Modular refrigerator

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure include, in combination, a modular refrigerator having a door and providing at least one refrigerated compartment accessible when the door is open, and one or more removable food shipping containers configured to be received within the refrigerated compartment, the refrigerated compartment comprising a plurality of container bays corresponding to each of a multiplicity of food shipping container delivery times, each of the plurality of container bays being configured to hold a food shipping container; the food shipping container further being configured to comply with a postal or courier regulation and to contain food items selected to remain comestible before a food item expiry date; the food shipping container or the container bay including indicia for designating a food shipping container delivery time, or the food item expiry date.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . For use with a modular refrigerator having a door and providing at least one refrigerated compartment accessible when the door is open:
 one or more removable food shipping containers configured to be received within the refrigerated compartment, the refrigerated compartment comprising a plurality of container bays corresponding to each of a multiplicity of food shipping container delivery times, each of the plurality of container bays being configured to hold a food shipping container;   the food shipping container further being configured to:
 comply with a postal or courier regulation; and 
 contain food items selected to remain comestible before a food item expiry date; 
   the food shipping container or the container bay further including indicia for designating a food shipping container delivery time, or the food item expiry date.   
     
     
         2 . The food shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the food shipping container is slidable within the container bay in the modular refrigerator. 
     
     
         3 . The food shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the food shipping container is insulated, or includes insulation material. 
     
     
         4 . The food shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein insertion of the food shipping container into the container bay in the modular refrigerator generates an identification of the food shipping container delivery time, and/or the food item expiry date. 
     
     
         5 . In combination, a modular refrigerator having a door and providing at least one refrigerated compartment accessible when the door is open, and one or more removable food shipping containers configured to be received within the refrigerated compartment, the refrigerated compartment comprising a plurality of container bays corresponding to each of a multiplicity of food shipping container delivery times, each of the plurality of container bays being configured to hold a food shipping container; the food shipping container further being configured to comply with a postal or courier regulation and to contain food items selected to remain comestible before a food item expiry date; the food shipping container or the container bay including indicia for designating a food shipping container delivery time, or the food item expiry date.