Shipping system for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials

A kit for assembling a shipping system suitable for use in transporting and/or storing temperature-sensitive materials, the kit comprising:

• (a) an insulation unit, the insulation unit shaped to include a cavity bounded by a bottom wall, four side walls, and an open top;
• (b) a liner assembly, the liner assembly being removably mounted on or in the insulation unit, the liner assembly being shaped to include a cavity, wherein the cavity of the liner assembly extends into the cavity of the insulation unit, wherein the liner assembly comprises
• (i) a first liner piece, wherein the first liner piece comprises a sheet foldable into a generally U-shaped structure;
• (ii) a second liner piece, wherein the second liner piece comprises a sheet foldable into a generally U-shaped structure, wherein the first and second liner pieces are arranged offset from one another by approximately 90 degrees;
• and
• (iii) a liner support, wherein the liner support is foldable into a structure having a bottom, four sides, and an open top, and wherein the first liner piece and the second liner piece are arranged on or in the liner support;
• (c) a product box, the product box being removably disposed within the cavity of the liner assembly, the product box being designed to hold a payload;
• (d) an insulated lid, the insulated lid covering the cavity of the insulation unit;
• and
• (e) a plurality of alternative sets of temperature-control members, each alternative set of temperature-control members being removably disposed within the cavity of the liner assembly and being designed to maintain the payload within a different temperature range.

A kit for assembling at least one shipping system suitable for use in transporting and/or storing temperature-sensitive materials, the kit comprising:

• a first shipper, the first shipper comprising
• a first insulation unit, the first insulation unit shaped to include a cavity bounded by a bottom wall, a plurality of side walls, and an open top, the plurality of side walls collectively defining a top edge,
• a first insulated lid, the first insulated lid removably mountable over the first insulation unit to close the cavity of the first insulation unit,
• a first liner assembly, the first liner assembly being removably mountable on or in the first insulation unit, the first liner assembly being shaped to include a cavity and a flange, wherein the cavity of the first liner assembly is dimensioned to extend into the cavity of the first insulation unit and wherein the flange of the first liner assembly is dimensioned to extend over the top edge of the first insulation unit,
• a first product box, the first product box being removably positionable within the cavity of the first liner assembly, the first product box being designed to hold a payload;
• a second shipper, the second shipper comprising
• a second insulation unit, the second insulation unit shaped to include a cavity bounded by a bottom wall, a plurality of side walls, and an open top, the plurality of side walls collectively defining a top edge,
• a second insulated lid, the second insulated lid removably mountable over the second insulation unit to close the cavity of the second insulation unit,
• a second liner assembly, the second liner assembly being removably mountable on or in the second insulation unit, the second liner assembly being shaped to include a cavity and a flange, wherein the cavity of the second liner assembly is dimensioned to extend into the cavity of the second insulation unit and wherein the flange of the second liner assembly is dimensioned to extend over the top edge of the second insulation unit,
• a second product box, the second product box being removably positionable within the cavity of the second liner assembly, the second product box being designed to hold a payload, wherein the second product box is dimensioned to hold a differently-sized payload than the first product box;
• wherein each of the first and second liner assemblies comprises (i) a first liner piece, wherein the first liner piece comprises a sheet foldable into a generally U-shaped structure;
• (ii) a second liner piece, wherein the second liner piece comprises a sheet foldable into a generally U-shaped structure, wherein the first and second liner pieces are arranged offset from one another by approximately 90 degrees;
• and (iii) a liner support, wherein the liner support is foldable into a structure having a bottom, four sides, and an open top, and wherein the first liner piece and the second liner piece are arranged on or in the liner support;
• and
• a set of temperature-control members, the set of temperature-control members being dimensioned for alternative deployment in the cavity of the first liner assembly, snugly fitting around the first product box, or the cavity of the second liner assembly, snugly fitting around the second product box.

A method comprising:

• providing a shipping system for use in transporting and/or storing temperature-sensitive materials, the shipping system comprising:
• an outer box, the outer box comprising a cavity,
• an insulation unit, the insulation unit disposed within the cavity of the outer box,
• a liner assembly, the liner assembly removably mounted on or in the insulation unit, the liner assembly defining a receptacle having a cavity bounded by a bottom, four sides, and an open top, the liner assembly comprising
• a first liner piece, wherein the first liner piece comprises a first planar sheet reversibly foldable into a first generally U-shaped structure,
• a second liner piece, wherein the second liner piece comprises a second planar sheet foldable into a second generally U-shaped structure, wherein the first and second liner pieces are arranged offset from one another by approximately 90 degrees, and
• a liner support, wherein the liner support is foldable into a structure having a bottom, four sides, and an open top, and wherein the first liner piece and the second liner piece are arranged on or in the liner support,
• a product box, the product box being removably disposed within the cavity of the liner assembly, and
• at least one temperature-control member, the at least one temperature-control member being disposed within the cavity of the liner assembly;
• using the shipping system to transport a first payload;
• then, cleaning or replacing the liner assembly;
• and
• then, using the shipping system to transport a second payload.