Insulated shipping container having at least one spacer for improving airflow within the container

A system comprising:

• a payload container having at least a first face, and a second face on an opposite side of the payload container from said first face, said payload container being configured in size and shape such that said payload container may be positioned within and spaced from inside sidewalls of an insulated shipping container, such that air is free to flow between outside sidewalls of the payload container and the inside sidewalls of the insulated shipping container;
• a first horizontal spacing element positioned above the payload container, which directly contacts and spaces and directly separates at least one first heat transfer element from either:
• an inside top surface of the shipping container, or from a second heat transfer element wherein both of said first heat transfer element and said second heat transfer element are facing the first face of the payload container, wherein the first horizontal spacing element allows air to contact and flow freely across all surfaces of the at least one first heat transfer element and a convection current is created across exposed surfaces of the at least one first heat transfer element;
• and
• a second horizontal spacing element configured to be positioned adjacent to the second face of the payload container below said payload container, on an opposite side of the payload container from the first horizontal spacing element.

A kit comprising:

• a payload container having at least a first face, and a second face on an opposite side of the payload container from said first face, said payload container being configured in size and shape such that said payload container may be positioned within and spaced from inside sidewalls of an insulated shipping container, such that air is free to flow between outside sidewalls of the payload container and the inside sidewalls of the insulated shipping container;
• a first horizontal spacing element configured to directly contact at least one first heat transfer element and to space and directly separate the at least one first heat transfer element from at least one element selected from the group consisting of:
• the first face of the payload container such that said payload container and said first heat transfer element do not directly contact one another such that air is free to flow between the payload container and all surfaces of the first heat transfer element;
• a second heat transfer element facing to the payload container;
• and an inside top surface of the shipping container;
• said first horizontal spacing element being configured above the payload container such that air is free to flow across and between the surfaces that said first horizontal spacing element spaces, whereby a convection current is created across exposed surfaces of the at least one first heat transfer element;
• and
• a second horizontal spacing element configured to be positioned adjacent to the second face of the payload container, on an opposite side of the payload container from the first horizontal spacing element.

A method of packing an insulated shipping container comprising:

• positioning a payload container within said shipping container, such that said payload container is spaced from inside sidewalls of said shipping container;
• and wherein said payload container comprises at least a first face and a second face on an opposite side of the payload container from said first face, such that air is free to flow between outside sidewalls of the payload container and the inside sidewalls of the insulated shipping container;
• positioning at least one first heat transfer element such that said first heat transfer element faces the first face of the payload container, within said shipping container;
• a first horizontal spacing element being in direct contact with the at least one first heat transfer element and being configured above the payload container for spacing by directly separating the at least one first heat transfer element from at least one element selected from the group consisting of:
• the first face of the payload container such that said payload container and said first heat transfer element do not directly contact one another and air flows freely between the payload container and all surfaces of the first heat transfer element;
• a second heat transfer element positioned facing to the first face of the payload container;
• and an inside top surface of the shipping container, and a convection current is created across exposed surfaces of the at least one first heat transfer element;
• wherein the first horizontal spacing element is configured so as to allow air space and air flow across and between surfaces that the first horizontal spacing element spaces;
• and
• positioning a second horizontal spacing element adjacent to the second face of the payload container, on an opposite side of the payload container from the first horizontal spacing element.