Cartridge assembly for temperature-sensitive payloads

Abstract

A cartridge assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive materials includes an inner half-slotted container for housing the temperature-sensitive materials and an outer half-slotted container containing the inner half-slotted container. Each of the inner half-slotted container and the outer half-slotted container includes an open, flapless proximal end and a sealable distal end. A flange couples the inner half-slotted container to the outer half-slotted container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive materials, the cartridge assembly comprising:
 an inner half-slotted container for housing the temperature-sensitive materials, the inner half-slotted container comprising:
 an open, flapless proximal end; and 
 a sealable distal end; 
   an outer half-slotted container containing the inner half-slotted container and comprising:
 an open, flapless proximal end; and 
 a sealable distal end; and 
   a flange coupling the inner half-slotted container to the outer half-slotted container.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flange comprises a first plurality of flaps coupled to an inner surface of the inner half-slotted container. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of flaps are coupled to the inner surface of the inner half-slotted container via an adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each flap of the first plurality of flaps is coupled to a corresponding sidewall of a plurality of sidewalls of the inner half-slotted container. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the flange further comprises a second plurality of flaps coupled to an outer surface of the outer half-slotted container. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the second plurality of flaps are coupled to the outer surface of the outer half-slotted container via an adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each flap of the second plurality of flaps is coupled to a corresponding sidewall of a plurality of sidewalls of the outer half-slotted container. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 insulation material disposed within a plenum space formed between the inner half-slotted container and the outer half-slotted container.   
     
     
         9 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the insulation material is disposed around a plurality of sidewalls of the inner half-slotted container. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the insulation material is disposed between the sealable distal end of the inner half-slotted container and the sealable distal end of the outer half-slotted container. 
     
     
         11 . A shipping container for transporting temperature-sensitive materials, the shipping container comprising:
 the cartridge assembly of  claim 1 ; and   a regular slotted container housing the cartridge assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The shipping container of  claim 11 , wherein the regular slotted container comprises a sealable proximal end and a sealable distal end. 
     
     
         13 . The shipping container of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a lid positioned within the regular slotted container atop the cartridge assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The shipping container of  claim 13 , wherein the lid comprises a hand grip. 
     
     
         15 . The shipping container of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 insulation material disposed within a plenum space of the lid.   
     
     
         16 . A method for manufacturing a cartridge assembly for transporting temperature-sensitive materials, the method comprising:
 inserting and positioning an inner half-slotted container for housing the temperature-sensitive materials within a first plenum space of an outer half-slotted container, wherein each of the inner half-slotted container and the outer half-slotted container comprises an open, flapless proximal end;   coupling a flange to the inner half-slotted container and the outer half-slotted container;   inserting insulation material into a second plenum space formed between the inner half-slotted container and the outer half-slotted container; and   sealing a plurality of flaps of the outer half-slotted container.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein sealing the plurality of flaps of the outer half-slotted container comprises sealing a distal end of the outer-half slotted container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 sealing a plurality of flaps of a distal end of the inner half-slotted container.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling the flange to the inner half-slotted container comprises coupling a first plurality of flaps of the flange to an inner surface of the inner half-slotted container. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling the first plurality of flaps of the flange to the inner surface of the inner half-slotted container comprises adhering the first plurality of flaps of the flange to the inner surface of the inner half-slotted container. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling the first plurality of flaps of the flange to the inner surface of the inner half-slotted container comprises coupling each flap of the first plurality of flaps of the flange to a corresponding sidewall of a plurality of sidewalls of the inner half-slotted container. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling the flange to the outer half-slotted container comprises coupling a second plurality of flaps of the flange to an outer surface of the outer half-slotted container. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein coupling the second plurality of flaps of the flange to the outer surface of the outer half-slotted container comprises adhering the second plurality of flaps of the flange to the outer surface of the outer half-slotted container. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein coupling the second plurality of flaps of the flange to the outer surface of the outer half-slotted container comprises coupling each flap of the second plurality of flaps of the flange to a corresponding sidewall of a plurality of sidewalls of the outer half-slotted container. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein inserting the insulation material into the second plenum space formed between the inner half-slotted container and the outer half-slotted container comprises blowing the insulation material into the second plenum space.