System suitable for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials

Abstract

System for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the system is made entirely of sustainable materials and includes an outer retaining box, an insulated container, a product box, multiple passive temperature-control members, and multiple positioning devices. The outer retaining box is made of corrugated cardboard. The insulated container is removably received in the outer retaining box and is made of corrugated cardboard boxes containing either loose-fill cellulose or cellulose batting. The product box is removably received in the insulated container and is made of corrugated cardboard. The passive temperature-control members are removably received in the insulated container above and below the product box and are made of a paper-based container containing water. The positioning devices, which are made of corrugated cardboard, are removably received in the insulated container above and below the product box and position the passive temperature-control members relative to each other and the product box.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system suitable for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials, the system comprising:
 (a) an insulated container, the insulated container comprising a cavity; and   (b) at least one passive temperature-control member removably disposed within the cavity of the insulated container, the at least one passive temperature-control member comprising a first passive temperature-control member, the first passive temperature-control member comprising a refrigerant container and a freezable refrigerant, the freezable refrigerant being disposed within the refrigerant container;   (c) wherein the refrigerant container is at least one of curbside recyclable and compostable and wherein the freezable refrigerant comprises water.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a product box, the product box being removably disposed within the cavity of the insulated container, the product box being dimensioned to removably receive the temperature-sensitive materials. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the product box is at least one of curbside recyclable and compostable. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the product box is made of corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the insulated container is at least one of curbside recyclable and compostable. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the insulated container comprises one or more thermal insulation members and wherein each of the one or more thermal insulation members is made of natural wood fiber and/or plant fiber materials. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the one or more thermal insulation members comprise a thermal insulation base, a thermal insulation sleeve, and a thermal insulation lid, wherein the thermal insulation base forms a bottom of the insulated container and comprises a thermal insulation base box made of corrugated cardboard and containing loose-fill cellulose, wherein the thermal insulation sleeve forms four side walls of the insulated container and comprises a thermal insulation sleeve box made of corrugated cardboard and containing cellulose batting, and wherein the thermal insulation lid forms a lid for the insulated container and comprises a thermal insulation lid box made of corrugated cardboard and containing loose-fill cellulose. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the refrigerant container is shaped to include an interior volume for receiving the freezable refrigerant and wherein the refrigerant container is made of a refrigerant container material comprising a paper layer. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the refrigerant container is shaped to include at least one gabled end. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the at least one gabled end is foldable. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the freezable refrigerant consists of water. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the water is potable water. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the freezable refrigerant is at least partially frozen. 
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the freezable refrigerant occupies about 85-90% of the interior volume of the refrigerant container, excluding the at least one gabled end. 
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an outer retaining box, wherein the insulated container and the at least one passive temperature-control member are disposed within the outer retaining box. 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the insulated container is made exclusively of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of natural wood fiber and/or plant fiber materials. 
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one passive temperature-control member further comprises a second passive temperature-control member and wherein the second passive temperature-control member is identical to the first passive temperature-control member. 
     
     
         18 . The system as claimed in  claim 17  further comprising a first positioning device and wherein the first positioning device comprises a first dividing bar positioned between the first passive temperature-control member and the second passive temperature-control member. 
     
     
         19 . The system as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the first positioning device is I-shaped and further comprises a first transverse bar disposed at a first end of the first dividing bar and a second transverse bar disposed at a second end of the first dividing bar. 
     
     
         20 . The system as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the first positioning device is made of corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         21 . The system as claimed in  claim 18  further comprising a product box, wherein the product box is removably disposed within the cavity of the insulated container and is dimensioned to removably receive the temperature-sensitive materials, wherein the first and second passive temperature-control members and the first positioning device are seated directly on top of the product box, and wherein the product box, the first positioning device, and the first and second passive temperature-control members are dimensioned so that a portion of each of the first and second passive temperature-control members is positioned directly over opposing peripheral edges of the product box. 
     
     
         22 . The system as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the at least one passive temperature-control member further comprises third and fourth passive temperature-control members, wherein the third and fourth passive temperature-control members are identical to the first passive temperature-control member, the system further comprising a second positioning device, the second positioning device being identical to the first positioning device, and wherein the second positioning device comprises a second dividing bar positioned between the third passive temperature-control member and the fourth passive temperature-control member. 
     
     
         23 . A system suitable for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials, the system comprising:
 (a) an insulated container, the insulated container comprising a cavity;   (b) a product box, the product box being removably disposed within the cavity of the insulated container, the product box being designed to hold the temperature-sensitive materials;   (c) a plurality of passive temperature-control members removably disposed within the cavity of the insulated container, the plurality of passive temperature-control members being identical to one another and comprising a first passive temperature-control member and a second passive temperature-control member, wherein the first and second passive temperature-control members are seated directly on top of the product box; and   (d) a positioning device removably disposed within the cavity of the insulated container, wherein the positioning device comprises a dividing bar positioned between the first passive temperature-control member and the second passive temperature-control.   
     
     
         24 . The system as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the insulated container, the product box, and the positioning device are made exclusively of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of natural wood fiber and/or plant fiber materials and wherein each of the passive temperature-control members comprises a paper-based refrigerant container and a freezable refrigerant comprising water. 
     
     
         25 . The system as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the freezable refrigerant consists of water. 
     
     
         26 . The system as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the water is at least partially frozen. 
     
     
         27 . The system as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the product box, the positioning device, and the first and second passive temperature-control members are dimensioned so that a portion of each of the first and second passive temperature-control members is positioned directly over opposing peripheral edges of the product box. 
     
     
         28 . A method for storing and/or transporting a payload of temperature-sensitive materials, the system comprising:
 (a) providing a thermal shipping system, the thermal shipping system comprising
 (i) an insulated container, the insulated container comprising a cavity, and 
 (ii) at least one passive temperature-control member removably disposed within the cavity of the insulated container, the at least one passive temperature-control member comprising a first passive temperature-control member, the first passive temperature-control member comprising a refrigerant container and a freezable refrigerant, the refrigerant container having an openable gabled end, the freezable refrigerant being disposed within the refrigerant container; 
   (b) positioning a payload of temperature-sensitive materials within the insulated container;   (c) storing and/or transporting the payload within the insulated container;   (d) then, removing the payload from the insulated container; and   (e) opening the openable gabled end of the refrigerant container and emptying the freezable refrigerant from the refrigerant container.   
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the freezable refrigerant consists of water. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the freezable refrigerant is at least partially frozen during steps (c) and (e). 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the insulated container is made exclusively of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of natural wood fiber and/or plant fiber materials and wherein the refrigerant container is a paper-based refrigerant container.