Abstract: Gel including a phase-change material and a gelling agent. In one embodiment, the phase-change material may be n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane or mixtures thereof. The gelling agent may be a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of about 30:70 to 33:67% by weight. To form the gel, the phase-change material and the gelling agent may be mixed at an elevated temperature relative to room temperature to partially, but not completely, dissolve the gelling agent. The mixture may then be cooled to room temperature. Alternatively, the phase-change material and the gelling agent may be mixed at room temperature, and the mixture may then be heated to form a viscoelastic liquid, which is then cooled to room temperature. The invention is also directed at a method of preparing the gel, a thermal exchange implement including the gel, and a method of preparing the thermal exchange implement.

Abstract: Gel including a phase-change material and a gelling agent. In one embodiment, the phase-change material may be n-tetradecane, n-hexadecane or mixtures thereof. The gelling agent may be a high molecular weight styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of about 30:70 to 33:67% by weight. To form the gel, the phase-change material and the gelling agent may be mixed at an elevated temperature relative to room temperature to partially, but not completely, dissolve the gelling agent. The mixture may then be cooled to room temperature. Alternatively, the phase-change material and the gelling agent may be mixed at room temperature, and the mixture may then be heated to form a viscoelastic liquid, which is then cooled to room temperature. The invention is also directed at a method of preparing the gel, a thermal exchange implement including the gel, and a method of preparing the thermal exchange implement.

Abstract: Gel including a phase-change material and a gelling agent. In one embodiment, the phase-change material may be n-tetradecane, and the gelling agent may be a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer. In particular, the SEBS copolymer may be a high molecular weight SEBS copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of about 30:70 to 33:67% by weight. The SEBS copolymer may constitute up to about 10%, by weight, of the gel, preferably less than 6%, by weight, of the gel, with n-tetradecane constituting the remainder. To form the gel, the phase-change material and the gelling agent are mixed together at an elevated temperature relative to room temperature to partially, but not completely, dissolve the gelling agent, i.e., a homogeneous solution is not formed. The mixture is then allowed to cool to room temperature. The invention is also directed at a method of preparing the gel and a thermal exchange implement including the gel.

Abstract: Insulated pallet shipper and methods of making and using the same. The insulated pallet shipper includes an insulated container shaped to include a bottom wall, a top wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, a rear wall and a front wall, the walls collectively defining a cavity; a plurality of coolant members positioned in the cavity, each of the coolant members including a plurality of coolant bricks encased within a cardboard container, at least some of the coolant members being preconditioned at a refrigerating temperature and at least some of the coolant members being preconditioned at a freezing temperature; an inner pallet seated on the bottom wall; and an outer pallet upon which the container is seated.

Abstract: Insulated shipping container and method of making the same. In a preferred embodiment, the insulated shipping container includes an outer box, an insulated insert, an insulated cover, a payload container and a plurality of coolant members. The insulated insert is snugly, but removably, disposed within the outer box and is shaped to include a plurality of sides and a top. The top includes a raised peripheral edge and a recessed shelf. A large rectangular prismatic cavity surrounded by a plurality of smaller cavities extends downwardly from the recessed shelf. The large cavity of the insulated insert is adapted to receive a payload container. Each of the smaller cavities of the insulated insert has a “top hat” shape when viewed from above that includes a crown portion and a brim portion.

Abstract: Gel including a phase-change material and a gelling agent. In one embodiment, the phase-change material may be n-tetradecane, and the gelling agent may be a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer. In particular, the SEBS copolymer may be a high molecular weight SEBS copolymer with a styrene:rubber ratio of about 30:70 to 33:67% by weight. The SEBS copolymer may constitute up to about 10%, by weight, of the gel, preferably less than 6%, by weight, of the gel, with n-tetradecane constituting the remainder. To form the gel, the phase-change material and the gelling agent are mixed together at an elevated temperature relative to room temperature to partially, but not completely, dissolve the gelling agent, i.e., a homogeneous solution is not formed. The mixture is then allowed to cool to room temperature. The invention is also directed at a method of preparing the gel and a thermal exchange implement including the gel.

Abstract: Insulated shipping container and method of making the same. In a preferred embodiment, the insulated shipping container includes an outer box, an insulated insert, an insulated cover, a payload container and a plurality of coolant members. The insulated insert is snugly, but removably, disposed within the outer box and is shaped to include a plurality of sides and a top. The top includes a raised peripheral edge and a recessed shelf. A large rectangular prismatic cavity surrounded by a plurality of smaller cavities extends downwardly from the recessed shelf. The large cavity of the insulated insert is adapted to receive a payload container. Each of the smaller cavities of the insulated insert has a “top hat” shape when viewed from above that includes a crown portion and a brim portion.

Abstract: Insulated shipping container and method of making the same. In a preferred embodiment, the insulated shipping container comprises an outer box, an insulated insert, an insulated cover, a payload container and a plurality of coolant members. The outer box comprises a rectangular prismatic cavity bounded by a plurality of rectangular side walls, a closed bottom end, and top closure flaps. The insulated insert is snugly, but removably, disposed within the outer box and is shaped to define a bottom, four sides and a top. The top includes a raised peripheral edge and a recessed shelf. A large rectangular prismatic cavity surrounded by a plurality of smaller cavities extends downwardly from the recessed shelf. The large cavity of the insulated insert is adapted to receive a payload container, together with a pair of coolant saddle bags adapted to surround the payload container.

Abstract: A temperature monitoring system includes a device for monitoring temperature over a period of time, an adaptor in communication with the temperature monitoring device (TMD) and a data programming device (DPD) in communication with the adaptor. The TMD includes a temperature sensor, a central processing unit (CPU) electrically connected to the temperature sensor, and a power source for continuously supplying power to the CPU. The CPU includes volatile memory into which measurements made by the temperature sensor are stored, the volatile memory in the CPU serving as the sole memory device in the TMD. The TMD is free of means for suspending power from the power source to the CPU. In use, each successive measurement taken by the temperature sensor overwrites the previous measurement stored into the CPU volatile memory. In this manner, the TMD stores no historical data throughout its monitoring process.

Abstract: Insulated shipping container and method of making the same. In a preferred embodiment, the insulated shipping container comprises an outer box, an insulated insert, an inner box and a closure member. The outer box, which is preferably made of corrugated fiberboard, comprises a rectangular prismatic cavity bounded by a plurality of rectangular side walls, a closed bottom end, and top closure flaps. The insulated insert is snugly, but removably, disposed within the outer box and is shaped to define a rectangular prismatic cavity bounded by a bottom wall and a plurality of rectangular side walls, the insulated insert having an open top end. The insulated insert is made of a foamed polyurethane body to which on all sides, except its bottom, a thin, flexible, unfoamed polymer bag is integrally bonded.