Insulated carrier for temperature-controlled items
AssigneePackit, LLC
InventorsMelissa Kieling, Roland Ecarma, Kenneth Arthur Gross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present application generally relates to devices and methods for transporting, delivering, and storing items, and it more specifically relates to insulated carriers for use in transporting, delivering, and storing temperature controlled items such as perishable food and beverage items. Embodiments provide for insulated containers having an interior cavity surrounded by one or more panels having insulation wherein the containers are collapsible to allow for the efficient storage and transport of the containers while empty.
Claims34
A collapsible container comprising:
- a plurality of panels cooperatively assembled to define an interior cavity accessible via an opening, the plurality of panels comprising at least a base panel, a front panel opposing a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels;
- a lid movably connected to the rear panel and configured to move between an open position proximate the rear panel and a closed position whereby the opening is obstructed, the lid further comprising a front lip and a pair of opposing side lips each extending from the lid;
- wherein the container is configured to fold into a collapsed configuration by placing said lid in the open position, folding the pair of side panels into the interior cavity, and folding the base panel towards the opening;
- wherein the plurality of panels each comprise an interior layer proximate the cavity, an exterior layer, and a layer of insulation therebetween;
- and
- wherein at least one of said plurality of panels further comprises a freezable gel between said interior layer and said layer of insulation and a stiffener between said freezable gel and said exterior layer.
A collapsible container comprising:
- a plurality of panels cooperatively assembled to define an interior cavity accessible via an opening, the plurality of panels comprising at least a base panel, a front panel opposing a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels;
- a lid movably connected to the rear panel and configured to move between an open position proximate the rear panel and a closed position whereby the opening is obstructed, the lid further comprising a front lip and a pair of opposing side lips each extending from the lid;
- wherein the container is configured to fold into a collapsed configuration by placing said lid in the open position, folding the pair of side panels into the interior cavity, and folding the base panel towards the opening;
- wherein the plurality of panels each comprise an interior layer proximate the cavity, an exterior layer, and a layer of insulation therebetween;
- and
- wherein said base panel, said front panel, and said rear panel each further comprises a freezable gel between said interior layer and said layer of insulation and said base panel further comprises a stiffener between said layer of insulation and said exterior layer.
A method of using a collapsible container comprising a plurality of panels cooperatively assembled to define an interior cavity accessible via an opening and a lid movably connected to at least a portion of said plurality of panels and configured to move between an open position and a closed position whereby the opening is obstructed, the plurality of panels comprising at least a base panel, a front panel opposing a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels, wherein at least one of said plurality of panels further comprises an interior layer proximate the cavity, a freezable gel proximate the interior layer, an exterior layer, a layer of insulation between said exterior layer and said freezable gel, and a stiffener between said freezable gel and said exterior layer, the method comprising the steps of:
- moving said lid to the open position such that the lid is proximate the rear wall;
- folding each of said opposing side panels into the cavity;
- and
- folding at least a portion of said base panel into the cavity.
A collapsible container comprising:
- a plurality of panels cooperatively assembled to define an interior cavity accessible via an opening, the plurality of panels comprising at least a base panel, a front panel opposing a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels, wherein the plurality of panels each comprise an interior layer proximate the cavity, an exterior layer, and a layer of insulation therebetween;
- a top panel surrounding the opening, the top panel comprising a front lid movably connected to the front panel, a rear lid movably connected to the rear panel, and a pair of side lids each movably connected to a respective one of said pair of opposing side panels;
- wherein the top panel is configured to move between an open position in which the opening is accessible and a closed position in which the opening is obstructed;
- and
- wherein each of said pair of side lids comprises a first panel movably connected to said front lid, a second panel movably connected to said first panel and a respective one of said pair of opposing side panels, a third panel movably connected to said side panel and the respective one of said pair of opposing side panels, and a fourth panel movably connected to said third panel and said rear lid.
A collapsible container comprising:
- a base panel with one or more horizontal creases;
- a front wall extending from the base panel;
- a rear wall extending from the base panel opposite the front wall;
- a pair of opposing side walls extending from the base panel between the front wall and the rear wall, each of the pair of opposing side walls comprising a vertical crease that is orthogonal to the base panel;
- wherein the base panel, the front wall, the rear wall, and the pair of opposite side walls define a cavity therebetween;
- wherein the container is configured to fold into a collapsed configuration by folding the base panel and each of the side walls into the cavity along the one or more horizontal creases and the pair of vertical creases;
- wherein the base panel, the front wall, the rear wall, and the pair of opposing side walls each comprise an interior layer proximate the cavity, an exterior layer, and a layer of insulation therebetween;
- and
- wherein a freezable gel is between said interior layer and said layer of insulation and a stiffener is between said freezable gel and said exterior layer.
A method of collapsing a container comprising a base panel with one or more horizontal creases and a peripheral wall comprising a pair of opposing side walls;
- each with one or more vertical creases, the peripheral wall extending from the base panel to form a cavity, wherein the peripheral wall comprises a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels each comprising an interior layer proximate the cavity, an exterior layer, and a layer of insulation therebetween, and wherein at least one of said plurality of panels further comprises a freezable gel between said interior layer and said layer of insulation and a stiffener between said freezable gel and said exterior layer, the method comprising the steps of:
- folding the base panel into the cavity along the one or more horizontal creases;
- and
- folding the pair of opposing side walls into the cavity along the one or more vertical creases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.