Fresh food shipping vessel

Abstract

A fresh food shipping Vessel is described. The food shipping Vessel includes an outer protective shell, an internal insulation cage with a closing lid and a plurality of drawers. The drawers and other components are specifically designed to provide for conductive and/or convective properties within the Vessel to assist in maintaining food items at a desired temperature. Further, the food containers and ice packs are also designed to assist in the conductive and/or convective properties of the food shipping Vessel, thereby allowing for shipment of fresh food products for extended periods of time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shipping vessel, comprising:
 an insulation cage, the insulation cage being adapted to hold one or more drawers therein; and   one or more drawers for positioning within the insulation cage, each drawer adapted to hold at least one item thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the insulation cage includes a crate and a tub, with an insulation layer entirely sealed between the crate and tub. 
     
     
         3 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the insulation cage includes a lid for sealing the one or more drawers within the insulation cage. 
     
     
         4 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the insulation cage includes a plurality of insulation cage magnets and wherein the lid includes a plurality of lid magnets, with the insulation cage magnets and lid magnets being polarity keyed such that the lid is attachable with the insulation cage in a single configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the one or more drawers each include side walls surrounding a thermally conductive bottom portion, whereby the thermally conductive bottom portion is operable for providing conduction and radiation to items amongst the drawers. 
     
     
         6 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the drawers include slots formed through the side walls, whereby the slots are operable to provide for convection flow amongst the drawers. 
     
     
         7 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the thermally conductive bottom portion includes a plurality of holes formed therethrough, whereby the holes are operable to provide for convection flow amongst the drawers. 
     
     
         8 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of containers for attaching with a drawer, each of the containers having a plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         9 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein each drawer includes container connectors formed in the thermally conductive bottom portion, the container connectors being formed as recesses to receive the plurality of protrusions and hold the container in place during transit. 
     
     
         10 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the container connectors and holes are positioned in the bottom portion such that when the containers are affixed with the container connectors, the holes are positioned between side walls of adjacent containers and remain uncovered by the containers, thereby assisting convection flow amongst the drawers. 
     
     
         11 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising at least one temperature plate for positioning within the insulation cage, the temperature plate adapted to maintain a desired temperature for a period of time. 
     
     
         12 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the temperature plate is a cold plate that includes a void having water therein, whereby a shipper can freeze the cold plate to provide a cold temperature to the vessel during transit. 
     
     
         13 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising an outer protective shell for holding the insulation cage therein. 
     
     
         14 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the shell includes front loading doors with a single, center closing seam. 
     
     
         15 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising a ratcheting latch mechanism that spans the center closing seam and is adapted to pull the seam tightly closed to seal the doors in a closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the ratcheting latch mechanism includes a first part for connecting with a first door and a second part for connecting with a second door, the first and second parts being detachably attachable with the first and second doors, respectively, whereby each of the first and second parts are replaceable in the event of damage. 
     
     
         17 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the first part includes an elongated portion with a clasp portion attached with the elongated portion via a hinge, the clasp portion having a clasp and a lifting handle. 
     
     
         18 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the second part includes a catch formed to receive and lockingly engage with the clasp. 
     
     
         19 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising a tamper proof latch system, whereby the tamper proof latch system is operable for providing assurance to an end user that contents of the vessel have not been tampered with during transit. 
     
     
         20 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the tamper proof latch system includes a band and slots formed through the second part, the slots formed to accommodate the band and position the band over the clasp portion such that lifting the clasp portion causes the band to break. 
     
     
         21 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the shell includes an interior, an exterior, and outer walls, and further comprising one or more handle assemblies that are detachably attachable with the outer walls. 
     
     
         22 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein each handle assembly includes a base plate and a faceplate, the baseplate having a spring-loaded handle pivotally attached thereto, with the base plate positioned in the interior of the shell and secured to the faceplate that is positioned on the exterior of the shell, thereby providing a replaceable, secure and retractable handle. 
     
     
         23 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising open connectors affixed with the doors and outer walls of the shell, the open connectors being positioned such that when the doors are swung entirely open, the open connectors engage with one another to maintain the doors affixed against the side walls in an open position. 
     
     
         24 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the open connectors are magnets. 
     
     
         25 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the shell is formed of a corrugate plastic. 
     
     
         26 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the shell and insulation cage are substantially cube-shaped. 
     
     
         27 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the insulation cage includes a lid for sealing the one or more drawers within the insulation cage. 
     
     
         28 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the insulation cage includes a plurality of insulation cage magnets and wherein the lid includes a plurality of lid magnets, with the insulation cage magnets and lid magnets being polarity keyed such that the lid is attachable with the insulation cage in a single configuration. 
     
     
         29 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more drawers each include side walls surrounding a thermally conductive bottom portion, whereby the thermally conductive bottom portion is operable for providing conduction and radiation to items amongst the drawers. 
     
     
         30 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the drawers include slots formed through the side walls, whereby the slots are operable to provide for convection flow amongst the drawers. 
     
     
         31 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the thermally conductive bottom portion includes a plurality of holes formed there through, whereby the holes are operable to provide for convection flow amongst the drawers. 
     
     
         32 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein each drawer includes container connectors formed in the thermally conductive bottom portion, the container connectors being formed as recesses to hold a container in place during transit. 
     
     
         33 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein each drawer includes container connectors formed in the thermally conductive bottom portion, and the bottom portion includes a plurality of holes formed therethrough, wherein the container connectors and holes are positioned in the bottom portion such that when a container is affixed with the container connectors, the holes are positioned between side walls of adjacent containers and remain uncovered by the containers, thereby assisting convection flow amongst the drawers. 
     
     
         34 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of containers for attaching with a drawer, each of the containers having a plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         35 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one temperature plate for positioning within the insulation cage, the temperature plate adapted to maintain a desired temperature for a period of time. 
     
     
         36 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein the temperature plate is a cold plate that includes a void having water therein, whereby a shipper can freeze the cold plate to provide a cold temperature to the vessel during transit. 
     
     
         37 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an outer protective shell for holding the insulation cage therein. 
     
     
         38 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein the shell includes front loading doors with a single, center closing seam. 
     
     
         39 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 38 , farther comprising a ratcheting latch mechanism that spans the center closing seam and is adapted to pull the seam tightly closed to seal the doors in a closed position. 
     
     
         40 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein the ratcheting latch mechanism includes a first part for connecting with a first door and a second part for connecting with a second door, the first and second parts being detachably attachable with the first and second doors, respectively, whereby each of the first and second parts are replaceable in the event of damage. 
     
     
         41 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein the ratcheting latch mechanism includes a first part for connecting with a first door and a second part for connecting with a second door, wherein the first part includes an elongated portion with a clasp portion attached with the elongated portion via a hinge, the clasp portion having a clasp and a lifting handle. 
     
     
         42 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 41  wherein the second part includes a catch formed to receive and lockingly engage with a clasp. 
     
     
         43 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 41 , further comprising a tamper proof latch system, whereby the tamper proof latch system is operable for providing assurance to an end user that contents of the vessel have not been tampered with during transit. 
     
     
         44 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 43 , wherein the tamper proof latch system includes a band and slots formed through the second part, the slots formed to accommodate the band and position the band over the clasp portion such that lifting the clasp portion causes the band to break. 
     
     
         45 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein the shell includes an interior, an exterior, and outer walls, and further comprising one or more handle assemblies that are detachably attachable with the outer walls. 
     
     
         46 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 45 , wherein each handle assembly includes a base plate and a faceplate, the baseplate having a spring-loaded handle pivotally attached thereto, with the base plate positioned in the interior of the shell and secured to the faceplate that is positioned on the exterior of the shell, thereby providing a replaceable, secure and retractable handle. 
     
     
         47 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 38 , further comprising open connectors affixed with the doors and outer walls of the shell, the open connectors being positioned such that when the doors are swung entirely open, the open connectors engage with one another to maintain the doors affixed against the side walls in an open position. 
     
     
         48 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 47 , wherein the open connectors are magnets. 
     
     
         49 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein the shell is formed of a corrugate plastic. 
     
     
         50 . The shipping vessel as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein the shell and insulation cage are substantially cube-shaped.