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. The containers are collapsible and insulated to allow for the efficient storage and transport of the containers while empty.

A container assembly for controlling the thermal condition of cargo includes an insulated container having a cover and a pair of belt assemblies having a plurality of pouches. The container may comprise handles and/or a detachable and/or adjustable shoulder strap. The container assembly further includes a plurality of phase-changing material packs configured to provide for the control of the temperature of cargo contained within the container. The phase-changing material packs are positioned within the belt assemblies and are thermally conditioned prior to use. The belt assemblies may be made of a durable material and may be configured to provide for the expedient exchange of thermal energy between the phase-changing material packs and an exterior of the belt assemblies. The belt assemblies may comprise features that provide for the efficient orienting of the belt assemblies within the container and/or the appropriate selection of phase-changing material packs for a respective belt assembly.

The present invention involves using either liquid nitrogen, dry ice, a gel-like solution of water and alcohol in an ice pack, or a combination of these in a method or device for rapidly lowering the temperature of multiple food and beverage products at the same time. The gel-like ice pack may be shaped around the food or beverage product to increase the surface area resulting in faster cooling. The device may also contain a scale, infrared temperature sensor, and bar code scanner for determining the initial weight, temperature, density, and type of food or beverage product to be cooled.

An electronic paper display is used for an ice-lined cold storage device to display data from the device's data system and/or from an external network.

It is an object to provide a heat storage medium capable of maintaining the latent heat capacity even if a supercooling inhibitor is added. A heat storage medium according to an aspect of the present invention is a heat storage medium which undergoes a phase change at a predetermined temperature and contains water, a main agent made of a quaternary ammonium salt forming a semi-clathrate hydrate, a pH adjustor maintaining alkalinity, and a nucleating agent generating cations exhibiting positive hydration. The heat storage medium separates into a first liquid layer containing the main agent and a second liquid layer containing the nucleating agent in an environment with a temperature exceeding the phase change temperature.

A packaged meal kit includes a container, a liner, a first cold pack, a frozen food item, a protective insert, a non-frozen food item, a second cold pack, and instructions. The liner is disposed adjacent an interior of the container. The first cold pack is disposed in a bottom of the container adjacent the liner. The frozen food item is disposed above the first cold pack. The protective insert is disposed above the frozen food item. The protective insert includes a hollow cross-section. The non-frozen food item is disposed in the hollow cross-section. The second cold pack is disposed above the protective insert. Instructions are disposed in the container for preparing a meal including the frozen and non-frozen food items.

An apparatus for cooling liquids that includes a tank that has two longitudinal walls, two lateral walls and a bottom, and cooling flasks that each of them has two longitudinal walls, two lateral walls and a bottom. The flasks are designed to contain coolant. The lateral walls and at least one longitudinal wall of each flask has at least one protrusion smaller than 2.5 millimeters. The flasks are designed to be set within the tank in such a way that the protrusions are attached to the longitudinal walls of the tank. The protrusions create a gap smaller than 2.5 millimeters between each two adjacent flasks and between the lateral walls of the flasks to the longitudinal walls of the tank. These gaps constitute a single cooling space. The total volume of the flasks is three times greater or more than the volume of the single cooling space.

A recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container is entirely constructed from organic fiber materials in such a manner that the container is curbside recyclable without separation of component materials. The container includes a corrugated cardboard outer box having a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls and a top wall, a corrugated cardboard inner liner assembly comprising a corrugated cardboard inner box having a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls, and a corrugated cardboard lid assembly. The outer box, inner liner assembly and lid assembly cooperate to create a plurality of thermally insulated cavities which are filled and uniformly packed with predetermined volumes of loose-fill cellulose (organic fiber) insulation to create a predetermined insulating value. The container provides a fully insulated six-sided product cavity to receive a temperature-controlled product. A portion of the product cavity may be filled with a PCM or other thermal media to provide a consistent temperature profile.

Shipping container systems are provided for shipping a temperature sensitive product or payload. The systems include at least one heat transfer element and a payload container configured to hold payload therein and configured to be positioned within a shipping container; the payload container being spaced from sidewalls of the shipping container. Also included are spacers that may for example, space the payload container from one or more of the heat transfer elements. The spacers are configured to allow air to flow over surfaces of the payload container and heat transfer elements. Also included are kits that include components of the system and methods. Further provided are products that include any one or more of the described elements; and fully assembled shipping containers.

The present disclosure relates to a portable cold storage box having at least six identical square cold storage pieces capable of being put together to form a cuboid or cubic box. A through-hole is provided in the middle of each square cold storage piece. The periphery of each through-hole has one surface formed with a recess and an opposite surface formed with a step-shaped protrusion which can be snapped in a corresponding recess. Engageable tooth-shaped teeth are formed on opposite sides of the square cold storage pieces. A refrigerant is stored inside the square cold storage pieces in a sealed manner. The portable cold storage box of the present disclosure is advantageous in that it does not require a power source. It is easy to assemble, and after disassembling, the disassembled pieces can be quickly stacked up without being scattered around.