Natural fiber-based insulated panel and temperature controlled shipping system

Abstract

A natural fiber-based insulating panel system to facilitate shipping. One or more natural fiber-based panels are inserted into the interior of a shipping container to encapsulate the payload, or on the exterior of the shipping container to encapsulate the shipping container and payload. A film or membrane may encapsulate one or more of the insulating panels. Micro perforations may be present in the membrane to facilitate the capture of moisture from the interior.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for maintaining temperature and protecting a payload during shipment and/or storage, the system comprising:
 one or more panels, wherein each of the one or more panels is composed of an insulating material that includes a natural fiber and a binder; and   
       the one or more panels having a shape that coincides with the shape of a payload; and
 once the one or more panels are attached around or folded around the payload, the payload is substantially encapsulated within the one or more panels. 
 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating material includes hemp fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating material includes hemp fibers in a quantity that is substantially greater by volume than the quantity of the binder. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the insulating material is at least 40% hemp fiber and approximately 10% binder. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the panels define a void for receiving a phase changing material (PCM). 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each particular panel of the one or more panels can be attached to another one or more of the one or more panels along each edges of particular panel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the one or more panels is encapsulated in a film. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the film encapsulating one or more of the one or more panels includes a plurality of micro-perforations along at least one side of the one or more panels. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a container that is sized to receive the payload encapsulated by the one or more panels. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a container that is sized to receive the payload prior to the one or more panels being attached or folded around the payload. 
     
     
         11 . A method for maintaining temperature and protecting a payload during shipment and/or storage, the method comprising:
 fabricating one or more panels, wherein each of the one or more panels is composed of an insulating material that includes a natural fiber and a binder; and   shaping the one or more panels such that the shape of the one or more panels coincide with the shape of a payload; and   attaching or folding the one or more panels around the payload such that the payload is substantially encapsulated within the one or more panels.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the action of fabricating the one or more panels further comprising fabricating the one or more panels out of hemp fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the action of fabricating the one or more panels further comprising fabricating the one or more panels out of hemp fibers such that the quantify of hemp fibers is substantially greater by volume than the quantity of the binder. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the action of fabricating the one or more panels out of hemp fibers such that the quantify of hemp fibers is substantially greater by volume than the quantity of the binder further comprises using at least 40% hemp fiber and approximately 10% binder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising fabricating the one or more panels such that one or more of the one or more panels define a void for receiving a phase changing material (PCM) and placing a PCM into the void of the one or more panels. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising attaching each perimeter edge of a particular panel of the one or more panels to the perimeter edge of another one or more of the one or more. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising encapsulating one or more of the one or more panels in a film. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising creating a plurality of micro-perforations along at least one surface of at least one or more of the one or more panels. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising placing the payload encapsulated with the one or more panels into a container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing the payload into a container prior to the one or more panels being attached or folded around the payload.