Temperature controlled shipping container
A temperature controlled shipping has a base formed as a first block of an insulating material. The base has a plurality of base cavities arranged in a rectangular array of rows and is formed to have a central cavity between a pair of adjacent rows of the base cavities. The central cavity is formed to hold a cooling device. The container has a cover formed as a second block of insulating material having a plurality of cover cavities arranged to correspond to the base cavities such that when the cover is placed on the base, the base cavities and the cover cavities align to produce a plurality of receptacles suitable holding a plurality of items. Each receptacle includes a plurality of tapered projections extending inward to allow inner items of varying size to be secured for shipping.
Latest Patents:
This invention relates generally to containers for shipping consumer products and particularly to containers for products that should be kept with in a specified temperature range. In particular this invention is suitable for shipping a product such as bottled wine while controlling the temperature to prevent excessive heating, which has a deleterious effect on the taste and quality of the product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA container according to the present invention for shipping an item in a temperature controlled environment comprises a base formed as a first block of an insulating material, the base having a plurality of base cavities therein and arranged in a rectangular array of rows, the base being formed to have a central cavity between a pair of adjacent rows, the central cavity being formed to receive therein a cooling device; and a cover formed as a second block of insulating material, the cover having a plurality of cover cavities therein arranged to correspond to the base cavities such that when the cover is placed on the base, the base cavities and the cover cavities align to produce a plurality of receptacles suitable for holding a plurality of items.
The cooling device preferably comprises an ice pack. Each base cavity may include a plurality of tapered projections extending inward from a lower inner wall portion to receive items of varying size. The cover cavities preferably each each include a plurality of vanes that extend inwardly to define a receptacle for receiving an upper end of an item placed in the corresponding base cavity.
As shown in
The base section 26 is formed as a block of material that includes six product receiving cavities 34-39 are arranged in two rows 42 and 44 of three cavities to form a 3×2 rectangular array. As shown in
The base sections 26 and 28 preferably are formed by a molding process that uses a plug (not shown) that forms a central cavity 52 between the rows 42 and 44. Each of the cavities 34-39 has an upper portion 54 that intersects with the central cavity 52. The lower portion 46 of each of the cavities 34-39 has a height that generally matches that of a lower, generally cylindrical portion of a product container such as a typical wine bottle (not shown).
The base 22 has an upper rim 56 that extends around the outer edge of the base 22. The rim 56 preferably has a thickness of about 0.25 in. to 0.5 in. The rims base sections 26 and 28 are joined at edge portions 60 and 62, respectively. As best shown in
The base section 28 has a central cavity 68 that is formed to be essentially identical to the cavity 52. The cavities 52 and 66 are formed to be suitable for receiving a cooling device.
As shown in
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8-10, the cover 24 is also formed as a block, preferably of the same material as the base 22. As shown in
The cover section 80 includes a plurality of substantially identical cavities 84-89 that correspond with the cavities 34-39, respectively, of the base section 26. The cavity 84, for example, has an end portion 90 where a plurality of vanes, or ribs, 92-96 extend radially into the cavity 84. The vanes 92-96 preferably are equally spaced apart around the circumference of the cavity 84. As shown in
As shown in
The receptacle 104 has a length selected to hold product containers, such as beverage bottles, of varying length and diameter. The tapered projections in the base 22 and the vanes 92-96 in the cover 24 make the shipping container 20 suitable for shipping product containers of varying size without requiring any other packing material, unlike other shipping containers, which typically have rectangular cavities for containing items to be shipped.
As shown in
As shown in
Still referring to
In typical usage, the base 22 is placed in a cardboard box (not shown) before wine bottles or other items to be shipped are placed in the base cavities 34-39. Items to be shipped are placed in the base cavities 34-39 and the cooling devices 70 are placed in the cavities 52 and 68. After these items are properly placed, the cover 24 is inserted into the box so that the projections and recesses are aligned as described above. The box is then closed and sealed.
It should be noted that the recesses 122 and 126 and projections 124 and 128 are optional features. The base rim 56 and the cover rim 123 may both be formed as planar surfaces without projections or recess. The cardboard box is preferably formed so that the base 22 and the cover 24 fit closely therein so that the walls of the box keep the base 22 and cover 24 in proper alignment.
The invention may also be used by placing items to be shipped in the base cavities 34-39, placing the cover 24 on the base 22 to cover the items and applying tape or other sealant means to the outer edges of the rims before placing the filled, assembled container in the box.
The shipping container 20 is designed for shipping a product such as wine where exposure to temperatures above a known limit will degrade the quality of the product. When a case of wine and the cooling devices are packaged and sealed in the container 20, the temperature of the wine will stay below a value that would degrade the wine for a few days. This is generally sufficient time for shipping a case of wine across the United States without degrading its quality.
Claims
1. A container for shipping an item in a temperature controlled environment, comprising:
- a base formed as a first block of an insulating material, the base having a plurality of base cavities therein and arranged in a rectangular array of rows, the base being formed to have a central cavity between a pair of adjacent rows, the central cavity being formed to receive therein a cooling device; and
- a cover formed as a second block of insulating material, the cover having a plurality of cover cavities therein arranged to correspond to the base cavities such that when the cover is placed on the base, the base cavities and the cover cavities align to produce a plurality of receptacles suitable holding a plurality of items.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the cooling device comprises an ice pack.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein each base cavity includes a plurality of tapered projections extending inward from a lower inner wall portion to receive items of varying size.
4. The container of claim 3 wherein the cover cavities each include a plurality of vanes that extend inwardly to define a receptacle for receiving an upper end of an item placed in the corresponding base cavity.
Type: Application
Filed: May 30, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2007
Applicant:
Inventor: Tim Lehman (Laguna Niguel, CA)
Application Number: 11/443,986
International Classification: F25D 3/08 (20060101); F25D 23/00 (20060101);