INSULATED CONTAINER LINER AND METHOD OF INSULATING A CONTAINER

Abstract

An insulated liner for a container and method of insulating a container are disclosed. The insulated liner may include a recyclable first panel, a recyclable second panel, at least one cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, and a recyclable insulating material provided within the at least one cavity. The insulated liner may be adapted to line and insulate the container to keep a temperature within the container within a range of temperatures. The method may include providing the container, the container including a top wall, a bottom wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, opening the container, and providing an insulated liner including a recyclable first panel, a recyclable second panel, at least one cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, and a recyclable insulating material provided within the at least one cavity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/603,354, filed on May 18, 2017; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/604,528, filed on Jul. 11, 2017; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/605,097, filed on Aug. 1, 2017; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to containers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a liner for containers. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a recyclable insulated liner for containers.

Background Information

Generally, temperature sensitive materials, such as foods, pharmaceuticals, organs, blood, biologic materials, chemicals, and the like, are shipped in insulated shipping containers.

Some typical insulated shipping containers include molded, expanded polystyrene coolers, as well as multi-part panel systems incorporating two, four or even six panels of material constructed from rigid pre-fabricated panels of expanded polystyrene, semi-rigid panels of cellulose, or similar mat fiber panels, encapsulated in a polyethylene film or the like. Other typical insulated shipping containers include flexible insulated container liners made entirely of polyethylene and flexible foams and/or semi-rigid panels of cellulose, cotton, or similar mat fiber panels. Typical insulated shipping liners are approximately one fourth of an inch thick and have a density of approximately one pound per cubic foot.

One drawback associated with the above-mentioned typical insulated containers incudes that they are not are not readily accepted in various recycling programs, including municipal recycling programs, because, among other reasons, the comingling of the materials of the typical insulated shipping containers is not readily recyclable (e.g. the comingling of multiple categories of polyethylene or polyethylene and paper combined). This leads to another drawback which includes that the insulated shipping containers typically need to be retrieved at the end of the transit period instead of being recycled.

SUMMARY

A need continues to exist for insulated liners for containers. The insulated liner of the present disclosure addresses the shortcomings of previously known insulated liners.

In one aspect, the present disclosure may provide an insulated liner for a container comprising a recyclable first panel, a recyclable second panel, at least one cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel and a recyclable insulating material provided within the at least one cavity; wherein the insulated liner is adapted to line and insulate the container to keep a temperature within the container within a range of temperatures. In one example, the range of temperatures may be between about approximately two degrees Celsius and eight degrees Celsius. The recyclable first panel and the recyclable second panel may be made out of kraft paper. The insulating material may be made out of cellulose.

The insulated liner may further include a coating layer provided on the first panel and the second panel. The coating layer may be adapted to repel moisture and allow a thermal bond between the first panel and the second panel. The coating layer may be made of at least one of a polypropylene polymer, a polyethylene polymer, and a biodegradable polymer.

The insulated liner may further include an outer seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel, wherein the at least one cavity is a first cavity, a second cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a third cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a first inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the first cavity and the second cavity, and a second inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the second cavity and the third cavity.

The insulated liner may further include an operating position, a first lining portion bounding the first cavity, a second lining portion bounding the second cavity, and a third lining portion bounding the third cavity. In one example, when the insulated liner is in the operating position, the first lining portion may define a vertical first wall, the second lining portion may define a horizontal second wall, and the third lining portion may define a vertical third wall.

In one example, the first lining portion may include a first surface, the second lining portion may include a first surface, and the third lining portion may include a first surface. When the insulated liner is in the operating position, the first surface of the first lining portion may be generally perpendicular to the first surface of the second lining portion, and the first surface of the first lining portion may face and may be generally parallel to the first surface of the third lining portion.

The first lining portion may include a first side edge, the second lining portion may include a first side edge, and the third lining portion may include a first side edge. When the insulated liner is in the operating position, the first side edge of the first lining portion may be at a first angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the second lining portion, and the first side edge of the third lining portion may be at a second angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the second lining portion.

The insulated liner may further include a fourth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a fifth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a sixth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a third inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the fourth cavity and the fifth cavity, and a fourth inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the fifth cavity and the sixth cavity.

The insulated liner may further include a fourth lining portion bounding the fourth cavity, a fifth lining portion bounding the fifth cavity, and a sixth lining portion bounding the sixth cavity. When the insulated liner is in the operating position, the fourth lining portion may define a vertical fourth wall, the fifth lining portion may define a horizontal fifth wall, and the sixth lining portion may define a vertical sixth wall.

The fourth lining portion may include a first side edge, the fifth lining portion may include a first side edge, and the sixth lining portion may include a first side edge. When the insulated liner is in the operating position, the first side edge of the fourth lining portion is at a third angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the fifth lining portion, and the first side edge of the sixth lining portion is at a fourth angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the fifth lining portion.

The fourth lining portion may include a first surface and a second surface, the fifth lining portion may include a first surface and a second surface, and the sixth lining portion may include a first surface and a second surface. When the insulated liner is in the operating position, the second surface of the fourth lining portion may be generally perpendicular to the second surface of the fifth lining portion, and the second surface of the fourth lining portion may face and may be parallel to the second surface of the sixth lining portion.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide an insulated shipping system comprising a recyclable container, a first recyclable member formed from kraft paper filled with cellulose and arranged in a U-shaped configuration and inserted into the recyclable container and supporting objects for shipment thereon, and a second recyclable member formed from kraft paper filled with cellulose and arranged in an inverted U-shaped configuration and rotated ninety degrees about a vertical axis relative to the first recyclable member such that the second recyclable member nestingly cooperates with the first recyclable member when inserted into the recyclable container The first member and the second member may insulate the object and all portions of the shipping system may be recycled.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a method of insulating a container comprising providing the container, the container including a top wall, a bottom wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall and opening the container. The method may further include providing an insulated liner including a recyclable first panel, a recyclable second panel, at least one cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, and a recyclable insulating material provided within the at least one cavity. The insulated liner may be adapted to line and insulate the container to keep a temperature within the container within a range of temperatures.

The method may further include providing a coating layer on the first panel and the second panel and thermally bonding the first panel to the second panel.

The method may further include that the at least one cavity is a first cavity, and the insulated liner further includes an outer seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel, a second cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a third cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a first inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the first cavity and the second cavity, a second inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the second cavity and the third cavity, a first lining portion bounding the first cavity, a second lining portion bounding the second cavity, and a third lining portion bounding the third cavity. The method may further include positioning the first lining portion adjacent the first sidewall of the container, positioning the second lining portion adjacent the bottom wall of the container, and positioning the third lining portion adjacent the second sidewall of the container to form a U-shape with the first lining portion, the second lining portion, and the third lining portion.

The method may further include that the insulated liner further includes a fourth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a fifth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a sixth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a third inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the fourth cavity and the fifth cavity, a fourth inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the fifth cavity and the sixth cavity, a fourth lining portion bounding the fourth cavity, a fifth lining portion bounding the fifth cavity, and a sixth lining portion bounding the sixth cavity. The method may further include positioning an object on at least a portion of the second lining portion, positioning the fourth lining portion adjacent the first end wall of the container, positioning the fifth lining portion vertically above the object, positioning the sixth lining portion adjacent the second end wall of the container to form a U-shape with the fourth lining portion, the fifth lining portion, and the sixth lining portion and enclose the object, and closing the container such that the top wall of the container is adjacent to the fifth lining portion.

The method may further include that the recyclable first panel and the recyclable second panel may be made out of kraft paper and that the insulating material may be made out of cellulose.

In another aspect, the present disclosure may provide an insulated liner for a container and method of insulating a container. The insulated liner may include a recyclable first panel, a recyclable second panel, at least one cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, and a recyclable insulating material provided within the at least one cavity. The insulated liner may be adapted to line and insulate the container to keep a temperature within the container within a range of temperatures. The method may include providing the container, the container including a top wall, a bottom wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, opening the container, and providing an insulated liner including a recyclable first panel, a recyclable second panel, at least one cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, and a recyclable insulating material provided within the at least one cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A sample embodiment of the disclosure is set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are fully incorporated herein and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various examples, methods, and other example embodiments of various aspects of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a conventional corrugated fiberboard container in an open configuration;

FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of one embodiment of a first member of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an isometric perspective view of one embodiment of a second member of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing a coating layer;

FIG. 5 is an operational view of the first member being provided within the corrugated fiberboard container;

FIG. 6 is an isometric perspective view of the first member provided within the corrugated fiberboard container, objects being retained within the corrugated fiberboard container, and the second member above the corrugated fiberboard container;

FIG. 7 is an operational view of the second member being provided within the corrugated fiberboard container;

FIG. 8 is an isometric perspective view of the corrugated fiberboard container in a closed configuration;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic longitudinal cross-section taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 with, among other things, a coating layer removed for clarity;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic transverse cross-section taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8 with, among other things, the coating layer removed for clarity, and with the exception that only one object is retained by the insulated container liner within the corrugated fiberboard container;

FIG. 11 is an is an isometric perspective view of one embodiment of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11A is an is an isometric perspective view of one embodiment of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic cross-section view of one embodiment of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-section view of one embodiment of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method of insulating a container.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The teachings of the present disclosure may be utilized with various containers, such as a conventional corrugated fiberboard container, which is generally indicated at 100 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the corrugated fiberboard container 100 may include a top wall 102a, a bottom wall 102b, a first sidewall 102c, a second sidewall 102d, a first end wall 102e, and a second end wall 102f. The top wall 102a, bottom wall 102b, first sidewall 102c, second sidewall 102d, first end wall 102e, and second end wall 102f may define an interior cavity 102g adapted to retain various objects 104 (FIG. 6, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13) for transport, storage or the like.

Referring to FIG. 2-FIG. 7, there is shown one embodiment of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, with the insulated container liner generally indicated at 10. In one example, the insulated container liner 10 may be configured to line the corrugated fiberboard container 100 (FIG. 1); however, the insulated container liner 10 may be utilized with any suitable container. More particularly, the insulated container liner 10 may be configured to line the various walls 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f, as more fully described below.

With continued reference to FIG. 2-FIG. 7, the insulated container liner 10 may include a first member 12A and a second member 12B.

The first member 12A may include a first panel 14, a second panel 16, at least one cavity 18, which, in this embodiment is a first cavity having the same reference numeral 18, a second cavity 20, a third cavity 22, an outer seam 24, a first inner seam 26, a second inner seam 28, a coating layer 30, an insulating material 32, a first lining portion 34, a second lining portion 36, and a third lining portion 38.

The first member 12A may further include a first end edge 12a, a second end edge 12b, a first side edge 12c, and a second side edge 12d each of which are formed by the outer seam 24 which connects, at least in part, the first panel 14 to the second panel 16. The first end edge 12a and the second end edge 12b may define a longitudinal direction therebetween and the first side edge 12c and the second side edge 12d may define a transverse direction therebetween. When the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 are connected to one another as more fully described below, the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 may define a vertical direction therebetween.

The first end edge 12a and the second end edge 12b may extend in the transverse direction and the first side edge 12c and the second side edge 12d may extend in the longitudinal direction. The first end edge 12a may be generally parallel with the second end edge 12b. The first end edge 12a and the second end edge 12b may be generally perpendicular to the first side edge 12c and the second side edge 12d. The first side edge 12c may be generally parallel to the second side edge 12d. The first side edge 12c and the second side edge 12d may be generally perpendicular to the first end edge 12a and the second end edge 12b. The first end edge 12a may be spaced a distance D1 away from the second end edge 12b and the first side edge 12c may be spaced a distance D2 away from the second side edge 12d. In one example, distance D1 is greater than distance D2; however, distances D1 and D2 may be any suitable distances.

The first member 12A may further include a first imaginary vertical plane P1 defined by the first end edge 12a extending transversely through the first end edge 12a, a second imaginary vertical plane P2 defined by a transverse midline of the first inner seam 26 extending transversely through the midline of the first inner seam 26, a third imaginary vertical plane P3 defined by a transverse midline of the second inner seam 28 extending transversely through the midline of the second inner seam 28, and a fourth imaginary vertical plane P4 defined by the second end edge 12b extending transversely through the second end edge 12b.

The first plane P1, the second plane P2, the third plane P3, and the fourth plane P4 may be generally parallel with one another. The first plane P1 may be spaced a distance D3 away from the second plane P2, the second plane P2 may be spaced a distance D4 away from the third plane P3, and the third plane P3 may be spaced a distance D5 away from the fourth plane P4. In some embodiments, distance D3 is equal to distance D4. In other embodiments, distance D4 is less than distance D3 and distance D4 is less than distance D5. However, it is envisioned that distances D3, D4, and D5 may be any suitable distances.

With primary reference to FIG. 4, the first panel 14 may include an outer surface 14a and an inner surface 14b, and the second panel 16 may include an outer surface 16a and an inner surface 16b. In one example, the inner surface 14b of the first panel 14 may be connected to the inner surface 16b second panel 16 at the outer seam 24, the first inner seam 26, and the second inner seam 28, via a thermal bond; however, the first panel 14 may be connected to the second panel 16 in any suitable manner, including, but not limited to, being connected at different locations and being connected via a chemical bond, such as an adhesive, or the like.

With continued reference to FIG. 4, when the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 are connected to one another, the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 may include a maximum thickness T1. In one example, the thickness T1 may be between a range of approximately one inch to two inches in length. In another example, the thickness T1 may be approximately one inch in length. In another example, the thickness T1 may be approximately one and one half inch in length. In another example, the thickness T1 may be approximately two inches in length. Although particular thicknesses of T1 have been described, thickness T1 may be any suitable thickness.

In one example, the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 may be made out of a recyclable material, such as kraft paper, which may be defined as paper or paperboard (i.e. cardboard) produced from chemical pulp. More particularly, kraft paper may be made by converting wood into wood pulp, which includes cellulose fibers. Although the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 have been described as being made out of kraft paper, the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 may be made out of any suitable materials.

The coating layer 30 may be provided on the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 via extrusion coating, lamination, or any other suitable method of providing a coating (FIG. 4). In one example, the coating layer 30 may be provided on the outer surface 14a of the first panel 14. In another example, the coating layer 30 may be provided on the outer surface 16a of the second panel 16. In another example, the coating layer 30 may be provided on the outer surface 14a of the first panel 14 and the outer surface 16a of the second panel 16. Although the coating layer 30 has been described as being provided on particular portions of the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, the coating layer 30 may be provided on the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 at any location in any suitable manner.

In one example, the coating layer 30 may be made out of a recyclable material, such as a polyethylene polymer extrusion, a polypropylene polymer extrusion, or a bio-based and biodegradable polymer extrusion. Although the coating layer 30 has been described as being made out of particular materials, the coating layer 30 may be made out of any suitable materials.

With continued reference to FIG. 2-FIG. 7, the first cavity 18 may be bounded by the first panel 14, the second panel 16, the outer seam 24, and the first inner seam 26. The second cavity 20 may be bounded by the first panel 14, the second panel 16, the first inner seam 26, and the second inner seam 28. The third cavity 22 may be bounded by the first panel 14, the second panel 16, the outer seam 24, and the second inner seam 28. More specifically, the first cavity 18 may be bounded by the inner surface 14b of the first panel 14, the inner surface 16b of the second panel 16, the outer seam 24, and the first inner seam 26, the second cavity 20 may be bounded by the inner surface 14b of the first panel 14, the inner surface 16b of the second panel 16, the first inner seam 26, and the second inner seam 28, and the third cavity 22 may be bounded by the inner surface 14b of the first panel 14, the inner surface 16b of the second panel 16, the outer seam 24, and the second inner seam 28. In one embodiment, each cavity 18, 20, and 22 is distinct and separate such that no portion of one cavity 18, 20 and 22 is in open communication with an adjacent cavity 18, 20, and 22. Thus, the second cavity 20 is positioned longitudinally between the first cavity 18 and the third cavity 22.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the first cavity 18, the second cavity 20, and the third cavity 22 may be configured to hold a volume of the insulating material 32. In one example, the first cavity 18, the second cavity 20, and the third cavity 22 may be filled with insulating material 32 such that once the insulating material 32 is inserted within the cavities 18, 20, and 22, the insulating material 32 does not move within the cavities 18, 20, and 22. In one example, this may be accomplished, at least in part, by completely filling each cavity 18, 20, and 22 with the insulating material 32. Typically, the same mass of insulating material 32 is deposited into each cavity 18, 20, and 22. In one example, the density of the filled cavities 28, 20, and 22 is approximately two to three pounds per cubic foot; however, the density may be any suitable density. The first cavity 18, the second cavity 20, and the third cavity 22 may be configured to hold any suitable volume of the insulating material 32. The insulating material 32 may be configured to maintain certain temperatures within the container 100. In one example, the temperature may be maintained between about approximately two degrees Celsius and eight degrees Celsius; however, the temperature may be maintained in any between any suitable temperature range.

In one example, the insulating material 32 may be made out of a recyclable material, such as loose fill cellulose. In another example, the insulating material 32 may be made out of loose fill plant-based fibers and blends, such as cotton fiber, jute fiber or other similar loose fill plant based fibers. Although the insulating material 32 has been described as being made out of particular materials, the insulating material 32 may be made out any suitable recyclable insulating materials.

As shown in FIG. 2-FIG. 4, the first lining portion 34 may include a first surface 34a, a second surface 34b, a first end edge 34c, a second end edge 34d, a first side edge 34e, and a second side edge 34f. In one example, the first end edge 34c may be formed by the outer seam 24, the second end edge 34d may be formed by the first inner seam 26, the first side edge 34e may be formed by the outer seam 24, and the second side edge 34f may be formed by the outer seam 24.

The second lining portion 36 may include a first surface 36a, a second surface 36b, a first end edge 36c, a second end edge 36d, a first side edge 36e, and a second side edge 36f. In one example, the first end edge 36c may be formed by the first inner seam 26, the second end edge 36d may be formed by the second inner seam 28, the first side edge 36e may be formed by the outer seam 24, and the second side edge 36f may be formed by the outer seam 24.

The third lining portion 38 may include a first surface 38a, a second surface 38b, a first end edge 38c, a second end edge 38d, a first side edge 38e, and a second side edge 38f. In one example, the first end edge 38c may be formed by the second inner seam 28, the second end edge 38d may be formed by the outer seam 24, the first side edge 38e may be formed by the outer seam 24, and the second side edge 38f may be formed by the outer seam 24.

In one example, the first member 12A may be configurable between a first position 40 (FIG. 2) and a second position 42 (FIG. 5). When the first member 12A is in the first position 40, angles α1 between the first side edge 34e of the first lining portion 34, the first side edge 36e of the second lining portion 36, and the first side edge 38e of the third lining portion 38 may be approximately zero degrees (FIG. 2).

When configuring the first member 12A from the first position 40 to the second position 42, the first lining portion 34 may be folded in a vertically upward direction along a first transverse axis X1 defined by the first inner seam 26 such that an angle α2 between the first side edge 34e of the first lining portion 34 and the first side edge 36e of the second lining portion 36 may be approximately ninety degrees (FIG. 5). When configuring the first member 12A from the first position 40 to the second position 42, the third lining portion 38 may be folded in a vertically upward direction along a second transverse axis X2 defined by the second inner seam 28 such that an angle α3 between the first side edge 38e of the third lining portion 38 and the first side edge 36e of the second lining portion 36 may be approximately ninety degrees (FIG. 5).

In one example, when the first member 12A is in the second position 42, the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34 may be generally perpendicular to the first surface 36a of the second lining portion 36 and generally parallel to the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38. In one example, when the first member 12A is in the second position 42, the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38 may be generally perpendicular to the first surface 36a of the second lining portion 36 and generally parallel to the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34. Further, when the first member 12A is in the second position 42, the first lining portion 34 may define a vertical first wall by the first surface 34a and the second surface 34b, the second lining portion 36 may define a horizontal second wall by the first surface 36a and the second surface 36b, and the third lining portion 38 may define a vertical third wall defined by the first surface 38a and the second surface 38b.

In one example, when the first member 12A is in the second position 42, the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34 may be generally facing the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second member 12B is substantially identical to the first member 12A of FIG. 2 in structure and function with a few exceptions/additions that will be discussed hereafter in greater detail. As such, the reference numbers used to describe the first member 12A are the same reference numbers used to describe the second member 12B except as otherwise described herein. Further, certain terms may be referred to differently in the appended claims. For example, in the appended claims, the first cavity 18 may be referred to as the fourth cavity 18, the second cavity 20 may be referred to as the fifth cavity 20, the third cavity 22 may be referred to as the sixth cavity 22, the first lining portion 34 may be referred to as the fourth lining portion 34, the second lining portion 36 may be referred to as the fifth lining portion 36, and the third lining portion 38 may be referred to as the sixth lining portion 38. Any other usage of certain terms may be determined from the context of the usage in accordance with the specification herein.

The second member 12B may include a first imaginary vertical plane P1′ defined by the first end edge 12a extending transversely through the first end edge 12a, a second imaginary vertical plane P2′ defined by a transverse midline of the first inner seam 26 extending transversely through the midline of the first inner seam 26, a third imaginary vertical plane P3′ defined by a transverse midline of the second inner seam 28 extending transversely through the midline of the second inner seam 28, and a fourth imaginary vertical plane P4′ defined by the second end edge 12b extending transversely through the second end edge 12b.

The first plane P1′, the second plane P2′, the third plane P3′, and the fourth plane P4′ may be generally parallel with one another. The first plane P1′ may be spaced a distance D6 away from the second plane P2′, the second plane P2′ may be spaced a distance D7 away from the third plane P3′, and the third plane P3′ may be spaced a distance D8 away from the fourth plane P4′. With reference to second member 12B, and in some embodiments, distance D7 may be greater than distance D6 and distance D8. However, it is envisioned that distances D6, D7, and D8 may be any suitable distances.

In one example, the second member 12B may be configurable between the first position 40 (FIG. 2) and the second position 42 (FIG. 6). When the second member 12B is in the first position 40, angles α1 between the first side edge 34e of the first lining portion 34, the first side edge 36e of the second lining portion 36, and the first side edge 38e of the third lining portion 38 may be approximately zero degrees (FIG. 3).

When configuring the second member 12B from the first position 40 to the second position 42, the first lining portion 34 may be folded in a vertically downward direction along the first transverse axis X1 defined by the first inner seam 26 such that the angle α2 between the first side edge 34e of the first lining portion 34 and the first side edge 36e of the second lining portion 36 may be approximately ninety degrees (FIG. 6). When configuring the second member 12B from the first position 40 to the second position 42, the third lining portion 38 may be folded in a vertically downward direction along a second transverse axis X2 defined by the second inner seam 28 such that the angle α3 between the first side edge 38e of the third lining portion 38 and the first side edge 36e of the second lining portion 36 may be approximately ninety degrees (FIG. 6).

In one example, when the second member 12B is in the second position 42, the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34 may be generally perpendicular to the first surface 36a of the second lining portion 36 and generally parallel to the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38. In one example, when the first member 12A is in the second position 42, the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38 may be generally perpendicular to the first surface 36a of the second lining portion 36 and generally parallel to the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34. Further, when the second member 12B is in the second position 42, the first lining portion 34 may define a vertical first wall by the first surface 34a and the second surface 34b, the second lining portion 36 may define a horizontal second wall by the first surface 36a and the second surface 36b, and the third lining portion 38 may define a vertical third wall by the first surface 38a and the second surface 38b.

In one example, when the second member 12B is in the second position 42, the second surface 34b of the first lining portion 34 may be generally facing the second surface 38b of the third lining portion 38.

In operation, and with primary reference to FIG. 5-FIG. 10, the insulated container liner 10 may be utilized to line the corrugated fiberboard container 100. As shown in FIG. 5, the corrugated fiberboard container 100 may be in an open configuration and capable of receiving the insulated container liner 10 within the interior cavity 102g.

The first member 12A may be manipulated from the first position 40 to the second position 42. When the first member 12A is in the second position 42, the first member 12A is generally U-shaped and may be lowered in a vertically downward direction, as shown by arrow A in FIG. 5, and received within the interior cavity 102g. More particularly, the first member 12A may be lowered such that the second surface 34b of the first lining portion 34 makes contact with the first sidewall 102c of the corrugated fiberboard container 100, the second surface 36b of the second lining portion 36 makes contact with the bottom wall 102b of the corrugated fiberboard container 100, and the second surface 38b of the third lining portion 38 makes contact with the second sidewall 102d of the corrugated fiberboard container 100.

With primary reference to FIG. 6, various objects 104, which may be temperature sensitive products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, organs, blood, biologic materials, chemicals, and the like, may be placed within the corrugated fiberboard container 100. More particularly, the objects 104 may be positioned to make contact with various portions of the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34, the first surface 36a of the second lining portion 36, and the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38, depending on, at least in part, the size of the object 104.

The second member 12B may be manipulated from the first position 40 to the second position 42. When the second member 12B is in the second position 42, the second member 12B is generally an inverted U-shape and rotated ninety degrees about a vertical axis relative to the first member 12A such that second member 12B may be lowered in a vertically downward direction, as shown by arrow B in FIG. 6, and received within the interior cavity 102g. More particularly, the second member 12B may be lowered such that the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34 makes contact with the second end wall 102f of the corrugated fiberboard container 100, the first surface 36a of the second lining portion 36 faces the first surface 36a of the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A, and the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38 makes contact with the first end wall 102e of the corrugated fiberboard container 100.

As shown in FIG. 8, the top wall 102a of the corrugated fiberboard container 100 may be closed and sealed. The sealed container 100 may then be transported, stored, or otherwise utilized.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic longitudinal cross-section of FIG. 8, which shows the objects 104 being retained within the corrugated fiberboard container 100. More particularly, FIG. 9 shows the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, the second lining portion 36 of the second member 12B, and the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B. The objects 104 contact the first surface 36a of the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A and the second surface 36b of the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic transverse cross-section similar to FIG. 8, which shows one of the objects 104 being retained within the corrugated fiberboard container 100, however, in FIG. 10, there is only one object 104 being retained. More particularly, FIG. 10 shows the second lining portion 36 of the second member 12B, the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A, and the third lining portion 38 of the first member 12A. The object 104 contacts the first surface 36a of the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A, the second surface 34b of the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, the second surface 36b of the second lining portion 36 of the second member 12B, and the second surface 38b of the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B.

In one example, the insulated liner 10 may be formed by automated or semi-automated liner manufacturing equipment. For example, the first member 12A may be formed by automated or semi-automated liner manufacturing equipment by unwinding the first panel 14 and the second panel 16 from a roll of panels, aligning and thermally bonding the first panel 14 to the second panel 16. More particularly, the outer seam 24, first inner seam 26, and second inner seam 28 may be formed on the insulated liner 10 except for an opening (not shown) which is filled with the insulating material 32 before being sealed. In one example, the insulating material 32 may be filled via a weight-based filling process which deposits a fiberized and metered amount of the insulating material 32) into each cavity of the insulated liner 10. The insulated liner 10 may be cut downstream to form the desired amount of cavities in the insulated liner 10. Although a particular method of forming the insulated liner 10 has been described, it is envisioned that the insulated liner 10 may be formed by any suitable method.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown one embodiment of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, with the insulated container liner generally indicated at 200. The insulated container liner 200 is substantially identical to insulated container liner 10 in structure and function with a few exceptions/additions that will be discussed hereafter in greater detail. In this embodiment, the first side edge 36e of the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A may be connected to the second end edge 38d of the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B. The insulated container liner 200 operates in a substantially identical manner to insulated container liner 10, except that the first member 12A and the second member 12B are unitary.

Referring to FIG. 11A, there is shown one embodiment of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, with the insulated container liner generally indicated at 200A. The insulated container liner 200A is substantially identical to insulated container liner 200 in structure and function with a few exceptions/additions that will be discussed hereafter in greater detail. In this embodiment, the first side edge 36e of the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A may be connected to the second end edge 38d of the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B, and the second end edge 34d of the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B may be connected to the second side edge 36f of the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A. The insulated container liner 200A operates in a substantially identical manner to insulated container liner 200, except that the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B is attached in a different position.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown a diagrammatic cross-section view of one embodiment of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, with the insulated container liner generally indicated at 300. The insulated container liner 300 is substantially identical to insulated container liner 10 in structure and function with a few exceptions/additions that will be discussed hereafter in greater detail. In this embodiment, the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A, the third lining portion 38 of the first member 12A, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, the second lining portion 36 of the second member 12B, and the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B may be separate from one another.

Although the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A, the third lining portion 38 of the first member 12A, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, the second lining portion 36 of the second member 12B, and the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B are separate from one another in this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to refer to each lining portion 34, 36, and 38 of each member 12A and 12B.

In this embodiment, the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the third lining portion 38 of the first member, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, and the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B may be fixedly secured to the corrugated fiberboard container 100 via a connection mechanism 44, such as a contact adhesive or the like. The connection mechanism 44 may be applied on any suitable portion of the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the third lining portion 38 of the first member, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, and the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B. Although the connection has been described as being an adhesive, it is envisioned that any suitable connection mechanism may be utilized. It is further envisioned that the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the third lining portion 38 of the first member, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, and the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B may be adhered to the corrugated fiberboard container 100 after the corrugated fiberboard container 100 has been erected or at any other suitable time.

As shown in FIG. 12, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B and the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B are fixedly secured to the corrugated fiberboard container. More specifically, the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B and the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B are fixedly secured to the corrugated fiberboard container 100 with the connection mechanism 44.

As shown in FIG. 12, and in this embodiment, the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A may be placed within the corrugated fiberboard container 100 such that the second surface 36b of the second lining portion 36 makes contact with the bottom wall 102b of the corrugated fiberboard container 100. The second lining portion 36 of the second member 12B may be placed within the corrugated fiberboard container 100 such that the second surface 36b makes contact with the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the third lining portion 38 of the first member 12A, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, and the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B and may make contact with the objects 104.

In operation, the insulated container liner 300 operates in a substantially identical manner to insulated container liner 10, except that the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A, the third lining portion 38 of the first member 12A, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, the second lining portion 36 of the second member 12B, the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B are separate from one another.

In one example, the insulated container liner 300 may be integrally formed with the container 100 via fully automated carton erector equipment and sealing equipment via hot melt, cold set adhesive, contact adhesive or the like.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a diagrammatic cross-section view of one embodiment of an insulated container liner in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, with the insulated container liner generally indicated at 400. The insulated container liner 400 is substantially identical to insulated container liner 300 in structure and function with a few exceptions/additions that will be discussed hereafter in greater detail. In this embodiment, the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A, the third lining portion 38 of the first member 12A, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, the second lining portion 36 of the second member 12B, the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B may be integrally formed with the corrugated fiberboard container 100.

In this embodiment, the second surface 34b of the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the second surface 38b of the third lining portion 38 of the first member 12A, the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, and the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B may all be removed except for flange portions 46 as shown in FIG. 13. In this embodiment, the first cavity 18 of the first member 12A may be defined by the first sidewall 102c, the first surface 34a of the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the outer seam 24, and the first inner seam 26. The third cavity 22 of the first member 12A may be defined by the second sidewall 102d, the first surface 38a of the third lining portion 38 of the first member 12A, the outer seam 24, and the second inner seam 28. The first cavity 18 of the second member 12B may be defined by the second end wall 102f, the second surface 34b of the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, the outer seam 24, and the first inner seam 26. The third cavity 22 of the second member 12B may be defined by the first end wall 102e, the second surface 38b of the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B, the outer seam 24, and the second inner seam 28.

In operation, the insulated container liner 400 operates in a substantially identical manner to insulated container liner 300, except that the first lining portion 34 of the first member 12A, the second lining portion 36 of the first member 12A, the third lining portion 38 of the first member 12A, the first lining portion 34 of the second member 12B, the second lining portion 36 of the second member 12B, the third lining portion 38 of the second member 12B are integrally formed with the corrugated fiberboard container 100.

In one example, the insulated container liner 400 may be integrally formed with the container 100 via fully automated carton erector equipment and sealing equipment via hot melt, cold set adhesive, contact adhesive or the like.

In one aspect according to the present disclosure, an insulated shipping system comprising a recyclable container 100 is disclosed. In this embodiment, the first recyclable member 12A may be formed from kraft paper filled with cellulose and arranged in a U-shaped configuration and inserted into the recyclable container 100 and supporting objects 104 for shipment thereon. The system may further include a second recyclable member 12B formed from kraft paper filled with cellulose and arranged in an inverted U-shaped configuration and rotated ninety degrees about a vertical axis relative to the first recyclable member 12A such that the second recyclable member 12B nestingly cooperates with the first recyclable member 12A when inserted into the recyclable container 100.

The first recyclable member 12A may include a first panel 14 and a second panel 14, a first outer seam 24 connecting, at least in part, the first panel 14 to the second panel 16; a first cavity 18 defined by the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, a second cavity 20 defined by the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, a third cavity 22 defined by the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, a first inner seam connecting 26, at least in part, the first panel 14 to the second panel 16 and positioned between the first cavity 18 and the second cavity 20, and a second inner seam connecting 28, at least in part, the first panel 14 to the second panel 16 and positioned between the second cavity 20 and the third cavity 22.

In one example, when the first recyclable member 12A is in the U-shaped configuration and inserted into the recyclable container 100, the first cavity 18 may be adjacent to the first sidewall 102c of the recyclable container 100, the second cavity 20 may be adjacent the bottom wall 102b of the recyclable container 100, and the third cavity 22 may be adjacent the second sidewall 102d of the recyclable container 100.

In one example, the second recyclable member 12B may include a third panel 14 and a fourth panel 16, a second outer seam connecting 24, at least in part, the third panel 14 to the fourth panel 16, a fourth cavity 18 defined by the third panel 14 and the fourth panel 16, a fifth cavity 20 defined by the third panel 14 and the fourth panel 16, a sixth cavity 22 defined by the third panel 14 and the fourth panel 16, a third inner seam 26 connecting, at least in part, the third panel 14 to the fourth panel 16 and positioned between the fourth cavity 18 and the fifth cavity 20, and a fourth inner seam 28 connecting, at least in part, the third panel 14 to the fourth panel 16 and positioned between the fifth cavity 20 and the sixth cavity 22.

In one example, when the second recyclable member 12B is in the inverted U-shaped configuration and inserted into the recyclable container 100, the fourth cavity 18 may be adjacent to the first end wall 102e of the recyclable container 100, the fifth cavity 20 may be adjacent the top wall 102a of the recyclable container 100, and the sixth cavity 22 may be adjacent the second end wall 102f of the recyclable container 100.

In one example, when the first recyclable member 12A is in the U-shaped configuration and inserted into the recyclable container 100, and the second recyclable member 12B is in the inverted U-shaped configuration and inserted into the recyclable container 100, the first inner seam 26 and the second inner seam 28 of the first recyclable member 12A may be perpendicular to the third inner seam 26 and the fourth inner seam 28 of the second recyclable member 12B.

FIG. 14 depicts an exemplary method in accordance with the present disclosure. In one example, a method of insulating a container is shown generally at 1400. In this example, the method 1400 describes the operation of the insulated container liner 10. In one example, the method 1400 may include providing the container 100, the container 100 including a top wall 102a, a bottom wall 102b, a first sidewall 102c, a second sidewall 102d, a first end wall 102e, and a second end wall 102f, which is shown generally at 1402. The method 1400 may include opening the container 100, which is shown generally at 1404. The method 1400 may include providing an insulated liner 10 including a recyclable first panel 14, a recyclable second panel 16, at least one cavity 18 defined by the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, and a recyclable insulating material 32 provided within the at least one cavity 18, which is shown generally at 1406. In one example, the insulated liner 10 may be adapted to line and insulate the container 100 to keep a temperature within the container 100 within a range of temperatures, which is shown generally at 1408. The method 1400 may include providing a coating layer 30 on the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, which is shown generally at 1410. The method 1400 may include thermally bonding the first panel 14 to the second panel 16, which is shown generally at 1412.

In one example, the at least one cavity 18 may be a first cavity 18, and the insulated liner 10 may further include an outer seam 24 connecting, at least in part, the first panel 14 to the second panel 16, a second cavity 20 defined by the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, a third cavity 22 defined by the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, a first inner seam 26 connecting, at least in part, the first panel 14 to the second panel 16 and positioned between the first cavity 18 and the second cavity 20, a second inner seam 28 connecting, at least in part, the first panel 14 to the second panel 16 and positioned between the second cavity 20 and the third cavity 22, a first lining portion 34 bounding the first cavity 18, a second lining portion 36 bounding the second cavity 20, and a third lining portion 38 bounding the third cavity 22. The method 1400 may further include positioning the first lining portion 34 adjacent the first sidewall 102c of the container 100, which is shown generally at 1414. The method may include positioning the second lining portion 36 adjacent the bottom wall 102b of the container 100, which is shown generally at 1418. The method 1400 may include positioning the third lining portion 38 adjacent the second sidewall 102d of the container 100 to form a U-shape with the first lining portion 34, the second lining portion 36, and the third lining portion 38, which is shown generally at 1420.

In one example, the insulated liner 10 may further include a fourth cavity 18 defined by the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, a fifth cavity 20 defined by the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, a sixth cavity 22 defined by the first panel 14 and the second panel 16, a third inner seam 26 connecting, at least in part, the first panel 14 to the second panel 16 and positioned between the fourth cavity 18 and the fifth cavity 20, a fourth inner seam 28 connecting, at least in part, the first panel 14 to the second panel 16 and positioned between the fifth cavity 20 and the sixth cavity 22, a fourth lining portion 34 bounding the fourth cavity 18, a fifth lining portion 36 bounding the fifth cavity 20, and a sixth lining portion 38 bounding the sixth cavity 22. The method 1400 may further include positioning an object 104 on at least a portion of the second lining portion 36, which is shown generally at 1422. The method may include positioning the fourth lining portion 34 adjacent the second end wall 102f of the container, which is shown generally at 1424. The method may include positioning the fifth lining portion 36 vertically above the object 104, which is shown generally at 1426. The method 1400 may include positioning the sixth lining portion 38 adjacent the first end wall 102e of the container to form a U-shape with the fourth lining portion 34, the fifth lining portion 36, and the sixth lining portion 38 and enclose the object 104, which is shown generally at 1428. The method 1400 may further include closing the container 100 such that the top wall 102a of the container 100 is adjacent to the fifth lining portion 36, which is shown generally at 1430.

In one example, the recyclable first panel and the recyclable second panel may be made out of kraft paper and the insulating material may be made out of cellulose.

In one example, the insulated container liner 10 may be a flexible. In another example, the insulated container liner 10 may be rigid.

In one example, the first lining portion 34, the second lining portion 36, and the third lining portion 38 may have thicknesses between a range of approximately one inch to two inches in length. In another example, the thicknesses may be approximately one inch in length. In another example, the thicknesses may be approximately one and one half inch in length. In another example, the thicknesses may be approximately two inches in length. Although particular thicknesses have been described, the thicknesses may be any suitable thicknesses.

In one example, the first lining portion 34, the second lining portion 36, and the third lining portion 38 may have a density of approximately two to three pounds per cubic foot; however, the first lining portion 34, the second lining portion 36, and the third lining portion 38 may have any suitable density.

It is further envisioned that each lining portion, 34, 36, 38 may be split into two lining portions. For example, the first lining portion 34 may include an additional seam (not shown) which creates two cavities (not shown) in the first lining portion 34. In this example, the two cavities of the first lining portion would be adjacent to a particular wall of the container 100.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, some benefits of the teachings of the present disclosure include, among others, that the insulated liners 10, 200, 300 and 400, utilize a combination of materials that are capable of maintaining the objects within a desired temperature range, are low cost, are recyclable, and are capable of being used one time instead of being retrieved at the end of transit. In one example, the insulated liners 10, 200, 300 and 400 may maintain the temperature within the container 100 between about approximately two degrees Celsius and eight degrees Celsius; however, the insulated liners 10, 200, 300, and 400 may be configured to maintain any suitable desired temperature range within the container 100. Another benefit of the teachings of the present disclosure includes, among others, that each cavity 18, 20, and 22 is distinct and separate such that no portion of one cavity 18, 20 and 22 is in open communication with an adjacent cavity 18, 20, and 22.

It is further envisioned that the insulated liners 10, 200, 300, and 400, may be configured to fit the dimensions of various containers. For example, the distances D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, and D8, of the insulated liner 10 may be configured to any desired dimensions of a container.

Although the first cavity 18 has been described as being adjacent to the first sidewall 102c, the second cavity 20 has been described as being adjacent to the bottom wall 102b, the third cavity 22 has been described as being adjacent to the second sidewall 102d, the fourth cavity 18 has been described as being adjacent to the first end wall 102e, the fifth cavity 20 has been described as being adjacent to the top wall 102a, and the sixth cavity 22 has been described as being adjacent to the second end wall 102f, it is envisioned that each of the cavities 18, 20 and 22 may be configured to be adjacent to any suitable wall 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f of the container 100.

Although the first lining portion 34 has been described as being adjacent to the first sidewall 102c, the second lining portion 36 has been described as being adjacent to the bottom wall 102b, the third lining portion 38 has been described as being adjacent to the second sidewall 102d, the fourth lining portion 34 has been described as being adjacent to the first end wall 102e, the fifth lining portion 36 has been described as being adjacent to the top wall 102a, and the sixth lining portion 38 has been described as being adjacent to the second end wall 102f, it is envisioned that each of the lining portions 34, 36 and 38 may be configured to be adjacent to any suitable wall 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, and 102f of the container 100.

Also, various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments.

Additionally, any method of performing the present disclosure may occur in a sequence different than those described herein. Accordingly, no sequence of the method should be read as a limitation unless explicitly stated. It is recognizable that performing some of the steps of the method in an different order could achieve a similar result.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of the disclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. An insulated liner for a container comprising:

a recyclable first panel;

a recyclable second panel;

at least one cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel; and

a recyclable insulating material provided within the at least one cavity; wherein the insulated liner is adapted to line and insulate the container to keep a temperature within the container within a range of temperatures.

2. The insulated liner of claim 1, wherein the range of temperatures is between about approximately two degrees Celsius and eight degrees Celsius.

3. The insulated liner of claim 1, wherein the recyclable first panel and the recyclable second panel are kraft paper.

4. The insulated liner of claim 3, wherein the insulating material is cellulose.

5. The insulated liner of claim 1, further comprising:

a coating layer provided on the first panel and the second panel; wherein the coating layer is adapted to repel moisture and allow a thermal bond between the first panel and the second panel.

6. The insulated liner of claim 5, wherein the coating layer is at least one of a polypropylene polymer, a polyethylene polymer, and a biodegradable polymer.

7. The insulated liner of claim 1, further comprising:

an outer seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel;

wherein the at least one cavity is a first cavity;

a second cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel;

a third cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel;

a first inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the first cavity and the second cavity; and

a second inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the second cavity and the third cavity.

8. The insulated liner of claim 7, further comprising:

an operating position of the insulated liner;

a first lining portion bounding the first cavity and defining a vertical first wall when the insulated liner is in the operating position;

a second lining portion bounding the second cavity and defining a horizontal second wall when the insulated liner is in the operating position; and

a third lining portion bounding the third cavity and defining a vertical third wall when the insulated liner is in the operating position.

9. The insulated liner of claim 8, further comprising:

a first surface of the first lining portion;

a first surface of the second lining portion that is perpendicular to the first surface of the first lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position; and

a first surface of the third lining portion that is facing and parallel to the first surface of the first lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position.

10. The insulated liner of claim 8, further comprising:

a first side edge of the first lining portion;

a first side edge of the second lining portion positioned at a first angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the first lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position; and

a first side of edge of the third lining portion positioned at a second angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the second lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position.

11. The insulated liner of claim 7, further comprising:

a fourth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel;

a fifth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel;

a sixth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel;

a third inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the fourth cavity and the fifth cavity; and

a fourth inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the fifth cavity and the sixth cavity.

12. The insulated liner of claim 11, further comprising:

an operating position of the insulated liner;

a first lining portion bounding the first cavity and defining a vertical first wall when the insulated liner is in the operating position;

a second lining portion bounding the second cavity and defining a vertical second wall when the insulated liner is in the operating position;

a third lining portion bounding the third cavity and defining a vertical third wall when the insulated liner is in the operating position;

a fourth lining portion bounding the fourth cavity and defining a vertical fourth wall when the insulated liner is in the operating position;

a fifth lining portion bounding the fifth cavity and defining a horizontal fifth wall when the insulated liner is in the operating position; and

a sixth lining portion bounding the sixth cavity and defining a vertical sixth wall when the insulated liner is in the operating position.

13. The insulated liner of claim 12, further comprising:

a first side edge of the first lining portion;

a first side edge of the second lining portion positioned at a first angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the first lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position;

a first side of edge of the third lining portion positioned at a second angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the second lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position;

a first side edge of the fourth lining portion;

a first side edge of the fifth lining portion positioned at a third angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the fourth lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position; and

a first side of edge of the sixth lining portion positioned at a fourth angle of approximately ninety degrees to the first side edge of the fifth lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position.

14. The insulated liner of claim 12, further comprising:

a first surface of the first lining portion;

a first surface of the second lining portion that is perpendicular to the first surface of the first lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position;

a first surface of the third lining portion that is facing and parallel to the first surface of the first lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position;

a first surface and a second surface of the fourth lining portion;

a first surface and a second surface of the fifth lining portion, the second surface of the fifth lining portion is positioned perpendicular to the second surface of the fourth lining portion when the insulated liner is in the operating position; and

a first surface and a second surface of the sixth lining portion, the second surface of the sixth lining portion facing and parallel to the second surface of the fourth lining portion.

15. An insulated shipping system comprising:

a recyclable container;

a first recyclable member formed from kraft paper filled with cellulose and inserted into the recyclable container and supporting objects for shipment thereon;

a second recyclable member formed from kraft paper filled with cellulose and inserted into the recyclable container such that the second recyclable member nestingly cooperates with the first recyclable member; wherein the first recyclable member and the second recyclable member insulate the object and all portions of the shipping system may be recycled.

16. The insulated shipping system of claim 15, further comprising:

a first panel and a second panel of the first recyclable member;

a first outer seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel;

a first cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel;

a second cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel;

a third cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel;

a first inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the first cavity and the second cavity; and

a second inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the second cavity and the third cavity.

17. The insulated shipping system of claim 16, further comprising:

a top wall, a bottom wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall of the recyclable container; wherein when the first recyclable member is inserted into the recyclable container, the first cavity is adjacent to the first sidewall of the recyclable container, the second cavity is adjacent the bottom wall of the recyclable container, and the third cavity is adjacent the second sidewall of the recyclable container.

18. The insulated shipping system of claim 16, further comprising:

a third panel and a fourth panel of the second recyclable member;

a second outer seam connecting, at least in part, the third panel to the fourth panel;

a fourth cavity defined by the third panel and the fourth panel;

a fifth cavity defined by the third panel and the fourth panel;

a sixth cavity defined by the third panel and the fourth panel;

a third inner seam connecting, at least in part, the third panel to the fourth panel and positioned between the fourth cavity and the fifth cavity; and

a fourth inner seam connecting, at least in part, the third panel to the fourth panel and positioned between the fifth cavity and the sixth cavity.

19. The insulated shipping system of claim 18, wherein when the second recyclable member is inserted into the recyclable container, the fourth cavity is adjacent to the first end wall of the recyclable container, the fifth cavity is adjacent the top wall of the recyclable container, and the sixth cavity is adjacent the second end wall of the recyclable container.

20. A method of insulating a container comprising:

providing an insulated liner including a recyclable first panel, a recyclable second panel, a first cavity defined by the recyclable first panel and the recyclable second panel; an outer seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel, a second cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a third cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a first inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the first cavity and the second cavity, a second inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the second cavity and the third cavity, a first lining portion bounding the first cavity, a second lining portion bounding the second cavity, a third lining portion bounding the third cavity, a fourth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a fifth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a sixth cavity defined by the first panel and the second panel, a third inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the fourth cavity and the fifth cavity, a fourth inner seam connecting, at least in part, the first panel to the second panel and positioned between the fifth cavity and the sixth cavity, a fourth lining portion bounding the fourth cavity, a fifth lining portion bounding the fifth cavity, and a sixth lining portion bounding the sixth cavity;

filling the first cavity, the second cavity, the third cavity, the fourth cavity, the fifth cavity and the sixth cavity with an insulating material;

positioning the first lining portion adjacent a first sidewall of a container;

positioning the second lining portion adjacent a bottom wall of the container;

positioning the third lining portion adjacent a second sidewall of the container;

wherein the first lining portion, the second lining portion, and the third lining portion form a U-shape;

positioning an object on at least a portion of the second lining portion;

positioning the fourth lining portion adjacent a first end wall of the container;

positioning the fifth lining portion vertically above the object;

positioning the sixth lining portion adjacent a second end wall of the container;

wherein the fourth lining portion, the fifth lining portion, and the sixth lining portion form a U-shape and enclose the object; and

closing the container such that the top wall of the container is adjacent the fifth lining portion.