Thermally insulating packaging

Abstract

A cooler to hold an item includes a solid compostable or recyclable body that is primarily plant fiber. The body includes a floor and a plurality of side walls that are coupled to the floor along first common edges and each coupled to two adjacent side walls along second common edge. The floor and the plurality of side walls define an interior space of the body to receive the item and an opening to the interior space. The body is at least ¼ inch thick.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooler to hold an item, the cooler comprising:
 a solid compostable or recyclable body that is primarily plant fiber, wherein the body includes:
 a floor, 
 a plurality of side walls that are coupled to the floor along first common edges and each coupled to two adjacent side walls along second common edges, 
 wherein the floor and the plurality of side walls define an interior space of the body to receive the item and an opening to the interior space, and 
 wherein the body is at least ¼ inch thick. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the interior space is 3 to 48 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the body is 1/32 to 1 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the body is corrugated. 
     
     
         5 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed from a compressed plant fiber pulp. 
     
     
         6 . The cooler of  claim 5 , wherein the body is formed from paper pulp. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed primarily from coconut husk, corn husk, linen, or cotton or paper, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler of  claim 1 , comprising a moisture barrier material mixed with the plant fiber to increase resistance of the body to water. 
     
     
         9 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the floor, the side walls, or a combination thereof is covered by a moisture barrier layer. 
     
     
         10 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid to fit on upper edges of the side walls. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler of  claim 10 , wherein the lid is formed of molded plant fiber pulp. 
     
     
         12 . A thermally insulating container to hold an item, the container comprising:
 a solid body that is primarily plant fiber, wherein the body includes
 a floor, and 
 a plurality of inner side walls that are seamlessly and continuously coupled to the floor along first common edges and each seamlessly and continuously coupled to two adjacent inner side walls along second common edges, 
 wherein the floor and the plurality of inner side walls define an interior space of the body to receive the item and an opening to the interior space, and wherein the body is sufficiently thick to provide thermal insulation to act as a cooler for the item in the interior space. 
   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein a width of the interior space is 3 to 48 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein a thickness of the body is 1/32 to 1 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the body has a substantially uniform thickness. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the body is formed primarily from a compressed plant fiber pulp. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the body is formed primarily from coconut husk, corn husk, linen, or cotton or paper, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the body is formed from paper pulp. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the body is compostable. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the body is recyclable. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 12 , comprising a moisture barrier material mixed with the plant fiber to increase resistance of the body to water. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the floor, the inner side walls, or a combination thereof is covered by a moisture barrier layer.