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.

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).

A mobile vaccine carrier and method for operating the carrier. The carrier includes a housing having a lid preferably hinged to a base member, a vaccine storage member disposed within the housing and defining a storage space for a plurality of vaccine containers; and a cooling element disposed within the housing. The vaccine storage member further includes an inner container defining the storage space and having an inlet opening for placing and removing vaccine containers, a movable vaccine container holder and a cover member disposed on the lid. The vaccine container holder has an abutment portion abutting against an outer portion of the inner container so that the inlet opening is covered by the vaccine container holder and at least a part of the cover member protrudes into the storage space when the lid is 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.

Shipping systems for temperature-sensitive materials and methods of making and using same. In one embodiment, the shipping system includes a cooler base and a lid. The base includes an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion includes a thermal insulation unit including a bottom wall and four side walls. A thermally-conductive member is positioned on the bottom wall. A polymeric bag encapsulates the thermally-conductive member and some of the thermal insulation unit. The outer portion includes thermally-insulating material and defines an opening. The inner portion is permanently bonded to the outer portion, with cavities defined therebetween. A product box is placed in the inner portion directly over the polymeric bag and the underlying thermally-conductive member. First temperature-control members are disposed within the inner portion, with at least one temperature-control member directly over the polymeric bag and the underlying thermally-conductive member. Second temperature-control members are disposed within the cavities.

Provided is a cooling device in which a latent heat storage material is at least made dormant during physical distribution to thereby cause the cooling function to last longer. A cooling device used for a distribution packaging container and configured to perform temperature adjustment of a cooling target article includes a latent heat storage material having a supercooling characteristic, and having a temperature range of a dormant period between a solidification temperature of start of a phase change from a liquid phase to a solid phase and a melting start temperature of start of a phase change from a solid phase to a liquid phase; and a containing region containing the latent heat storage material, wherein the latent heat storage material is selected in accordance with a proper holding temperature range of the cooling target article such that a main melting temperature falls within the proper holding temperature range of the cooling target article, and the temperature range of the dormant period and the proper holding temperature range of the cooling target article at least have an overlapping range.

A modular box assembly includes a box having a top end, an opposed bottom end, and side panels extending from the top end to the bottom end. A bottom panel is disposed at the bottom end such that the side panels and the bottom panel define a box cavity and the top end defines a box opening. A shoulder is attached to two side panel and extends inward from the side panels into the box cavity, wherein each shoulder is spaced from the top end a predetermined distance. A box top covers the box opening, the box top being selectively movable about and between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the top panel engages the shoulders to support the top panel, and in the closed position an upper surface of the top panel is substantially flush with the top end of the box.

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 transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive goods, having a container wall arrangement surrounding an interior chamber for accommodating the goods comprising a plurality of walls adjoining one another at an angle. The container wall arrangement has an opening for loading and unloading the interior chamber, which opening can be closed by means of a door device, and the container wall arrangement encloses the interior chamber on all sides with the exception of the opening. The container wall arrangement consists of a layered structure comprising, from the outside to the inside, a first insulation layer, optionally a second insulation layer, and an energy distribution layer bounding the interior chamber and made of a material having a thermal conductivity of >100 W/(m.Math.K). In the interior chamber, at least one coolant reservoir for holding a coolant is arranged and/or fastened to at least one wall, in particular an upper wall.

A cooler has a body and a lid that co-operate. The lid is movable between closed and open positions. The lid is a freezable reservoir. A filler port is located inside the lid. The entrance of the filler port into the lid is located at a height part way between the inside and outside walls of the lid. The lid has a downwardly extending hollow peripheral formation. The filler port is spanwise inset from the peripheral formation. The lid has spanwise extending internal formations that stiffen the lid and divide the internal chamber into sub-volumes connected by necks through which liquid can flow. The inside and outside walls of the lid may be connected. The lid is provided with a fill to line visible from the filling port to discourage over-filling. The lid may have an insulated cap, and the cooler may have an insulated jacket.