cold items is disclosed, useful for maintaining temperature of items stored or shipped within the container, the container assembly consisting of at least one layer of rigid or semi-rigid material, and at least one layer of flexible, thermally insulating, water-resistant material, in the form of a pouch, which pouch is secured to the rigid material at areas which allow easy reconfiguration of the container to form a finished container having desirable insulating and water-resistant characteristics.

A secure pickup and delivery container includes a lockable door, a control unit, an access element, and an anchoring element, according to one embodiment. The control unit includes a processing element and a memory that can be programmed either on-site or remotely with access privilege information such as identity (e.g. of container, delivery person, etc.), location, date, time, frequency of access, and / or package-specific information. In one embodiment, access privilege information is programmed when an intended recipient of a delivery consummates a point of sale transaction, for example over the Internet or telephone. The access element can be a keypad, a biometric scanner, a card reader, a bar-code reader, and / or a wireless control element to read a programmable token such as a smart card. Delivery personnel can enter access request information into the access element, and if it favorably compares with the access privilege information, the control unit unlocks the door. Notification can be concurrently made via wireline or wireless communications to the intended recipient, who may be situated remote from the secure container. The recipient can optionally return a delivery acknowledgment to the delivery personnel. Details of the delivery transaction can also be recorded electronically on the delivery personnel's token, within the container, or at a remote location.

A portable cooler includes an insulated body that defines a main interior storage space, and a lid structured to at least partially cover the main interior storage space. The lid includes an integrated blender or an integrated blender drive. Components of the blender may include a source of electrical power, an electric motor, and a blender spindle mounted through a surface of the lid and coupled to the electric motor. The integrated blender may also include a blender jar structured to hold food items for blending and one or more blending blades. The lid may further include a blender recess shaped in a negative mold of a collar of the blender jar to prevent the blender jar from rotating during operation.

A collapsible insulated bag designed to allow items retained within an inner pouch thereof to remain within predetermined temperature ranges for predetermined periods of time and wherein the bags are designed to be easily compressed or compacted for storage or shipment to end users. The bags include at least an outer reflective layer, an intermediate open foam layer and the inner pouch layer.

A portable, foldable, soft-sided insulated container has an a lid mounted carrier, or seat, for a substantially rigid container of a thermal storage medium, such as water. The container assembly may be free of any rigid tub, and may thus retain the ability to fold. The carrier is a substantially rigid plate or panel, or array, that mounts to an otherwise soft panel. The panel, or portion of a panel, to which the rigid carrier mounts is a panel that may tend to stay substantially flat (or curved) when the container assembly is folded. The mounting is such that the substantially rigid thermal storage medium container can slide in and out of the seat. When not in use the entire assembly can be folded into a collapsed position for storage.

A rugged, hand-held container for storing beverage containers is formed by folding together multiple panels defined in a pre-scored, slot-less blank. Each blank comprises a rectangular center panel integrally bordered by a pair of end panels and side panels. Integral, diametrically spaced apart corner panels interconnect the center panel with the other panels. Score lines between the adjacent panels facilitate folding. The center panel forms a cooler bottom, and blank end and side panels respectively form carton ends and sides. Each end panel has an outer locking panel comprising an elongated receptive slot. Each side panel has an integral outer handle panel comprising an inner roof segment that forms the container top and handle segments with locking tabs that are captivated within the receptive slot. A radiused locking tab ramp comprises an enlarged portion providing an overcenter action. Notches adjacent the tabs captivate the locking panels.

Provided are systems comprising a tote and one or more pouch fabricated out of a flexible or semi-flexible relatively thermal insulating material, optimally configured for holding, protecting, and carrying a standard reclosable or “zip lock” plastic storage bag. Totes described herein comprise one or more adjustable dividers that reversibly and adjustably fit within the interior compartment of the tote to create subcompartments that support each of the one or more pouches in registered alignment. In combination, the pouches and tote form a system for holding, protecting, and carrying conventional reclosable plastic storage bags.

Vacuum heat insulator comprising a laminated core made of a plurality of sheets of inorganic fibers having 10 μm or smaller in diameter and a certain composition including SiO2 as a main component, Al2O3, CaO, and MgO, a gas barrier enveloping member, and an absorbent. The vacuum heat insulator is characterized by having at least one groove formed therein after fabrication of the vacuum heat insulator. Further, the vacuum heat insulator is characterized by using inorganic fiber core of which a peak of distribution in fiber diameter lies between 1 μm or smaller and 0.1 μm or larger, and not containing binding material for binding the fiber material. Electronic apparatuses use the vacuum heat insulator. With use of the vacuum heat insulator, electronic and electric apparatuses superior in energy saving and not to present uncomfortable feeling to the user can be provided.

An improved paperboard has been bulk enhanced by retaining a substantial portion of bulk-enhanced additives including expandable microspheres in a suitable distribution within the paperboard. The cellulosic paperboard web has an overall fiber weight (w) of at least 40 lbs. per 3000 square feet and, at a fiber density of 3, 4.5, 6.5, 7, 8.3, and 9 pounds per 3000 square foot ream at a fiberboard thickness of 0.001 inches, has a GM Taber stiffness of at least about 0.00246 w2.63 grams-centimeter / fiber mat density1.63, and a GM tensile stiffness of at least about 615+13.18 w pounds per inch. The high retention of the bulk enhancing additives is believed to result from the incorporation of suitable retention aids. The resulting paperboard has better GM Taber stiffness values and GM tensile stiffness than prior art paperboards. The paperboard also has increased strain to failure and is able to be formed into suitable paperboard containers without loss of integrity. The resulting containers have increased hold times when they contain hot or cold food or drink.

A cooler is provided which has various improvements. The cooler may be a passive cooler or may be actively cooled for providing desirable cooling effects. The cooler may include an accessory system, for example, with bottle or can holders or a post holder which utilizes the weight of the cooler to support a sunshade. The accessory system may be positioned in various locations of the cooler, one location being in a recess which is utilized to open the cooler lid. The smart cooler may also comprise a cushion assembly which may be placed on an upper surface of the lid and may have straps to retain the cushion on the lid. The lid may be formed to accept and retain a cushion retaining feature so that the cushion does not excessively move from the top surface of the lid.

Insulated shipping container and method of making the same. In a preferred embodiment, the insulated shipping container comprises an outer box, an insulated insert, an inner box and a closure member. The outer box, which is preferably made of corrugated fiberboard, comprises a rectangular prismatic cavity bounded by a plurality of rectangular side walls, a closed bottom end, and top closure flaps. The insulated insert is snugly, but removably, disposed within the outer box and is shaped to define a rectangular prismatic cavity bounded by a bottom wall and a plurality of rectangular side walls, the insulated insert having an open top end. The insulated insert is made of a foamed polyurethane body to which on all sides, except its bottom, a thin, flexible, unfoamed polymer bag is integrally bonded. The bag is a unitary structure having a generally uniform rectangular shape, the bag being formed by sealing shut one end of a tubular member with a transverse seam and forming longitudinal creases extending from opposite ends of the seam. The inner box, which is snugly, but removably, disposed within the insert, is preferably made of corrugated fiberboard and is shaped to include a rectangular prismatic cavity bounded by a plurality of rectangular side walls and a closed bottom end, the top end thereof being open. The closure member is a thick piece of foam material snugly, but removably, disposed in the open end of the inner box.

A thermally insulating package comprises an outer shell (6) formed from a foam insulating material, a plurality of vacuum insulated panels (12) removably received on the walls of the outer shell (6) and a plurality of phase change material panels (18) arranged within the vacuum insulated panels (12) to define a payload space.

A packaging system having an outer container and a segment panel defining a plurality of phase change material (PCM) segments, with said segments being aligned with sides of the outer container interior upon wrapping around a payload and insertion into the outer container. The segmented panels may include edge tapers which facilitate the wrapping process with adjacent edge tapers being brought together during the wrapping process. A method of packaging using PCM-containing segments which are wrapped around a portion of a payload is also disclosed.

A self-supporting bag configured to carry attire, equipment, food, beverage, and the like includes a first pair of upstanding mesh side panels joined together at respective side edges to form a shaped compartment body defining an inner body cavity having an opening at an upper end thereof, and an insulated compartment affixed to lower edges of the joined first pair of mesh side panels, a top outer surface of the thermal compartment forming a bottom panel of the bag. The compartment includes a re-closeable opening accessible from the exterior of the bag. The bag further includes a second plurality of mesh panels attached between the compartment and outer surfaces of the first pair of upstanding mesh side panels as a plurality of end pockets and side pockets around the periphery of the bag, the end pockets rendering the bag self supporting in the absence of rigid framing.

A thermal storage container is disclosed highly useful for storing items at or below a desired temperature for a predetermined period of time. The thermal storage container comprises an outer box, an insulating box positioned within the outer box, wherein the insulating box has at least one wall having a thickness, and an inner box, wherein the insulating box surrounds the inner box. An outer carton can be positioned around the outer box. An interference fit can be held between the inner box and the insulating box, the insulating box and the outer box, and / or the outer box and the outer carton, and the boxes are removable from one another. At least one layer of tape can be wrapped around the insulating box.