This invention relates to a novel two-stage dry ice system for preserving perishable items during transport and methods thereof. The improved two-stage dry ice system includes dry ice and a phase change material specifically configured within a single and continuous holding volume with perishable items. Preservation of the perishable items for extended durations in comparison to other refrigeration techniques can be achieved as a result of the two-stage dry system having the ability to re-orient itself during transport.

An insulated shipping container is provided for maintaining a substantially uniform internal temperature. The base, walls and lid of an outer box define an enclosure. An insulating body and an insulating cover are located within the enclosure and define an insulated cavity. A chamber having a plurality of chamber sides is configured to hold one or more payloads at the substantially uniform internal temperature. A temperature control material distribution structure is located within the insulated cavity for constraining motion of temperature control material units. The temperature control material distribution structure comprises at least one partitioned tray or trough. The at least one partitioned tray comprises a tray bottom; and a plurality of partition walls extending away from the tray bottom and defining a plurality of partition compartments.

An insulated shipping container is provided for maintaining a substantially uniform internal temperature. The base, walls and lid of an outer box define an enclosure. An insulating body and an insulating cover are located within the enclosure and define an insulated cavity. A chamber having a plurality of chamber sides is configured to hold one or more payloads at the substantially uniform internal temperature. A temperature control material distribution structure is located within the insulated cavity for constraining motion of temperature control material units. The temperature control material distribution structure comprises at least one partitioned tray or trough. The at least one partitioned tray comprises a tray bottom; and a plurality of partition walls extending away from the tray bottom and defining a plurality of partition compartments.

A cooler having a main body with opposing openings. Lids cover the openings. The cooler is configured to rest on a second lid while first lid is operable. The cooler is flipped over to reorient the contents and situate old ice on top of new items. The second lid is now accessible while the cooler rests on the first lid. One or more latches are included to selectively secure the lids in a closed position.

A temperature-controlled product shipper includes a phase change material bladder which can be filled at the point of packaging. The shipper includes an internal product box and an outer box where the product box is received within the outer box. The phase change material bladder is received within a cavity defined between the outer surface of the product box and the inner surface of the outer box. The shipper may also include an insulated liner which is received between the product box and the bladder.

A thermal conditioning wall panel 10 for use in a thermally insulating container comprises a panel body (22) having a channel (26) formed therein along one face thereof for receiving one or more thermal conditioning elements (12). At least one foot (32) is formed at the lower end of the body (22) for engagement within a socket provided on the thermally insulating container. The panel further comprises thermal conditioning element retaining elements (40) provided adjacent the longitudinal edges (29) of the channel (26), the retaining elements (40) projecting over a peripheral portion of the channel (26) for retaining the thermal conditioning elements (12) within the channel (26).

[Object] To provide a thermal insulation container with which the heat/cold insulation effect is kept for longer time without increasing the size and weight of the thermal insulation container.

[Solving Means] The thermal insulation container includes an inner container, an outer container, and an overlap region. The inner container includes a first bottom portion, a first side wall portion that extends in a first direction from the first bottom portion and forms a first open end portion, and a first vacuum layer continuously formed inside the first bottom portion and the first side wall portion. The outer container includes a second bottom portion, a second side wall portion that extends in a second direction opposite to the first direction from the second bottom portion and forms a second open end portion, and a second vacuum layer continuously formed inside the second bottom portion and the second side wall portion. The outer container is fitted onto the inner container in such a manner that an inner surface of the second side wall portion and an outer surface of the first side wall portion face each other and forms a storage portion. The overlap region is formed in such a manner that the inner surface of the second side wall portion and the outer surface of the first side wall portion overlap each other.

A plate heat exchanger is disclosed herein. In some instances, the plate heat exchanger may be disposed in an ice bin of a beverage dispenser for cooling one or more fluids. The plate heat exchanger may include a top plate, a bottom plate, an outer boundary wall, and a fluid flow path disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate. The fluid flow path may include an inlet and an outlet. A fin may be disposed within the fluid flow path from the top plate to the bottom plate between the inlet and the outlet.

A transportation box (100) including a plurality of first phase change materials (16), a plurality of second phase change materials (20), a first box (18) adapted to enclose a payload box (10), a second box (22) and an outer box (14). The payload box (10) is embedded with the plurality of second phase change materials (20). Further, each of the plurality of first phase change materials (16) is placed above and below the payload box (10). The second box (22) is adapted to contain temperature sensitive products and is nestable within the payload box (10). The first box (18) is nestable within the outer box (14). The plurality of first phase change materials (16) and the plurality of second phase change materials (20) are arranged in a manner such that air in between controls heat flow into and within the first box (18).

A method of collapsing a box from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration is disclosed. The method of collapsing a box from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration, the box comprising a side panel and a bottom panel attached to the side panel, can comprise bending a center fold line of the side panel; unbending a length fold line defined between the side panel and the bottom panel; bending a first corner fold line that extends from a bottom panel corner of the bottom panel to an edge fold line of a center subpanel of the bottom panel; and bending a second corner fold line that extends from the bottom panel corner to a longitudinal center line that bisects a bottom panel edge of the bottom panel.