Thermally Insulating Packaging

Abstract

A thermally insulating packaging to hold an item includes a solid compostable or recyclable shell that is formed primarily of a plant fiber, and a bottom cover. The shell includes a floor, a plurality of inner side walls that are coupled to the floor, a rim coupled to the plurality of inner side walls, and a plurality of outer side walls that are couple to the rim. The floor and the plurality of inner side walls define an interior space of the shell to receive the item and an opening to the interior space. The plurality of inner side walls and plurality of outer side walls have a space therebetween that defines a gap. The gap can be an air-filled cavity, or be filled with a compostable or recyclable core material.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A cooler to hold an item, the cooler comprising:
 a solid compostable or recyclable body that is primarily molded and compressed plant fiber in the shape of a tub, wherein the body includes:
 a floor, 
 a plurality of side walls that are continuously and seamlessly coupled to the floor along first common edges and each continuously and seamlessly 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 with the side walls being solid and homogenous between the interior space and an exterior surface of the cooler, wherein the side walls include a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly toward the interior space to provide increased structural support for the body while maintaining the interior space of the body as a single tub, and wherein the floor and side walls of the body have a uniform thickness such that the protrusions on the inner side of the side walls define complementary recesses on the outer side of the side walls; and 
   a lid formed primarily of molded and compressed plant fiber and having a downwardly projecting portion that fits inside an upper rim of the side walls of the tub.   
     
     
         3 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the body is formed from paper pulp. 
     
     
         4 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein at least a pair of the recesses on opposite side walls and are sufficiently deep to provide hand grips for the cooler. 
     
     
         5 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of protrusions extending vertically along the side walls. 
     
     
         6 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein a width of the interior space is 3 to 48 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein a thickness of the body is 1/32 to 1 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler of  claim 2 , comprising a moisture barrier material mixed with the plant fiber to increase resistance of the body to water. 
     
     
         9 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the floor, the side walls, or a combination thereof is covered by a moisture barrier layer. 
     
     
         10 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the body is compostable. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the body is recyclable. 
     
     
         12 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein each sidewall of a pair of opposing sidewalls from the plurality of side walls being substantially planar. 
     
     
         13 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the lid comprises a recess formed in a top surface thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The cooler of  claim 13 , wherein the lid comprises a pair of recesses formed at opposite edges of the lid.