Thermal protection packaging

Abstract

A blank for forming an insulated carton including a front panel hingedly attached to a first side panel, the first side panel hingedly attached to a rear panel, the rear panel hingedly attached to a second side panel along a longitudinal axis of a blank, wherein each panel includes a central portion disposed between and hingedly attached to at least one flap arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis, an end tab hingedly attached to the central portion of the second side panel, and wherein the blank defines an interior space of a carton when folded along each hinged attachment and at least one surface of the blank includes a reflective barrier for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blank for forming an insulated carton comprising:
 a front panel hingedly attached to a first side panel, the first side panel hingedly attached to a rear panel, the rear panel hingedly attached to a second side panel along a longitudinal axis of a blank, wherein each panel includes a central portion disposed between and hingedly attached to at least one flap arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis;   an end tab hingedly attached to the central portion of the second side panel; and   wherein the blank defines an interior space of a carton when folded along each hinged attachment and at least one surface of the blank includes a reflective barrier which has a higher thermal radiation reflectance than an underlying layer for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton.   
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein each of the panels are different lengths. 
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein each of the panels are equal widths. 
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flap of each panel is indirectly attached to the at least one flap of an adjacent panel. 
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flap of the front panel and the at least one flap of the rear panel are rectangular, and the at least one flap of the first side panel and the at least one flap of the second side panel are trapezoidal. 
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the end tab includes a central portion disposed between and hingedly attached to two opposing flaps arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective barrier is configured to face the interior space when the carton is erected. 
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 7 , wherein an outwardly facing surface of the end tab does not include a reflective barrier and is attached to the reflective barrier of the front panel. 
     
     
         9 . An insulating insert for a carton comprising:
 a frontal layer including a reflective barrier which has a higher thermal radiation reflectance than an underlying layer for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton attached to a middle layer including at least one layer of corrugated cardboard and attached to a rear layer; and   a top side, a first side, a second side, and a bottom side defining an outer perimeter of the insert, wherein the top side and the bottom side each include at least one notch and at least one tab configured for mating with a second insert.   
     
     
         10 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one tab of the top side includes two tabs aligned asymmetrically with respect to a length thereof and the at least one tab of the bottom side includes two tabs aligned asymmetrically with respect to a length thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one notch of the top side includes two notches symmetrically disposed along a length thereof and the at least one notch of the bottom side includes two notches symmetrically disposed along a length thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The insert of  claim 9 , further comprising a second insert detachably attached to a side thereof, wherein when the second insert is detached and the rear layer of the first insert abuts the rear layer of the second insert. 
     
     
         13 . The insert of  claim 12 , wherein the tabs of the two inserts are of unequal height. 
     
     
         14 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the reflective barrier of the insert faces an interior space defined by the insert being joined with another five inserts. 
     
     
         15 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the reflective barrier of the insert faces away from an interior space by the insert being joined with another five inserts. 
     
     
         16 . The insert of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one tab of the bottom side interlocks with the at least one notch of the top side. 
     
     
         17 . A system of inserts for insulating a carton comprising:
 a top insert, a bottom insert, a frontal insert, a rear insert, a first side insert, and a second side insert each including a frontal layer including a reflective barrier which has a higher thermal radiation reflectance than an underlying layer for energy-insulating the interior space of the carton attached to a middle layer including at least one layer of corrugated cardboard and attached to a rear layer;   the top, bottom, a frontal, a rear, first side, and second side inserts defining an interior space when mated together;   wherein each of the top, bottom, a frontal, a rear, first side, and second side inserts includes a top side, a first side, a second side, and a bottom side defining an outer perimeter thereof, wherein the top side of the top insert includes two tabs configured for mating with two notches of a frontal insert and the bottom side of the top insert includes two tabs configured for mating with notches of a rear insert;   wherein the frontal insert and the rear insert are wider than the top insert and the bottom insert.   
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective barrier includes an optical density greater than 2.0. 
     
     
         19 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the reflective barrier includes metalized polyester. 
     
     
         20 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the reflective barrier is laminated to the insert.