A modular, cooling device for providing cool air to a body and/or an external environment comprises a first body portion combining a cooling medium and air passageways therethrough. The first body portion may be detached from second and third body portions and placed in a freezer to refreeze the cooling media, and reattached for further use. The second body portion may include a material that absorbs condensate that forms within the air passageways. The third body portion may include a fan for driving air into the cooling device, through the air passageways and out of the cooling device. When passing through the air passageways, a heat transfer is produced between the passing air and the cooling medium, cooling the passing air. The fan speed may be varied to adjust air flow.

This disclosure includes ice packs (10) that comprise paper and absorbent material (22A, 22), and also includes various methods of adding liquid to, freezing, shipping, and/or using such ice packs (10). Some of the ice packs (10) of this disclosure have a body (14) that includes first and second layers (54, 58) of paper and one or more side panels (66A) coupled thereto such that the body (14) is expandable. The absorbent material (22A, 22) of some of the ice packs (10) of this disclosure comprises a laminate having an inner layer (70A, 70B, 70C, 70) of superabsorbent polymer disposed between first and second outer layers (78), where the first outer layer (74) comprises tissue and the second outer layer (78) comprises at least one of a tissue and a carded nonwoven.

A bucket assembly includes an outer bucket with an elongated slot, an inner bucket with an elongated slot, and an insert with a cooling agent that keeps a liquid in a beverage container cold. The slot in the outer bucket aligns with the slot in the inner bucket. These slots receive a handle of the beverage container.

An insulating shipping system may include six outer walls configured into a six-sided container; an insulating layer positioned within the outer walls and formed by a plurality of insulating members; and a thermal mass layer positioned within the insulating members and made from a plurality of thermal mass members. The thermal mass members may contain a thermal energy absorbing material. The container also may have a thermal buffer layer configured to fit within the thermal mass layer. All together, these layers form a passive, thermally stabile cargo cavity for transporting temperature-sensitive cargo.

An appliance having a storage tank disposed on its back surface wherein the storage tank comprises a front cover and a back cover that matingly engages the front cover to form a liquid tight seal with the front cover. The storage tank further includes a phase-changing material disposed within the storage tank and a heat exchanger containing refrigerant tubing which transfers cooling from refrigerant tubing to the phase-changing solution. The storage tank, when fully charged with cooling capacity, maintains the food storage compartment at a temperature of 45 F. or less for at least 8 hours without activating a compressor.

A corrugated sleeve comprising an upper panel forming the top of the sleeve, a lower panel forming the bottom of the sleeve, at least two height panels forming the front and back of the sleeve, respectively, and at least two side panels forming the left and right of the sleeve, respectively. The upper, lower, height, and side panels thereby form the external structure of the sleeve. The sleeve may also include at least one pack assembly which extends from one of the panels, and for example from the end height panel. Each pack assembly may include at least one pack divider, which can be positioned between adjacent thermal packs when such thermal packs are contained within the sleeve.

Disclosed is a device for cooling a body or body part for medical or performance-enhancing purposes, said device consisting of one or more cooling elements (11), said cooling element (11) being provided with a cover (1) that is filled with meltable cooling solid (2). The disclosed device is characterized in that an additional apparatus for displacing the already melted portion (8) of the cooling solid (2) from the contact surface (7) to the body is provided inside the cover (1), the expandable member (4, 6) being preferably designed in the form of a filled member (4) of a spring element (6) or of a foamed article. Also disclosed is an additional device which is characterized in that a layer (16) of thermochromic material indicates when a threshold temperature is exceeded, said layer (16) being applied to the bottom side of the expandable member and thus being pressed against the remaining solid portion of the cooling solid, the cover (1) being transparent in this case.

An environmental control assembly for controlling at least one environmental condition of one or more substances, the one or more substances being uncontained or contained within a substance container, the assembly comprising a first enclosure comprising a thermal insulator configured to provide a thermal shield to the substance, a second enclosure comprising at least one deformable environmental control material configured to regulate at least one environmental condition of the substance, wherein the second enclosure at least partially physically contacts with at least one of the substance and the substance container, and a housing at least partially comprising the first enclosure and the second enclosure.

A portable beach cooler is capable of reducing the temperature of stored items. A main cooling body opens to reveal an ice tray. The ice tray may be connected to a lifting mechanism that allows the ice tray to rise for convenient user access to ice. The lid of the cooling body may have several cupholders traversing through the lid, providing direct access to ice for contained beverages. A cupholder adapter may support beverages atop the lid or may be inverted atop a beverage contained within the cupholder to provide direct beverage access to ice while simultaneously preventing cold air from escaping. A set of tracked wheels is connected to a motorized frame capable of supporting the cooling body. The apparatus may further be equipped with cameras to allow for automatic maneuvering of the motorized frame behind a user, as well as a variety of other electronic ports and devices.

This disclosure includes ice packs that comprise paper and absorbent material, and also includes various methods of making, adding liquid to, freezing, shipping, and/or using such ice packs. This disclosure also includes assemblies that include one or more such ice packs, such as, for example, a container of a plurality of such ice packs in dry, wet, and/or frozen states, or a container that includes an ice pack in a hydrated, frozen state and one or more perishable items.