A thermally insulating packaging to hold an item includes a solid compostable or recyclable shell that is formed primarily of a plant fiber, and a bottom cover. The shell includes a floor, a plurality of inner side walls that are coupled to the floor, a rim coupled to the plurality of inner side walls, and a plurality of outer side walls that are couple to the rim. The floor and the plurality of inner side walls define an interior space of the shell to receive the item and an opening to the interior space. The plurality of inner side walls and plurality of outer side walls have a space therebetween that defines a gap. The gap can be an air-filled cavity, or be filled with a compostable or recyclable core material.

In a transport container for transporting temperature-sensitive goods, having a container wall arrangement which surrounds an interior space for receiving the goods and has a plurality of walls which adjoin one another at an angle, the container wall arrangement being self-supporting and having an opening for loading and unloading the interior space, which opening can be closed by means of a separate wall element and wherein the container wall arrangement encloses the interior space on all sides with the exception of the opening, the container wall arrangement comprises an outer wall, an inner wall spaced therefrom and a vacuum chamber formed between the outer and inner walls, wherein the vacuum chamber is formed as a continuous vacuum chamber surrounding the interior space on all sides with the exception of the opening.

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.

A cooler capable of achieving a sufficient temperature gradient between an inside of the cooler and an outside of the cooler such that at least a partial vacuum forms within the cooler may include an enclosure defined by at least one wall and a lid. The lid may form a relatively airtight seal with a wall of the cooler when in a closed position. A vacuum release assembly may be disposed in one of the walls or lid of the cooler, the assembly being capable of reducing a pressure differential between the enclosure and the outside of the cooler.

A cooler capable of achieving a sufficient temperature gradient between an inside of the cooler and an outside of the cooler such that at least a partial vacuum forms within the cooler may include an enclosure defined by at least one wall and a lid. The lid may form a relatively airtight seal with a wall of the cooler when in a closed position. A vacuum release assembly may be disposed in one of the walls or lid of the cooler, the assembly being capable of reducing a pressure differential between the enclosure and the outside of the cooler.

In a packaging for pharmaceutical products, comprising a primary packaging for receiving a dose or several doses of a pharmaceutical product, and a secondary packaging designed as a cardboard box, in which the primary packaging is received, the primary packaging is arranged in an insulation shell having a latent heat storage material and the insulation shell is held in the secondary packaging at a distance on all sides to form an insulation gap.

An unmanned aerial vehicle is removably connected to a container. The container has a vessel retaining a pressurized gas supply and a manifold having a plurality of ports connected to a plurality of expandable structures. The pressurized gas supply is in communication with a plurality of expandable structures. The container also has least one compartment having a plurality of expandable structures configured to capture a payload. Additional improvements include an improved docking structure for the unmanned aerial vehicle to engage a container and a rotatable weight distribution system for maintaining a center of gravity at the physical center of gravity of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

A portable insulated container includes an outer shell and a temperature control pack. The portable insulated container also includes a first insert portion that fits inside the outer shell and a second insert portion that also fits inside the outer shell and is configured to engage with the first insert portion to form a plurality of insulated cavities including a temperature control pack cavity along with three or more separate bottle storage cavities. Each of the three or more bottle storage cavities is configured for receiving a bottle and each of the three or more bottle storage cavities is configured for receiving bottles of different sizes and shapes. Each of the three or more bottle storage cavities may also be equidistant from the temperature control pack cavity.

Provided is an insulation liner for use inside a shipping carton that affords thermal insulation and shock absorption for an object to be shipped, a liner and carton system, a method of production of the insulation liner, and methods of use. The insulation liner includes a larger component folded into three panels, a smaller component folded into three panels, and standoffs disposed on the surfaces of both the larger component and the smaller component. The standoffs may be oriented inwardly or outwardly. When oriented outwardly they create an interstitial air space that reduces conduction allowing the insulation effect of the liner and carton system to equal or exceed that of a molded polystyrene container of an equal size.

Method and system for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the system is designed for use as a dry ice shipper and includes an outer box, a vacuum insulated panel (VIP) base assembly, a VIP lid assembly, and a gas flow director. The VIP base assembly is positioned within the outer box and includes five VIPs arranged to form a container having a bottom, four sides, and an open top. The VIP lid assembly, which may be coupled to a top closure flap of the outer box, includes a VIP dimensioned to close the open top of the VIP base assembly. The gas flow director, which may comprise a bag having an opening at its top end, may be positioned within the outer box and may be used to receive the VIP base assembly. The gas flow director inhibits convective gas flow that promotes excessive dry ice sublimation.