Insulating assemblies and containers

Abstract

Insulating assemblies having improved thermal seals are provided. The insulating assemblies have an interface between a base portion and a lid that has an angled transitional portion and at least one elevation change. The angled transitional portion advantageously improves lid removability, assembly reusability, and resistance to thermal energy transfer.

1 . An insulating assembly comprising:
 a base portion having a first interface extending along a rim thereof; and   a lid having a second interface extending along a rim thereof,   wherein the first interface is configured to interlock with the second interface to form a closed insulated container, and   wherein each of the first and second interfaces comprise at least one elevation change, such that the interlock is formed by mating corresponding elevation changes of the first and second interfaces,   wherein each of the elevation changes comprises a sloped transitional section relative to the vertical.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sloped transitional section of each elevation change has a slope of between about 2° to about 43°, relative to the vertical. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sloped transitional section of each elevation change has a slope of 5°, relative to the vertical. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion is in the form of a container having an open end for receiving the lid. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base portion and lid are formed from fused expandable foam beads, and   the transitional section comprises a transition slope of less than 20/1 foam beads.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion and the lid are formed from fused expandable foam beads comprising at least one of polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), rubberized EPS, and other modified EPS. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion and the lid are formed from a material having an R-value of at least 3.8° F.·ft 2 /BTU·in at 23° C. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the closed insulated container passes the ISTA 7D 48-hour summer profile and ISTA 7D 48-hour winter profile tests at an overall weight at least 20% lower than a conventional EPS assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly can be reused at least twice as many times as a conventional EPS assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the lid is interlocked with the base portion, a removal force necessary for removing the lid changes by less than 10% over 24 hours. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first interface comprises a protrusion having two elevation changes, and wherein the second interface comprises a channel having two elevation changes. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first interface comprises a channel having two elevation changes, and wherein the second interface comprises a protrusion having two elevation changes. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is selectively removable from an interlock with the base portion, without deforming the lid or base portion. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an extension ring configured to increase the volume of the closed insulated container, the extension ring having a first extension interface extending along a lower rim thereof and a second extension interface extending along an upper rim thereof,
 wherein the first extension interface is configured to contact and interlock with the first interface by mating at least one elevation change on the first extension interface with the corresponding elevation change of the first interface, and   wherein the second extension interface is configured to contact and interlock with the second interface by mating at least one elevation change on the second extension interface with the corresponding elevation change of the second interface.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a corrugated cardboard box into which the closed insulated container is inserted and secured. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of shrink wrap disposed on an outer surface of the closed insulated container. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of craft paper disposed on an outer surface of the closed insulated container. 
     
     
         18 . An insulating assembly comprising:
 a base portion having a first interface extending along a rim thereof; and   a lid having a second interface extending along a rim thereof,   wherein the first interface is configured to interlock with the second interface to form a closed insulated container, and   wherein each of the first and second interfaces comprise a single elevation change, such that the interlock is formed by mating corresponding elevation changes of the first and second interfaces,   wherein each of the elevation changes comprises a sloped transitional section relative to the vertical.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein when the lid is interlocked with the base portion, an upper surface of the lid and an upper surface of the base portion align with one another to form an upper surface of the closed insulated container such that the lid is a plug-style lid. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the sloped transitional section of the second interface of the lid is configured to surround the sloped transitional section of the first interface of the base portion, opposite an interior volume defined by the closed insulated container, so that the lid is a cap-style lid.