Temperature Maintaining Shipping Package

Abstract

A package and method of use for packaging temperature sensitive payloads during transport through environments having extreme temperatures. The package includes a segmented, flexible panel containing a plurality of phase change material segments. A pair of such panels may be used, with each panel being separately thermally preconditioned as a function of anticipated ambient temperature during transport. The panels may be formed by retaining phase change material segments between a pair of flexible sheets.

1 . A transport package for a temperature sensitive payload comprising:
 an outer container;   a panel defined by a plurality of interconnected segments of phase change material; and   a payload section adapted to receive the temperature sensitive payload, and with the panel being wrapped around the payload prior to insertion into the outer container.   
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the panel includes a pair of intennittently joined film layers defining cavities into which phase change material is contained. 
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the panel includes a plurality of voids. 
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 3  wherein the voids are generally linearly aligned. 
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the panel is provided with enhanced flexibility in a direction beneficial for wrapping the payload. 
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the panel includes a plurality of segmented sheets. 
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of segmented sheets includes a pair of sheets, with each of the pair of sheets being thermally preconditioned differently than the other prior to wrapping the pair of panels around the payload. 
   
   
       8 . A transport package for a temperature sensitive payload comprising:
 a plurality of segmented panels containing phase change material within an interior volume, with said interior volume being defined between a pair of fluid impervious layers; and   a payload section adapted to receive the temperature sensitive payload, and with the plurality of panels being wrapped around the payload prior to insertion into an outer container.   
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein the pair of fluid impervious layers are intermittently joined together to define a plurality of volumes containing phase change material. 
   
   
       10 . The package of  claim 9  wherein the pair of fluid impervious layers are joined together via a thermal bonding process. 
   
   
       11 . The package of  claim 8  wherein at least some of the plurality of segmented panels are preconditioned differently from each other prior to wrapping the payload. 
   
   
       12 . A method of packaging a temperature sensitive product comprising:
 thermally preconditioning a flexible phase change material-containing panel, said panel including a plurality of segment portions;   wrapping the panel around the temperature sensitive product; and   inserting the temperature sensitive product wrapped with the panel into an outer container.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  flither comprising:
 sealing the outer container prior to shipment.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 thermally preconditioning a second flexible phase change material-containing panel and wrapping the second flexible phase change material-containing panel around the temperature sensitive product prior to said insertion.   
   
   
       15 . A method of packaging a temperature sensitive product comprising:
 wrapping the payload in a first flexible, segmented panel containing phase change material preconditioned based on an anticipated ambient temperature during transport of the payload;   wrapping the payload in a second flexible, segmented panel containing phase change material preconditioned based on another anticipated ambient temperature during said transport; and   inserting the payload wrapped with the segmented panels into an outer container.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 wrapping the payload with thermal insulation prior to said inserting.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least some phase change material has been preconditioned by adding heat energy to phase change material until the phase change material is liquid. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least some phase change material has been preconditioned by removing heat energy from phase change material until the phase change material is solid. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the segmented panels are thermally preconditioned based on anticipated ambient temperatures during payload transportation. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least two different thermal preconditioning processes are used to prepare the segmented panels.