Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for thermally protecting a product, such as when storing and/or shipping a product, so as to control the temperatures the products are exposed to. Embodiments can increased the amount of time the product and/or portions of the product experience a desired temperature range and/or reduce the amount of time the product and/or portions of the product experience temperatures outside of the desired temperature range and/or experience an undesirable temperature range. Embodiments can incorporate thermally conductive materials, such as aluminum sheets, positioned around and/or near the product positioned inside a packaging container, such that the conductive materials conduct heat from one or more locations in the interior of the package to one or more other locations in the interior of the package. These thermally conductive materials can be referred to as conductive equalizers. The conductive equalizers can conductively transfer heat from the hotter portions of the interior of the container to cooler portions of the interior of the container and/or from portions of the interior desired to be cooled to the cold bank. Conducting heat from hotter portions to cooler portions, or from portions to be cooled to the cold bank can result in a more uniform temperature distribution around the product.

A portable thermal insulated apparatus for cooling or heating items stored therein. The thermal insulated apparatus includes a container having a lid that removably secures to an open first end thereof and a reservoir unit that removably secures to an open second end. The container includes an inner tube and an outer tube forming an insulated double-wall sealed at both ends in which the lid and reservoir unit can be connected thereto. The reservoir unit removably receives a thermal unit that provides cooling or heating to the contents of the container when affixed thereto. The thermal unit is separable from the reservoir unit, such that the thermal units are interchangeable as needed. In some embodiments, the thermal unit is directly securable to the lid and the second end of the container is permanently sealed.

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.

A refrigeration bin is disclosed. The bin includes a product display area defined by four side walls, a floor, and an access opening. Also included are an air supply vent on each of a first opposing set of the side walls, and an air return vent near each of a second opposing set of the side walls, in which the second opposing set of the side walls are adjacent to the first opposing set of the side walls. There is a return air duct, a first end of the return air duct in air flow communication with the air return vent, and a supply air duct, the first end of the supply air duct in air flow communication with the air supply vent, allows air flow in the display area. A cooling device is included for cooling air before it enters the supply air duct. The refrigeration bin can be useful to showcase foodstuffs in grocery stores and the like.

Shipping system for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the system includes an outer box having four side walls, bottom closure flaps, and top closure flaps. A vacuum insulated panel (VIP) is detachably coupled to one of the top closure flaps and is removably covered by a cover. An insulation unit is removably positioned within the outer box, the insulation unit including a plurality of VIPs arranged to define a cavity bounded by a bottom wall and four side walls. A disposable liner assembly is removably mounted on the insulation unit. The liner assembly includes a first liner piece, a second liner piece, and a liner support. A plurality of temperature-control members and a product box may be removably positioned in a cavity defined by the liner assembly. The temperature-control members snugly fit around all sides of the product box and each include a container containing dry ice.

A low-temperature transport device is for the purpose of transporting a transport object in a state in which the transport object is kept at a low temperature for a long period of time. The low-temperature transport device includes a thermal insulation container, a plurality of pieces of dry ice disposed in the thermal insulation container so as to cool a transport object, a support member disposed in the thermal insulation container to support the transport object, and a first space formed between the transport object supported by the support member and an inner bottom surface of the thermal insulation container. The first space is filled with the dry ice.

Shipping system for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the system includes an outer box having four side walls, bottom closure flaps, and top closure flaps. A vacuum insulated panel (VIP) is detachably coupled to one of the top closure flaps and is removably covered by a cover. An insulation unit is removably positioned within the outer box, the insulation unit including a plurality of VIPs arranged to define a cavity bounded by a bottom wall and four side walls. A disposable liner is removably mounted on the insulation unit. The liner may be a thermoformed sheet and may cover the interior and top surfaces of the insulation unit. A plurality of temperature-control members and a product box may be removably positioned in the liner. Preferably, the liner is shaped so that the temperature-control members snugly fit around all sides of the product box.

An apparatus is described herein for storing and transporting food and beverages, comprising a rigid housing configured to fit within a container, the housing comprising a base and a wall extending outwardly from the base, the wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a space therebetween, a refreezable material disposed in the space. The base is configured with a rigid protrusion having an outer dimension shaped to generally match the dimension of the inner layer of the wall of the interior space of housing in order that the rigid protrusion can be inserted within the interior space of another apparatus of the same configuration. Other products, systems and methods also are disclosed.

A container system for transporting and dispensing liquid, the system including: a container, including: an enclosure; a lid pivotably attached to the enclosure; and a bulkhead fitting disposed in the lid; a tap assembly removably connected to the bulkhead fitting; and a base tray positioned in the enclosure, including one or more cooling packs having one or more recessed pockets, each configured to receive a liquid container.