# US 10,766,685 B2 · Box-type transport container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,685 B2 - Document ID: US10766685B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/521,338 - Filed: 2015-10-20 - Published: 2017-10-26 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-27 - Assignees: Va-Q-Tec AG - Applicants: Va-Q-Tec AG - Inventors: Joachim Kuhn; Ines Wallaschek; Peter Bauer; Martin Heinemann; Thomas Taraschewski; Fabian Eschenbach - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766685B2 ## CPC - B65D 81/3813: {rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container} - B65D 5/3621: {collapsed along two fold lines of the tubular body} - B65D 5/46088: {formed by extensions of closure flaps, by closure flaps or by extensions of side flaps of a container formed by folding a blank to form a tubular body} - B65D 25/2897: {formed in the wall(s), e.g. roughenings, cavities or projections} - B65D 43/16: hinged for upward or downward movement - B65D 81/38: with thermal insulation - B65D 81/3853: {formed with double walls, i.e. hollow} - F16L 59/065: using vacuum (F16L59/075 takes precedence) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A box-type transport container has a box-type outer container with a base, four side walls and at least one lid. The lid is hinged on a side wall. Sheet-type vacuum insulation panels are arranged in the outer container to cover the surface of the side walls. At least one carrying opening, which can be gripped by hand in order to carry the transport box, is provided in each of two opposing, side walls. The material of the side wall is weakened above and to the side of the carrying opening, such that the material can be easily separated from the surrounding material of the side wall and together with the carrying opening can be folded out of the side wall. Alternatively, the vacuum insulation panels of the side wall are secured in their relative positions by at least one peripheral tensioning means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A box-type transport container comprising: a box-type outer container having a bottom, four side walls and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to one of the side walls; and board-like vacuum insulation panels disposed in the outer container and covering surfaces of the side walls; wherein the vacuum insulation panels have a design that is selected from a group consisting of a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means and can thus be handled as a coherent frame-type insert for the outer container, the transport container further comprising corner protection elements disposed between the vacuum insulation panels and the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vacuum insulation panels have peripheral edges and wherein the at least one tensioning means is arranged close to at least one of the peripheral edges. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a supporting frame disposed inside the vacuum insulation panels, wherein the at least one tensioning means is arranged outside of and close to peripheral edges of the vacuum insulation panels, the supporting frame providing an abutment for forces applied externally by the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one tensioning means is selected from a group consisting of a tensioning strap disposed around the vacuum insulation panels, a tensioning cable disposed around the vacuum insulation panels, a U-shaped clamp, a shrink film shrunk onto the vacuum insulation panels, and a foamed sheath composed of foamable plastic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising another vacuum insulation panel firmly attached to the cover in a position matching the vacuum insulation panels of the sidewalls. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The transport container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sum of the outside height dimensions of the vacuum insulation panels covering the side walls and the outside depth dimension of the another vacuum insulation panel attached to the cover is slightly larger than inner height dimensions of the outer container, so that the vacuum insulation panels covering the sidewalls and the vacuum insulation panel attached to the cover are pressed against one another when the cover is tightly closed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising another vacuum insulation panel disposed at the bottom of the container in a position matching the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The transport container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the vacuum insulation panel of the bottom is disposed below the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls and corresponds in length and width to an external length and external width of the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The transport container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the corner protection elements extend as far as the vacuum insulation panel of the bottom, so that the vacuum insulation panel of the bottom is jointly clamped with the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The transport container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the vacuum insulation panel of the bottom is disposed inside the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls and corresponds in length and width to a free internal length and internal width of the insulation panels of the side walls, collectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising lateral guide tabs on the cover, wherein the lateral guide tabs enter guides on the side walls of the outer container when the cover is closed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein edges or surfaces of the vacuum insulation panels define a gap and are provided with additional sealing means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom of the outer container is a self-folding bottom, and wherein the bottom of the outer container has an inside that is covered with an additional protective layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one tensioning means comprises two spaced apart tensioning means that fix the vacuum insulation panels in position relative to each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The transport container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stiff supporting frame disposed inside of the vacuum insulation panels, wherein the at least one tensioning means comprises a tensioning means located close to outside peripheral edges of the vacuum insulation panels, wherein the supporting frame provides an abutment for forces applied externally by the at least one tensioning means, and further comprising corner protection elements that protect corners of the vacuum insulation panels, the corner protection elements being disposed between the vacuum insulation panels and the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The transport container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tensioning means is selected from a group consisting of a tensioning strap running around the vacuum insulation panels of the sidewalls, a tensioning cable running around the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls, a U-shaped clamp, a shrink film shrunk onto the vacuum insulation panels, and a foamed sheath composed of foamable plastic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The transport container as claimed in claim 16, further comprising another vacuum insulation panel that is firmly attached to the cover in a position matching the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls, wherein the outside dimensions of the vacuum insulation panels of the sidewalls are made slightly larger than inside dimensions of the box-type outer container in height, so that the vacuum insulation panels of the sidewalls and vacuum insulation panel of the cover are pressed against one another when the cover is tightly closed. ### Claim 18 A box-type transport container comprising: a box-type outer container having a bottom, four side walls, and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to a side wall, board-like vacuum insulation panels arranged in the outer container so as to cover surfaces of the side walls, and a further vacuum insulation panel firmly attached to the cover such that, when the cover is closed, the further vacuum insulation panel overlaps the vacuum insulation panels covering the side walls, wherein the sum of the outside height dimensions of the vacuum insulation panels covering the side walls and the outside depth dimension of the further vacuum insulation panel is slightly larger than inside height dimensions of the outer container, so that the further vacuum insulation panel is pressed against the vacuum insulation panels covering the side walls when the cover is tightly closed. ### Claim 19 A coherent frame-type insert for a box-type outer container of an altogether box-type transport container, the insert comprising: board-like vacuum insulation panels that have a design selected from a group consisting of: a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means, the insert further comprising corner protection elements that protect corners of the vacuum insulation panels, wherein the corner protection elements are disposed between the vacuum insulation panels and the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The insert as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one tensioning means is located close to peripheral edges of the vacuum insulation panels. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The insert as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a stiff supporting frame disposed inside of the vacuum insulation panels, wherein the at least one tensioning means is arranged outside of and close to peripheral edges of the vacuum insulation panels, the supporting frame providing an abutment for forces applied externally by the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The insert as claimed in claim 21, further comprising corner protection elements that protect corners of the vacuum insulation panels, the corner protection elements being disposed between the vacuum insulation panels and the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The insert as claimed in claim 22, wherein the tensioning means is selected from a group consisting of a tensioning strap running around the vacuum insulation panels, tensioning cable running around the vacuum insulation panels, a U-shaped clamp, a shrink film shrunk onto the vacuum insulation panels, and a foam sheath composed of foamable plastic. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The insert as claimed in claim 19, wherein the tensioning means is selected from a group consisting of a tensioning strap running around the vacuum insulation panels, a tensioning cable running around the vacuum insulation panels, a U-shaped clamp, a shrink film shrunk onto the vacuum insulation panels, and a foam sheath composed of foamable plastic. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The insert as claimed in claim 19, wherein the vacuum insulation panels comprise vacuum insulation panels associated with the sidewalls and a vacuum insulation panel associated with the bottom and being disposed below the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls and corresponding in length and width to an external length and external width of the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls, collectively. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The insert as claimed in claim 19, wherein a vacuum insulation panel of the bottom is disposed inside the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls and corresponds in length and width to a free internal length and internal width of the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls, collectively. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The insert as claimed in claim 26, wherein the at least one tensioning means comprises two spaced apart tensioning means that fix the vacuum insulation panels in position relative to each other. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The insert as claimed in claim 27, further comprising corner protection elements that extend as far as the vacuum insulation panel associated with the bottom, so that the vacuum insulation panel associated with the bottom is clamped jointly with vacuum insulation panels associated with the side walls. ### Claim 29 A box-type transport container comprising: a box-type outer container having a bottom, four side walls and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to one of the side walls; and board-like vacuum insulation panels disposed in the outer container and covering surfaces of the side walls; wherein the vacuum insulation panels have a design that is selected from a group consisting of a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means and can thus be handled as a coherent frame-type insert for the outer container, the transport container further comprising a supporting frame disposed inside the vacuum insulation panels, wherein the at least one tensioning means is arranged outside of and close to peripheral edges of the vacuum insulation panels, the supporting frame providing an abutment for forces applied externally by the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The transport container as claimed in claim 29, wherein the at least one tensioning means is selected from a group consisting of a tensioning strap disposed around the vacuum insulation panels, a tensioning cable disposed around the vacuum insulation panels, a U-shaped clamp, a shrink film shrunk onto the vacuum insulation panels, and a foamed sheath composed of foamable plastic. ### Claim 31 A box-type transport container comprising: a box-type outer container having a bottom, four side walls and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to one of the side walls; and board-like vacuum insulation panels disposed in the outer container and covering surfaces of the side walls; wherein the vacuum insulation panels have a design that is selected from a group consisting of a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means and can thus be handled as a coherent frame-type insert for the outer container, the transport container further comprising another vacuum insulation panel firmly attached to the cover in a position matching the vacuum insulation panels of the sidewalls. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The transport container as claimed in claim 31, wherein the sum of the outside height dimensions of the vacuum insulation panels covering the side walls and the outside depth dimension of the another vacuum insulation panel attached to the cover is slightly larger than inner height dimensions of the outer container, so that the vacuum insulation panels covering the sidewalls and the vacuum insulation panel attached to the cover are pressed against one another when the cover is tightly closed. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The transport container as claimed in claim 31, further comprising another vacuum insulation panel disposed at the bottom of the container in a position matching the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The transport container as claimed in claim 33, wherein the vacuum insulation panel of the bottom is disposed below the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls and corresponds in length and width to an external length and external width of the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The transport container as claimed in claim 34, further comprising corner protection elements protecting disposed between the vacuum insulation panels of the sidewalls and the at least one tensioning means, wherein the corner protection elements extend as far as the vacuum insulation panel of the bottom, so that the vacuum insulation panel of the bottom is jointly clamped with the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls. ### Claim 36 A box-type transport container comprising: a box-type outer container having a bottom, four side walls and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to one of the side walls; and board-like vacuum insulation panels disposed in the outer container and covering surfaces of the side walls; wherein the vacuum insulation panels have a design that is selected from a group consisting of a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means and can thus be handled as a coherent frame-type insert for the outer container, the transport container further comprising another vacuum insulation panel disposed at the bottom of the container in a position matching the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls, wherein the vacuum insulation panel of the bottom is disposed inside the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls and corresponds in length and width to a free internal length and internal width of the insulation panels of the side walls, collectively. ### Claim 37 A box-type transport container comprising: a box-type outer container having a bottom, four side walls and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to one of the side walls; and board-like vacuum insulation panels disposed in the outer container and covering surfaces of the side walls; wherein the vacuum insulation panels have a design that is selected from a group consisting of a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means and can thus be handled as a coherent frame-type insert for the outer container, the transport container further comprising lateral guide tabs on the cover, wherein the lateral guide tabs enter guides on the side walls of the outer container when the cover is closed. ### Claim 38 A box-type transport container comprising: a box-type outer container having a bottom, four side walls and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to one of the side walls; and board-like vacuum insulation panels disposed in the outer container and covering surfaces of the side walls; wherein the vacuum insulation panels have a design that is selected from a group consisting of a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means and can thus be handled as a coherent frame-type insert for the outer container, wherein edges or surfaces of the vacuum insulation panels define a gap and are provided with additional sealing means. ### Claim 39 A box-type transport container comprising: a box-type outer container having a bottom, four side walls and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to one of the side walls; and board-like vacuum insulation panels disposed in the outer container and covering surfaces of the side walls; wherein the vacuum insulation panels have a design that is selected from a group consisting of a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means and can thus be handled as a coherent frame-type insert for the outer container, wherein the bottom of the outer container is a self-folding bottom, and wherein the bottom of the outer container has an inside that is covered with an additional protective layer. ### Claim 40 A box-type transport container comprising: a box-type outer container having a bottom, four side walls and a cover, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to one of the side walls; and board-like vacuum insulation panels disposed in the outer container and covering surfaces of the side walls; wherein the vacuum insulation panels have a design that is selected from a group consisting of a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means and can thus be handled as a coherent frame-type insert for the outer container, the transport container further comprising a stiff supporting frame disposed inside of the vacuum insulation panels, wherein the at least one tensioning means comprises a tensioning means located close to outside peripheral edges of the vacuum insulation panels, wherein the supporting frame provides an abutment for forces applied externally by the at least one tensioning means, and further comprising corner protection elements that protect corners of the vacuum insulation panels, the corner protection elements being disposed between the vacuum insulation panels and the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The transport container as claimed in claim 40, wherein the tensioning means is selected from a group consisting of a tensioning strap running around the vacuum insulation panels of the sidewalls, a tensioning cable running around the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls, a U-shaped clamp, a shrink film shrunk onto the vacuum insulation panels, and a foamed sheath composed of foamable plastic. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The transport container as claimed in claim 41, further comprising another vacuum insulation panel that is firmly attached to the cover in a position matching the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls, wherein the outside dimensions of the vacuum insulation panels of the sidewalls are made slightly larger than inside dimensions of the box-type outer container in height, so that the vacuum insulation panels of the sidewalls and vacuum insulation panel of the cover are pressed against one another when the cover is tightly closed. ### Claim 43 A coherent frame-type insert for a box-type outer container of an altogether box-type transport container, the insert comprising: board-like vacuum insulation panels that have a design selected from a group consisting of: a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means, the insert further comprising a stiff supporting frame disposed inside of the vacuum insulation panels, wherein the at least one tensioning means is arranged outside of and close to peripheral edges of the vacuum insulation panels, the supporting frame providing an abutment for forces applied externally by the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The insert as claimed in claim 43, further comprising corner protection elements that protect corners of the vacuum insulation panels, the corner protection elements being disposed between the vacuum insulation panels and the at least one tensioning means. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The insert as claimed in claim 44, wherein the tensioning means is selected from a group consisting of a tensioning strap running around the vacuum insulation panels, tensioning cable running around the vacuum insulation panels, a U-shaped clamp, a shrink film shrunk onto the vacuum insulation panels, and a foam sheath composed of foamable plastic. ### Claim 46 A coherent frame-type insert for a box-type outer container of an altogether box-type transport container, the insert comprising: board-like vacuum insulation panels that have a design selected from a group consisting of: a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged in pairs opposite one another and having edges abutting or edges projecting freely, a prismatic design having smooth edges and being arranged, circumferentially, so as to abut at one edge and to project freely at an opposite edge, and a prismatic design having edges mitered at 45 degrees and being arranged with respect to each other so as to form an abutting miter joint; wherein the vacuum insulation panels are fixed in position relative to one another by at least one tensioning means; and wherein a vacuum insulation panel of the bottom is disposed inside the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls and corresponds in length and width to a free internal length and internal width of the vacuum insulation panels of the side walls, collectively. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The insert as claimed in claim 46, wherein the at least one tensioning means comprises two spaced apart tensioning means that fix the vacuum insulation panels in position relative to each other. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The insert as claimed in claim 47, further comprising corner protection elements that extend as far as the vacuum insulation panel associated with the bottom, so that the vacuum insulation panel associated with the bottom is clamped jointly with vacuum insulation panels associated with the side walls.